Ageing International最新文献

Older people returning home after unplanned hospital admissions often experience fragmented care, leading to poor health outcomes and rehospitalisation. Taking a person-centred approach, we co-designed and piloted a care transition service with older people, their carers, and health professionals, to improve the care of older people as they transitioned from hospital to home. We conducted five co-design workshops with healthcare professionals and older people who had experienced frequent hospital presentations, to explore ways to improve the transition from hospital to home. The workshops culminated in the co-design of a Care transition Coordinator (CTC) role. We undertook a 6-month pilot study in one metropolitan hospital in Adelaide, Australia, to determine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of the role from an older person and health system perspective. Descriptive data were extracted from Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments, action sheets, patient checklists, and hospital databases, while semi-structured interviews were conducted with service users, providers, and referrers and thematically analysed to provide qualitative insights into the service. Thirty-five older people were cared for by the CTC during their transition from hospital to home. The CTC was perceived to meet the needs of older people and was well received by older people, their families/carers, and referrers. However, there were some challenges to the feasibility of the service from a service-provider perspective. Our findings indicate that it is possible to engage frail, older people who are frequent hospital presenters in a co-design process, and to design services that are informed by, and meet their needs.

This study examined the relationship between nursing staff's knowledge and attitudes toward dementia caregiving and their proficiency in managing dementia-related behavioral issues. We conducted a cross-sectional correlational study involving 198 nursing participants with a minimum of three months of clinical nursing experience in central Taiwan. The findings indicate that nursing staff scored well in dementia care knowledge (11.71 ± 1.67), dementia nursing attitudes (29.35 ± 2.73), and their ability to address dementia-related behavioral issues (63.90 ± 11.33). Statistical analysis demonstrates that various factors influenced the nursing staff's ability to address behavioral issues, with past experience in caring for a family member with dementia, a nursing progression designation of N1/N2, certification in a professional dementia care program in long-term care, and positive attitudes toward dementia-related issues as significant predictors. Accumulating experience and knowledge, along with cultivating positive attitudes, can enhance nursing staff's capacity to manage behavioral challenges in dementia care. This study underscores the need for continuous training and education for nursing staff, focusing on dementia care, to improve behavioral health outcomes. It emphasizes the importance of supporting family caregivers and promoting specialized certification programs, along with implementing quality improvement measures, to enhance dementia care and patient outcomes in clinical practice.

Elder abuse among nursing home (NH) residents is growing over time. Elder abuse includes multiple forms, including physical, psychological, financial, and sexual, which seriously impact older adults' quality of life. Despite the issue's significance, few studies have studied elder abuse among NH residents, and to our knowledge, no study has examined the prevalence of elder abuse and its associated factors among NH residents in Jordan. This study aimed to examine the predictors of elder abuse among NH residents in Jordan. A descriptive correlational study was conducted on a convenience sample of NH residents recruited from six NHs in Amman, Jordan. Using the function ability scale for the elderly questionnaire, the MoCA instrument, the Wisconsin Agitation Inventory (WAI), the accumulative illness rating scale (CRIS), the Communication of Need-Dementia Alzheimer's Type (CON-DAT), and the Elder Assessment Instrument (EAI) to measure ability to perform activities of daily living, level of dementia, agitation, the comorbid burden, verbal ability, and elder abuse, respectively. Pearson correlation was utilized to examine the relationship between the major variables of this study. The binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association of elder abuse with the rest of the variables. A total of 78 NH residents aged between 55–85, with a mean of 72.52 ± 9.45, participated in our study. About 53 participants showed potential exposure to elder abuse from staff members, family visitors, or other residents, and older people with dementia (PWD) were more likely to experience elder abuse than younger PWD, without any significant difference regarding how long they stayed in NH. The results of the chi-square tests showed that PWD who were widowed/divorced were more likely to be a victim of elder abuse than married and single ones. Binary logistic regression results showed that, after controlling for age and marital status, PWD were more exposed to elder abuse as the severity of dementia worsened, and they exhibited more agitated behaviors. The study's findings regarding elder abuse and the factors that contribute to it are significant enough to warrant early detection and preventive measures for NH residents. More training programs are needed to enhance healthcare providers' awareness of elder abuse and how to build effective and proper intervention and care plans. Our research suggests that robust patient care policies be developed, emphasizing quality monitoring systems and frequent staff training sessions on the prevention and management of elder abuse.

Multidomain lifestyle interventions hold promise for preventing cognitive decline, but personalized approaches are essential for (maintaining) behaviour change and adherence. The Dutch FINGER-NL trial is based on the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) and includes 7 lifestyle intervention components, supported by technological elements. This study describes older adults’ motivations and attitudes regarding participation and lifestyle changes at the start of the FINGER-NL trial. This study followed a qualitative descriptive design, using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 40 purposively selected participants of the FINGER-NL trial. Thematic analysis was applied. For theme (1) 'Reasons to participate', most participants mentioned personal gain, aiming to improve cognitive and physical health. Dementia prevention was a key motivator, driven by concerns about ageing, cognitive decline, and a desire for behavioural change. Public interest and contributing to a broader societal solution were also mentioned. Knowledge about dementia (prevention) was limited, and perceptions were largely shaped by personal experiences of dementia with close ones. In theme (2) 'Contextual factors influencing participation' are discussed, including work, living situation, and health conditions. According to participants, the main 'Lifestyle-related areas for improvement', theme (3), were diet and physical activity, followed to a lesser extent by cognition, sleep, social activities, and stress management. Theme (4) 'Expectations regarding FINGER-NL' discussed barriers to change which included physical health of participants, time constraints, established habits, and financial limitations. Participants emphasized the need for counselling, coaching in diet and exercise, experiencing positive effects of lifestyle change, participation in group setting and practical aspects, such as appointment reminders to support their commitment and adherence to the study. Participants held different experiences and opinions regarding 'Use of technology', theme (5). Personal experiences with dementia strongly influenced the motivation to participate in FINGER-NL, creating urgency for behaviour change. Participants expressed the wish to receive tailored interventions addressing individual needs and circumstances. Longitudinal follow-up within FINGER-NL promises valuable insights for future interventions.

Grandparent alienation and the discontinuity of grandparent-grandchild relationships have been largely overlooked in social science research, despite the fact that the salience of the grandparent-grandchild attachment bond is the subject of considerable discussion. This article reports the results of the first-known study examining the experiences of grandparents who have never seen their grandchildren. Sixty-four grandparents participated in an in-depth research project examining their lived experiences and the challenges associated with being excluded from the lives of their grandchildren. Results reveal a number of surprising findings, and contrast the experiences of alienated grandparents who have never seen their grandchildren with previous research on grandparents who were alienated subsequent to a pre-existing relationship with their grandchildren. Grandparent alienation has profoundly negative consequences for grandparents, and this has important implications for socio-legal policy and therapeutic practice.

With an increase in the aging population, successful aging has become a worldwide requirement. Healthy cognitive functioning is an essential element of successful aging. Therefore, the present study intended to examine the influence of perceived social support and life purpose on cognitive functioning. The present study has employed a correlational research design. The sample comprised 140 middle-aged adults (ages 35 to 55 years) who were recruited through the purposive sampling technique. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Purpose in Life scale and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used as assessment measures. Findings indicated that cognitive functioning has a significant positive relationship with life purpose and perceived social support. Furthermore, purpose in life and family and friends support found to explain the significant amount of variance in cognitive functioning even after controlling for the effects of age and education of the participants. To conclude, a higher sense of purpose in life and perceived social support tend to protect cognitive functioning in middle age. Therefore, the present study findings have implicated a practical way for healthcare providers for the prevention of cognitive impairment and promotion of successful aging.

The study aimed to assess the prevalence of probable and non-probable sarcopenia among older adults in Pakistan and to compare the quality of life (QoL) between those identified as probable sarcopenic and non-probable sarcopenic. A cross-sectional study involving 387 older adults (226 males, 161 females) was conducted from July to December 2023. Anyone taking drugs affecting neuromuscular system and/or having a history of upper limb fracture were excluded. In accordance with the diagnostic criteria outlined by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP-2) consensus, the risk of sarcopenia was screened using the SARC-F questionnaire, followed by handgrip strength assessment with a handheld dynamometer. Physical performance, fall risk, and QoL were evaluated using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Fall Efficacy Scale (FES), and EuroQOL (EQ-5D-5 L), respectively. Among 387 participants, 180 (46.3%) had lower muscle strength, indicating probable sarcopenia, with a higher prevalence in females (55.9%) than males (39.4%). Although overall QoL scores showed no significant difference between probable and non-probable sarcopenia groups, the probable sarcopenic reported significantly higher pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression levels (p = 0.001) in EuroQoL domains. Severe restrictions in usual activities and severe anxiety/depression were also more frequent in the probable sarcopenia group, emphasizing the widespread physical and mental effects of sarcopenia. The high prevalence (> 40%) of probable sarcopenia among older adults in Pakistan highlights the importance of routine screening during clinical visits. Early detection may help identify individuals at risk, enabling timely intervention to potentially prevent further health decline and improve quality of life. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of these measures.

The ageing population is a complex demographic process, and its implications for care have become a major global social issue. As the needs for care increase and grow longer in time, the challenges facing protection systems intensify. Living in rural areas is often an added difficulty in the access of older adults to care services. At this crossroads, the role of science is essential to articulate innovative, effective, and sustainable responses, from the approach of evidence-based practice. To undertake a review of the literature on long-term care for older adults living in rural areas, a bibliometric analysis (using VOSviewer and CiteSpace software) and a thematic synthesis have been conducted on 372 scientific articles. A growing interest in research on the subject is identified through the progressive increase in the number of publications. The study also reveals an evolution of scientific interest going from care that is biomedical in nature, centred in situations of dependency, to approaches inspired by person-centred care, focused on promoting autonomy. It is also noted that international collaborations are limited and studies do not often analyse the gender issue, which is key in both formal and informal care systems. This study aims to be a reference work for researchers, academics, practitioners and policymakers by offering a broad analysis of the state of the science on its subject.