Background and Objective: A positive family functionality is a significant factor to a good quality of life in the elderly. This study sought to determine the factors that contribute to family dysfunction among community-dwelling older persons. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among community-dwelling elderly ages 60 years old and above through the outpatient department of a tertiary government hospital. A researcher-assisted interview was done to gather socio-demographic factors such as age, sex, family type, and, GDS-S score, and family APGAR. Multiple linear regression analysis was done to determine the association of the said socio-demographic factors and likelihood of depression through GDS-S with family function through family APGAR. Results: Among the 309 respondents, the average age of respondents was 69 years(SD=6.53), with female predominance of 61.8%, and a higher frequency of older persons belonging to an extended family. The mean GDS-S score is 1.69(SD=1.83), with a frequency of 13.9%. A very minimal percentage of 8.06% (25, N=309) showed to exhibit family dysfunction. Regression studies revealed association of advancing age, and female sex with family dysfunction. The type of family, and GDS-S are not significantly associated with family dysfunction. Conclusion Advancing age and female sex are associated with family dysfunction. There is no specific family type that is significantly associated with family dysfunction. Likelihood of depression does not necessarily imply family dysfunction in an elderly.
Elderly

Background: Hypertension is an important risk factor that increases the cardiovascular disease-related morbidity and mortality, especially in elderly people. Objectives: The study aims to identify the hypertension rate among elderly residents of Can Tho city and some demographic, economic and social factors that were associated with hypertension in view of hypertension is changing with social and economic development. Subjects and method: The cross-sectional study involved 594 elderly people who were living in Can Tho city. Blood pressure was measured by the Korrotkoff method. The demographic, economic and social information was collected using questionnaire-based direct interviews. Results: The hypertension rate was quite high in the elderly group (51.9%). According to the WHO\u2019s ISH criteria, stage III occupied nearly 10%, stage II was approximately 15% and nearly one third of them in stage I. Age and living location were found to have significant impact to blood pressure status. Compared to the age group of 60 to 69, the elderly people in the age group of 70 to 79 were more likely to have hypertension by one and half times. And the risk was more than twice as high in the age group of 80 and above. These relationships were significant to p<0.05. The elderly people who were living in rural areas had twice the chance of having hypertension than those living in urban areas (p<0.001). Conclusion: The hypertension rate was quite high in elderly people in Can Tho city, Viet Nam. Age and living place were factors related to hypertension status in the elderly.
Hypertension ; Elderly

The Philippines has an increasingly aging population thereby increasing the demand for healthcare and support from families. Studies showed that the family is the main caregiver of elderly parents/adults as dictated by the Filipino culture of filial piety and respectful behavior towards older people. However, this caring culture is now slowly declining, and Filipino older adults also experience abuse, exploitation, and other forms of neglect from their families. This special article described that the declining caring culture was due to deteriorating family values and societal influences brought about by modernization. This paper also highlights the crucial role of the family and the community in inculcating the preservation of this valued caring Filipino culture, especially among the youth. In cases where senior citizens are being abused and neglected by their families, the state steps in to safeguard the welfare and protection of Filipino senior citizens. Enacted and promulgated laws ensure social justice and protection of human dignity among Filipino older adults as well as the provision of socioeconomic and health needs. In conclusion, the preservation of a caring culture through educating the youth coupled with the implementation of enacted and promulgated laws of the country ensures the quality of aging life among Filipino older adults.

Background: Limitation of daily activities is the obstacle that prevents the elderly from achieving their desires. Objective: Aim to discover the prevalence and risk factors of the limitation in daily activities in the elderly. Subject and methods: This cross - sectional study was conducted in 4 provinces: Thai Nguyen, Ha Tay, Hue and Can Tho during June to December 2006 among 2.644 people at the age of 60 and above. Results: The overall prevalence of limitation of the elderly is 5.6%, and 4.3% is totally dependent and 1.3% is partly dependent. This proportion increases with age. It happens more in urban areas as opposed to rural and mountainous areas. Those living with their spouse have lower proportion of limitations. Can Tho and Ha Tay has the higher proportion of limitation than Hue and Thai Nguyen. Factors related to these limitations are aging (OR = 1.08; 1.06-1.10), not working at the current time (OR = 0.11; 0.05-0.28), ethnicity (OR = 2.25; 1.45-3.49), lack of physical exercise (OR = 2.24, 1.75-3.85), brain damage (OR = 15.18; 9.47-24.35), dementia (OR = 2.39; 1.62-3.54) and loss of vision (OR =1.32; 1.05-1.65). Conclusion: The limitation in daily activities tremendously affects the quality of life for the elderly. Age, working status, race, physical activity, accident of cerebral vessels, dementia and vision loss are statistic significant related factors for the limitation in daily activities of the elderly
Elderly ; daily activities

In study series of author, the incidence of acute appendicitis in older patients is 8.57%. The classic symptoms such as pain, anorexia and nausea presented in older patients but are less pronounced than in younger adults. Pain in the right lower quadrant: 80.95%, localization occurs later than in younger patients. 42 (85%) patients have comorbidity. In older patients with appendicitis, the diagnosis is often delayed with 66.66% of cases have been perforated. The mortality rate is 3.57%. Rate of complications is 50%. The most common complication is infection, occurred in 38.09% of patients.
Appendicitis ; Frail Elderly ; aged

No abstract available.
Aged ; Frail Elderly* ; Humans

BACKGROUND

Depression is a widespread mental disorder that affects 3.8% of the global population, with a total prevalence rate of 5.7% in the age group of 60 and older. Symptoms include feelings of guilt, hopelessness, and thoughts of dying or suicide. The Philippines has a high mental health issue among its older adults, with 7.5 million accounting for 7.5% of the population. The country ranks third in the Western Pacific Region, with 6 million Filipinos suffering from depression and anxiety.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among the elderly group ages 60 and older in Barangay Cabangahan, Consolacion, Cebu.

This study used a cross-sectional research design. Respondents were randomly selected through convenient sampling through house-to-house visitation and face-to-face interviews. Assessment tools were distributed assessing the demographic profile, Family APGAR, and Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). The depression scale was adapted to determine the prevalence of depression among the elderly. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data, which displayed the frequency distribution and percentage of the respondents’ demographic profile, family function, and prevalence of depression. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the association of the demographic profile and family function with the prevalence of depression.

The demographic profile of the elderly group is mostly women, comprising 93 (80.87%) of the population; 53 (46.09%) belong to the young-old age group (aged 60–65), and 65 (56.53%) are married. The majority are elementary school graduates, 72 (62.61%); their source of financial support is their children, 42 (35.5%), and employment is 35 (30.43%). Most live together with their immediate family, 106 (92.17%). This study identified 60 (52.17%) of the 115 respondents as having a highly functional family. Only 35.65% (41) of the respondents had mild depression, while 54 (46.09%) reported no or minimal depression. Among the demographic profiles, living alone, having more than one comorbidity, and taking more than one medication may lead to depression among the elderly, with r-values of .191,213 and.222, respectively. The study indicates a significant relationship between family function and the prevalence of depression in the elderly, with a p-value of 0.022 and a weak negative correlation with an r-value of -.214.

The elderly population is predominantly women, with most being married and living with their immediate family. Highly functional families are evident, while the prevalence of depression is low, with only 35.65% experiencing mild symptoms. The study suggests improving the quality of life for the elderly through intervention programs, health education, and strong, cohesive community networks. Additional assessment instruments, such as the Geriatric Depression Scale, are recommended, as well as increasing the study’s sample size and geographic setting.

OBJECTIVES

As the population ages, the likelihood of cancer increases. Aging-related deficits that eventually manifest as frailty may be associated with poor emotional health in older patients with advanced cancer. This study aimed to determine whether frailty was strongly associated with emotional distress, particularly anxiety and depression.

This is a single center, cross-sectional, descriptive study using the Geriatric 8 (G8) Frailty Screening Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scoring (HADS) Scale.

One hundred five patients (105) were included in the study. Over-all, 86 (81.9%) were frail. Majority of them were female (50, 47.6%), married (57, 54.3%), and were able to graduate college (62, 59.0%). Hypertension (70, 66.7%) and diabetes mellitus (33, 31.4%) were the most common co morbidities. There was significant association between the patients’ functional status (ECOG score) and frailty (p = 0.001). Our results showed that the likelihood of being frail increased by 30% per unit increase in the ECOG score (OR 3.685, CI 1.623 - 8.366). More so, our results showed strong association between frailty, depression & anxiety (p = 0.000 & 0.001, respectively). We also found that the likelihood of being anxious & depressed was 7-times as much for those patients who were frail (OR 7.000, CI 2.132 – 22.981; OR 7.150 (CI 2.406 – 21.246, respectively).

Frailty had a strong association with both anxiety and depression. Frailty, in addition, had a good predictive value for emotional distress. Those who were frail had a 7-time likelihood of being anxious and depressed. Frailty was also associated with functional status. The chances of being frail increased by 30% for every unit increase in the ECOG score.

Background: Maintaining optimal well-being of the elderly is now a major concern since their numbers are expected to swell in the next decades. Thus, there is a need to focus on the health and psychosocial status and needs of our older persons. Objective: To describe the biopsychosocial profile and needs of older persons in Davao City. Methodology: This study utilized secondary data obtained from the OPS 2009 survey after informed consent was sought from the DCOP-RG. The OPS 2009 survey was developed by a multidisciplinary group of professionals commissioned by the Davao City Sangguniang Panglungsod in order to create a basis for the implementing rules of the expanded senior citizen act for Davao City. It included 398 respondents age 60 and above who gave consent, representing the population of older persons from the different areas in Davao City. Data gathering was done by a team of trained interviewers. Anonymized gathered in OPS 2009 survey was utilized for this present study. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Results: There was an equal sex distribution among the respondents. Majority were married, widowed and Roman Catholics, 76.6% of the respondents believed that they were in good health. 60.1% of the respondents had previous admissions but even so, majority (87.9%) had someone to help take care of them during their admissions. Psychosocial status of the older persons was favorable in general. Majority (72.2%) still engage in recreational activities. Furthermore, the respondents have a happy disposition in life wherein majority have a perceived happy mood left contented and at peace. Almost all (98%) still feels needed by their kin and friends. Perceived health needs include better medical benefits while perceived psychosocial needs include financial and moral support. Conclusion: The study showed that older persons in Davao City perceived themselves to be happy, contented, calm, at peace and important to their families. However, since most were diagnosed with chronic illnesses such as hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, and asthma; health related needs and provision of better medical benefits topped their list. Financial support and psychosocial support from their families, government and non-government institutions were also listed as needs. In general, they envisioned Davao to be an older person friendly place with program that put elderly welfare, safety and protection at the forefront.
Aged 80 and over ; Aged ; FRAIL ELDERLY

1. Reviewing the definition of “elderly”Based on comprehensive analysis of data on longitudinal studies of functional independence in the elderly and clinical and pathological data, I proposed the change of the definition of elderly to those over 75 years instead of the current 65 years.2. Philosophy and strategies of the medical care of elderly3. Concept of integrated medicine4. Kampo-medicine plays a major role as the main partner of the modern western medicine in establishing the integrated medical system in Japan, which will contribute to the upgrading of medical care of elderly.
Elderly ; Medical ; Century ; medical care ; System