Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing
Year:2015 | Volume:10 | Issue:1|Papers Count:12

Background & Aim: Reduction of physical and mental strength along with several diseases in aging severely diminishes elder people quality of life. At the meanwhile self-efficacy can improve quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between self-efficacy and quality of life in elderly living in rest homes.Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 87 elder people who living in Charmahal Bakhtiari nursing homes were recruited by census. Data were collected by General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE-10) and Short Form Quality of Life (SF-36) and then analyzed using independent t-test, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis and regression analysis by SPSS-PC (v. 15).Results: 69% of participants had low level of general self efficacy (22.95±8.02) also 65.5% of them achieved low score of total quality of life (41.56±18.59). A significant positive association was found between general self-efficacy and physical functioning (r=0.701), Physical role performance (r=0.350), emotional role performance (r=0.354), social functioning (r=0.821), psychological health (r=0.722), energy and vitality (r=0.749), body pain (r=0.783), general health (r=0.597) subscales and also with overall quality of life (r=0.797) (p<0.01)Conclusion: Poor quality of life in elder peoples who live in elderly nursing homes is an important finding that needs special attention. Because of the significant correlation between general self-efficacy and different subscales of elder’s quality of life in this study, it is suggested that nurses design and execute appropriate interventions can promote these peoples’ self-efficacy and quality of life.

Objectives: The aim of this article is the investigation of depression among elderly residents of Sedigh nursing home and related factors is Khorramabad.Methods & Materials: This study was a descriptive - analytic study. Sampling unit was Sedigh elderly nursing home residents in 2014 in Khorramabad. 87elderly people (21 men and 57women) above 60years were selected with census method. Depression were evaluated with 15 standardized questioner Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).To assess the relation ship between depression and demographic factors, Independent t-test and Fisher's exacttest and SPSS version 19 was used.Results: Among the samples, 36% of those was with out depression and 64% of them showed some degree of depression; 32% had moderate depression and 32% had severe depression. The relation ship between depression in the elderly, age and education level were significant. As with aging, the prevalence of depression decreased (p<0.000) and the level of education was lower in depressive peoples (p<0.01).The relationship between the prevalence of depression and other demographic variables were not statistically significant.Conclusion: Given the high prevalence of depression in the elderly population living in institutions, assessment and Screening of elderly residents in nursing home especially younger and lower educational level of elderly, for the risk of depression appears to be essential.

Objective: Recent studies have shown that the prevalence of depression and obesity is rising at an alarming rate in elderly but there is little researches about the effects of weight loss on depression treatment. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of weight loss by physical activity and diet on depression levels of highly depressed elderly females.Methods: the information related to depression and body composition 1265 obese elderly female subjects (height: 160.7±3.1cms, age: 61.6±1.8years, weight: 81.52±1.07kgs) that were recruited in weight control center of sport medicine association was investigated. According to Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), 175 subjects who were obese and highly depressed (30.6±2.8) were divided in three randomly groups: physical activity (n=59), diet (59) and control groups (57). In pre test stage, all obesity variables were measured by body composition analyzer. Exercise protocol included a five-session Aerobic exercise a week, 45 min a session during 12 month and with the pulse 55%-65% of maximum of heart beats of the subjects. Their food programs were designed based on their recommended daily intake and prescribed them by nutritionist. Their physical activity and diet programs were under supervision by call phone, self-report or counseling in the clinic. The post test was performed after 12 month (after finished the physical and diet protocol). One-Way ANOVAs test and Tokay following test were used for data analysis.Findings: The results showed that both intervention groups (respectively, physical activity and diet groups) had a better results in depression level compared to control group (p£0.05). Furthermore, physical activity group had a better result than diet group (p=0.001, p=0.006).Conclusion: Conclusively, weighs loss may lead to depression decrease especially by physical activity in which visceral fat is decreased there will be a better result.

Objectives: The use of long term care services has risen and this trend is expected to continue as the population reaches to old age. Because the older people who live in the nursing homes need the holistic care, so the purpose of this study was to explore the caring works in nursing homes.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted with a qualitative approach using conventional qualitative content analysis. The study included 23Iranian participants including 14 elderly people, 7 caregivers and 2 managers. Data were collected with semi-structured interviews and continued to the point of data saturation. Analysis of the data was performed continually and concurrently with data collection of using a comparative method.Results: 2 themes emerged from 595 open codes, including: available cares and care as unpleasant task. Nine subthemes indicated participants’ experiences and understanding of caring works in nursing home.Conclusion: Existence cares were routine ones, which their focus were on physical aspects, although there were, sometimes, psychological cares. The findings of this research are guidelines for managers and care planners in nursing homes to pay attention to physical and psychological care needs of elders. Also it is important to notice to clinical education for caregivers and provision recipes for treatment and supervision.

Purpose: The purpose of present research was to investigate the effect of low and moderate intensity aerobic exercises on sleep quality in older adults.Methodology: The research method was quasi-experimental with pre-test and post-test design. The statistical sample included 45 volunteer elderly men with age range of 60-70 years old that divided randomly in two experimental groups (aerobic exercise with low and moderate intensity) and one control group. First, all subjects were evaluated by a proficient doctor to confirm their physical and mental health. Also, the maximum heart rate (HR) of subjects was obtained by subtracting one's age from 220. Furthermore, based on aerobic exercise type, the target maximum HR was calculated for each subject. The exercise protocol consisted of 8 weeks aerobic exercises (2 sessions in per week) based on Rockport one-mile walking/running test. With uses specific chest belts, the exercise intensity was evaluated and controlled. All subjects in per-test and post-test stages were completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).Results: In pre-test stage, results showed that there were no significant differences between control and experimental groups in sleep quality and its components (P>0.05). On the other hand, results in post-test stage showed that there were significant differences between control and experimental groups in these variables (P<0.05). Also, the Tukey Post Hoc showed that the moderate intensity group scores in sleep quality and its components were better than other groups (P<0.05). Finally, the low intensity group scores were better than control group (P<0.05).Conclusion: Generally, the present research showed that the aerobic exercises with moderate intensity (60-70% max HR) have a positive and significant effect on sleep quality and its components. Thus, based on these findings, the aerobic exercises with moderate intensity as a useful and medical method for improve the sleep quality and its components among community older adults were recommended.

Objective: The purpose of this study was investigating the validity and reliability of Timed Up & Go and Functional Reach tests in evaluating fall risk in elderly.Materials & Methods: This study was designed to include 200 subjects in each falling or no falling history group (100 subjects in each). Subjects were community-dwelling adults aged 60yrs and over of Tehran. All subjects performed Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Functional Reach (FR) tests. Data was analyzed by means of Pearson correlation, ANOVA, Cronbach’s alpha and t-test.Results: TUG test had acceptable construct validity (Group difference, growth and clinical validity), Cronbach’s alpha was 0.81; time stability was 0.98. Also, FR test had acceptable construct validity (Group difference, growth and clinical validity) and time stability (0.97). Results showed that TUG, FR and Berg tests have the significant correlation coefficient.Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrated TUG and FR tests have acceptable validity and reliability in elderly. Therefore, these two tests can be used to identify the possible fall risk in elderly.

Objective: Balance is an index to determine the level of independency of elderly (65 years and older) in their daily activities. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a combined aerobic and balance training on static, dynamic and functional balance of elderly women.Materials and Methods: this was a semi- experimental study with pre-test and post- test with one exercise intervention and one control group. 30 healthy elderly women volunteered to participate in the training and randomly assigned into two experimental and control groups. One day before the training initiates, functional test including: sharpend Romberg’s test (static balance with opened and closed eyes), Star Excursion balance test (dynamic balance) and Berg’s scale (functional balance) were performed in both groups. Then the experimental group started a 12-week (four sessions per week) combined aerobic and balance training while the other group was asked to continue its normal daily performance. At the end of 12 week, two groups were post- tested. Data were analyzed by independent T test, and ANCOVA statistical methods.Results: No significant differences observed between pretest and post test scores in the control group (P> 0.05). Significant improvements observed in balance of the experimental group (P <0.05).Conclusion: The combined aerobic and balance training employed in this study resulted in considerable improvements in static, dynamic and functional balance in elderly women.

Objectives: Population aging is taking place in developed countries and causes some anxiety in developing countries. Fallowing UAE and Bahrain, Iran has third highest rate of population aging in the world that increases the importance of this issue for policymakers. This paper aims to survey and review all of the related studies to narrow the economic aspects of the aging population.Methods & Materials: To this end, methodology and result of vast empirical literature, up to 2012, has been summarized to assess the main effect of aging on macroeconomic indicators. Most of collected studies related to the developed countries, due to the novelty of this phenomenon.Results: Findings show that the main economic sectors heavily influenced by the growing share of aged peoples. These sectors covering labour market, physical and financial markets, pensions, human capital stock, consumption and saving, public sector budget which consequently affect economic growth.Conclusions: It is hoped that this study will be a small step towards scientific look at the ageing phenomenon and will stimulate further investigation.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of acute endurance exercise on amount of Myostatin, as most important protein that involved in sarcopenia, in healthy elderly men Methodology: 11 healthy elderly men (age= 68±2.1 years, height= 177±1.3cm, weight= 79±1.5) volunteered for participation in this study. At the first, the subject’s descriptive and physiological measurements have been done. 72hours after the determination of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), subjects performed acute endurance exercise via 70% VO2max. 3 blood samples were collected from Antecubital vein at before, immediately and 4hours after the exercise, for investigation of effect of endurance exercise on plasma Myostatin. Plasma Myostatin was measured by ELISA method. One-way ANOVA used for statical analyses. Significant level was set at P£0.05.Results: The results of this study showed that at immediately and 4hours after the exercise the plasma Myostatin decreased, 45.47% (P=0.002) and 53.53% (P=0.001) respectively. These decrements were significant. Also, plasma Myostatin at 4ours after the exercise decreased non-significantly (15.87%) compared to immediately after the exercise.Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that plasma Myostatin decreased significantly in the response to endurance exercise, in healthy elderly men. Presumably, according to the results of this study prescription of endurance exercise may could decreases Myostatin and subsequently sarcopenia in elderly people.

Introduction: Elderly people experience the many resentments that Inability to forgive of this resentments resources may be associated with depressive symptoms. Hence present study Examined the relationships between forgiveness of self, others and Uncontrollable situations with Depression in Late Life.Method: present research is a cross- section & correlation study. The populations of the study were all elderly of Jahandidegan homes in Tehran City. Participants were 96 of elder people, which were selected via convenient sampling & completed Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS) & Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation & multivariate regression through stepwise method.Results: the results revealed that there is a negative and meaningful relationship between forgiveness of self (r=-.32, p<0.01), forgiveness of others (r=-.25, p<0.05) & forgiveness of uncontrollable situations (r= -.38, p<0.01) with depression in elderly. Also forgiveness of uncontrollable situations (b= -.33) & forgiveness of self (b= -.26) have more determinant role to covering predicted variable (p<0.01).Conclusions: Inability to forgive is associated with psychological vulnerability among the elderly and recommended that therapeutic models of enhancing forgiveness be considered for the emotional problems of elderly people.