An Advanced Teleassistance System to Improve Life Quality in the Elderly

Author(s):  
Fernando Ropero ◽  
Daniel Vaquerizo ◽  
Pablo Muñoz ◽  
María D. R-Moreno
Keyword(s):  
2021 ◽  
pp. 104365962110214
Author(s):  
Lei Lei ◽  
Quanxi Gan ◽  
Chunyan Gu ◽  
Jing Tan ◽  
Yu Luo

Introduction With the global aging process intensified, the demand for end-of-life care has surged, especially in China. However, its development is restricted. Understanding the life and death attitude among the elderly and its formation process, and clarifying their needs, are so important to promote social popularization of end-of-life care. Methodology This qualitative study included 20 elderly residents in Nan and Shuangbei Communities, Chongqing City, People’s Republic of China. Data were collected through semistructured in-depth individual interviews and processed by thematic analysis method. Results Three themes and eight subthemes were identified: Characteristics of formation process (passive thinking, closed and single), life-and-death attitude (cherish and enjoy life, quality of life priority, let death take its course) and expectations of end-of-life care (preferences, basic needs, good death). Discussion Life-and-death attitude and end-of-life care expectations of the elderly support the development and delivery of end-of-life care. Furthermore, the individual-family-hospital linkage discussion channel needs to be further explored.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nesreen Fathi Mahmoud ◽  
Huda Zahran ◽  
Sherif Abdelmonam

Abstract Background This study focuses on the self-perception of the voice in the elderly as assessed by the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) questionnaire. This work aimed to compare differences in the voice-related quality of life outcomes between (1) elderly with and without voice disorders, (2) female and male elderly with voice disorders, and (3) different types of voice disorders, and to explore the correlation between the V-RQOL and perceptual analysis done by the clinician. Forty-three dysphonic and 44 non-dysphonic elderly filled out the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) protocol that analyzes the impact of dysphonia on life quality. Vocal perceptual assessment of each subject with dysphonia was made by three voice therapists, followed by a flexible nasofibrolaryngoscope. Results A significant statistical difference was found between the means of total V-RQOL scores and its subdomains for each group (dysphonic and non-dysphonic). No significant differences were found between male and female elderly with dysphonia. The statistical analysis showed a significant correlation with the vocal assessment made by the clinicians and the V-RQOL self-assessment made by the subjects. Conclusions This study provides valuable information regarding the risk factors that contribute to vocal quality in the elderly population. Our results revealed that different types of voice disorders are common among the elderly population with significant negative effects on quality of life. It was observed that the poorest score on the V-RQOL was for functional voice disorders, followed by neoplastic lesions, whereas MAPLs had the best score on the V-RQOL.


Author(s):  
Heloisa Candia Hollnagel ◽  
Luiz Jurandir Simões De Araújo ◽  
Ricardo Luiz Pereira Bueno

On 2016 the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda officially came into force proposing that Governments can work to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all. This study aims to analyze the contribution of Residential Elderly Care Center – RECC to promote SD along with social support in urban centers of megacities. Considering that the current scenario presents: longer life expectancy and increasing numbers of older people; the growing presence of women in the market and the hierarchy of companies making more and more difficult for them to stay at home as well as the failure of public care structure to respond adequately to citizens’ demands new business models are welcome. While the families are getting smaller which removes potential caregivers within them, conversely mobility issues among peripheral areas and public institutions are increasing. Large arrangements for caring can be useful in some contexts, but generally, require commuting from home to the support structure and new public and private investments. The potential reduction of human daily dislocations could improve the environment and life quality in megacities in many aspects: decreasing vehicles CO2 emissions, pollution and the volume of traffic; giving practicality to everyday life of families with dependent members of care and generating new opportunities of small business. In addition, this new residential structures employment might reduce the need to shift the caregivers themselves to their work place, strengthen community bounds and not require immobilization of new properties of the exclusive use for Care centers in highly urbanized areas. The methodology used in this paper is based in the exploratory-descriptive and bibliographical-documentary method. Results of the study are corroborated by a series of complementary research of the authors. Conceptual step-by-step flowchart to assist an entrepreneur to open a RECC is described.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 1605-1614
Author(s):  
K Krisdiyanti ◽  
Dyah Putri Aryati

AbstractThe increasing number of the elderly population is a phenomenom that occurs today. The high level of dependence of the elderly causes the elderly to have the potential to be placed in care homes. The elderly are individuals who hane a high risk of isease and stressors. This, of course, requires efforts to ensure the life of the elderly, not only seen from fulfillment of the needs of the elderly but also the life quality of the eldely. The study aims to describe the quality of life of the elderly who live in care homes. The study used a literature review method by searching for articles in the Pubmed database, and google sholar. The search was conducted by combining keywords: “Elderly, “Elderly people”, “Quality of life”, “WHOQOL-BREF”, and “Nursing home” with the year 2011-2021. Participants in this study were 395 respondents of elderly living in care homes. The results of the literature review of 6 articles showed that there are 73 respondents (18,5%) with low category of life quality, 195 respondents (49,9%) with medium category of life quality, and 127 repondents (32,1%) high category of the life quality. From this study, it can be concluded that the quality of life of the elderly living in care homes is mostly (49,9%) in moderate category. The role of nurses is needed to improve the quality of life of the elderly who live in care homes.Keywords: care homes; elderly; quality of life; WHOQOL-BREF AbstrakTerjadinya peningkatan jumlah populasi lanjut usia merupakan fenomena yang terjadi saat ini. Tingkat ketergantungan lansia yang tinggi mengakibatkan lansia berpontesi untuk ditempatkan di panti sosial. Lansia merupakan individu yang memiliki resiko tinggi dan rentan terhadap penyakit serta stresor. Hal ini tentunya dibutuhkan upaya untuk menjamin hidup lansia, tidak hanya dilihat dari pemenuhan kebutuhan lansia namun juga dilihat dari kualitas hidup lansia. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui gambaran kualitas hidup lansia yang tinggal di panti sosial. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode literature review, untuk pencarian artikel dengan mengakses database Pubmed, dan googlescholar. Pencarian dilakukan dengan mengkombinasi kata kunci: “elderly”, “elderly people”, “Quality of life”, “WHOQOL-BREF”, “Nursing home” dengan batasan tahun 2011-2021. Partisipan pada studi ini adalah lansia yang tinggal di panti sosial dengan total 395 lansia. Hasil penelitian literature review dari 6 artikel menunjukan kualitas hidup lansia dengan kategori rendah 73 responden (18,5%), sedang 195 responden (49,9%) dan tinggi 127 responden (32,1%). Dari penelitian ini diketahui bahwa kualitas hidup lansia yang tinggal di panti sosial sebagian besar (49,9%) dalam kategori sedang. Perlu adanya peran perawat untuk meningkatkan kualitas hidup lansia yang tinggal di panti sosial.Kata kunci : kualitas hidup; lansia; panti sosial; WHOQOL-BREF


2021 ◽  
pp. medethics-2020-107185
Author(s):  
Sara Kate Heide

Defining quality of life is a difficult task as it is a subjective and personal experience. However, for the elderly, this definition is necessary for making complicated healthcare-related decisions. Commonly these decisions compare independence against safety or longevity against comfort. These choices are often not made in isolation, but with the help of a healthcare team. When the patient’s concept of quality of life is miscommunicated, there is a risk of harm to the patient whose best interests are not well understood. In order to bridge this gap in understanding and unite seniors with their caretakers as a cohesive team, we need to establish a definition of quality of life. In this paper, my personal experiences with the elderly will be analysed along with five essays on the topic of ageing. These sources provide clear evidence that quality of life for seniors is majorly determined by the ability to preserve one’s lifelong identity. When making difficult decisions in geriatric healthcare, this greater understanding of the determinants of life quality will allow treatments to best serve the elderly. Defining quality of life allows healthcare providers to shift the focus from minimising disability toward maximising ability. I believe this shift would provide seniors with better health outcomes and properly enhance the quality of their years.


Author(s):  
Cristina Bosch-Farré ◽  
Maria Carmen Malagón-Aguilera ◽  
David Ballester-Ferrando ◽  
Carme Bertran-Noguer ◽  
Anna Bonmatí-Tomàs ◽  
...  

Background: Most elderly people wish to grow old at their own homes. The sociodemographic characteristics; home and neighbourhood conditions; and the social services support and networks are determinants in the possibility of “ageing in place”. The present study aimed to explore the ageing in place phenomenon, as well as the enablers and barriers that interact in a healthy ageing from the perspective of the elderly connected to local entities. Methods: A generic qualitative design was proposed in the Health Region of Girona in Catalonia (Spain). Seventy-one elderly people were purposefully selected. Six focus groups were conducted, and data were thematically analysed. Results: Three key themes were generated: (1) Participants experienced ageing differently. The physical and mental health, the family environment and financial stability were key elements for life quality. (2) The perception of the elderly’s role in the community depended on their age, health status and attitude towards life. (3) The participants identified several enablers and barriers to healthy ageing in place. Conclusions: The promotion of older people’s autonomy and wellbeing, together with the creation of an active network of health and social services, may improve the possibility for elderly to age at home and avoid or delay institutionalisation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Émerson Soares PONTES ◽  
Ana Karênina de Freitas Jordão do AMARAL ◽  
Flávia Luiza Costa do RÊGO ◽  
Elma Heitmann Mares AZEVEDO ◽  
Priscila Oliveira Costa SILVA

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND The elderly population faces many difficulties as a result of the aging process. Conceptualize and evaluate their life quality is a challenge, being hard to characterize the impact on daily activities and on functional capacity. The stroke is one of the most disabling neurological diseases, becoming a public health problem. As an aggravating result, there is dysphagia, a disorder that compromises the progression of the food from the mouth to the stomach, causing clinical complications to the individual. OBJECTIVE Characterize the life quality of the elderly swallowing affected by stroke. METHODS Cross-sectional study conducted at the University Hospital, attended by 35 elderly with stroke, being 19 women and 16 men, with age between 60 and 90 years old, that self-reported satisfactory overall clinical picture. It was applied the Quality of Life Swallowing protocol. The data were statistically analyzed, by means of ANOVA tests, Spearman correlation, t test, with significance level of 5%. RESULTS The mean age was 69.5 years; as for the scores obtained by the 35 participants in the 11 domains of the protocol, it was observed a change in score indicating severe to moderate impact in quality of life related to self-reported swallowing (31.8% to 59.5%); the domain that most interfered was the feeding time (31.8%). CONCLUSION Elderly affected by stroke that present dysphagia has low scores in quality of life related to swallowing.


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