Sujeciones mecánicas y farmacológicas en servicios y centros geriátricos y gerontológicos / Physical and pharmacological restraints in geriatric and gerontology services and centers

Las sujeciones mecánicas y las farmacológicas constituyen un tema controvertido en la asistencia geriátrica por sus repercusiones morales, éticas, sociales y jurídicas y, pese a ello, no existe legislación específica a nivel estatal. El uso de las sujeciones se cuestiona cada vez más, ya que existen estudios que demuestran que no disminuyen las caídas ni sus consecuencias, sino que pueden aumentarlas, producir complicaciones, lesiones y accidentes potencialmente mortales. No siempre se utilizan racionalmente pese a comprometer un derecho fundamental de las personas, como la libertad, constitucionalmente protegido, además de afectar a valores y principios como la dignidad y la autoestima personal: hay centros en los se utilizan en más del 50 % de sus usuarios, y para las que en algunos casos, no cuentan con el consentimiento de sus representantes. En ocasiones, se utilizan para conseguir objetivos organizativos o ambientales, como el cumplimiento de horarios ajustados, y para disminuir o evitar la supervisión de personas que deambulan erráticamente; y a veces se usan indefinidamente. Mayor confusión aún existe con respecto al emergente concepto de las sujeciones químicas o farmacológicas, ya que no existe un marco conceptual basado en evidencia científica, suficientemente consensuado para los profesionales. En este contexto la Sociedad Española de Geriatría y Gerontología (SEGG), consciente de la importancia y trascendencia del tema e intentando, por un lado, preservar y garantizar las máximas libertad, dignidad y autoestima y, por otro, velar por las máximas integridad, seguridad legal y jurídica de las personas atendidas en servicios y centros geriátricos y gerontológicos, decidió crear un Comité Interdisciplinar de Sujeciones constituido por socios de diferentes disciplinas y miembros de algunos grupos de trabajo o comités de la SEGG, por profesionales externos de grupos, de entidades y asociaciones expertos en sujeciones e integrar en él a los principales movimientos «antisujeciones». Fruto de ello es el Documento de consenso sobre sujeciones mecánicas y farmacológicas, así como el Consenso sobre sujeciones mecánicas y farmacológicas, publicado por la SEGG, que debe suponer un salto cualitativo en la atención de los mayores, y servir como guía de buena práctica para los profesionales (AU)

Physical and pharmacological restraints are a controversial issue in the context of geriatric care due to their moral, ethical, social and legal repercussions and, despite this fact, no specific legislation exists at a national level. The use of restraints is being questioned with growing frequency, as there are studies that demonstrate that restraints do not reduce the number of falls or their consequences, but rather can increase them, cause complications, injuries and potentially fatal accidents. Restraints are not always used rationally, despite compromising a fundamental human right, that is, freedom, protected in the Constitution, as well as values and principles, such as dignity and personal self-esteem. There are centers where restraints are applied to more than 50 % of patients, and in some cases without the consent of their legal representatives. On some occasions, restraints are used for attaining organizational or environmental objectives, such as complying with tight schedules, and for reducing or avoiding the supervision of patients who walk erratically and, at times, are used indefinitely. Even greater confusion exists with respect to the emerging concept of chemical or pharmacological restraints, since no conceptual framework exists based on scientific evidence, and with sufficient consensus for guiding healthcare workers. In this context, the Sociedad Española de Geriatría y Gerontología (SEGG - Spanish Geriatrics and Gerontology Society), aware of the significance and transcendence of the issue, and in an attempt to preserve and guarantee maximum freedom, dignity and self-esteem, on the one hand, and to ensure the maximum integrity and legal certainty of the persons cared for in geriatric and gerontology services and centers, on the other, decided to create an «Interdisciplinary Committee on Restraints» made up by members from different disciplines and members of SEGG Working Groups or Committees, external health care workers, groups, organizations, and associations, who are experts in restraints, as well as the main «anti-restraint» movements. An outcome of this decision is the Consensus document on physical and pharmacological restraints, together with the Consensus on physical and pharmacological restraints, published by the SEGG, which should signify a qualitative leap forward in care for the elderly, and serving as a best practice guide for healthcare workers (AU)

Valoración biopsicosocial del adulto mayor desde un enfoque bioético en una población cubana / Biopsychosocial assessment of the older adult from a bioethical approach in a Cuban population section

Objetivo: explorar la situación biopsicosocial del adulto mayor en una población del municipio Arroyo Naranjo. Métodos: estudio de tipo observacional, descriptivo longitudinal y prospectivo. El instrumento utilizado fue una encuesta original elaborada por los autores y validada por un comité de expertos, representados por psicólogos, y geriatras y que se les aplicó a 400 personas mayores de 60 años entre enero y diciembre de 2007. Se confeccionó una base de datos con la información de las entrevistas y se obtuvieron los porcentajes de las variables seleccionadas. Resultados: el 88,2 porciento (353 abuelos) de los encuestados padecían al menos de una enfermedad crónica. Se sintieron maltratados en el consultorio del médico y enfermera de la familia, los policlínicos, las clínicas estomatológicas y hospitales, en un 14,7, 9,2, 11,5 y 9,5 porciento respectivamente. El 19,8 porciento de los adultos mayores considera que sus familiares no le brindan el apoyo que necesitan. El 44,2 porciento representado por 177 ancianos de los tres grupos, plantea que sí existe discriminación con el adulto mayor. Conclusiones: la asistencia médica es buena, pero en un pequeño porcentaje no fue la mejor, se violaron los principios de beneficencia, no maleficencia, justicia y autonomía. Los círculos de abuelos y la casa de abuelos, ayudan al adulto mayor a mantenerse integrado a la sociedad

Objective: to assess the biological, psychological and social situation of the older people in a population living in Arroyo Naranjo municipality. Methods: prospective, observational and descriptive study was conducted in which an original survey prepared by the authors of the paper and validated by an expert committee of psychologists and geriatricians was used. Four hundred people over 60 years were surveyed from January to December, 2007. They were divided in three groups based on their participation in the grandparent's clubs, the homes for grandparents and those not involved in neither of the former. Data from the interviews were included in a database and the percentages of the selected variables were estimated. Results: of the participants, 88.2 percent (353 grandparents) suffered at least one chronic disease. They felt ill-treated in the family physician's office, in the polyclinics, at the dental clinics and at hospitals in 14.7 percent, 9.2 percent, 11.5 percent and 9.5 percent of the sample, respectively. In this study, 19.8 percent of the older people believed that their families did not support them as they should. One hundred seventy seven of the participants, who accounted for 44.2 percent of the total number, stated that the elderly are discriminated. Conclusions: medical assistance is good; however it was not the best in a small percentage of cases, since the principles of benefaction, non-malefaction, justice and autonomy were not respected. The grandparents' clubs and the homes for grandparents do help the older people to remain integrated to the society

Valoración biopsicosocial del adulto mayor desde un enfoque bioético en una población cubana / Biopsychosocial assessment of the older adult from a bioethical approach in a Cuban population section

Objetivo: explorar la situación biopsicosocial del adulto mayor en una población del municipio Arroyo Naranjo. Métodos: estudio de tipo observacional, descriptivo longitudinal y prospectivo. El instrumento utilizado fue una encuesta original elaborada por los autores y validada por un comité de expertos, representados por psicólogos, y geriatras y que se les aplicó a 400 personas mayores de 60 años entre enero y diciembre de 2007. Se confeccionó una base de datos con la información de las entrevistas y se obtuvieron los porcentajes de las variables seleccionadas. Resultados: el 88,2 porciento (353 abuelos) de los encuestados padecían al menos de una enfermedad crónica. Se sintieron maltratados en el consultorio del médico y enfermera de la familia, los policlínicos, las clínicas estomatológicas y hospitales, en un 14,7, 9,2, 11,5 y 9,5 porciento respectivamente. El 19,8 porciento de los adultos mayores considera que sus familiares no le brindan el apoyo que necesitan. El 44,2 porciento representado por 177 ancianos de los tres grupos, plantea que sí existe discriminación con el adulto mayor. Conclusiones: la asistencia médica es buena, pero en un pequeño porcentaje no fue la mejor, se violaron los principios de beneficencia, no maleficencia, justicia y autonomía. Los círculos de abuelos y la casa de abuelos, ayudan al adulto mayor a mantenerse integrado a la sociedad(AU)

Objective: to assess the biological, psychological and social situation of the older people in a population living in Arroyo Naranjo municipality. Methods: prospective, observational and descriptive study was conducted in which an original survey prepared by the authors of the paper and validated by an expert committee of psychologists and geriatricians was used. Four hundred people over 60 years were surveyed from January to December, 2007. They were divided in three groups based on their participation in the grandparent's clubs, the homes for grandparents and those not involved in neither of the former. Data from the interviews were included in a database and the percentages of the selected variables were estimated. Results: of the participants, 88.2 percent (353 grandparents) suffered at least one chronic disease. They felt ill-treated in the family physician's office, in the polyclinics, at the dental clinics and at hospitals in 14.7 percent, 9.2 percent, 11.5 percent and 9.5 percent of the sample, respectively. In this study, 19.8 percent of the older people believed that their families did not support them as they should. One hundred seventy seven of the participants, who accounted for 44.2 percent of the total number, stated that the elderly are discriminated. Conclusions: medical assistance is good; however it was not the best in a small percentage of cases, since the principles of benefaction, non-malefaction, justice and autonomy were not respected. The grandparents' clubs and the homes for grandparents do help the older people to remain integrated to the society(AU)

Supporting relationships between family and staff in continuing care settings.

In this Canadian study, a participatory action research approach was used to examine the relationships between families of residents of traditional continuing care facilities and the health care team. The objectives were to (a) explore the formation and maintenance of family-staff relationships, with attention paid to the relational elements of engagement and mutual respect; (b) explore family and staff perspectives of environmental supports and constraints; and (c) identify practical ways to support and enhance these relationships. Results indicate that the resource-constrained context of continuing care has directly impacted family and staff relationships. The nature of these relationships are discussed using the themes of "Everybody Knows Your Name," "Loss and Laundry," "It's the Little Things That Count," and "The Chasm of Us Versus Them." Families' and staff's ideas of behaviors that support or undermine relationships are identified, as are concrete suggestions for improving family- staff relationships in traditional continuing care settings in Canada.

Demand-based provision of housing, welfare and care services to elderly clients: from policy to daily practice through operations management.

Practical implementation of notions such as patient-orientation, client-centredness, and demand-driven care is far from straightforward in care and service supply to elderly clients living independently. This paper aims to provide preliminary insights into how it is possible to bridge the gap between policy intent, which reflects an increasing client orientation, and actual practice of care and service provision. Differences in personal objectives and characteristics generate different sets of needs among elderly clients that must have an appropriate response in the daily routines of care and service providers. From a study of the available literature and by conceptual reasoning, we identify several important operational implications of client-oriented care and service provision. To deal with these implications the authors turn to the field of operations management. This field has deepened the understanding of translating an organisation's policy into daily activities and working methods. More specifically, we elaborate on the concept of modularity, which stems from the field of operations management. With respect to elderly people who live independently, this concept, among others, seems to be particularly useful in providing options and variation in individual care and service packages. Based on our line of reasoning, we propose that modularity provides possibilities to enhance the provision of demand-based care and services. Furthermore, our findings offer direction on how organisations in housing, welfare and care can be guided in translating demand-based care to their operational processes.