Present status of functional, mental and social abilities of institutionalized elders in Colima, Mexico
Main Article Content
Keywords
Older adult, Aging, Eldercare facilities, Functional abilities, Nursing
Abstract
Introduction: In Mexico, an older adult is a person who is sixty years of age or older. The number of individuals in this sector is increasing demographically in the national and international setting. Therefore their welfare should be a health priority regardless of whether they are in public or private eldercare facilities.
Objective: To identify the effect of aging on functional, mental, and social status of older adults residing in four facilities in the State of Colima.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 149 residents at four eldercare facilities in the State of Colima. After obtaining informed consent, information was collected on the individuals who fit inclusion criteria using three validated scales (Barthel, Folstein and Diaz-Veiga). Study variables were analyzed with descriptive statistics and sex-based comparison was done with chi square test.
Results: Of the total study population, more than 50% presented some degree of deterioration in theevaluatedabilities. TheBarthelscalereported16completelyindependentadultsoutofthetotal number, while the rest presented some degree of functional dependency. Folstein scale registered only 47 out of 143 adults as mentally fit, and the Diaz-Veiga scale results registered one 126 out of one 141 adults with some degree of social deterioration. Sex-based differences were not statistically significant for any of the scales.
Conclusions: Elder people do not incorporate voluntarily to recreational and care activities that nursing professional offers them since aging has affected in an important way functional, mental and social abilities.
References
Secretaria de Salud (México). Subsecretaría de Prevención y Protección de la Salud. Programa de Acción: Atención al Envejecimiento. 2001. [En línea] http://www.salud.gob.mx/unidades/cdi/documentos/envejecimiento.pdf [Consultado 11/07/2011].
Secretaria de Salud (México). Comité Nacional de Atención al Envejecimiento. Programa de trabajo del Subcomité Técnico de Enfermería para la Atención del Adulto Mayor 20052006.
[En línea] http://hgm.salud.gob.mx/descargas/pdf/enfermeria/subcomi_2.pdf
[Consultado 11/07/2011].
Secretaria de Salud (México). Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM167-SSA1-1997, para la prestación de servicios de asistencia social para menores y adultos mayores. [En línea] http://www.salud.gob.mx/unidades/cdi/nom/167ssa17.html [Consultado 12/11/2010].
Resnick NM, Dosa D. Medicina geriátrica. En: Kasper DL, Fauci A, Braunwald E (Ed.). Harrison: principios de medicina interna.16a ed. México: McGraw-Hill, c2006. pp 49-50.
Coudray C, Feillet-Coudray C, Rambeau M, Tressol JC, Gueux E, Mazur A. et al. The effect of aging on intestinal absorption and status of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper in rats: a stable isotope study. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2006;20(2):73-81.
Scott TM, Peter I, Tucker KL, Arsenault L, Bergethon P, Bhadelia R, et al. The Nutrition, Aging, and Memory in Elders (NAME) study: design and methods for a study of micronutrients and cognitive function in a homebound elderly population. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2006;21(6):519-28.
de León Arcila R, Milián Suazo F, Camacho Calderón N, Arévalo Cedano RE, Escartín Chávez M. Factores de riesgo para deterioro cognitivo y funcional en el adulto mayor. Rev
Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2009;47(3):277-284.
Gallagher D, Ruts E, Visser M, Heshka S, Baumgartner RN, Wang J, et al. Weight stability masks sarcopenia in elderly men and women. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2000;279(2):E366-75.