scholarly journals Ladder Use in Older People: Type, Frequency, Tasks and Predictors of Risk Behaviours

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (18) ◽  
pp. 9799
Author(s):  
Cameron Hicks ◽  
Erika M. Pliner ◽  
Stephen R. Lord ◽  
Daina L. Sturnieks
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Older People ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Quadriceps Strength ◽  
Frequency Of Use ◽  
Type Frequency ◽  
Use Factors ◽  
Older Men And Women

Ladder fall and injury risk increases with age. People who present to a hospital after an injurious ladder fall have been surveyed, but little is known about ladder use in the community. The purpose of this study was to: (1) document salient factors related to ladder safety, and (2) determine physical, executive function, psychological and frequency-of-use factors associated with unsafe ladder use in older people. One hundred and two older people (aged 65+ years) were recruited. Participants completed questionnaires on demographics, health, and ladder use (type, frequency, task, behaviours) and underwent assessments of physical and executive function ability. Results showed both older men and women commonly use step ladders (61% monthly, 96% yearly), mostly inside the home for tasks such as changing a lightbulb (70%) and decorating (43%). Older men also commonly use straight ladders (27% monthly, 75% yearly), mostly outside the home for tasks such as clearing gutters (74%) and pruning trees (40%). Unsafe ladder use was more common in males and individuals with greater ladder use frequency, greater quadriceps strength, better upper limb dexterity, better balance, better stepping ability, greater self-reported everyday risk-taking, a lower fear of falling, and fewer health problems compared to their counterparts (all p < 0.05). These findings document ladder use by older people and provide insight into unsafe ladder behaviours that may be amenable to interventions to reduce ladder falls and associated injuries.

scholarly journals Globalisation and older people: effects of markets and migration

2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 647-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
GAIL WILSON
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Older People ◽  
Economic Restructuring ◽  
Older Men ◽  
World Trade Organisation ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The World ◽  
The Rich ◽  
Older Men And Women

This paper discusses the material aspects of globalisation and the effects of the movements of trade, capital and people around the world on older men and women. While some older people have benefited, most notably where pensions and health care are well developed, the majority of older men and women are among the poor who have not. Free trade, economic restructuring, the globalisation of finance, and the surge in migration, have in most parts of the world tended to produce harmful consequences for older people. These developments have been overseen, and sometimes dictated, by inter-governmental organisations (IGOs) such as the International Monetary Foundation (IMF), the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation (WTO), while other IGOs with less power have been limited to anti-ageist exhortation. Globalisation transfers resources from the poor to the rich within and between countries. It therefore increases social problems while simultaneously diminishing the freedom and capacity of countries to make social policy. Nonetheless, the effects of globalisation, and particularly its financial dimensions, on a nation's capacity for making social policy can be exaggerated. Political will can combat international economic orthodoxy, but the evident cases are the exception rather than the rule.

scholarly journals Domestic Homicide of Older People (2010–15): A Comparative Analysis of Intimate-Partner Homicide and Parricide Cases in the UK

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 1234-1253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Bows
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Intimate Partner Homicide ◽  
Domestic Homicide ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Older Men And Women

AbstractDespite half a century of research on both domestic violence and elder abuse, homicide of older people by a partner or family member (domestic homicide (DH)) remains largely unexplored. This article presents data drawn from a larger parent study examining homicide of older people (aged sixty and over) in the UK. This analysis is based on a subset of cases that would fall within current definitions of DH (n = 221). Analysis reveals differences in DH of older men and women in relation to the perpetrator gender and relationship and differences between intimate-partner homicides and those perpetrated by other family members. Implications for research, theory and practice are discussed.

Life satisfaction among older people in Italy in a gender approach

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 1481-1504 ◽  
Author(s):  
SILVIA MEGGIOLARO ◽  
FAUSTA ONGARO
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Older People ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Older Men And Women

ABSTRACTOver the last few decades, increasing attention has been paid to the issue of wellbeing among older people, and life satisfaction has been used as an indicator to evaluate older people's life conditions. This paper sheds some light on this topic with reference to Italy, a country characterised by an increasing ageing population. The aim is to examine life satisfaction among people aged 65 and older and its predictors. We adopt a gender approach to examine whether – as suggested by the literature – older men and women have different sources of satisfaction. We test this hypothesis in Italy, a country still characterised by an unbalanced public and private gender system. In doing this, we also control whether living arrangements – specifically living alone – influence the determinants of life satisfaction of older men and women. The data used are from the cross-sectional surveys ‘Aspects of Daily Life’, undertaken in Italy by the National Statistical Institute. The results do not show clear gender differences in the determinants of life satisfaction, with only some slight gender differences among those living alone. This suggests that the social and cultural environment may play a relevant role for older people's life satisfaction.

Gender and the negotiation between older people and their carers in the prevention of falls

2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
KHIM HORTON ◽  
SARA ARBER
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Older People ◽  
Family Member ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Mutual Respect ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Older Mothers ◽  
Close Relatives ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Older Men And Women

Little is known about how negotiation between older people and their carers varies according to gender. This paper reports a study of older men and women who have had multiple falls and the actions of their key family members to prevent multiple falls. In-depth interviews were conducted with 35 older people who had had recurrent falls, and separately with the identified key family member. The actions taken by the relatives to prevent future falls were classified as protective, coercive, negotiating, engaging and ‘reflective of mutual respect’. It was found that sons caring for older mothers took only ‘protective’ and ‘coercive’ actions, resulting in mothers having passive and submissive roles. In contrast, the daughters who were caring for their fathers undertook most often ‘engaging’ and some ‘negotiating’ actions, which empowered the fathers in their decision making. Daughters had a ‘peer-like’ relationship with the mothers that they supported and cared for, and undertook primarily ‘negotiating’ as well as ‘engaging’ actions. The two men who cared for older men took no specific actions but maintained mutual respect for each other. The findings demonstrate several ways in which the gender of the dyad members influences the nature of the negotiation between close relatives, and throws light on the factors that influence the autonomy and dependence of older people.

scholarly journals 160 Gait Adaptability in Older People and People with PD

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. iv34-iv39
Author(s):  
Stephen Lord ◽  
Joana Caetano ◽  
Jasmine Menant
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Older People ◽  
Muscle Power ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Quadriceps Strength ◽  
Cognitive Capacity ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Reactive Balance ◽  
Step Distance

Abstract The ability to adapt gait when negotiating unexpected hazards is crucial to maintain stability and avoid falling. This presentation will present findings from a series of studies that have investigated cognitive, physical and psychological factors associated with gait adaptability required for obstacle and stepping target negotiation in older people and people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The first studies involved fifty healthy older adults (mean±SD: 74±7 years). The gait adaptability protocol required them to either (a) avoid an obstacle at usual step distance or (b) step onto a target at either a short or long step distance projected on a walkway two heel strikes ahead and then continue walking. The primary findings were that gait adaptability was significantly associated with high risk of falls and that executive function, increased concern about falling and weaker quadriceps strength contributed significantly to this relationship. The second studies involved 54 people with PD (mean±SD: 67±67 years) who also completed the gait adaptability protocol. In this group, superior executive function, effective reactive balance and good muscle power were associated with successful gait adaptability. Furthermore, executive function and reactive balance appeared to be particularly important for precise foot placements; and cognitive capacity for step length adjustments for avoiding obstacles. These findings help elucidate mechanisms for why older people and people with PD fall. Training gait adaptability directly, as well as addressing the above associated factors through cognitive, behavioural and physical training may maximise fall prevention efficacy for these populations.

The Unique Relation of Physical Activity to Executive Function in Older Men and Women

2007 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 1408-1416 ◽  
Author(s):  
WALTER R. BIXBY ◽  
THOMAS W. SPALDING ◽  
AMY J. HAUFLER ◽  
SEAN P. DEENY ◽  
PAMELA T. MAHLOW ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Older Men And Women

scholarly journals Living alone and mortality among older people in Västerbotten County in Sweden: a survey and register-based longitudinal study

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nawi Ng ◽  
Ailiana Santosa ◽  
Lars Weinehall ◽  
Gunnar Malmberg
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Older People ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Chronic Disease Risk ◽  
Older Men And Women

Abstract Background Living alone is increasingly common and has been depicted as an important cause of mortality. We examined the association between living alone and mortality risks among older men and women in northern Sweden, by linking two unique longitudinal datasets. Methods We used the Linnaeus database, which links several population registers on socioeconomic and health. This register-based study included 22,226 men and 23,390 women aged 50 and 60 years in Västerbotten County who had participated in the Västerbotten Intervention Program (VIP) during 1990–2006, with a total of 445,823 person-years of observation. We conducted Cox-proportional hazard regression to assess the risk of living alone on the mortality that was observed between 1990 and 2015, controlling for socio-demographic factors, chronic disease risk factors and access to social capital. Results Older men and women who lived alone with no children at home were at a significantly higher risk of death compared to married/cohabiting couples with children at home (with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.38, 95% CI of 1.26–1.50 in men and 1.27, 95% CI of 1.13–1.42 in women). Living alone was an even stronger factor than the well-established chronic disease risk factors and a lack of access to social capital. Conclusions A significant association between living alone and mortality among the older adult population in Sweden was observed. Providing good social support for older people is important in preventing the negative health impact of living alone.

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