scholarly journals Elderly and drugs: risks and necessity of rational use

2010 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 617-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
André de Oliveira Baldoni ◽  
Farah Maria Drumond Chequer ◽  
Elisa Raquel Anastácio Ferraz ◽  
Danielle Palma de Oliveira ◽  
Leonardo Régis Leira Pereira ◽  
...  

In recent decades, the world has undergone a demographic transformation with a rapid growth of the elderly population, resulting in an increased demand for funds to maintain their health and drug consumption. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes occurring in the elderly can interfere directly in the adverse effects of drugs and increase the risk of intoxication. In addition, there are external factors interfering with the pharmacotherapy of the elderly, such as inappropriate use and the lack of access to information. Many therapeutic classes of drugs should be used with caution or avoided in the elderly population, such as anti-inflammatory and some anti-hypertensive drugs, diuretics and digitalis. If not managed carefully, these medicines can affect the safety and quality of life in the elderly. Thus, the aim of this review was to identify drugs that should be used with caution in elderly patients in order to avoid intoxication and/or adverse drug events.

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 191-199
Author(s):  
Fisun Sözen ◽  
Meriç Yavuz Çolak

Aging is a continuous and universal process that is seen in every living thing without privilege and causes a decrease in all our functions. In the past 40-50 years, the most important concept that has developed with the increase of the elderly population in the world, especially in developed countries, is the aging of societies. Quality oflife (QOL) was defined by the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) Group as “individuals’ perception of their position in life in the context of culture and value systems in which they live, and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns” In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the quality of life perception and aging perception of elderly patients who applied to family medicine outpatient clinics of a university hospital. The data of this descriptive and cross-sectional study, the questionnaire containing socio-demographic information, and the Turkish version of WHO’s Quality of Life Instrument Older Adults Module (WHOQOL-OLD)-TR and WHO’s Europe Attitudes to Aging questionnaire. (EAAQ)-TR were created. The questionnaires were applied to Baskent University Hospital Family Medicine outpatient clinics and 200 randomly selected volunteers over the age of 65.All scale dimension scores were compared according to demographic characteristics by statistical t-test and variance analysis. As a result, significant positive correlations among the dimensions of QOL and aging attitude (AA) were obtained. Also total scores of QOL and AA were significantly correlated.Moreover QOL dimension scores were significantly correlated to AA dimension scores. Whereas age and gender were significantly related to psychosocial loss dimension, education was significantly related to psychosocial growth, physical change and total aging attitude scores. Additionally higher educated subjects (university degree) had higher mean scores. The presence of a disease was significantly related to physical change and total aging attitude scores. (p< 0.005) Changes in living environments were significantly correlated to physical change dimension. There is a significant positive correlation between WHOQOL-OLD-TR total scores and AYTA-TR total scores. Increasing the quality of life of the rapidly increasing elderly population will be one of the most important goals in the field of health both today and in the future. Family physicians can provide a better primary health care service by evaluating the quality of life and aging perceptions of the elderly and contribute to the development of new policies in this difficult issue.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nesreen Fathi Mahmoud ◽  
Huda Zahran ◽  
Sherif Abdelmonam

Abstract Background This study focuses on the self-perception of the voice in the elderly as assessed by the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) questionnaire. This work aimed to compare differences in the voice-related quality of life outcomes between (1) elderly with and without voice disorders, (2) female and male elderly with voice disorders, and (3) different types of voice disorders, and to explore the correlation between the V-RQOL and perceptual analysis done by the clinician. Forty-three dysphonic and 44 non-dysphonic elderly filled out the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) protocol that analyzes the impact of dysphonia on life quality. Vocal perceptual assessment of each subject with dysphonia was made by three voice therapists, followed by a flexible nasofibrolaryngoscope. Results A significant statistical difference was found between the means of total V-RQOL scores and its subdomains for each group (dysphonic and non-dysphonic). No significant differences were found between male and female elderly with dysphonia. The statistical analysis showed a significant correlation with the vocal assessment made by the clinicians and the V-RQOL self-assessment made by the subjects. Conclusions This study provides valuable information regarding the risk factors that contribute to vocal quality in the elderly population. Our results revealed that different types of voice disorders are common among the elderly population with significant negative effects on quality of life. It was observed that the poorest score on the V-RQOL was for functional voice disorders, followed by neoplastic lesions, whereas MAPLs had the best score on the V-RQOL.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 517
Author(s):  
Ilia Adami ◽  
Michalis Foukarakis ◽  
Stavroula Ntoa ◽  
Nikolaos Partarakis ◽  
Nikolaos Stefanakis ◽  
...  

Improving the well-being and quality of life of the elderly population is closely related to assisting them to effectively manage age-related conditions such as chronic illnesses and anxiety, and to maintain their independence and self-sufficiency as much as possible. This paper presents the design, architecture and implementation structure of an adaptive system for monitoring the health and well-being of the elderly. The system was designed following best practices of the Human-Centred Design approach involving representative end-users from the early stages.


2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 1155-1167
Author(s):  
Pavle Radanov ◽  
Ivana Lešević ◽  
Pavle Brzaković ◽  
Dragan Pajić

In the Republic of Serbia, on March 15 th , 2020 Government decided to declare a state of emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic. One of the measures was a movement ban for people over 65 in urban areas and those over 70 in rural areas. This research should indicate how people over 65 in urban areas have endured this situation, especially in relation to the same population in rural areas, as well as implications of the movement ban on the quality of life of the elderly population. Special importance is given to the rural population engaged in agriculture. A tool of data collection in this research was anonymous survey. Respondents' answers were statistically processed, which led to clear conclusions about the large negative consequences for the elderly population, including the agricultural activities in rural areas. Covid-19 is still present, which opens further questions related to the quality of life of the elderly population, if necessity for similar measures recurs in the future.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Sumalee Sungsri

Thailand is becoming an elderly society like many countries in the world. The number of elderly people is increasing continuously every year. In order to enable the elderly to live with good quality of life in the rapidly changing society, knowledge and information related to their health and living factors are considered to be necessary for them. Therefore, this study was carried out in order to develop a model of knowledge provision for promoting quality of life of the elderly in rural areas of the country. The samples were drawn from every region of the country which included 480 elderly people, 480 elderly caretakers, and 160 people representing the community leaders, community committee members and staff of local government agencies. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed for data collection. The study found that there were five areas of knowledge for promoting quality of life of the elderly: physical health, mental health, social relationship, economic, and learning. The model of knowledge provision to the elderly synthesized from the study could enable the elderly to gain necessary knowledge deemed useful for promoting their quality of life. The elderly, the elderly care caretakers and related people were found to be satisfied with the model.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Majesty Kowureng ◽  
Kairupan Kairupan ◽  
Ns. Kristamuliana

Abstract : The increasing elderly population is a global phenomenon nowadays. Faced with this, the importance of ensuring the elderly is not only seen from a long life but also the quality of life of the elderly needs to be considered. Objective. The purpose of this literature study is to explain the quality of life and strategies to improve the quality of life of the elderly who live in nursing homes. Method. The method used to compile this literature study is by searching through an electronic database. Searching for articles is done by using the keywords Quality Of Life, Elderly, Nursing Homes, that are traced through Google Scholar, Pubmed, and Science Direct. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal is used to assess and analyze the quality of the article methodology. Result. There were 723 articles published from 2015 to 2019 related to the quality of life of elderly living in nursing homes that were identified. However, of 723 articles, only 6 articles met with the review requirements. Six articles that meet the inclusion criteria are divided into two major themes, namely the quality of life of elderly living in nursing homes (4 studies) and interventions that affect improving the quality of life of elderly living in nursing homes (2 studies). Conclusion. This literature study concludes that the majority of elderly people living in nursing homes had a moderate quality of life and physical activity interventions and religious-spiritual interventions affected improving the quality of life in elderly nursing homes. Suggestion. The author suggests making modifications to the nursing care of the elderly who live in nursing homes that are adjusted to any changes that occur in the elderly needed to improve their quality of life.Keywords : Quality of Life, Elderly, Nursing Homes. Abstrak: Peningkatan populasi lanjut usia merupakan fenomena global saat ini. Menghadapi hal tersebut, pentingnya menjamin lanjut usia bukan hanya dilihat dari umur yang panjang, tetapi juga kualitas hidup lanjut usia perlu untuk diperhatikan. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk menjelaskan kualitas hidup dan strategi peningkatan kualitas hidup lanjut usia yang tinggal di panti. Metode yang digunakan untuk menyusun studi literatur ini adalah dengan mencari melalui database elektronik. Pencarian artikel dilakukan dengan menggunakan kata kunci Quality Of Life, Elderly, Nursing Homes, yang ditelusuri melalui Google Scholar, Pubmed, dan Science Direct. Menilai dan menganalisis kualitas metodologi dalam setiap studi menggunakan The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal. Hasil. Didapatkan 723 artikel terkait kualitas hidup lanjut usia yang tinggal di panti yang diidentifikasi dan dipublikasikan dari tahun 2015-2019. Dari 723 artikel hanya 6 artikel yang memenuhi syarat untuk dianalisis. Enam artikel yang memenuhi kriteria inklusi terbagi menjadi dua tema besar yaitu kualitas hidup lanjut usia yang tinggal di panti (4 studi) dan intervensi yang berpengaruh meningkatkan kualitas hidup lanjut usia yang tinggal di panti (2 studi). Kesimpulan. Dari studi literatur ini dapat disimpulkan bahwa sebagian besar lanjut usia yang tinggal di panti memiliki kualitas hidup pada tingkat sedang dan intervensi aktivitas fisik dan intervensi spiritual keagamaan berpengaruh pada peningkatan kualitas hidup lanjut usia yang tinggal di panti. Saran. Melakukan modifikasi pada asuhan keperawatan lanjut usia yang tinggal di panti yang disesuaikan dengan setiap perubahan yang terjadi pada lanjut usia sangat diperlukan demi meningkatkan kualitas hidup mereka.


2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teake P. Ettema ◽  
Rose-Marie Dröes ◽  
Jacomine de Lange ◽  
Marcel E. Ooms ◽  
Gideon J. Mellenbergh ◽  
...  

In order to conceptually define quality of life (QOL) in dementia, the literature on QOL in the elderly population, in chronic disease and in dementia was studied. Dementia is a progressive, age-related, chronic condition and to avoid omissions within the dementia-specific concept of QOL, a broad orientation was the preferred approach in this literature study. Adaptation is a major outcome in studies investigating interventions aimed at improving QOL in chronic conditions, but to date, it has not been used in the definition of QOL. It is argued that adaptation is an important indication of QOL in people with chronic diseases and therefore also in dementia. Some crucial issues in assessing dementia-related QOL that are relevant to clarify the continuing debate on whether QOL, particularly in dementia, can be measured at all, are discussed. Then the following conceptual definition is offered: dementia-specific QOL is the multidimensional evaluation of the person–environment system of the individual, in terms of adaptation to the perceived consequences of the dementia.


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