scholarly journals Old and Homeless: A Review and Survey of Older Adults Who Use Shelters in an Urban Setting

2003 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 374-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicky Stergiopoulos ◽  
Nathan Herrmann
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Urban Setting ◽  
Homeless Population ◽  
Service Needs ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Objectives: Research on the mental health and service needs of homeless seniors has been scant. This paper reviews the available literature and presents findings of a Toronto survey in an effort to describe the demographics of homeless seniors, their level of impairment, and their mental and physical health needs. Methods: We searched the Medline, AgeLine, and PsycINFO databases, using the following key words: elderly homeless, elderly hostel users, and urban geriatrics. To better describe the service needs of the elderly homeless, we obtained demographic data from the Community and Neighbourhood Services Department and distributed a survey questionnaire to 11 Toronto hostel directors. The questionnaire elicited data relating to reasons for shelter use, problem behaviours, and mental health needs of those over age 65 years. Results: Although seniors represent a small percentage of the homeless population, their numbers are growing. The available literature suggests a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders and cognitive impairment in this population, with a greater proportion of older women than men having severe mental illness. Further, our survey suggests that the service needs of elderly hostel users in Toronto differ from those of their younger counterparts. Conclusion: The homeless elderly are the most vulnerable of this impoverished population. Although more research is needed to define their mental and physical health needs and ways of meeting them, their characteristics appear to be unique. Geriatric psychiatrists could play a significant role in evaluating and treating this population more comprehensively.

scholarly journals Using Clinical Trials as Agents of Transformation in Populations Burdened by Disparities

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 128-128
Author(s):  
Daniel Jimenez ◽  
Giyeon Kim
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Racial Ethnic ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Abstract Older adults from racial/ethnic backgrounds as well as those from rural areas experience a disproportionate burden of physical and mental health risk factors. Given the prevalence of comorbid physical and mental health conditions in later life, the inadequacies of current treatment approaches for averting years living with disability, the disparities in access to the health care delivery system (including mental health care), and the workforce shortages to meet the mental and physical health needs of racial/ethnic and rural populations, development and testing of innovative strategies to address these disparities are of great public health significance and have the potential to change practice. This session will illustrate how four different interventions are being used to address mental and physical health needs in Latino and rural-dwelling older adults with the goal of reducing and ultimately eliminating disparities in these populations. Particular attention will be paid to the use of non-traditional interventions (e.g. social support, health promotion, technology). Results of clinical research studies will be presented alongside clinical case presentations. This integrated focus highlights the importance of adapting research interventions to real-world clinical settings.

Sleep Management Promotes Healthy Lifestyle, Mental Health, QOL, and a Healthy Brain

2013 ◽  
pp. 211-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideki Tanaka ◽  
Maki Furutani
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral ◽  
Sleep Management ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

This chapter is an overview of sleep, lifestyle, mental, and physical health, and the characteristics of insomnia among the elderly and students. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of the effects of the sleep management with actual examples of public health from the community and schools. Sleep management that included short naps and exercise in the evening was effective in promoting sleep and mental health with elderly people. The interventions demonstrated that the proper awakening maintenance and keeping proper arousal level during the evening were effective in improving sleep quality. Furthermore, sleep management that included sleep education and cognitive-behavioral interventions improved sleep-related habits and the quality of sleep. In this study, a sleep educational program using minimal cognitive-behavioral modification techniques was developed. Mental and physical health were also improved along with improving sleep with the elderly and students. These results suggest that cognitive-behavioral interventions to improve the sleep practices are effective for mental health, the activity of daily living (ADL), and the quality of life (QOL)

scholarly journals Burn-out and mental health of minority medical students in Hungarian medical education.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zsuzsanna Szél ◽  
Zsuzsa Győrffy
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Burn Out ◽  
High Level ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Abstract Background Previous researches suggested that minority students are more exposed to discrimination and mistreatment at university, therefore may have higher risk of mental and physical health problems. Methods An online questionnaire was conducted among medical students of the 4 Hungarian medical universities (N=530). The survey contained questions about general demographic data, health behavior, burnout, mental and physical health issues and discrimination. Results 29.6% of students self-identified as minority. High level burnout was indicated by 48.1% of respondents, while another 27.0% showed moderate level. High level burn-out was associated with minority status (84.6% vs. 71.0%; p<0.001), discrimination (83.0% vs. 68.5%, p< 0.001), lower level of social support (89.0% vs 69.0%, p<0.001) and higher levels of perceived stress (57.1% vs. 95.4%) in the chi-squared test. Higher scores on trait (B = 0.123; p<0.001) and state anxiety (B = 0.082; p<0.001) subscales of STAI and lower score of resilience (B= -0.168; p<0.001) were significantly associated with higher level of burnout in the univariate model. In our final analysis, perceived stress, resilience, minority identity and experienced discrimination remained significant. Conclusions Belonging to a minority community might need to be considered an essential factor leading to burnout in Hungarian medical students. Our research suggests that minority medical students have poorer mental health and higher risk for burnout.

The impact of economic crisis on mental and physical health in Italy

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (02) ◽  
pp. 103-110
Author(s):  
S. Tomassi ◽  
M. Ruggeri
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Great Recession ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Behavioural Disorders ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Summary Background: The global crisis that began in 2007 has been the most prolonged economic recession since 1929. It has caused worldwide tangible costs in terms of cuts in employment and income, which have been widely recognised also as major social determinants of mental health (1, 2). The so-called “Great Recession” has disproportionately affected the most vulnerable part of society of the whole Eurozone (3). Across Europe, an increase in suicides and deaths rates due to mental and behavioural disorders was reported among those who lost their jobs, houses and economic activities as a consequence of the crisis.

scholarly journals Comparative analysis of postoperative sexual dysfunction and quality of life in type a aortic dissection patients of different ages

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeng-Rong Luo ◽  
Dong-Shan Liao ◽  
Liang-Wan Chen
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Aortic Dissection ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Type A Aortic Dissection ◽  
Postoperative Sexual Dysfunction

Abstract Background To compare postoperative sexual dysfunction (SD) and quality of life (QOL) in Type A Aortic Dissection (AAD) Patients of Different Ages. Methods From January 2018 to December 2019, 204 AAD postoperative survivors in Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University were selected and were divided into young group (less than 50 years old) and elderly group (more than 50 years old). We evaluated SD according to the male International Erectile Dysfunction Index (IIEF-5) and female sexual function index (FSFI). The Short Form 12 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-12) and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q) were used to investigate the QOL, Quick Inventory Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (QIDS-SR) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) to investigate depressive symptoms. Results One hundred seventy-five patients completed all the questionnaire (85.8%). The total SD prevalence rate was 38.9% (68 cases), with 27.4% of the young (20 cases) and 47.1% of the elderly (48 cases). The age of non-SD and SD patients was 49.0 ± 11.5 and 56.9 ± 10.8 years, respectively (P = 0.03). Compared with non-SD patients, the total physical health of SD patients was significantly worse (P = 0.04), however, the mental health was not significantly worse (P = 0.77); the depressive symptoms did not expressed a significant difference between the SD and non-SD groups (QIDS-SR P = 0.15, BDI-II P = 0.06). Total physical health scores in the young SD group did not show significant better than elderly SD group (P = 0.24), however, total mental health scores showed significantly worse (P = 0.04), depressive symptoms scores were significantly higher (QIDS-SR P = 0.03, BDI-II P = 0.04). Conclusion The postoperative AAD SD prevalence of elderly is higher than that of young, and the total physical health of SD patients is poorer than those without SD patients. The young SD patients did not show a significant higher physical health scores than the elderly SD patients, instead, the young SD patients were more psychologically affected than the elderly SD patients, whose mental health was worse, and depression symptoms were more obvious, suggesting that the factors affecting the QOL of postoperative SD patients are related to physical factors, but the young postoperative SD patients mainly affected by psychological factors.

scholarly journals Holistic Health: Does It Really Include Mental Health?

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 2092-2099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly K. McClanahan ◽  
Marlene B. Huff ◽  
Hatim A. Omar
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
Holistic Health ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
The Past ◽  
Mind And Body ◽  
Mental And Physical Health ◽  
The U.S

Holistic health, incorporating mind and body as equally important and unified components of health, is a concept utilized in some health care arenas in the United States (U.S.) over the past 30 years. However, in the U.S., mental health is not seen as conceptually integral to physical health and, thus, holistic health cannot be realized until the historical concept of mind-body dualism, continuing stigma regarding mental illness, lack of mental health parity in insurance, and inaccurate public perceptions regarding mental illness are adequately addressed and resolved. Until then, mental and physical health will continue to be viewed as disparate entities rather than parts of a unified whole. We conclude that the U.S. currently does not generally incorporate the tenets of holistic health in its view of the mental and physical health of its citizens, and provide some suggestions for changing that viewpoint.

scholarly journals The cost of mental and physical health disability in childhood and adolescence to families in the UK: findings from a repeated cross-sectional survey using propensity score matching

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e018729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Solmi ◽  
Mariya Melnychuk ◽  
Stephen Morris
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Family ◽  
Additional Costs ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

ObjectiveIn the UK, families of disabled children are entitled to receive disability benefits to help meet costs associated with caring for their child. Evidence of actual costs incurred is scant, especially for mental health disability. In this study, we aimed to quantify the cost of mental and physical health disability in childhood and adolescence to families in the UK using the concept of compensating variation (CV).DesignRepeated cross-sectional survey.SettingThe UK general populationParticipants85 212 children drawn from 8 waves of the Family Resources Survey.OutcomesUsing propensity score matching we matched families with a disabled child to similar families without a disabled child and calculated the extra income the former require to achieve the same living standards as the latter, that is, their CV. We calculated the additional costs specifically associated with several definitions of mental health and physical health disability.ResultsFamilies of a child with any mental health disability, regardless of the presence of physical health comorbidity, needed an additional £49.31 (95% CI: 21.95 to 76.67) and, for more severe disabilities, an additional £57.56 (95% CI: 17.69 to 97.44) per week to achieve the same living standards of families without a disabled child. This difference was greater for more deprived families, who needed between £59.28 (95% CI: 41.38 to 77.18) and £81.26 (95% CI: 53.35 to 109.38) more per week depending on the extent of mental health disability. Families of children with physical health disabilities, with or without mental health disabilities, required an additional £35.86 (95% CI: 13.77 to 57.96) per week, with economically deprived families requiring an extra £42.18 (95% CI: 26.38 to 57.97) per week.ConclusionsMental and physical health disabilities among children and adolescents were associated with high additional costs for the family, especially for those from deprived economic backgrounds. Means testing could help achieve a more equitable redistribution of disability benefit.

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