scholarly journals Representing Dutch Older Adults During COVID-19: What Can We Learn?

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 96-97
Author(s):  
Jolanda Lindenberg ◽  
Miriam Verhage
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Public Debate ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Long Term Care Facility ◽  
Public Representation ◽  
National Media ◽  
Sociopolitical Context

Abstract From the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic older adults have been at the heart of public debate. Early articles argued that public representation of older persons displayed a a resurgence of ageist stereotypes and beliefs in (inter)national media (e.g. Ayalon et al. 2020, Fraser et al 2020, Lichtenstein 2020, Sotomayer et al. 2020). Yet studies confirming this are absent up to now. In this paper, we present findings on the representation of Dutch older adults during the first six months of the COVID-19 crisis in The Netherlands. We analysed 1141 articles about older adults of the five largest newspapers using quantitative content analyses and discourse analysis to systematically explore patterns, sentiments and meaning in the articles. We show that the majority of these articles were published in general news and that older adults were rarely (2%) cited in these articles. Most prominent adjectives were vulnerable and weak. Most prominent substantives were attention, long-term care facility and loneliness. The sentiment was largely negative. Additionally, we find three discursive frames predominate: ‘an older people’s disease’, ‘vulnerability’ and ‘solidarity’. This evidences that the Dutch reporting on older adults during COVID-19 reproduced a discourse of dependency highlighting and further emphasizing the sociopolitical context before COVID-19 while drawing out earlier ageist tendencies. On the basis of our findings and drawing on advisory experiences, we discuss implications for policy, education and practice and how we can reframe and differently address older adults specifically in terms of language and their more (un)conscious positioning in (public) debate.

scholarly journals Clinical features and risk factors for mortality among long-term care facility residents hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Spain

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
José-Manuel Ramos-Rincón ◽  
Máximo Bernabeu-Whittel ◽  
Isabel Fiteni-Mera ◽  
Almudena López-Sampalo ◽  
Carmen López-Ríos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Functional Dependence ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Term Care Facility ◽  
Long Term Care Facility

Abstract Background COVID-19 severely impacted older adults and long-term care facility (LTCF) residents. Our primary aim was to describe differences in clinical and epidemiological variables, in-hospital management, and outcomes between LTCF residents and community-dwelling older adults hospitalized with COVID-19. The secondary aim was to identify risk factors for mortality due to COVID-19 in hospitalized LTCF residents. Methods This is a cross-sectional analysis within a retrospective cohort of hospitalized patients≥75 years with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to 160 Spanish hospitals. Differences between groups and factors associated with mortality among LTCF residents were assessed through comparisons and logistic regression analysis. Results Of 6,189 patients≥75 years, 1,185 (19.1%) were LTCF residents and 4,548 (73.5%) were community-dwelling. LTCF residents were older (median: 87.4 vs. 82.1 years), mostly female (61.6% vs. 43.2%), had more severe functional dependence (47.0% vs 7.8%), more comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index: 6 vs 5), had dementia more often (59.1% vs. 14.4%), and had shorter duration of symptoms (median: 3 vs 6 days) than community-dwelling patients (all, p<.001). Mortality risk factors in LTCF residents were severe functional dependence (aOR:1.79;95%CI:1.13-2.83;p=.012), dyspnea (1.66;1.16-2.39;p=.004), SatO2<94% (1.73;1.27-2.37;p=.001), temperature≥37.8ºC (1.62;1.11-2.38; p=.013); qSOFA index≥2 (1.62;1.11-2.38;p=.013), bilateral infiltrates (1.98;1.24-2.98;p<.001), and high C-reactive protein (1.005;1.003-1.007;p<.001). In-hospital mortality was initially higher among LTCF residents (43.3% vs 39.7%), but lower after adjusting for sex, age, functional dependence, and comorbidities (aOR:0.74,95%CI:0.62-0.87;p<.001). Conclusion Basal functional status and COVID-19 severity are risk factors of mortality in LTCF residents. The lower adjusted mortality rate in LTCF residents may be explained by earlier identification, treatment, and hospitalization for COVID-19.

Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia in Older Adults: Predictors of 7-Day Mortality and Infection With a Methicillin-Resistant Strain

2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 1219-1225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mazen S. Bader
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Mental Status ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Altered Mental Status ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Long Term Care Facility ◽  
The Past ◽  
Previous Hospitalization

Objectives.To determine the predictors of 7-day mortality in older adult patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia after controlling for comorbidity using the Charlson weighted index of comorbidity (WIC) and to identify the risk factors associated with bacteremia due to methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA).Design.Retrospective cohort study from January 2003 until December 2004.Setting.Two tertiary care, university-affiliated hospitals.Methods.One hundred thirty-five hospitalized patients with S. aureus bacteremia were included in the study. All patients who were 60 years or older and had 1 or more blood cultures positive for S. aureus were included in the study. The primary outcome was death 7 days after the onset of S. aureus bacteremia.Results.Twenty-one patients (15.6%) died within 7 days after the onset of S. aureus bacteremia. Seventy-four patients (56.1%) had MRSA bacteremia. Multivariate analysis identified 3 independent determinants of 7-day mortality: Charlson WIC score greater than 5 (odds ratio [OR], 3.6 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.1-11.2]; P = .03), previous hospitalization in the past 3 months (OR, 5.0 [95% CI, 1.1-25.1]; P = .04), and altered mental status at the onset of S. aureus bacteremia (OR, 13.6 [95% CI, 2.9-64.6]; P = .001). Multivariate analysis identified .previous hospitalization in the past 3 months (OR, 2.6 [95% CI, 1.1-5.9]; P = .02), residence in a long-term care facility (OR, 4.5 [95% CI, 1.7-12.3]; P = .003), and altered mental status at the onset of S. aureus bacteremia (OR, 2.5 [95% CI, 1.5-5.6]; P = .02) to be independently associated with the presence of MRSA.Conclusions.The Charlson WIC is significantly associated with increased mortality of S. aureus bacteremia in older adults. Previous hospitalization in the past 3 months, residence in a long-term care facility, and altered mental status should be used as a guidance for empirical vancomycin therapy and application of infection control measures in older adults with suspected S. aureus bacteremia.

Singing for Health, Connection and Care

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Clements-Cortés
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Significant Others ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Term Care Facility ◽  
Long Term Care Facility ◽  
Choral Singing

Singing Together was the third part of a multi-phase investigation examining the benefits of singing with older adults in an adult daycare program (Phase 1), and in a long-term care facility (Phases 2 and 3). Phase 3 focused on residents of a long-term care facility who were diagnosed with mild to moderate cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease, and was unique in its extended scope of examining their choral participation with caregivers, or significant others. Pain, energy level, and mood were assessed using multiple objective and self-reported tools. Results of 16 weeks of choir sessions indicate statistically significant reduced perceptions of pain and increased energy and mood for both residents and significant others. Qualitative themes in this study included: encourages maximized participation; facilitates interaction and bonding; promotes enjoyment and fun; encourages improved mood and attitude; facilitates energy and motivation; promotes stress release and relaxation; and singing as a recognized therapy. Future implications of these findings will be discussed as well as overall analysis of the research project. A literature review outlining the effects of clinical choral singing with respect to older adults was provided in Part1: Clinical Effects of Choral Singing for Older Adults [1]of this two part paper.

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