older adults

With the increase in human lifespan, frailty has become an increasingly important issue that threatens older adults’ health. In Iran, limited studies have addressed the prevalence of frailty in community-dwelling older adults. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of frailty and its related factors in community-dwelling older adults in Tehran.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 383 people aged 60 years and older under the supervision of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran City, Iran, in 2022. We used randomized multi-stage cluster sampling. Data collection was done using the Tilburg frailty indicator (TFI). The researcher asked older adults and completed the questionnaires based on their answers. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test, independent t-test, Fisher exact test, and logistic regression in SPSS software, version 23. The significance level was set at P<0.05. 

Women constituted 48.80% and men 51.20% of the samples with an average age of 68.20±6.30 years. Among the participants, 72.30% were married. Prevalence of frailty was 40.50%. Frailty was associated with age, being unmarried, lower education level, lower income, unhealthy lifestyle, suffering from several diseases, dissatisfaction with living environment conditions, and some stressful events (P<0.001).

This research showed a high prevalence of frailty among community-dwelling older adults living in Tehran. Applying screening programs for frailty in primary care units and early interventions can prevent adverse outcomes.

The world population is rapidly aging and according to the World Health Organization report, the number of people aged 60 and over will reach two billion in 2050. Because of this, an important issue is emerging. It defines a new generation of healthcare platforms with the ability to monitor people's quality of life. In recent years, an increasing interest in product-service systems has been recorded in many industries. Various companies have recently introduced new services related to their products to meet customers' new and higher expectations. This interest increased with the introduction of new technologies and developments brought about by the Fourth Industrial Age. In this research, after presenting an introduction about the health-oriented smart product-service system, its importance has been examined for the components and indicators of the health-oriented smart product-service system for older adults.

In this qualitative study, by analyzing and reviewing the content of the studies conducted regarding the health-oriented smart product-service system and by obtaining the opinion of a focus group including 10 managers and experts in this field, the conceptual model of the smart product-service system The health of older adults was presented.

According to the review of the literature on the subject and the study of past research, the components and indicators of the smart health-oriented product-service system in a comprehensive manner (taking into account all the models and opinions raised in this field) present and the components of the system consisting of 10 main components; Actors and integration network, cost of system implementation and management, cloud platform and platform, physical platform, connectivity, personalization and customization, experience management and user interface (UI, UX), user feedback systems, drug management and clinical review. It is an educational guide and rules, and each component's indicators and system parameters are also mentioned.

The most important achievement of this research is a general initial model for this, which can be used as a basic architecture and structure by public and private organizations in the field of health, and especially technology-oriented startup companies to design a health-oriented intelligent product-service system. Also, the design of smart health-oriented product-service systems based on the cognitive factors of older adults and insurance systems based on the components and indicators proposed are topics for future research.

Older adults are susceptible to infectious diseases for various reasons. Additionally, these infections mainly account for their hospitalization and visits to doctors. Parallel to this, the progressive process of antimicrobial resistance has reduced the effectiveness of antibiotics in aged individuals. One promising novel method to overcome these complications is the application of phage therapy to treat these instances of infection. In fact, phages are viruses which exclusively destroy target bacteria. The present research aims to apply a foresight method to study phage therapy in older adults.

Using Horton’s foresight method, this study was conducted in 2024 in three stages: 1. Input or data collection, 2. Translation and interpretation of the initial stage results to attain a conceptualization of the future, 3. Assimilation and assessment of the concept obtained for practical application.

Infections constitute one of the main causes of mortality among older adults. Moreover, antimicrobial resistance against common bacteria in the elderly population, particularly in hospital acquired infections, is reported to be high. In general, laboratory evidence indicates the potential effectiveness of phage therapy against invasive bacteria such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli, which are resistant to antibiotics.

Notwithstanding the fact that due to scarcity of human studies, the application of phage therapy is limited, it could be introduced as a replacement method or together with antibiotics to curtail and treat resistant infections in older adults. It is necessary to conduct clinical trials on older adults alongside the study of phage therapy in low-risk groups. Providing the required facilities and promoting the design and development of bacteriophages in Iran through science-based and private corporations appears advisable.

Lifestyle is an individual issue and is influenced by social processes. The present study aimed to compare how some social factors affect the health of the elderly and predict their lifestyle in Iran and Iraq.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 800 elderly individuals aged 60 years and older referred to health centers in Iraq and Iran in 2022. Participants were randomly selected using a cluster sampling method. Data was collected using the demographic profile form, the healthy lifestyle questionnaire, and the questionnaire for social factors affecting health. Descriptive and analytical statistical tests (T-test, ANOVA, and Regression) were employed for data analysis.

The findings showed that Iraqi elderly individuals generally exhibited higher levels of active social participation, life satisfaction, access to health centers, and environmental adaptation. However, in other variables such as hope for the future, telephone communication and face-to-face meetings with people around them, or the number of medical visits, Iranian elderly participants were in better condition. Regression analysis revealed that the active social participation variable had the most significant impact on lifestyle changes for elderly individuals in both countries.

To enhance the quality of life for elderly individuals in Iran and Iraq, decisions and policies should prioritize active social participation, increased life satisfaction, and effective adaptation to environmental factors.

Anxiety and aggression are common problems in old age, which is often accompanied by feelings of inadequacy and physical decline. Older adults are more prone to anxiety and aggression due to decreased self-confidence, reduced activity and mobility, loss of loved ones, chronic diseases, and similar factors. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effectiveness of structured reminiscence on anxiety and aggression in older people living in nursing homes. The research design was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest control group design. The statistical population included all older adults living in nursing homes in Mashhad in 2024, among which one nursing home was randomly selected. The statistical sample included 30 older adults selected using convenience sampling and based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (15 people) and a control group (15 people). The experimental group underwent the structured reminiscence protocol in eight weekly 90-minute sessions. The data collection tools included Eysenck and Wilson’s aggression questionnaire and Beck’s anxiety inventory. Data were analyzed through univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS-26 software. The findings of the study showed that structured reminiscence was effective in reducing anxiety and aggression in older adults. Therefore, it can be concluded that structured reminiscence has a positive effect on improving the psychological well-being of older adults. Therefore, the social workers, counselors, psychologists, and health care providers working in the field of aging are recommended to take advantage of structured reminiscence in their treatment programs and intervention measures.

One of the critical periods of life is aging, during which people face various physical and mental problems that affect their quality of life. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between meaning in life and quality of life through the mediating role of death anxiety. This was a descriptive correlational study using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population of the present study included employees and retirees aged 60 to 65 years of various offices and organizations of Tehran, Iran in 2023-2024, among whom 354 people were selected as the sample. Participants answered the Templer’s death anxiety, WHO quality of life, and Steger et al.’s meaning in life questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed by SEM using SPSS-24 and AMOS-24 software. The results showed that there is a significant negative relationship between meaning in life and quality of life with death anxiety, and a significant positive relationship between meaning in life and quality of life. In addition, the mediating role of death anxiety in the relationship between meaning in life and quality of life was confirmed (P=.001). In general, given that death anxiety affects the quality of life of older adults, addressing the issue of meaning in life in the field of counseling for older adults can help improve their quality of life.

The ever-increasing growth of older population and its consequences have led aging to become a significant social issue in most societies. Old age is an unavoidable and critical period in human life, impacting all aspects of living. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship of early maladaptive schemas (EMS) with depression and social anxiety in older adults. This was a descriptive-correlational study in which 150 individuals were selected through convenience sampling from all older adults aged 60 and over living in Tehran, Iran. The measures included Young’s 75-item EMS questionnaire, Yesavage et al.’s geriatric depression scale and Connor et al.’s social anxiety questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS-28, indicating a significant direct relationship of early maladaptive schemas with both depression and social anxiety (p<0.05). The results of Pearson’s correlation test revealed that EMS of abandonment, emotional deprivation, social isolation, and failure had the strongest correlation with depression. While, EMS of perfectionism, defect/shame, social isolation, and vulnerability to harm were associated with social anxiety. Additionally, the results from multiple linear regression analysis showed that four EMS, namely abandonment, emotional deprivation, defect/shame, and emotional inhibition, were able to significantly predict depression, whereas three EMS, namely social isolation, defect/shame, and perfectionism, were proven to significantly predict social anxiety. It can be concluded that implementing preventive programs during childhood and adolescence to examine schemas and conducting comprehensive educational courses focused on schemas can serve as effective strategies for psychoeducation and improving well-being in old age.

Old age is a sensitive period in which examining different dimensions of mental health becomes very important. Tolerating distress and character strengths is one of the factors that can have a significant impact on people’s mental health in old age. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on distress tolerance and character strengths on older adults of Dezful, Iran. The research method was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population included all the older adults living in Dezful in 2023. The sample of the research included 30 older adults (65 to 75 years old) selected by the convenience sampling method and based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. The experimental group received Hayes et al.’s package of ACT in eight weekly 90-minute sessions. The scales used in this research included Peterson and Seligman’s character strengths scale and Simmons and Gaher’s distress tolerance scale. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS-22 software. The results revealed that by controlling the effect of the pre-test in the post-test stage, there was a significant difference between the control and experimental groups in terms of distress tolerance and character strengths (p<.001). Based on the findings of this study, ACT increases the distress tolerance and character strengths in older adults and represents new horizons in clinical interventions and can be used as an effective intervention in improving the distress tolerance and character strengths in older adults.

Aging is one of the stages of the life cycle that is accompanied by sensory changes and bodily awareness. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of perceptual-motor exercises based on multi-sensory therapy on body image and sensory processing in elderly individuals with cognitive impairments.

The present study is a clinical trial with a pre-test-post-test design with an experimental and a control group, conducted in a double-blind manner. The samples were selected using the available sampling method and were randomly assigned to the control and experimental groups (15 participants in each group). The interventions were performed individually for each participant in 8 treatment sessions, 2 days a week, for a duration of 1 month. The assessment tools included the multidimensional body-self relations questionnaire (MBSRQ) and the sensory profile questionnaire.

The results showed that the perceptual-motor exercises based on multi-sensory therapy had a significant difference in all cases of the MBSRQ (except for body satisfaction and preoccupation with excess body) and the sensory profile questionnaire in both groups (P<0.05). Additionally, the analysis of covariance in both questionnaires and in both groups was calculated to be less than 0.05 and significant.

The findings of this study showed that perceptual-motor exercises based on multi-sensory methods can improve body image and enhance sensory processing skills in elderly individuals with cognitive impairments. Therefore, educating and repeating these exercises can greatly assist therapists and clients in achieving more beneficial results.

During times of crisis, the family caregivers of older adults need heightened attention to their own health. This study aimed to examine the impact of religious spiritual care training on the ability and spiritual health of family caregivers of older adults in Bushehr, Iran, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A field trial was conducted on 80 family caregivers of older adults referring to comprehensive health centers and the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center in Bushehr by random sampling in 2022. Pouladi’s ability questionnaire and Polotzin's and Ellison's Spiritual Health Questionnaire were administered. The experimental group received spiritual religious training. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 19.

The mean change in the total ability scores was -0.87 ± 8.44 in the experimental group, while the control group exhibited a mean change of 0.27 ± 0.87. The mean change in the total spiritual health scores was 5.05 ± 11.12 in the experimental and -0.47 ± 0.96 in the control groups. Religious spiritual care training was effective in improving the physical-psychological ability of the research population (p=0.045), but it was not effective on the other areas of ability and overall ability (p>0.05). Religious spiritual intervention was effective in improving the existential dimension of spiritual health (p=0.001) and overall spiritual health (p=0.002), but it was not effective on the religious dimension of spiritual health (p>0.05)

The effect of spiritual religious care training on physical-psychological ability and the existential dimension of spiritual health in the caregivers indicates the usefulness of the religious spiritual care model for strengthening the caregivers' physical, psychological, and care behavior. Further studies are recommended to explore the factors contributing to the other domains of ability and the religious dimension of spiritual health and to enhance caregivers' empowerment and spiritual health.

Older adults are particularly vulnerable to the COVID-19 disease, with a slower immune response and reduced effectiveness.

Epidemiological profile of COVID-19 among older adults.

This multicenter study was designed based on the Medical Care Monitoring System (MCMC) to assess the prevalence and impact of COVID-19 in the elderly population in northern Iran (Guilan province) from February 2019 to February 2021.

The study included 42,481 elderly individuals aged 60 and above hospitalized due to COVID-19 during the study period. Of these, 22,026 (52%) were male and 20,455 (48%) were female. Nearly 10% of the older adults in the Guilan province required hospitalization due to COVID-19. Among the hospitalized patients, 14% succumbed to the disease. Of the total deaths, 3,084 patients (49%) tested positive for COVID-19 through PCR testing. The most common comorbidities among the deceased patients were cardiovascular diseases (25.3%) and diabetes (24.3%). The study found significant associations between gender and age, age and mortality rates, clinical symptoms, and mortality rates regarding disease occurrence

Due to the increasing number of older adults, special attention should be paid to diabetic and cardiovascular patients, especially men, during epidemics and pandemics. It is important to train staff in private hospitals to be prepared for epidemics and to use the referral system at the health service level to reduce the burden of hospital visits.