Primary and Secondary Caregivers of People with Dementia (PwD): Differential Patterns and Implications for Psychological Support

Very little attention has been paid to identifying the differential characteristics of primary and secondary dementia caregivers. The aims of this study were: to determine whether differences exist between primary and secondary caregivers of people with dementia (PwD) and to explore the profile of primary and secondary caregivers reporting symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. The participants were 146 caregivers of PwD, 73 primary caregivers and 73 secondary caregivers. The results revealed different patterns for each type of caregiver. Primary caregivers showed a more negative profile in terms of poorer self-rated health and higher levels of anxiety and depression: 61.6% of primary and 42.5% of secondary caregivers reported symptoms of anxiety, and 24.7% and 11% reported depression, respectively. The frequency of problem behavior, subjective burden, health, and the comorbidity between anxiety and depression were associated with depression and anxiety among primary caregivers, whereas gender (being a woman), subjective burden, health, and the comorbidity between anxiety and depression were associated among secondary caregivers. These findings may help to guide professionals in targeting psychological support programs and customizing the strategies and skills that need to be provided in accordance with the type of caregiver in question: primary or secondary. The practical implications of the findings are discussed

Definition and assessment of psychological frailty in older adults: A scoping review

Objectives The confusion surrounding psychological frailty and its components prompts the need for a standardized conceptual definition. To address this, we aimed to (1) identify the psychological variables included in multicomponent frailty assessment instruments used with older adults and examine their operationalization; and (2) formulate a thorough conceptualization of psychological frailty based on the variables identified. Methods This study followed the most recent recommendations for conducting scoping reviews and is reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. We systematically searched the CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, with additional searches in Google Scholar and reference lists. Results Sixteen instruments were identified. The results suggested that: (1) In multicomponent frailty assessment instruments, psychological variables are poorly represented; (2) A wide variety of psychological variables are included in the instruments, the most frequent being cognitive functioning and affective functioning (e.g., depressive symptoms, emotional loneliness, anxiety symptoms, poor coping, and suicidal ideation); and (3) The way in which variables are referred to and operationalized varies across instruments. Conclusions Including both cognitive and affective variables in psychological frailty assessments may lead to inaccuracies. We suggest distinguishing between two separate dimensions within psychological frailty: cognitive frailty and affective frailty. A conceptual definition for each dimension is provided. This proposal aims to advance the debate regarding the conceptualization and assessment of psychological frailty, with further research and discussion needed to ensure its practical applicability.This work was supported by the Basque Government (grant numbers: PRE_2020_1_0004 and IT1493-22). The funder played no role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, preparation of the manuscript, or decision to publish

Estudio descriptivo de algunas variables emocionales en las personas mayores

Se analizó el funcionamiento emocional (afecto positivo y negativo, satisfacción con la vida, soledad y estrategias de regulación) de las personas centenarias en comparación con el de personas de menor edad (65-74, 75-84 y 85-94 años). Participaron en el estudio 257 personas mayores sin deterioro cognitivo y sin dependencia para las Actividades de la Vida Diaria (AVD). Los resultados revelaron que, en las personas centenarias, se producía una disminución de la afectividad positiva en comparación con los grupos de 65 a 74 años y de 75 a 84 años, pero no así con el de 85 a 94 años. Además, presentaban menor afecto negativo y más satisfacción con la vida (en comparación con el grupo de 65 a 74 años), al tiempo que manifestaban sentirse más solas (en comparación con los grupos de 65 a 74 años y de 75 a 84 años). Con respecto a las estrategias de regulación, en general, las personas centenarias utilizan en menor medida las estrategias proactivas y la solución de problemas y en mayor medida las pasivas, al menos en la regulación de la tristeza. En conclusión, a pesar de experimentar menos afecto positivo y más soledad se produce cierta disminución en el afecto negativo, e incluso cierto aumento de la satisfacción con la vida. En lo que respecta a la regulación emocional, las personas centenarias utilizan menos las estrategias proactivas y más las pasivas (tristeza)

Descriptive study of emotional variables elderly people

Emotional functioning (positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, loneliness and regulation strategies) of centenarians compared to younger adults was analyzed (65-74, 75-84, and 85-94 years old). This study was conducted with 257 older adults cognitively healthy and independent for the performance of the Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Results showed a decrease in positive affect in comparison with 65 to 74 and 75 to 84 age groups, but not with 85 to 94. Centenarians also showed less negative affect and increased life satisfaction (in comparison with the youngest age group). In comparison with 65 to 74 and 75 to 84 age groups centenarians experimented higher loneliness. In regard to regulation strategies, in general, centenarians use less proactive strategies and problem solving while more passive strategies at least when regulating sadness. In conclusion, despite experiencing less positive affect and a higher loneliness, less negative affect and a higher life satisfaction was observed among centenarians. In addition, centenarians use proactive strategies less and passive strategies more

Estudio descriptivo de algunas variables emocionales en las personas mayores

Emotional functioning (positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, loneliness and regulation strategies) of centenarians compared to younger adults was analyzed (65-74, 75-84, and 85-94 years old).This study was conducted with 257 older adults cognitively healthy and independent for the performance of the Activities of Daily Living (ADL).Results showed a decrease in positive affect in comparison with 65 to 74 and 75 to 84 age groups, butnot with 85 to 94. Centenarians also showed less negative affect and increased life satisfaction (in comparison with the youngest age group). In comparison with 65 to 74 and 75 to 84 age groups centenarians experimented higher loneliness. In regard to regulation strategies, in general, centenarians use less proactive strategies and problem solving while more passive strategies at least when regulating sadness.In conclusion, despite experiencing less positive affect and a higher loneliness, less negative affect and a higher life satisfaction was observed among centenarians. In addition, centenarians use proactive strategies less and passive strategies more.Se analizó el funcionamiento emocional (afecto positivo y negativo, satisfacción con la vida, soledad y estrategias de regulación) de las personas centenarias en comparación con el depersonas de menor edad (65-74, 75-84y 85-94 años).Participaron en el estudio 257 personas mayores sin deterioro cognitivo y sin dependencia para las Actividades de la Vida Diaria (AVD).Los resultados revelaron que,en las personas centenarias, se producía una disminución de la afectividad positiva en comparación con los grupos de 65 a 74 años y de 75 a 84 años, pero no así con el de 85 a 94 años. Además, presentaban menor afecto negativo y más satisfacción con la vida (en comparación con el grupo de 65 a 74 años), al tiempo que manifestaban sentirse más solas (en comparación con los grupos de 65 a 74 años y de 75 a 84 años). Con respecto a las estrategias de regulación, en general, las personas centenarias utilizan en menor medida las estrategias proactivas y la solución de problemas y en mayor medida las pasivas, al menos en la regulación de la tristeza.En conclusión, a pesar de experimentar menos afecto positivo y más soledad se produce cierta disminución en el afecto negativo, e incluso cierto aumentode la satisfacción con la vida. En lo que respecta a la regulación emocional, las personas centenarias utilizan menos las estrategias proactivas y más las pasivas (tristeza)

Defining and assessing psychological frailty in older adults: A scoping review

This is the registration of a scoping review addressing the definition and assessment of psychological frailty. Specifically, the objective of this scoping review is to identify psychological variables taken into account in multi-component frailty assessment tools, as well as to examine how those psychological variables have been operationalized. This protocol was drafted by adhering to the guidelines and recommendations from various established methodological frameworks for scoping reviews

Automatic Fall Detection and Activity Monitoring for Elderly

International audienceOur modern societies are confronted to a new growing problem: the global ageing of population. In order to find ways to encourage elderly people to live longer in their own home, ensuring the necessary vigilance and security at the lowest cost, some tele-assistance systems are already available commercially. This article presents a specific neural network used on a portable system for classifying activities in ambulatory monitoring. After more precisions about this specific neural network, we present in the second part some experimental results from our prototype stemming from gerontologic institute Ingema

Defining and assessing psychological frailty in older adults: a scoping review protocol

Introduction Frailty is widely acknowledged as a multidimensional construct encompassing physical, psychological and social aspects. However, the lack of consensus in defining and operationalising psychological frailty challenges the holistic approach to frailty advocated by health professionals. Consequently, there is a need to develop a comprehensive definition of psychological frailty based on contributions made by experts in the field, primarily existing frailty assessment tools. This scoping review will aim to identify the key psychological variables that are considered in frailty assessment tools used with older adults as well as to analyse how these psychological variables have been operationalised. Methods and analysis The study will be conducted in accordance with recommendations from several methodological frameworks for scoping reviews and will be reported following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews statement guidelines. A systematic literature search will be performed in the CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Scopus and Web of Science databases, supplemented by a search in Google Scholar and reference lists. The focus will be on studies that describe the development of multicomponent frailty assessment tools including at least one psychological variable. Study selection and data extraction will be independently conducted by three reviewers working in pairs. Data will be presented in tabular form, and the data will be analysed using qualitative content analysis. Ethics and dissemination This study does not require ethical approval since it is based on secondary data analysis. The findings of the review will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and will be presented at conferences and seminars. Trial registration number The scoping review was registered in Open Science Framework on 29 March 2022 (https://osf.io/bn24y)

Traumatic Pathology and Violence Between the 7th and 11th Centuries in the Hermitic Necropolis of Las Gobas (Laño, Treviño, Burgos)

We present here an osteoarchaeological study of the human remains exhumed from the necropolis of Las Gobas (Burgos, Spain), a hermitic community settled in a distant valley under the protection of a large rocky outcrop, where these persons dug out their churches and dwelling places. The necropolis corresponds to a chronology extending from the 7th to the 11th centuries, and it consisted of graves excavated in the rock, simple pits, and a sarcophagus-like burial, with a total of 42 individuals from both sexes and from different age groups. The steep, stony physical environment could explain the high frequency of fractures in the limb bones, possibly related to accidental falls or blows. However, perimortem and antemortem lesions caused by sharp-edged weapons indicate the presence of episodes of interpersonal or intergroup violence in this Christian hermitic settlement

A specific neural network used on a portable system for classifying activities in ambulatory monitoring

International audienceOur modern societies are confronted to a new growing problem: the global ageing of population. In order to find ways to encourage elderly people living longer at their own home, ensuring the necessary vigilance and security at the lower cost possible, some tele-assistance systems are already available commercially. This article presents a specific neural network used on a portable system for classifying activities in ambulatory monitoring. After more precisions about this specific neural network in the second part we will present some results from our prototype stemmed from gerontologic institute Ingema