Functional Independence of Community-Dwelling Older Adults in China and South Korea

2014 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 440-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Othelia Eun-Kyoung Lee ◽  
Qingwen Xu ◽  
Jungui Lee
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

scholarly journals Digital Health Interventions for Healthy Aging: A Qualitative User Evaluation and Ethical Assessment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcello Ienca ◽  
Christophe Schneble ◽  
Reto Kressig ◽  
Tenzin Wangmo
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Healthy Ageing ◽  
Health Technologies ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract BackgroundDigital health technologies are being increasingly developed with the aim of allowing older adults to maintain functional independence throughout the old age, a process known as healthy ageing. Such digital health technologies for healthy ageing are expected to mitigate the socio-economic effects of population ageing and improve the quality of life of older people. However, little is known regarding the views and needs of older people regarding these technologies. AimThe aim of this study is to explore the views, needs and perceptions of community-dwelling older adults regarding the use of digital health technologies for healthy ageing. MethodFace-to-face, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with community-dwelling older adults (median age 79.6 years). The interview process involved both abstract reflections and practical demonstrations. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed according to inductive content analysis. ResultsThree main themes and twelve sub-themes emerged. The three main themes revolved around the following thematic areas: favorable views and perceptions on technology-assisted living, usability evaluations and ethical considerations. ConclusionsOur study reveals a generally positive attitude towards digital health technologies as participants believed digital tools could positively contribute to improving their overall wellbeing, especially if designed in a patient-centered manner. Safety concerns and ethical issues related to privacy, empowerment and lack of human contact also emerged as key considerations.

scholarly journals Older Adults—Potential Users of Technologies

Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vita Lesauskaitė ◽  
Gytė Damulevičienė ◽  
Jurgita Knašienė ◽  
Egidijus Kazanavičius ◽  
Agnius Liutkevičius ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Positive Attitude ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
University Education ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Ageing In Place ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Background and objective: The successful adoption of technology is becoming increasingly important to functional independence and successful ageing in place. A better understanding of technology usage amongst older people may help to direct future interventions aimed at improving their healthcare. We aimed to obtain the first data regarding technology use, including gerontechnologies, represented by fall detectors, from older adults in Lithuania. Material and methods: The research was carried out in the framework of the project Smart Gerontechnology for Healthy Ageing, which involved assessing the use of technologies and the readiness to use gerontechnologies, as represented by fall detectors. A total of 375 individuals that were more than 60 years of age were enrolled in the study. The self-reporting questionnaires were completed by geriatric in-patients, hospitalized in the geriatric department, and also by community-dwelling older adults. Results: Geriatric in-patients’ use of computers and the internet was associated with age (every year of age decreased the probability of computer and internet use by 0.9-times) and a positive attitude towards new technologies—this predictor increased the use of a computer by six-times in comparison with people who did not have such an attitude. Sex and education had no influence on computer use for geriatric in-patients. For community-dwelling older adults, the use of computers and internet was associated with age, education (a university education increased the use of computers and the internet by four times), and a positive attitude towards technologies. Conclusions: Lithuanian older women in the study used computers, the internet, and cell phones equally with men. Increasing age was a strong negative predictor of technology use. A positive attitude to new technologies was a strong positive predictor of technology use. Most geriatric patients and community-dwelling older adults were ready to use technologies that permit ageing in place.

scholarly journals Incidence of and Risk Factors for Falls Following Hip Fracture in Community-dwelling Older Adults

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (7) ◽  
pp. 648-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Shumway-Cook ◽  
Marcia A Ciol ◽  
William Gruber ◽  
Cynthia Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Hip Fracture ◽  
Functional Status ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Medical Problem ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Risk Factors For Falls ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract Background and Purpose. Hip fracture is a major medical problem among older adults, leading to impaired balance and gait and loss of functional independence. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of and risk factors for falls 6 months following hospital discharge for a fall-related hip fracture in older adults. Subjects. Ninety of 100 community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years of age) hospitalized for a fall-related hip fracture provided data for this study. Methods. An observational cohort study used interviews and medical records to obtain information on demographics, prefracture health, falls, and functional status. Self-report of falls and performance-based measures of balance and mobility were completed 6 months after discharge. Results. A total of 53.3% of patients (48/90) reported 1 or more falls in the 6 months after hospitalization. Older adults who fell following discharge had greater declines in independence in activities of daily living and lower performance on balance and mobility measures. Prefracture fall history and use of a gait device predicted postdischarge falls. Discussion and Conclusion. Falls following hip fracture can be predicted by premorbid functional status.

scholarly journals Multilevel Effects of Community Capacity on Active Aging in Community-Dwelling Older Adults in South Korea

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junghee Kim ◽  
Hyeonkyeong Lee ◽  
Eunhee Cho ◽  
Kyung Hee Lee ◽  
Chang Gi Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Community Capacity ◽  
Active Aging ◽  
Aging In Community ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽  
Multilevel Effects

scholarly journals Physical activity levels of older community-dwelling adults are influenced by summer weather variables

2009 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin A. Brandon ◽  
Dawn P. Gill ◽  
Mark Speechley ◽  
Jason Gilliland ◽  
Gareth R. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Maximal Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Curvilinear Relationship ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Weather Variables ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Adequate daily physical activity (PA) is important for maintaining functional capacity and independence in older adults. However, most older adults in Canada do not engage in enough PA to sustain fitness and functional independence. Environmental influences, such as warmer daytime temperatures, may influence PA participation; however, few studies have examined the effect of summertime temperatures on PA levels in older adults. This investigation measured the influence of summertime weather variables on PA in 48 community-dwelling older adults who were randomly recruited from a local seniors’ community centre. Each participant wore an accelerometer for a single 7-consecutive-day period (between 30 May and 9 August 2006) during waking hours, and completed a PA logbook to remark on major daily PA events. Local weather variables were collected from a national weather service and compared with PA counts per minute. Regression analysis revealed a curvilinear relationship between log-transformed PA and mean daily temperature (r2 = 0.025; p < 0.05). Linear mixed effects models that accounted for repeated measures nested within individuals were performed for monthly periods, meteorological variables, sex, age, and estimated maximal oxygen consumption, with PA as the dependent variable. Age and Air Quality Index remained significant variables within the model. Higher fitness levels had no effect on allowing individuals to perform more vigorous PA in warmer temperatures.

scholarly journals Effects of Community-Based Physical-Cognitive Training, Health Education, and Reablement among Rural Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Mobility Deficits

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 9374
Author(s):  
Chen-Yi Song ◽  
Pay-Shin Lin ◽  
Pei-Lun Hung ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Performance Measure ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Reablement services are approaches for maintaining and improving the functional independence of older adults. Previous reablement studies were conducted in a home environment. Due to the limited evidence on the effects of multicomponent interventions and reablement in a community-based context, this study aimed to develop and evaluate the effect of community-based physical–cognitive training, health education, and reablement (PCHER) among rural community-dwelling older adults with mobility deficits. The trial was conducted in rural areas of New Taipei City, Taiwan. Older adults with mild to moderate mobility deficits were recruited from six adult daycare centers, and a cluster assignment was applied in a counterbalanced order. The experimental group (n = 16) received a PCHER intervention, comprising 1.5 h of group courses and 1 h of individualized reablement training, while the control group (n = 12) underwent PCHE intervention, comprising 1.5 h of group courses and 1 h of placebo treatment. A 2.5-h training session was completed weekly for 10 weeks. The outcome measures contained the de Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI), the Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) Examination, the Barthel Index (BI), the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). The PCHER significantly improved the DEMMI, SLUMS, BI, SPPB, and COPM (all p < 0.05), with medium-to-large effect sizes. PCHER also showed an advantage over PCHE in terms of the SPPB (p = 0.02). This study verified that combining individualized reablement with group-based multicomponent training was superior to group courses alone in enhancing the functional abilities of community-dwelling older adults with mobility deficits.

Sense of coherence and health of community-dwelling older adults in Spain

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 621-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca E. Giglio ◽  
Carmen Rodriguez-Blazquez ◽  
Jesús de Pedro-Cuesta ◽  
Maria João Forjaz
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Educational Level ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Demographic Aging ◽  
Personal Wellbeing ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

ABSTRACTBackground:In light of the demographic aging trend in Europe, investigation into successful aging is a public health priority. This paper describes the sense of coherence (SOC) of a sample of community-dwelling older adults in Spain and analyzes the relationship between SOC and both health and sociodemographic variables. SOC measures the extent to which an individual conceptualizes the world as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful. Strong SOC may promote good health.Methods:The study followed a cross-sectional design involving a nationally representative sample of 1,106 community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older in Spain. The sample was collected by geographically based proportional stratified sampling. Results are based on responses to a questionnaire requesting sociodemographic information and including the following validated scales: SOC, Barthel index (BI), functional independence scale (FIS), personal wellbeing index (PWI), EQ-5D dimensions (mobility, personal care, daily activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression), and the depression subscale of the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS-D). A multivariate linear regression model analyzed determinants of SOC.Results:Personal wellbeing (b = −0.32), depression (b = 0.26), and educational level (b = −0.06) were significant determinants of SOC. Lower SOC was associated with problems in all EQ-5D dimensions and moderate/severe disability as measured by the BI.Conclusions:SOC in older adults is related to functional status, mental health status, personal wellbeing, and educational level. Public health initiatives should work to reduce the psychological and physiological impact of aging by focusing on the conditions that facilitate the coping of older adults.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document