scholarly journals Functioning and Cognition of Portuguese Older Adults Attending in Residential Homes and Day Centers: A Comparative Study

Author(s):  
Manuel José Lopes ◽  
Lara Guedes de Pinho ◽  
César Fonseca ◽  
Margarida Goes ◽  
Henrique Oliveira ◽  
...  

The functioning and cognition of older adults can be influenced by different care contexts. We aimed to compare the functioning profiles and cognition of institutionalized and noninstitutionalized older adults and to evaluate the effect of sociodemographic factors on the functioning and cognition. This is a cross-sectional study that included 593 older adults. The data were collected using the Elderly Nursing Core Set and Mini Mental State Examination. Women, older adults who did not attend school and those live in Residential Homes are more likely to have a higher degree of cognitive impairment than men, those who attended school and those frequent Day Centre. The chances of an older adult with moderate or severe cognitive impairment increases with age. Older women, older adults who did not attend school, and older adults who live in Residential Homes had a higher degree of functional problem than men, those who attended school and those who frequent a Day Centre, independently to age. It is necessary to promote the health literacy of older adults throughout life. The implementation of social and health responses should allow older adults to remain in their homes, given the influence of functioning and cognition on self-care and quality of life.

BMC Nursing ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
César Fonseca ◽  
Lara Guedes de Pinho ◽  
Manuel José Lopes ◽  
Maria do Céu Marques ◽  
José Garcia-Alonso

Abstract Background The aging population and its associated health needs require specific nursing care. The aim of this study was to draw an epidemiological profile of Portuguese elderly adults attending in residential homes and day centers and to evaluate the association between the functioning and cognition of these older adults and their sociodemographic characteristics and presence of multimorbidity. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 613 older adults. Functioning was assessed using the Elderly Nursing Core Set, and cognition was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed. Results The mean age was 85.73 years; the majority of the participants were female (69.3 %), widowed (67.0 %) and over 85 years old (60.4 %). A total of 68.2 % of the sample presented multimorbidity. A total of 54.5 % had cognitive impairment, and the average functional profile was classified as “moderate difficulty”. Institutionalized older adults had more diseases than those who attended the day center. Women, those who were illiterate, those who were institutionalized and older adults who had diseases of the nervous system had a worse functional profile and greater cognitive impairment. Those with multimorbidity had a worse functional profile, and those without a spouse had greater cognitive impairment. Conclusions Given the functional and cognitive profile of older adults, it is necessary to adopt care practices focused on the rehabilitation/maintenance of self-care and affective relationships. This care must be provided by highly qualified professionals. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the ratio of nurses per older adult in these institutions.


2008 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 809-813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keithlen Cruz Moreira de Castro ◽  
Ricardo Oliveira Guerra

Functional incapacity and cognitive impairment are conditions related to the process of human aging. Cognitive impairment is considered an important predicitve factor for functional impairment in elderly populations. This cross-sectional study analyzes the association between cognitive performance and functional capacity in an elderly population sample in Natal, Brazil. A total of 213 elderly persons were assessed by the BOAS Multidimensional Questionnaire (Brazil Old Age Schedule) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The results of multivariate analysis and linear regression showed that age and schooling level are factors associated with cognitive performance in the elderly of this study. The final explicative model, elaborated by logistic regression, found that cognitive performance was the only predicitve variable of functional incapacity for the activities of daily living even when adjusted for sociodemographic variables.


2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 880-888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Winter Holz ◽  
Bruno Pereira Nunes ◽  
Elaine Thumé ◽  
Celmira Lange ◽  
Luiz Augusto Facchini

It is estimated that until 2020 the elderly will represent 13% of the total Brazilian population, and there is increasing concern about healthy aging and low rates of cognitive impairment. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the prevalence of cognitive impairment, using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in a sample of 1,593 elderly aged 60 years old and more who were living in the community of the city of Bagé, Southern Brazil, in 2008. The Poisson regression model was used for estimating crude and adjusted prevalence ratios; their related 95% confidence intervals and p-values lower than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The prevalence of cognitive impairment was of 34% and statistically associated with gender (female), age (older), schooling (less educated), lower economic classes, without retirement, with depression and functional limitation. The high magnitude with increased occurrence among poor and vulnerable groups contributes to the implementation of public policies in order to improve care, prevent diseases and promote the independence and autonomy of the elderly population.


Author(s):  
Rajesh J. ◽  
Ramasubramanian R. ◽  
Santhanam R. S.

Background: Elderly people often experience cognitive decline with aging. Existing longitudinal studies report that older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have a 10-15% annual risk of converting to probable Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Objectives were to determine the prevalence of cognitive impairment among the elderly in an urban area of Chennai and to assess the factors associated with cognitive impairment among the elderly.Methods: This Community based Cross sectional study was conducted between July and October 2019 among 77 individuals aged 60 years and above from an urban area in Chennai, Pudupet. After the institutional ethics committee approval, subjects were interviewed with a pre-designed semi-structured questionnaire followed by administration of standardized mini mental state examination (SMMSE) tool and scoring. Data was analysed using relevant descriptive and inferential statistics with trial version of SPSS.v.25. and OpenEpi software.Results: The overall prevalence (95% CI) of cognitive impairment was 35.06 % (25.35%, 46.20%). Its prevalence among males and females were 26.08 % (12.55%, 46.47%) and 38.88 (27.04%, 52.21%) respectively. The mean age (95% CI) of study subjects with cognitive impairment was 66.37 years (64.58, 68.16). Those subjects who led a solitary life, had less than 10 years of schooling, used kerosene as cooking fuel and consumed bore well water had significant association with cognitive impairment.Conclusions: Usage of cooking fuel like LPG and consumption of filtered and purified water could minimize cognitive impairment. Early detection of cognitive impairment would improve the health care and quality of life of the elderly.


2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 298-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Vandepitte ◽  
Koen Putman ◽  
Nele Van Den Noortgate ◽  
Sofie Verhaeghe ◽  
Eric Mormont ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Dementia is one of the main reasons for institutionalization among the elderly. Few studies have explored factors associated with the caregivers’ (CG) desire to institutionalize (DTI) a person with dementia (PWD). The objective of this study is to identify modifiable and non-modifiable psychosocial and sociodemographic factors associated with a caregiver’s DTI. Methods: Cross-sectional data of 355 informal CG of community-dwelling PWD were analyzed. Several characteristics were identified in CG and PWD to be included in a multivariable regression model based on the purposeful selection method. Results: Positively modifiable associated factors were: higher CG burden, being affected by behavioral problems, and respite care use. Positively associated non-modifiable factors were: CG older age, being professionally active, and CG higher educational level. Cohabitation and change of professional situation were negatively associated. Conclusion: Although no causality can be assumed, several practical recommendations can be suggested. First of all, these results reconfirm the importance of multicomponent strategies, especially support aimed at decreasing burden and in learning coping strategies. Also, CG might benefit from information about support options, such as respite care services. Finally, special attention should be given to older and working CG. In the latter, flexible and adaptive working conditions might alleviate burden and therefore reduce the DTI of the PWD.


2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Luísa Moreira dos Santos ◽  
Teresa Maria de Serpa Pinto Freitas do Amaral ◽  
Nuno Pedro Garcia Fernandes Bento Borges

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of undernutrition in older adults aged >75 years living in communities and to identify the main factors independently associated with undernutrition. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a random sample of family physicians' medical records of 86 older adults aged >75 years living in the community studied. Their nutritional status was evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment. RESULTS: A total of 10.5% of the elderly were undernourished and 41.9% were at undernutrition risk. According to the logistic regression multivariable model, the following characteristics: being widowed (OR=6.7; 95%CI=1.8-24.6); being institutionalized (OR=12.6; 95%CI=1.7-90.5); or having a negative self-perception of health (OR=15.0; 95%CI=3.3-69.1) were independently associated with a significant increase of undernutrition risk. CONCLUSION: The current study shows that undernutrition is highly prevalent in Portuguese older adults aged >75 years living in communities. The major factors independently associated with their undernutrition are being widowed and institutionalized and having negative self-perception of health. The results obtained show that undernutrition and its associated factors are very serious problems for older adults and a challenge in their health care.


Author(s):  
Divyanshu Raheja ◽  
Evelyn Davila ◽  
Eric Johnson ◽  
Rijalda Deović ◽  
Michele Paine ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study is to understand among a convenience sample of 400 adults aged 60 years of age or older (1) reasons for being willing or unwilling to participate in a vaccine clinical research study and (2) overall perceptions about vaccine clinical research. A cross-sectional study using a sample of older adults residing in the metro-Atlanta area and surrounding neighborhoods was conducted. The study questionnaire contained 37 questions, including questions about socio-demographics and perceptions about clinical trial processes. Statistical analysis was conducted using logistic regression. The adjusted modeling results indicated that sex, distance to research clinic, and being informed about the research findings played a role in the likelihood of an elderly person participating in a vaccine study. Males were more likely to participate in clinical trials as compared to females (OR: 2.486; CI: 1.042–5.934). Most participants were willing to travel up to 25 miles from the research clinic. Of the respondents, 45% were unlikely to participate if the results of the current trial are not shared. Improving access to clinical trials in terms of distance traveled and ensuring streamlined processes to inform participants about the results of the trial in the future would increase willingness to participate in vaccine clinical trials. The survey could serve as a useful tool for conducting vaccine studies and other clinical trials by understanding the barriers specific to the elderly.


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