Ageing International最新文献

The study of sexuality in the ageing population had a more recent development than other topics, even though it is undoubling its relevance as part of the well-being of each individual. Therefore, to advance more in research is essential to look back and have a prospect of what kind of research has been done on it, identifying gaps in the literature for future studies. This paper aims to present a panorama of the research on sexuality and ageing in Latin America for the last five years (2017–2021). The data collection was done through the Web of Science platform and focused on those papers with the SciELO Citation Index, one of the most prestigious indexations among Latin-American journals. There were included papers from Latin-American countries written in Spanish or English. There were analyzed 26 research articles in total. The results give a panorama of what had been done in studies about sexuality and ageing in Latin America. Among those highlights, the absence of studies concentrates only on sexuality and ageing. Also, more quantitative studies are not comparable between countries, cross-sectional and descriptive. Finally, it is identified some gaps and challenges that need to be addressed by researchers in the future.

Despite exploring factors, little is known about sleep quality and room sharing in older adults. To examine differences in sleep quality among older adults as a function of bed/room sharing during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Brazil and enrolled 1,123 older adults aged 60 years and older. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality and sleep duration. Bed or room sharing was assessed using a single question (“do you have a bed partner or a roommate?” “no bed partner or roommate”; “partner/roommate in other room”; “partner in the same room, but not same bed”; “partner in same bed”). Between group comparisons were performed with ANCOVA adjusting for confounders. The group “partner in the same bed” reported significant lower global PSQI scores compared to the “no bed or roommate partner” group (6.00 ± 0.27 versus 7.22 ± 0.23, respectively; p = 0.029). Furthermore, the group “partner in same bed” reported superior (p < 0.001) sleep duration (7.42 ± 0.09 hours) compared with older adults in the “no bed or roommate partner” (6.82 ± 0.08 hours), “partner or roommate in another room” (6.77 ± 0.14 hours; p < 0.001), and “partner in the same room but not in same bed” (6.82 ± 0.11 hours; p < 0.001) groups. The findings suggest that sharing a bed with a partner seems to be associated with significant better quality and duration of sleep among older adults.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) as a type of bacterial infection are the most common infections in older people. The present study was conducted with the aim of combining, summarizing, unifying, resolving inconsistencies in the results of preliminary studies, investigating the effect of potential factors and estimating the global prevalence of UTIs in the older persons through a systematic review and meta-analysis. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the articles published in the period of 1982–2022 were analyzed. The articles were searched in Iranian databases of SID and MagIran, as well as international databases including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), and Google Scholar through the relevant and validated keywords using MeSH/Emtree. Thirty-six articles with a sample size of 4,207,470 people met the inclusion criteria for meta-analysis. Global prevalence of UTIs in the older persons was 23.6% (95% Confidence Interval: 19.4–28.4). The highest prevalence of UTIs in the older persons was in the following sub-groups: Africa (30%; 95% CI: 12.7–55.8), women (30%; 95% CI: 14.6–51.7), diagnosis with urine culture (25.3%; 95% CI: 18.3–33.8), and residents in the nursing home (47.2%; 95% CI: 24.2–71.5). The results of the present study showed that the prevalence of UTIs was high in the older persons, especially in women and residents of nursing homes. Therefore, it is recommended that health officials and policymakers pay more attention to the prevention and control of UTIs in older adults.

In this paper, we evaluate a pre-pandemic multi-dimensional healthy aging program promoted by an Italian private Foundation to provide new insights on interventions that address both health and social needs within an age-friendly community framework. Using propensity score matching and linear regression models, with specific controls for individuals’ self-selection into the program, we compare lifestyles, physical health, mental conditions, and healthy life expectancy of subjects enrolled into the program with those of similar, but non-enrolled, subjects. Our main finding is that, to be more effective, healthy aging interventions should target the key dimensions of aging - physical, mental, and social - in a holistic approach. Indeed, we show that the multi-dimensionality of the healthy aging intervention under study - the contemporaneous target of older adults’ physical, mental, and social health - is crucial in improving both quantity and quality of life.

The aging population, often burdened with multimorbidity and polypharmacy complexities, requires comprehensive care during healthcare transitions. These transitions contribute to increased prescriptions, exacerbating polypharmacy and frailty in older individuals. Medication reconciliation, a preventive strategy, optimizes medication lists through systematic analysis, particularly benefiting older patients grappling with polypharmacy. This practice holds substantial potential in enhancing patient safety during care transitions. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the discrepancies detected during the practice of medication reconciliation at the admission, discharge, or transfer of older individuals in a ward in Brazil. This is a single-cohort study of patients admitted to an older adult care ward in Brazil, monitored from September 2021 to April 2022. Older individuals hospitalized in the ward, exhibiting the characteristic clinical profile of multimorbidity and polypharmacy, were observed to identify discrepancies in the practice of medication reconciliation conducted as part of pharmaceutical care services. Medication reconciliation was carried out upon admission, discharge from the ward for older adult care, or transfer to other healthcare units. Sixty older individuals were monitored during the study period in the ward. The use of polypharmacy at home was evident in more than 70% of patients, and multimorbidity was present in over 90% of patients. On average, 8.6 discrepancies were identified per patient (± 4.7). Upon admission to the older adult care ward, 501 discrepancies were identified and assessed, decreasing to 200 at the time of hospital discharge or transfer to other units. In total, 48 medication errors were identified in the evaluated prescriptions and ongoing pharmacotherapy. The use of polypharmacy proved to be a contributing factor that increased the identification of discrepancies in medication reconciliation (p < 0.001). Analyzing medication reconciliation discrepancies uncovers intentional and unintentional aspects in prescriptions, with medication quantity, especially in polypharmacy, linked to potential harm. Continuous monitoring proved crucial, significantly enhancing patient safety in the older adult care ward.

Although researchers have segmented the customer markets of many products and services, they seem to neglect to categorize that of older people’s homes. In addition, they overlook a comparison of the intentions and affecting factors of the volitional customers and the nonvolitional customers’ decision-makers. This study filled these gaps by qualitatively segmenting the older people’s home customers market in Vietnam. The database was user-generated content, and the analysis method was inductive. The study identified six segments of potential and nonpotential customers: those who wanted or did not want to go to or send their parents to older people’s homes and those who were flexible or fluctuating. The volitional customers and the decision-makers of the nonvolitional customers shared similar characteristics, such as financial and emotional independence or dependence and social norm resistance or conformation. Other factors, such as information intelligence and health conditions, were faint compared to these characteristics. Based on these observations, this study discussed some implications for expanding the existence and contribution of older people’s homes more effectively.

Understanding the intricate interplay between demographic shifts and the profound influence of social networks on the mental health of older adults is crucial amid our rapidly aging global population. As societies evolve, the significance of social connections intensifies, directly impacting the well-being of older individuals. This empirical research, encompassing 50 individuals aged 60 years and above from urban and rural areas in equal proportions, aims to comprehend sociodemographic characteristics, assess social network resilience, evaluate mental health, and investigate how sociodemographic factors shape mental well-being. Utilizing Chi-Square tests, correlation coefficients, independent samples t-tests, and frequency tables, the study reveals nuanced insights into the complex relationship between social network strength and demographic variables among older adults. The research methodology employs a comprehensive set of tools, including a self-prepared interview schedule for socio-demographic details, the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-R), and the Mental Health Inventory (MHI). These instruments, recognized for their reliability and validity, offer a thorough assessment of social networks and mental health. The study's outcomes emphasize the necessity of tailored approaches that consider diverse sociodemographic factors in addressing the mental health needs of older adults. In conclusion, this research contributes significantly to the understanding of how social networks influence the mental health of older adults within the context of demographic shifts, underscoring the imperative of personalized strategies to effectively cater to the diverse mental health needs of this population in view of social work practice.

Oftentimes, older adults experience a decline in health as they age. In Nigeria and other African countries, caregiving for older adults is usually a filial responsibility. With the decline in health and increasing demand for care, family members often require the assistance of paid informal caregivers. These are unskilled workers, extended relations and personal care attendants who shoulder the responsibility of providing services to older adults whose family members are not able to provide regular caregiving. This study explored paid informal caregivers’ management of older adults’ health demands and its implication for social work professionals in contemporary Nigerian society. The study employed a qualitative research method. Focus Group discussions (FGDs) were utilized to elicit data from 48 participants residing in Enugu State, Nigeria. Data was coded into parent and child notes. An inductive coding approach was adopted to provide meaning to the coded data as we studied the transcripts. Codes with similar characteristics were grouped thematically. We found that various challenges experienced by paid informal caregivers in the management of older adults’ health demands were gender preference, age, health status of older adults and low financial reward. The reward received is not commensurate with the provided services and so they experience burden, stress and unsatisfied life. It was also found that paid informal caregivers adopt inadequate coping strategies and have no knowledge of health apparatus utilized in care management, owing to lagging care support. It is essential to revitalize the traditional community-based care system since care for older adults is gradually eroding to paid informal caregivers in contemporary Nigerian society. This is a clear indication that care for older adults is threatened. There is a need for social work professionals to work in collaboration with families and caregivers in various community settings. Overall, adequate health policy consideration should be given to all older adults in Nigeria.

The aim of this research is to examine the effect of an intergenerational interaction programme on the life satisfaction, social support and loneliness of older people. Intergenerational interactions have been considered as crucial for the creation of age-friendly societies. This research, conducted in Istanbul, Turkey, used a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test control group. The sample of the study consists of 80 older persons individuals living in a long-term care centre, consisting of a study group (n = 40) and a comparison group (n = 40). The study group participated in a 6-month intergenerational interaction programme and the comparison group did not participate in any programme. The intergenerational interaction programme was carried out between March 2021 and August 2021. The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Turkey provided financial support for the activities carried out in the project. Scales (Sociodemographic Information Form, Life Satisfaction Scale, Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale, and Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale) were administered to the participants as a pre-test before the start of the programme and as a post-test after the completion of the programme. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS 26.0. The independent groups t-test was used to determine the significant difference between the study and comparison groups, and the dependent groups t-test was used to compare the pre-test and post-test scores of the study and comparison groups. When comparing the pre-test scores of the study and comparison groups, no significant differences were found between the means, but when comparing the post-test scores, significant differences were found between the means. It was found that there were statistically significant differences between the pre-test and post-test scores of the older people who were included in the intergenerational programme and who participated regularly. It was found that participants’ life satisfaction and perceived social support increased and their social loneliness decreased. It is believed that this study will contribute to the relevant literature by providing new information to be conducted in a different culture and to develop a different practice of intergenerational interaction. The findings may have implications for social policies to be developed for older adults in Turkey.