Reconhecendo a sobrecarga e a qualidade de vida de cuidadores familiares de idosos frágeis

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the correlation between the levels of functional dependence of elderly living in the community, the burden related to care and the perception of quality of life in familiar caregivers. METHODS: This is an observational, descriptive and analytical study, using non probabilistic sampling selected by convenience in the period from December 2008 to May 2009, in the urban area of Curitiba and Colombo, state of Paraná, Brazil. Interviews were applied to caregivers, using demographic inquiry, functional evaluation of the aged, burden interview (Zarit-Burden-Interview) and quality of life instrument (WHOQOL-Bref). Spearman, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal Wallis coefficients were used to analyze the correlations between instruments and socio-demographic variables. Bivariate analyses identified which variables correlate with burden, and the most significant were included in a multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Forty-five caregivers were interviewed, mostly women (91.11%) with high educational level attending dependent elderly (66.77%). Moderate/severe burden was perceived in 75.55% of the sample. We found correlation between dependence, more severe burden in caregivers (r=-0.281, p=0.013) and worse perception of quality of life. The multiple linear regression identified strong association between burden related to care and psychological domain from WHOQOL-bref and time as caregiver (R²=0.58, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In a sample of familiar caregivers, we identified correlations between lower burden related to care and better quality of life perceptions, as well as higher disability and less satisfactory quality of life perceptions.

Mortalidade de idosos em município do Sudeste brasileiro de 2006 a 2011

O objetivo foi descrever a mortalidade entre idosos em Araraquara (SP), no período de 2006 a 2011. Estudo epidemiológico descritivo, tendo como fontes de dados o Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade e a Fundação Sistema Estadual de Análise de Dados. Foi calculada razão entre coeficientes de mortalidade por ponto (R) e por intervalo de 95% de confiança (IC95%). Observou-se mais de 60% dos idosos com nível baixo de escolaridade, sendo que 76% faleceram em hospitais. Entre 2006 e 2008, as diferenças foram estatisticamente significantes entre homens e mulheres, predominando as doenças circulatórias com R = 1,41 (IC95%:1,24-1,58), respiratórias com R = 1,49 (IC95%:1,22-1,76) e neoplasias com R = 1,79 (IC95%: 1,40-2,18). Entre 2009 e 2011, obteve-se, para as causas circulatórias R = 1,18 (IC95%:1,03-1,33), sendo significativas as diferenças para as respiratórias com R = 1,33 (IC95%:1,11-1,55) e câncer sendo R = 1,94 (IC95%:1,53-2,35). O diabetes mellitus e as causas externas apareceram, respectivamente, como quarta e quinta causas de mortes mais frequentes na população idosa. O padrão de mortalidade encontrado ressalta a importância de ações voltadas à redução das principais causas de morte, como o incremento da cobertura da vacina contra a influenza e o controle da hipertensão arterial e do diabetes mellitus.

Indicadores biomecânicos do risco de quedas em marcha com duplas tarefas e a influência do treinamento de equilíbrio com haste vibratória: diferenças entre idosos caidores e não caidores

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Determinação das alterações biomecânicas de idosos caidores e não caidores submetidos a protocolo incremental de fadiga

Pós-graduação em Fisioterapia - FCT

Influência do exercício físico sobre variáveis funcionais, morfológicas e moleculares do coração de ratos idosos

Pós-graduação em Fisiopatologia em Clínica Médica - FMB

Influência de um programa sistematizado de danças circulares em aspectos psiconeuroimunológicos de idosos cuidadores de indivíduos com doença de Alzheimer

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ganho de força e função em idosos por treino isométrico com e sem resposta visual

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Qualidade de vida de idosos institucionalizados

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Capacidade funcional de idosos institucionalizados com e sem doença de Alzheimer

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

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.