RCAAP Repository

Objective: The aim of this research was to determine reference values, as well as the sensitivity and specificity for the Berg Balance Scale and gait speed in institutionalized elderly. Method: The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the 10-meter test (gait speed) were applied for postural balance evaluation. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC curve) was used to identify the best cut-off points for each test and the areas under the curve and the 95% CIs were determined, as well as the analysis of Sensitivity and Specificity values. Results: A value ≤ 49 (sensitivity: 72%, specificity: 74%) was found for BBS and a value ≤ 0.77 m/s (sensitivity: 72%, specificity: 70%) was found for gait speed. Conclusion: The results indicated a value below 49 points for BBS and less than 0,77 m/s for gait speed.Keywords: Aging; Homes for the aged; Postural balance.

The article produces a dialogue between research carried out in Uruguay and Argentina on the feminized forms that organize care related to people diagnosed with Alzheimer's and other dementias. A reflective process is proposed from two countries with aging populations, with state action processes with variable intensities. Delving into the unfolding gender relations, and carefully observing the consequently associated expressions of inequality, is a necessary exercise. The distribution of tasks, the assessment of bodily functions and social patterns that organize the ways in which subjects experience being - being, must be included in Alzheimer's ways of thinking. Finally, it is analyzed how feminization is expressed in three dimensions: in the configuration of aging populations, that is, with the presence of a greater number of women as age advances; in the massive presence of women in the professions associated with care and in the intrafamily assumption of care or supervision tasks. Meanwhile, Alzheimer's is also feminized, in at least three instances: that of the subject, that of family ties, and that of care relationships. Keywords: Alzheimer; Care; Genders and inequalities.

The article presents theoretical-practical information and reflections on the construction of an application for mobile devices, in order to favor the self-management of medicines by the elderly, which would facilitate the elderly's own organization and the monitoring of their families and/or caregivers. The experience pointed out the need to develop more friendly artifacts between the elderly and technology, better understanding the specificities of today's elderly and promoting greater benefits for the elderly of tomorrow.Keywords: Application, Aged; Medication.

This study sought to analyze the perception of the elderly people about their participation in social inclusion projects. The research is a descriptive type, with a qualitative approach, composed by a sample of 15 participants, who were submitted to a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. The data were organized based on Bardin's content analysis. The results pointed to improvements in a variety of aspects, which contributed to increased selfesteem, autonomy and a higher quality of life.

This article describes the main legal frameworks that guide public policies for the elderly in Brazil, in the state of Amazonas and in the state capital, Manaus. Historical contextualization of the main legal documents is carried out, such as Laws, Decrees, Ordinances, Action Plans and other documents from the main international organizations, as well as from the Brazilian government and the state of Amazonas. We conclude that it is necessary to analyze the effectiveness, the current relevance of public policies, as well as to consider new issues.

This article will seek to present data from a qualitative research, carried out in Portugal in 2019, with the objective of understanding the potential and impacts (social and individual in the lives of the elderly) of the Elderly People's Commissions (CPI) and adjustments resulting from their application in Residential Structures for the Elderly (ERPI). The data presented were collected from 12 elderly people and five social workers who lived and worked in ERPI, respectively.

The University of São Paulo promotes, through the Pró-Reitoria de Cultura e Extensão, the program named USP Aberta à Terceira Idade (which from 2020 became known as “USP 60+”). The objective was to evaluate the benefits resulting from the impact of health education in promoting healthy aging in elderly people who participated and / or participate in this Program.

Many Brazilians who are still well do not talk about their end-of-life care preferences and priorities with their family members and doctors. This study aimed to describe the experience of talking with older people (≥60 years old) living in the city of Belo Horizonte about preferences and priorities for end-of-life care. It has been observed that talking about end-of-life care preferences is not a common subject for the participants, so it is a topic that requires careful considerations. 

The objective was to evaluate the effects of the Water Pilates Method (PA) in emotional aspects of sedentary elderly women. We evaluated 30 elderly women, pre and postPA, and were used the instruments: Body Appreciation Scale (BAS), Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES), and Aging Perception Questionnaire (APQ). The analysis was descriptive andt-test was used for paired data or Wilcoxon. There was a significant improvement in the BAS, RSES, in some APQ domains: chronic timeline, positive consequences, and negative consequences, and didn’t occur in the positive control, negative control, and emotional representation. It is concluded that the practice of Water Pilates was realized as an empowering experience to increase health levels and promote active aging. 

Objetivou-se realizar uma revisão sistemática buscando, nas evidências científicas, intervenções que possam ser desenvolvidas pela enfermagem, com vistas à manutenção/recuperação da capacidade funcional de uma pessoa idosa hospitalizada, disponíveis no PUBMED, CINAHL, SCOPUS e WOS, sem delimitação temporal. As intervenções encontradas estão relacionadas ao estado geral de saúde, cognição e humor, desempenho funcional, suporte social e organização do cuidado à pessoa idosa. 

The objective of this quantitative and cross-sectional study was to verify the effects of digital inclusion in elderly people. Twenty-five elderly people (M=64.92 years; SD= ±3.74) were evaluated in sociodemographic, psychological and cognitive measures. Analyzes indicated statistically significant changes in anxiety (p=0.53) and depression (p=0.36). There was a trend in the psychological domain (p=0.07) in the relationship between quality of life and mood. In this context, the technology had a negative impact on metamemory, positively on some quality of life variables and without statistically significant changes in mood states.

The objective was to analyze the risk stratification of the elderly assisted by the primary health care network in a municipality in the interior of Paraná. Descriptive study, carried out in 2019, in five health units in the interior of the state of Paraná, Brazil. Based on the results pointed out through the risk stratification of the elderly, the health care network for the elderly in the municipality will be able to promote specific care and adjust tracking in areas of coverage with low adherence.

The study tested a model of associations between objective risk factors for falls, a sense of effectiveness in relation to falls and indicators of older people adherence to a prevention program. Based on data from 206 oldest (86.9% female), statistical tests via Path Analysis identified negative associations between age, changes in physical and functional indicators and falls in the last year with a sense of effectiveness. Only the occurrence of falls in the last year was negatively associated with joining the program.

The increase in life expectancy, one of the great demographic achievements of the 20th century, has allowed the growth of the group of centenarians. In Mexico, this population group, 17,558 (60.5% women) in 2015 and, according to projections, 19,645 in 2030 (62% women), is one of the most vulnerable and under-served in Mexico. In this work, through a descriptive statistical analysis and extensive mapping, a comprehensive diagnosis of the situation in which Mexico's longest-lived older people live is presented. It ends with observations that show an interdisciplinary and territorial vision of this population group.

This paper presents a stratification of fragility and independence of some institutionalized data through an observational, cross-sectional quantitative study conducted with 73 elderly, applying the Katz test and the Functional Clinical Vulnerability Index -20. It was identified that the former were dependent on activities of daily living and had high fragility, factors related to the presence of polypathology.

The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of sleep disorders in elderly users of alcohol and illicit drugs treated at a specialized treatment center. A sample composed of 50 elderly people was studied and it was found that 96% of the elderly had poor quality sleep and that 54% had moderate or severe insomnia. It is believed that an adequate diagnosis of sleep disorders in elderly alcohol and drug users may contribute, in a very effective way, to the successful aging of this population.

Population aging is generating changes in the world demographic structure. Old age has become the longest stage of life. In this context, it is important to know the factors that are associated with a higher quality of life in older adults. Considering the relevance of social support networks and the regulation of sadness in relation to well-being in the elderly, this study aims to analyze what types and characteristics of ties are chosen to regulate sadness through the Search for Emotional Support and Selection of Situations. A mixed type, non-experimental cross-sectional / correlational design was implemented. A non-probabilistic sample of intentional type was selected, of 100 elderly people, 50 men and 50 women who were administered a questionnaire of sociodemographic data, the structured interview of sources of social support and incomplete sentences. The results indicate that the most sought-after bond was friendship and the most avoided were children. When comparing by gender, it was found that women look for friends and men for partners, while they avoid friends and children, respectively. The reasons for seeking support are: to obtain support, company, reflect and be distracted. In contrast, avoidance is chosen for reasons of caring for oneself or caring for other people. 

This essay discusses how the inadequate approach to the elderly can interfere with their autonomy and, consequently, with their social participation. It was a theoretical-reflective study, whose discussion took place from the following focuses: the meaning of aging for the elderly and for society; stigmas, prejudices and infantilization and their interference in the ways of social participation of the elderly person. It is concluded that such aspects that influence the quality of the aging process. 

The purpose of the article is to characterize older people in the “Vinculos program”, and to analyze possible differences by sex in their experiences of health, autonomy and occupation, in Valparaíso, Chile. It did a quantitative, non-experimental design of descriptive-transectional type. 126 adults over 65 years, beneficiaries of the program, participated in the survey. The sample was of an intentional non-probability type. Data from the program's Diagnostic instrument - questionnaire with thematic sections - were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test. The results indicate that participants reported a high presence of chronic diseases and high degrees of functional impairment. Despite this, her self-perception of health and autonomy in activities of daily living was high. Older people report a carry out activities differentiated by sex in their daily life, and in the use of their free time. However, the results did not reveal statistically significant differences by sex in the dimensions studied. The homogeneous character of the experience and self-perception around the autonomy, health and occupation of older people living in conditions of poverty and social vulnerability is discussed. The complexity of this relationship requires integrating other categories into the analysis how gender and age, such as the “class” that contribute to exploring the inequalities differentiated by men and women as they age and their implications for public policy actions.

This study investigated and described the oral hygiene condition of the elderly people living at a nursing home in a city of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. Cross, descriptive and quantitative study. Most of the assessed elderly people were edentulous, not making use of dental prosthesis, and showing a subclinical coating on the dorsum of the tongue. The collected data reinforce the necessity of improving the oral health care of those individuals, as well as the design of rehabilitation and prosthetic oral assistance services.