Applied Gerontology
Online ISSN : 2759-4556
Print ISSN : 1882-6245
ISSN-L : 1882-6245
Volume 13, Issue 1
Displaying 1-7 of 7 articles from this issue
  • Sumiyo Brennan, Shuichiro Watanabe, Yumiko Hashimoto, Hisao Osada
    2019 Volume 13 Issue 1 Pages 17-26
    Published: 2019
    Released on J-STAGE: September 18, 2024
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

    This study examined the relationship between environmental design in a group care unit(GCU)facility(Unit-gata Tokuyo in Japanese) and its effect on the residents’ quality of life(QOL). Data was collected from 17 residents with dementia from 4 GCUs in a Tokyo area facility. Two-way Analysis of Covariance was performed on ME value(as a QOL indicator)to evaluate the facility environment and mental function. The result showed that there was a statically significant interaction between the Functional Assessment Staging Test and the Professional Environmental Assessment Protocol while controlling for age and gender(p=.003). Persons with advanced dementia tend to rely on a facilities environment to enhance their QOL. Environment design of GCU facilities is an important aspect of dementia care for residents. Our findings helped determine the relationship between environment design and QOL of residents. For further study, we will measure the same scales at different facilities and compare the results to determine effective design of the long-term care(LTC)physical environment in order to improve LTC residents’ QOL.

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  • Shizuko Yanagisawa, Hidehiro Sugisawa, Ken Harada, Yoko Sugihara
    2019 Volume 13 Issue 1 Pages 27-36
    Published: 2019
    Released on J-STAGE: September 18, 2024
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

    This study examined factors that contribute to older people’s participation in community organization(COs)with members who have similar characteristics. These factors are discussed in terms of personal attributes and CO types. From a questionnaire given to 12,000 people in 30 metropolitan Tokyo municipalities, data from 903 people without employment, ≥60 years old, and who participated in COs were analyzed. A binomial logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with homogeneity of sex, age, and educational background as the dependent variables. The effects of interaction between sex and each variable were also examined. In the main effect, women tended to belong to organizations in which members’ sex and education were more homogenous than among men. In the interaction effect, homogeneity of sex was high in men for whom health self-evaluation was high, and homogeneity of educational background was high in women for whom problem-solving organizations were important. Homogeneity of age was, however, low in women with higher educational background, homogeneity of sex was low in women who valued community organizations, and homogeneity of age and educational background were low in men who valued problem-solving organizations. The results suggest the need for strategies related to participants’ homogeneity in COs.

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  • Takehiro Shirota, Yoshitaka Shiba, Naoto Kamide, Miki Sakamoto, Haruhi ...
    2019 Volume 13 Issue 1 Pages 37-43
    Published: 2019
    Released on J-STAGE: September 18, 2024
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

    Aim: Recently, relationship between community dwelling elderly’s health and neighborhood environment is being reported. Also, in Japan the number of osteoporosis patient is increasing. For at present the above reports are being made, environmental factors as well as medical backgrounds needs to be considered. Therefore in this study, we will investigate the relationship between community dwelling elderly’s amount of change in bone mineral density and their neighborhood environment.

    Method: We analyzed 121 community dwelling elderly, age 65 or over, has not been certified with needed support or long-term care, who participated in physical assessment at the baseline and follow-up. We measured the amount of change in bone mineral density within 1 year and carried out a self-report questionnaire. We used IPAQ-E for the assessment of neighborhood environment. For the IPAQ-E the answers were divided into two groups before analysis.

    Results: Items that were found relevant to the amount of change of bone mineral density, was residential density (p<0.01).

    Consideration: Living in a high residential density area was inferred to be one of the factors influencing increase in bone mineral density.

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  • Yuya Watanabe, Tsukasa Yoshida, Yasuko Yoshinaka, Keiichi Yokoyama, Yo ...
    2019 Volume 13 Issue 1 Pages 44-53
    Published: 2019
    Released on J-STAGE: September 18, 2024
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

    The purpose of this study was to follow-up physical functions in individuals in a low-cost nursing home and to compare changes in physical functions between individuals with and without certification for long-term care and/or support. We evaluated 28 older adults(aged 77.9 ± 7.3 years)who participated in physical function examinations at baseline and after 5 years. The subjects were divided into independent, newly certified, and long-term care groups based on certification during the follow-up period. Height, weight, and seven basic physical functions were measured by performing tests, such as the 30-s chair stand, 10-m walking time(normal speed), and functional reach tests. All variables obtained were analyzed with a repeated two-way analysis of variance(group × time).

    Significant time effects were observed in 30-s chair stand and 10-m walking time tests(P<0.05). A significant interaction was observed in functional reach(P=0.034). Functional reach was significantly decreased in the long-term care group(P=0.022). Additionally, a significant weight loss was observed in the long-term care group(P=0.022).

    To support older adults living in nursing home, development of a comprehensive program is required that includes nutritional management to prevent body weight loss and interventions for maintenance of basic physical fitness, which is the basis of their daily life.

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  • Mayumi Hagiwara, Hiroshi Shibata, Hiroshi Haga, Kei Fujii, Hisao Osada
    2019 Volume 13 Issue 1 Pages 54-65
    Published: 2019
    Released on J-STAGE: September 18, 2024
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

    The Death Café, where people gather to openly discuss death, developed as rise of the death toll makes people more often experience death of friends and family members. While Death Café movement is often introduced in media including TV, newspapers or magazines, they have not explained details like what people aim at attending the DC, what people become aware of through active discussions of “death” and what people find in their views of life and death. To explore the details, the semi-structured interviews were conducted to seven of middle to senior aged participants of the Death Café monthly held in Japan. Analysis used a qualitative and descriptive method of the statements collected from the interviews identified four constructs as “views of life and death gained through their discussions about death”. Each construct not only changes their views of death but also helps them live their lives more extensively with flexible strength till the last moment. Despite the “ominous” name, the research revealed that Death Café in fact provides opportunities to actively engage with “death education”.

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