Ageing International最新文献

The association of physical frailty and psycho-social health is well established. However, it appears no study on the interaction of these conditions in determining the Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) has yet been attempted in India. Hence, present study aims to investigate the interaction effects of physical frailty and psycho-social health in determining the HRQoL. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 500 community-dwelling rural older adults from West Bengal, India. The modified Fried’s Frailty instrument was assessed physical frailty status. Psycho-social characteristics investigated were depression, anxiety and stress using the 21-item DASS instrument, loneliness using the UCLA Loneliness instrument, and cognitive function using the Mini-Mental State Examination instrument. HRQoL was assessed by the 36-items Short Form health survey questionnaire. Overall prevalence of frail, pre-frail and non-frail was 26.2%, 60.2%, and 13.6%, respectively. One-way ANOVA highlighted that mean scores of psycho-social traits are significantly differed among different physical frailty status groups (p < 0.01). All the participants were clustered with their psycho-social characteristics instrument scores as clustering variables using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis to understand psycho-social health of the participants. Two-way ANCOVA showed significant interaction of physical frailty status (frail, pre-frail and non-frail) and empirically occurring clusters of psycho-social health (low, moderate and good) in determining the overall HRQoL [F(8,491) = 8.904,p < 0.01]. Thus, the study findings suggest that consideration of physical frailty and psycho-social health status will be a prudent approach for a better diagnosis of HRQoL and challenges related to the same.

Motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) envelops a set of cognitive and motor complaints, determined by slow gait, subjective memory complaints, without mobility disability or neurocognitive disorders (NCD’s) in older adults. The study aimed to find an association between MCR and the risk of mortality during a follow up of 5 years in older adults who attended the Peruvian Naval Medical Center “Cirujano Mayor Santiago Tavara” in Peru. 1617 older adults were selected from the database, who reached the selection criteria: the absence of NCDs, absence of mobility disability through the Barthel Index, a low gait speed indicator and subjective memory complaint through the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ); and finally, the mortality factor which was the death of the participant in the follow-up period of 5 years. At the end of the 5 years of study, the prevalence of death was 8.7% of those with MCR, it should be noted that the prevalence of MCR was 14.7%. Also, after the analysis, the MCR, age, complete or incomplete secondary education, having two or more comorbidities and two or more harmful habits were associated with mortality in older adults. MCR and mortality are associated after a 5-year follow-up period, also considering comorbidities and harmful habits. It can be considered as a predictive factor of mortality and more attention should be paid to this syndrome, as it is a valuable tool for the health care of older adults.

The loss of family-based support services along with the preference of the older adults to age-in-place, have increased the importance of neighbourhood and community based support services for the older adults in India. This study first proposes a framework for identification of the neighbourhood-based support services, which are perceived by the older adults to contribute to their overall QoL, by understanding the concerns and perception of overall QoL of older adults living in Kolkata, India. The quality and type of available services also vary considerably based on the different classes of cities in India. This study, through analysis of data collected from structured interviews with older adults living in Kolkata and Midnapore in India, also proposes a framework that can help in exploring if living in different classes of cities impacts upon on the prioritisation of the support services by the older adults. In the process of identification of the support services, the initial list was first identified from literature and interviews with caregivers and beneficiaries of non-governmental organizations providing older adults care services, and the final list of support services were selected on the basis of researchers’ judgement. The importance or prioritisation of support services was determined using RIDIT analysis. Considering the limitations of funds for social support services in a developing country like India, the proposed framework of identification and prioritisation can be utilised by future policy makers for formulation of policies and programs catering to essential support services, based on the class of city and the socio-economic and cultural background of the city residents.

Food security is an important agenda in MDG goals for people of all age groups irrespective of socio-economic strata in all developing and developed countries. For India, with increasing hunger index, provision of food security among older adults comes out to be a rising concern and matter of discussion under hunger eradication programmes and policies. The study concentrated on prevalence of food insecurity among population aged 60 and above in India and their associated health factors controlling the level of food insecurity. The data used for the research is taken from a nationally representative survey, Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), Wave I (2019–2020) with a sample of 31,464 people aged 60 and above all over India. The outcome variable of food insecurity is made with composite scores from 5 sets of questions and made a binary variable of whether the respondent is food secure or insecure. Descriptive and bivariate analysis are performed to understand the correlation between the food insecurity and associated explanatory variables, with special focus on various types of functional impairments and chronic diseases. Through binary logistic regression models, the likelihood of food insecurity under different vulnerable conditions are analysed. The result describes 10.6% of older population aged 60 years and above of India experience food insecurity especially in rural areas (12.6%). Older adults living alone, in rural areas, with poor household income, with multimorbidity and functional impairments are more susceptible to be food insecure in India. With increasing number of functional limitations, the likelihood of being food insecure increases around 1.6 times. While presence of multimorbidity increases food insecurity; individual diseases like diabetes and hypertension negatively affects food insecurity among older adults.

Indian population is ageing at a higher pace coupled with the increase in life expectancy, and the prevalence of cognitive impairment, dementia, and comorbidities increase dramatically with age. Such cognitive and physical changes are intimately linked with declines in everyday functioning that include loss of decision-making skills. The present study explored the relationship between socioeconomic and health status of older adults and their role in household decision making. The study used data from the “Building a Knowledge Base of Population Ageing in India” (BKPAI) survey conducted in 2011 (n = 9181). Descriptive statistics along with multivariate negative binomial and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. A proportion of 29.7% of older adults had no or partial involvement in household decision making and 26.5% of older adults reported that they had witnessed a decline in their role as decision-maker. The involvement of older adults in household decision making was 1.51 times lower among those who did not contribute money in household expenditure (incidence rate tatio (IRR):1.51; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24, 1.84) than those who contributed. Respondents who had low cognitive ability (IRR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.37) or had more than one disability (IRR: 1.27; 95%CI: 1.09, 1.47) were significantly 1.22 and 1.27 times less likely to have involvement in household decision making, respecctively. Older adults who reported low self-rated health (adjusted odds rati (aOR): 1.4; 95% CI: 1.21, 1.61), low general health (aOR: 2.85; 95% CI: 2.46, 3.31), low subjective wellbeing (aOR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.99, 2.64) and low IADL (aOR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.31, 1.69) were significantly more likely to report a decline in the role as a decision maker compared to their healthy counterparts. Along with the poor socioeconomic characteristics, the negative effects of cognitive and health markers of ageing further diminish the role of older adults in household decision making. Further research in the field of familial role and importance of older adults in different family settings is required in tackling a wide range of issues related to the wellbeing of the aged population.

Naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) are unplanned communities with a high proportion of residents aged 65 years and older. Oasis is a Canadian aging in place model that combines health and supportive community services for adults aged 65 years and older within NORCs. The aims of this study were to explore how physical distancing restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted older adults living in a NORC (Oasis members) and to investigate whether Oasis served as a context for social connection and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. An interpretive description methodology guided this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine Oasis members (aged 66–77 years) and two Oasis site coordinators. The Oasis members also completed a social network mapping activity guided by the hierarchical mapping technique. Three overarching themes related to the impact of physical distancing on Oasis members during the COVID-19 pandemic were identified: (1) unintended consequences of physical distancing restrictions on participants’ wellbeing; (2) face-to-face interactions are important for social connection; and (3) family, friend, healthcare provider, and community support mitigated the impact of physical distancing restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, two of Oasis’ core pillars were found to support participants: strengthening social connectivity and connection to pre-existing community services. Findings illustrate that community programs like Oasis acted as a source of resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic and advance our understanding of the impact of aging in place models on community dwelling older adults’ experience of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To cross-culturally adapt and validate the original English version of the Short Falls Efficacy Scale-International (SFES-I) to the Igbo culture and environment. The study was a cross-cultural adaptation and validation study that employed the guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. The SFES-I was translated, adapted and validated. The English (E-SFES-I) and Igbo (I-SFES-I) versions of the SFES-I, and the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale were administered to purposively recruited 109 consenting older adult residents (53.2% females; mean age = 73.75 ± 7.63 years) of Nnewi community, South-east Nigeria. Descriptive statistics and graphs were used to summarize participants’ socio-demographic and questionnaire data. Mann Whitney-U test, Spearman rank order test, principal component analysis and Cronbach’s alpha were used to analyze data at alpha level of 0.05. All the seven items on the E-SFES-I were retained on the I-SFES-I. There was no significant difference between the scores on the E-SFES-I and the I-SFES-I (p > 0.05). The I-SFES-I showed evidence of excellent known-group validity (ρ = 0.96–1.00) in all the item and total scores. The I-SFES-I also demonstrated excellent convergent validity (rho = 0.93) and internal consistency (α = 0.96). The I-SFES-I is a valid and reliable fear of falling tool, and can be used as an outcome measure for Igbo-speaking older adults.

This study determined the mental health condition and psychological well-being of older people in the Province of Iloilo, Philippines. A total of two-hundred sixty four older people served as respondents of the study, which constituted 20% of the 1,308 total populations of older people in 8 identified areas. They were classified as young-old (60–70), middle-old (71–80), and old-old (81 and above). Mental health is state of mind functioning at a satisfactory level of emotional and behavioral adjustment characterized by the absence of mental health problems. While, psychological well-being has been examined as an indicator of successful adaptation in life as having the capacity for self-determination, positive evaluation of oneself and one’s life, and effectively manage one’s life and the surrounding environment. The results show that older people have good mental condition and were rated fair in psychological well-being and is significantly correlated to psychological well-being (Gamma = 0.267, p = 0.030). A good mental health implies that the older people have the ability to make good life choices, maintain physical health and well-being, and having healthy relationships. Thus, the mental health of the older people is fundamental to good health, better well-being, and improved quality of life. Recommendations include improving mental health promotion strategies, increasing physical activity and educational opportunities, enhancing social policy initiatives, particularly for older women, fostering collaboration between different sectors through active partnerships and exchange networks, and improving access to and quality mental health services for older people.

The present century faces developmental fallout as vulnerability and risk mount on the global systems due to climate change, urbanisation, and population ageing. Moreover, population ageing is gaining a stronger hold in urban areas, and so are climate change and related shocks and stresses. Consequently, repercussions for the weakest sections of society – including the elderly – remain under academic consideration. In this context, the paper aims to understand the perilous predicament of older people due to the occurrence and interaction between climate change, urbanisation, and population ageing. This review investigates the underpinnings of the nature of the interaction among the three phenomena; and discerns how as a result of the interaction, various climate change related shocks and stresses affect older people in urban settings. It emerges that these three phenomena exhibit: concurrence; a positive trend of growth; and a cyclic pattern of interaction with four linkages, implying (i) rapid urbanisation is fuelling climate change, (ii) climate change is impacting urban areas, (iii) older people are increasing in urban areas, and (iv) urbanisation provides opportunities and barriers for older people. This interplay further discloses that older people stand vulnerable and at heightened risk from climate change related stressors in urban areas. These understandings highlight the need to ensure that urban environments remain age-friendly even in the face of climate change.

Cognitive ageing continues to be a significant burden for society and a primary contributor to individuals’ diminishing independence and quality of life. Therefore, improving our understanding of life-course influences on cognitive function is a necessity for public health. Parenthood and marriage are two such influences that may affect cognition in old age. Using the Health and Retirement Study, the relationship between family histories and cognitive functioning in adults in the ‘older’ age group in the United States is investigated through a sequence-analysis approach. The results show that most of the relationship between fertility and partnership history and cognition later in life is explained by childhood health and socioeconomic conditions, and current sociodemographic characteristics. However, those individuals who have never been married, and in particular those who have never been married and have had no children, report a significantly lower level of cognitive functioning in older age, especially women.