Predominant factors of institutionalization in the elderly: a comparative study between home nursing and community dwelling
ISSN: 1366-3666
Article publication date: 8 December 2020
Issue publication date: 22 January 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper was to detect the most significant factors associated with each living alternative to improve socialization and mental health of the elderly. The measurements included affective evaluation, cognitive assessment, anxiety level, physical functionality, quality of life and social relationships. Individuals in home nursing residences were older and had worse affective status, functionality, cognitive state and quality of life. Social relationships in community people were better than in the institutionalized condition, particularly for less aged people.
Design/methodology/approach
Comparative descriptive study realized in 200 people older than 70 years in home nursing placement versus community dwelling conditions.
Findings
Multivariate analysis and logistic regression indicated that greater disability and poorer quality of social relationships were the main factors influencing the institutionalization process. Specifically, the Sociotype Questionnaire appeared as an efficient tool concerning the detection of social isolation effects as well as an acceptable integrator of prosocial information about home nursing placement.
Originality/value
The Geriatric Sociotype survey has shown usefulness in the evaluation of the social network of elderly people, both from the point of view of assessment and prognosis. In this sense it is considered that one of the main contributions of this study is to have included the qualitative evaluation of social relations, and to observe the differences according to the place of residence.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the collaboration of the residences and day care centers that participated in the study, to the officers in charge; to the Aragon Institute of Health (to Dr Raquel del Moral), and finally to all the participants in the survey who made this study possible. This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.Conflict of interest: The authors report no biomedical financial interests or other potential conflicts of interest.
Citation
Montes Reula, L., Cañete Lairla, M., Navarro López, J., Pelegrín Valero, C., Galindo Ortiz de Landázuri, J., Marijuán Fernández, P. and Olivera Pueyo, F.J. (2021), "Predominant factors of institutionalization in the elderly: a comparative study between home nursing and community dwelling", Working with Older People, Vol. 25 No. 1, pp. 58-72. https://doi.org/10.1108/WWOP-08-2020-0043
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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