Migrant elders in Hainan, China, report better health and lower depression than local-born elderly residents.

BACKGROUND: The number of migrant elders is increasing due to ageing of the global population and increasing life expectancy. There is accumulating evidence of the impact of internal or international migration on health. AIM: To compare the health and depression of local and migrant elders in Hainan province. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Health and depression were assessed by the Self-Rated Health Measurement Scale Version 1.0 (SRHMS V1.0) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), respectively. The relationship between health and depression was investigated, along with the three sub-scales of SRHMS and the potential independent variables. RESULTS: In total, 564 valid questionnaires were returned. Migrant elders were younger, had higher education levels and monthly income, and lower prevalence rates of chronic diseases than the local elders. The SRHMS scores were significantly higher, while the GDS scores were statistically lower in the migrant elders than the locals. Depression was negatively correlated with health (r = -0.674, p = 0.0000). Moreover, the three sub-scales of SRHMS were correlated with age, birth place, marital status, chronic diseases, GDS and/or educational level. CONCLUSION: Migrant elders self-reported better health and lower depression compared to the local elders. Differences in age, education, monthly income and chronic diseases might be influencing factors.

Effects of increased physical activity on body composition, physical functions, vascular functions, HR-QOL, and self-efficacy in community-dwelling elderly people.

[Purpose] The objective of this study was to clarify the effects of increased number of steps on body composition, physical functions, vascular functions, health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) and self-efficacy in elderly people. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 47 elderly persons who resided in Port Island in the Chuo Ward of Kobe City in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. After the calculation of the mean preintervention physical activity (PA), the subjects were instructed to increase their PA to a target baseline + 1,300 steps/day. Body composition, physical functions, vascular functions, HR-QOL, and self-efficacy were measured at baseline, after 3 and 6 months. These items were compared between a group that increased their PA and a group that did not. [Results] After 6 months, 26.1% of the subjects achieved the PA target. No significant improvements were observed in body composition, physical functions, vascular functions, or self-efficacy for either group after 3 and 6 months. However, the HR-QOL improved significantly after 6 months in the achievement group. [Conclusion] Although the intervention to increase PA did not produce significant improvements after 6 months in body composition, physical functions, vascular functions, or self-efficacy, the HR-QOL improved significantly during this relatively short period.

Usefulness of a 50-meter round walking test for fall prediction in the elderly requiring long-term care.

[Purpose] This study aimed to verify the usefulness of a 50-m round walking test developed as an assessment method for walking ability in the elderly. [Subjects] The subjects were 166 elderly requiring long-term care individuals (mean age, 80.5 years). [Methods] In order to evaluate the factors that had affected falls in the subjects in the previous year, we performed the 50-m round walking test, functional reach test, one-leg standing test, and 5-m walking test and measured grip strength and quadriceps strength. [Results] The 50-m round walking test was selected as a variable indicating fall risk based on the results of multiple logistic regression analysis. The cutoff value of the 50-m round walking test for determining fall risk was 0.66 m/sec. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.64. The sensitivity of the cutoff value was 65.7%, the specificity was 63.6%, the positive predictive value was 55.0%, the negative predictive value was 73.3%, and the accuracy was 64.5%. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the 50-m round walking test is a potentially useful parameter for the determination of fall risk in the elderly requiring long-term care.

Nothing Like Living with a Family: A Qualitative Study of Subjective Well-Being and its Determinants among Migrant and Local Elderly in Dongguan, China.

Chinese economic development has led to a significant rise in internal migration over the last 20 years, including large numbers of elderly. When elderly Chinese people migrate, they still register their residency to their place of origin and often do not register with the new administrative office at the destination due to the household registration (hukou) system in China. Thus, most of these migrant elderly do not receive full social services, possibly leading to poor subjective well-being. This study aims to qualitatively examine the level of subjective well-being and its determinants among migrants and local elderly in Dongguan City of Guangdong province, one of the most rapid economically developing areas in China. We also present the results of in-depth interviews among 27 elderly, 15 elderly migrants and 12 local elderly living in Dongguan. The results reveal that the overall subjective well-being of the two groups were good. Most migrants believed their well-being had remained stable or even improved over time due to family reunion and a better physical environment. Elderly's most valuable needs and the main reason of migration is family reunion; however, inadequacy of social support, including community support and government support (e.g., gift during holiday season, free health examination, healthcare expenditure reimbursement), cannot be neglected for maintaining a good level of well-being. The well-being of migrant elderly can be further enhanced by promoting social services and welfare, recreational activities, and enhancing healthcare reimbursement in their new home.