scholarly journals Self-Assessment of Mobility of People over 65 Years of Age

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (9) ◽  
pp. 980
Author(s):  
Pascal Martin ◽  
Alexander Martin Keppler ◽  
Paolo Alberton ◽  
Carl Neuerburg ◽  
Michael Drey ◽  
...  

Background and Objectives: Nowadays, various clinical scoring systems are used in the medical care of the elderly to assess the quality of mobility. However, people often tend to under‑ or overestimate themselves in many aspects. Since this can have serious consequences in their treatment and care, the aim of this study was to identify differences in the self and external assessment of mobility of persons over 65 years of age. Materials and Methods: 222 participants over 65 years of age and one external, closely‑related relative or professional caregiver were interviewed by a unique study assistant using a standardized questionnaire. Participants were divided into people living in nursing homes and independent people living at home, where either the caregivers or the relatives provided the external assessment of mobility, respectively. The questionnaire included demographics, cognitive abilities (Mini Mental Status Test); fall risk (Hendrich 2 Fall Risk Model); as well as the Parker Mobility Score, Barthel Index, and EQ-5D-5L to measure mobility, activities of daily life and quality of life. In each case, the participant and the external person were asked for their assessment to the participants’ mobility situation. Statistical significance of the difference between self and external assessment was calculated with a Wilcoxon rank‑sum test and assumed with a p‑value of ≤ 0.05. Results: Self-assessment indicated a significantly higher value, when compared to an external assessment for the Parker Mobility Score for females in nursing homes (p ≤ 0.01), as well as for the Barthel Index for females (p ≤ 0.01) and males (p ≤ 0.01) in nursing homes. The EQ-5D-5L received a significantly higher self-assessment value for females (p ≤ 0.01) and males (p ≤ 0.01) living at home and females (p ≤ 0.01) and males (p ≤ 0.05) in nursing homes. Conclusions: Persons over 65 years of age tend to overestimate their level of mobility, quality of life and activities of daily life. Especially for people living in nursing homes, these scoring systems should be treated with caution due to the differences between the verbal statements. It is important to properly assess the mobility situation of elderly patients to ensure correct medical treatment and prevention of falls.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elke M J Devocht ◽  
A. Miranda L Janssen ◽  
Josef Chalupper ◽  
Robert J Stokroos ◽  
Herman Kingma ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveThe subjective experiences were assessed of cochlear implant (CI) users either wearing or not wearing a hearing aid (HA) at the contralateral ear.DesignUnilateral CI-recipients were asked to fill out a set of daily-life questionnaires on bimodal HA use, hearing disability, hearing handicap and general quality of life.Study sampleTwenty-six CI-recipients who regularly use a contralateral HA (bimodal group) and twenty-two CI-recipients who do not use a HA in the contralateral ear (unilateral group).ResultsComparisons between both groups (bimodal versus unilateral) showed no difference in self-rated disability, hearing handicap or general quality of life. However within the group of bimodal listeners, participants did report a significant benefit of bimodal hearing ability in various daily life listening situations.ConclusionsBimodal benefit in daily life can consistently be experienced and reported within the group of bimodal users.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Batya Engel Yeger ◽  
Yael Zilbershlag

Abstract Background: Falling is a major problem in older adults that may significantly reduce health and quality of life (QOL). Body dysfunctions that include depression, cognitive decline and executive dysfunctions may elevate fall risk and impair daily activities and QOL. Yet, most studies evaluate these body dysfunctions using laboratory measures in clinical settings. The present study aimed to: (1) compare these body dysfunctions between high/low risk fallers (2) examine the relationship between these body dysfunctions among the high risk fallers (3) explore the specific contribution of fall risk as a mediator between depression, executive dysfunctions and daily life. Methods: Participants were 123 older adults who live in the community. Depression and cognitive status were measured by the GDS-15 and the MoCA. Fall risk was determined by a questionnaire supported by the Time Up and Go test (TUG). Executive functions (EF) were assessed by the BRIEF-A and the aEFPT medication management assessment. Daily activity performance was measured by the Barthel Index of ADL and the Instrumental ADL Scale. QOL was measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Questionnaire. Results: High fall risk was prevalent among 32% of the sample. High risk fallers had significantly lower cognitive level, higher depression, lower EF, lower daily activity performance and lower QOL. Among the high risk group, lower EF as measured in BRIEF-A scales correlated with lower performance of daily activities and lower QOL. SEM model revealed that fall risk mediated between depression, executive dysfunctions and daily life. Conclusions: Depression and executive dysfunctions are more prevalent in older adults with high fall risk and are significantly related to their daily activity performance and to their QOL. Community fall-prevention and rehabilitation programs should screen for fall risk and related body dysfunctions as expressed during daily activity performance and understand their impacts on people’s QOL.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0242871
Author(s):  
Elke M. J. Devocht ◽  
A. Miranda L. Janssen ◽  
Josef Chalupper ◽  
Robert J. Stokroos ◽  
Herman Kingma ◽  
...  

Objective The subjective experiences were assessed of cochlear implant (CI) users either wearing or not wearing a hearing aid (HA) at the contralateral ear. Design Unilateral CI-recipients were asked to fill out a set of daily-life questionnaires on bimodal HA use, hearing disability, hearing handicap and general quality of life. Study sample Twenty-six CI-recipients who regularly use a contralateral HA (bimodal group) and twenty-two CI-recipients who do not use a HA in the contralateral ear (unilateral group). Results Comparisons between both groups (bimodal versus unilateral) showed no difference in self-rated disability, hearing handicap or general quality of life. However within the group of bimodal listeners, participants did report a benefit of bimodal hearing ability in various daily life listening situations. Conclusions Bimodal benefit in daily life can consistently be experienced and reported within the group of bimodal users.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideo Hirai

It is known that falls in the daily life of the elderly occur frequently during walking and rising up and greatly affect their quality of life. In the previous study we obtained the COG-heel horizontal distance and the COG horizontal velocity when the subjects performed rising up under the “fastest” or “slowest” velocity task. These seat-off parameters which were an indicator of the stability in rising from a chair were defined based on the relationship between them. In this experiment with healthy adults as subjects the seat-off parameters were found to become a different distribution because of the rising up strategies of each subject. Moreover, based on the relationship between the seat-off parameters and motor function, they could become an index expressing current fall risk and predicting future fall risk.


Author(s):  
Javier Martín Núñez

Parkinson´s Disease is the second most common neurodegenerative movement disorder worldwide and the first one in Europe, with a prevalence increasing with age. Freezing of gait is a motor disorder which fundamentally causes a block of lower limb, during this espisode patients can not generate a step. Furthermore, freezing of gait is one of the most motor disabling motor disorder in Parkinson´s Disease, being related to the progression of the disease and sometimes with the appearance of complications. Those complications can include increase fall risk, impairment of activities of daily life and reduction of quality of life; due to the related decrease in movement and physical activity in patients with Parkinson´s Disease and freezing of gait. Despite others studies have shown a relationship between kinesiophobia, physical activity and functionality in patients with Parkinson´s Disease, there are no evidences of this link in patients with Parkinson´s Disease and freezing of gait in ``On´´ state.


Author(s):  
Yuriko Saito

This chapter argues for the importance of cultivating aesthetic literacy and vigilance, as well as practicing aesthetic expressions of moral virtues. In light of the considerable power of the aesthetic to affect, sometimes determine, people’s choices, decisions, and actions in daily life, everyday aesthetics discourse has a social responsibility to guide its power toward enriching personal life, facilitating respectful and satisfying interpersonal relationships, creating a civil and humane society, and ensuring the sustainable future. As an aesthetics discourse, its distinct domain unencumbered by these life concerns needs to be protected. At the same time, denying or ignoring the connection with them decontextualizes and marginalizes aesthetics. Aesthetics is an indispensable instrument for assessing and improving the quality of life and the state of the world, and it behooves everyday aesthetics discourse to reclaim its rightful place and to actively engage with the world-making project.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Julie L. O’Sullivan ◽  
Sonia Lech ◽  
Paul Gellert ◽  
Ulrike Grittner ◽  
Jan-Niklas Voigt-Antons ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives: To investigate global and momentary effects of a tablet-based non-pharmacological intervention for nursing home residents living with dementia. Design: Cluster-randomized controlled trial. Setting: Ten nursing homes in Germany were randomly allocated to the tablet-based intervention (TBI, 5 units) or conventional activity sessions (CAS, 5 units). Participants: N = 162 residents with dementia. Intervention: Participants received regular TBI (n = 80) with stimulating activities developed to engage people with dementia or CAS (n = 82) for 8 weeks. Measurements: Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES-I, primary outcome), Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease scale, QUALIDEM scale, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Geriatric Depression Scale, and psychotropic medication (secondary outcomes). Momentary quality of life was assessed before and after each activity session. Participants and staff were blinded until the collection of baseline data was completed. Data were analyzed with linear mixed-effects models. Results: Levels of apathy decreased slightly in both groups (mean decrease in AES-I of .61 points, 95% CI −3.54, 2.33 for TBI and .36 points, 95% CI −3.27, 2.55 for CAS). Group difference in change of apathy was not statistically significant (β = .25; 95% CI 3.89, 4.38, p = .91). This corresponds to a standardized effect size (Cohen’s d) of .02. A reduction of psychotropic medication was found for TBI compared to CAS. Further analyses revealed a post-intervention improvement in QUALIDEM scores across both groups and short-term improvements of momentary quality of life in the CAS group. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that interventions involving tailored activities have a beneficial impact on global and momentary quality of life in nursing home residents with dementia. Although we found no clear advantage of TBI compared to CAS, tablet computers can support delivery of non-pharmacological interventions in nursing homes and facilitate regular assessments of fluctuating momentary states.


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