S. Crespo

Os muito idosos: avaliação funcional multidimensional

Theoretical framework: When translated into population ageing, the demographic transition process imposes an adaptation of the healthcare and social...

Assessment of functional status in oldest old: The OARS/QAFMI model for care planning

Introduction The geriatric assessment should include the physical, cognitive, emotional and social functional status, allowing a concrete understanding of the oldest old realities for a better health planning. Objectives To assess the functional status in main areas of the elderlys life: social resources, economic resources, mental health, physical health and activities of daily living (ADL). Aims Provide information to health and social policy makers and improve the quality of care, adapting the training of nurses to this new social and health reality. Methods The randomized, stratified (age and gender) sample consisted of individuals aged ≥75, randomly selected and representative of Coimbras (Portugal) elder residents ( n =11,279; n =1128). The instrument for data collection was the Questionario de Avaliacao Funcional Multidimensional para Idosos/Older Americans Resources and Services (QAFMI/OARS). Results In the social resources, there are significant differences between gender ( P P P Conclusions The results will play an important role in the decisions of the technicians at Health Centres to the planning of older care services and will be disseminate among the responsible entities aiming the improvement of the current policies.

The Oldest Old: Gender Differences in Mental and Physical Functional Status

Introduction The World Health Organization recognizes the gender as an ageing determinant. Thus, apart from biological differences, there is a need of a gender approach in health that includes an analysis of how differences in gender roles affect the health status. Objective To assess the functional status in two areas of the elderlys life (mental and physical health), analyzing the impact of gender as a determinant of health in aging. Methods Quantitative and descriptive study. Probabilistic sample stratified by age, gender and area of residence, constituted by 1153 older persons aged ≥75 years (N=16474), consisting of 422 men (36.6%) and 731 women (63.4%). The instrument for data collection was the Questionario de Avaliacao Funcional Multidimensional para Idosos/Older Americans Resources and Services (QAFMI/OARS). Results With regard to gender differences in the areas of physical and mental health the results evaluated with the QAFMI/OARS model stand women with worse scores in this two functional areas. Although men, and especially the older age group, mentioned that have had more need for a physician visit. Related to mental health the self-evaluation is worse in women, and also in the assessment of the QAFMI/OARS model, were it was a notorious difference between genders, observing a decline in mental health among women. Conclusions The feminization of aging implies an adequate public policies and the organization of health services, and social support, based on the understanding of the differences between aging as a man and as woman.

EPA-0821 - Mental health and functional status in oldest old: The use of oars/qafmi model for planning care

Introduction The progressive aging of the population in contemporary societies leads to the necessary adjustment to the responses of health care services. The project The Oldest Old: Coimbra aging study (PTDC/CS-SOC/114895/2009) assesses an elderly population enrolled in Health Centres of Coimbra - Portugal. The QAFMI/OARS is recognized as the first elderly multidimensional assessment, being one of the areas the mental health. Objectives Assess the use/need of health and social services by the elderly, related with their functional status in five areas (social resources, economic resources, mental health, physical health and activities of daily living). Aim Assess the use/need felt for health and social services by the elderly, related with the functional status in mental health. Methods Quantitative methodology using the QAFMI/OARS. The sample consisted of individuals aged 75, or more, randomly selected and representative of Coimbra’s elder residents (N=11279; n=1128). Mental health status was evaluated using the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire, the Short Psychiatric Evaluation Schedule and a self-evaluation. Results Preliminary results showed that in physical health, ADL and economic resources there are significant differences between age groups. In mental health, there is a significant difference classification between genders, with a tendentiously lower score in women. In social resources, there is a significant difference classification between gender and age group. Conclusions The work developed with OARS/QAFMI lead us to consider this instrument very useful to define functional status of the elders in specific evaluation areas as mental health, becoming right to the planning of older care services.

1636 – Mental health in oldest old population

Introduction The project “The Oldest Old: Coimbra aging study”’ (PTDC/CS-SOC/114895/2009) will be carried out based on an elderly population enrolled in Health Centers of the Municipality of Coimbra, Portugal. One of the areas in study is the mental health. This approach is complex due to the effects caused by changes occurring throughout life. Objectives Evaluate the mental health status of Coimbras elderly population applying the OARS/QAFMI (Older Americans Resources and Services/ Questionario de Avaliacao Funcional Multidimensional para Idosos) questionnaire. Aims Assess the use and need felt for health services and social support by the elderly, related with their functional status in mental health. Methods Quantitative methodology using the QAFMI/OARS. The sample consisted of individuals aged 75, or more, randomly selected and representative of Coimbras elder residents, to achieve 10% of the population. Their mental health status was evaluated using the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ), the Short Psychiatric Evaluation Schedule (SPES) and a self-evaluation. Results The preliminary results showed that the majority of the individuals had scored a “good mental health” status. The female had tendentiously lower scores of the mental health status than the males with the same age. The oldest individuals (≥85 years old) had also scored lower results than the ones with 75-84 years old. Conclusions The results obtained with the OARS/QAFMI indicated a cognitive decline, with differences between gender and age of the individuals being the females and oldest individuals the ones to score the worst mental status.