Hans Rudolf Schelling

Die Auswirkungen sozialer Unterstützung auf das Wohlbefinden dementer Heimbewohnerinnen und Heimbewohner

ZusammenfassungHintergrund Angehörige und Pflegende von dementen Menschen sind bezüglich der Wirkung ihrer Bemühungen oft verunsichert. In dieser Studie wird untersucht, ob bzw. inwiefern soziale Unterstützung in Form regelmäßiger Besuche das Wohlbefinden betagter dementer Menschen verbessert. Durchführung Zur Überprüfung dieser Fragestellung wurde eine Interventionsstudie mit leicht bis schwer dementen Heimbewohnern1 (MMS 5–25) durchgeführt. Durch Aufrufe an der Seniorenuniversität Zürich und Inserate wurden freiwillige Helfer rekrutiert, die bereit waren, die Heimbewohner regelmäßig zu besuchen. Die Besucher wurden im Umgang mit dementen Menschen geschult und regelmäßig betreut. Die Versuchsteilnehmer wurden zufällig einer von zwei Untersuchungsgruppen zugewiesen. Die erste Gruppe bekam über zehn Wochen regelmäßig Besuch, während die zweite Gruppe als Kontrollgruppe diente. Zur Erinnerung und um den Effekt der Vorhersagbarkeit zu verstärken, erhielten die Teilnehmer der Experimentalgruppe eine Terminkarte, die mit dem Foto des freiwilligen Helfers und dem nächsten Besuchstermin versehen war. Befunde Die Besuche hatten einen signifikant positiven Einfluss auf das Wohlbefinden der Heimbewohner (F(1,39)=11,16, p <0,002). Es konnten Verbesserungen im psychischen, physischen und sozialen Wohlbefinden der Teilnehmer festgestellt werden. Zudem milderten die Besuche das durch körperliche Krankheiten entstandene Leiden und schienen die Auswirkungen des geistigen Abbaus auf die Leistungsfähigkeit der Patienten abzuschwächen. Eindrücklich war zudem die Erkenntnis, dass die dementen Heimbewohner die Besuche wirklich registrierten und sich in irgendeiner Form daran zu erinnern schienen. Die Untersuchung zeigte, dass demente Menschen in emotionalen Belangen sehr empfindsam sind und über ihre Empfindungen auch noch bis zu einem relativ schweren Demenzstadium erstaunlich gut und differenziert Auskunft geben können. Auch die freiwilligen Helfer profitierten von den Besuchen, was unter anderem darin zum Ausdruck kam, dass ihr Wohlbefinden nach den Besuchen jeweils deutlich anstieg.SummaryBackground Relatives and caregivers of patients with dementia are often insecure about the impact of their efforts. This study examines whether and to what extent social support in the form of regular visits is increasing the well-being of demented aged. Procedure A field experiment with slightly to seriously demented institutionalized aged persons (MMS 5–25) was carried out to assess the effect of increased social support upon their well-being. Voluntary helpers, who were willing to visit their patients on a regular basis, were recruited by appeals at the senior university and by advertisements. The volunteers were trained to deal with the demented and were looked after regularly. The test subjects were randomly assigned to one of two test groups. The first group was visited regularly for ten weeks, whereas the second group served as a control group. The participants of the experimental group received a visiting card with a photo of the volunteer and the next appointment date to remember their visitors and to increase the effect of predictability. Results The effect of visits on the well-being of the institutionalized aged persons was significantly positive (F(1,39)=11.16, p <0.002). The psychological, physiological and social well-being of the participants was improved. Additionally, visits moderated the pain resulting from physical illness and seemed to decrease the effects of mental decline on their performance. Furthermore, it was most impressive to find that the demented aged really took notice of the visits and seemed to remember them in one way or an other. The study pointed out that demented aged persons are still very sensitive in an emotional respect and that they are still able to give astonishing good and differentiated information about their feelings even in an advanced state of dementia. Even the volunteers gained from their visits, which was shown by their higher well-being after their visits.

Einstellungen zum eigenen Altern: Eine Alters- oder eine Ressourcenfrage?

ZusammenfassungGenerelle positive und negative Stereotype und Einstellungen zum Alter können erhebliche Auswirkungen auf den weiteren Verlauf kognitiver und körperlicher Leistungsfähigkeit im Alter haben. Wenig bekannt ist bisher, wie stark Einstellungen zum eigenen Altern von (a) der aktuellen Ressourcenlage einer Person, (b) den Veränderungen der Ressourcenlage oder (c) dem zunehmenden Alter von Personen abhängen. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, die Zusammenhänge zwischen individuell verfügbaren körperlichen, psychischen und kognitiven Ressourcen einerseits und den Einstellungen zum eigenen Altern andererseits zu untersuchen. Diese Zusammenhänge wurden mit den Daten von N=500 1930–1932 geborenen Teilnehmenden (Alter: M=63,0, SD=0,9 zu T1 und M=66,9, SD=0,9 zu T2) der Interdisziplinären Längsschnittstudie des Erwachsenenalters (ILSE) geprüft.Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Einstellungen zum eigenen Altern (a) mit zunehmendem Alter negativer werden, (b) wesentlich von der aktuellen Ressourcenlage abhängig sind, (c) Veränderungen der Ressourcenlage sich zusätzlich auf die Einstellungen zum eigenen Altern auswirken, und (d) das Alter eher als Verstärker des Zusammenhangs zwischen Ressourcen und Einstellungen denn als eigenständiger Einflussfaktor auf die Einstellungen zum eigenen Alter auftritt.AbstractRecent studies have demonstrated that positive and negative stereotypes and attitudes toward age and aging may have substantial effects on the longterm development of cognitive and physical performance in old age. Relatively little is known to which degree attitudes toward ones own aging depend on (a) the current level of individual resources, (b) changes in the level of individual resources, or (c) the increasing age of older persons. The present study examined the relations between individual physical, mental, and cognitive resources and the attitudes toward ones own aging. The study was conducted with N=500 participants of the Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study of Adult Development (ILSE) born between 1930 and 1932 (age: M=63.0, SD=0.9 at T1 and M=66.9, SD=0.9 at T2). The results indicate that the attitudes toward ones own aging (a) become more negative with increasing age, (b) most strongly depend on the available resources, (c) changes in level of resources contribute to the prediction of the attitudes toward ones own aging, and (d) age acts more as a reinforcing factor on the relation between resources and attitudes than as an independent factor on the attitudes toward ones own aging.Recent studies have demonstrated that positive and negative stereotypes and attitudes toward age and aging may have substantial effects on the longterm development of cognitive and physical performance in old age. Relatively little is known to which degree attitudes toward ones own aging depend on (a) the current level of individual resources, (b) changes in the level of individual resources, or (c) the increasing age of older persons. The present study examined the relations between individual physical, mental, and cognitive resources and the attitudes toward ones own aging. The study was conducted with N=500 participants of the Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study of Adult Development (ILSE) born between 1930 and 1932 (age: M=63.0, SD=0.9 at T1 and M=66.9, SD=0.9 at T2). The results indicate that the attitudes toward ones own aging (a) become more negative with increasing age, (b) most strongly depend on the available resources, (c) changes in level of resources contribute to the prediction of the attitudes toward ones own aging, and (d) age acts more as a reinforcing factor on the relation between resources and attitudes than as an independent factor on the attitudes toward ones own aging.

The use of mobile devices for physical activity tracking in older adults’ everyday life:

Objective The tracking of one’s own physical activity with mobile devices is a way of monitoring and motivating oneself to remain healthy. Older adults’ general use of mobile devices for physical activity tracking has not yet been examined systematically. The study aimed to describe the use of physical activity trackers, smartwatches and smartphones, or tablets for tracking physical activity and to examine the reasons for the use of these technologies. Methods Participants aged ≥50 years (N = 1013) living in Switzerland were interviewed in a telephone survey. To address the research questions, we calculated descriptive frequency distributions, tested for differences between groups, and performed logistic regression analyses. Results Descriptive and multivariate analyses showed that (a) 20.5% of participants used mobile devices for physical activity tracking; (b) men, younger individuals, those with a strong interest in new technology, and those who frequently exercised had a higher likelihood of using mobile devices for physical activity tracking; and (c) participants more often agreed with reasons for use relating to tracking physical activity and motivating oneself to remain healthy than they did with reasons relating to social factors. Conclusions The study presented representative data about the actual use of mobile tracking technology in persons over 50 years of age. Today, mainly active and younger elderly (mostly men) with a high interest in technology are using tracking technologies. Results indicate a need for further studies on motivational and usability aspects regarding the use of mobile health tracking devices by older adults.

Attitudes toward aging and retirement homes before and after entry into a retirement home

ABSTRACT The change of ones habitual living conditions in favor of institutionalized living in a retirement home can be a stressful event. Therefore, the question arises: How does entry into a retirement home affect attitudes toward ones life and aging and toward retirement homes? In order to answer this question, we used longitudinal data from 53 older individuals who were surveyed before and after entry into a retirement home. The data revealed that attitudes toward ones life and aging changed negatively and attitudes toward retirement homes changed positively; however, there are gains and losses in both attitudes.