ABSTRACT
Objective:To evaluate and analyze the health status of the elderly from physical health, mental health and social health, so as to understand the health status and health service needs of rural elderly.Methods:A total of 263 elderly people aged 60 years and over(mean aged 70.9±7.9 years, 113 males and 150 females, 125 aged 60-69 years, 98 aged 70-79 years and 40 aged 80 years and over)in Nanwangkong Village, Shaozhuang Town, Qingzhou City, Weifang City, Shandong Province were selected by cluster sampling method.The physical, mental, social and overall health status of the elderly were comprehensively evaluated and analyzed by self-designed questionnaire.Results:The overall health rate was 30%(79 cases), and the physical health, mental health and social health rates were 73.8%(194 cases), 84.0%(221 cases)and 34.6%(91 cases), respectively, in rural elderly in this area.The physical health was better in males than in females in 80~ years old groups( χ2=5.736, P<0.05). The overall health was better in males than in females in the total age group and the 60~69 years old groups( χ2=7.468 and 11.116, both P<0.01). The proportions of unhealthy, basic healthy and healthy people in the overall and the dimensions of physical health, mental health and social health had significant differences in the 60~69, 70~79 and 80~ years old groups( χ2=40.590, 29.342, 18.503 and 27.615, all P<0.01), and the Chi-square test for trend showed that there was a statistically significant downward trend of overall health grade distribution with age( χ2=21.994, 12.831, 16.570 and 22.595, both P<0.01). Conclusions:In this study, 30.0% of the rural elderly were considered healthy, 48.3% were basically healthy, and 21.7% were unhealthy.The health status of the elderly gradually deteriorates with age.The government should strengthen the multidimensional health assessment of the rural elderly and provide the comprehensive health guidance services and targeted interventions for the elderly in terms of disease control, psychological counseling and social participation.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To evaluate and analyze elderly health on the physical, psychological and social dimensions, so as to understand the health status and care needs of community-dwelling elderly residents.Methods:A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Meiyuan community, Malianwa Street, Haidian District of Beijing during July 22 to August 26, 2021.A total of 404 people aged 60 and above(70.6±8.6 years old)including 169 men and 235 women were enrolled through cluster sampling.All information about community-dwelling elderly residents was collected with face-to-face interviews and a standardized structured questionnaire for the evaluation and analysis of their physical, mental, social and overall health.Results:The rate of overall healthy residents was 21.3%(86), and the rates of physically, mentally and socially healthy residents were 66.8%(270), 86.6%(350) and 24.3%(98), respectively, in this community.There was a sex difference in social health in the whole group( χ2=9.008, P=0.011)and a higher proportion of men than women were considered generally healthy( χ2=8.963, P=0.003). People in the three age groups(224 in the 60-69 group, 109 in the 70-79 group and 71 in the ≥80 group)showed statistically significant differences in overall, physical, mental and social health( χ2=18.473, 61.186, 43.026 and 18.310, P<0.001), which declined with increasing age( χ2=13.172, 23.515, 26.806 and 10.068, P<0.001 or 0.01). Conclusions:s The overall healthy rate is not high among community-dwelling elderly residents in Beijing.The health status of the elderly gradually deteriorates with age.Health assessment for the elderly should be emphasized and targeted health education and prevention should be provided to promote disease prevention and mental health.