BACKGROUND This study explored the effects of an integrated care model for the frail elderly on informal caregivers' satisfaction with care and support services. METHODS A 62-item instrument was developed and deployed in an evaluative before/after study using a quasi-experimental design and enrolling a control group. The definitive study population (n=63) consisted mainly of female informal c...

Like many welfare states, France is faced with increasing demand for long term care (LTC) services. Public LTC coverage has evolved over the past 15 years, reaching a coverage depth of 70%. Nonetheless, it does not provide adequate and equitable financial protection for the growing number of frail elderly individuals, who are expected to constitute 3% of the population by the year 2060. Since 2...

Current federal policy is directed toward encouraging reliance on the voluntary sector for the provision of personal care services to the frail elderly. "Of particular interest is the development of volunteer and peer group support. . . which will reduce dependence on social services" {Federal Register, 1982, p. 55114). One impetus behind this policy is the fear that the expansion of formal com...

Elderly participants experiencing difficulty in chair rising and with a maximum knee-extensor torque below 87.5 N . m were randomized to different versions of a strength-training program for the knee-extensors: to a high-guidance group (HG; two group sessions supervised by a physical therapist and one unsupervised home session per week, n = 17), a medium-guidance group (MG; one supervised group...

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this work was to analyze and compare the movement kinematics of sit-to-stand (STS) and back-to-sit (BTS) transfers between frail aged adults and young subjects, as well as to determine the relationship between kinematic changes and functional capacities. METHODS We analyzed the Timed Up and Go (TUG) movements by using a 3D movement analysis system for real-time balanc...

BACKGROUND Although multiple interventional approaches to reduce perceived burden among caregivers of the frail elderly have been investigated for over a decade, the effectiveness of those interventions and the benefits of group versus individual interventions are largely unclear. OBJECTIVES This meta-analysis was undertaken to (a) assess the effectiveness of group and individual intervention...

BACKGROUND There is a growing mandate for Family Medicine residency programs to directly assess residents' clinical competence in Care of the Elderly (COE). The objectives of this paper are to describe the development and implementation of incremental core competencies for Postgraduate Year (PGY)-I Integrated Geriatrics Family Medicine, PGY-II Geriatrics Rotation Family Medicine, and PGY-III En...

All staff working in acute medical units (AMUs) will be familiar with the increasing number of frail older people requiring access to acute care. The AMU provides a key role in identifying the urgent and important issues which, if addressed accurately and comprehensively, will improve patient outcomes. Accordingly, acute medical teams need to possess the knowledge and skills, and demonstrate th...

The frail elderly in informal settlements find themselves in an extremely vulnerable position due to a number of factors, namely, their increasing dependency status, limited resources and adverse physical environment. Various aspects that influence the aged in their present environment will be highlighted. A survey method was used to explore and to describe the world in which they live in infor...

BACKGROUND Informal caregivers are essential figures for maintaining frail elderly at home. Providing informal care can affect the informal caregivers' physical and psychological health and labour market participation capabilities. They need support to prevent caregiver burden. A variety of existing support measures can help the caregiver care for the elderly at home, but with some limitations....