فصلنامه سالمند
پیاپی 19 (بهار 1390)

The rate of person to person transmission of intestinal parasites is high in elderly and mentally retarded patients and lack of treatment may cause disease spread.This sudy was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of treatment of intestinal parasitic infections in elderly and mentallyretardedpatients of Golabchi center of Kashan.

This descriptive study was carried out on 133 elderly and mentallyretardedpatients of Golabchi center of Kashan in 2007.Infected participants were treated according to the stool examination and scotch tape results. These tests were performedagain after one month and response to treatment wasdetermined.A questionnaire was completed during interview with patients to obtain the data of sex and age,clinical symptoms and side effects of drugs. Descriptive data analysis was performed to evaluate the results.

In general, 64.7% of patients were male and the rate of response to treatment was 93.2%. The response rate was highest (79.5%) and lowest (26.7%) in patients with <30 and >70 years of age respectively. Besides, theresponse rate was 93.6%,89.2%, 90% and 100% in oxyur, entamoeba histolytica, giardia lamblia anddientamoeba fragilis respectively.

With regardsto the high rate of response to treatment,resistance to routin anti parasitic drugs seems unlikely.The lack of response to tratment can be either dut to high severity of the infection or due to incorrect using of drugs.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in United States and many parts of the world. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors of coronary artery disease in residents and non-residents of elderly care homes in Tehran. In this descriptive study, about 382 elderly with above 65 years of age participated, from whom 191 were non-resident and 191 were resident of elderly care homes in Tehran in 1388. Random-cluster sampling method was used to choose samples from elderly care homes of different regions of Tehran and also the same was performed for non-resident elderly in houses of Tehran. Required data was gathered by interview using a questionnaire. Measurement of height and weight (body-mass index or BMI), blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and blood lipid profile was performed as well. All statistics were computed using SPSS17 software using parametric and nonparametric statistical tests, 2 and Fisher’s Exact test. P<0.05 denoted a statistical significance. Prevalence of risk factors in resident and non-resident elderly of elderly care homes was as follows: high systolic(26.2% and 36.6%) and diastolic(24.1% and 31.9%) blood pressure, high cholesterol(28.3% and 36.1%), high triglyceride (31.4% and 42.9%), obesity(12.6% and 22%), diabetes(12% and 17.3%), physical inactivity(18.8% and 7.4%) and lack of exercise(56.6% and 16.2%), stress(22.5% and 2.1%)(P<0/05). The results of the present study showed that prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in elderly is high. Prevalence of all risk factors was higher in non-resident elderly than residents of elderly care homes except physical activity, exercise and stress. Therefore, training elderly the correct lifestyle could decrease the risk of coronary artery disease and its complications.

The Main aim of this study was to determine the effects of integrative reminiscence therapy on signs and symptoms of depression in the institutionalized elderly. This study was an experimental study with pre-test and post-test along with control group. The statistical society in this study consisted of all elderly adults residing in centers of Isfahan. Sample selection style was simple random sampling. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) were primarily administered and the scores of higher than ten in GDS (severe and moderate depression) and higher than twenty one in MMSE were identified and a number of 36 subjects were randomly selected and were randomly divided into two groups, 18 participants to experiment group and 18 participants to the control group. The analysis of the results was performed using independent t-test and chisquare. Mean of the difference of pretest and posttest results was acquired in experimental group (M=2/5385,SD=0/87706)and control group(M=1,SD=0/93541). The results of this study suggest that integrative reminiscence therapy can significantly result in reducing depression signs and symptoms in older adults. This intervention can serve as a supplementary treatment along with pharmaceutical treatment.

Since support for family caregivers is crucial in providing care for elderly, this study was conducted to examine the effects of participation in support groups on Alzheimer’s family caregivers’ strain and spiritual wellbeing. In this semi-experimental study, 32 accessible family caregivers of elderly patients with Alzheimer who had at least one year of experience participated. The intervention consisted of a 4-month active participation in educational and emotional supportive sessions related to patient and caregivers care management. At the end of the intervention, the leadership of the groups was transferred to members of the groups. These sessions were conducted in 3 public centers in the community. Caregivers were assessed by caregiving strain and spiritual wellbeing questionnaires at the beginning, at the end of the intervention and 2 months later. Data was analyzed by ANOVA with repeated measurement. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. In general, 32 accessible family caregivers of elderly Alzheimer patients with at least one year of experience participated in this study. The mean of spiritual wellbeing through three mentioned measurements showed an improvement (26/029, 34/029, 34/471), whereas the care giving strain showed a decreasing trend (40/118, 32/706,31/265).Findings based on ANOVA-repeated measurement revealed a significantly decrease in care giving strain (p=0/001) and an improvement in spiritual wellbeing (p=0/005). Participation in the support groups as a manifest of empowering helps family caregivers to deal effectively with care giving difficulties. Psychoeducational programs lead to a decreased care giving strain and improve the spiritual wellbeing of the caregivers. Hence, supportive interventions should be considered by policy makers and professional health care providers for elderly people.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of whole body vibration training (WBVT) and creatine (Cr) supplementation on lower extremity performance and balance in elderly males. In this semi-experimental study, twenty two eligible males from the members of an elderly daycare center with more than 60 years of age were enrolled and were divided into three groups randomly, WBVT+Cr(n=7), WBVT+Pgroup (n=7), and control group (n=8). In WBVT+Cr and WBVT+P groups exercises were performed on the whole body vibration device for 10 days with 30-35 Hz intensity and 5 mm amplitude. The WBVT+Cr group consumed 20g/day Crsupplement for the first 5 days followed by 5g/days for the next 5 days of protocol. The WBVT+P group consumed dexterous. The control group neither did any exercise nor consumed any supplement during the protocol. Static balance by standing time on one leg, dynamic balance by TUG test and lower extremity performance by 30-meter walking test, sit and stand test and tandem gait test weremeasured. Paired sample t-test and one way ANOVAwere used for data analysis (α=0.05). Our results showed that dynamic balance, lower body performance in 30- meter walking and tandem gait improved in experimental groups. However, ANOVA did not show any significant increase in static balance (p=0.514), dynamic balance (p=0.153), lower body performance in 30-meter walking test (p=0.339), sit and stand test (p=0.578) and tandem gait (p=0.151). In conclusion, it seems that WBVT plus Cr supplementation improves some of the motor fitness factors in elderly males during a short time.

Some studies show that quality of life in elderly can change due to aging process and its natural limitations. There are many methods to improve quality of life in old age, and doing simple physical exercises are among the easiest and the most cost effective methods that can improve quality of life in old persons. This study investigates the effect of aerobic exercise on quality of life in 60-75 years old residents of geriatric homes, Ahvaz, Iran 1389. In this study SF36 questionnaire was administrated to a randomly selected sample of 50 residents of geriatric homes in Ahvaz, Iran, 1389. These sample were randomly allocated to two groups: the experimental group (n=25) and control group (n=25). The members of experimental group received exercise for 8 weeks (three sessions per week). Quality of life measured in both groups before and after intervention. Data was analyzed by use of independent sample t- test and paired t-test. Results did not show a significant difference between two groups in mean of the quality of life levels before intervention (p>0/05), however, this difference changed significantly inconsequent to intervention (p<0/05). According to the result of the study, exercise program was effective to promote elderly quality of life levels, therefore it can be used as simple and complementary method for improving elderly quality of life.

The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life in elderly with the young and middle age chronic renal failure Patients. This cross-sectional study of 202 chronic renal failure patients included young (age ≤ 40 years,), middle age (41-59 years), and elderly (age≥ 60 years) patients. The subjects were selected by census method. The data were collected using the "Ferrans and Powers quality of life index- dialysis version" and were analyzed using SPSS-14 with one-way ANOVA and Scheffe’s test. In general, 43.6%,40.1% and 16.3% of the participants were elderly, middle age and young patients respectively. There were no significant differences in overall quality of life between the three groups (F=1.51, P>0.05). Socioeconomic familial subscale of quality of life was not statistically different in the groups (p<0.05). However, psychological/spiritual and health and functioning subscale of quality of life were not different between the groups (p>0.05). This study indicated that socioeconomic familial subscale of quality of life in young patients was lower than elderly and middle age. Therefore, comprehensive insurance and referring to renal and transplant support society for young patients are suggested in order to improve the patients’ quality of life, especially in the socioeconomic domain.

This study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) in management of pain and functional limits of chronic pain patients. In this semi-experimental study, 30 volunteer female patients suffering from chronic pain attending a clinical assessment for treatment of chronic pain were recruited using the convenience sampling. Then, they were randomized to intervention or control group. Both groups completed the graded classification of chronic pain and pain disability questionnaires. The intervention lasted approximately 8 weeks. Data was analyzed by descriptive and covariance analysis. Our results indicated that the severity of perceived pain (p=0/001) and disability caused by pain (p=0/04) in intervention group decreased significantly in comparison with the control group. The results suggest that themindfulness intervention can decrease the severity of perceived pain and disability in chronic pain patients.