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Journal ArticleDOI

Quality of life among older people in Sweden receiving help from informal and/or formal helpers at home or in special accommodation

TL;DR: A need for greater help with ADLs, and a higher number of self-reported diseases and complaints determined low quality of life, whilst a social network (contact with more than three people) and a greater age determined high QoL.
Abstract: The present study describes and compares quality of life (QoL) and factors which predict QoL among people aged 75 years and over who receive help with activities of daily living (ADLs) from formal and/or informal helpers. The subjects were living at home or in special accommodation in Sweden. A postal questionnaire was sent to a randomly selected and age-stratified sample of 8500 people. The response rate was 52.8% (n = 4337), and 1247 people [mean age (+/- SD) = 86.4 +/- 5.9 years] received help and indicated who helped them with ADLs. The findings suggest that a greater age, being a woman, being a widow/widower, a higher number of health-related complaints, needing more help with ADLs and a lower QoL were found among those receiving help in special accommodation in comparison with those receiving help at home. The extent of help was highest among those receiving help in special accommodation. Having help with ADLs every day at home indicated having help from both informal and formal helpers, while respondents receiving help from only informal or only formal helpers received the smallest amount of help with ADLs. A need for greater help with ADLs, and a higher number of self-reported diseases and complaints determined low QoL, whilst a social network (contact with more than three people) and a greater age determined high QoL. However, who the helpers were did not have a significant influence on QoL; it was the extent of help with ADLs that influenced QoL negatively and the density of the social network that influenced QoL positively.

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigate the effect of verandering in fysieke, psychische, and sociale dimensies van kwaliteit van leven van thuiswonende ouderen geassocieerd.
Abstract: Doel: Na te gaan of een verandering in fysieke, psychische en sociale dimensies van kwaliteit van leven van thuiswonende ouderen geassocieerd is met het ontvangen van formele zorg, in vergelijking met informele zorg en geen zorg. Methode: Er is gebruik gemaakt van data van de waarnemingen uit 1998 en 2001 van de Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA). Ouderen die in 1998 formele thuiszorg ontvingen zijn vergeleken met ouderen die in 1998 informele zorg ontvingen en met ouderen die geen zorg ontvingen. De groepen zijn vergeleken op 3-jaars veranderingen in subjectieve scores van ervaren gezondheid, eenzaamheid, positief affect en tevredenheid met het leven. De data zijn geanalyseerd met lineaire regressieanalyse en ANOVA. Resultaten: In alle groepen vindt tussen 1998 en 2001 een verslechtering plaats in de vier geselecteerde aspecten van kwaliteit van leven. De ervaren gezondheid gaat significant meer achteruit in de groep met formele zorg dan in de groep zonder zorg, maar dit wordt verklaard door een hogere score op functionele beperkingen in 1998. Eenzaamheid neemt significant meer toe in de groep met formele zorg ten opzichte van de groep met geen zorg en de groep met informele zorg, ook na correctie voor confounders. In de groep met formele zorg neemt de tevredenheid met het leven significant meer af dan in de groep zonder zorg en de groep met informele zorg. De interactie met sekse is significant, waardoor na correctie voor de confounders dit verschil bij de vrouwen maar niet bij de mannen significant blijft. Er is geen significant verschil tussen de drie zorggroepen wat betreft veranderingen in positief affect. Conclusie: Oudere mannen en vrouwen die formele thuiszorg ontvangen ervaren na 3 jaar een grotere mate van eenzaamheid, en bovendien ervaren oudere vrouwen die formele zorg ontvangen na 3 jaar minder levenstevredenheid, in vergelijking met vrouwen die informele zorg of geen zorg ontvangen. Vervolgonderzoek zou deze resultaten moeten bevestigen en de mechanismen die hieraan ten grondslag liggen moeten onderzoeken.

3 citations

Dissertation
01 Jan 2005
TL;DR: Coexisting health complaints, i.e. multi-complaints, had impact on QoL as well as on dependency, and patterns of health complaints indicated problems on a functional level of importance for need for help in daily activities as wellAs quality of life.
Abstract: Aim: The aim of this thesis was to investigate type, degree and patterns of health complaints, need for help and health-related quality of life across gender among persons aged 75?105 as well as to identify how patterns of health complaints, gender, age and socio-economic factors related to need for help with daily activities and quality of life (Paper I). The aim was also to investigate the prevalence of self-reported symptoms of urinary, faecal and double incontinence among men and women aged 75 and above, and to identify how other health complaints and quality of life relate to incontinence symptoms (Paper II). Furthermore urinary symptoms and their influence on daily life among elderly (75+) women and men were compared in a sample that previously reported having incontinence and/or other urinary symptoms. A further aim was to find underlying structures of urinary symptoms and to identify symptoms which had an impact on seeking medical help and need for help in daily activities (Paper III). The aim of the fourth study was to compare faecal incontinence and related bowel symptoms in relation to gender and being dependent or not (aged 75 and above) and to identify which bowel symptoms predicted help seeking, dependency and low quality of life (Paper IV). Design: A cross-sectional design in a randomly selected sample of 8500 persons 75 years and above in four age groups of five-year intervals. They received a postal questionnaire including questions about health, socio-economy, quality of life and need for help in daily activities. In the follow-up persons received another postal questionnaire with focused questions depending on previous reported health complaints. Those needing help in daily activities once a week or more were visited in their own homes and interviewed face to face. The first sample (Papers I, II) included 4277 persons, mean age for women 84.3 and for men 82.7 years. The second sample (Paper III) included 771 persons who had reported difficulties controlling urine or other urinary problems. The sample in Paper IV included 248 persons who had reported difficulties controlling stool. Result: Coexisting health complaints, i.e. multi-complaints, had impact on QoL as well as on dependency. The patterns of health complaints could be understood from a functional perspective. Problems in communication, mobility and psychosocial functions were those most common and with the highest severity. Women were especially affected as they had more health complaints in functions that were related to help in ADL and to low QoL. Furthermore the prevalence of urinary, faecal and double incontinence was high in all age groups and higher with more advanced age. Incontinence had a negative impact on quality of life and increased need for help in daily activities, and those with double incontinence were the most affected. Among those with urinary problems the character of symptoms differed in storage or voiding symptoms among men and women. However, the influence on social life, avoidance of places and situations and the impact on the whole life seemed equal. Less than 50% had sought medical help for their symptoms and few wore protective aids, especially men. Diarrhoea, constipation, incomplete emptying and laxative use were common among those who reported faecal incontinence, and few had sought medical help or wore protection. Conclusion: Patterns of health complaints indicated problems on a functional level of importance for need for help in daily activities as well as quality of life. Mobility, psychosocial, communication and elimination problems were strongly related to dependency and low health-related QoL. Women seem to be more at risk as they were more often affected in three of these functions and thus more often dependent and had lower QoL. Women also seemed to have more additional negative socio-economic factors. Dysfunctions that were most common should be focused on and interventions aiming to reduce such complaints are of high priority. Overall urinary and bowel functions seem to be equally as important as incontinence per se and therefore a wider perspective when investigating these symptoms would benefit decisions about investigations and help. Men and women have different needs and none of them should be overlooked. There is a risk that men are neglected as incontinence is regarded as a female problem. Urinary, faecal and double incontinence were common conditions but also other urinary and bowel problems, and few had sought help although they reported considerable problems. All urinary problems as well as bowel-related problems seemingly interacted and had equal effect on daily life and quality of life. Therefore those areas should preferably be seen together and not separately.

2 citations


Cites background or result from "Quality of life among older people ..."

  • ...Another study compared chronic disorders in different population studies which measured QoL with SF-36 (Ware and Sherbourne, 1992) i.e. incontinence (mean age 77 years, severe incontinence), prostate cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), AIDS, fibromyalgia and hyperlipaemia (Schlenk et al., 1998)....

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  • ...Result: Coexisting health complaints, i.e. multi-complaints, had impact on QoL as well as on dependency....

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  • ...Mobility, psychosocial, communication and elimination problems were strongly related to dependency and low health-related QoL....

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  • ...Studies have demonstrated areas of special importance for QoL among older persons, for instance social relations, help and support, access to local facilities, mobility, having enough money for basic needs and retaining independence (Gabriel and Bowling, 2004)....

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  • ...Women were especially affected as they had more health complaints in functions that were related to help in ADL and to low QoL....

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01 Jan 2012
TL;DR: In this article, a survey of 100 caregiver di pazienti with polipatologia ricoverati in a reparto ospedaliero in Rassunto per acuti e valutare le necessita di intervento e analisi del bisogno di sostegno psicologico.
Abstract: RIASSUNTO. Introduzione: l’obiettivo e di indagare e descrivere il carico soggettivo dei familiari di anziani con polipatologia ricoverati in un reparto ospedaliero per acuti e valutare le necessita di intervento e l’analisi del bisogno di sostegno psicologico. Metodi: intervista a 100 caregiver di pazienti ricoverati in un reparto di Geriatria, utilizzando due strumenti per misurare il carico assistenziale: il Family Strain Questionnaire - Short Form (FSQ-SF) e la Anxiety and Depression Short Scale (AD-R). Risultati: il FSQ-SF ha evidenziato che il 7% dei caregiver mostra adeguate abilita di coping per fronteggiare lo stress legato alla malattia; il 21% potrebbe necessitare di un counselling psicologico; per il 48% e consigliato un intervento di valutazione e sostegno psicologici; nel 24% l’intervento psicologico assume caratteristiche di urgenza. I risultati della AD-R hanno mostrato che il 36% e il 10.5% degli intervistati mostrano livelli clinicamente significativi di ansia e di depressione. Sebbene il bisogno di sostegno psicologico sia diffuso (93%), solo il 35% dei soggetti vorrebbe parlarne con un esperto e il 18% vorrebbe maggiori informazioni per usufruire di sostegno psicologico per se. Conclusioni: i risultati mostrano un paradosso definibile come bisogno non espresso da parte dei familiari: l’esigenza di avere maggior sostegno non si traduce in una richiesta di intervento. Il dato meriterebbe di essere indagato: capire le ragioni di tale atteggiamento di chiusura verso la possibilita di rivolgersi a figure professionali specializzate nel sostegno psicologico ed individuare quali servizi possano essere migliorati o istituiti per rispondere alle esigenze dei familiari. Parole chiave: burden, caregiver, comorbilita.

2 citations


Cites background from "Quality of life among older people ..."

  • ...In letteratura sono numerosi gli studi che hanno permesso di individuare tre punti-chiave per la comprensione del concetto stesso di caregiver burden (3, 4, 6-16): 1....

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  • ...Vi è in letteratura un’altra serie di ricerche dedicate allo studio della qualità di vita delle persone anziane, il cui scopo è fornire una panoramica sui fattori che influenzano la sensazione di benessere o, al contrario, di incidere negativamente sulla qualità di vita accentuando la percezione di malattia e mancanza di autonomia (6, 8, 9, 14, 18)....

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Journal Article
TL;DR: The results provide important information for policy recommendation, which can be implemented before the elderly reach the age of retirement, and will also allow to prepare the labor-force age population in terms of financial and human resource building.
Abstract: This research has two objectives: to assess the quality of life of the elderly, and to identify factors affecting the quality of life of the elderly. As part of the study interviews were conducted with 415 elderly identified through multi-stage sampling. An adapted form of WHOQOL-BREF-THAI questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life in 5 key domains: physical, psychological, environmental, social relation, and satisfaction domain. Multiple regression analysis showed that individual, family and community factors could explain 33.8, 9.7, 13.2, 17.9, and 9.3 percent of the variance of the five domains respectively. Twelve variables (sex, age, income, knowledge of health, health practice, self-reliance, care and attention, role taking, residential environment, activity in community, physical environment and information) were independently and significantly associated with at least one domain of the quality of life domain. Our results provide important information for policy recommendation, which can be implemented before the elderly reach the age of retirement. It will also allow to prepare the labor-force age population in terms of financial and human resource building.

2 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In the researched group, the level of satisfaction with life varied, with lower results among the residents of the nursing home, whereas for those living in a home environment, functional fitness was the key factor in its determination.
Abstract: Background. life satisfaction may refer to one’s life evaluation, social skills and engagement in life activities. Objectives. evaluation of life satisfaction and functional fitness of people over 60 years of age living in a nursing home and home environment. Material and methods. a survey research was conducted at the turn of 2013 and 2014 in a group of 101 subjects over 60 years of age. This group comprised of 50 residents of the “kombatant” nursing home in ciechanow and 51 subjects staying in a home environment. in the research, the satisfaction With life scale (sWls) and barthel scale were used. Results. analysis of the results shows that the mean index of satisfaction with life among all subjects reached 20.7 ± 6.21 with a median of 23, which indicated an average level of satisfaction with life. in a home environment, 50.98% of the subjects reported a high level of satisfaction with life as compared to only 20% in the nursing home. as for evaluation of functional fitness, more than half of the subjects (53.47%) scored 21 to 85 points according to the barthel scale, and their condition was determined as “moderate to severe”. a high positive correlation (r = 0.7) was also observed between the functional state described as “moderate to severe” among the subjects staying in a home environment and their satisfaction with life. Conclusions. in the researched group, the level of satisfaction with life varied, with lower results among the residents of the nursing home, whereas for those living in a home environment, functional fitness was the key factor in its determination.

2 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A 36-item short-form survey designed for use in clinical practice and research, health policy evaluations, and general population surveys to survey health status in the Medical Outcomes Study is constructed.
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Journal ArticleDOI
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14,793 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The 22-item Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale was subjected to a series of principal component analyses utilizing different item pools and rotating differing numbers of factors, suggesting three consistently reproduced factors.
Abstract: The 22-item Philadelphia Geriatric Center (PGC) Morale Scale was subjected to a series of principal component analyses utilizing different item pools and rotating differing numbers of factors. Subjects were 1086 tenants of federally-assisted housing for the elderly and older people living in the community. Results were compared with analyses of the PGC Scale done by Morris and Sherwood. Consideration of factors defined by the analyses suggested three consistently reproduced factors: Agitation, Attitude Toward Own Aging, and Lonely Dissatisfaction, utilizing 17 of the original items. These results were compared with other multi-dimensional measures of morale: the Bradburn Affect Balance Scale, and morale scales reported by Pierce and Clark, and Schooler. In addition to the dimensions derived from the current study related domains of self-rated health, social accessibility, generalized attitude toward aging, and positive affect were suggested as worthy of further exploration as dimensions of morale.

1,374 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Empirical evidence is yielded supporting the feasibility of a non-English language reproduction of the SF-36 Health Survey in Sweden and tests of scaling assumptions including hypothesized item groupings were consistently favorable across subgroups, although lower rates were noted in the oldest age group.

1,344 citations