Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults

Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults
Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 317
Release: 2020-05-14
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0309671035

Social isolation and loneliness are serious yet underappreciated public health risks that affect a significant portion of the older adult population. Approximately one-quarter of community-dwelling Americans aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated, and a significant proportion of adults in the United States report feeling lonely. People who are 50 years of age or older are more likely to experience many of the risk factors that can cause or exacerbate social isolation or loneliness, such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and sensory impairments. Over a life course, social isolation and loneliness may be episodic or chronic, depending upon an individual's circumstances and perceptions. A substantial body of evidence demonstrates that social isolation presents a major risk for premature mortality, comparable to other risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, or obesity. As older adults are particularly high-volume and high-frequency users of the health care system, there is an opportunity for health care professionals to identify, prevent, and mitigate the adverse health impacts of social isolation and loneliness in older adults. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults summarizes the evidence base and explores how social isolation and loneliness affect health and quality of life in adults aged 50 and older, particularly among low income, underserved, and vulnerable populations. This report makes recommendations specifically for clinical settings of health care to identify those who suffer the resultant negative health impacts of social isolation and loneliness and target interventions to improve their social conditions. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults considers clinical tools and methodologies, better education and training for the health care workforce, and dissemination and implementation that will be important for translating research into practice, especially as the evidence base for effective interventions continues to flourish.

WHO Global Report on Falls Prevention in Older Age

WHO Global Report on Falls Prevention in Older Age
Author: World Health Organization
Publisher: World Health Organization
Total Pages: 54
Release: 2008
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 9241563532

The WHO Falls Prevention for Active Ageing model provides an action plan for making progress in reducing the prevalence of falls in the older adult population. By building on the three pillars of falls prevention, the model proposes specific strategies for: 1. Building awareness of the importance of falls prevention and treatment; 2. Improving the assessment of individual, environmental, and societal factors that increase the likelihood of falls; and 3. For facilitating the design and implementation of culturally appropriate, evidence-based interventions that will significantly reduce the number of falls among older persons. The model provides strategies and solutions that will require the engagement of multiple sectors of society. It is dependent on and consistent with the vision articulated in the WHO Active Ageing Policy Framework. Although not all of the awareness, assessment, and intervention strategies identified in the model apply equally well in all regions of the world, there are significant evidence-based strategies that can be effectively implemented in all regions and cultures. The degree to which progress will be made depends on to the success in integrating falls prevention strategies into the overall health and social care agendas globally. In order to do this effectively, it is necessary to identify and implement culturally appropriate, evidence-based policies and procedures. This requires multi-sectoral, collaborations, strong commitment to public and professional education, interaction based on evidence drawn from a variety of traditional, complementary, and alternative sources. Although the understanding of the evidence-base is growing, there is much that is not yet understood. Thus, there is an urgent need for continued research in all areas of falls prevention and treatment in order to better understand the scope of the problem worldwide. In particular, more evidence of the cost-effectiveness of interconnections is needed to develop strategies that are most likely to be effective in specific setting and population sub-groups.

Retooling for an Aging America

Retooling for an Aging America
Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 316
Release: 2008-08-27
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0309131952

As the first of the nation's 78 million baby boomers begin reaching age 65 in 2011, they will face a health care workforce that is too small and woefully unprepared to meet their specific health needs. Retooling for an Aging America calls for bold initiatives starting immediately to train all health care providers in the basics of geriatric care and to prepare family members and other informal caregivers, who currently receive little or no training in how to tend to their aging loved ones. The book also recommends that Medicare, Medicaid, and other health plans pay higher rates to boost recruitment and retention of geriatric specialists and care aides. Educators and health professional groups can use Retooling for an Aging America to institute or increase formal education and training in geriatrics. Consumer groups can use the book to advocate for improving the care for older adults. Health care professional and occupational groups can use it to improve the quality of health care jobs.

Contemporary Perspectives on Ageism

Contemporary Perspectives on Ageism
Author: Liat Ayalon
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 582
Release: 2018-05-22
Genre: Family & Relationships
ISBN: 3319738208

This open access book provides a comprehensive perspective on the concept of ageism, its origins, the manifestation and consequences of ageism, as well as ways to respond to and research ageism. The book represents a collaborative effort of researchers from over 20 countries and a variety of disciplines, including, psychology, sociology, gerontology, geriatrics, pharmacology, law, geography, design, engineering, policy and media studies. The contributors have collaborated to produce a truly stimulating and educating book on ageism which brings a clear overview of the state of the art in the field. The book serves as a catalyst to generate research, policy and public interest in the field of ageism and to reconstruct the image of old age and will be of interest to researchers and students in gerontology and geriatrics.

Management of Dyslipidemia

Management of Dyslipidemia
Author: Wilbert S. Aronow
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 176
Release: 2021-07-21
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1839685077

Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular events, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality. The earlier in life dyslipidemia is treated, the better the prognosis. The current book is an excellent one on dyslipidemia written by experts on this topic. This book includes 12 chapters including 5 on lipids, 4 on hypercholesterolemia in children, and 3 on the treatment of dyslipidemia. This book should be read by all health care professionals taking care of patients, including pediatricians since atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease begins in childhood.

Designing for Older Adults

Designing for Older Adults
Author: Arthur D. Fisk
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 173
Release: 2004-01-14
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1420023861

As life expectancy increases, older workers and the retired form a large and growing proportion of the world’s population. Professionals working to develop systems and environments need to better accommodate the user needs of the older adult. This new guide provides a practical introduction to human factors and the older adult. It considers the subject primarily from an engineering psychology perspective, heavily grounded in today’s scientific knowledge. The authors show how current understanding of age-related issues of perception, cognition, and movement control can be applied in practice. They also provide a reference source with guidelines and advice for design issues ranging from lighting, computer input device selection, and web site design, to training program development and work task design. The text draws on research-oriented work and presents this in a form that can be used by the broad audience of product designers, health care practitioners, managers, and others who need answers to problems and require sound recommendations for design.

Falls in Older Persons

Falls in Older Persons
Author: Rein Tideiksaar
Publisher:
Total Pages: 212
Release: 1998
Genre: Family & Relationships
ISBN:

"In both hospitals and long-term care facilities it's the older patients and residents who are most prone to falling and most vulnerable to serious injury from a fall. Staff must constantly be on the alert for hazardous situations and know how to deal with falls. This easy-to-read guide provides just the right amount of information needed by health care staff to prevent and manage this common problem among older adults." "This book presents a wealth of practical recommendations, modifications, equipment, and resources that will improve the health and safety of older adult patients and long-term care residents."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved