High Rates of Malnutrition in Older Adults Receiving Different Levels of Health Care in Lleida, Catalonia: An Assessment of Contributory Factors

In a changing economy and a changing industry, health care providers need to complete thorough, comprehensive, and efficient assessments that provide both an accurate depiction of the patient's deficits and a blueprint to the path of treatment for older adults. Through standardized testing and observations as well as the goals and evidenced-based treatment plans we have devised, health care providers can maximize outcomes and the functional levels of patients. In this article, we review an interdisciplinary assessment that involves speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and respiratory therapy to work with older adults in health care settings. Using the approach, we will examine the benefits of collaboration between disciplines, an interdisciplinary screening process, and the importance of sharing information from comprehensive discipline-specific evaluations. We also will discuss the importance of having an understanding of the varied scopes of practice, the utilization of outcome measurement tools, and a patient-centered assessment approach to care.

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Auditory Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease

Perspectives on Gerontology ◽

10.1044/gero15.1.4 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 4-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sridhar Krishnamurti

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Older Adults ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Health Care ◽

Care Setting ◽

Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽

Disease Process ◽

Clinical Protocols ◽

Speech Language Pathologist ◽

Auditory Dysfunction

Alzheimer's disease is neurodegenerative disorder which affects a growing number of older adults every year. With an understanding of auditory dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease, the speech-language pathologist working in the health care setting can provide better service to these individuals. The pathophysiology of the disease process in Alzheimer's disease increases the likelihood of specific types of auditory deficits as opposed to others. This article will discuss the auditory deficits in Alzheimer's disease, their implications, and the value of clinical protocols for individuals with this disease.

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Caregivers’ Experiences Regarding Training and Support in the Post-Acute Home Health-Care Setting

Journal of Patient Experience ◽

10.1177/2374373519869156 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 561-569

Author(s):

Jo-Ana D Chase ◽

David Russell ◽

Meridith Rice ◽

Carmen Abbott ◽

Kathryn H Bowles ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Care ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Learning Strategies ◽

Home Health Care ◽

Home Health ◽

Barriers To Learning ◽

Telephone Interviews ◽

Qualitative Descriptive ◽

Training And Support

Background: Post-acute home health-care (HHC) services provide a unique opportunity to train and support family caregivers of older adults returning home after a hospitalization. To enhance family-focused training and support strategies, we must first understand caregivers’ experiences. Objective: To explore caregivers’ experiences regarding training and support for managing older adults’ physical functioning (PF) needs in the post-acute HHC setting. Method: We conducted a qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured telephone interviews of 20 family caregivers. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using conventional content analysis. Results: We identified the following primary categories: facilitators to learning (eg, past experience, learning methods), barriers to learning (eg, learning on their own, communication, timing/logistics, preferred information and timing of information delivery), and interactions with HHC providers (eg, positive/negative interactions, provider training and knowledge). Conclusion: Caregivers were responsive to learning strategies to manage older adults’ PF needs and, importantly, voiced ideas to improve family-focused training and support. HHC providers can use these findings to tailor training and support of family caregivers in the post-acute HHC setting.

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Person-Centered Health Care: An Approach That Integrates Acute and Long-Term Care

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2474 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 704-704

Author(s):

Yuchi Young ◽

Barbara Resnick

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Systems ◽

Long Term Care ◽

The United States ◽

World Population ◽

Term Care ◽

The Usa ◽

Aged Society

Abstract The world population is aging. The proportion of the population over 60 will nearly double from 12% in 2015 to 22% in 2050. Global life expectancy has more than doubled from 31 years in 1900 to 72.6 years in 2019. The need for long-term care (LTC) services is expanding with the same rapidity. A comprehensive response is needed to address the needs of older adults. Learning from health systems in other countries enables health systems to incorporate best long-term care practices to fit each country and its culture. This symposium aims to compare long-term care policies and services in Taiwan, Singapore, and the USA where significant growth in aging populations is evidenced. In 2025, the aging population will be 20% in Taiwan, 20% in Singapore and 18 % in the USA. In the case of Taiwan, it has moved from aging society status to aged society, and to super-aged society in 27 years. Such accelerated rate of aging in Taiwan is unparalleled when compared to European countries and the United States. In response to this dramatic change, Taiwan has passed long-term care legislation that expands services to care for older adults, and developed person-centered health care that integrates acute and long-term care services. Some preliminary results related to access, care and patterns of utilization will be shared in the symposium. International Comparisons of Healthy Aging Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.

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Starting an Older Adult Lecture for First Semester Nursing Students With a Truth or Myth Game

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.047 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 14-14

Author(s):

Lynn Brown ◽

Pao-feng Tsai

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Care ◽

Nursing Students ◽

Older Adult ◽

Care Needs ◽

Final Exam ◽

Negative Stereotypes ◽

First Semester ◽

Positive Attitudes ◽

New Information

Abstract False ideas about the physical and psychosocial characteristics of older adults exist in America. It is especially important that nurses are not susceptible to myths and stereotypes as these myths can affect the quality of patient care. For example, some people stereotype older adults as forgetful, disabled, ill, and unable to understand new information. Misconceptions and negative stereotypes are also present in first year nursing students. It is vital that students assess their own attitudes about older adults to form positive attitudes and gain knowledge about aging and health care needs. To achieve this goal, the older adult lecture in a first semester theory and fundamental course begins with a PowerPoint slide presentation asking students to distinguish truths and myths. The truth or myth topics include a) developmental tasks; b) common physiological changes; c) a comparison of delirium, dementia, and depression; and d) addressing health concerns of older adults. Active discussion follows the activity. Seventy to ninety percent of students correctly answered nine of ten questions related to older adult content on the final exam. Considering the increasing number of older adults in the health care setting, nurse educators must dismantle negative stereotypes with creative teaching strategies.

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Cohort study of ageing from Bagé (SIGa-Bagé), Brazil: profile and methodology

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11078-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Elaine Thumé ◽

Marciane Kessler ◽

Karla P. Machado ◽

Bruno P. Nunes ◽

Pamela M. Volz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Care ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Primary Health Care ◽

Rio Grande ◽

Cognitive Testing ◽

Rio Grande Do Sul ◽

Primary Health ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background The Bagé Cohort Study of Ageing is a population-based cohort study that has recently completed the first follow-up of a representative sample of older adults from Bagé, a city with more than 100,000 inhabitants located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This is one of the first longitudinal studies to assess the impact of primary health care coverage on health conditions and inequalities. Our aim is to investigate the prevalence, incidence and trends of risk factors, health behaviours, social relationships, non-communicable diseases, geriatric diseases and disorders, hospitalisation, self-perceived health, and all-cause and specific-cause mortality. In addition, we aim to evaluate socioeconomic and health inequalities and the impact of primary health care on the outcomes under study. Methods/design The study covers participants aged 60 or over, selected by probabilistic (representative) sampling of the urban area of the city of Bagé, which is covered by Primary Health Care Services. The baseline examination included 1593 older adults and was conducted from July 2008 to November 2008. After eight to nine years (2016/2017), the first follow-up was conducted from September 2016 to August 2017. All participants underwent an extensive core assessment programme including structured interviews, questionnaires, cognitive testing (baseline and follow-up), physical examinations and anthropometric measurements (follow-up). Results Of the original participants, 1395 (87.6%) were located for follow-up: 757 elderly individuals (47.5%) were re-interviewed, but losses in data transfer occurred for 22. The remaining 638 (40.1%) had died. In addition, we had 81 (5.1%) refusals and 117 (7.3%) losses. Among the 1373 older adults who were followed down, there was a higher proportion of female interviewees (p=0.042) and a higher proportion of male deaths (p=0.001) in 2016/2017. There were no differences in losses and refusals according to gender (p=0.102). There was a difference in average age between the interviewees (68.8 years; SD ±6.5) and non-interviewees (73.2 years; SD ±9.0) (p<0.001). Data are available at the Department of Social Medicine in Federal University of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, for any collaboration.

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Transforming Cultural Ideas of Aging and Disability to Improve Policy and Practice

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2217 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 645-645

Author(s):

Anne Ordway

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Care ◽

Recent Work ◽

Interest Group ◽

Quality Of Health Care ◽

Real World ◽

People With Disabilities ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

Full Participation

Abstract Aging and disability are normative processes that extend across the lifespan. However, ageism and ableism are incorporated into many of our practices, programs, and policies—devaluing the lives of older adults and people aging with disabilities and ultimately preventing their full participation in society. Ageism and ableism are closely connected. For example, both systems identify impairment as an individual and social liability. As recent studies have demonstrated, this has real world implications for the quantity and quality of health care requested, delivered, and received by both older adults and people with disabilities. In this session, we discuss the connections between these two forms of oppression and present recent work by researchers in both fields and the FrameWorks Institute that shows how to transform our cultural ideas of aging and disability and development more inclusive policies and services. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Lifelong Disabilities Interest Group.

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Facilitating the use of personal safety alerting device with older adults: The views, experiences and roles of relatives and health care professionals

Geriatric Nursing ◽

10.1016/j.gerinurse.2021.05.005 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 42 (4) ◽

pp. 935-942

Author(s):

Friederike JS Thilo ◽

Sabine Hahn ◽

Ruud JG Halfens ◽

Birgit Heckemann ◽

Jos MGA Schols

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Personal Safety

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Effect of Demographic and Health Dynamics on Cognitive Status in Mexico between 2001 and 2015: Evidence from the Mexican Health and Aging Study

Geriatrics ◽

10.3390/geriatrics6030063 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 63

Author(s):

Silvia Mejia-Arango ◽

Jaqueline Avila ◽

Brian Downer ◽

Marc A. Garcia ◽

Alejandra Michaels-Obregon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Care ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Educational Attainment ◽

Access To Health Care ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Cognitive Status ◽

Access To Health ◽

Mexican Adults

Sources of health disparities such as educational attainment, cardiovascular risk factors, and access to health care affect cognitive impairment among older adults. To examine the extent to which these counteracting changes affect cognitive aging over time among Mexican older adults, we examine how sociodemographic factors, cardiovascular diseases, and their treatment relate to changes in cognitive function of Mexican adults aged 60 and older between 2001 and 2015. Self and proxy respondents were classified as dementia, cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND), and normal cognition. We use logistic regression models to examine the trends in dementia and CIND for men and women aged 60 years or older using pooled national samples of 6822 individuals in 2001 and 10,219 in 2015, and sociodemographic and health variables as covariates. We found higher likelihood of dementia and a lower risk of CIND in 2015 compared to 2001. These results remain after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, cardiovascular diseases, and their treatment. The improvements in educational attainment, treatment of diabetes and hypertension, and better access to health care in 2015 compared to 2001 may not have been enough to counteract the combined effects of aging, rural residence disadvantage, and higher risks of cardiovascular disease among older Mexican adults.

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