Predictive Factors of Anxiety, Depression, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Community-Dwelling and Institutionalized Elderly during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Effects of reminiscence therapy combined with memory specificity training (RT-MeST) on depressive symptoms in older adults: a randomized controlled trial protocol

BACKGROUND

Geriatric depression has become a serious public health problem, and reduced autobiographical memory and increased overgeneral memory, as the main cognitive markers of depression, are not only associated with current depressive symptoms but also associated with the onset and course of depression, which can lead to a range of harms. Economic and effective psychological interventions are urgently needed. The aim of this study is to confirm the effectiveness of reminiscence therapy combined with memory specificity training in improving autobiographical memory and depressive symptoms in older adults.

METHODS

In this multicentre, single-blind, three-arm parallel randomized controlled study, we aim to enrol 78 older adults aged 65 years or older with a score of ≥ 11 on the Geriatric Depression Scale, and participants will be randomly assigned to either a reminiscence therapy group, a reminiscence therapy with memory specificity training group or a usual care group. Assessments will be conducted at baseline (T0) as well as immediately post-intervention (T1) and 1 (T2), 3 (T3) and 6 (T4) months post-intervention. The primary outcome measure is self-reported depressive symptoms, measured using the GDS. Secondary outcome measures include measures of autobiographical memory, rumination, and social engagement.

DISCUSSION

We believe that the intervention will play a positive role in improving autobiographical memory and depressive symptoms in older adults. Poor autobiographical memory is a predictor of depression and a major cognitive marker, and improving autobiographical memory is of great significance in alleviating depressive symptoms in older people. If our program is effective, it will provide a convenient and feasible strategy for further promoting healthy ageing.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR2200065446.

Factors Associated With the Quality of Life of Nursing Home Residents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVES

Quality of life (QoL) of nursing home (NH) residents is critical, yet understudied, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our objective was to examine whether COVID-19 outbreaks, lack of access to geriatric professionals, and care aide burnout were associated with NH residents' QoL.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study (July to December 2021).

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

We purposefully selected 9 NHs in Alberta, Canada, based on their COVID-19 exposure (no or minor/short outbreaks vs repeated or extensive outbreaks). We included data for 689 residents from 18 care units.

METHODS

We used the DEMQOL-CH to assess resident QoL through video-based care aide interviews. Independent variables included a COVID-19 outbreak in the NH in the past 2 weeks (health authority records), care unit-levels of care aide burnout (9-item short-form Maslach Burnout Inventory), and resident access to geriatric professionals (validated facility survey). We ran mixed-effects regression models, adjusted for facility and care unit (validated surveys), and resident covariates (Resident Assessment Instrument-Minimum Data Set 2.0).

RESULTS

Recent COVID-19 outbreaks (β = 0.189; 95% CI: 0.058-0.320), higher proportions of emotionally exhausted care aides on a care unit (β = 0.681; 95% CI: 0.246-1.115), and lack of access to geriatric professionals (β = 0.216; 95% CI: 0.003-0.428) were significantly associated with poorer resident QoL.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Policies aimed at reducing infection outbreaks, better supporting staff, and increasing access to specialist providers may help to mitigate how COVID-19 has negatively affected NH resident QoL.

Comparison of the Quality of Life and Depression in the Elderly with and without a History of COVID-19 Infection in Shiraz, Iran

Background

COVID-19 causes many physical and mental complications. The elderly, as one of the vulnerable groups, were more exposed to the problems caused by this pandemic. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life and depression in the elderly with and without a history of COVID-19 infection.

Method

This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted on 404 elderly people (202 from the affected group and 202 from the nonaffected group) aged over 60 years old in Shiraz city. The elderly participants were selected based on simple random sampling from the elderly list. In order to collect information, the quality of life questionnaire of the World Health Organization and Beck's depression questionnaire were used. Data analysis was done through SPSS software version 22 using statistical tests of chi-square, t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. An alpha level under 0.05 was considered the significant level.

Results

The average score of depression in the elderly with a history of COVID-19 (14.66 ± 13.17) was significantly higher than that of the elderly without a history of COVID-19 (9.71 ± 10.12) (p < 0.001). The average score of the quality of life in the elderly with a history of COVID-19 (80.15 ± 14.85) was significantly lower than that of the elderly without a history of COVID-19 (85.25 ± 14.09) (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Elderly people with a history of COVID-19 had more depression and lower quality of life compared to people without a history of COVID-19. It is suggested that planners and health policymakers should pay special attention to the use of effective psychological interventions in order to reduce the problems of the elderly.