The Impact of Physiotherapy Interventions on the Elderly Population with Mental Health Conditions at Chainama Hills College Hospital in Zambia. A Pre-Post Single Sample Study Design

Background: Physical functional decline is common among elderly individuals with mental disorders, worsening their symptoms. Physiotherapy interventions have shown some evidence in improving physical function and mental health outcomes in this population. This study aimed to assess the impact of physiotherapy interventions on the elderly with mental health conditions at Chainama Hills College Hospital in Zambia. Methods: A pre-post single sample design was used to track patient progress over six weeks, with 10 physiotherapy sessions. The study population (N = 30) comprised of all elderly individuals with mental health conditions, encompassing both men and women, who were hospitalized during the research period. The Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living and the six-minute walk test were evaluated before and after the intervention. The IBM SPSS version 26 was used to analyze data and results were presented as mean ± SD with a 95% confidence interval. The variables were described in terms of their mean, SD, and range. A significance level of 0.05 was used for a paired T-test to detect changes and multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with mental health. Results: Following the intervention, the percentage of participants achieving full function and independence increased significantly to 96.7% from the initial 73.3%, supported by a 95% CI = [0.82 - 0.99]. There was also a notable decrease in the proportion of individuals experiencing moderate impairment, dropping from 26.7% to just 3.3%, with a corresponding 95% CI = [0.00 - 0.17]. Conclusion: The findings derived from this study illustrate an enhancement in the aspects of participants’ overall health and functional condition, including blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate. Consequently, physiotherapy exercises can be employed as a tactic to ameliorate the functional status and physical well-being of older individuals afflicted with mental disorders in Zambia.

Exploring the Effects of Health Education and Chronic Disease Management Nursing in the Management of Hypertension in Elderly Patients in the Community

Objective:To explore the effects of health education and chronic disease management nursing in elderly community patients with hypertension,in order to provide scientific evidence for improving the health management level of these patients.Methods:Sixty-four elderly hypertension patients treated at this hospital between March 2022 and March 2024 were selected and randomly divided into two groups,with 32 patients in each group.One group received conventional management,designated as the control group,while the other group received a combined management strategy involving health education and chronic disease management,designated as the experimental group.The study compared the management outcomes of the two groups to evaluate the value of the combined management approach in elderly hypertensive patients in the community.Results:The study found that the experimental group showed significantly lower systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),and scores on the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS)and Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS)compared to the control group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Additionally,the experimental group demonstrated significantly higher scores in disease cognition levels regarding awareness of normal blood pressure ranges,prevention of complications,identification of high-risk factors,and healthy lifestyle practices,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Moreover,the experimental group showed significantly better rates of self-management behaviors,such as quitting smoking and alcohol,self-monitoring of blood pressure,dietary control,regular medication adherence,and consistent exercise,compared to the control group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Conclusion:This study indicates that a combined management model integrating health education and chronic disease management effectively improves the emotional state of elderly hypertensive patients in the community,significantly enhances their disease cognition levels,and boosts their self-management abilities.Furthermore,this model can effectively lower patients’blood pressure,thereby achieving better health management outcomes for elderly hypertensive patients in the community.

Compliance to Medication Management and Mental Health Status of Elderly Hypertensive Patients: Basis of Educational Health Program

Objective:The study aimed to assess medication management compliance and mental health in elderly patients with hypertension.Method:The study evaluated medication compliance and mental health status of elderly hypertensive patients in China using simple random sampling.Data was collected using the Morisky Medication Compliance Questionnaire,Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale,and a checklist.Ethical practices were strictly observed.Results:A study of 100 elderly hypertensive patients found poor drug management compliance,with female patients showing worse compliance.Female patients were more vulnerable to anxiety and depression.The study also found no significant association between gender,age,education level,marital status,living standards,and medication compliance.Barriers to medication management included food and daily necessities,lack of awareness about the importance of drug treatment,and basic family needs.The lowest-ranked barriers were lack of support from government health clinics,low income,and lack of family support.Conclusion:Based on the results,the study proposes an educational plan for elderly hypertensive patients and their families,to be evaluated and implemented by the hospital and township community service center.The plan aims to improve medication management and lifestyle modification compliance,encourage active participation,and provide access to medical and mental health clinics,support groups,and counseling services.

Health Effect of Forest Bathing Trip on Elderly Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Forest bathing trip is a short, leisurely visit to forest. In this study we determined the health effects of forest bathing trip on elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD）. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. One group was sent to forest, and the other was sent to an urban area as control. Flow cytometry, ELISA, and profile of mood states （POMS） evaluation were performed. In the forest group,

Effect of self-management program on health status of elderly patients with heart failure: a single-blind, randomized clinical trial

Objective:To determine the effect of self-management program on the health status of elderly patients with heart failure.Methods:The present study was a single-blind,randomized clinical trial,and conducted on 90 patients with heart failure of stages Ⅱ-Ⅲ at one teaching hospital in eastern Iran in 2017.The participants were randomly assigned into two groups:the intervention group and the control groups,with 45 patients in each group.Self-management programs including awareness and recognition,problem-solving process,diet,exercise,and stress management were carried out.The participants were trained for six weeks and were followed for two months.Data of the health status were collected before,after and eight weeks after intervention by Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire.Data analysis by chi-square,independent t-test,Fisher,ANOVA with repeated measures was conducted.Results:Patients in both groups were matched in terms of demographic characteristics before the intervention.There was no significant difference in the mean scores of health status between the two groups (P=0.1) before the intervention.However,the second measurement after intervention showed a significant difference in the mean scores between the two groups (P=0.001).Conclusions:Self-management program can improve the different dimensions of health (except in the subscale of sign and symptoms).Therefore,this supportive method can be used to improve the health of patients and manage problems caused by heart failure.

Living alone, health and preventive care use among the elderly in Shanghai, China

Objective:The purpose of the study was to compare the preventive care use and health between the elderly living alone and living with other individuals and identify strategies to improve the preventive care use among the elderly living alone.Methods:A questionnaire including socioeconomic characteristics,preventive care use,health status and Social Support Rate Scale was administered to 240 elderly living alone and 244 elderly living with other individuals in Shanghai,China.Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the predictors of preventive care use.Results:The elderly living alone were more likely to be single(never married,divorced,separated and widowed),have lower social support and income,utilize less routine physical check-up and blood glucose screenings,have worse self-reported health and have limitations in IADL compared to the elderly living with other individuals.Women,old age,high education,income and social support and close to medical institutions were positively associated with routine physical check-up among the elderly.Conclusion:Living alone was associated with less preventive care use and worse health.It was important to provide more social support and economic support for the elderly living alone to increase their preventive health care service utilization and improve their health status.

Effects of social capital on the health quality of the rural elderly in Xihaigu,China: a hierarchical linear model analysis

Based on the analysis and measurement of the social capital and the health quality and structure of the elderly people,this paper examined the effects of social capital on the health quality of the elderly as well as its composition.The examination was conducted by applying a hierarchical linear model (HLM) and using survey data obtained in the Xihaigu area of Ningxia Province in 2017.The empirical results showed that individual social capital had a significant influence on the health of the rural elderly,but the impacts were different on its composition.Village social capital should improve both the physical and mental health quality of the elderly through building mutual trust and promoting stability,unity and a harmonious living environment.In addition,factors such as mode of habitation,diet,medical approaches,intergenerational interactions,and village geographical location also affect the health quality of the elderly.

Associations between obesity and metabolic health with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in elderly Chinese

Background:Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is closely associated with obesity.However,this association could be influenced by the coexisting metabolic abnormalities.This study aimed to investigate the role of obesity and metabolic abnormalities in NAFLD among elderly Chinese.Methods:A cross-sectional study was performed among elderly residents who took their annual health checkups during 2016 in Keqiao District,Shaoxing,China.Results:A total of 3359 elderly adults were retrospectively included in this study.The overall prevalence of NAFLD was 28.7%.The prevalence of NAFLD were 7.14%,27.92%,34.80%,and 61.02%in participants with metabolically healthy normal weight(MHNW),metabolically abnormal normal weight(MANW),metabolically healthy obese(MHO),and metabolically abnormal obese(MAO),respectively.NAFLD patients in MHO group had more unfavorable metabolic profiles than those in MHNW group.Logistic regression analysis showed that sex,body mass index(BMI),fasting blood glucose,and serum uric acid were the risk factors of NAFLD.Conclusions:Both obesity and metabolic health were significantly associated with NAFLD in elderly Chinese.Screening for obesity and other metabolic abnormalities should be routinely performed for early risk stratification of NAFLD.

The Study on Community Health Education of Empty Nest Elderly

Objective:To study the demands of community health education on the empty nest elderly and analyse the related factors. Methods:The 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey(SF-36), activities of daily living (ADL) and the community health services satisfaction scale were used to investigate the community health service demand and supply of 358 empty nesters. Results:The results showed that the ability of self-care was worse and needed more nursing or caring from others in the empty nest elderly;the empty nest elderly, in comparison with the non-empty-nest elderly, had lower physical and mental scores. With the age changing, the requirements of community health services were different in empty nest elderly and the satisfaction of community health service was low in the empty nest (39.1%). Conclusions: Empty nest elderly generally needed the different degree of community health education demands. The utilization rates of community health education were low.

Causal relationships between physical, mental and social health-related factors among the Japanese elderly: A chronological study

The World Health Organization defines health as a state of physical, mental and social well being. This study was conducted to explore chronological relationships between physical, mental and social factors. Among urban-dwelling elderly aged 65 years and over, data were collected via a self-report questionnaire in 2001 and 2004. The three health-related latent factors were identified with nine measurement variables by an exploratory factor analysis. A structural equation modeling method was used to analyze underlying relationships among the three factors with a cross-lagged model and a synchronous model. A total of 7,683 individuals aged between 65 and 84 years were analyzed. The three-year prior and current physical health significantly affected social health as well as mental health, and this effect appeared to be stronger in males compared to females. Maintenance of physical health may be crucial to support mental and social health among elderly individuals.

Health risk assessment of trace metal(loid)s in agricultural soils based on Monte Carlo simulation coupled with positive matrix factorization model in Chongqing, southwest China

This study aimed to investigate the pollution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risks associated with trace metal(loid)s(TMs) in the major agricultural producing areas in Chongqing, China. We analyzed the source apportionment and assessed the health risk of TMs in agricultural soils by using positive matrix factorization(PMF) model and health risk assessment(HRA) model based on Monte Carlo simulation. Meanwhile, we combined PMF and HRA models to explore the health risks of TMs in agricultural soils by different pollution sources to determine the priority control factors. Results showed that the average contents of cadmium(Cd), arsenic (As), lead(Pb), chromium(Cr), copper(Cu), nickel(Ni), and zinc(Zn) in the soil were found to be 0.26, 5.93, 27.14, 61.32, 23.81, 32.45, and 78.65 mg/kg, respectively. Spatial analysis and source apportionment analysis revealed that urban and industrial sources, agricultural sources, and natural sources accounted for 33.0%, 27.7%, and 39.3% of TM accumulation in the soil, respectively. In the HRA model based on Monte Carlo simulation, noncarcinogenic risks were deemed negligible(hazard index <1), the carcinogenic risks were at acceptable level(10^(-6)<total carcinogenic risk ≤ 10^(-4)), with higher risks observed for children compared to adults. The relationship between TMs, their sources, and health risks indicated that urban and industrial sources were primarily associated with As, contributing to 75.1% of carcinogenic risks and 55.7% of non-carcinogenic risks, making them the primary control factors. Meanwhile, agricultural sources were primarily linked to Cd and Pb, contributing to 13.1% of carcinogenic risks and 21.8% of non-carcinogenic risks, designating them as secondary control factors.

Health and widowhood: Meanings and experience of elderly women in Chile

Aging and widowhood signal a real and symbolic landmark of change toward new vital experiences of elderly people. In the aging experience of women, there are three social age markers that participate directly in the construction of their identity as women during old age: menopause, work and widowhood. The present paper reports the results of a research on widowhood in old age and the experience of aging in elderly women in Chile. Through a qualitative methodological strategy, in depth biographic interviews were held with elderly people who were widowed after reaching 60 years of age, centering the analysis on its meanings on the body, health and death in old age, highlighting sociocultural aspects of the aging and widowing processes. Approaching widowhood in old age shows us not only a person who has lost a husband, but also what it means to be an elderly woman in a life experience continuum that also brings about key changes to understand the aging process of people, because marital relations can get to be determining factors for the construction of the identity of women and their experience of the aging process.

Mental health promotion for elderly populations in World Health Organization South-East Asia Region:Needs and resource gaps

The accelerated population growth of the elderly(individuals aged 60 years or more)across the globe has many indications,including changes in demography,health,the psycho-social milieu,and economic security.This transition has given rise to varied challenges;significant changes have been observed in regard to developing strategies for health care systems across the globe.The World Health Organization(WHO)is also engaging in initiatives and mediating processes.Furthermore,advocacy is being conducted regarding a shift toward the salutogenic model from the pathogenic model.The concept behind this move was to shift from disablement to enablement and from illness to wellness,with the notion of mental health promotion(MHP)being promoted.This article attempts to discuss the MHP of elderly individuals,with special reference to the need to disseminate knowledge and awareness in the community by utilizing the resources of the health sector available in the WHO South-East Asia Region countries.We have tried to present the current knowledge gap by exploring the existing infrastructure,human resources,and financial resources.There is much to do to promote the mental health of the elderly,but inadequate facilities are available.Based on available resources,a roadmap for MHP in elderly individuals is discussed.

Significant Differences in Elderly Health between Urban and Rural Communities: A Literature Review

This study aimed to examine measures pertaining to elderly health in urban versus rural settings, and to identify differences in the health of elderly people living in urban and rural communities through a literature review. An electronic literature search was performed using PubMed for English articles published in peer-reviewed journals up to August 2018, with the following search terms: “urban”, “rural”, “comparison of community”, “elderly health”, and “comparison of community health”. A total of 35 articles were extracted for a critical full-text review, and six articles that met the inclusion criteria were subjected to analysis. Measures related to elderly health in urban and rural communities were classified into the following three categories: functional abilities, health, and health perception. Five of the six articles described functional abilities (e.g., social function) and health (e.g., mental health, depression) as categories with significant differences in elderly health between urban and rural communities. The results suggest that elderly health measures related to social function and mental health or depression are more important outcome measures of effective person-centered integrated community care systems from the perspective of community characteristics. As there were only a few articles reporting on elderly health according to differences in environment between urban and rural communities, further investigation is globally warranted.

Investigation and Countermeasures on the Health-Promoting Lifestyle of the Disabled Elderly in a Rural Area

Objective： To investigate the level of health-promoting lifestyle in the disabled elderly in a rural area and to provide useful countermeasures for health care workers and the government to improve the elderly＇ s lifestyle behaviors. Methods： A total of 446 disabled elderly people were recruited and examined using the General Questionnaire and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II. Results： The mean score of the health-promoting lifestyle was 109.73（ SD = 16.80）, in which 90.6 percent of the disabled elderly demonstrated unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. The average score for each of the subscales includedthe following： interpersonal relations, stress management, nutrition, self-actualization, health responsibility, and sports activity. Conclusions： The health-promoting lifestyle of the disabled elderly needs to be improved; health care workers and the government should pay more attention to the countermeasures that can improve the lifestyle behaviors and promote the health of the disabled elderly.

Potential Legal Issues and Care Implications during Care-Prevention Gymnastic Exercises for the Elderly Using Pepper in Long Term Health Care Facilities

In Japan, the shortage of personnel is a problem in long-term care nursing and rehabilitative care prevention. Nevertheless, Japan has taken measures to compensate for these shortages by promoting medical and nursing care activities using robotic technologies, and employing human resources from overseas. The purpose of this study was to determine potential legal issues and subsequent implications for care during prevention gymnastic exercises for the elderly using Pepper in long-term health facilities. The application program of Care-Prevention Gymnastics Exercises for Pepper (Pepper with CPGE) was made by the Xing Company Japan. Currently, care workers become intermediaries for the safe use of Pepper with CPGE. However, it was realized that some legal issues may arise if Pepper with CPGE alone will carry out these preventive care programs for the elderly without the presence of care workers as intermediaries. In this situation, using Pepper with CPGE alone to conduct care prevention gymnastics will require safety measures to prevent these possible practice issues and anticipate implications for care. In this regard, determining detailed target levels of rehabilitation exercise demands and environmental setting safety become essential factors. The use of humanoid robots in healthcare is expected to influence more practice protocols in contemporary and futurist rehabilitative human care. The identification of possible safety issues in performance and environmental situations, and implications for care are critical to ensure safe and valuable rehabilitative health care practices for the elderly population.

Limited Focus on the Use of Health Care by Elderly Migrants——A Literature Review

Our premise for this literature review is the global demographic change caused by the world’s population living longer and becoming older, and extensive international migration leading to multicultural societies. Increasing age leads to health problems, often long-term or chronic, requiring investments in health care. Worse health and dissimilarities in pattern of morbidity/ mortality have been found in foreign-compared to Swedish-born persons, so it is reasonable to assume that this affects use of health care. The exploratory review focuses on elderly migrants’ (>65 years) use of healthcare. The databases Pub Med, EBSCO, CINAHL and ERIC were searched in 2000-2013. A limited number of studies were found;few had a comparative approach, most were from the USA, and focused on migrants from the former Soviet Union or countries in South-East Asia. A range of factors were identified that influence patterns of health care use: language fluency, ability to communicate, self-reported health status, prevalence of chronic disease, physical distance from care provision, availability of transport to reach care, cost of care, the health insurance system, cultural norms and values regarding different forms of care, level of education, and length of residence in the host country. Most studies treated health care from a general perspective and collected data from community and hospital settings, without analysing usage separately. Some studies indicated elderly migrants making use of health care less than other groups but the pattern is not unambiguous: other studies show that there is an overuse of health care. It is therefore difficult to show any particular pattern, or possible differences in use, regarding community versus in-patient care. Studies focusing on migrants’ actual use of health care are few and further research is needed, especially because elderly people form the largest group of users of health care and will be even larger in the future.

A Study of Health Prescribing for Children with Tourette’s Disorders in Children’s Health Education Specialty Care Clinics

Objective:This study designs and implements the health prescription of children’s health education specialized nursing clinic based on the physical and mental characteristics of children with Tourette’s syndrome.Methods:Applying the evidence-based nursing model and nursing intervention theory based on the survey research by searching China Knowledge Network,Wanfang Database and Wipro Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database,the study collected the literature on the health prescription intervention research in children’s Tourette’s disorders health education in children’s health education of specialized nursing outpatient clinic for review and combined with the specialty characteristics to formulate“Children’s Tourette’s Disorder Health Education Prescription.”Results:Tourette’s syndrome in children is a common pediatric neurological disorder,mainly manifested as involuntary,rapid and repeated muscle twitching and vocal tics,which brings serious psychological pressure and life disturbance to the affected children.Conclusion:For children with Tourette’s syndrome,healthcare professionals should give enough care and understanding to the children and their parents,provide timely and effective health education to them,help them improve their bad behavioral habits,establish correct cognitive attitudes,enhance self-confidence,improve patient compliance,reduce the frequency of recurrence,reduce the incidence of complications and promote children’s physical and mental health development.

Research on the Establishment of a Long-Term Care System for the Elderly with Alzheimer’s Disease Under the Background of Long-Term Care Insurance: A Literature Review

With the aging of the country’s population structure,the problem of social pensions is becoming more and more serious.As for the issue of social pension,the elderly with Alzheimer’s disease are a special group,and the issue of care services for these elderly has attracted widespread attention from society.However,judging from the current level of social security provided to the elderly with dementia in the country,there is a serious imbalance between supply and demand.Therefore,this problem needs to be solved urgently and is of great significance for further improving the country’s social pension security system.Routine care is limited to hospitals and mainly focuses on the patient’s condition.Patients fail to receive comprehensive care services and the effect is not ideal.Therefore,in order to improve patients’cognitive function and quality of life,and learn from international experience,a“community-institution-home”three-dimensional linkage care model based on long-term care insurance can be established.The application of this model can effectively solve and further improve the country’s elderly care and social security system.

Study of the Interior Design Based on Elderly People’s Psychological Behaviors and Requirements

Nowadays,the elderly have become an increasingly large group of people in China,but still many problems exist in their living space.This paper explores the physiological and psychological behavioral changes of the elderly,studies their living space requirements,and tries to put forward targeted design strategies in response.Therefore,making a better and more reasonable living space for the elderly as well as improving their living quality,finally helping the development of elderly-friendly design in China.