Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 5 of 5
The quality of care in residential homes for the elderly
- Authors:
- FRANCI A., CORSI M.
- Journal article citation:
- Management Issues in Social Care, 2(5), April 1998, pp.33-40.
- Publisher:
- OLM Systems
Presents an Italian study which attempts to apply easily measurable, objective variables, which may have possible implications on the quality of care, and indirectly on the quality of life of elderly people in residential homes.
Comparison of the efficacy of gesture‐verbal treatment and doll therapy for managing neuropsychiatric symptoms in older patients with dementia
- Authors:
- BALZOTTI Angela, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 34(9), 2019, pp.1308-1315.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: The prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) diminishes the quality of life and increases the care burden in patients with dementia. Despite the clinical importance of dementia‐associated NPS, no protocols for treating NPS are already well established. Attention has turned to the effectiveness of nonpharmacological treatments for NPS since their potential safe alternative to pharmacotherapy. Objective: This study is aimed to compare the effects in older individuals with dementia living in a residential care, of two intervention programs, the gesture‐verbal treatment (GVT), a treatment implemented by us on a previous method for word retrieval in individuals with aphasia, and the better‐known doll therapy (DT). The GVT would act on both receptive and expressive language skills, the DT on attachment and emotional connections. Methods: We evaluated NPS by the neuropsychiatric inventory in a total of 30 patients divided into 3 groups, the GVT, the DT, and control groups, using a pre‐post design. The treatment groups completed 12‐week nonpharmacological interventions in addition to standard rehabilitative therapies, while the control group participated only in standard rehabilitative therapies. Results: The DT group showed significant improvements in agitation, irritability, apathy, depression, and delusions relative to controls. The GVT group showed significant improvements in apathy and depression with respect to controls. The DT intervention ameliorated symptoms of agitation compared to the GVT intervention whereas the GVT intervention improved apathy compared to the DT intervention. Conclusion: Improved understanding of the potential therapeutic benefits of different treatments for neuropsychiatric symptoms is crucial for establishing nonpharmacological interventions in dementia. (Edited publisher abstract)
A pilot programme evaluation of social farming horticultural and occupational activities for older people in Italy
- Authors:
- GAGLIARDI Cristina, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 27(1), 2019, pp.207-214.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The aim of this study was to evaluate a 1‐year social farming programme conducted between 2014 and 2015, including horticultural and occupational activities on six agricultural farms for older people in good general health. Social farming is a practice that uses agricultural resources to provide health, social or educational services to vulnerable groups of people. Activity participation, social relationships, physical activity, and the quality of life of the participants were assessed using a pretest, posttest design. A total of 112 subjects were interviewed at baseline, though only 73 participants were retained through the end of the follow‐up, resulting in a dropout rate of 34%. Data analysis revealed significant improvements in both social relationships and overall occupational engagement at the end of the programme, with significant increases in the frequency of contact with friends or relatives as well as the number of activities performed by the participants. This work adds to the literature on the effects of social farming and indicates that farming may provide opportunities for older people to engage in activities that stimulate social behaviours. (Edited publisher abstract)
Using dolls for therapeutic purposes: A study on nursing home residents with severe dementia
- Authors:
- CANTARELLA A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 33(7), 2018, pp.915-925.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objectives: Among the psychosocial interventions intended to reduce the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), doll therapy (DT) is increasingly used in clinical practice. Few studies on DT have been based on empirical data obtained with an adequate procedure; however, none have assessed its efficacy using an active control group, and the scales used to assess changes in BPSD are usually unreliable. The aim of the present study was to measure the impact of DT on people with severe dementia with a reliable, commonly used scale for assessing their BPSD, and the related distress in formal caregivers. Effects of DT on the former's everyday abilities (i.e., eating behaviour) were also examined. Method: Twenty‐nine nursing home residents aged from 76 to 96 years old, with severe dementia (Alzheimer's or vascular dementia), took part in the experiment. They were randomly assigned to an experimental group that used dolls or an active control group that used hand warmers with sensory characteristics equivalent to the dolls. Benefits of DT on BPSD and related formal caregiver distress were examined with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. The effects of DT on eating behaviour were examined with the Eating Behavior Scale. Results: Only the DT group showed a reduction in BPSD scores and related caregiver distress. DT did not benefit eating behaviour, however. Conclusions: This study suggests that DT is a promising approach for reducing BPSD in people with dementia, supporting evidence emerging from previous anecdotal studies. (Edited publisher abstract)
One-year prevalence of death thoughts, suicide ideation and behaviours in an elderly population
- Authors:
- SCOCCO P., LEO D. De
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 17(9), September 2002, pp.844-846.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Suicidality is constituted by all those phenomena that are apparently positioned along a continuum, with the two extremes represented by death wishes and completed suicide. The aim of article is to show the one-year prevalence of the phenomena constituting this possible continuum in the elderly population (aged 65 years and over) of a northern Italian city and to evaluate the relationship between some of these phenomena with psychological suffering.