Family of older adults with mental disorder: perception of mental health professionals

Gender Disparity and the Association Between Socioeconomic Status, Mental Health, and the Need for Long-Term Services and Support Among the Older Koreans

Background

Population aging-the inevitable increase in the percentage of older adults-is occurring all around the world as the fertility rate declines and life expectancy rises. This study examined the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES), mental health, and the need for long-term services and support (LTSS) among Korean older adults. It also aimed to provide evidence-based information for South Korea's long-term support services and programs.

Methods

This study used the data on older adults aged over 60 years from the 2018 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). Ultimately, 5,527 older adults were included in the database (42.6% men, 57.4% women). To clarify the association between SES, mental health, and the need for LTSS among older Korean men and women, chi-squared test, t-test, and structural equation modeling (SEM) were performed.

Results

The SEM analysis showed that a significant, negative association was observed between SES and the need for LTSS among these older adults-the higher SES groups would generally have less need for LTSS. Mental health had a strong, negative impact on the need for LTSS-better mental health status of the older individuals would indicate a lower need for LTSS, and the effect was stronger among older men. Meanwhile, the positive relationship between SES and mental health was verified-the higher the SES of these older adults the better their mental health.

Conclusions

Gender- and social class-sensitive impacts of mental health on the need for LTSS were observed in this study. These findings could provide an evidence-based reference for interventions targeting different genders and social classes in Korea's long-term care system, such as the enhancement of social welfare and mental health status of the older adults.

Mental health profile of the elderly community: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

to describe the mental health profile of the elderly registered in a Family Health Unit in the city of Recife, Pernambuco State.

METHOD

it was a descriptive quantitative study, conducted with 159 elderly through the scales Geriatric Depression, Resilience, Social Support, Life Satisfaction, and Positive and Negative Affects, Mini-Mental State Examination, Stressful Events Inventory and Brazil Old Age Shedule.

RESULTS

females, young and literate elderly predominated. Most were satisfied with life, 52.2% without depressive symptoms, 68.6% without cognitive impairment, 67.9% high resilience and 95.8% high social support, but 62% of elderly with depressive symptoms showed cognitive deficit. Negative correlation was identified between depression and cognitive impairment, resilience, social support and life satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

assessment of these indicators identifies triggers of psychological distress, assisting the nursing staff in the development of preventive and care actions.

Perceptions of the elderly on aging and violence in intrafamily relationships

Abstract Objective: To identify the different perceptions of the aging process and violence in intrafamilial relations of elderly participants of a social and coexistence group. Method: An exploratory and descriptive qualitative study was performed through the application of a sociodemographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview, with seven elderly people participating in the Coexistence and Strengthening of Bonds social group. The results of the discourses were assessed through thematic content analysis. Results: The extraction into thematic units allowed the elaboration of two intertwined categories: self-perception of the process of intrafamily aging and violence in the eyes of the elderly. Conclusion: The elderly reported that the family is responsible for providing care, appreciation and understanding, and that the aging process brings new possibilities for coexistence, but it is also accompanied by weaknesses and limitations. They also indicated subtle practices of psychological, financial, and abandonment violence, making them impotent, ashamed, and fearful to adopt effective initiatives to restore cordial, ethical, and harmonious family relationships.