Gender Issues in the Care of Elderly: A Narrative Review

Aging is an inevitable physiological process. A significant increase has been noted in the elderly population over the years. Aging population face challenges with physical health conditions, but also mental health problems. Care of the elderly is influenced by health conditions, health services, as well socio cultural factors. Gender plays an important role in the aging process with significant differences noted in the aging process, variations in health conditions as well care received. The current review addresses the role of gender in the aging process and its influence in the prevalence, clinical presentation and course of various mental and physical health conditions in the elderly. The review identifies gaps in understanding the gender perspectives related to long-term elderly care, legal and financial issues. The review emphasizes the necessity to address the gender perspective in aging to adequately meet the health demands of the elderly.

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Health risk assessment and countermeasure analysis of the elderly population exposed to PM2.5 microenvironment

Work ◽

10.3233/wor-205361 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Yan Xu ◽

Wantian Cui

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Risk ◽

Elderly Population ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Negative Impact ◽

The Elderly ◽

Exposure Concentration ◽

Physical Diseases ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND: China’s atmospheric PM2.5 pollution is serious, and PM2.5 exerts a negative impact on the human respiratory system, cardiovascular, and mental health, and even more serious health risk for the elderly with weak immunity. OBJECTIVE: This work aims to analyse the impacts of PM2.5 microenvironment exposure on the health of the elderly and provide corresponding countermeasures. METHODS: The survey subjects are 118 retired elderly people in the community. PM2.5 exposure concentrations are monitored in summer (June 10 ∼ July 10, 2019) and winter (November 25 ∼ December 25, 2019). RESULTS: The exposure concentration in winter is higher than that in summer, with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Under the impact of PM2.5 microenvironment exposure, smoking in the elderly can increase the concentration of PM2.5, and long-term exposure to PM2.5 in the elderly can cause mental health problems. CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure of the elderly to the PM2.5 microenvironment leads to physical diseases and even psychological problems, which requires attention.

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Association between Socioeconomic Status, Physical Health and Need for Long-term Care among the Chinese Elderly

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16122124 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (12) ◽

pp. 2124 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Fanlei Kong ◽

Lingzhong Xu ◽

Mei Kong ◽

Shixue Li ◽

Chengchao Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Physical Health ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Elderly Women ◽

The Elderly ◽

Elderly Men ◽

Term Care ◽

Chinese Elderly ◽

Men And Women

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES), physical health and the need for long-term care (NLTC) of the Chinese elderly, and further, to provide evidence-based advice for establishing an LTC system in China. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Shandong Province, China in 2017 by using multi-stage random sampling method. Data were collected from elderly individuals aged 60 years and older by self-designed questionnaires through face-to face interviews. A total of 7070 participants were finally included in the database (40.3% male, 59.7% female). Chi-square test analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) were conducted to clarify the association between SES, physical health and NLTC among the Chinese elderly men and women in Shandong Province. The results of the SEM analysis showed that physical health exerted a strong and negative effect on the NLTC for both genders, with a slightly stronger effect found among the elderly men. SES was found to be significantly and negatively related to the NLTC among the elderly women, while no statistical significance was found for the association between SES and NLTC for elderly men. A significant and positive association between SES and physical health was observed among the elderly men and women, with a slightly stronger effect among the elderly women. Implications for lowering the NLTC and developing an LTC system were addressed based on the findings above.

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The geriatric canon

Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease ◽

10.4081/monaldi.2019.1028 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 89 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Renzo Rozzini

Keyword(s):

Elderly Patients ◽

Clinical Significance ◽

The Elderly ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Medical Language ◽

Care Of Elderly ◽

Aging People

Over the years Geriatrics and gerontology have developed a language shared by most clinicians and researchers who unequivocally defines the health conditions of aging people: one could speak of "geriatric canon", i.e. the set of fundamentals (paradigms, principles, standard reference vocabulary) of geriatric knowledge, the heritage from which they draw inspiration and from which the actions for the care of the elderly can be driven, the scientific works for the study of their health. The aim of this paper is to describe and report the most important terms of the geriatric canon, in a simplified way, in order to establish a more precise use of geriatric terminology that can be easily utilized by the cardiologists, or other specialists who takes care of elderly patients, without depriving them of their clinical significance, and becoming heritage of ordinary medical language.

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Patterns of long-term conditions in older age and subsequent mortality: a national study of inequalities in health

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz194 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

pp. 572-578

Author(s):

T Paul de Cock ◽

Michael Rosato ◽

Finola Ferry ◽

Emma Curran ◽

Gerard Leavey

Keyword(s):

Demographic Factors ◽

The Elderly ◽

Health Conditions ◽

National Study ◽

Latent Classes ◽

Ageing Population ◽

Long Term Conditions ◽

Specific Mortality ◽

Socio Demographic Factors

Abstract Background Multiple long-term health conditions in older people are associated with increased mortality. The study aims to identify patterns of long-term health in a national ageing population using a census-based self-reported indicator of long-term health conditions. We assessed associations with subsequent mortality and socio-economic and demographic risk factors. Methods Using linked administrative data from the Northern Ireland Mortality Study, we assessed the presence of latent classes of morbidity in self-reported data on 11 long-term health conditions in a population aged 65 or more (N = 244 349). These classes were associated with demographic and socio-economic predictors using multi-nomial logistic regression. In a 3.75-year follow-up, all-cause and cause-specific mortality were regressed on morbidity patterns. Results Four latent classes of long-term ill-health conditions were derived, and labelled: ‘low impairment’; ‘pain/mobility’; ‘cognitive/mental’; ‘sensory impairment’. Groupings reflecting higher levels of long-term ill-health were associated with class-specific increases in all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Strongest effects were found for the ‘cognitive/mental’ group, which predicted all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.96: 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.83, 3.10) as well as some cause-specific mortality (i.e. dementia-related death: HR = 10.78: 95% CI = 9.39, 12.15). Class membership was predicted by a range of socio-demographic factors. Lower socio-economic status was associated with poorer health. Conclusion Results indicate that long-term ill-health clusters in specific patterns, which are both predicted by socio-demographic factors and are themselves predictive of mortality in the elderly. The syndromic nature of long-term ill-health and functioning in ageing populations has implications for healthcare planning and public health policy in older populations.

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DUKUNGAN SOSIAL PRAMURUKTI DENGAN KONDISI KESEHATAN FISIK LANJUT USIA DI BALAI PELAYANAN SOSIAL LANSIA CEPIRING KABUPATEN KENDAL

Jurnal Ilmu dan Teknologi Kesehatan ◽

10.33666/jitk.v8i1.218 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Triana Arisdiani ◽

Livana PH

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Physical Health ◽

Elderly People ◽

Negative Impact ◽

The Elderly ◽

Psychological Needs ◽

Health Conditions ◽

P Value ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cross Sectional

Pendahuluan : Jumlah lansia yang banyak di Indonesia haruslah ditangani secara keseluruhan dengan memperhatikan kebutuhannya. Kebutuhan fisiologis dasar lansia yang harus dipenuhi adalah higiene, nutrisi, kenyaman, oksigenasi, cairan elektrolit, eliminasi urin dan fekal, dan tidur. akan berdampak buruk terhadap kesehatan, Kebutuhan fisiologis dan psikologis lansia yang tidak terpenuhi dapat menyebabkan kerentanan terhadap penyakit, stres konfusi, disorientasi, gangguan mood, kurang fresh, menurunnya kemampuan berkonsentrasi, kemampuan membuat keputusan. Tujuan : Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan dukungan sosial pramurukti dengan kondisi kesehatan fisik lanjut usia di panti pelayanan sosial lansia cepiring kabupaten Kendal. Metode : Penelitian ini merupakan study deskriptif korelasi dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Jumlah sampel sebanyak 74 orang. Teknik sampling dalam penelitian ini menggunakan total sampling. Hasil : Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa menunjukkan sebagian besar pramurukti memberikan dukungan dalam tingkat rendah hingga sedang yaitu sebanyak 13 (56,5%) orang. Hasil perhitungan menggunakan chi - square didapatkan nilai p value 0,316 (P>0,05) sehingga hasil analisis tidak adanya hubungan antara dukungan sosial pramurukti dengan kondisi kesehatan fisik lansia. Diskusi : Penelitian ini diharapkan dapat digunakan sebagai referensi untuk mengembangkan penelitian yang serupa menggunakan variabel yang berbeda.Kata Kunci : Dukungan Sosial, Kondisi Kesehatan Fisik, Lansia Introduction: The large number of elderly people in Indonesia must be handled as a whole by paying attention to their needs. The basic physiological needs of the elderly that must be met are hygiene, nutrition, comfort, oxygenation, electrolyte fluid, urine and faecal elimination, and sleep. will have a negative impact on health, physiological and psychological needs of unmet elderly can lead to susceptibility to disease, confusion, disorientation, mood disorders, lack of freshness, decreased ability to concentrate, ability to make decisions. Objective: This study aims to determine the relationship between pre-proof social support and the physical health conditions of elderly people at the social care institutions of the elderly cepiring Kendal district. Method: This study is a descriptive correlation study with a cross sectional approach. The number of samples is 74 people. The sampling technique in this study used total sampling. Results: The results of the study showed that most of the prostitutes provided support in the low to moderate levels of 13 (56.5%) people. The calculation results using chi-square obtained p value 0.316 (P> 0.05) so that the results of the analysis there is no relationship between pre-proof social support and physical health conditions of the elderly. Discussion: This research is expected to be used as a reference for developing similar research using different variables.Keywords: Social Support, Physical Health Conditions, Elderly

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Caregivers’ Mental Health and Somatic Symptoms During COVID-19

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbaa121 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sung S Park

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Health ◽

Negative Binomial ◽

Somatic Symptoms ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Group Differences ◽

Short Term ◽

The Impact ◽

Mental And Physical Health

Abstract Objectives This study examines differences in the mental and physical health of the U.S. population during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic among 3 groups: noncaregivers, short-term caregivers (1 year or less), and long-term caregivers (greater than 1 year). Methods Data from the Understanding America Study are used to describe group differences in reports of psychological distress and somatic symptoms. Logistic and negative binomial regression models are used to examine whether these differences persist after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and prepandemic health conditions. To understand within-group differences in caregiving demands, the intensity of care provided by short-term and long-term caregivers, as well as selected patients’ health conditions are summarized. Results Adults’ mental and physical health varied substantially by caregiver status. Caregivers continued to fare worse than noncaregivers in terms of mental health and fatigue, and long-term caregivers were more likely to report headache, body aches, and abdominal discomfort than both short-term caregivers and noncaregivers, net of controls. The nature of caregiving differed between short-term and long-term caregivers, with the latter more likely to provide greater hours of care, and to be looking after patients with permanent medical conditions. Discussion Efforts to understand and mitigate the impact of the pandemic on population health should include caregivers, whose mental and physical health were already vulnerable before COVID-19.

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QOL in primary care of elderly mentally ill and their caregivers’ well-being

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(11)72564-0 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (S2) ◽

pp. 859-859

Author(s):

N. Tataru ◽

A. Dicker

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Primary Care ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Well Being ◽

The Elderly ◽

Care Staff ◽

Care Of Elderly

It is difficult to talk about quality of life of elderly with mental disorders. Thus, there appeared serious ethical challenges for psychiatry: to cut mental health costs and to provide care to as many as possible through all duration of their diseases, from the onset to the end-of-life. The psychiatrists have to face these challenges and treat the elderly with or without mental disorders from primary care to residential one, assuring them the best quality of life as it is possible. The goal of medical policy is to optimize the patients’ and their caregivers’ well-being. Multiple loses in old age are important in decreasing of quality of life and increasing of mental health problems in the elderly. They have more social and medical problems, which include depression and suicide. Caring for a family member with dementia can be both challenging and stressful. Primary care-staff need to develop the skills to detect and manage signs of caregivers stress. Health care professionals can promote well-being of the caregivers not only the patients’ well-being, educate them how to access help and manage their stress effectively. Recognition of the importance of the role of caregivers and finding the effective ways of supporting them, respecting their personal perception of the quality of this offer, improve the quality of primary care of elderly patients with mental disorders and also improve the quality of life of their relative or caregivers.

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