Psychological and Physical Problems in Elderly People with Problems of Falls

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S659-S660
Author(s):  
M. Mentis ◽  
M. Gouva ◽  
E. Antoniadou ◽  
K. Mpourdoulis ◽  
I. Kesoudidou ◽  
...  

IntroductionFalls of the elderly to a degree been associated with poor mental health, poor social support and poor physical health.ObjectivesTo investigate the falls of elderly people in relation to their mental and physical healthy.AimsTo compare the effects of falls in the elderly in the areas of mental and physical health.MethodsThe current study used purposive sampling compromised from 48 people that visited the emergency department at the Patras University Hospital in 2016. The inclusion criterion for participation was age (> 65 years). Data was collected using WHO's questionnaire, the WHOQUOL-BREF. Finally, data was analyzed using the test t test for independent samples.ResultsThe sample constituted by 39.6% of male and 61.4% of female. The average age of the sample was M = 75.89 years. In relation to mental health, the average of the elderly with a history of falls found M = 57.26 (SD = ± 22.87), while the other was found M = 74.45 (SD = ± 15.81). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05), while physical health although again the first group found to have a smaller average (M = 56.65, SD = ± 22.13) relative to the second group (M = 63.78, SD = ± 12.59) no statistical difference was observed.DiscussionsThese results demonstrates that falls beyond the physical damage that are immediately visible can as well create significant issues in the psychological state of the elderly exacerbating anxiety, fear and social isolation, which has been associated with depression event.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

1988 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Hendricks ◽  
Howard B. Turner

Despite growing concern with rural elderly populations, little attention has focused on their mental health, ways it may correlate with physical health, or how rural mental health patterns compare to urban. Popular wisdom contends that elderly people in general, and rural elderly persons in particular, are at increased risk for mental illness. This article examines these questions. A review of available literature suggests that elderly people may be at only slightly greater risk of mental illness than the population at large, though there are some indications that rates of depression may be somewhat higher among the elderly population. Much of this same literature implies that objective environmental conditions play a significant role in the incidence of depression. Analysis of data gathered in a statewide random poll ( N = 743) indicates that while physical health tends to be poorer among rural populations, when health is held constant there is actually an inverse relationship between age and depression. Therefore, rural elderly persons are no more likely to be depressed than their urban counterparts despite harsher living conditions. Both conceptual and policy implications are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 1171-1185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lixia Wang ◽  
Wenbo Liu ◽  
Yuhui Liang ◽  
Yuewei Wei

Objectives: This paper reports on the first study in China that used nationally representative data to compare mental health and depressive feeling between empty-nest and non-empty-nest elderly people (over 60 years old), and examine whether the health disparities (if any) can be explained by differences in family, emotional, housework, and economic support. Methods: We used the 2010 China General Social Survey and multivariate regression models to examine mental health and depressive feeling of 556 non-empty-nest and 210 empty-nest elderly people in China. Results: After controlling for various socio-demographic characteristics, although the empty-nest elderly were significantly more likely to report depressive feeling and poor mental health than non-empty-nest elderly, the difference was only statistically significant for depressive feeling. Importantly, the disparity in both depressive feeling and mental health can be mediated by differences in family economic support and household economic pressure. Conclusions: Our results highlight the risks of depressive feeling arising from the empty-nest living arrangement of elderly people and suggest that a poorer economic situation may result from decreased mental health. Drawing upon these results, future public policies aimed at improving mental health of empty-nest elderly may need to be more targeted to improve their economic conditions such as ameliorating pension and social welfare system shortcomings.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shicun Xu ◽  
Yuanyuan Wang ◽  
Hui Yu

Background: Elderly people face particular challenges in their everyday lives, and these are likely to be caused by physical health, mental health, cognitive function, and lack of maintaining a connection to other people. This study aims to explore a meaningful measure of human connectedness among the elderly in rural China and to examine the extent to which it impacts elderly people's physical and mental health as well as their cognitive function.Methods: Survey data were collected from 483 participants who were aged 60 and older in northeast rural China. The outcome variables included cognitive function, which was assessed by the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire; depressive symptoms, which were measured by the 10-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; and the participants' physical health, which was assessed by a 15-item checklist. On the other hand, human connectedness was constructed by perceived family support, which was measured by the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support; the sense of community, which was measured by the Brief Sense of Community Scale; and the satisfaction of connectedness with others (i.e., with family members and friends).Results: Structural equation modeling analysis confirms that perceived family support, community feelings, and perceived satisfactory connections with family and friends constitute a sufficient representation of human connectedness. Moreover, human connectedness also significantly predicted one's mental and physical well-being as well as cognitive function (b = 0.11, SD = 0.02, β = 0.50, p &lt; 0.001; model fitting indexes X(16)2 = 17.27, p = 0.368, CFI = 0.998, and RMSEA = 0.013).Conclusion: The present study is the first attempt to explore the latent structure of human connectedness and its positive impact on cognitive function as well as physical and mental health among elderly people. The implications and the importance of fostering a stronger social support network, especially for the aging population, are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yao-Tung Lee ◽  
Chia-Fen Tsai ◽  
Yen-Kuang Lin ◽  
Cheng-Che Shen ◽  
Li-Kai Huang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Dementia and depression have emerged as two of the major mental health concerns for elderly people, which are likely to substantially affect public health in the coming decades. Both dementia and geriatric depression are associated with increased morbidity, health care utilization, and mortality. Early detection and treatment initiation are some of the best strategies to minimize the ill effects of dementia and depression on the elderly people. To this end, large-scale screening may be the first step. Methods Screening of individuals ≥65 years old was conducted in the outpatient department of a university hospital. Ascertainment of dementia 8 (AD8) and five-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5) were used to screen for cognitive decline and depression, respectively. Findings: In total, 3079 elderly people completed both AD8 and BSRS-5. Patients tested positive for cognitive impairment and depression were 28.2% and 15%, respectively. However, 7% were tested positive by both AD8 and BSRS-5 and with statistical significance. Interpretation: The high ratio of suspected dementia and suspected depression suggested the needs and cost-effect of screening among the elderly outpatients. However, the statistically significant overlap implied potential bias when screening only one condition. Future screening program of geriatric mental health needs to consider this.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeng-Rong Luo ◽  
Dong-Shan Liao ◽  
Liang-Wan Chen

Abstract Background To compare postoperative sexual dysfunction (SD) and quality of life (QOL) in Type A Aortic Dissection (AAD) Patients of Different Ages. Methods From January 2018 to December 2019, 204 AAD postoperative survivors in Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University were selected and were divided into young group (less than 50 years old) and elderly group (more than 50 years old). We evaluated SD according to the male International Erectile Dysfunction Index (IIEF-5) and female sexual function index (FSFI). The Short Form 12 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-12) and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q) were used to investigate the QOL, Quick Inventory Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (QIDS-SR) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) to investigate depressive symptoms. Results One hundred seventy-five patients completed all the questionnaire (85.8%). The total SD prevalence rate was 38.9% (68 cases), with 27.4% of the young (20 cases) and 47.1% of the elderly (48 cases). The age of non-SD and SD patients was 49.0 ± 11.5 and 56.9 ± 10.8 years, respectively (P = 0.03). Compared with non-SD patients, the total physical health of SD patients was significantly worse (P = 0.04), however, the mental health was not significantly worse (P = 0.77); the depressive symptoms did not expressed a significant difference between the SD and non-SD groups (QIDS-SR P = 0.15, BDI-II P = 0.06). Total physical health scores in the young SD group did not show significant better than elderly SD group (P = 0.24), however, total mental health scores showed significantly worse (P = 0.04), depressive symptoms scores were significantly higher (QIDS-SR P = 0.03, BDI-II P = 0.04). Conclusion The postoperative AAD SD prevalence of elderly is higher than that of young, and the total physical health of SD patients is poorer than those without SD patients. The young SD patients did not show a significant higher physical health scores than the elderly SD patients, instead, the young SD patients were more psychologically affected than the elderly SD patients, whose mental health was worse, and depression symptoms were more obvious, suggesting that the factors affecting the QOL of postoperative SD patients are related to physical factors, but the young postoperative SD patients mainly affected by psychological factors.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hridaya Raj Devkota ◽  
Bishnu Bhandari ◽  
Pratik Adhikary

AbstractBackgroundPoor mental health and illness among the working population have serious socio-economic and public health consequences for both the individual and society/country. With a dramatic increase in work migration over the past decades, there is recent concern about the health and wellbeing of migrant workers and their accessibility to healthcare services in destination countries. This study aimed to explore the mental health and wellbeing experiences of Nepali returnee-migrants and non-migrant workers, and identify their perception on the risk factors for poor health and health service accessibility for them.MethodsThis qualitative study was conducted among Nepali migrant and non-migrant workers in February 2020. Four focus group discussions (n=25) and 15 in-depth interviews were conducted with male non-migrant and returnee migrant workers from Gulf countries and Malaysia. The discussions and interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated into English and analysed thematically.ResultMigrant workers reported a higher risk of developing adverse mental health conditions than non-migrant workers. In addition, fever, upper respiratory infection, abdominal pain, ulcer, and occupational injuries were common health problems among both migrant and non-migrant workers. Other major illnesses reported by the migrant workers were heat burns and rashes, snake-bites, dengue, malaria, gallstone, kidney failure, and sexually transmitted diseases, while non-migrants reported hypertension, diabetes, and heart diseases. Adverse living and working conditions including exploitation and abuse by employers, lack of privacy and congested accommodation, language barriers, long hours’ hard physical work without breaks, and unhealthy lifestyles were the contributing factors to migrant workers’ poor mental and physical health. Both migrant and non-migrants reported poor compliance of job conditions and labor protection by their employers such as application of safety measures at work, provision of insurance and healthcare facilities that affected for their wellbeing negatively. Family problems compounded by constant financial burdens and unmet expectations were the most important factors linked with migrant workers’ poor mental health condition.ConclusionBoth migrant and non-migrant workers experienced poor mental and physical health condition largely affected by their adverse living and working conditions, unmet familial and financial needs and adherence to unhealthy life styles. It is needed to ensure the compliance of work agreement by employers and promotion of labor rights in relation to worker’s health and safety. In addition, policy interventions on raising awareness on occupational health risk and effective safety training to all migrant and non-migrant workers are recommended.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kentaro Moriichi ◽  
Mikihiro Fujiya ◽  
Takanori Ro ◽  
Tetsuo Ota ◽  
Hitomi Nishimiya ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The importance of fall prevention rehabilitations has been well recognized. Recently, telerehabilitation was developed, however, there have been no reports on the use of telerehabilitation with direct support from specialists for fall prevention among the elderly. We herein reported telerehabilitation by carers educated by our novel educational program.Methods: Nine elderly people in two nursing homes were enrolled using our original criteria. Carers are educated with our educational program using telelecture system. Telerehabilitation was performed by carers following the instruction from rehabilitation specialists in Asahikawa Medical University using the telemedicine system every 2-4 weeks for three months. Carers were assessed with our original questionnaire before and after the telelecture. Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up & Go test (TUG test), Hand-held dynamometer (HHD) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were assessed before and after telerehabilitation.Results: The average number of times to perform telerehabilitation in all institutes was 4.7. Levels of understanding of carers were significantly increased after the telelecture. No adverse event occurred during the study period. Median BBSs before and three months after telerehabilitation were 43 and 49, respectively. Those of TUG test, right and left HHD and MMSE were 17.89 and 18.53, 7.95 and 11.55, 9.85 and 13.20, and 16 and 19, respectively. All results were improved after telerehabilitation.Conclusions: Our telerehabilitation program exhibited significant effects in elderly people as well as levels of understanding rehabilitation of caregivers in the facilities for the elderly people safely.Trial registration: University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry(UMIN-CTR)UMIN000041439, August 17th, 2020


2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jill Hunter ◽  
Linda Pearson ◽  
Mehera San Roque ◽  
Zac Steel

This article examines the central role that credibility assessment plays in refugee determinations. It draws on the authors' own empirical study, Tales of the Unexpected, to display the complex ways in which applicants' poor mental health can affect their capacity to present a 'coherent and plausible‘ account of their experiences. The authors then explore the significant issues arising from the tendency revealed in the Tales study for decision makers to dismiss expert opinions expressed in reports tendered by applicants from psychologists specialising in cross-cultural mental health assessment. For example, consider the decision maker who observed that [The] psychologist reported that the Applicant was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression and that this psychological state was likely to affect his ability to answer questions at an RRT hearing …. [Nevertheless] [Mr S] did not display any difficulty in understanding or answering questions. … He [appeared] alert, engaged, and is clearly an intelligent man. I do not accept that he had any difficulty in understanding proceedings or answering questions.5


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 1978-1988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Iani ◽  
Marco Lauriola ◽  
Andrea-René Angeramo ◽  
Elena Malinconico ◽  
Piero Porcelli

In this preliminary study, we examined whether aspects of spiritual well-being accounted for mental and physical health-related quality of life in 68 patients with end-stage renal disease, when controlling for age, type of treatment, physical symptoms, and worries. Hierarchical multiple regressions showed that meaning was associated with better mental health, while worry and physical symptoms also accounted for poor mental health. Faith and peace did not contribute to mental health. Older age, type of treatment (hemodialysis), and physical symptoms accounted for poor physical health. Our findings suggest that clinicians should include spiritual well-being in future interventions for end-stage renal disease patients.


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