The primary aim of this study has been to examine and describe self-reported fatigue among the oldest old in Sweden and to look at changes both over a ten year period, between and within different social groups. Additional aims were to examine if fatigue is related to mortality. Fatigue is defined as an outcome in self-rated ill-health which includes several dimensions of fatigue – physical, psychological and/or medical. Data were constructed out of two levels of living study – SWEOLD – comprising aged 77 and above. Two dependent variables are being uses as outcomes – fatigue and tiredness. Background variables being used – defined as different social groups – are (interview year), age, gender, social class, civil status and type of housing. Cross tabulation, gamma, multivariate logistic regression and Cox regression were used in the analysis. The result shows that fatigue is a commonly experienced phenomenon, especially among those who are institutionalize. Differences were also found among age, social class and civil status. Fatigue has increased between 1992 and 2002 but no changes over time could be identified for a particular social group. The results also showed that fatigue is related to mortality. Conclusion drawn from the results is that the increasing among the elderly persons in reporting fatigue and/or tiredness over time has fall upon all examined social groups in the Swedish society and still, fatigue as a phenomenon is poorly understood.

Abstract Elderly people are going to be a growing number in Europe. Between one third are going to be 60 years or older at 2025. For Sweden the situation is going to be similar. A reduced muscle function could lead to complications for the individual to perform daily tasks and will lead to a higher rate for falling and getting bone fractures. The positive sides are that for men and women there are a possibility for maintaining physical function and strength even in older years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of gaining strength in M. Quadriceps femoris among five elderly people. The training schedule followed over 6 weeks of time with training sessions twice a week, training the Quadriceps muscle with one set of each training session. The result shows that for the three people that completed the study, all of them managed to gain strength. Further the study examines resistance training comparing single and multiple sets. Is there any difference in gaining strength between training programs with single set training versus multiple sets training?

Background: Research focusing on Food Distribution (FD) from various professionals’ and organisational perspectivesare lacking. The aim of this study was therefore to explore various professionals’ experiences of involvement in FD inorder to get comprehensive understanding of the organisation, responsibilities and roles. Methods: This qualitative study is a part of a larger project with an action research approach focusing on FD in themunicipal home service and care for home-living elderly persons in a municipality in southern Sweden. The data wascollected through participatory observations (n=90 occasions and in total 480 hours), repeated focus group interviews (n =4) with different professionals (n =10) involved in the FD process and one individual interview. The material was analysedby qualitative manifest and latent content analysis. Results: The study indicates that Food Distribution is a fragmentary intervention where a comprehensive perspective andclear roles of responsibility are lacking. The FD organisation seemed to be strictly divided and limited by constraintsregarding time and money. The fragmented organisation led partly to staff only taking responsibility for their part of thechain and no one having the full picture of and responsibility for the FD process, but also to some professionals takingmore responsibility than they were supposed to. Conclusions: The aim of the study was met by using an action research approach. The study was however limited by thatno home help officers were represented. The FD appeared as an extremely complex chain of different but connectedactivities. It is not merely the distribution of a product, i.e. the meal box. The fragmentation of FD means that staff onlytakes responsibility for their part of the chain, and that no one has the full picture of or responsibility for the FD process.Consequently, there is a need for an outline of responsibilities. The findings have implications for nursing, gerontology,and in the care for the elderly. / <p><strong></strong> </p>

The purpose of the study was to describe the experiences of elderly people, living at home who receive hot meals that are distributed by their municipality. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the (n=13) interviews. The results showed that feelings of dependency, loneliness and gratitude were expressed by the participants in the study related to their meals being delivered home. Dependency was expressed as not having influence over the food products the meals were made from. Loneliness was expressed as being isolated and being confined at home alone due to difficulties getting out of the house, which was associated with the costs of taxis transportation. Gratitude was expressed by the sincere thanks for the possibility of receiving traditional meals delivered daily. The major conclusion of the study was the indication that greater attention should be paid to meet both the practical and psychological needs of elderly people.

Syfte: Syftet med denna litteraturstudie var att beskriva hur måltidsmiljön på särskilt boende inverkar på de äldres födointag och att beskriva de i studien ingående artiklarnas kvalité. Metod: En deskriptiv litteraturstudie genomfördes. Kvantitativa och kvalitativa vetenskapliga artiklar söktes i databaserna Medline (PubMed) och CINAHL. Tolv artiklar inkluderades i studien efter kvalitetsgranskning. Huvudresultat: Det finns många faktorer som kan påverka ätandet hos äldre människor. Det framgick att sinnesintryck i samband med måltidsmiljön var betydelsefull för aptiten hos äldre personer. Generellt visade resultatet att en trevligt inredd måltidsmiljö hade en god inverkan på de äldres aptit samt födointag. Att inreda matsalen med stark röd och blå färg på matservisen var något som ökade födo- och vätskeintaget hos äldre personer med demens. Ytterligare något som visade sig ha en god och positiv effekt på de äldres födointag var när olika musikstilar spelades under måltiden samt när olika dofter användes, vid doft ökade även hungerkänslorna hos de äldre. Slutsats: Mer forskning behövs inom detta område. Med små kostnader och enkla medel kan födointaget förbättras hos äldre människor och därmed minimera riskerna för komplikationer och lidande som de äldre kan drabbas av samt minska vårdkostnaden för samhället. / Aim: The purpose of this literature study was to describe how meal environment in different nursing home affecting the older people´s food intake and to describe the study´s articles quality. Method: A descriptive literature review was conducted. Quantitative and qualitative scientific articles were searched in the databases Medline (PubMed) and CINAHL. Twelve articles were included in the study after a quality review. Main results: There are many factors that can affect eating in elderly people. Visual impression in relation to meal environment was important for the appetite in elderly people. It also showed that a nicely decorated meal environment had a good impact on older people´s appetite and food intake. Decorating the dining room with strong red and blue color of the tableware increased food- and fluid intake in people with dementia. When different styles of music was played during the meal and using different odors also increased the food intake and hunger emotions. Conclusion: More research needs in this area. With little cost and simple means the food intake can improve in the elderly people and that minimize the risk for complications and suffering the elderly may be affected of and reduce the healthcare costs for the society.

ABSTRACT As the population ages and family structure changes quickly, the demand for long-term care services from elderly people increased rapidly. In the aboriginal villages, due to insufficient medical sources, weak economic condition, and lack of young manpower in family, the need of aboriginal elderly people for health care is much more than urban residents. The study field located in Pingtung County is because it is the territory has the most indigenous townships in Taiwan. The study mainly adopts qualitative methodology with small amount of questionnaires to conduct quantitative analysis, it is expected to draw different dynamic result to generate useful outcome. Based on the findings and conclusion after collected and analyzed, the research could provide reference for the development of long-term care project in aboriginal area and long-term caring insurance in future. The research found that the county government and execution organization- NPO both built positive partnership, but the administration of indigenous people and local township office are not involved much. In additional, the provisions of caring health elder in community between Ministry of the interior and Council of indigenous people are duplicated. The users decreased significantly after implementation of users¡¦ pay concept for additional service hours, and it also caused aboriginal women who work as caregiver lost their jobs. In terms of service utilization, the top three services are body clean, house service and mental support, and the result of questionnaires presents great satisfaction. However, considering of weak economic condition, the elderly cannot accept self-afford service yet. Conclusion: 1. Government should adjust different users¡¦ pay level for isle and indigenous township. 2. It should integrate duplicated resources of community-base for health elderly people. 3. Home caregiver can play role of a propagator for welfare and health care policy in village. 4. To develop an integrated long-term care information system to improve the efficiency of case management and service resource.

This study deals with the pastoral counselling of elderly persons after the loss of a mature child by unnatural death. Such a traumatic event leaves a significant void in a person's life, who is already experiencing other losses, and is in the eve of their lives. With the death of a mature child, the natural order of life is turned around: the child who is supposed to live and financially and emotionally support the elderly, is no more, while they who's own passing away is imminent, are alive. Elderly parents in this position experience this situation as an existential conflict, because it is to them as if they are burying the future with their child. Because the death is one of a mature child, the elderly parent does not necessarily receive the appropriate recognition from society for the trauma they experience. To further complicate the issue is the fact that they are not usually the primary care receivers being guided along the path of mourning and acceptance - the focus, on the contrary, is usually upon the spouse and children of the deceased. In the section dealing with basis-theoretical research, it is evident that the exceptional empathy and sympathy of God for the parent who lost a child, is repeatedly stressed by Scripture. Because of Jesus Christ's victory on the cross and also His victory over death, there is the assurance of hope for eventual healing for the traumatized parent finding himself/herself in such a situation. From the section dealing with meta-theoretical research, it is evident that the death of a mature child is one of the most alarming and traumatic experiences any parent can go through. The process of mourning is however a natural reaction and differs from parent to parent, according to circumstances. Specific phases have been identified through which parents will go under these circumstances and it is therefore very important that both the pastoral counselor, as well as the parents, are aware of the pertinent aspects. In the section dealing with empirical research, use has been made of both qualitative and quantitative research methods. In the quantitative section, the results obtained from questionnaires handed to a significant number of elderly parents who have lost mature children, were processed. Thereafter, in the qualitative section of the research, in depth interviews were conducted with two sets of parents from the original group. It became evident that this process of discussion had a significant healing and therapeutic effect on parents dealing with the loss of a mature child. In the section dealing with the practice theoretical research, a model has been formulated by which pastoral counsellors and ministers can generally assist elderly parents after the death of a mature child. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

This study deals with the pastoral counselling of elderly persons after the loss of a mature child by unnatural death. Such a traumatic event leaves a significant void in a person's life, who is already experiencing other losses, and is in the eve of their lives. With the death of a mature child, the natural order of life is turned around: the child who is supposed to live and financially and emotionally support the elderly, is no more, while they who's own passing away is imminent, are alive. Elderly parents in this position experience this situation as an existential conflict, because it is to them as if they are burying the future with their child. Because the death is one of a mature child, the elderly parent does not necessarily receive the appropriate recognition from society for the trauma they experience. To further complicate the issue is the fact that they are not usually the primary care receivers being guided along the path of mourning and acceptance - the focus, on the contrary, is usually upon the spouse and children of the deceased. In the section dealing with basis-theoretical research, it is evident that the exceptional empathy and sympathy of God for the parent who lost a child, is repeatedly stressed by Scripture. Because of Jesus Christ's victory on the cross and also His victory over death, there is the assurance of hope for eventual healing for the traumatized parent finding himself/herself in such a situation. From the section dealing with meta-theoretical research, it is evident that the death of a mature child is one of the most alarming and traumatic experiences any parent can go through. The process of mourning is however a natural reaction and differs from parent to parent, according to circumstances. Specific phases have been identified through which parents will go under these circumstances and it is therefore very important that both the pastoral counselor, as well as the parents, are aware of the pertinent aspects. In the section dealing with empirical research, use has been made of both qualitative and quantitative research methods. In the quantitative section, the results obtained from questionnaires handed to a significant number of elderly parents who have lost mature children, were processed. Thereafter, in the qualitative section of the research, in depth interviews were conducted with two sets of parents from the original group. It became evident that this process of discussion had a significant healing and therapeutic effect on parents dealing with the loss of a mature child. In the section dealing with the practice theoretical research, a model has been formulated by which pastoral counsellors and ministers can generally assist elderly parents after the death of a mature child. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Abstract Keywords: elderly people, dementia, person-centered care and relatives. Title: To visit someone who is no longer there Author: Ulrika Stenmarck As the number of elderly people increase, the amount of people suffering from age-related illnesses is growing. Such a disease is dementia, which today is a priority research area, both nationally and internationally. It has been found that working in a person-centered way and involving the patient’s relative’s is important for the people cared for by the dementia departments. Despite this, research has shown that the support for relatives is inadequate. The purpose of this study is to identify how individual support, in the field of nursing for dementia patients, can be better adapted to support relatives. By interviewing five relatives and four staff members in a nursing home for dementia patients, answers were sought for regarding; what kind of support the relatives need and how staff work to support relatives. The relatives´ responses were analyzed based on the theories concerning crisis processing related to their relatives´ dementia diagnoses. The answers given from the staff were analyzed based on the theories concerning organizational culture The analysis indicates that the goal of crisis processing for relatives should be to “create their new life”, which seems to be a challenge for a staff that is already carrying a large workload. The results indicate that the staff have succeeded in creating a foundation of values that relatives seem to experience as a safe atmosphere. This atmosphere can be interpreted as the most important support for relatives and a necessity for progress in their crisis processing. As a complement to the unit’s staff, external support for the families can be a solution.

Orientador: Tânia Ruiz / Banca: Roberto Carlos Burini / Banca: Agnaldo Gonçalves / Resumo: A proporção de pessoas com sessenta anos e mais no Brasil vem crescendo, assim como na maior parte do mundo, e tem estreitado progressivamente a base da pirâmide populacional. Com o envelhecimento populacional temos um aumento da prevalência de incapacidades desencadeadoras de dependência física e psíquica que comprometem a autonomia dos idosos e, conseqüentemente, pioram sua satisfação com a própria saúde. O presente estudo propôs-se a investigar os níveis de atividade física habitual, o perfil sóciodemográfico e econômico e a morbidade referida da população de sessenta anos e mais em um município de pequeno porte do interior paulista, Bofete. Foram entrevistados 275 idosos residentes no município de Bofete, escolhidos por meio de amostragem estratificada proporcional e aleatória. O tamanho amostral baseou-se em intervalo de confiança, de 95% e p<0,05, para prevalência desconhecida dos indivíduos que participaram da Campanha Nacional de Vacinação para Idosos contra a Gripe em 2003, que reportou 100% de cobertura no município. O questionário utilizado resultou de uma composição de outros instrumentos, já validados, presentes em estudos científicos; o Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física (QIAF), versão longa (principal), validado pelo CELAFISCS. As entrevistas foram realizadas entre outubro de 2003 e janeiro de 2004. Foram realizadas análises univariadas com o evento: Atividade física total da semana, com recodificação binária das variáveis e análise multivariada hierarquizada, em dimensões apenas com as variáveis significativas na análise univariada. As variáveis que se mantiveram significativas após o estudo por bloco, foram agrupadas num modelo final de regressão multivariada. O estudo das associações foi realizado para os idosos do sexo masculino e feminino como duas... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The proportion of people with sixty years and older in Brazil has been increasing, as well as in a great part of the world, progressively narrowing the pyramid structure of the population. With the aging of the population the prevalence of disabilities increased, leading to a physical and psychological dependence, affecting their self-complacency towards health. The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of habitual physical activity, the socio-demographic and economic status, and self-reported morbidity in the population aged sixty years and older of a small town in São Paulo, Brazil, named Bofete. Two hundred and seventy-five elderly living in town were interviewed chosen by proportional and random stratified sample. The sample was based on a confidence interval of 95%, and p<0,05 for unknown prevalence of individuals that joined the National Immunization Campaign for elderly people, against the influenza virus, which covered 100% of the population in 2003. The questionnaire used was a combination of other validated instruments present in scientific surveys: The International Questionnaire of Physical Activity (IQPA), long version (principal), validated by CELAFISCS. The interviews were applied between October, 2003 and January, 2004. Univariate analysis were conducted using the event Total Physical Activity of the week, with a binary recoding of the variables and multivariate analysis, ranking only the significant variables in the univariate analysis. The variables that remained statistically significant, after each study, were grouped in a final model of multivariate regression. The study of the association was applied for both male and female elderly, as two... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre