Evaluation of elders 85 years and older in social and sanitary aspects

Hasan Hüseyin EKER, Aclan ÖZDERr, Mehmet Akif KARAN, Işın BARAL KULAKSIZOĞLU, Turgut ŞAHİNÖZ, Nurullah YÜCEL


Abstract

Objective: This study has been conducted to evaluate the quality of life, dementia and nutritional status and factors affecting these topics of elders 85 years old and over.

Material and Method: This cross-sectional type study has been conducted in Istanbul Darulaceze Management in January 2010. For the evaluation of 70 elders which were 85 years old and over; an inventory form including Mininutritional Assessment (MA) test, Mini Mental Status Assessment (MMSA) test has been applied via face-to-face interview.

Results: A serious cognitive disorder has been found in 61,3% (n:38) of elders. A positive correlation has been
detected between cognitive disorder and increasing age (p<0.05). There was serious nutritional disorder in 70% of elders while more serious nutritional defects were found in elders with lower level of education (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Although these results suggest that regarding the drug therapy, individuals were treated with proper drugs and doses, but a significant number of old people are subject to serious nutritional disorder and to cognitive disorder.

Key words: Dementia, elders, nursing home, nutritional disorder