New technologies provide opportunities for the delivery of broad, flexible interventions with older adults. Focus groups were conducted to: (1) understand older adults' familiarity with, and barriers ...to, interacting with new technologies and tablets; and (2) utilize user-engagement in refining an intervention protocol.
Eighteen older adults (65-76 years old; 83.3% female) who were novice tablet users participated in discussions about their perceptions of and barriers to interacting with tablets. We conducted three separate focus groups and used a generic qualitative design applying thematic analysis to analyse the data. The focus groups explored attitudes toward tablets and technology in general. We also explored the perceived advantages and disadvantages of using tablets, familiarity with, and barriers to interacting with tablets. In two of the focus groups, participants had previous computing experience (e.g., desktop), while in the other, participants had no previous computing experience. None of the participants had any previous experience with tablet computers.
The themes that emerged were related to barriers (i.e., lack of instructions and guidance, lack of knowledge and confidence, health-related barriers, cost); disadvantages and concerns (i.e., too much and too complex technology, feelings of inadequacy, and comparison with younger generations, lack of social interaction and communication, negative features of tablets); advantages (i.e., positive features of tablets, accessing information, willingness to adopt technology); and skepticism about using tablets and technology in general. After brief exposure to tablets, participants emphasized the likelihood of using a tablet in the future.
Our findings suggest that most of our participants were eager to adopt new technology and willing to learn using a tablet. However, they voiced apprehension about lack of, or lack of clarity in, instructions and support. Understanding older adults' perceptions of technology is important to assist with introducing it to this population and maximize the potential of technology to facilitate independent living.
In view of the global demographic shift, a scientific symposium was organised by the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) to address nutrition-related challenges of the ...older population and provide an overview of the current state of knowledge.
Eighteen nutrition-related issues of the ageing global society were presented by international experts during the symposium and summarised in this report.
Anorexia of ageing, dysphagia, malnutrition, frailty, sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, and the metabolic syndrome were highlighted as major nutrition-related geriatric syndromes. Great progress has been made in recent years through standardised definitions of some but not all syndromes. Regarding malnutrition, the GLIM approach has shown to be suitable also in older adults, justifying its continuous implementation. For anorexia of ageing, a consensus definition is still required. Intervention approaches should be integrated and person-centered with the aim of optimizing intrinsic capacity and maintaining functional capacity. Landmark studies like EFFORT and FINGER have impressively documented the potential of individualised and multifactorial interventions for functional and health benefits. Combining nutritional intervention with physical training seems particularly important whereas restrictive diets and drug treatment should generally be used with caution because of undesirable risks. Obesity management in older adults should take into account the risk of promoting sarcopenia.
In the future, even more individualised approaches like precision nutrition may enable better nutritional care. Meanwhile all stakeholders should focus on a better implementation of currently available strategies and work closely together to improve nutritional care for older adults.
Elder financial abuse is a growing problem, with significant consequences for society. It is unclear if differences exist in the clinical and legal approach to financial abuse across Canada, thus the ...purpose of this review. Five databases were searched during the primary literature search. Secondary literature search involved searching grey literature and handpicking references from selected articles. Only articles in English were included. From 10,260 articles initially screened, 30 were included in the review. No literature was identified describing differences in the clinical approach to financial abuse, and no single definition or legislation on financial abuse was identified. Mandatory reporting is required for individuals in a hospital or care facility by only five provinces. This review has identified several important knowledge gaps on the differences in the clinical management of financial abuse, and a lack of definition, legislation and overall mandatory reporting across Canada, which requires further research.
To assess the bidirectional association between chronic pain and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults from two prospective cohort studies.
We used prospective data (12y of ...follow-up) from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (n = 9149, 5018 women, 65.0 ± 10.2y) and the Health and Retirement Study (n = 16,883, 9810 women, 66.9 ± 10.3y), including data from seven waves of each cohort between 2006 and 2018/2019. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Centre of Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, while chronic pain was estimated using questions about the frequency of being troubled with pain. We used random-intercept cross-lagged panel models to assess the bidirectional association between pain and depressive symptoms, adjusting for potential confounders.
There was a cross-lagged effect of chronic pain on depressive symptoms (ELSA: β: 0.038; 95%CI: 0.011–0.066. Standardized coefficient (B): 0.021. SHARE: β: 0.044; 95%CI: 0.023–0.065. B: 0.023–0.024) as well as depressive symptoms on pain (ELSA: β: 0.010; 95%CI: 0.002–0.018. B: 0.017–0.019. SHARE: 0.011; 95%CI: 0.005–0.017. B: 0.020–0.021). Moreover, there were auto-regressive effects of both chronic pain (ELSA: β: 0.149; 95%CI: 0.128–0.171. SHARE: β: 0.129; 95%CI: 0.112–0.145) and depressive symptoms (ELSA: β: 0.149; 95%CI: 0.130–0.168. SHARE: β: 0.169; 95%CI: 0.154–0.184).
We identified a modest bidirectional association between depressive symptoms and chronic pain, using two large prospective ageing cohorts.
•The stable trait variances of both chronic pain and depressive symptoms were correlated in both cohorts.•There is a relatively low bidirectional relationship between chronic pain and depressive symptoms.•Strategies to address both conditions are needed in middle-aged and older adults.
Research indicates that social isolation and loneliness have a negative effect on health and wellbeing among older people. Various technology-based interventions have been offered to reduce social ...isolation; however, research demonstrating the role of various types of technologies and their effectiveness in dealing with social isolation among seniors is scarce. This study undertakes a systematic literature review of empirical studies on various types of technologies and their effectiveness in alleviating social isolation among seniors. Relevant electronic databases were searched and through 6886 initial set of studies published from 2000 to 2015 we have found eight different technologies that have been applied to alleviate social isolation, namely, general ICT, video game, robotics, personal reminder information and social management system, asynchronous peer support chat room, social network sites, Telecare and 3D virtual environment. We further evaluated the effectiveness of the technologies with social isolation among seniors. Findings show that technologies can be used to reduce social isolation among seniors. However, more studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of new technologies.
•Technologies that have been proposed to overcome social isolation were identified.•We categorised these assistive technologies into eight clusters.•This study evaluated the effectiveness of the identified technologies.•A number of the technologies have a positive impact on reducing social isolation.
Abstract Falls constitute an important public health problem that impact the quality of life of an individual. Falls contribute to disability, especially among older adults and elderly individuals. ...Recurrent fallers are those who fall one or more times per year. The purpose of this article is to provide a detailed systemic qualitative review of the recent definition of falls, their mechanism, risk factors, classification; falls in neurodegenerative disorders; and their approach and management. Sources of literature were drawn from peer-reviewed original and systematic review articles published until January 2024 in the PubMed database using the following key words: falls, elderly, definition, management, etiology, neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy and fall, dementia and fall, and prevention and diagnostic tests for postural instability and falls. This review summarizes the current understanding of falls and provides a pragmatic and clinically focused approach to their management. Falls are usually multifactorial. Neurodegenerative disorders such as cognitive decline and parkinsonism lead to increased risk of falling. There are several tools to assess the risk of early falls. A multidisciplinary approach is needed in the management of falls. The main goal is encouraging physical activity, home hazard modification, management of postural hypotension, and underlying neurodegenerative diseases.
ABSTRACT Objective to understand the meaning of care from the perspective of resident older adults, family members and professionals from Long-Term Care Institutions for Older Adults. Method a ...descriptive and exploratory study with a qualitative approach, developed with 14 resident older adults, 35 family members and 41 professionals from Long Term Care Institutions for Older Adults, located in the city of Florianópolis, Brazil. The data were collected between May 2017 and January 2018, being organized through the Atlas.ti software for the analysis of qualitative data and analyzed according to the content analysis method proposed by Bardin, in the light of the Theory of Social Representations. Results for the older adults, care was linked to three main dimensions: technical care related to the institution, family care, and self-care. The meaning of care from the perspective of family members was related to the moment experienced with the institutionalization of the aged family member, mainly characterized by the dimensions of affective care, when providing comfort and technical care. For the professionals, technical care was related to the affective character. Conclusion care could be understood in different ways, from different perspectives, but it also made it possible to identify points of synchrony among the participants.
RESUMEN Objetivo comprender el significado del cuidado desde la perspectiva de los adultos mayores residentes, familiares y profesionales de las Instituciones de Atención de Larga Estadía para el Adulto Mayor. Método estudio descriptivo y exploratorio, con abordaje cualitativo, desarrollado con 14 adultos mayores residentes, 35 familiares y 41 profesionales de Instituciones de Atención de Larga Estadía para Adultos Mayores, ubicadas en la ciudad de Florianópolis, Brasil. Los datos fueron recolectados entre mayo de 2017 y enero de 2018, la organización de los mismos se llevó a cabo a través del software de análisis de datos cualitativos Atlas.ti y el análisis mediante el método de análisis de contenido propuesto por Bardin, a la luz de la Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales. Resultados para el adulto mayor, la atención se vinculó a tres dimensiones principales: atención técnica relacionada con la institución, atención familiar y autocuidado. El significado del cuidado desde la perspectiva de los familiares se relacionó con el momento vivido a partir de la institucionalización del familiar anciano, caracterizado principalmente por las dimensiones del cuidado afectivo, al brindar confort y cuidado técnico. Para los profesionales, el cuidado técnico estaba vinculado con el carácter afectivo. Conclusión el cuidado pudo entenderse de diferentes formas, desde diferentes perspectivas, sin embargo, fue posible identificar puntos de sincronía entre los participantes.
RESUMO Objetivo compreender o significado do cuidado na perspectiva de idosos residentes, familiares e profissionais de Instituições de Longa Permanência para Idosos. Método estudo do tipo descritivo e exploratório, com abordagem qualitativa, desenvolvido com 14 idosos residentes, 35 familiares e 41 profissionais de Instituições de Longa Permanência para Idosos, localizadas na cidade de Florianópolis, Brasil. Os dados foram coletados entre maio de 2017 e janeiro de 2018, sendo organizados através do software para análise de dados qualitativos Atlas.ti e analisados segundo o método de análise de conteúdo proposto por Bardin, à luz da Teoria das Representações Sociais. Resultados para os idosos, o cuidado esteve vinculado a três dimensões principais: o cuidado técnico relacionado à instituição, o cuidado familiar e o cuidado de si. O significado de cuidado na perspectiva de familiares esteve relacionado ao momento vivido com a institucionalização do familiar idoso, caracterizado principalmente pelas dimensões do cuidado afetivo, ao prover conforto e cuidado técnico. Para os profissionais, o cuidado técnico esteve relacionado ao caráter afetivo. Conclusão o cuidado pôde ser compreendido de formas distintas, sob ópticas diferentes, mas que também possibilitou a identificação de pontos de sincronia entre os participantes.
Medication non-adherence among older adults with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remains prevalent worldwide, which causes hospitalization and mortality. Our study aimed to examine the association ...of medication non-adherence with level of overall intrinsic capacity (IC), pattern of IC, and specific IC component among older adults with NCDs.
A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey of 1268 older adults aged 60 years and above was conducted in 2022 in southern Taiwan. Among them, 894 suffered from 1 more NCD were included in this study. The Integrated Care for Older People Screening Tool for Taiwanese and the Adherence to Refills and Medication Scale were used to assess IC and medication non-adherence, respectively. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify patterns of IC impairment, and binary logistic regression was used to assess the association between medication non-adherence and IC.
Older adults in the moderate (score: 1–2) or low (score≧3) overall IC groups were more likely to experience medication non-adherence (moderate: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.57 95% CI: 1.05–2.36; low: 2.26 1.40–3.67). The “physical and nutritional impairments accompanied by depressive symptoms” group was associated with statistically higher odds of medication non-adherence (aOR 1.66 1.01–2.73). Older adults with cognitive impairment, hearing loss, or depressive symptoms showed greater likelihood of medication non-adherence (cognitive impairment: aOR 1.53 1.03–2.27; hearing loss: aOR 1.57 1.03–2.37; depressive symptoms: aOR 1.81 1.17–2.80).
Intervention for improving medication non-adherence among older adults with NCDs should consider IC.
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