scholarly journals A Comprehensive Overview of Mobility and Aging in the Year 2020 (and beyond)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Lunsman O’Connor

Mobility can be defined as the ability to move effectively and purposefully though the environment in order to accomplish goals. Mobility can be conceptualized and measured in four broad ways. First, the speed, success, and quality of specific movements can be measured, such as gait and balance. Second, one can assess a person’s ability to complete activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) that involve movement. Third, the occurrence of adverse events, such as falls and motor vehicle crashes, can be measured. Finally, the range of a person’s movement inside and outside the home can be assessed. Regardless of how it is conceptualized, mobility is one of the most important determinants of quality of life and independence in adulthood. Unfortunately, the prevalence of mobility limitations increases with age. This book chapter will provide a comprehensive overview of mobility among older adults.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (29_suppl) ◽  
pp. 118-118
Author(s):  
Darryl Alan Outlaw ◽  
Chen Dai ◽  
Mustafa Al-Obaidi ◽  
Smith Giri ◽  
Smita Bhatia ◽  
...  

118 Background: The majority of new cancer diagnoses occur in adults greater than 65 years of age. Polypharmacy is a common and potentially devastating problem amongst older adults; however, its prevalence and impact in older adults with gastrointestinal (GI) malignancy is poorly understood. Our objective was to examine the prevalence of polypharmacy and its association with functional status impairments, frailty, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older adults with GI malignancy. Methods: The Cancer and Aging Resilience Evaluation (CARE) registry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is an ongoing prospective cohort study that uses a brief geriatric assessment (CARE survey) in older adults with cancer. We evaluated older adults diagnosed with GI malignancy prior to starting cancer therapy. Our primary outcomes of interest were functional status impairments, including dependence in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), frailty (as defined by a frailty index derived using the principles of deficit accumulation), and HRQoL (assessed via PROMIS 10 global that includes physical and mental scores). Patients were dichotomized into those taking ≥9 vs. < 9 medications. Multivariable analyses examined associations between polypharmacy and the above-listed outcomes, adjusted for age, sex, race, cancer type, cancer stage, and comorbidities. Results: Overall, 357 patients met eligibility criteria; mean age: 70.1 years; primary diagnoses: colorectal (33.6%), pancreatic (24.6%), hepatobiliary (16.2%), gastroesophageal (10.9%), other (14.6%). Patients reported taking a mean of 6.2 medications: 27.7% with 0-3 medications, 48.2% with 4-8 medications, and 24.1% with ≥ 9 medications. Patients taking ≥ 9 medications were more likely to report limitations in ADL (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.29, 95% CI 1.72-6.29) and IADL (aOR 2.86, 95% CI 1.59-5.14). Polypharmacy was also associated with frailty (aOR 3.06, 95% CI 1.73-5.41) and lower physical (aOR 2.82, 95% CI 1.70-4.69) and mental (aOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.03-2.91) HRQoL. Conclusions: Independent of comorbid conditions, polypharmacy was associated with functional status limitations, frailty, and reduced HRQoL in older adults with GI malignancy. Further study of specific medications and interactions is warranted in order to reduce the negative consequences of polypharmacy in this growing and vulnerable population.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 341-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silke Neumann ◽  
Ursula Meidert ◽  
Ricard Barberà-Guillem ◽  
Rakel Poveda-Puente ◽  
Heidrun Becker

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Xie ◽  
Pei-Wen Chen ◽  
Long Zhao ◽  
Xuan Sun ◽  
Xian-Jie Jia

Abstract Objective The purposes of this study were to explore the associations of activities of daily living (ADL) and depression among older adults with family caregivers’ quality of life and provide evidence for improving family caregivers’ quality of life. Methods Older adults (n=395) and their family caregivers (n=395) were selected as participants. The ADL scale and Geriatric Depression Scale were used to assess ADL and depression among older adults, and the 36-Item Short Form Health Questionnaire (SF-36) was used to assess family caregivers’ quality of life. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. Results The older adults’ ADL and depression scores were 21±7 and 11±6, respectively. Approximately 69.9% of older adults had declining or severely impaired ADL, and 47.1% had mild or moderate-to-severe depression. Family caregivers’ mean quality of life score was 529±100. There was a negative correlation of older adults’ ADL and depression with caregivers’ quality of life. The correlation coefficient between ADL and the SF-36 mental component summary score was stronger than it was with the SF-36 physical component summary score. Conclusions The ADL and depression of older adults influenced family caregivers’ quality of life. Psychological health deserves closer attention, especially that of caregivers of disabled older adults.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-47
Author(s):  
Orit Segev-Jacubovski ◽  
Hagit Magen ◽  
Adina Maeir

Hip fracture is prevalent among older adults impacting on all aspects of daily life. The gaols of this study were: (a) Examine the trajectory of activities of daily living (ADL)/instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) functioning and participation among older adults with hip fracture from prefracture to 6-months postrehabilitation; (b) determine the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQoL), functional abilities, and participation 6-months postrehabilitation; and (c) examine whether functional outcomes can predict HRQoL. Both retrospective and prospective data were analyzed. Fifty-five participants (Mean age = 80.82) completed the motor component of the functional independence measure (mFIM), IADL questionnaire, Activity Card Sort, and SF-12. Prefracture levels of function and participation were not attained. Significant correlations were found between HRQoL, functional abilities, and participation. ADL functioning and mobility predicted Physical SF-12, whereas social-cultural activity predicted Mental SF-12. Significant loss of functioning and participation was found, persisting 6 months after rehabilitation that impede their HRQoL. Improving functioning, mobility, and social participation can be achieved by occupational therapy intervention for promoting HRQoL among elderly with hip fracture.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila Decker ◽  
Diane Wind Wardell ◽  
Stanley G. Cron

The purposes of this pilot study were to determine the feasibility of using a Healing Touch (HT) intervention with noncommunity-dwelling older adults experiencing persistent pain and to determine an HT protocol. Data were collected at multiple time points from 20 noncommunity-dwelling older adults experiencing pain. Residents were assigned to the HT group that included techniques specific for pain or a Presence Care group. Outcome variables included measures for pain, activities of daily living, and quality of life. The pain measures showed decreases that were not statistically significant for both groups. The measure for activities of daily living showed a non–statistically significant improvement over time for the HT group. Quality of life decreased for the HT group and improved for the Presence Care group although not significantly. The practitioners were able to complete all seven of the 30- minute HT sessions. The findings indicated that both groups showed some improvement in their pain scores with other measures being variable. HT is a feasible intervention for the elderly with pain. Overall, the findings highlight the complex nature of pain in older adults.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Di Gioia Tina ◽  
Alessandro Bortolotti

Apathy refers to a set of behavioral, emotional and cognitive characteristics such as reduced interest and participation in the main activities of daily life, lack of initiative, a tendency to early withdrawal from the activities started, indifference and flattening of the affections. The work of Tierney et al.(2018) studied how much and if apathy contributes to the problems of managing daily activities and qualities and in the following work new tests have been added that could be useful to further improve the research and to improve the distinction between apathy and depression.


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