Contribuições de elementos do construtivismo e da mediação da informação para a inclusão digital de idosos

The life expectancy increase has been augmenting studies on human aging. Among these studies are those that address the interaction between the elderly and the information and communication technologies, which may facilitate the execution of daily activities by elderly people. Therefore, the goal of this article was to investigate the application of constructivist elements in computer courses offered to Universidade Aberta à Terceira Idade – UNATI – UNESP – Campus of Marília, contributing to the digital inclusion of this community. The constructivist elements focused on the role of the teacher as a mediator in the teaching-learning process. It was found that most of these elements are already being applied in this universe, but some changes need to be undertaken in order to expand the opportunities for education and to allow students to have more autonomy for information seeking and use in the web environment.

Recomendações de usabilidade e de acessibilidade em projetos de ambientes informacionais digitais para idosos

The usability and accessibility, when applied to digital information environments, provide ease of use and access to information, respectively. Thus, we aim to discuss these concepts and apply them in specific digital environments to the elderly through the documentary and bibliographic study of specific recommendations on projects for elderly users. This study was conducted in conjunction with students at the Universidade Aberta à Terceira Idade (UNATI) - UNESP - Marilia, who assisted in the classification of recommendations for usability and accessibility are essential (Priority 1), important (Priority 2) and optional (Priority 3). The results indicate the importance of this type of study for the digital and social inclusion of older people by facilitating elements of access and use of information, providing the building more inclusive informational architectures. The resulting recommendations can be used as a starting point for the design of digital environments for the elderly in a specific heuristic evaluation, for example. However, it remains important to the application of usability testing with users, including the application to validate these recommendations, since different contexts may arise from the implementation of different elements, resources and information services.

Relação entre projeção do centro de gravidade e equilíbrio em idosos

During the aging process, increase the postural asymmetries that can affect the control mechanism of balance leading to falls. To evaluate the static posture of elderly; measure the balance and correlate the results of the posture with balance. The study involved 28 elderly patients, 13 males and 15 females (71.8 ± 5.7 years). The volunteers were photographed, the images transferred to a computer for evaluation of static posture and calculating the projection of the center of gravity in the frontal and sagittal planes using the Postural Assessment Software. The balance was assessed by the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Correlations were performed by Spearman test (p ≤ 0.05). Data were presented as mean ± standart deviation (SD). BBS scores = 50.5 ± 3.3; the sagittal plane (anterior asymmetry) = 45.5 ± 11.1%; frontal plane (right or left asymmetry) = 9.8 ± 7.9. We found a correlation between BBS and asymmetry of the sagittal plane (r = -0.46, p = 0.01) and between BBS and asymmetry of the frontal plane (r = -0.41, p = 0.03). The data suggest that the higher the previous projection (asymmetry of the sagittal plane) and lateral projection (asymmetry of the frontal plane), scores of the BBs will be lower, indicating an increase of unbalance in elderly.

Projeto Memória e Envelhecimento: capacitando profissionais e aprimorando aspectos cognitivos em idosos institucionalizados

The increase in elderly population is a worldwide phenomenon and has different consequences not only in terms of health, but also in economic terms. One of those consequences is the institutionalization. The project, running in two elderly care institutions (hereafter IRLPi) located in Marília – SP aims to: a) Train multidisciplinary team to work in IRLPi’s; b) Develop and promote activities that improve life quality focusing on the preservation of mental health; c) study general and mental health conditions of patients under elderly care institution programs. The project was implemented in three phases: a) data collection and elaboration of plan of activities; b) Application of activities; and c) assessment/ analysis of results. Regarding Phase 1, data were collected from 3 forms, through which it was possible to verify: Institutional Data; Social Data and General Health. The data related to health were collected from the medication of continuous use. All data were launched into the database (Access) and subjected to the descriptive statistical analysis. Data related to mental health were confirmed from the application of clinical trials (Geriatric Depression Scale - EGD, and MMSE-T).

Percepção da importância da participação de idosos em uma universidade aberta da terceira idade

Introduction: Aging is part of the natural human way. Aging is also synonymous with continuous gain experience. Aging, especially in our culture, unfortunately, can also be synonymous with exclusion, but not in relation to the UNATI Marília SP Open University of the Third Age, which has as main objective the integration through social interaction in academia, transforming experience and knowledge in quality of life in a constant learning. Objective: This article aims to report an investigation into the reasons attributed to the importance of an elderly attending the Open University of the Third Age in the vision of the elderly who attend. Material and Method: Bring a profile of the elderly by gender, age, marital status, education level, profession, financial aspects. The sample consisted of 52 elderly and the sampling method was convenience. Results: The results showed that the greater importance attached to participation was to gain more knowledge and be updated followed by meeting new people and making new friends, exercising the memory, healthy and interestingly filling free time and to improve quality of life. The participation of the elderly caused possibilities of making new friends, improvement in depression and motivation to acquire new knowledge. Conclusion: We conclude that the Open University of the Third Age can contribute to improvement of quality of life especially with regard to social interaction and cognitive aspect.

Idosos institucionalizados e depressão: atividades expressivas e seu potencial terapêutico

The influence of emotional condition on quality of life during the aging process is a theme that stands out in the context of research, since the psychosocial skills of the elderly are vulnerable to changes in structure, function body and the environment. Given this, aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a programming expressive activities in controlling depressive symptoms manifested by institutionalized elderly. Participants were 7 people in a geriatric institution with symptoms suggestive of depression and it was used to evaluate the GSD-15, which was applied at the beginning and end of treatment planning. The intervention was applied for four months, making up two weekly sessions of 75 minutes. Of the total of 5 seniors with probability of depression in the pretest, 3 reached the normal range for depression at post-test, recommending the continuation of the study to a larger sample and greater consistency of results about the effects of activities expressive about depressive symptoms manifested by older people.

Capacidade funcional, declínio cognitivo e depressão em idosos institucionalizados: possibilidade de relações e correlações

This research was aimed to survey depressive episodes, functional and cognitive decline of an elderly population residing nursing homes (NH) located at Marília, São Paulo, Brazil, and, from statistical analysis, verify the potential correlations between depressive episodes, functional and cognitive decline, amongst themselves and with the variables: age, gender and education. There were subject to the research 57 elders living in the NH, aged between 59 and 98 and both sexes. The following tools were used to collect data: Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) to evaluate cognitive faculty, Barthel Index (BI) to evaluate cognitive faculty and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

Avaliação da flexibilidade e dor de idosos fisicamente ativos e sedentários

Introduction: Among others things, ageing results in neuromuscular decrease. The physical activity practice may to influence positively the ageing process. Objective: To evaluate the flexibility and the level of pain on the sedentary and physically active elderly. Method: Forty-two elderly participated of this study, both male and female, (twenty-two physically active and twenty sedentary), over sixty years old and functionally capable to perform the evaluations suggested. They were submitted to tests of decrease in anterior flexion of the trunk, Stibor and Shoeber to evaluate the flexibility and then they signalized the level of pain on the analogic visual scale. The data obtained on the valuations has been analyzed utilizing the non-parametric statistic test Mann-Whitney, considering the level of significance of 5% (p<0,05), in order to compare the performance among the groups. Results: It has not been observed significant di- fferences among the groups referring to the tests Stibor and analogic visual scale. On Shoeber and FAT tests has been observed significant differences (p<0,05) among the groups, with a better performance to the active group. Conclusion: The physical activity practicing interfere on the mobility and on the flexibility of the elderly body segment.

Efeitos do Tai Chi Chuan na qualidade de vida, flexibilidade e equilíbrio de idosos

Introduction: The growth of the aged population in developing countries is fast. Cognitive, motion, metabolic and social injuries are associated to aging, which are potentially able to impair the quality of life of the elder population. A physical activity that provides a mental and physical welfare besides its importance to the good aging, therefore, the Tai Chi Chuan is considered an effi cient and cheap way to improve the quality of life and to reduce the physical alterations unchained by aging. Objective: To verify the effect of the Tai Chi Chuan of the quality of life, fl exibility and balance in elderly. Methods: Nine volunteers, three men (66.33 ± 13.32 years) and six women (68.67 ± 11.34 years) participated in the study. They performed the training of Tai Chi Chuan during 12 weeks, two times per week, with duration of one hour each session. The volunteers were evaluated at the beginning of the study and after the 12 weeks of training by means of the application of the questionnaire of quality of life SF-36, a scale of balance and the test to seat and to reach was applied to evaluate the fl exibility. Results: It was observed in the Tai Chi Chuan training improvement of the balance and fl exibility; however, the quality of life did not present signifi cant difference. Conclusion: These fi ndings allow us to conclude that the Tai Chi Chuan was effi cient in the improvement of the equilibrium and the fl exibility of elder people; however, it did not modify the Quality of Life of the studied population.

O exercício resistido na mobilidade, flexibilidade, força muscular e equilíbrio de idosos

Introduction: Some losses resulting from aging can be minimized with the practice of resistive exercises. Objective: To analyze the effects of resistive exercises on flexibility, mobility, muscle strength and balance in the elderly. Method: Twenty elderly individuals were divided between an activity group (AG, n=10; 66.1±6.35 years) and a control group (CG, n=10; 65.4±7.54 years). Mobility, flexibility, muscle strength and balance were evaluated. The AG participated in the training for 13 weeks (one-hour sessions, twice a week). The Wilcoxon non-parametric test (intra-group analysis) was used to analyze the data. A significance level of 5% (p<0.05) was adopted. Results: After training, the AG presented better mobility, lower limb muscle strength, and balance, but no difference in flexibility. Conclusion: The present study allows us to conclude that resistive exercises were able to improve mobility, lower limb muscle strength and balance in elderly individuals.

Efeitos da Reeducação Postural Global na Hipercifose e nas Variáveis Respiratórias de Idosos Relato de Dois Casos

Examine the effects Global Postural Reeducation, (GPR) in hyperkyphosis and respiratory variables in the elderly was the objective in the research. For this, two elderly participated, one is 62 years old (voluntary 1) and another is 66 years old (voluntary 2), without lung, heart, kidney and/or skeletal-muscle diseases diagnosed. The volunteer have been assessed for Quality of Life (QOL) through the questionnaire SF-36, the degree of toracic kyphosis, the muscular respiratory strength and the thoracic-abdominal mobility. The GRP treatment consisted in eight sessions applied, once one hour each session. After the eight sessions the volunteer were reevaluated. The data concerning assessments before and after treatment were analysed describly. According to the results there was an improvement in the degree of kyphosis in both volunteers, highlighting voluntary 2. Respiratory variables also improvements after treatment. In relation to the Quality of life in most areas there has been an increase in scores indicating improved QOL. These data showed that the GPR has been effective to decrease the level of kyphosis, improves respiratory variables and the quality of life in the elderly treated. However, further work with a greater number of subjects must be carried out to analyze the effectiveness of therapy in the elderly.

Indicadores de depressão e de declínio cognitivo em idosos institucionalizados: um estudo de caso

This case study objectified investigating the symptomatology prevalence for depression (DP) and cognitive decline (CD) on institutionalized elderly’s; verifying the existence of correlations between DP and CD with age, gender and scholarity; and analyzing the possible correlations between symptomatology for DP and CD. For the realization of this research were selected, in two Elderly’s Long-Permanence Institutions (ELPIs), 24 subjects, which were classified according to gender, scholarity and age group. To verify the occurrence of CD, the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was applied and, for the incidence of DP, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was applied. The data were tabulated and descriptively analyzed. For the study of the relations between quantitative variables, the Pearson correlation test was utilized and also the Spearmann test when necessary; for the comparison between two independent groups, the Student's t-test was utilized; for the verification of the association between gender, scholarity, DP and CD indicatives, the Pearson's X2 test and, due to theoretical restriction, the Fisher's exact test were utilized. The level of 5% probability was adopted for the rejection of nullity's hypothesis on all the tests. The research demonstrated that 50% of the research' subjects presented DP indicatives and 54.2% presented CD indicatives. Associations between: gender and DP (p = 0.414), gender and CD (p = 0.219), scholarity and CD (p = 0.527) were not observed. Positive regular correlation was verified between age and DP (r = 0.557; p = 0.005) and negative regular correlation was verified between DP and CD (r = -0.406; p = 0.049). The data suggest that DP might be a reaction to CD perceived by the subject. However, the hypothesis that indicates DP as a risk factor for CD and DM cannot be overruled, which suggests the importance of monitoring and treating depressive episodes on elderly populations.

Comparação do equilíbrio e qualidade de vida entre idosos institucionalizados e não-institucionalizados

Introduction: the improvements on the health area increased the brazilians life expectative. Because of it, more people becomes elder, passing through various common processes of aging, as the balance decrease. Resulting form this the risk of fall increase, and this has a negative impact on the quality of life. As more people become elder the institutionalization tax increase. Objectives: compare the balance and quality of life between institutionalized and non-institutionalized elders; correlate the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) with the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and with the questionnaire “The Medical Outcome Study 36 – Item Short-Form Health Survey” (SF-36). Methods: were evaluated 20 elders, ten institutionalized (GI) and ten non-institutionalized (GNI). To the balance assessment were used the BBS and the TUG, the quality of life was evaluated using the SF-36. The signifi cance level was set to 5% (p<0,05). The GraphPad Prism 5# was used to analyze the data. To identify the distribution of the data was applied the Shapiro-Wilk test. In the comparison between groups, the normal distributed data were analyzed with the Unpaired Student t test. The non-normal distributed data were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney non-parametric test. The correlations were analyzed with the Pearson (normal data) and Spearman’s (non-normal data) tests. Results: the age average for each group was 72,8±8,36 years (GI) e 67,4±3,53 years (GNI). The GNI had a better performance than the GI in the BBS (*p=0,0017) as in the TUG (*p<0,0002). There wasn’t difference between the quality of life. There was correlation between EEB and TUG (-0,8907 for the GI and -0,7180 for the GNI) and between EEB and the functional capacity domain from the SF-36 (0,7657). Conclusion: the non-institutionalized elders presented best balance. It was found good correlation between TUG and BBS. In the studied sample, to be institutionalized didn’t infl uenced the quality of life.

Comparação da flexibilidade, qualidade de vida e capacidade funcional entre idosos ativos e sedentários dos meios urbano e rural

Introduction:The regular practice of physical activity is being used as a therapeutic resource to the elderly population, with the objective of reduction of the losses provoked by the growing old process. The home place (urban or rural) is still little explored in literature about your infl uence in the physical capacity of the elderly people. Objective: The aim of this study was to value and compare the quality of life, motion and functional capacity between physically active and sedentary elderly people, residents in the urban and rural area. Methods: Sixty people with age above 60 years old were valued, 20 physically active residents in the urban area (66,5 ± 4,32 years), 20 sedentary residents in the urban area (68,8± 7,24 years), 10 physically active residents in the rural area (64,4±2,46 years) and 10 sedentary residents in the rural area (68±5,78 years). It was realized the evaluation of the fl exibility (previous fl exon of the trunk), mobility (timed up and go test), a six-minute walk test and answered a quality of life’s questionnaire SF-36. To compare the results obtained by the two groups was used the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the signifi cant presence of the test was performed post hoc Newman-Keuls. The level of signifi cance used in statistical analysis was 5% (p<0,05).Results: It was observed that the physically active elderly people obtaine better performance on the six-minutes walk test. It wasn’t found difference in the mobility among the groups. In relation to the quality of life, the elderly residents in the rural area, were better in the component Vitally. In relation to the fl exibility the elderly residents in the urban area obtained the best results. So, we can conclude that the practice of physical activity realized by the volunteers contributed to a better functional capacity, observed by the biggest distance gone through on the walk test. The rural home place positively infl uenced the vitality control, while the fl exibility was worse presented in these elderly people.

Declínio cognitivo e depressão em idosos institucionalizados e não institucionalizados: possibilidades de correlação

With aging, naturally occurs the decline of several functions. The depression (DP), pointed to be a risk factor for cognitive decline (DC), is frequent amongst elders. Activities aimed at cognitive rehabilitation (RC) can be protective for DP and DC. Objectives: Analyze the association between DC and DP on institutionalized elders (IDI) and non-institutionalized elders (IDNI) and verify the protective function (regarding DP and DC) of RC activities. Design and Method: For the analysis were selected 48 elders, from both genders, from where 24 were institutionalized and 24 were not. The subjects were distributed in four subgroups: 1) IDI participating RC (n=12); 2) non participant IDI on RC (n=12); 3) IDNI participating UNATI (“Open College for the Elderly”) and attendees of Memory Workshop (MW) (n=12) and; 4) IDNI participating UNATI, not attending MW (n=12). The data were gathered from the instruments: Mini Mental State Exam (MEEM) to determine the degree of DC and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to verify the symptomatology of DP. Results: From the general sample, 8,3% of the subjects presented indicatives of DC and 52,1% traces of DP. Lesser educated elders showed more incidence of DC and DP. There was no meaningful related to the DC prevalence and DP related to gender. Among the IDI there were more incidence of DC and DP than the IDNI. There were no meaningful differences in terms of scores acquired by MEEM and BDI for the subjects participating and not participating RC activities or MW. Conclusion: Therefore, it is necessary the development and application of curative and preventive strategies for depressive disorder. Special attention must be given for INI, more vulnerable to DP and DC.