Does an impaired capacity for self-care impact the prevalence of social and emotional loneliness among elderly people?

2018 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Irena Canjuga ◽  
Danica Železnik ◽  
Marijana Neuberg ◽  
Marija Božicevic ◽  
Tina Cikac

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of self-care on the prevalence of loneliness among elderly people living in retirement homes and older people living in their homes/communities. Design/methodology/approach The research was conducted through standardized SELSA-L assessment loneliness questionnaires and the Self Care Assessment Worksheet for self-care assessment. The results were processed using the Kruskal–Wallis test. Findings The obtained results have shown that impaired self-care ability affects the prevalence of loneliness among the elderly almost the same in both groups of participants. However, regarding the relationship between the state of health and self-care, only a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of loneliness is found in the case of the participants living in their homes, with the worst health condition affecting the poorer psychological care. Research limitations/implications It is necessary to point out the limitations of the research, primarily sample limitations and the selected design of the study. The sample consisted of two different and relatively small groups of participants which could adversely affect the representativeness of the sample and reduce the possibility of generalising the results. The next limiting factor is the age distribution the authors used in the research, where the age of the participants as a very important variable was collected by age range and not precisely which consequently resulted in inequality in subgroup sizes. Thus, the middle age (75–85) covers up to ten years, which is a huge range at an older age and can mean major differences in functional ability, and can impact the self-care assessment. Practical implications Nurses are indispensable in care for the elderly and they need to promote and encourage self-care of the elderly through health care. Elderly people living in retirement homes should be allowed to participate equally in health care in order to preserve their own autonomy and dignity. However, to benefit those who live in their homes, nurses should be connected to the local community and thus stimulate various forms of preventative (testing blood sugar levels, blood pressure and educating on the importance of preventive examinations) or recreational activities in the environment of elderly people with the goal of preserving their functional abilities. Originality/value The impact of self-care on loneliness was not sufficiently researched, and this paper contributed to understanding the complexity of loneliness phenomena among the elderly with the aim of developing a model of prevention.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huiling Dong ◽  
Chunjing Du ◽  
Bingyi Wu ◽  
Qunhong Wu

Background: Child malnutrition is not only common in developing countries but also an important issue faced by developed countries. This study aimed to explore the influence and degree of childhood starvation on the health of the elderly, which provides a reference for formulating health-related policies under the concept of full lifecycle health.Methods: Based on the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) in 2008, 2011, and 2014, this study took a total of 13,185 elderly people aged 65–99 years as the target population. By IMaCH software, with gender and income level as the control variables, the average life expectancy and healthy life expectancy of the elderly were measured. The x2test was used to explore the differences in the socioeconomic status of elderly people with or without starvation in childhood. Statistical differences between average life expectancy and healthy life expectancy were analyzed by rank tests.Results: (1) The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference in age, gender, residency, education level, and income level between the groups with or without starvation (P < 0.05). (2) Transition probabilities in health–disability, health–death, and disability–death all showed an upward trend with age (P < 0.05), where the elderly who experienced starvation in childhood were higher than those without such an experience (P < 0.05). However, the probability of disability–health recovery showed a downward trend with age (P < 0.05), in which the elderly who experienced starvation in childhood were lower than those without starvation (P < 0.05). (3) For the elderly who experienced starvation in childhood, the health indicators of the average life expectancy, healthy life expectancy, and healthy life expectancy proportion accounted for the remaining life were lower than those of the elderly without childhood starvation (P < 0.05).Conclusions: The average life expectancy and healthy life expectancy of the elderly with childhood starvation are lower than those without childhood starvation. It shows that the negative impact of childhood starvation on health through the life course till old age has a persistent negative cumulative effect on the quantity and quality of life. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the nutritional status of children in poor families from the perspective of social policymaking.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huiling Dong ◽  
Bingyi Wu ◽  
Qunhong Wu

Abstract Background Child malnutrition is not only common in developing countries, but also an important issue faced by developed countries. This study aimed to explore the influence and degree of childhood starvation on the health of the elderly, which providing a reference for formulating health-related policies under the concept of full-life cycle health. Methods Based on Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) in 2008, 2011 and 2014, this paper took a total of 13,185 elderly people aged 65–99 years as the target population. By IMaCH software, with gender and income level as the control variables, and the average life expectancy and healthy life expectancy of the elderly was measured. The\({x}^{2}\)test was used to explore the differences in socio-economic status of elderly people with or without starvation in childhood. The paired t test was used to analyze the difference both average life expectancy and healthy life expectancy. Results (1) The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference in age, gender, residency, education level, and income level between the groups with or without starvation (P < 0.05).(2)Transition probabilities in health-disability, health-death, and disability-death all showed an upward trend with age(P < 0.05), where the elderly who experienced starvation in childhood were higher than those without such an experience(P < 0.05). However, the probability of disability-health recovery showed a downward trend with age(P < 0.05), whereas the elderly who experienced starvation in childhood were lower than those without starvation(P < 0.05). (3) For the elderly who experienced starvation in childhood, the health indicators of the average life expectancy, healthy life expectancy, and healthy life expectancy proportion accounted for the remaining life were lower than those of the elderly without childhood starvation (P < 0.05). Conclusions The average life expectancy and healthy life expectancy of the elderly with childhood starvation both are lower than those without childhood starvation. It shows that the negative impact of childhood starvation on health through the life course till old age, has a persistent negative cumulative effect on the quantity and quality of life. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the nutritional status of children in poor families from the perspective of social policy-making.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiran Yadav ◽  
Prof Sunita Mishra

The elderly population is large in general and growing due to advancement of health care education. These people are faced with numerous physical, psychological and social role changes that challenge their sense of self and capacity to live happily. The present study was conducted to assess the relationship of specific satisfaction in biogerontology and social gerontological and medical gerontology. The present study reveals that health supports is positively and highly significantly related to using care services and suffer from disease of aged persons. The main purpose of this research was to find out the mean difference between old age home and residing in their home in suffer from disease and using care services .The total 120 elderly (60 elderly in old age home and 60 residing in their home) of age range 60-80 year.  The study was carried out in Lucknow. Multistage sampling technique was fallowed in the present study. The samples of this study were personally and individually contacted and data was obtained through face to face interview. The research tool for hospital anxiety and used the care services and health care scale was used .and the test was applied to check the difference of suffer from disease Asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stomach /bowel disease and using care services the ANOVA method used to check the difference .Result reveals that significant difference in suffer from  disease and using care services–old age with respect to both old age with respect to both old age home and residing in their home .While the difference between suffer from  disease and using care services reveals and the elderly people who live in old age home suffer from disease and using care services and residing in their home elderly people live with family and happy and significant difference were found in disease and using care services  in old age.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehrdad Amir-Behghadami ◽  
Jafar Sadegh Tabrizi ◽  
Mohammad Saadati ◽  
Masoumeh Gholizadeh

Abstract Background Measuring self-care ability in elderly people needs specific instruments. The Self-care Ability Scale for Elderly (SASE) is one of the common instruments used for assessing self-care ability. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the SASE among Iranian elderly population. Methods This cross-cultural adaptation study was carried out at Shahid Chamran and Shadpour Health Complex in Tabriz, Iran. The forward-backward procedure was applied to translate the SASE from English into Persian. Then, it was completed to 220 elderly people. A systematic random sampling method was used for sampling. Content validity was calculated through modified Kappa coefficient (modified CVI) based on clarity and relevance criteria. Reliability was measured by internal consistency and test-retest analysis. The construct validity also was assessed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). All the statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 21 statistical software package. Results The mean of self-care ability was 61.14 ± 21.08. The CVI and modified kappa were 0.91 and 0.92 for relevance and clarity, respectively. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.73 and Intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.97. The results of EFA revealed a three-factor solution (‘ability to take care of personal responsibility’, ‘ability to take care for the goals’, and ‘ability to take care of the health’) that jointly explained for 64.61% of the total variance. Conclusion Results of the study showed that the Iranian version of the SASE has good psychometric properties and can be used in assessing the self-care ability of elderly people.


Author(s):  
Jukka Mielonen ◽  
Ulla-Mari Kinnunen ◽  
Kaija Saranto ◽  
Anssi Kemppi ◽  
Hanna Kuusisto

Digital services are growing in the health-care field. The population in Europe is aging, and digital services are on the rise. There are also plenty of new health-care devices on the market. The aim of this study was to survey how elderly people cope with digital services or devices, especially if they are chronically ill. This quantitative study focuses on the impact of chronic diseases on the use of health technology and digital services. The target group of this study is Finnish people aged 65 or over. Based on the results, a chronic disease or disability is not an obstacle to the use of digital services or health-care technology in the Finnish elderly population. The main obstacles to the use of health technology or digital services are complexity, obscure text, or small font size. According to this study, elderly people seem to trust the device or application. Devices, applications, and online services should be designed so that elderly people’s diseases or ability to function are considered.


2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Spindola Samartini ◽  
Viviane Cristina Cândido

ABSTRACT Objective: To reflect on autonomy in health care, its perspective on the lives of the elderly, and its meaning for the practice of nursing care. Methods: Theoretical essay on the practice of nursing care to promote autonomy and self-care for the elderly. Results: It is necessary to qualify the practice of nursing care to consider the aging process and maintain the autonomy of the elderly. Three parts emerged: “The autonomy of the elderly and the care plan”, “Nursing in the self-care process”, and “Challenges to the practice of caring for the elderly in nursing”. Final considerations: There is still a deficiency in promoting autonomy for the elderly due to the need for a review of the practice of nursing care, which, considering aging in Brazil, needs to undertake new actions in order to encourage self-care and autonomy in this population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebrahim Ebrahimi Tabas ◽  
Hamed Sarani ◽  
Hamed Faghihi ◽  
Zahra Nezamjoo

Background: Continuous follow-up is one of the most essential factors in patient participation, self-care, continuity of care, and ultimately improved quality of care. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effect of three methods of follow-up through telephone, educational booklet, and SMS on the self-care ability of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: A quasi-experimental study was performed on 120 patients with ACS admitted to the CCU and PCCU of two teaching hospitals affiliated to the Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. The subjects were chosen via convenience sampling and randomized into three intervention groups, including educational booklet, SMS (daily), and telephone (twice a week, 15 - 20 minutes per session). Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire and the Kearney and Fleischer Self-Care scale. The interventions were sustained for four weeks after discharge. Six weeks after the program, the questionnaires were completed again. Data were analyzed in SPSS 21 using the chi-square test, paired t-test, and ANOVA at a significance level of below 0.05. Results: A total of 120 patients completed the study. The results showed a significant difference in the self-care scores after the intervention between all of the three groups (P = 0.0001). There was a significant difference between the booklet and SMS groups (P = 0.0001) and between the booklet and telephone groups (P = 0.0001) after the intervention. However, self-care scores were not significantly different between the SMS and telephone groups after the intervention (P = 0.19). Conclusions: The use of SMS was associated with the highest score of self-care in patients with ACS, and it is proposed as the best follow-up method. Therefore, health care providers can enhance patients’ self-care ability through this simple technique and thus, help patients recover sooner and show reduced disease complications.


2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avanish Bhai Patel ◽  
Anindya Jayanta Mishra

Purpose – Crime against elderly people is a matter of grave concern in contemporary India. Today, they are being attacked with grievous harm, murder, and abusive behaviour by known and unknown persons. These cases have certainly had a negative impact on their way of life and sense of well-being. Consequently, fear of crime is being recognised as an emerging social problem among the elderly population in India. The purpose of this paper is to examine different types of crime that are being committed against the elderly, leading to a fear of crime. And, to identify the victim offender relationship. Design/methodology/approach – A mixed method approach has been applied in this paper. This study has been designed as an exploratory lead-in to a planned wider study. It examines the factors shaping the victimisation experience of the elderly. The study has been conducted from October 2012 to January 2013 on a sample of 220 elderly people living in both rural and urban areas of Lucknow in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Findings – The findings suggest that emotional crime is a major problem among the elderly and more prevalent than crime against the body and property. The study has also found that elderly people have a fear of crime in their own houses due to victimisation. Originality/value – This is an original paper, which is based on the experiences of elderly people living in Indian society and discussed the impact of prior victimisation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-228
Author(s):  
Piotr Czarnecki ◽  
◽  
Justyna Podgórska-Bednarz ◽  
Lidia Perenc ◽  
◽  
...  

Introduction. Physical activity is known to be an important factor influencing health throughout human life. This issue has become crucial for public health due to the aging of the population in both developed and developing countries. Aim. is to present a literature review on the forms of physical activity undertaken by the elderly, as well as on issues related to physical activity and the population aging. Material and methods. The study was prepared on the basis of a review of Polish and foreign literature. The following databases and data sources were used: EBSCO, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar. An additional source of data were the websites of the Central Statistical Office. Strictly defined key phrases were used during the collection of literature. The work has been divided into thematic subsections on the aging of the society, the impact of physical activity on health and the main topic, i.e. forms of physical activity selected by the elderly. Analysis of the literature. The number of elderly people in Polish society has increased by almost 3.7 million over three decades. Therefore, an important topic is prophylaxis aimed at increasing the number of days in good health, largely covering the broadly understood activation of the elderly. The available data indicate that only 12% of elderly people undertake physical activity once a week. The most common form of spending free time actively is walking (as many as 73% of people in this population declare this form of physical activity in one of the presented studies). Conclusion. Organized forms of physical activity are undertaken much less frequently by the analyzed age group mainly due to financial limitations and limited availability of sports infrastructure.


Author(s):  
Natuya Zhuori ◽  
Yu Cai ◽  
Yan Yan ◽  
Yu Cui ◽  
Minjuan Zhao

As the trend of aging in rural China has intensified, research on the factors affecting the health of the elderly in rural areas has become a hot issue. However, the conclusions of existing studies are inconsistent and even contradictory, making it difficult to form constructive policies with practical value. To explore the reasons for the inconsistent conclusions drawn by relevant research, in this paper we constructed a meta-regression database based on 65 pieces of relevant literature published in the past 25 years. For more valid samples to reduce publication bias, we also set the statistical significance of social support to the health of the elderly in rural areas as a dependent variable. Finally, combined with multi-dimensional social support and its implications for the health of the elderly, meta-regression analysis was carried out on the results of 171 empirical studies. The results show that (1) subjective support rather than objective support can have a significant impact on the health of the elderly in rural areas, and there is no significant difference between other dimensions of social support and objective support; (2) the health status of the elderly in rural areas in samples involving western regions is more sensitive to social support than that in samples not involving the western regions; (3) among the elderly in rural areas, social support for the older male elderly is more likely to improve their health than that for the younger female elderly; and (4) besides this, both data sources and econometric models greatly affect the heterogeneity of the effect of social support on the health of the elderly in rural areas, but neither the published year nor the journal is significant. Finally, relevant policies and follow-up studies on the impact of social support on the health of the elderly in rural areas are discussed.


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