[The relationship between depressive symptoms and family functioning in institutionalized elderly]. / Relação entre sintomas depressivos e a funcionalidade familiar de idosos institucionalizados.

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between family functioning and depressive symptoms among institutionalized elderly. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study of quantitative character. A total of 107 institutionalized elderly were assessed using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Geriatric Depression Scale (to track depressive symptoms) and the Family APGAR (to assess family functioning). The correlation coefficient of Pearson's, the chi-square test and the crude and adjusted logistic regression were used in the data analysis with a significance level of 5 %. The institutionalized elderly with depressive symptoms were predominantly women and in the age group of 80 years and older. Regarding family functioning, most elderly had high family dysfunctioning (57 %). Family dysfunctioning was higher among the elderly with depressive symptoms. There was a significant correlation between family functioning and depressive symptoms. The conclusion is that institutionalized elderly with dysfunctional families are more likely to have depressive symptoms.

[Association between insomnia and rheumatoid arthritis in elderly]. / Associação entre sintomas de insônia e artrite reumatóide em idosos.

This study aimed to assess symptoms of insomnia in elderly residents in the community and its association with rheumatoid arthritis. Descriptive and cross-sectional study, part of a multicentre research project entitled Fragility in Brazilian elderly . A total number of 689 elderly (68.9% female, average age of 72.2 years) were interviewed using a questionnaire on sociodemographic data and clinical conditions. Two tools to identify symptoms of insomnia (the Nottingham Health profile) and to screen cognitive impairment (Mini Mental State Examination) were also applied. For data analysis, we used descriptive statistical techniques and multiple logistic regression, considering a 5% significance level. The association between insomnia symptoms and rheumatoid arthritis was found to be significant in the multivariate analysis; other associated factors were a very poor subjective evaluation of health, being retired, and the presence of depression. Health professionals should investigate carefully the sleep quality in elderly with rheumatoid arthritis, considering its high prevalence in this population.

[Profile of the elderly who naps]. / Perfil dos idosos que cochilam.

This study aimed to characterize the elderly who naps according to sociodemographic characteristics and frailty. A descriptive, cross-sectional study part of the multicenter project Frailty in the Elderly Brazilians. We evaluated 1,866 elderly people using a sociodemographic questionnaire. The frailty was assessed using the phenotype proposed by Fried. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. The results showed that the profile of the elderly who naps consists predominantly of women, married, retired, pre-frail, with an average age of 73 years, four years of study, with monthly family income of 3.9 minimum salary, with 4,4 children who were living with them only. The elderly reported napping on average 5.9 days per week, lasting 53.5 minutes per nap. Knowing the profile of the elderly who naps contributes to health professionals in the development of actions in relation to sleep problems of the frail/pre-frail elderly, preventing, minimizing or solving these problems.

[Family functionality regarding the elderly with cognitive impairments: the caretaker's perception]. / Funcionalidade familiar de idosos com alterações cognitivas: a percepção do cuidador.

The objectives of this study were to characterize the caregivers of elderly individuals with cognitive impairment living in different contexts of social vulnerability, and assess the family functionality of the elderly as perceived by the caregivers. Family functionality was evaluated using the Family APGAR instrument, assessed during home interviews with 72 caretakers. All the ethical aspects were observed. Spearman's correlation and the Mann-Whitney test were used, with 5% significance level (p<0.05). Results show that 82% of caregivers reported a good family functionality, 14% reported moderate family dysfunction, and 4% reported high family dysfunction. A statistically significant correlation was found between Family APGAR and the number of people living in the house (p=0.048). Further studies could verify the relationship between family functionality and the caretaker's overload in the context of elderly persons with dementia.

[Profile of caretakers of elderly people with cognitive alterations in different contexts of social vulnerability]. / Perfil dos cuidadores de idosos com alterações cognitivas em diferentes contextos de vulnerabilidade social.

The purpose of this study is to characterize caretakers of elderly people with cognitive disorders, users of Family Health Units (FHU), that live in different contexts of social vulnerability. Household interviews were conducted (N = 72) with the use of an instrument previously designed, containing socioeconomic and demographic characterization data. All ethical cares have been observed. The results show that caretakers of elderly people that live in contexts of high social vulnerability are primarily adult, married women, with incomplete elementary school education, who work at home. These caretakers live with the elderly person they are in charge of develop a dose relationship with them and do not receive help from professionals. Similar data were found in contexts of low social vulnerability, except that in those cases the support of a formal caretaker is available. The study of the profile of caretakers of elderly people with cognitive alterations living in different contexts of social vulnerability can provide FHU with subsidies so that they can formulate more specific care strategies to caretakers.

[Institutionalized elderly: chronological organization of daily routines and sleep quality]. / Idosos institucionalizados: organização cronológica das rotinas diárias e qualidade do sono.

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, which aimed to identify the perception of nursing home elderly residents related to the chronological organization of their daily routines and to their sleep quality. The study was conducted with 37 elderly (14 women and 23 men, mean age of 75 years) who lived in a long term care facility located in the municipality of Campinas-SP, Brazil. The results showed that 81% of the elderlies had complaints compatible with poor sleep, but 70% of them reported that they had good sleep quality when directly questioned about it. All elderlies adequately realized the chronological organization of their routines, but this perception did not appear to contribute to the good sleep quality, as most of them had complaints compatible with poor sleep. It becomes evident that nurses should perform detailed assessment of sleep quality in order to minimize or prevent these problems and their possible consequences.

[Sleep, fragility and cognition: a multicenter study with Brazilian elderly]. / Sono, fragilidade e cognição: estudo multicêntrico com idosos brasileiros.

This study aimed to analyze the joint influence of background variables (age, gender, and income), weakness and sleep disorders on cognition in elderly community residents. This is an excerpt from the multicenter project Frailty in Elderly Brazilians (FIBER). We evaluated 878 patients, using socio demographic questionnaire, questions about sleep disorders (Nottingham Health Profile); issues nap (Minnesota Leisure Activity Questionnaire) and MMSE (cognitive screening). The Mann Whitney and Kruskal Wallis test and regression analysis were used univariate and multivariate data analysis, with a significance level of 5% (p <0.05). The results showed that elderly patients with lower MMSE scores were those with lower family income, female and older. Health professionals can develop preventive actions in relation to cognition, thus maintaining the autonomy and independence in daily activities of the elderly.

Sleep complaints among Brazilian senior citizens from municipalities with different human development indices.

PURPOSE: To compare the occurrence of sleep complaints among senior citizens resident in the local communities of two municipalities with differing Human Development Indices (HDIs): Campinas, State of São Paulo (IDH = 0.852) and Parnaíba, State of Piauí (IDH = 0.674). METHOD: Descriptive study as part of the multicentric project going by the name of Frailty among Brazilian Senior Citizens (Fragilidade em Idosos Brasileiros--FIBRA). A total of 988 senior citizens were analysed, making use of a social and demographic questionnaire about sleep problems (Nottingham Health Profile); questions about naps (Minnesota Leisure Activity Questionnaire). The Chi-Square and Mann-Whitney tests were used in the analysis of the data, at a significance level of 5% (p<0.05). RESULTS: The chronologically advantaged individuals in Parnaíba showed a higher incidence of sleep complaints when compared to the senior citizens of Campinas. There was a significant association between municipality and the following variables: number of sleep complaints, non-restoring sleep, precocious awakening, difficulty in falling and staying asleep. CONCLUSION: The nursing staff must intervene in favour of the promotion of health with actions that either reduce or prevent these sleep-related problems.