by Deborah H. John  , Patrick Abi Nader  and Katherine Gunter

Received: 29 October 2018;  Published: 06 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2001098

Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality and as such, it is critical that physical activity guidelines for health consider equitable access to physical activity opportunities for all, including those aged 65 years and older. The purpose of this study was to examine the intersections of attributes of older people (e.g. income, gender, age, health, physical activity) and attributes of the places they live (e.g. rurality, public transit, sidewalks, parks, community centre) to explain [...]

by Em V. Adams  , Marieke Van Puymbroeck  , Heather S. Torphy  , Brian C. Helsel  , Karen A. Kemper  , Cheryl Dye  and Arlene A. Schmid

Received: 03 October 2019;  Published: 03 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2001097

Falls have negative consequences for older adults, but falls can be reduced through interventions that target the reduction of fall risk factors. Cognitive behavioral education programs and therapeutic yoga are two interventions that have independently been used as a means to reduce the risk of falls. The purpose of this study was to determine if adding therapeutic yoga following an education intervention improved well known fall risk factors. Potential participants were recruited through a senior center for a 12-w [...]

by Malith Kadirappulli-Hewage  and Rasika Jayasekara

Received: 30 August 2019;  Published: 02 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2001096

Social isolation and social disconnectedness have resulted in some older adults ending their lives by suicide; therefore, improving social connectedness has become an integral part of suicide prevention programmes. The purpose of this literature review was to assess the impact of social connectedness interventions for preventing suicide in older adults. It is evident that interventions aimed at promoting social connectedness are intended to alleviate stress and depressive symptoms due to social separation and traum [...]

by Jeanneane Wood-Nartker  , Emily Beuschel  and Denise Guerin

Received: 28 August 2019;  Published: 16 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904095

As people age, environments supporting changing needs can potentially impact their quality of life. Aging often leads to a decrease in the ability of people to interpret sensory cues within their environment. Using Pastalan's Empathic Model as a framework, a list of guidelines for the physical environment was established to address the extrinsic risk factors affecting falls. Attention to these items may not prevent all falls but will mitigate some of the external risks that cause falls for older adults. It is the g [...]

by María Izal  , Roberto Nuevo  and Ignacio Montorio

Received: 19 June 2019;  Published: 12 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904094

Background: In the last two decades, successful aging (SA) and positive psychology (PP), the two paradigms of health have received great attention. They originate from different approaches, theoretical background, and objectives. Although they share many characteristics, their association remains understudied. This article aims to empirically analyze their possible interrelation. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 169 healthy, old adults completed several questionnaires to assess the central framework for succ [...]

by Alyson Holland  and Amanda Lorbergs

Received: 29 October 2019;  Published: 12 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904093

Beliefs about the daily experience of a disease are used to identify risk and motivate participation in prevention. For osteoporosis, a disease that is affected by health behaviours throughout the lifecourse, individual perceptions of the disease can affect health decisions and future disease prevalence. Understanding how the experience of osteoporosis is perceived by women at different stages of life can illuminate factors that influence engagement in prevention. Women representing three life stages - young adults [...]

by Renate Verkaik  , Iris van der Heide  , Eugenie van Eerden  , Peter Spreeuwenberg  , Erik Scherder  and Anneke L. Francke

Received: 02 April 2019;  Published: 11 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904092

Background: Studies conducted on the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions have indicated that sensory stimulation represents a promising approach to reduce the psychological and behavioral disturbances in people with dementia. Multi-sensory stimulation involves the simultaneous stimulation of multiple senses, through the use of various methods, for example, by using a variety of lights, gentle stimulating music, aromas, and tactile objects, among others. A relatively novel approach is the enriched thematic m [...]

by Horst J. Koch

Received: 06 August 2019;  Published: 04 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904091

The prevalence of Late-life Depression (LLD) has been estimated between 10% and 15%. Therefore, it is a considerable worldwide problem. The psychopathology is not substantially different from that of depressive episodes in young adults but somatic complaints in combination with end-of-life perspective leave an imprint on emotional experience. The frequent suicidal tendency, especially in old unmated men, remains a particular challenge. It is important to combine psychiatric and somatic diagnostics using modern meth [...]

by Katrine Hygum  , Jakob Starup-Linde  , Torben Harsløf  and Bente Langdahl

Received: 29 August 2019;  Published: 04 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904090

Background: The increased risk of fractures in individuals with diabetes has been underestimated by conventional fracture predictors such as the bone mineral density T-score or the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool. The present study conducted a systematic review and a meta-analysis to investigate the association between the levels of bone turnover markers (BTMs) and fractures in patients with diabetes. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search. Eligibility criteria were studies investigating BTMs in patient [...]

by Siu Fai Ho  , Avril Thomson  , Tricia Moylan  , Julie McGuckin  and Andrew Kerr

Received: 23 September 2019;  Published: 02 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904089

Background: The sit-to-stand (StS) movement is a frequently performed task critical to independent living that is both difficult to perform and associated with falls in older populations. Consequently, the recovery of this movement through supervised practice is a priority during the rehabilitation of older people. Technology may enable self-practice, potentially improving rehabilitation outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical feasibility and effectiveness of an automated movement feedback [...]