Activity patterns of residents in homes for the elderly in Alexandria, Egypt.

To identify activity patterns of residents in homes for the elderly in Alexandria, we carried out a study on 188 elderly persons in 4 homes (2 governmental and 2 private). Participants were interviewed individually using a structured interview schedule. Each home was visited daily for 1 week in order to assess the type of activities provided and the participation. Performance of activities was affected by health status, functional ability, lifestyle pattern (including individual practices and personal choices related to health and health risk) and type of home. Private homes, having more resources available, particularly financial resources, tended to involve their residents in physical and social activities more than governmental ones. The majority of the residents tended to be inactive.

Activity patterns of residents in homes for the elderly in Alexandria, Egypt

To identify activity patterns of residents in homes for the elderly in Alexandria, we carried out a study on 188 elderly persons in 4 homes [2 governmental and 2 private]. Participants were interviewed individually using a structured interview schedule. Each home was visited daily for 1 week in order to assess the type of activities provided and the participation. Performance of activities was affected by health status, functional ability, lifestyle pattern [including individual practices and personal choices related to health and health risk] and type of home. Private homes, having more resources available, particularly financial resources, tended to involve their residents in physical and social activities more than governmental ones. The majority of the residents tended to be inactive

Premarital counseling: view of the target group.

Premarital counseling is one of the most important strategies for prevention of genetic disorders, congenital anomalies and several medical, psychosocial marital problems. Nursing students as a target group are in a unique position to provide prospective couples with information and guidance regarding premarital counseling. The aim of this study is to assess knowledge and attitude of secondary technical nursing school students towards premarital counseling in Alexandria. The study was conducted at four secondary technical nursing schools. 200 students from the chosen schools participated in the study. Questionnaire sheet was developed to assess student's knowledge and a 3-point Likert-like scale was used to assess the student's attitude. The results revealed that 46.5% of the study sample had an average score in knowledge, while 65.5% of the students had a positive attitude towards premarital counseling. The recommendations focused on dissemination of information through formal and informal education and media publicity.

Do elderly clubs in Alexandria meet the needs of their consumers?

The rapid rise in the number of the independent elderly persons in the community has become a world-wide phenomenon. Recently, more attention has been devoted to community based programs for the elderly. One type of these programs offering multiple services is the elderly clubs. These clubs may provide health and physical care beside social interaction and peer group support for the independent elderly in the community. In Alexandria, elderly health and social care provided are not coping with the increasing numbers of the aged population and consequently with their needs and problems. So the aim of this study was to describe the health profile of the consumers of the elderly clubs in Alexandria and to determine the preferred activities needed by the consumers of the elderly clubs in Alexandria. To fulfil this aim, a sample of 163 elderly representing the consumers from all (five) elderly clubs in Alexandria were interviewed. The results revealed that almost one third (30.67%) of the elderly consumers had no health complaints, 35.58% had only one health complaint and 33.74% had more than one complaint. The most health complaints stated by the consumers were cardiovascular diseases/hypertension followed by diabetes mellitus then rheumatic diseases/arthritis. The results also revealed that all the elderly consumers had one or more minor signs and symptoms during the last six months of the interview. These signs and symptoms varied from amnesia, low concentration, constipation, dizziness and dyspepsia. The majority of the elderly consumers preferred the recreational trips and attending religious seminars/reading Quraan. Walking and checking on blood pressure were the most preferred activities mentioned by nearly half the consumers. The results of this study can be considered as a base line data to help policy makers in taking decisions during planning and providing the needed services to the elderly.