Evaluation and intervention in the risk of falls in institutionalized elderly using smartphone sensors (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Pilar Molés Julio ◽  
José Francisco Pedrero-Sánchez ◽  
María Viecenta Lucas-Miralles ◽  
Irene Carmona-Fortuño ◽  
David Garrido-Jaén ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Muscle Power ◽  
Inertial Sensor ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Test Execution ◽  
Sit To Stand ◽  
Experimental Group

BACKGROUND Aging produces a deterioration in the older person and this affects the neuromuscular system among others, reducing muscle mass, strength and muscle power and this generates a decrease in functional capacity in the elderly, can cause falls and disability. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to analyze the ability to know the functional capacity and fall risk of elderly people in nursing homes through a novel short-test using a single inertial sensor embedded in an Android device. METHODS Study participants included 47 older people (over 55 years old) resided in two nursing homes. Functional assessment with FallSkip® which includes static balance, gait analysis, lower limb power when sit to stand, test execution time and reaction time. The patients were randomly divided into two study groups, control and experimental group. The experimental group underwent individualized rehabilitation therapy based on the results obtained by the modified Timed Up and Go falls risk test. Subsequently, the results obtained between the two residences and between the experimental groups were compared. RESULTS 70% of people in nursing homes are over 75 years old, which the female participants were mostly found in the older age groups, unlike their male counterparts, who were concentrated in the younger age groups. When comparing the anthropometric variables and clinical scales for the two nursing homes no statistically significant differences appeared (p > 0.05) only on the fall risk score (p < 0.05) and the sit to stand power (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The comfort of evaluating the functional status of the elderly in the nursing homes by an objective and simple functional test has allowed us to carry out individualized rehabilitation interventions for each participant; as well as to know the functional level of the people in the nursing homes.

Creating a Safer Patient Room Environment: The Contribution of Patient Bed Height

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 180-184
Author(s):  
Dorothy Taylor ◽  
Janice Morse ◽  
Andrew Merryweather
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Patient ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Lower Leg ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Leg Length ◽  
Patient Room ◽  
Patient Falls ◽  
Sit To Stand ◽  
Bed Height

Elderly patient falls are expensive and may cause serious harm. Studies have identified the sit-to-stand-and-walk (STSW) task as the task where the greatest number of elderly patient falls occur. There is a great need to identify the particular movement and environmental conditions that lead to these elderly patient falls. This study begins to address this gap by evaluating the elderly patient during self-selected hospital bed egress. Using an observed fall risk episode (FRE) as a fall proxy, statistically significant parameters were identified which include bed height, pausing prior to initiating gait, level of fall risk, and Stand phase. Low bed height was identified as the least safe bed height. Patient-specific bed height (PSBH) using the patient’s lower leg length (LLL) is recommended. In addition, suggested guidelines are presented for clinical application in setting PSBH without measuring the patient’s LLL.

scholarly journals Assessment of functional capacity in elderly residents of an outlying area in the hinterland of Bahia/Northeast Brazil

2010 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilson de Vasconcelos Torres ◽  
Luciana Araújo dos Reis ◽  
Luana Araújo dos Reis
Keyword(s):  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Instrumental Activities ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Outlying Area

OBJECTIVE: To assess the functional capacity and to determine the difference between the means of functional capacity (basic and instrumental activities of daily living) and the age groups of elderly residents in an outlying area in the hinterland of Bahia/Northeast of Brazil. METHOD: Analytical study with cross-sectional design and a sample of 150 elderly individuals enrolled in four Health Units in the municipality of Jequié, Bahia, Brazil. The instrument consisted of sociodemographic and health data, the Barthel Index and the Lawton scale. RESULTS: In all, 78.00% of the elderly were classified as dependent in the basic activities and 65.33% in the instrumental activities of daily living. Using the Kruskal-Wallis test, we found a statistically significant difference between the means of instrumental activities and the age groups (p=0.011). CONCLUSION: An elevated number of elderly were classified as dependent in terms of functional capacity and increased age is related to greater impairment in the execution of instrumental activities of daily living.

Association of body composition with functional capacity and cognitive function in older adults living in nursing homes

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pinelopi Stavrinou ◽  
George Aphamis ◽  
Eleni Andreou ◽  
Marios Pantzaris ◽  
Christoforos Giannaki
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Nursing Home Residents ◽  
Sit To Stand

Objective: Older adults living in nursing homes have an increased risk of adverse outcomes. However, the role of body composition in vital health and quality of life parameters such as functional capacity and cognitive function is less studied in this group of older adults compared to community-dwelling counterparts. Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the association of body composition with functional capacity and cognitive function in nursing home residents. Methods: Fifty-three older adults (82.8±7.3 years) were enrolled in this study and they underwent body composition evaluation, functional capacity and cognitive function measurements. Results: The results showed a high prevalence of obesity accompanied by functional capacity limitations and cognitive impairment in older adults living in nursing homes. Partial correlations, controlling for age, showed that body fat percentage was positively correlated with sit-to-stand-5 (r=0.310, p=0.025) and timed-up-and-go (r=0.331, p=0.017), and negatively correlated with handgrip strength test results (r=-0.431, p<0.001), whereas greater lean body mass was associated with better sit-to-stand-5 (r=-0.410, p=0.003), handgrip strength (r=0.624, p<0.001) and cognitive function performance (r=0.302, p=0.037). Conclusions: These important associations reinforce the need to develop effective healthy lifestyle interventions targeting both lean mass and body fat to combat functional and cognitive decline in nursing home residents.

scholarly journals Factors Related to the Depression Score in the Elderly at the Social Service of the Dharma Asri Binjai Nursing Home

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (T3) ◽  
pp. 9-12
Author(s):  
Ariwan Selian ◽  
Bahagia Loebis ◽  
Mustafa M. Amin ◽  
Nazli Mahdinasari
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Social Service ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Social

BACKGROUND: Depression is the most common psychiatric problem in the elderly. Suicidal thoughts or recurring thoughts of death are common in people suffering from depression. Depression in the elderly has a very poor prognosis compared to people in other age groups because they have a relatively higher risk of suicide and death. Elderly people in nursing homes is a condition that significantly affects the quality of life and survival and harms the psychology of the elderly, cause stress is due to elderly people in nursing homes associated with medical and psychosocial problems such as divorce/widows, poverty, and social isolation. AIM: We aimed to find out the factors that affect the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS 15) score in elderly people at the Social Service of the Dharma Asri Binjai Nursing Home. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional approach to 91 subjects at the Dharma Asri Binjai Nursing Home Social Service starting from June to July 2020 utilizing sampling, namely, simple random sampling. The tests conducted in this study consisted of a bivariate test and a multivariate linear regression test to determine which factors are associated with depression. The measuring instrument used was the GDS 15. RESULTS: After the multivariate test was carried out, the variables that were statistically significant to the total score of depression in the elderly at the Binjai Dharma Asri nursing home were Gender (p < 0.001) and activity of daily living (ADL) Score (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The factors associated with the GDS score of 15 and the occurrence of depression in the elderly were found in the gender variable and the ADL score variable.

scholarly journals The Effects of an Advanced Movable Restraint Design on the Elderly Residents at Long-Term Care Facilities in Taiwan

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (33) ◽  
pp. 104
Author(s):  
Meng-Ping Wu ◽  
Lee-Ing Tsao
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Muscle Power ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Exercise Frequency ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Experimental Group

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects, both initially and after 6 months, of an “advanced movable restraint” with openended palm sleeve restraint bands for the elderly residents at long-term care facilities in northern Taiwan. Background. Elderly residents in long-term care facilities are often forced to remain bed-ridden by traditional bed restraint bands due to their irritable, confused conditions and the associated risks of self-extubating their nasogastric (NG) tubes, urinary catheters, etc. However, the traditional bed restraint bands can themselves lead to further physical and mental complications such as skin damage, depression, hostility, and even rhabdomyolysis, increasing the risk of death. Design. Quasiexperimental design. Methods: This parallel-design study was conducted with elderly residents at eight long-term care facilities. The newly designed advanced movable restraint featuring movable open-ended palm sleeve restraint bands was applied to the elderly residents in the experimental group, allowing them greater freedom of movement such that they were not required to remain bed-ridden. In contrast, the elderly residents in the control group were restrained with traditional bed restraints requiring that they remain bedridden. The following four instruments and indicators were then used to compare the effects of the two types of restraints: (1) an activities of daily living (ADL) survey based on the Barthel Index, (2) a muscle power test, (3) an exercise frequency and duration survey, and (4) self-extubation rates. The effects of the interventions were tested by using the t test or chi-square test to compare pre-test results for the ADL survey, muscle power test, exercise frequency and duration survey, and self-extubation rates to those at a 6-month follow-up. Results: A total of 80 elderly residents were included in the experimental group, while 80 elderly residents were included in the control group. At the 6-month follow-up, the residents restrained with the advanced movable restraint had a significantly increased mean muscle power score (χ2 =17.212, P < 0.001), significantly decreased self-extubation rate (χ2 =40.733, P < .001), and significantly increased exercise frequency and duration per week (χ2=27.095 P < 0.001; 26.241 P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study showed that the advanced movable restraint can improve muscle power scores, self-extubation rates, and exercise frequencies and durations by allowing residents greater freedom of movement without the need to remain bed-ridden. It is thus crucial to use such advanced movable restraints and develop standardized technology systems to support the elderly residents and nurses in long-term care facilities.

scholarly journals Differences in quality of life and cognition between the elderly and the very elderly hemodialysis patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-383
Author(s):  
Fernanda Siqueira Viana ◽  
Yolanda Eliza M. Boechat ◽  
Jocemir Ronaldo Lugon ◽  
Jorge Paulo Strogoff de Matos
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Chronic Hemodialysis ◽  
Life Assessment ◽  
Very Elderly

Abstract Introduction: In the last decades, there was an expressive increase in the number of elderly patients with chronic kidney disease starting hemodialysis. Thus, our goal was to evaluate the profile of the elderly in chronic hemodialysis and to compare the cognition and quality of life of the younger elderly with those of the very elderly. Methods: Patients on hemodialysis for at least 3 months, who were 65 years of age or older when they started dialysis were invited to participate, and stratified according to age (under or over 80 years). The participants answered a clinical-epidemiological questionnaire and underwent cognitive tests (Mini Mental State Exam [MMSE], clock drawing test [CDT] and verbal fluency test [VFT]) and a quality of life assessment 36- Item Short Form Health Survey). Results: Of the 125 eligible patients, 124 agreed to participate. The mean age was 76 ± 6 years (28% ≥ 80 years), 56% were men and 55% had ≥ 8 years of schooling. Depression was suggested in 38%. The prevalence of cognitive deficit was 38%, 70% and 30%, by MEEM, CDT and VFT, respectively. The prevalence of any deficit was higher among the very elderly (94% vs. 72%, p = 0.007). Quality of life scores were similar between the two age groups, except for the functional capacity domain, worse in the group with ≥ 80 years (p = 0.033). Conclusion: Elderly patients on chronic hemodialysis have a high prevalence of cognitive deficits, especially the very elderly, but this group does not have a worse quality of life, except for functional capacity.

scholarly journals Effect of A Six-week Dynamic Neuromuscular Stability Training on Performance Factors and Quality of Life in the Elderly

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 215-224
Author(s):  
Mohammad Hani Mansori ◽  
◽  
Yousef Moghadas Tabrizi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Lower Limb Strength ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Training Protocol

Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of 6 weeks of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stability (DNS) training on performance (lower limb strength, flexibility, fall risk) and quality of life in the elderly. Materials and Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design. This research was performed on 30 elderly males, aged 60-70 years in Qom Province, Iran in 2021. The examined elderly were randomly divided into the experimental and control groups (n=15/group). Furthermore, the experimental group participated in three 45-minute weekly sessions of DNS training for 6 weeks. To collect the necessary information before and after applying the training protocol, tint tests, 30-second seat sitting test, sitting and delivery test, TUG test, and SF-36 questionnaire were used. The obtained data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Paired Samples t-test at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The ANCOVA results indicated a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in motor function, fall risk, quality of life, lower limb strength, and flexibility (P<0.05). The collected mean scores outlined that the experimental group performed better than the control group. Conclusion: Due to the effectiveness of DNS training on physical function and the very high importance of the elderly lifestyle, it is recommended that the provided training protocol be used for prevention and rehabilitation, increase the level of physical fitness and quality of life as a low-cost treatment, among the elderly.

The Effects of Significant International Sports Events on Hungarian Suicide Rates

Crisis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karoly Bozsonyi ◽  
Peter Osvath ◽  
Sandor Fekete ◽  
Lajos Bálint
Keyword(s):  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Olympic Games ◽  
Arima Model ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Intervention Analysis ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Sports Events ◽  
Sport Events ◽  
The Olympic Games

Abstract. Background: Several studies found a significant relationship between important sport events and suicidal behavior. Aims: We set out to investigate whether there is a significant relationship between the raw suicide rate and the most important international sports events (Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship) in such an achievement-oriented society as the Hungarian one, where these sport events receive great attention. Method: We examined suicide cases occurring over 15,706 days between January 1, 1970, and December 31, 2012 (43 years), separately for each gender. Because of the age-specific characteristics of suicide, the effects of these sport events were analyzed for the middle-aged (30–59 years old) and the elderly (over 60 years old) generations as well as for gender-specific population groups. The role of international sport events was examined with the help of time-series intervention analysis after cyclical and seasonal components were removed. Intervention analysis was based on the ARIMA model. Results: Our results showed that only the Olympic Games had a significant effect in the middle-aged population. Neither in the older male nor in any of the female age groups was a relationship between suicide and Olympic Games detected. Conclusion: The Olympic Games seem to decrease the rate of suicide among middle-aged men, slightly but significantly.

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