Senior Citizen Information System

This developmental-descriptive research sought to design and developed a computer-based system, to be known as the Senior Citizens Information System, to provide real-time information dissemination among senior citizen members in the Municipality of Batad, Iloilo pertaining to their membership status and monetary assistance monitoring. The Rapid Application Development model was employed as the SDLC in the development of the system product. More so, the three-tier architecture was used as the architectural model. There were 120 senior citizens as user-respondents and five IT experts for evaluation. The system product was evaluated using a researchers-made survey instrument to determine if level of usability and performance. Results of the investigation shows that the system product was perceived as very good with its level of usability as well as its performance.

SOCIAL ECONOMY ENTITIES IN SHAPING SOCIAL POLICY – DIFFERENT ROLES AND AREAS OF INFLUENCE

This paper analyses a myriad of roles played by the social economy entities in selected sub-areas of social policy, such as family and foster care support, senior citizen policy or prevention of poverty and social exclusion. The author points out the role of social economy entities in programming and implementation, monitoring and evaluation of performance, analysis of challenges and development scenarios, and advocacy for the rights and interests of various groups in need of social policy support.

Staffing Levels and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths in Korean Nursing Homes

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread rapidly worldwide. Nursing home (NH) residents are the most vulnerable high-risk population to infection. Professional registered nurses’ (RNs’) infection control is irreplaceable. We used a secondary data analysis method using the government's senior citizen welfare department large data set about all NHs (N = 3,389) across Korea between January 20 and October 20, 2020. Bed size positively associated with the mortality rate (No. of COVID-19 resident deaths / No. of total residents) ( p = .048). When the proportion of RNs to total nursing staff was higher, the infection rate was 0.626% lower ( p = .049), the mortality rate was 0.088% lower ( p = .076), the proportion of confirmed COVID-19 cases per resident out of the total number of NHs was 44.472% lower ( p = .041), and the proportion of confirmed COVID-19 deaths per resident out of the total number of NHs was 6.456% lower ( p = .055). This study highlighted nurse staffing criteria and suggests that increasing RNs in NHs will reduce infection and mortality rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. We strongly suggest NHs hire at least one RN per day to properly function, and a minimum of four RNs to provide a fully competent RN workforce in long-term care settings in Korean NHs.

Senior Citizen Activity Centre E-commerce and Cybersecurity: The Way Ahead to IR 4.0

Background - The Malaysian ageing community’s IT aptitude is limited and is a key factor preventing Malaysia’s ageing population from successfully entering Industry 4.0. This study aims to digitalize Malaysian older people with e-commerce. This will require cybersecurity awareness training due to potential cybersecurity threats when conducting business online. Furthermore, this study advances the Industry 4.0 initiatives set by Malaysia’s National Industry 4.0 Policy Framework by means of a voluntary community-based training program. It also creates a policy that elevates Malaysia’s senior citizens’ current level of ICT innovation baseline commensurate with Industry 4.0 transformation standards. Methods – Participatory action research was conducted with members in a Senior Citizen Activity Centre (PAWE) through focus group discussions. Each focus group consisted of 6-8 people. Through identifying the community’s problem in the focus groups, an e-commerce platform was developed for the elderly to commercialise their existing products. The dissemination of e-commerce training and cybersecurity awareness were also conducted as part of mitigating fraud relating to online transactions. Results – The findings show that PAWE members’ IT aptitude was limited, that they needed assistance with understanding the e-commerce platform, and that they had limited cybersecurity awareness. Conclusions – The country’s ageing population programs and services are preparing for an ageing nation. In order for Malaysia’s ageing population to become self-sustainable, researchers suggest that Malaysian older persons become entrepreneurs. Third generation entrepreneurs must also be supported by social innovation, technological innovation, and cybersecurity awareness, which leads to achieving IR 4.0 and meets the economic, social and sustainable environmental goals.

Conceptual Design and Analysis of a Hybrid Walking Cane

This work is aimed to design and analyze the staircase climbing aid, hybrid with the function of walking cane. The tremendous demand for living space increases the essentiality of staircase, corresponding to the escalation of fall injuries. The handrails complemented along with staircase had provided deficient safeguard for staircase user, particularly senior citizen and people with lower limb disability, who need staircase climbing aid to provide extra support during escalating or declining staircase.

Inclusive practice, personhood and co-production to promote person centred care for people living with dementia: A review on approaches of two countries regarding care of people living with dementia

This article attempts to describe a case study of a person living with dementia, a senior citizen, who is staying with her children at home, who are her caregivers. We will critically evaluate and analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the services that have been provided to her by the Health Care Providers and will highlight the topic of Person-centred Care provided to her by her caregivers. We will be highlighting her case scenario wherein we will enlist and elaborate the details, about dementia care from the moment of receiving the diagnosis to challenges faced both by the people living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers, in providing care. In this article, we will compare the details about the various studies and findings in discussion and compare the caregiving practices in India and the UK.

The role of humour and laughter therapy in decreasing caregiver burden among carers of a person living with dementia- A case study

Gibbs (1988) reflective cycle was employed to explore a critical case study involving a senior citizen with dementia and measures to reduce caregiver burden by humour and laughter therapy. This experience highlights key themes of caregiver burden-reduction measures through humour and laughter. This problem is discussed in relation to lack of awareness about measures to reduce caregiver burden arising due to caretaking of a person with dementia. Inclusion of this therapy as a non-pharmacological method of stress management, could be useful in the guidelines for dementia care. Therefore, it is important to include training to all caregivers at home and care home setting to address the issue of caregiver burden.

Modification of cognitive behavior therapy to improve the skill of elderly with osteoarthritis

One of the characteristics of physical changes in the elderly involves a decrease in the musculoskeletal system, such as the depletion of the synovial joint fluid which has an impact on the pain felt in joints. This condition can cause a disruption of the quality of life for the elderly and results in increases in the family burden. The purpose of cognitive-behavioral therapy in nurse care planning is to provide an overview of the implementation of family care nursing, community care health nursing, and management of health services by community health nurses to the elderly with osteoarthritis. The innovation and development of this senior citizen community program, initially named Lansia SMART (SMART Elderly), consists of six sessions, including psychoeducation sessions, cognitive restructuring sessions, pain management sessions with progressive muscle relaxation, activity scheduling sessions, problem-solving sessions, and tutorial sessions for the Lansia SMART (SMART Elderly) group with the Android application. The final maintaining challenging stage of these services involved 59 elderly participants. Data analysis used paired T-tests. The results of this innovation showed significant differences in the behavior of the elderly participants after the implementation of the SMART Elderly program (p < 0.05). The SMART Elderly program was effective to improve the elderly participants’ behavior. Nurses can use cognitive behavioral therapy to improve the process of self-management of osteoarthritis among their clients.

Vaccines for Travelers

When counselling travellers about the need, benefits and risks of travel vaccines, the following factors must be considered: o Environmental factors, e.g., destination, duration of exposure (including expected cumulative life-time exposure), epidemiological situation, travel style (low budget associated with higher risk), travel purpose (visiting friends or relatives [VFR] - often results in higher risk) o Host factors include e.g. age, origin (potential exposure at home vs. at destination, is there an incremental risk?), pre-existing illness, particularly immune suppression (e.g. HIV, medication), pregnancy, nursing A structured discussion about required, routine and recommended vaccinations is beneficial o Required by destination country: yellow fever (special rules based on the International Health Regulations), meningococcal disease (Hajj), COVID-19 o Routine: usual childhood / adolescence / adult / senior citizen vaccinations. Programs differ between countries. Some proof of vaccination may be required for schools mainly in North America. o Recommended: depending on exposure to risk (incidence rate, also incremental risk compared to home country), impact of infection, cost of vaccines, etc. Essentials when protecting travellers against vaccine preventable diseases: o Set correct priorities; base decisions on epidemiological evidence; consider contraindications o Always state that  No vaccine is 100% effective;  All vaccines may have adverse reactions, rarely serious ones.

Vaccines for Travelers

When counselling travelers about the need, benefits and risks of travel vaccines, the following factors must be considered: Environmental factors, e.g., destination, duration of exposure (including expected cumulative life-time exposure), epidemiological situation, travel style (low budget associated with higher risk), travel purpose (visiting friends or relatives [VFR] - often results in higher risk) Host factors include e.g. age, origin (potential exposure at home vs. at destination, is there an incremental risk?), pre-existing illness, particularly immune suppression (e.g. HIV, medication), pregnancy, nursing A structured discussion about required, routine and recommended vaccinations is beneficial Required by destination country: yellow fever (special rules based on the International Health Regulations), meningococcal disease (Hajj), COVID-19 Routine: usual childhood / adolescence / adult / senior citizen vaccinations. Programs differ between countries. Some proof of vaccination may be required for schools mainly in North America. Recommended: depending on exposure to risk (incidence rate, also incremental risk compared to home country), impact of infection, cost of vaccines, etc. Essentials when protecting travelers against vaccine preventable diseases: Set correct priorities; base decisions on epidemiological evidence; consider contraindications Always state that No vaccine is 100% effective; All vaccines may have adverse reactions, rarely serious ones.