Evaluation of elderly persons' functionality and care needs

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the elderly persons' functionality, based on the International Classification of Functionality. Methods: a cross-sectional, descriptive study; a stratified random sample of 903 elderly persons; a confidence level of 95%; and a margin of error of 2.5%. Questionnaire based on the International Classification of Functionality; data was collected based on structured interviews undertaken by health professionals in the health centers in the Alentejo region of Portugal. Results: 30.7% of the elderly persons stated that they were illiterate, and 22.9% lived alone. Feeding/dietary (18.7%), housing (19.2%) and health needs (26.0%) were not met. Orientation functions were maintained in 83.4%; 58% of the elderly persons referred to pain so intense that it required care; 73.3% of the elderly persons did not have functional dentition. Levels of performance were superior to 80% in the participation activities: washing oneself (82.6%), toileting (92.2%), dressing, eating, and drinking (89%). Conclusion: although a progressive decline in functionality is observed as age advances, the majority of dimensions are preserved until around 75 years of age. Evaluación del funcionamiento y necesidades de cuidados de los ancianosObjetivo: Evaluar la funcionalidad de los ancianos basado en la Clasificación Internacional del Funcionamiento. Métodos: Estudio transversal, descriptivo; muestra aleatorizada, estratificada con 903 ancianos; nivel de confianza 95%; margen de error 2,5%. Cuestionario desarrollado basado en la Clasificación Internacional del Funcionamiento; datos recolectados a partir de entrevista estructurada por profesionales de salud en los Centros de Salud del Alentejo.Resultados: el 30,7% de los ancianos se declara analfabeto, 22,9% vive solo. Las necesidades de alimentación (18,7%), habitación (19,2%) y salud (26,0%) no están atendidas. Funciones de orientación preservadas en el 83,4%; el 58% de los ancianos indica una intensidad de dolor que demanda cuidados; el 73,3% de los ancianos no demuestra dentición funcional.Niveles de desempeño superiores al 80% en las actividades de participación: lavarse (82,6%), actividades relacionadas al proceso de excreción (92,2%), vestir, comer, beber (89%).Conclusión: Disminución progresivo del funcionamiento con el avance del edad, aunque sigue preservada grande parte de las dimensiones hasta acerca del edad de 75 años.Descriptores: Envejecimiento; Clasificación Internacional del Funcionamiento, de la Discapacidad y de la Salud; Evaluación de Necesidades.

Quality-of-life Profile Of The Elderly Residing In A Very Low Population Density Rural Area

“…Also noteworthy is the higher number of individuals with illiteracy, which is particularly prevalent in women. Regarding education level, our data showed that 29.6% of the participants stated that they could neither read nor write; a very similar result was found in (51). In our study, this population was predominantly female (57.8%) and in the age groups of 75-84 and 85 years and over.…”

“…This result is likely associated with a greater predisposition of women to physical and mental problems compared with men, indicating a greater difficulty in accepting aging and resulting in a more negative QOL assessment, as has been suggested in several studies (22), (52), (67), (68). Other studies report that long-lived women exhibit more limitations and a greater loss of functional capacity as a result of a higher prevalence of chronic diseases, with negative impacts on the QOL in both of the mentioned domains (69), (51). Regarding both genders, QOL varied negatively with increasing age (i.e., a negative association was observed in all domains), which may be related to an increased overall burden of disease as a person ages, thus resulting in a decline in health (70).…”

“…Taking into account the initial results, it was found that age groups over 75 years represented 62.4% of the elderly population of our sample. Based on an epidemiological study of functionality carried out by Lopes et al (51) elderly persons aged 75 to 84 years present some degree of disabilities that requires care. In addition, therapeutic aid becomes necessary due to the progressive decline that can be seen after that age, with increasing percentages of functional impairments (51).…”

A Nursing Care Intervention Model for Elderly People to Ascertain General Profiles of Functionality and Self Care Needs

“…However, human aging is a slow and inevitable process, leading to various morphological, functional, biochemical and psychological changes that may contribute to increasing vulnerability to and the incidence of pathological processes in the body. In most cases, elderly patients experiencing worsening health conditions (e.g., cardiac, respiratory or cerebrovascular problems, urinary infections, diabetes and fall-related injuries) usually use the emergency department of the Hospital of BAR, according to several international studies 4,[7][8][9] .…”

Self-care agency and quality of life in the preoperative period of coronary artery bypass graft surgery

“…Schooling had no statistical significance in this study, even though it was associated with self-care agency in other studies (1)(2)5,8) , which showed that individuals in preoperative CABG surgery with little schooling had a knowledge deficit on their own health condition and treatment (6) . The unfavorable socioeconomic scenario, characterized by low schooling, poor income, and aging along with comorbidities creates obstacles to improved health condition (23) . However, one can observe in the researched sample an ability to deal with such adversities, called self-care agency.…”