Calidad de la asistencia social en ancianos solos con atención domiciliaria / Quality of the social care in old men living alone under home care

Introducción: La calidad de la atención geriátrica en Cuba constituye una realidad impostergable. Objetivo: Evaluar la calidad de la asistencia social de salud en ancianos solos con atención domiciliaria. Método: Se realizó una investigación cualitativa, que incluyó a 4 838 ancianos, controlados por los departamentos de Trabajo Social del municipio de Santiago de Cuba, desde enero hasta diciembre del 2015, para lo cual se efectuó un muestreo por conglomerados bietápico, constituido por 387 gerontes. Se utilizó la metodología de la Escuela Nacional de Salud Pública de Cuba para evaluar las dimensiones: estructura, proceso y resultados. Resultados: Se encontró inadecuado el indicador recursos humanos y materiales. En el proceso resultaron adecuados la confección de la historia social y los registros administrativos. Conclusiones: La calidad de la asistencia social en ancianos solos con atención domiciliaria resultó inadecuada en los componentes estructura, proceso y resultados.

Introduction: The quality of geriatric care in Cuba constitutes an inevitable reality. Objective: To evaluate the quality of health social care in geriatric patients living under home care. Method: A qualitative investigation that included 4 838 old men, controlled by the departments of Social Work of Santiago de Cuba municipality was carried out from January to December, 2015, for which a sample through two-stage conglomerate constituted by 387 aged persons was made. The Cuban National School of Public Health methodology was used to evaluate the dimensions: structure, procedure and results. Results: The indicator human resources and materials resulted inadequate. Making the social history and the administrative registrations were appropriate. Conclusions: The quality of the social care in elderly living alone under home care was inadequate in the components structure, procedure and results.

The Median Effect of Social Support on the Loneliness of Resilience in the Healthy Elderly Living Alone

Analysis of health-related quality of life of elderly people living alone in Shanghai / 第二军医大学学报

Objective To analyze the health-related quality of life of elderly people living alone in Shanghai according to the survey data. Methods The data were extracted from the fifth national health services survey of Shanghai, and the data of 11 103 elderly people from 17 districts were analyzed. The elderly people living alone and those not living alone were matched using propensity score matching method, and the health-related quality of life of elderly people was measured by the European quality of life 5-dimensions (EQ-5D). The health-related quality-of-life indicators between the elderly people living alone and not living alone, including selection of EQ-5D dimensions, EQ-5D scores and EQ-VAS scores, were compared by Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results The baselines of the elderly people living alone and not living alone matched well by propensity score matching, and there were no significant differences in selection of each dimension of the health-related quality of life, EQ-5D index scores or EQ-VAS scores between the two groups. Conclusion There is no difference in health-related quality of life between elderly people living alone and not living alone in Shanghai.

Factors Associated with the Use of Over-the-Counter Medications in the Elderly Living Alone / 정신신체의학

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and to identify predictors for their use in the elderly living alone. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that enrolled 1,099 subjects. Data regarding socio-demographic status, medical condition, cognition, mood disorder and use of OTC drugs were collected using self-administered questionnaire and from a specific semi-structured interview by a trained nurse. Data regarding use of OTC drugs were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Logistic regression analysis was applied to examine factors associated with the use of OTC drugs. RESULTS: The use of OTC drugs were reported by 35.4% of the subjects. Analgesics (13.6%) was the most frequent drugs. Depression (OR=1.10, 95% CI=1.10–1.87) and comorbidities measured by cumulative illness rating scale (CIRS) (OR=1.08, 95% CI=1.03–1.12) were significantly associated with the use of OTC drugs in the elderly living alone. CONCLUSIONS: Depression and severity of underlying medical conditions could be a predictor of the use of OTC drugs in the elderly living alone. The clinicians should be vigilant regarding the potential use of nonprescription medications in the elderly.

A Study on Factors Affecting Suicidal Tendency of the Elderly Living Alone on Care Services

OBJECTIVES: The high suicide rate has risen as a main concern in South Korea. Given the complexity of the mechanism resulting in complete suicide, studies targeting various populations are needed for broader understanding of its risk factors. This study aims to analyze the factors affecting the suicidal tendency in the population of the elderly living alone in Seoul depending on basic elderly-care services. METHODS: A total number of 415 people participated in the study. Home-visit interviews were administered by trained interviewers. Suicidal tendency was measured by the Korean version of mini international neuropsychiatric interview (K-MINI). Health-related quality of life was measured by a brief version of the World Health Organization Quality-of-life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF). Alcohol problem was assessed by the Korean version of the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT-K). Among total subjects of 415 interviewees, the actual responses of 408 people were used for the final analysis. RESULTS: The result showed that the suicide risk was high in persons isolated from social support [odds ratio (OR) = 4.49], having depression (OR = 14.85), and having low quality of life (OR = 4.39). CONCLUSIONS: We found that social support, depression and health-related quality of life are associated with suicidal tendency in the elderly living alone on basic services. Our evidence will contribute to suicide prevention policy for the elderly living alone on care services.

The Influencing Factors on the Ego Integrity of Elderly Living Alone / 한국간호교육학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted in order to determine the extent of ego integrity and to confirm the association between the sense of ego integrity and integrated loneliness, social support, and social activities. METHODS: For this study, 146 elderly people participated. The data was analyzed with SPSS/WIN 21.0, using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis. RESULTS: In regards to differences between ego integrity according to general characteristics of subjects, there was a statistically significant difference in education (F=4.13, p=.007). In elderly living alone, ego integrity was significantly positive correlated with social support and social activities, but negative correlated with loneliness. These variables explained 43.2% of the sense of ego integrity. CONCLUSION: The study suggested that nursing programs and social activity programs designed to aid the elderly living alone must focus on reducing loneliness, as well as increasing social support and social activities, while taking education into consideration. Also, these programs should strive to build social support systems.

Depressive status and influencing factors of elderly living alone in a community of Shanghai: A survey / 第二军医大学学报

Objective To investigate the depression status among the elderly living alone in a community of Shanghai and to analyze the influencing factors.

Factors Associated with Suicidal Ideation in Korean Elderly Living Alone ; Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between suicidal ideation and the associated with sociodemographic and clinical factors in community dwelling, elderly living alone in Korea. METHODS: A total of the 329 community-dwelling elderly aged 65 years or older who lived alone were recruited and they underwent the questionnaire including their sociodemographic data, Activities of Daily Living/Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale (ADL/IADL) and the Korean version of the Short Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS-K). Suicidal ideation was evaluated by using the "suicidal thought" item of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). RESULTS: According to the result of our sample of elderly living alone, 22.8% of the subjects reported their suicidal ideation. ADL/IADL score (p<0.01), subjective economic status (p<0.05), and subjective health status (p<0.05) had a negative correlation with suicidal ideation. SGDS-K score (p<0.05) had positive correlations with suicidal ideation. Multiple regression analysis revealed that suicidal ideation correlates to ADL/IADL score (p=0.025). CONCLUSION: This study exhibit that ADL/IADL is significantly associated with suicidal ideation.

A Study on the Nutrient Intake, Health Risk Factors, Blood Health Status in Elderly Korean Women Living Alone / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This purpose of this study was to investigate the nutrient intake, the health status as determined self-assessment checklist, biochemical indicators of elderly Korean women. We interviewed and 55 female subjects living alone in the Urban aged over 65 years. Information on their dietary intake was collected by 24-hour Recall method. Their health status was determined by a NSI checklist. Biochemical indicators were performed in whole blood and plasma of subjects. Except for protein, Fe, all of the elderly subjects belonged to over moderate nutritional risk. The average daily nutrient intake of the elderly was below the level of the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for Koreans. A relationship between their health risk score and nutrient intake was observed negatively (not significantly). They had a risk of anemia as hemoglobin and hematocrit of subjects were under the normal value. Therefore, the reason that health risk score and health status badly was thought for lower nutrient intake.

The Dietary Behaviors, Depression Rates and Nutrient Intakes of the Elderly Females Living Alone / 대한지역사회영양학회지

In this study, the dietary behaviors, depression rates and nutrient intakes were assessed for elderly females living alone (ELA) and elderly females not living alone (ENLA). The subjects were 140 elderly females (living alone 70; not living alone 70) residing in Bucheon city. Dietary data were obtained using the 24-hr recall method. There were more subjects with low monthly incomes (less than 500,000 won) in the ELA group. The proportion of the ELA group which skipped at least one meal per day was 38.5% and the main reasons given were low appetite and depression. Fewer of the ELA group were observed to have smoking and drinking habits. However, the majority of the ELA smokers smoked more than 6 cigarettes per smoking. The drinking score of the ELA group was also higher than that of the ENLA group. The total score of depression for the ELA group was higher than that of the ENLA group. The total score of nutrition risk index (NRI) of the ELA group (8.09) was also higher than that of the ENLA group (2.31). The dietary assessment using the 24 hr-recall method showed that the ELA group had lower nutrients intakes, and significant differences were shown in the intakes of energy (1137 kcal vs 1275 kcal), animal protein, animal fat, carbohydrates, animal Ca, and animal Fe. There was a positive correlation between the NRI and the depression scores. However a higher NRI was associated with lower intakes for most of the nutrients in the ELA group.

Anthropometric and Biochemical Indicators and Related Factors for the Community Dwelling Elderly Living Alone / 대한지역사회영양학회지

In this study, anthropometric and biochemical indicators and related factors for community dwelling elderly living alone (ELA). as well as for elderly not living alone (ENLA) were explored. The subjects were 140 elderly females (70 living alone, 70 not living alone) residing in Bucheon. Anthropometric measurements revealed significant differences between the two groups (ELA/ENLA) for height, weight, BMI, triceps skinfold thickness, suprailiac skinfold thickness, subscapular skinfold thickness, and body fat percentage. The ELA showed significantly lower data for most of the anthropometric indices, except PIBW. Biochemical indicators of iron status (hemoglobin, serum iron, transferrin saturation) were significantly lower for the ELA, whereas the total serum cholesterol, LDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, for the ELA were significantly higher. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (240 mg%) was 30%. The latter three are not in accordance with general malnutrition among the ELA. The hemoglobin of the ELA was positively correlated with energy, fat, iron and cholesterol intake, but negatively correlated with height. The serum cholesterol of the ELA was positively associated with most of their nutrient intake.