In Slovenia, there is little data available on pneumococcal vaccination rates and no data on asymptomatic NPCR and serotypes in the population of nursing home residents in comparison to the elderly ...living in domestic environment, therefore the goal was to gain these data.
A cross sectional epidemiological study was performed. Nasopharyngeal swabs from 151 nursing home residents, 150 elderly living in domestic environment, and 38 adults less than 65 years old were collected twice (in two consecutive years). The swabs were analysed for pneumococcal identification and serotyping. Patient data were collected from medical files and medical history.
No statistically significant differences in NPCR were seen between compared groups in two consecutive years. An average NPCR in two consecutive years in nursing home residents was 1.45%, in the elderly living in domestic environment 0.85%, and in adults less than 65 years old 7.05%. Serotypes identified among nursing home residents were 6B and 9N, among the group of elderly living in domestic environment, 6A and among adults less than 65 years old, 35F, 18C and 3. Pneumococcal vaccination rates were low (3.3% in nursing home residents, 6% in the elderly from domestic environment and 0% in the group of adults less than 65 years old).
Our data suggests that NPCR and the proportion of people vaccinated with pneumococcal vaccine among the elderly are low. We identified different serotypes in all groups, only one person was a chronic carrier (serotype 35F).
HVAC systems, load shifting, indoor climate, and energy and ventilation performance analyses are the key topics when improving energy performance in new and renovated buildings. This development has ...been boosted by the recently established nearly zero energy building requirements that will soon be in use in all EU Member States, as well as similar long-term zero energy building targets in Japan, the US, and other countries. The research covered in this Special Issue provides evidence of how new technical solutions have worked, in practice, in new or renovated buildings, and also discusses problems and how solutions should be further developed. Another focus is on the more detailed calculation methods needed for the correct design and sizing of dedicated systems, and for accurate quantification of energy savings. Occupant behavior and building operation is also examined, in order to avoid common performance gaps between calculated and measured performance. These topics demonstrate the challenge of high performance buildings as, in the end, comfortable buildings with good indoor climate which are easy and cheap to operate and maintain are expected by end customers. Ventilation performance, heating and cooling, sizing, energy predictions and optimization, load shifting, and field studies are some of the key topics in this Special Issue, contributing to the future of high performance buildings with reliable operation.
Cet article décrit les lieux de vie et trajectoires résidentielles des personnes durant le dernier mois de leur existence, à partir de l’enquête Fin de vie en France réalisée en 2010. L’enquête ...repose sur un échantillon représentatif des décès survenus en décembre 2009. Les médecins ayant certifié les décès ont été interrogés sur les circonstances de la fin de vie. Si 3 personnes sur 5 meurent à l’hôpital, seules la moitié étaient hospitalisées un mois avant leur décès. Dans ce laps de temps, l’hospitalisation à partir du domicile est le changement le plus fréquemment observé. Les personnes prises en charge en maison de retraite ou à l’hôpital un mois avant leur décès ont une forte probabilité d’y finir leurs jours. Des analyses multivariées montrent que l’âge et le sexe influencent le parcours de fin de vie : ce sont les plus âgés et les femmes qui présentent le plus fort risque de vivre leur dernier mois en maison de retraite. Les symptômes, le type de maladies et la finalité des traitements conditionnent les lieux de la fin de vie des patients. Toutes les situations cliniques ne permettent pas de maintenir les personnes à domicile : le traitement d’épisodes aigus, les détresses respiratoires ou les problèmes digestifs sont plus souvent traités à l’hôpital, les troubles mentaux en maison de retraite et les difficultés de déplacement dans chacun de ces lieux.
We observed a dog visitation program in a geriatric retirement home in Japan, to obtain quantitative data on the human-dog interactions. Seven volunteer handlers and seven adult pet dogs were divided ...into two groups. Each group visited the home on one of two activity days each month for 18 months. The program was conducted in a consistent way and the features of it did not change during the course of the study. Five to 12 senior residents, among a total of 31 (9 men and 22 women, 16 with normal/mild and 15 with moderate/severe disabilities in activities of daily living: ADL), voluntarily participated in each activity day. We focused on each dog as a target, using a focal animal sampling method, and monitored the seating arrangements of the residents. We found that both the residents and dog handlers contributed to the interaction. Affiliative physical contact was predominantly used as an interaction tool. Neither sex, ADL level, nor the rate of adjacent vacant seats affected the frequency of each resident's isolation. However, less disability in ADL and a higher rate of adjacent vacant seats facilitated more resident-dog interactions. The dogs more frequently initiated behavior toward female residents than toward males, but the sex of the residents was unrelated to the frequency of the dogs' receiving and reciprocating behaviors with the residents. Despite Japan being historically and culturally different from Western countries, the program worked well.
Biographical research in social work Kozlová, Lucie; Hrušková, Martina
Human affairs (Bratislava, Slovakia),
10/2014, Volume:
24, Issue:
4
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
This paper looks at the possibilities of using biographical research in social work focusing on the elderly. Social work with the elderly uses or should use biographical data to create individual ...plans for clients or for the purpose of sensory activation. Narrative interviews are a form of interaction between a senior client and a social worker. The social worker supports the senior’s narrative so they can view their life for themselves and explain its meaning from their own perspective. The use of sensory activation in social work is only possible when the individual’s identity is supported by a sufficient amount of environmental stimuli, which can be achieved only by acquiring and analyzing data on the life events of the individual. The paper contains examples of the use of biographical data in social work with the elderly, which is essential for further structuring their lives.
Space is characterised by both its material and its social aspects. To examine space perceptions in this holistic understanding it is crucial to combine verbal with visual data and reactive with ...non-reactive methods, because not every perception is verbally expressible. The article starts illustrating a socio-spatial-material concept of space. Based on this it will be displayed how a triangulative research design with visual interview stimuli, participant observation, mental maps, photo documentation, and architectural analysis can enable to get new insights into spatial perceptions. This will be shown by outlining two specific research projects, the first focuses on the space experience and imaginations of elderly people, the second on space perceptions of library users. The projects with their approaches and results clarify the impact of the triangulation of visual data and non-reactive methods in the exploration of spatial perception. Furthermore, the contribution of every kind of method will be shown in the discussion of the results and unexpected findings. Finally, the article reveals in a broader context that it is important to combine text-based and visual methods, not only for the collection of data but for the presentation of research results as well.
Visual impairment among older adults residing in long-term care (LTC) facilities and retirement homes is common and can have a significant adverse impact on their quality of life. Despite the burden ...of illness, they frequently receive inadequate eye care. We describe an optometrist-led eye care program serving this population, including a profile of participants and the program's educational role for optometry students.
An optometrist assessed residents of LTC facilities and retirement homes. Participants received their routine eye care, which included a report to the resident's family physician, through the program. A chart review was conducted for a consecutive series of patients; data were recorded on a standardized data abstraction form.
All residents examined had at least one (average 1.8) ocular condition. Challenges presented by residents in their assessment, such as confusion and/or impaired comprehension (14.3%), refusal or poor cooperation (13.2%), and physical limitations (8.8%), were common, indicating the necessity of adapting eye assessment procedures to the needs of this population.
This study supports the involvement of optometrists in the eye care for residents of retirement homes and LTC facilities, where optometrists can be an important clinical and educational resource. The program is a useful learning opportunity for optometry students.
The market for (intelligent) support systems for nursing of an increasingly aging population has grown rapidly in recent years. Nevertheless, only a few of these systems have found their way into the ...care of the elderly. An important point, in addition to the lack of refinancing structures in the health care system, is the reservations of those in need of care and those caring for them. With our study, we tried to get an insight into the everyday care work and to better understand the attitudes of caregivers towards the use of technology in elderly care, especially with a focus on artificial intelligence. In our paper, we present the results from a contextual inquiry, interviews, and a workshop for this purpose.
Provider: - Institution: - Data provided by Europeana Collections- On this edition we hear how unexploded bombs from World War II are slowing down the construction of an offshore wind farm, pay a ...visit to Germany's first multicultural retirement home and meet a Berlin doctor who restores old pianos.- All metadata published by Europeana are available free of restriction under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. However, Europeana requests that you actively acknowledge and give attribution to all metadata sources including Europeana
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