Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pain intensity, pain avoidance, physical disability, and low physical function with sedentary behavior and moderate-intensity to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) in older people with chronic pain.

Methods: The participants were 120 older outpatients with chronic low back and knee pain. Measurements included sedentary behavior, MVPA, pain intensity, pain avoidance, physical disability, low physical function, pain-related and sociodemographic variables. The hypothetical model was created based on the correlation between each factor and the results of previous studies, and the model was verified by covariance structure analysis.

Results: Contrary to the hypothetical model, pain intensity showed no significant association with sedentary behavior and MVPA. However, in the modified model, pain intensity was associated with sedentary behavior and MVPA through pain avoidance, physical disability, and low physical function.

Conclusion: Pain intensity and pain avoidance were the main associated factors of higher sedentary behavior and physical inactivity.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the frequency of going outdoors and neighborhood environment factors associated with the social interaction of community-dwelling older adults.

Method: From 2008 to 2011, 23 prefrail older adults and 50 registrants of employment services centers for older adults were recruited for this study; 72, excluding one invalid respondent, were included in the analysis. A self-reported questionnaire was used to obtain information on sex, age, social interaction (Index of Social Interaction: ISI), the frequency of going outdoors, and the neighborhood built environment (Japanese version of the Home and Community Environment instrument). The population per square kilometer of habitable area at the municipal level was added to the data. Multivariate multilevel linear regression models were adopted and analyzed with the total ISI score as the dependent variable, the frequency of going outdoors, the neighborhood built environment, and other variables as the first-level independent variables, and the population per square kilometer of habitable area as the second-level independent variable.

Results: The average age (standard deviation) was 71.7 (5.35) years. The frequency of going outdoors (β=0.75, p=0.016) and the existence of safe parks and walking areas in the neighborhood (b=1.69, p=0.003) were positively associated with a higher ISI score.

Conclusion: The frequency of going outdoors and the existence of safe parks and walking areas in the neighborhood were found to be associated with the degree of social interaction of community-dwelling older adults in Japan.

Objectives: People with dementia are prone to excessive daytime sleepiness and day-night reversal. However, the characteristics of sleep and sleepiness in people with aging-associated cognitive decline (AACD) are not clear. The characteristics of daytime sleepiness in people with AACD is able to be used as information to support them in continuing to lead an active community life. The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of nighttime sleep and daytime sleepiness in community-dwelling older people with AACD.

Methods: This study was conducted using a cross-sectional research design and collected between August and October 2016. The study included individuals aged 65 years or older who participated in a dementia prevention program. Sleep at night and daytime sleepiness were investigated using the Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-J) and the Japanese version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (JESS). Cognitive function was assessed using the Five Cognitive Functions, according to which the participants were classified into a possibly having dementia group, non-AACD group, and AACD group.

Results: Fourty-five participants were analyzed, excluding those with suspected dementia, those taking sleeping pills, and those with depressive tendencies or depression. The median JESS score was 6.0 in the non-AACD group and 4.0 in the AACD group, and was significantly lower in the AACD group (p<0.01). The mean PSQI-J score was not significantly different between the two groups.

Conclusion: Daytime sleepiness in community-dwelling older people with AACD was lower than that in people without AACD and was considered less of a problem for daytime activities.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the inpatient families' anxiety for assisting scale.

Methods: Participants included patients admitted to a rehabilitation hospital accompanied by their families (n=36). The inpatient families' anxiety for assisting scale was developed based on the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Reliability was confirmed for intra-rater reliability (Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)) and internal consistency (Cronbach's α). Validity was determined by the strength of the correlation of the scale with families' psychological and physical functioning, as well as patients' activities of daily living (ADL).

Results: The inpatient families' anxiety for assisting scale demonstrated high intra-rater reliability (ICC (1,2)=0.898) and internal consistency (α=0.959). In validation, a weak correlation was found between the scale and families' anxiety (r=0.378), physical quality of life (r=-0.335), and a moderate correlation was established between the scale, patients' FIM motor score (r=-0.460), and FIM cognitive score (r=-0.531).

Conclusion: The inpatient families' anxiety for assisting scale is highly reliable and exhibits validity concerning families' psychological state and the patients' ADL.

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the prevalence of malnutrition and its association with Functional Independence Measure (FIM) gain and risk of hospitalization in patients using home-visit rehabilitation.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients using home-visit rehabilitation. Malnutrition was assessed by Mini Nutritional Assessment -Short Form (MNA-SF) and classified as malnutrition, risk of malnutrition, and normal group. The primary outcomes were FIM gain and hospitalization or not, which were analyzed using logistic regression.

Results: In total, 241 participants (median age 81 years; 147 females) were analyzed and classified as malnutrition (20%), risk of malnutrition (54%), and normal (26%). The result showed that MNA-SF was not independently associated with FIM gain, but was independently associated with higher hospitalization proportions. (Odds ratio, 0.815; 95% confidence interval, 0.716 to 0.927).

Conclusion: Malnutrition may be associated with increased risk of hospitalization in older patient using home-visit rehabilitation.

Aim: This study examined the influence of disabled older adults' home-based life space on caregiver burden.

Methods: The participants included 60 disabled older adults (20 men and 40 women; mean age 83.9±6.0 years) who received day-care services and their primary caregivers (n=60; 15 men and 45 women; mean age 66.1±12.1 years). Caregiver burden was assessed using the short version of the Japanese Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (J-ZBI_8). Caregivers completed a questionnaire assessing the older adults' home-based life space. The questionnaire assessed composite scores for activity range, frequency, and degree of independence (Hb-CS). Cognitive function was assessed using the Revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS-R). We performed propensity score matching with a ratio of 1:2(higher burden group: J-ZBI_8 score of 13 points and over vs lower burden group: J-ZBI_8 score of less than 13 points). A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between life space and caregiver burden.

Results: Disabled participants in the lower burden group had a significantly higher HDS-R score and range of activities using assistive devices than those in the higher burden group. Hb-CS was an independent predictor of higher burden (odds ratio: 0.973; 95% confidence interval: 0.944-0.999).

Conclusions: To alleviate caregiver burden it is essential to maintain the scope, frequency, and degree of activity independence.

Purpose: The possibility of collaboration between beauticians and physical therapists has been suggested for some time. However, as very few related studies have been conducted, there is a lack of knowledge that can serve as a foundation. Therefore, this study aimed to obtain suggestions for specific collaboration.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted on 1,010 beauticians in Gunma Prefecture regarding their awareness of older customers and the issues they face. The results of the survey were compared with the basic attributes of the respondents after confirming differences in the results depending on the characteristics of the area in which they work.

Results: Responses were received from 261 beauticians (collection rate: 25.8%). No differences were found in the responses according to the region in which the respondents worked, but significant differences were found between the responses regarding older customers and the responses regarding non-older customers. For older customers, beauticians were more likely to be aware of social resources and the need for physical assistance and devices than for non-older customers. On the other hand, when serving non-older customers, respondents paid more attention to the level of customer satisfaction.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that, when developing cooperation with beauticians in Gunma Prefecture, it may be more effective to meet the needs of beauticians according to the age of their customers rather than regional characteristics.