Effect of a Mental Stimulation Program of Computer and Internet Learning on Cognitive Functions and Wellbeing in Older Community-Dwelling Mexicans.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that Mental Stimulation (MS) has a positive effect on cognitive functions and wellbeing. In this sense, different training activities have been proposed for MS such as theater, learning a new language, playing a musical instrument and computing, however, there are few studies on older adults in Latin American countries. For this reason, the purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of a mental stimulation program (MSP) of computer and Internet learning on cognitive functions and wellbeing in older community-dwelling Mexicans. METHOD: A quasi-experimental pilot study was carried out in a convenience sample of 27 adults aged 60 to 69 years, without knowledge of the use of computers and Internet, without chronic non-communicable diseases, depression or cognitive impairment. Two groups were formed: (i) experimental (EG), n = 16 and (ii) control (CG), n = 11. The EG participated in an MSP in which 20 theoretical/practical sessions of two hours each were given, two times a week, on computer and Internet. The CG did not participate in any scheduled activity. All participants were measured before and after the intervention program in processing speed (PS), cognitive inhibition (CI), working and episodicmemory (WM and EM), visuospatial processing (VP), life satisfaction (LS) and positive and negative emotions (PE and NE). RESULTS: After participation in the MSP, the EG showed significantly higher scores on the EM and VP tests compared to the CG (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that an MSP of computer and Internet learning improves episodicmemory and visuospatial processing in older community-dwelling Mexicans.

Training of Mexican elders as health promoters: a qualitative study.

The purpose of the study was to analyze the repercussion of a training program in gerontological health promotion addressed to senior citizens in a rural area in Mexico. The impact of the program was examined at two levels: first, with regard to the development of specific practices relating to primary health care and to the actual implementation of community health programs and, second, through the interpretive analysis of bodily inscriptions in the participants. Results gave evidence of a gradual empowering process among the elderly health promoters who consistently developed a position of responsibility and autonomy regarding the control of their lives and, at the same time, an increasingly open critical attitude with regard to the social role ascribed to them by the community. Furthermore, the knowledge, sense of and meanings that operated on the significant practices of the participants were consistently determined by the extent of their social capital and habitus. It was important to note that the intervention research program did not lead to permanent changes in the participants' habitus, whereas their main effects were associated to a greater consolidation of social support networks and to the acquisition of a salient position in their community given the symbolic cultural capital that represented having obtained an official certification. To conclude, a diversity of outcomes was evident in the participants as a result of the intervention program, depending on their personal biographies, social and cultural capitals, and on their particular positions within their community.

Influence of the Self-Perception of Old Age on the Effect of a Healthy Aging Program.

It has been shown that health programs are useful for the prevention and control of chronic diseases in community-dwelling older people; however, a negative self-perception of old age could have an effect on the results. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate the effect of a healthy aging program linked to self-perception of old age in Mexican community-dwelling older people. A pre-test/post-test single-group design study was conducted in a convenience sample of 64 older people who undertook the entire healthy aging program workshop (five months’ duration). We measured self-perception of old age, efficacy of self-care, blood glucose concentration, anthropometric measures, and blood pressure before and after the workshop. A statistically significant decrease in blood glucose concentration was observed (baseline 136 ± 50 vs. post-intervention, 124 ± 45 ± 29 mg/dL, p < 0.01), LDL (baseline 153 ± 47 vs. post-intervention, 130 ± 36 mg/dL, p < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (130 ± 20 vs. 119 ± 11 mm/Hg, p < 0.001), and diastolic blood pressure (75 ± 9 vs. 72 ± 7 mm/Hg, p < 0.05) after community intervention. However, when we analyzed the data regarding self-perception, we found that this difference was only maintained in the subgroup of older adults with a positive self-perception of old age. Our findings suggest that the self-perception of old age influences the effect of healthy aging programs on the health of community-dwelling older people.

Community model of healthy aging framed in resilience and generativity / Modelo comunitario de envejecimiento saludable enmarcado en la resiliencia y la generatividad

The Research Unit in Gerontology at the Facultad de Estudios Superiores (FES) Zaragoza, from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), has developed a comprehensive model aimed at the promotion of healthy aging within the context of community development. The model is centered on the implementation of intensive educational programs addressed towards groups of older persons in what is known as "Gerontological Nuclei". Although it is true that there are satisfactory results, one limitation of the model is the difficulty of its implementation without supervision and university support. For this reason, two components have been included: resilience and generativity, which together could positively impact the model by strengthening contextual and personal components that are linked to healthy behavior. The approach of generativity and resilience are basic elements for the strengthening of human capacities during aging, since they can favor the autonomy, independence and decision-making capacity of people in the personal and community spheres. The article presents a model of healthy aging with possibilities of application at community level.

La Unidad de Investigación en Gerontología de la Facultad de Estudios Superiores (FES) Zaragoza, de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), ha desarrollado un modelo integral dirigido a la promoción del envejecimiento saludable en el contexto del desarrollo comunitario. El modelo se centra en la implementación de programas educativos intensivos que están dirigidos a grupos de personas mayores, en lo que se conoce como "núcleos gerontológicos". Si bien es cierto que existen resultados satisfactorios, una limitante del modelo es la dificultad para su implementación sin la supervisión y el apoyo universitario. Por tal motivo, se han incluido dos componentes: la resiliencia y la generatividad, los cuales en conjunto podrían impactar positivamente al modelo al fortalecer componentes contextuales y personales que se encuentran vinculados a un comportamiento saludable. El enfoque de la generatividad y la resiliencia constituyen elementos básicos para el fortalecimiento de las capacidades humanas durante el envejecimiento, ya que pueden favorecer la autonomía, la independencia y la capacidad de toma de decisiones de las personas en los ámbitos personal y comunitario. El artículo presenta un modelo de envejecimiento saludable con posibilidades de aplicación a nivel comunitario.

Geriatric intervention: Strategy to enhance the social roles of the elderly / Intervención situacional gerontológica: estrategia para potenciar los roles sociales de los mayores

At the global level, population aging is an issue that is becoming increasingly important due to the great impact it will have on the 21st century society. It is essential to develop policies, strategies and actions aimed at addressing the issues that will arise from the rapid increase in this segment of population. The aim of this paper is to propose the geriatric intervention as a strategy for the development of the older people in their community. We expose the epistemological frame, the theoretical and methodological support and the need to find a language to incorporate the older adult actively to society, in a condition of total equality. The moments of the situation analysis for strategic planning (explanatory, normative, strategic, tactical and operational) are explained. The model has been implemented in Chile and inspired the community development centers (CDC). It has been implemented as well in community interventions of social work. Working from this perspective implies to overcome the approaches that visualize older adults only as sick or disabled people, to assume the dynamics of life that these people experience in their communitarian spaces, as well as the possibility to continue with their development, to exercise citizenship, to demand respect for their rights and enhance their social roles.

A nivel global, el envejecimiento de la población es un tema que adquiere cada día mayor relevancia por el gran impacto que habrá de tener en la sociedad del siglo XXI. Es fundamental la elaboración de políticas, estrategias y acciones encaminadas a la atención de los problemas que derivarán del aumento vertiginoso de este segmento de la población. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo proponer la intervención situacional gerontológica como una estrategia para el desarrollo de las personas mayores en su comunidad. Se presenta el sustento epistemológico, teórico y metodológico y se precisa la necesidad de buscar un lenguaje que permita incorporar a la persona envejecida activamente a la sociedad, en condición de total igualdad. Se explican los momentos de la planificación situacional (explicativo, normativo, estratégico y táctico-operacional). El modelo ha sido aplicado en Chile y dio origen a los centros de desarrollo comunitario (CDC). Se ha implementado en intervenciones comunitarias de trabajo social. Intervenir desde esta perspectiva implica superar los enfoques que visualizan a las personas envejecidas solo como enfermos o discapacitados y asumir la dinámica de vida que presentan las personas mayores en sus espacios comunitarios y la posibilidad de continuar con su desarrollo, ejercer la ciudadanía, exigir respeto a sus derechos y potenciar sus roles sociales.

Comprehensive Gerontological Development: A Positive View on Aging.

Human aging can only be understood within its social and historical contexts. It is largely determined by the complex interrelation of biological, cultural, social, political, and economic factors. Furthermore, the phenomenon of population aging can be considered as a social and economic burden or as an invaluable social asset if understood within the perspective of the enormous potential of our aging populations. This article is based on the tenet that aging can be an enriching and productive stage marked by a lifelong process of personal growth and development. That is, in our perspective, ageing should become a process oriented toward the improvement and promotion of the individual's physical, psychological, and social potentialities to achieve the highest quality of life. The purpose of this article is to introduce the concept and practice of Comprehensive Gerontological Development that underlie current research at the Gerontological Research Unit of the Zaragoza Campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

Implementation of an active aging model in Mexico for prevention and control of chronic diseases in the elderly.

BACKGROUND: World Health Organization cites among the main challenges of populational aging the dual disease burden: the greater risk of disability, and the need for care. In this sense, the most frequent chronic diseases during old age worldwide are high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, depression, and dementia. Chronic disease-associated dependency represents an onerous sanitary and financial burden for the older adult, the family, and the health care system. Thus, it is necessary to propose community-level models for chronic disease prevention and control in old age. The aim of the present work is to show our experience in the development and implementation of a model for chronic disease prevention and control in old age at the community level under the active aging paradigm. METHODS/DESIGN: A longitudinal study will be carried out in a sample of 400 elderly urban and rural-dwelling individuals residing in Hidalgo State, Mexico during five years. All participants will be enrolled in the model active aging. This establishes the formation of 40 gerontological promoters (GPs) from among the older adults themselves. The GPs function as mutual-help group coordinators (gerontological nuclei) and establish self-care and self-promotion actions for elderly well-being and social development. It will be conformed a big-net of social network of 40 mutual-help groups of ten elderly adults each one, in which self-care is a daily practice for chronic disease prevention and control, as well as for achieving maximal well-being and life quality in old age. Indicators of the model's impact will be (i) therapeutic adherence; (ii) the incidence of the main chronic diseases in old age; (iii) life expectancy without chronic diseases at 60 years of age; (iv) disability adjusted life years lost; (v) years of life lost due to premature mortality, and (vi) years lived with disability. DISCUSSION: We propose that the implementation of the model active aging framework will permits the empowerment of older adults, which constitutes basic social capital for chronic disease prevention and control in old age.

Perceptions on the importance of gerontological education by teachers and students of undergraduate health sciences.

BACKGROUND: The main challenge of higher education institutions throughout the world is to develop professionals capable of understanding and responding to the current social priorities of our countries. Given the utmost importance of addressing the complex needs of an increasingly elderly population in Mexico, the National Autonomous University of Mexico has systematically incorporated modules dealing with primary gerontological health care into several of its undergraduate programs in health sciences. The objective of this study was to analyze teacher's and student's perceptions about the current educational practices on gerontology. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 26 teachers and 122 undergraduate students. Subjects were administered interviews and responded survey instrument. RESULTS: A vast proportion of the teachers (42%) reported students' attitudes towards their academic training as the most important factor affecting learning in the field of gerontology, whereas students reported that the main problems of education in gerontology were theoretical (32%) and methodological (28%). In addition, 41% of students considered education on ageing matters as an essential element for their professional development, as compared to 19% of teachers (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the teachers' perceptions about the low importance of education on ageing matters for the professional practice of health sciences could be a negative factor for gerontology teaching.