Sex, cognitive state and falls as factors associated with malnutrition: a cross-sectional study of institutionalized older adults living in a rural area of Portugal.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is an underestimated geriatric problem, with a high prevalence in institutionalized older adults. The identification of risk factors for malnutrition in elderly individuals must be a priority for governmental organizations worldwide. METHODS: A total of 98 institutionalized seniors were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. For the assessment of risk factors, sociodemographic characteristics and health-related information were collected. The Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short-Form test was used to assess malnutrition in the sample population. RESULTS: A significantly greater proportion of women than men were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. In addition, the comparative analysis revealed that comorbidity, arthritis, balance impairment, dementia and fall episodes with serious injuries were significantly more frequent in the older adults categorized as malnourished or at risk of malnutrition than in those categorized as well-nourished. CONCLUSIONS: Multivariable regression analysis revealed that being female, having a poor cognitive status and experiencing falls with injuries are the main independent factors influencing nutritional status in institutionalized older adults living in a rural area of Portugal.

Aging safely in Alentejo - understanding for action - preventing falls and violence against older people: study rationale, aims, design, and preliminary results.

BACKGROUND: Falls and violence against older people might represent a joint public health problem, as both may result in injury, fear, social isolation, sedentary behavior and dependence or even death. The ESACA project "Aging safely in Alentejo - Understanding for action" was designed to promote the healthy aging of older people in Alentejo by preventing the occurrence of falls and violence. This study aimed to report the ESACA protocol and the preliminary outcomes. METHODS: The ESACA study has a twofold design as a cross-sectional study that included retrospective and prospective surveys. The participants were 508 community-dwelling older people. Assessments included falls, the risk of violence against older people, sociodemographic characteristics, health-related measurements, fear of falling, anthropometric measures and body composition, functional physical fitness, physical activity, and environmental hazards. RESULTS: Among the participants, 43% were fallers, 21% were recurrent fallers, and 22% were victims of one or more kinds of violence (psychological: 17.1%, physical: 5.6%, and patrimonial: 3.0%). Moreover, the cumulative results suggested high risk on several risk factors for falling (7 factors: 0.6% to 2 factors: 17.4%) and of  violence (26.7%). CONCLUSIONS: In the ESACA project, a wide range of potential influencing factors on falls and violence risk factors were measured, and comprehensive quality control measures were applied. Overall, the results suggest that for falls and violence prevention strategies to be effective, it is essential to evaluate, diagnose, and inform all stakeholders in a directed and useful way. Moreover, we believe that our project outcomes may help change mindsets and behaviors by involving people in active aging and well-being programs that promote exercise and avoid isolation.

Dolor y demencia en las personas que viven en una unidad de larga estancia / Pain and dementia of people living in a nursing home

El dolor es prevalente, infradiagnosticado e infratratado en las personas con diagnóstico de demencia u otros trastornos mentales. Objetivo: identificar la prevalencia del dolor y su relación con las variables sociodemográficas, clínicas y funcionales de las 80 personas residentes en una unidad de larga estancia (ULE) del centro de Francia. Métodos: elaboración de un guion orientador para la recogida de datos de variables sociodemográficas, clínicas y funcionales. Registro de dolor. Resultados: El dolor tiene una prevalencia del 70% en los residentes de la ULE. Conclusión: población envejecida, sobre todo del sexo femenino, polimedicada, con pluripatología, dolor y menor conciencia de sí misma. Son necesarias medidas formativas que ayuden a los cuidadores formales e informales a identificar el dolor en las personas que no lo verbalizan y a comprender las alteraciones de comportamiento resultantes del dolor en las personas con deterioro cognitivo

Pain is prevalent, sub diagnosed and sub treated in people with dementia or other mental disorders Aim: To identify the prevalence of pain and its relation with sociodemographic, clinical and functional variables of 80 residents in a unit of long stay (LSU) in the centre of France. Methods: Elaboration of an orientation script for data collection of sociodemographic, clinical and functional variables. Register of pain. Results: The prevalence of pain is 70% of the residents in a LSU. Conclusion: It´s an aged population, mainly women, multipharmacology and with multi diseases, pain and minor awareness of themselves. It´s necessary formative procedure to help formal and informal caregivers to identify pain in those who do not verbalize it and in order to understand deviate behaviour caused by pain in those with cognitive deterioration

Independencia en las actividades de la vida. Estudio de validación de una escala para la población portuguesa / Independence in the performance of Daily life activities (ADLs): validating a research scale applied to the Portuguese population

La funcionalidad cobra un lugar relevante en la independencia de los mayores, situación que se pretende se mantenga el mayor tiempo posible de la vida. La funcionalidad es un construto multidimensional medido a través de las actividades personales e instrumentales de la vida. El objetivo primordial del estudio es validar una escala de actividades de la vida, para la población portuguesa, de mediana edad y envejecida (n = 1.322). De los resultados del estudio verificamos la existencia de tres factores con características psicométricas adecuadas: movilidad, actividades instrumentales de la vida diaria y actividades personales de la vida diaria, con una variación explicada del 64,75%, teniendo un interés específico para la población que vive en la comunidad (AU)

Functionality has primordial importance in old people's independence; situation we wish to be as long as possible in the course of one's life. Functionality is a multidimensional construct measured through personal and instrumental activities of the life (ADL and IADL). The aim of this study is to validate a scale of daily life activities for the Portuguese population, middle-aged and elderly (n = 1322). Results of this study show us the existence of three factors, with suitable psychometric characteristics, which are: mobility, instrumental activities of daily life and personal activities of daily life, with an explained variation of 64.75%. It has a specific interest for the population living in the community (AU)