The Comparisons of Physical Functional Performances between Older Adults with and without Regular Physical Activity in Two Different Living Settings

We compared the physical function performances of community-dwelling and day care center older adults with and without regular physical activity (PA). A total of 163 Taiwanese older adults living in rural communities participated. PA habits and physical functional performances were assessed. The participants were divided into community-dwelling (CD) and senior day care (DC) center groups that were further classified into regular physical activity (RPA) and non-physical activity (NPA) subgroups. Comparison took place between subgroups. In the CD group, only the grip strength, pinch strength, and box and blocks test scored significantly better for the participants with regular PA. Muscle strength, flexibility, and three items of functional ability of participants with regular PA were significantly better in the DC group. An active lifestyle contributes to a good old-age life. The effective amount of PA and the reduction of sedentary time should be advocated to prevent frailty and disability in older adults.

Download Full-text

A Comparison of Office and Adult Day Care Center Older Volunteers: Social-Psychological and Demographic Differences

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development ◽

10.2190/f791-c07u-9y1g-cv5f ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 219-233 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Morris A. Okun ◽

Nancy Eisenberg

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Day Care ◽

Community Organization ◽

Function Analysis ◽

Care Center ◽

Social Psychological ◽

Role Taking ◽

Day Care Center ◽

Older Volunteers ◽

Minimum Age

Numerous researchers have compared older adults who volunteer with those who do not volunteer on several demographic variables. In contrast, in the present study we compared older adults (minimum age = 55 years old) who volunteered to work for a community organization at an office or in a day care center on social-psychological and demographic predictors. It was hypothesized that day care center volunteers would have higher scores than office volunteers on sympathy, role taking, and self-based salience of volunteer role (i.e., personal identity). In addition, office volunteers were expected to have higher scores than day care center volunteers on other-based salience of volunteer role (i.e., social identity). Discriminant function analysis indicated that day care center volunteers were higher than office volunteers on sympathy whereas office volunteers were higher than day care center volunteers on educational attainment, involvement in clubs and organizations, and role taking.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of a Rehabilitation System for the Elderly in a Day Care Center

Information ◽

10.3390/info10010003 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 3 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Giuseppe Palestra ◽

Mohamed Rebiai ◽

Estelle Courtial ◽

Dimitrios Koutsouris

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Day Care ◽

Elderly Population ◽

Care Center ◽

The Elderly ◽

Postural Response ◽

User Friendliness ◽

Day Care Center ◽

Depth Sensors ◽

Rehabilitation System

This paper presents a rehabilitation system based on a customizable exergame protocol to prevent falls in the elderly population. The system is based on depth sensors and exergames. The experiments carried out with several seniors, in a day care center, make it possible to evaluate the usability and the efficiency of the system. The outcomes highlight the user-friendliness, the very good usability of the developed system and the significant enhancement of the elderly in maintaining a physical activity. The performance of the postural response is improved by an average of 80%.

Download Full-text

Total Daily Physical Activity and the Risk of Parkinsonism in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

The Journals of Gerontology Series A ◽

10.1093/gerona/glz111 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 75 (4) ◽

pp. 702-711 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Shahram Oveisgharan ◽

Lei Yu ◽

Robert J Dawe ◽

David A Bennett ◽

Aron S Buchman

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Mixed Effects ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Daily Physical Activity ◽

Active Lifestyle ◽

Cox Models ◽

Linear Mixed Effects ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

Reduced Risk

Abstract Background Physical activity is a modifiable risk factor associated with health benefits. We hypothesized that a more active lifestyle in older adults is associated with a reduced risk of incident parkinsonism and a slower rate of its progression. Methods Total daily physical activity was recorded with an activity monitor in 889 community-dwelling older adults participating in the Rush Memory and Aging Project. Four parkinsonian signs were assessed with a modified motor portion of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale and summarized as a categorical measure and continuous global parkinsonian score. We used Cox models to determine whether physical activity was associated with incident parkinsonism and linear mixed-effects models to examine if physical activity was associated with the rate of progressive parkinsonism. Results During an average follow-up of 4 years, 233 of 682 (34%) participants, without parkinsonism, developed incident parkinsonism. In Cox models controlling for age, sex, and education, a higher level of physical activity was associated with a reduced risk of developing parkinsonism (hazard ratio = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.70–0.88, p < .001). This association was not attenuated when controlling for cognition, depressive symptoms, Apolipoprotein E ℇ4 allele, and chronic health conditions. In a linear mixed-effects model including all participants (N = 889) which controlled for age, sex, and education, a 1 SD total daily physical activity was associated with a 20% slower rate of progression of parkinsonism. Conclusion Older adults with a more active lifestyle have a reduced risk for parkinsonism and a slower rate of its progression.

Download Full-text

The Influence of Nonpharmacological Complex Therapy Conducted at Community Day-Care Center on the Cognitive Functions and Mood in Older Adults

10.20944/preprints202005.0067.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Agnieszka Gorzkowska ◽

Izabela Zacharska-Quiaum ◽

Joanna Cholewa ◽

Jarosław Cholewa

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Functions ◽

Day Care ◽

Digit Span ◽

Care Center ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Control Group ◽

Day Care Center ◽

Complex Therapy

Nonpharmacological therapeutic interventions in elderly may lead to the reduction of cognitive and depressive symptoms. The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in cognitive functions and mood er or not. in older adults participating in therapy, conducted in the community day-care center (CD-CC). 46 elderly adults (21 M, 25 W) (SG) were examined. The control group (CG) included 45 adults (12 M, 33 W), who participated in the activities of the University of the Third Age (U3A). The following measuring tools were used: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clock-Drawing Test (CDT), Verbal Fluency Test (VFT), Digit Span Test (DST), Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The intervention consisted of CD-CC 6-month complex therapy. In the SG, compared to the CG, the scores on the: MMSE, CDT, VFT, DST, and SCWT were significantly lower (p<0,05), and BDI was significantly higher (p<0,05). After intervention, the SG and the CG, did not show substantial differences in their scores on the: MMSE, CDT, and BDI. In the SG, a significant improvement (p<0,05) was reported on the: VFT, BDI, and HADS scores. The CD-CC complex therapy can be helpful for the cognitive and emotional elderly functioning.

Download Full-text

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND FUNCTIONAL FITNESS IN ELDERLY LIVING IN NURSING HOMES OR USING DAY CARE CENTERS: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

Egitania Sciencia ◽

10.46691/es.v0i0.182 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 81-96

Author(s):

Soraia Ferreira ◽

Nilton Leite ◽

José Marmeleira ◽

Armando Raimundo

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Nursing Home ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Day Care ◽

Care Center ◽

Nursing Home Residents ◽

Functional Fitness ◽

Day Care Center ◽

The Mean ◽

Mean Time

Introduction. The loss of physical functions, health problems, limited support from families and few financial resources, leads to institutionalization (Sullivan & Asselin, 2013). Currently, one of the problems associated with institutionalization is the higher sedentary behavior and consequent loss of autonomy (Liu & Hu, 2015). Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to examine physical activity levels and functional fitness of older adults living in nursing homes or using day care center. Method. Thirty-two older adults (85.5 ± 5.7 years) from both genders participated in this study; 14 nursing home residents and 18 day care center users. Physical activity data were collected through accelerometry. Functional fitness were evaluated with physical fitness field tests. Results: The participants of this study have extremely low levels of functional fitness and physical activity and high levels of sedentary behavior. In nursing home residents (NH), the mean time in sedentary behavior and moderate physical activity was 9h48min/day and 2.2 min/day, respectively. In the same group, the mean time spent in light physical activity was 77.5 min/day. In day care center (DCC) users the mean time in sedentary behavior and moderate physical activity was 7h48min/day and 1.6 min/day, respectively. Older adults attending DCC showed better results than nursing home residents in the chair sit-and-reach test (DCC= -12.4±15.7 cm, NH= -22.3±4.1 cm, p=0.037), 6 min walk (DCC= 270±73.9 min, NH= 167.7±84.4 min, p<0.001) sedentary time (DCC= 7.48±0.2 hours, NH= 9.48±0.94 hours, p<0.01) and average physical activity (DCC= 82.6±18 counts/min, NH= 58.5±30.5 counts/min, p=0.03). The performance in other variables of functional fitness was not statistically different. Conclusions: Functional fitness and physical activity levels are very low in nursing home residents and in elderly users of day care center. Intervention programs are needed for these groups to reverse the decrease of physical fitness and physical activity, and promoting health and functional status.

Download Full-text

Can a Green Care Informal Learning Program Foster Active Aging in Older Adults? Results From a Qualitative Pilot Study in Central Italy

Journal of Applied Gerontology ◽

10.1177/0733464819883769 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 39 (11) ◽

pp. 1240-1249

Author(s):

Sara Santini ◽

Flavia Piccinini ◽

Cristina Gagliardi

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Informal Learning ◽

Day Care ◽

Care Center ◽

Well Being ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Active Aging ◽

Learning Program ◽

Day Care Center ◽

Community Dwelling Older People

Due to population aging worldwide, it is important for Health Care Systems to design new services fostering Active Aging dimensions (e.g., physical health, psychological well-being, social engagement, and lifelong learning). The aim of this pilot study was to develop new services fostering Active Aging dimensions by means of a 12-month green care informal learning program targeting 112 individuals among community-dwelling older people and day care center users. The impact of the intervention was assessed through three rounds of focus groups. Individuals’ perception of the training benefits depended on their health and social condition at baseline. The program improved the social participation and learning attitudes of community-dwelling older people and the perceived well-being and health of day care center users. Green care activities triggered an Active Aging virtuous spiral where learning new practical and relational competencies helped older people recognize their value. Thus, it is recommendable to include green care therapy within the practice of services for older people, especially day care centers.

Download Full-text

Characteristics of balance ability related to life space of older adults in a day care center

Cogent Medicine ◽

10.1080/2331205x.2020.1714532 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yuki Echizenya ◽

Kazunori Akizuki ◽

Haruka Takayama ◽

Ken Nishihara ◽

Fumihiko Hoshi

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Day Care ◽

Care Center ◽

Life Space ◽

Day Care Center ◽

Balance Ability

Download Full-text

The Influence of Nonpharmacological Complex Therapy Conducted at a Community Day-Care Center on Cognitive function and Mood in Older Adults

Risk Management and Healthcare Policy ◽

10.2147/rmhp.s262030 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol Volume 13 ◽

pp. 1553-1562

Author(s):

Agnieszka Gorzkowska ◽

Izabela Zacharska-Quaium ◽

Joanna Cholewa ◽

Jaroslaw Cholewa

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Day Care ◽

Care Center ◽

Day Care Center ◽

Complex Therapy

Download Full-text

Gender Differences in Pain-Physical Activity Linkages among Older Adults: Lessons Learned from Daily Life Approaches

Pain Research and Management ◽

10.1155/2016/1931590 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Amy Ho ◽

Maureen C. Ashe ◽

Anita DeLongis ◽

Peter Graf ◽

Karim M. Khan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Sociocultural Factors ◽

Active Lifestyle ◽

Step Counts ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

Daily Pain

Background. Many older adults know about the health benefits of an active lifestyle, but, frequently, pain prevents them from engaging in physical activity. The majority of older adults experience pain, a complex experience that can vary across time and is shaped by sociocultural factors like gender.Objectives. To describe the time-varying associations between daily pain and physical activity and to explore differences in these associations between women and men.Methods. One hundred and twenty-eight community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older were asked to report their pain levels three times daily over a 10-day period and wear an accelerometer to objectively capture their daily physical activity (step counts and minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity).Results. Increased daily step counts and minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity were associated with increased daily pain, especially among women. Confirming past literature and contrasting findings for daily pain reports, overall pain levels across the study period were negatively associated with minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity.Conclusions. Findings highlight that pain is significantly associated with physical activity in old age. The nature of this association depends on the time scale that is considered and differs between women and men.

Download Full-text