Self-reported morbidities, nutritional characteristics, and associated factors in institutionalized and non-institutionalized older adults

Abstract

Background As the world’s population ages and people live longer, it seems important to ensure that older people have a good quality of life and positive subjective well-being. The objective of this study is to determine socio-economic, health and nutritional characteristics of institutionalized and non-institutionalized elders in the province of Marrakech. Methods This study was conducted among 368 older adults in the province of Marrakech between March 2017 and June 2019. Of all participants, 180 older adults reside in a public institution and 188 of them live in their own homes. Data on health conditions, nutritional status, functional and socio-economic characteristics were collected. Data was analyzed using SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 16.0. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results Institutionalized elders were illiterate (80.0%), had low incomes (95.5%), and unmarried (73.3%), they reported also no children (56.1%) and no health insurance (98.9%). Institutional residents suffered from malnutrition (22.2%), hearing impairments (35.6%) and severe edentulism (43.3%). There was no significant difference between both groups on daily activities and depression. A multivariate analysis identified a model with three significant variables associated with non-institutionalized elders: health insurance (P = 0.001; OR = 107.49), number of children (P = 0.001; OR = 1.74) and nutritional status (p = 0.001; OR = 3.853). Conclusions This study shows that the institutionalization of older adults is considerably induced by various factors such as nutritional problems, lack of health insurance and family structure. To mitigate the effects of this phenomenon, home care strategies and preventive actions should be implemented to delay the institutionalization of older adults and therefore keep them socially active in their own homes.

Health Problems Faced by Elderly and Services Offered by Old Age Home/Aafiat, Lahore, Social Welfare Department, Punjab

“…Current study findings are also in accordance with a study from Egypt by Hassan et al (2017), which found that the institutionalised elderly under study experienced significant psychological problems with depression, isolation, and anxiety. The present study found physical health problems faced by the elderly were mainly related to their eyes, hearing, and dental/mouth, which are in accordance with the findings of the studies by Benksim et al (2021), Rani (2018), andAkbar (2021). The results of the current study showed that most respondents were suffering from psychological and emotional disturbances along with physical ailments of multiple natures during their stay at an old age home, and another study by Brahmbhatt and Shah (2019) found the same: the majority of elderly residing in an old age home from physical as well as psychological problems.…”

“…The most crucial element of any person's life, according to the study's conclusion, is creating a financial plan for the future by the time they reach middle age. Benksim et al (2021) carried out a study that aimed to investigate the socio-economic, health, and nutritional attributes of the elderly in the province of Marrakech who were either institutionalised or not. Between March 2017 and June 2019, 368 older people participated in the study; of them, 180 lived in public institutions and 188 were housed in their own homes.…”

“…As the global population ages and life expectancy increases, it is critical to guarantee that older adults have positive subjective well-being and a high quality of life (Benksim et al, 2021). While the responsibilities that old age homes play are significant and more knowledge is needed about the work that they undertake, since old age homes may clearly demonstrate age-related challenges including dementia, disorientation, severe and multiple impairments, and consequent dependency on others (Clough, 2021).…”