Psychological intervention with elderly people during the COVID-19 pandemic: the experience of a nursing home in Italy

Italy has been the first European country to face the Covid-19 pandemic in all its dramatic presence. According to official national reports, based on the analysis of 32 448 patients died positive for Covid-19 in Italy; the mean age of people who died from this pandemic was 80 years.2 Furthermore, overall the 21.5% and the 59.7% of the sample presented respectively two or three comorbidities with the most frequent being cardiovascular diseases (ischaemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, stroke, hypertension), type-2 diabetes, dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Fall prevention in the young old using an exoskeleton human body posturize. a randomized controlled trial

Background Fall risk in elderly has been related with physical decline, low quality of life and reduced survival.Aim To evaluate the impact of exoskeleton human body posturizer (HBP) on the fall risk in the elderly.Methods 150 subjects (mean age 64.85; 79 M/71 F) with mild fall risk were randomized into two groups: 75 for group treated with human body posturizer (HBP group) and 75 for physical training without HBP group (exercise group). The effects of interventions were assessed by differences in tests related to balance and falls. Medically eligible patients were screened with Tinetti balance and Gait evaluation scale, short physical performance battery and numeric pain rating scale to determine fall risk in elderly people.Results In the HBP group there was a significant improvement in short physical performance battery, Tinetti scale and Pain Numeric rating scale with a significant reduction in fall risk (p < 0.05). In the exercise group we observed only minimal variations in the test scores.Discussion The results at the sixth and twelfth months show a twofold positive effect in the HBP group reducing fall risk and improving quality of life by reducing pain.Conclusion The use of exoskeleton human body posturizer seems to be a new significant device for prevention of fall in elderly patients. Further research should be carried out to obtain more evidence on effects of robotic technology for fall prevention in the elderly

Using drawings to express and represent one's emotional experience during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. a case report of a woman living in a nursing home

Here, we report the case of an elderly woman (age: 77 years old; Mini‐Mental State Examination score: 30; Geriatric Depression Scale score: 6) who spent 3 months in isolation in her room in our nursing home as a prevention strategy during COVID‐19 pandemi

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in an elderly patient

Neurological disorders are a frequent cause of hospitalization in the elderly. Herein, wdescribe a case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) in a 68-year old woman. Medical history, neurological signs, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) studies and screening for infectious agents are needed for differential diagnosis. We started treatment with high-dose intravenous corticosteroids reaching good results

A new methodology in nursing home. The integrated individualized care plan

We propose a new work strategy in nursing homes, also known as “residenze sanitarie assistenziali – RSA” in in the Italian health care system. Currently the Italian legislation provides individualized rehabilitation plans for patients living in RSA (called “piano di assistenza individualizzato, PAI”). We propose a new methodology based on the integrated view of different services offered to the patient. We believe that it is essential to treat the elderly assisted in RSA not only as individuals but also as a part of a community that shares similar issues

Association between epicardial fat thickness and cognitive function in elderly. a preliminary study

Background: Recent studies suggested that the visceral fat could exert a predictive role in the pathogenesis of dementia. The aims of the present study were to evaluate: i) possible differences between groups with different epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness on the included variables; ii) the possible predictive role of the EAT levels on cognitive functioning. Methods: 65 community-dwelling subjects were enrolled and divided into two groups: EAT < 7 mm (n = 36); EAT > 7 mm (n = 29). The metabolic profile was assessed through the evaluation of the biochemical parameters whereas the EAT thickness was measured through the transthoracic echocardiography. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was also administered. Results: The two EAT groups reported several significant differences, included on the MMSE scores. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that the EAT thickness levels and the hypertension had a predictive effect on the MMSE scores. Conclusions: These preliminary findings support the association between EAT thickness levels and cognitive impairment

Prediction of empirical antibiotic therapy in respiratory infections using an artificial neural network : preliminary results. Atti 112 th National Congress of the Italian Society of Internal Medicine. 2011, Rome. Intern Emerg Med, 2011.

Preliminary results of a study using an artificial neural networ