HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE IN CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES: A BALANCING ACT

Restrictive ventilatory patterns (RVPs) in older adults may contribute to morbidity and decreased quality of life. The purpose of this study was to begin to understand (a) the number of older adults residing in Continuing Care Retirement Communities with RVPs, (b) factors associated with RVP, and (c) whether RVP is associated with ambulation level. This descriptive study was conducted at three sites. RVP was evident in 34 of the 65 participants (52%), and 33 (97%) of these were either moderate or severely restricted. Dementia, dyspnea, kyphosis, and lower muscle strength were significant predictors of RVP. Eighty percent of the nonambulatory participants had RVP and 38% of the ambulatory participants had RVP. Designing interventions to address modifiable factors associated with RVP may prevent respiratory infections, help people to achieve better lung health, and increase physical activity tolerance.

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Health-Related Quality of Life of Elderly Women with Fall Experiences

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18157804 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (15) ◽

pp. 7804

Author(s):

Jiyoung Song ◽

Eunwon Lee

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Elderly Women ◽

The Elderly ◽

Basic Data ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

High Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

The Impact

This study aimed to describe the health-related quality of life of elderly women with experience in fall treatment as well as to prepare basic data for the development of interventions to improve the quality of life for this group. The study was based on raw data from the 2019 Korea Community Health Survey. Using the SPSS program, the characteristics of the subjects were tested by frequency, percentage, and chi-square test. To establish the impact of fall experience on the health-related quality of life of elderly women, the OR and 95% CI were calculated using multiple logistic regression analysis. Of the 4260 people surveyed, 44.7% of the elderly women said they had a high quality of life, whereas 55.3% of the elderly women said they had a low quality of life. A younger age was associated with a better-rated health-related quality of life. Those who lived in a city and had a high level of education tended to describe a high quality of life. The quality of life was considered high by those who exercised, but low by those who were obese or diabetic. The results of this study can lead to a better understanding of the experiences of elderly women who have experienced falls, and they can be used as basic data for the development of related health programs.

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Determining the psychometric properties of a novel questionnaire to measure “preparedness for the future” (Prep FQ)

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes ◽

10.1186/s12955-021-01759-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Daren K. Heyland ◽

J. Paige Pope ◽

Xuran Jiang ◽

Andrew G. Day

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Construct Validity ◽

Health Behaviors ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Well Being ◽

High Quality ◽

The Future ◽

Quality Of Death ◽

Test Retest Reliability

Abstract Background People are living longer than ever before. However, with living longer comes increased problems that negatively impact on quality of life and the quality of death. Tools are needed to help individuals assess whether they are practicing the best attitudes and behaviors that are associated with a future long life, high quality of life, high quality of death and a satisfying post-death legacy. The purpose of paper is to describe the process we used to develop a novel questionnaire (“Preparedness for the Future Questionnaire™ or Prep FQ”) and to define its psychometric properties. Methods Using a multi-step development procedure, items were generated, for the new questionnaire after which the psychometric properties were tested with a heterogeneous sample of 502 Canadians. Using an online polling panel, respondents were asked to complete demographic questions as well as the Prep-FQ, Global Rating of Life Satisfaction, the Keyes Psychological Well-Being scale and the Short-Form 12. Results The final version of the questionnaire contains 34 items in 8 distinct domains (“Medico-legal”, “Social”, “Psychological Well-being”, “Planning”, “Enrichment”, “Positive Health Behaviors”, “Negative Health Behaviors”, and “Late-life Planning”). We observed minimum missing data and good usage of all response options. The average overall Prep FQ score is 51.2 (SD = 13.3). The Cronbach alphas assessing internal reliability for the Prep FQ domains ranged from 0.33 to 0.88. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) used to assess the test–retest reliability had an overall score of 0.87. For the purposes of establishing construct validity, all the pre-specified relationships between Prep FQ and the other questionnaires were met. Conclusion Analyses of this novel measure offered support for its face validity, construct validity, test–retest reliability, and internal consistency. With the development of this useful and valid scale, future research can utilize this measure to engage people in the process of comprehensively assessing and improving their state of preparedness for the future, tracking their progress along the way. Ultimately, this program of research aims to improve the quality and quantity of peoples live by helping them ‘think ahead’ and ‘plan ahead’ on the aspects of their daily life that matter to their future.

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‘We have become prisoners of our own age’: from a continuing care retirement community to a total institution in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak

Age and Ageing ◽

10.1093/ageing/afab013 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Liat Ayalon ◽

Sharon Avidor

Keyword(s):

Emotional Responses ◽

Retirement Community ◽

Retirement Communities ◽

Continuing Care ◽

Total Institution ◽

Continuing Care Retirement Communities ◽

Personal Experiences ◽

Total Institutions ◽

Design And Methods ◽

Depth Interviews

Abstract Background and objectives during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Israel, people residing in continuing care retirement communities (CCRC) found themselves under strict instructions to self-isolate, imposed by the CCRC managements before, during and after the nationwide lockdown. The present study explored the personal experiences of CCRC residents during the lockdown. Research design and methods in-depth interviews were conducted with 24 CCRC residents from 13 different CCRCs. Authors performed a thematic analysis of interview transcripts, using constant comparisons and contrasts. Results three major themes were identified: (i) ‘Us vs. them: Others are worse off’. Older residents engaged in constant attempts to compare their situation to that of others. The overall message behind these downward comparisons was that the situation is not so bad, as others are in a worse predicament; (ii) ‘Us vs. them: Power imbalance’. This comparison emphasised the unbalanced power-relations between older adults and the staff and management in the setting and (iii) ‘We have become prisoners of our own age’. Interviewees described strong emotions of despair, depression and anger, which were intensified when the rest of society returned back to a new routine, whilst they were still under lockdown. Discussion and implications the measures imposed on residents by managements of CCRCs during the lockdown, and the emotional responses of distress among some of the residents, revealed that CCRCs have components of total institutions, not normally evident. This underscores the hidden emotional costs of the lockdown among those whose autonomy was compromised.

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Effects of High-quality Nursing Intervention on Quality of Life, Sleep, and Depression of Lymphoma Patients

Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Modern Medicine ◽

10.53964/jaimm.8899dd ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Nursing Intervention ◽

High Quality

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Church Services in a Complex Continuing Care Hospital: Why Bother?

Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling Advancing theory and professional practice through scholarly and reflective publications ◽

10.1177/1542305017744492 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 71 (4) ◽

pp. 274-283 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Elizabeth Fisher ◽

Jan Kraus ◽

Kerry Kuluski ◽

Peter Allatt

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Qualitative Analysis ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Hospital Setting ◽

Roman Catholic ◽

Continuing Care ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Perceived Benefits ◽

Spiritual Assessment

This research aimed to explore patient motivation for attending hospital-run church services in a complex continuing care hospital setting, as well as the perceived spiritual benefits as categorized by Fitchett’s 7 × 7 Model for Spiritual Assessment. Invitations to participate in one-to-one interviews were offered to all patient attendees at both an ecumenical and a Roman Catholic service over the course of several weeks. We collected 20 interviews before performing a qualitative analysis, at which point we determined that saturation of content had been reached. The key findings were that participants identified the strongest perceived benefits in Experiences and Emotions, and Rituals and Practice, suggesting that access to the ritual of Sunday church services contributes meaningfully to participants’ coping strategies and overall quality of life.

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