Social networks and longevity. A 14 year follow-up study among elderly in Denmark.

The hypothesis of the study was that social contacts to close friends and relatives and perceived social integration was able to delay mortality in general and cardiovascular mortality in particular. Altogether 1752 males and females, aged 70-100 years were interviewed by trained nurses in 1972 to 1974. The study group was based upon a random sample of all elderly in the town of Odense, Denmark. More than 80% participated in the survey which included data collection on social networks and health at the time of interviewing. By means of linking the study group to national registries on mortality and causes of mortality practically all in the cohort were traced until 1987. During follow-up 1501 persons died. Most of the association between social networks and mortality were weak and statistically insignificant but had the expected sign. After adjusting for initial health status only the interviewer's assessment of the quality of the network was statistically significant associated with longevity. A feeling of loneliness was found to be associated with cardiovascular mortality, especially for males.

Prevention of relocation of the aged in nursing homes.

In the period 1972-76 a descriptive and experimental socio-geriatric longitudinal investigation was carried out in the municipality of Odense. The aim of the experimental aspect was prevention of relocation of the aged in nursing homes. The practical work consisted in casefinding and social medical intervention by nurses experienced in geriatrics and in close contact with interdisciplinary groups. Emphasis was placed on familiarity with the structure of the social and health services, the provisions available, and with problem areas and deciding channels. Contact with the aged focused on gaining an overall impression of their situation, establishing mutual trust and cooperation. Aspects of the practical work that were emphasized were introduction to services, advice to the aged and personnel, coordination and follow-up for assessment of results. Twenty-three per cent of the age group 70-79 years and 51 per cent of the 80-years-olds and over were drawn randomly from the national person-register. In all, 4,128 persons were picked. They were then randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group. On December 31st, 1976, 154 persons from the intervention group and 189 from the control group had been relocated in nursing homes. The difference concerned mainly women over 80 years of age who had a statistically significant low relocation risk in the intervention group. Fewer elderly in the intervention group were relocated in nursing homes compared to controls after mid 74. Findings showed that on March 1st, 1983, duration of residence (survival) in nursing homes for the 343 persons who had taken up residency, was rather similar for both groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Frequency of mental disorders in old age. Examples of comparability of epidemiological investigations in relation to utility in planning.

Due to the increase in the number of old people, diseases of old age have acquired more and more importance. In estimating the need for psychiatric hospitals and nursing homes, epidemiological investigations are necessary. Only relatively few population investigations of the old-age population have been carried out, and most of these have been carried out in countries in Northern Europe, which are closely related culturally and socially. In the present paper nine investigations are described in relation to certain central factors which include the purpose of the investigation, description of the population, selection of probands, and statistical concepts used, the collection of data, and the main results. Seven of the investigations give results in the form of prevalence, two investigations calculate incidence and morbidity risk. It is concluded that comparison of the various results is difficult as most of the authors have not intended their investigations for mutual comparison. It is clear that there are many dissimilarities in the milieus involved, in the methods used, in the prerequisites of the interviewers and assessors, and in the classification of the results. The investigations presented have been used for evaluation of prognosis and planning of care for the old-age population. It must be said that an investigation is an expression of local truth and as such often usable in local planning, but on the other hand it is not often possible to utilize results from investigations carried out in outside regions for more than a rough basis for local prognosis and local planning. It must therefore be stressed that in future investigations more standardized methods and better correlated descriptions are necessary.