Fear of falling assessments in older people with dementia

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantel Cox ◽  
Michael Vassallo

SummaryFear of falling (FoF) is a common condition in older age. However, there is a paucity of research on its prevalence, impact and treatment in older people with dementia. People with dementia have an increased risk of falls which present a significant threat to their independence, as well as having a significant economic impact on health and social services. This review outlines the key issues in relation to FoF, current guidelines and assessment tools and their use for people with dementia. Further research needs to be completed in both addressing the specific assessment barriers that people with dementia may face regarding the use of current FoF tools, with further exploration surrounding the individual's experience of FoF and how this may be impacting upon their quality of life and functionality. Until a well-validated method has been developed, clinicians need to utilize available tools as guidelines, seek the assistance of proxies at all stages of the care journey, and use clinical judgement to assess FoF in patients with dementia.

2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaynee Handelsman

The risk of falling increases with advancing age, and falls in older adults are associated with immediate serious consequences, such as fractures and head injuries, as well as longer-term problems, such as disability, fear of falling, and loss of independence. The determination of fall risk among older adults and the prevention of falls have been a major focus of research for more than a decade. A number of factors have been identified that increase the likelihood that an individual will fall, and various strategies for assessing falls risk have been reported. Some have proposed clinically based assessment tools that can be easily included as part of an annual exam, whereas others have proposed laboratory based comprehensive evaluations. Regardless of the type of falls assessment strategy, the desired outcome is to provide interventions that may result in a reduction in falls risk. The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief review of the magnitude of the problem, factors that are known to be associated with an increased risk of falls, components that may be included in a fall prevention program, and evidence of factors that contribute to improved outcomes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 153-154
Author(s):  
Afeez Hazzan

Abstract Dementia is one of the most rapidly growing diseases in the United States. In 2018, the direct costs to American society of caring for older people with dementia was approximately $277 billion. Primary informal caregivers are mainly responsible for the care of older people with dementia including Alzheimer’s disease. Caregivers perform a myriad of duties ranging from shopping for their loved ones’ groceries, helping with medications, and managing finances. The caregiving role becomes more demanding as the disease progresses over time, and studies have shown that the quality-of-life (QoL) experienced by caregivers of older adults who have dementia is lower than the QoL of caregivers for older people who do not have dementia. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no research conducted to investigate whether lower caregiver QoL affects the level or quality of care that caregivers provide to persons with dementia. In the current study, we interviewed family caregivers living in Rochester, New York to inquire about their quality of life and the care provided to older people living with dementia. Further, caregivers completed the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) as well as a draft questionnaire for measuring the quality of care provided to older people living with dementia. Both quantitative and qualitative findings from this study reveals important relationships between family caregiver QoL and the care provided, including the impact of social support and financial well-being. The study findings could have significant impact, particularly for the provision of much needed support for family caregivers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 152-152
Author(s):  
Afeez Hazzan

Abstract Family caregivers of older people living with dementia are relatives, friends, or neighbors who provide assistance related to this condition, but who are unpaid for the services they provide. Although caregiving could be personally rewarding, many caregivers report a high level of strain. Compared to caregivers of older adults who do not have dementia, family caregivers of older people living with dementia report lower quality-of-life (QoL). In a published systematic review examining the relationship between family caregiver QoL and the quality of care provided, only one study was found to be somewhat relevant. The study suggested that the primary reason for an absence of research into the link between family caregiver QoL and quality of care was the absence of a questionnaire for measuring quality of care in dementia. Therefore, any attempt to investigate the impact of caregiver QoL on the care provided to older people with dementia must first address the lack of an instrument to measure quality of care. To address this issue, we interviewed approximately 20 family caregivers in order to elicit feedback on measurements and interpretation of the quality of care provided by family caregivers of older people living with dementia. Content analysis of the interview transcripts revealed that the quality of relationships with family, caregiver availability to provide or supervise care, and availability of paid or volunteer help are important for the quality of care provided. These results have important implications, particularly for the development of an instrument to measure quality of care in dementia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i12-i42
Author(s):  
K Ibrahim ◽  
M A Mullee ◽  
G Lily Yao ◽  
S Zhu ◽  
M Baxter ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Osteoporosis and sarcopenia often co-exist (osteo-sarcopenia) and both are associated with increased risk of falls and fractures. Early identification and treatment of sarcopenia among older people with fragility arm fractures could prevent further fractures. This study evaluated the feasibility of assessing sarcopenia in a fracture clinic. Methods People aged 65+ years with arm fracture attending fracture clinics in one acute trust were recruited. Sarcopenia was assessed using gait speed, grip strength with unfractured arm (hand dynamometer using appropriate cut off adjusted for age and gender), skeletal muscle mass index SMI (Bioimpedance BIA), SARC-F questionnaire, the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) I and II criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of each measure was calculated against the EWGSOP II criteria as the standard reference. Results 100 patients (Mean age 75 years±7.2; 80 female) were recruited. Sarcopenia was identified among 4% (EWGSOP I), 5% (SMI), 13% (EWGSOP II), 16% (gait speed test), 18% (SARC-F) and 39% (grip strength) and was more prevalent among men. SARC-F had the best sensitivity and specificity (100% and 96% respectively) when compared to the EWGSOP II criteria. Sensitivity and specificity for the remaining measures were respectively (100%, 71%) for grip strength, (75%, 94%) for gait speed, (25%, 97%) with SMI and (25%, 99%) for EWGSOP I. Time needed to complete the assessments was 1–2 minutes for gait speed, grip strength and SARC-F; five minutes for BIA test, and nine minutes when EWGSOP I and II criteria were applied. Data were complete for grip strength and SARC-F. Missing data was reported among 2% for gait speed, 8% for BIA test, 8% for EWGSOP II and 10% for EWGSOP I. Conclusion It was feasible to assess sarcopenia in fracture clinics and SARC-F was a quick, simple and sensitive tool suitable for routine use.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (16) ◽  
pp. 119-125
Author(s):  
Syamsul Anwar Sultan Ibrahim ◽  
Akehsan Dahlan ◽  
Ahmad Zamir Che Daud

Older people with dementia always experience the cognitive difficulties that are believed to impact their daily life significantly. However, information regarding occupation-based intervention toward older people with mild dementia in the institution is inconclusive. The results of this randomized controlled trial indicate a significant difference in cognitive functions, social relationship, and the quality of life. Participants in the experimental group improved significantly compared to the participants in the control group. Engagement in occupational activities should be encouraged to older people with mild dementia in institution to facilitate the cognitive functions, social relationship, and quality of life. Keywords: older people; mild dementia; occupation-based; quality of life eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6i16.2727


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 913-920
Author(s):  
Linchong Pothiban ◽  
Chomphoonut Srirat ◽  
Nahathai Wongpakaran ◽  
Orawan Pankong

2019 ◽  
Vol Volume 14 ◽  
pp. 701-719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Schoene ◽  
Claudia Heller ◽  
Yan N Aung ◽  
Cornel C Sieber ◽  
Wolfgang Kemmler ◽  
...  

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