Prevalence and related factors of successful aging among Chinese rural elders living in nursing homes

Healthy Aging and its Determinants Among Community-dwelling Older Persons in East Coast, Malaysia: A Multidimensional Assessment

Objectives

Exploring the possibility of healthy aging among older persons is crucial for achieving optimal health in the growing older population. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, pattern, and determinants of healthy aging among older persons in Terengganu, Malaysia.

Methods

We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study involving older persons aged % 60 years. An interviewer-guided questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, and physical assessments were administered to operationalize healthy aging based on a multidimensional concept.

Results

Among the 765 older persons surveyed, only 14.1% (95% CI: 11.64?"16.59) were classified as healthy agers. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that superior intrinsic religiosity (odds ratio (OR) = 3.42; 95% CI: 1.34?"8.73), higher social interaction (OR = 2.82; 95% CI: 1.32?"6.04), larger calf circumference (OR = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.24?"3.38), taking water intake % 5 cups per day (OR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.23?"3.30), better gait speed (OR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.04?"2.80), having savings (OR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.10?"2.66), and normal waist circumference (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.04?"2.55) were found positively associated with healthy aging.

Conclusions

Only one in 10 older persons in the state met all the criteria for healthy aging. Specific aspects of religious status, social interaction, socioeconomic, behavioral, physical, and nutritional factors were found to predict healthy ageing in this population. These important determinants should be considered in developing a well-defined and comprehensive public health policy to promote healthy aging in the nation.

Evaluating the association between anthropometric parameters and successful aging in older adults

This study aimed to determine the relationship between successful aging (SA) and anthropometric parameters in older adults. We used body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference to reflect anthropometric parameters. SA was assessed by the following five aspects: self-rated health, self-rated psychological status or mood, cognitive function, activities of daily life, and physical activity. Logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the relationship between anthropometric parameters and SA. Results showed that larger BMI, waist circumference, and calf circumference are related to a higher prevalence of SA in older women; greater waist circumference and calf circumference are associated with a higher rate of SA in old-old adults. These findings suggest that the greater BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference are associated with a higher rate of SA in older adults, and the associations are influenced to some extent by the sex and age.

Multidimensional Factors Affecting Successful Aging among Empty-Nesters in China Based on Social-Ecological System Theory

BACKGROUND

This study aims to identify the status of successful aging and the factors influencing empty-nest elderly in China based on the social-ecological system theory.

METHODS

The data came from the follow-up survey (2018) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and 3074 empty-nesters aged 60 and over are included. Chi-squared tests and logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with successful aging.

RESULTS

The successful aging rate of empty-nesters in China was 5.9%. The results of the multifactor analysis showed that younger age, higher education level, good self-rated health, good hearing, high life satisfaction, availability of financial resources at the microsystem level, higher frequency of contact with children at the mesosystem level, and medical insurance at the macrosystem level were the contributing influencing factors for successful aging of empty-nesters in China.

CONCLUSION

This study is an important attempt to explore the successful aging of empty-nesters in China. Because this study is based on social-ecological system theory, it confirms the important role of individual characteristics of older adults and their surrounding environment in achieving successful aging. Therefore, we should pay attention not only to the individual characteristics of the elderly, but also to the role of the surrounding environment on the health of the elderly, so that we can develop intervention measures to promote their successful aging.

Social connection and physical health outcomes among long-term care home residents: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Social connection is recognized as an important determinant of health and well-being. The negative health impacts of poor social connection have been reported in research in older adults, however, less is known about the health impacts for those living in long-term care (LTC) homes. This review seeks to identify and summarize existing research to address the question: what is known from the literature about the association between social connection and physical health outcomes for people living in LTC homes?

METHODS

A scoping review guided by the Arksey & O'Malley framework was conducted. Articles were included if they examined the association between social connection and a physical health outcome in a population of LTC residents.

RESULTS

Thirty-four studies were included in this review. The most commonly studied aspects of social connection were social engagement (n = 14; 41%) and social support (n = 10; 29%). A range of physical health outcomes were assessed, including mortality, self-rated health, sleep, fatigue, nutrition, hydration, stress, frailty and others. Findings generally support the positive impact of social connection for physical health among LTC residents. However, most of the studies were cross-sectional (n = 21; 62%) and, of the eleven cohort studies, most (n = 8; 73%) assessed mortality as the outcome. 47% (n = 16) were published from 2015 onwards.

CONCLUSIONS

Research has reported positive associations between social connection and a range of physical health outcomes among LTC residents. These findings suggest an important role for social connection in promoting physical health. However, further research is needed to consider the influence of different aspects of social connection over time and in different populations within LTC homes as well as the mechanisms underlying the relationship with health.

Data Analysis Model Design of Health Service Monitoring System for China's Elderly Population: The Proposal of the F-W Model Based on the Collaborative Governance Theory of Healthy Aging

In the era of artificial intelligence, big data and 5G, health care for elderly people is facing an important digital transformation. The objective of this study is to design the data analysis module of the elderly health service monitoring system (HSMS) and attempt to put forward a new healthy aging (HA) model that is applicable not only to the individual HA, but also to the regional HA system. Based on the HA theory of collaborative governance, we divided the elderly HSMS into four modules, including physical health, mental health, ability of daily activity, and social participation. Then, factors that influence HA were assessed by stepwise logistic regression to build the analysis model, using the public micro-panel data of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS). Age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.55 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06–2.27)), living in urban areas (OR = 1.57 (95% CI: 1.03–2.39)), being literate (OR = 1.51 (95% CI: 1.01–2.23)), expecting to get long-term health care in the future from their grown children (OR = 1.69 (95% CI: 1.10–2.61)) and having literate grown children (OR = 2.01 (95% CI: 0.26–0.97)) had a significant positive impact on HA of elderly people. Therefore, the F-W (factors and weighs, also family and welfare) model is proposed in this paper. The outcomes can contribute with designing HSMS for different provinces and several different regions in China and leave a door open to improve the model and algorithm application for HSMS in the future studies.

Mental health symptoms, spiritual well-being and meaning in life among older adults living in nursing homes and community dwellings

BACKGROUND

Ageing is a process involving physical, social, psychological, spiritual and cultural changes. The elderly's personal characteristics may change, and the place where they live can lead to differences in their individual life expectations. Nursing home or community dwelling, where the elderly live can affect their psychological and spiritual well-being and their search for meaning in life. This study aimed to determine mental health symptoms, spiritual well-being and meaning in life among older adults living in nursing homes and community dwellings.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in three provinces of Turkey with the highest population of elderly people aged 60 and above. A total of 144 elderly people (71 living in nursing homes and 73 in community dwellings) participated in the study. The Descriptive Information Form, Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Spiritual Well-Being Scale and Meaning in Life Questionnaire were used for data collection. For the statistical analysis, the Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U-test and Spearman correlation analysis were applied.

RESULTS

About 42.3% of the elderly living in nursing homes were aged 80 and above, while 61.6% of those living in community dwellings were in the age range of 60-69 years. The hostility score in the community-dwelling elders was statistically higher than that of elders living in nursing homes. However, the harmony with nature score was lower in the community-dwelling elders. Negative relationships were found between total spiritual well-being and depression, anxiety, negative self and somatisation. Meanwhile, existing meaning in life found positive relationships among transcendence and harmony with nature.

CONCLUSIONS

The awareness of healthcare workers is very important in helping the elderly make sense of the changes they experience. Moreover these healthcare workers should undergo systematic training to help the elderly prepare for old age by making sense of preserving mental integrity and seeking meaning in their lives.

Factors Associated with Healthy Ageing, Healthy Status and Community Nursing Needs among the Rural Elderly in an Empty Nest Family: Results from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

Health care for the rural elderly in and empty nest family is a major problem in such an ageing society such as China. Based on previous studies, China’s rural health care services only focus on the physical health of the elderly, while public health care services only provide primary services such as blood pressure and blood glucose measurement. This leads to the question of whether physical health is the most important issue for the Chinese rural empty nest elderly (CREE). It is necessary to find out their health status, nursing needs and influencing factors associated with healthy ageing (HA). Using the method of logistic regression, four dimensions of HA (adding psychological health, social participation and daily activities to physical health) among 618 respondents in total were analyzed based on public panel data from the national survey of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Interesting results have been found; for example, the most important factor restricting the HA of the CREE is not physical health but social participation. The independence, health, good employment and economic conditions of their adult children play an important role in protecting the HA of the CREE.

Factors Associated with the Psychological Health of Caregiving Older Parents and Support from Their Grown Children: Results from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

In China, older parents have become an important source of childcare for their grown children since 2010. However, caring for grandchildren may affect older parents’ psychological health (PH) in both positive and negative ways. Using the method of stepwise decreasing logistic regression, this study aimed to assess the factors associated with PH and support from grown children among caregiving older parents (400 respondents) based on the public panel data of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The findings showed that being male (X1, OR = 1.661 (95% CI 1.066–2.590)), being literate (X4, OR = 2.129 (95% CI 1.369–3.309)), and expecting long-term care in the future from their grown children (X6, OR = 2.695 (95% CI 1.736–4.185)) were significant factors associated with PH. Therefore, in such an aging society, we should not regard older parents as a “burden”; we should recognize and appreciate their contribution to caregiving. As family and children, it is important to give older parents the necessary economic and emotional support to maintain their psychological health in the meantime.