2018 Volume 8 Issue 1 Pages 35-38
The present study aimed to compare the physical and psychological and cognitive functions of 31 elderly people in need of support and 18 elderly people in need of a moderate level of nursing care. The grip strength, scores in the 30-second chair stand test,the time of standing on one leg with eyes open, and the walking speed were measured to assess their physical functions. Their cognitive functions were assessedusingtheMiniMental State Examination (MMSE) and Trail Making Test- Part A (TMT-A), and the 5- item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-5) was used for the assessment of their psychological functions. There were no significant differences in physical and psychological function assessment items between people in need of support and (a moderate level of) nursing care. However, the cognitive functions of people in need of support were significantly higher than those of people in need of moderate nursing care. Both groups are elderly people with high risk of falls. Therefore, an increase in the level of care requiredbythosepeople in need of support may be prevented by improving their fall prevention and maintaining their cognitive functions.
