scholarly journals Impact of Pain and Discomfort on the Lives of Cognitively Impaired Older Adults and Their Informal Caregivers

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 786-787
Author(s):  
Hyunjin Noh

Abstract This qualitative study explored the impact of pain and discomfort on the lives of cognitively impaired older adults and their caregivers from the caregiver perspective. Forty-three individuals of age 19+, who identified themselves as primary caregiver to a chronically or seriously ill older adult (age 50+) with cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia, were recruited at various community settings. Individual, face-to-face interviews were conducted to ask participants how they thought their care-recipient’s pain and discomfort affected the care-recipient’s and the caregiver’s life respectively. Inductive, thematic analysis of interview transcripts revealed several key themes: compromised mobility, limited social interaction or activities, and depressive symptoms in both care-recipients and caregivers; aggravated cognitive decline in care-recipients; and poorer physical health in caregivers. Participants wanted more information on the disease trajectory and available services, particularly home-based therapies and social activities for care-recipients, which provides future program/practice implications.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S289-S290
Author(s):  
Chinelo K Nsobundu ◽  
Margaret J Foster ◽  
Yan Hong

Abstract Falls constitute a multitude of injuries irrespective of age. To combat these challenges, older adults are encouraged to engage in recreational activities. Yoga has been identified as an effective physical activity to promote mobility and balance for older adults. This study aims to systematically review the literature about yoga as a fall prevention intervention and synthesize the outcomes. Major databases (Ovid Medline & CINAHL) were searched for relevant articles. Studies were included if they met the criteria of 1) being a face to face yoga program, 2) aimed to recruit participants 50 years or older, and 3) reported at least one fall-related outcome (e.g., balance, mobility, fear of falling) as a result of the yoga program. 57 studies were identified: 32 from Ovid Medline and 25 from CINAHL. After removing the duplicates and applying a strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, 11 articles were included in the final analysis. A detailed synthesis of the results will be presented and quality assessment of included articles will be performed using the Modified Downs and Black checklist which appraises the methodological quality of both randomized and non-randomized studies. More research is needed to understand the impact of yoga in preventing falls among older adults at least 50 years of age. Additionally, research should establish a gold standard index that identifies which specific yoga programs ( based on type- individual vs. group; hatha, iyengar, kundalini, ashtanga, and etc.; frequency, and duration) have an enhanced effect on fall prevention.


Author(s):  
Atiqur sm-Rahman ◽  
Chih Hung Lo ◽  
Azra Ramic ◽  
Yasmin Jahan

There has been supporting evidence that older adults with underlying health conditions form the majority of the fatal cases in the current novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. While the impact of COVID-19 is affecting the general public, it is clear that these distressful experiences will be magnified in older adults, particularly people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD), making them the most vulnerable group during this time. People with differing degrees of ADRD are especially susceptible to the virus, not only because of their difficulties in assessing the threat or remembering the safety measures, but also because of the likelihood to be subject to other risk factors, such as lack of proper care and psychological issues. Therefore, in this article, we will discuss the challenges related to home-based care for people with ADRD during a pandemic and propose a formulation of systematic solutions to address these challenges and to alleviate the social and economic impact resulting from the crisis.


2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Lattimore ◽  
Sara Wilcox ◽  
Ruth Saunders ◽  
Saarah Griffin ◽  
Elizabeth Fallon ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to assess barriers experienced by mid-older adults upon entering a homebased, telephone-delivered physical activity (PA) program and examine differences in barriers for subgroups. Methods: Three hundred eighty four participants recruited from Tennessee, California, and Illinois for the Active Choices program, which was part of Active for Life®, completed one face-to-face counseling session and received follow-up telephone counseling. Barriers were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively for subgroups of mid-older adults. Results: Personal, social, and environmental themes emerged as barriers. Lack of motivation was most salient for men while health barriers were more prominent for women; however, no significant differences were found between men and women. Both whites and African Americans reported lack of motivation as the most frequent barrier to PA. Health and weather barriers were more prominent for the oldest group of older adults. Few differences were reported by PA or weight status. Conclusions: In a large sample of mid-older adults varying in age, race, gender, and health status, multiple barriers to PA were reported. Differences across subgroups may have implications for future PA interventions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 721-721
Author(s):  
Naoko Muramatsu ◽  
Lijuan Yin ◽  
Maria Caceres ◽  
Jordan Skowronski

Abstract Homecare has increased its value as an alternative to nursing homes and adapted to evolving COVID-19 challenges. However, little is known about how COVID-19 has impacted community-dwelling older adults who need assistance with daily activities, including dressing, cooking, and shopping. Guided by the stress process framework, this mixed-method study examined how older homecare recipients experienced the acute and chronic stress during the first eight months of the pandemic, focusing on the role of home care aides (HCAs) in the context of Medicaid-funded in-home services. Thirty-five dyads of care recipients and HCAs participated in a COVID telephone survey as part of a larger study. Care recipients were typically older minority (40% African American, 31% Latinx) women (77%). Their COVID-related anxiety level, assessed by a 6-item Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (1 “not at all” to 4 “very much”), was 2.2 (SD=0.9). While COVID-19 drastically reduced contacts with family members and healthcare providers, HCAs continued to provide care in person. One care recipient said, “Fortunately, I still have my HCA come and that keeps me sane.” HCAs showed resilience while facing their own family- and work-related stress: “I have followed the rules and just adapted. (COVID) did not affect the activities for my client.” Some dyads, however, experienced care disruptions because of COVID infection or fear in one or both parties. COVID-19 has demonstrated homecare resilience at the person-, dyad-, and organization-levels, calling for equitable, sustainable home-based care for a growing number of older adults who desire to stay in the home.


2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bethany Kate Bareham ◽  
Eileen Kaner ◽  
Liam Spencer ◽  
Barbara Hanratty

Abstract Background alcohol may increase risks to late-life health, due to its impact on conditions or medication. Older adults must weigh up the potential risks of drinking against perceived benefits associated with positive roles of alcohol in their social lives. Health and social care workers are in a key position to support older people’s decisions about their alcohol use. Objective to systematically review and synthesise qualitative studies exploring health and social care providers’ views and experiences of older people’s drinking and its management in care services. Method a pre-specified search strategy was applied to five electronic databases from inception to June 2018. Grey literature, relevant journals, references and citations of included articles were searched. Two independent reviewers sifted and quality-appraised articles. Included study findings were analysed through thematic synthesis. Results 18 unique studies were included. Four themes explained findings: uncertainty about drinking as a legitimate concern in care provision for older people; the impact of preconceptions on work with older adults; sensitivity surrounding alcohol use in later life; and negotiating responsibility for older adults’ alcohol use. Discipline- and country-specific patterns are highlighted. Conclusions reservations about addressing alcohol could mean that service providers do not intervene with older adults. Judgements of whether older care recipients’ drinking warrants intervention are complex. Providers will need support and training to recognise and provide appropriate intervention for drinking amongst older care recipients.


Author(s):  
Daniella Rangira ◽  
Hiba Najeeb ◽  
Samantha E. Shune ◽  
Ashwini Namasivayam-MacDonald

Introduction: A previous review suggested that dysphagia is negatively associated with burden in caregivers of community-dwelling older adults. Other literature suggests similar patterns of burden may be found across adult patient populations. The current study, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, was conducted to determine the impact of dysphagia on caregivers of adults, regardless of etiology. Method: Five electronic databases were searched using terms based on a review by Namasivayam-MacDonald and Shune (2018) but included all adults rather than only older adults. Searches were limited to English-language empirical studies discussing caregiver burden, included caregivers of adult care recipients, had some care recipients with dysphagia, did not include palliative care, and published in a peer-reviewed journal. Results: The search yielded 1,112 unique abstracts, of which 17 were accepted. Across studies, caregiver burden was found to increase due to dysphagia in care recipients. Commonly reported dysphagia-related causes of burden included changes in meal preparation, disruption in lifestyle, effects on social life, lack of support, insertion of feeding tubes, and fear of aspiration. In general, dysphagia-related caregiver burden was a common experience across caregivers, regardless of patient population, caregiver age, and relationship between caregiver and care recipient. Meta-analyses suggest 71% of caregivers of adults with dysphagia experience some degree of burden. Conclusions: These findings support that dysphagia negatively impacts caregiver burden and suggests sources of burden that clinicians can address within dysphagia management to support caregivers. However, more research is needed to better delineate sources of burden, especially those specific to various dysphagia etiologies, to better meet the needs of our patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Akwasi Asante ◽  
Kofi Awuviry-Newton ◽  
Kwamina Abekah-Carter

While studies exploring COVID-19 and its global influence have begun, social networks and support among older adults in low-and middle-income countries, such as Ghana have been inadequate despite its enormous relevance. Thus, the study presents the voices of older adults in Jamestown, Accra and their social networks during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana. Using a phenomenological approach, data were collected from 15 older adults through in-depth interviews on older adults' social network experiences during COVID-19 pandemic situation. Older adults generally struggled to maintain connections with their family members, friends, neighbors, and the community, especially during the lockdown. They ascribed their limited interaction to COVID-19 preventive measures, such as social distancing and the limitation of face-to-face meetings imposed by the government. Loneliness, stress, and depression are also linked to the breakdown of social networks. The findings provide a deeper understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on older adults' quality of life. It emerged that the Ghanaian society could reconsider the professional services of gerontologists, social workers, community outreach workers, and philanthropists in mitigating loneliness, stress, and depression among older adults in current and future pandemics.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 278-279
Author(s):  
Pildoo Sung ◽  
Johan Suen ◽  
Nawal Hashim ◽  
Rahul Malhotra ◽  
Angelique Chan

Abstract Previous studies typically assess caregiver needs when trying to interpret caregiver burden. We propose that both met and unmet needs of care recipients translate into different caregiving experiences with varying levels of benefits and burden combined. We use data on 263 caregivers of community-dwelling Singaporean older adults with cognitive impairment who participated in a community-based dementia care study conducted in 2018-2020. Our analysis produces three major findings. First, latent class analysis identifies three distinct types of caregiving experience based on caregiver-reported burden and benefits of caregiving: intensive (high burden and high benefits, 11% of caregivers), satisfied (low burden and high benefits; 54%), and dissatisfied (low burden and low benefits; 35%). Second, multinomial logistic regression shows that both met and unmet needs of care recipients are positively associated with the intensive caregiving experience, while only met needs are positively associated with the satisfied caregiving experience, in comparison to dissatisfied caregiving experience. Third, met needs in the areas of daytime activities, memory assistance, and mobility are positively related to the satisfied caregiving experience, compared to the dissatisfied caregiving experience. In other words, caregivers are more likely to be satisfied in their caregiving experiences (i.e., low burden and high benefits) if their care recipients’ problems with memory, mobility, and finding suitable and adequate daytime activities are properly managed. Our findings thus call for interventions to fulfill care recipients’ needs in a more tailored manner in order to increase satisfaction among caregivers.


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