BackgroundThe ageing of population is the reason that there are various strategies developed to help seniors acquire greater independence and a better quality of life. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between the elderly peope’s need for assistance and assessed quality of life.Material/MethodsThe study included 100 participants who were members of a Seniors Club in Poznań, Poland. The cross-sectional study utilized the following instruments: Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), EASY-Care Standard 2010 questionnaire, (WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire.ResultsMembers of the Seniors’ Club showed good functional condition. In the AMTS test, they scored near maximum values (average 9.39±0.77 points), somewhat poorer results were found in the IADL scale (average 20.92±3.96 points). In the EASY-Care questionnaire, the study participants usually required partial support in the following areas: Mental health and well-being (59%), Staying healthy (29%), Getting around (22%), and Seeing, hearing and communicating (22%). The average score on Independence was 13.13±18.51, The risk of breakdown in care scale was 4.39±3.21. The risk of falls affected 21 participants (21%). Quality of life study using WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire found that the highest scores were achieved in Psychological and Environment domains, and the lowest score in the Physical health domain.ConclusionsQuality of life as well as level of independence, risk of falls, and need for 24-hour care were significantly affected by the following factors: urinary incontinence, difficulties in mobility outside the home, despondency, and forgetfulness.

Despite a high percentage of agreement reached between the staff and user assessments of needs in our study, we were able to identify the areas of discrepancies between these two perceptions of needs. These can be treated as signals pointing to those aspects of care that should be addressed.

Introduction Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative brain disease of unknown aetiology. It is characterised by a gradual deterioration of cognitive processes, especially memory, orientation and thinking. With the deepening of Alzheimer's disease, the independence of patients is increasingly limited, what results in an increased involvement of caregivers in care. Excessive duties contribute to the development of caregiver burnout. Aim The aim of the study was to examine the level of feeling of burden in caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease and to determine the relationship between selected parameters and the feeling of burden. Material and methods The study included 55 people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers. In order to test the level of the burden, the Polish version of Caregiver Burden Scale was used. The level of self‐esteem was assessed using the Polish version of the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale. Results The total result of the level of burden of caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease, according to the Caregiver Burden Scale, was 2.6 points. There was a significant relationship between the feeling of burden and the caregiver's gender, the lack of free time, the number of hours devoted to day care, the number of years of patient care, the degree of a caregiver's self‐assessment and the progression of the patient's disease. Conclusions In the examined group of caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease and according to the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale, the medium level of care burden and the average level of self‐esteem were prevailing.

IntroductionNo comprehensive needs assessment is performed routinely in Poland.PurposeThe goal of the study was to investigate the patterns of needs in older individuals living in long-term care institutions (LTCIs) using the Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly (CANE) questionnaire, based on a previously published study protocol.Participants and methodsThe study included 306 LTCI residents (age: ≥75 years) with the a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of at least 10 points. The dependence in basic activities of daily living was measured using the Barthel index (BI). A screening for depression was performed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) in subjects with an MMSE score of ≥15 points. Thereafter, CANE was used to analyze needs receiving adequate support (met needs) and those without appropriate interventions (unmet needs).ResultsThe mean age of studied individuals was 83.2±6.0 years. They had 10.4±3.2 met needs and 0.8±1.2 unmet needs. Unmet needs were reported most commonly in the following areas: company (15.9%), psychological distress (14.0%), intimate relationship (11.4%), eyesight/hearing/communication (11.4%), and daytime activities (11.0%). The OR of having a large number of met needs (ie, above the median) was almost eight times higher in residents with a BI score of 0–49 points versus those with ≥80 points. The group between (with 50–79 points) had this parameter almost four times higher. The OR of having a large number of unmet needs depended neither on BI nor on GDS and was more than four times higher in the group of 10–19 MMSE points (ie, with symptoms of moderate dementia) versus subjects with 24–30 MMSE points (ie, without symptoms of dementia).ConclusionWe defined the target group with high probability of unmet needs and the areas in which resources and efforts should be concentrated. We believe that the results can be used to optimize care in LTCIs.

BackgroundFalls affect approx. 30% of elderly population per year. They cause major injuries and reduce independence of the older adults’ functioning. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the degree of independence and find the fall risk factors in the study group.MethodsThe study included 506 – older adults. The study group included patients from GP clinics and members of two senior centers. The study duration was 12 months. Our study tools included EASY- Care Standard 2010 questionnaire, Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS), Index Barthel, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Timed Up and Go (TUG).ResultsThe study included 357 (70.6%) female and 149 (29.4%) male subjects. The mean age of the study group patients was 75.7 years ± 8.0. Most of the older adult subjects were independent in both basic (Index Barthel) and instrumental (IADL) activities. Gait fluency evaluated in TUG scale found slow and unsteady gait in 33.7% of the subjects. 27.5% of the subjects used mobility aids when walking. In the Risk of falls scale, 131 subjects (25.89%) were at risk of falls. According to logistic regression the main risk of fall determinants (p <0.05) in the study group were: age, previous falls, feet problems, lack of regular care, impaired vision, urinary incontinence, pain, sleeping disorders, and lowered mood.ConclusionsRisk of falls increases in people less independent in terms of basic and complex life activities and in people with depression. Most of the risk factors can be modified. It is necessary to develop a standard procedure aimed at preventing falls in the elderly.