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The purpose of this study is to describe the creation and implementation of an ICT education program for the elderly in various Active Participation Centers in Almería (Spain), assessing its impact on quality of life. From a randomized sample of 200 individuals over the age of 55. Results reveal a high degree of participant satisfaction (76.6 %), as well as improvements in quality of life as compared to the control group after the 3 month program health factor: p = 0.004; leisure and activity factor: p = 0.001; Satisfaction with Life Factor: p < 0.001. The analysis conducted to determine the influence of age and gender on quality of life indicates that there are statistically significant differences in regards to age (the younger groups had higher scores) and gender (the males). This study may serve to facilitate similar works that promotes on-going education in different locations and across the lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European project entitled "Integrating adults and the elderly towards a Europe of knowledge", coordinated by the University of Almería, within the actions of "Grundtvig learning partnerships for adult education", has carried out the assessment of an educational program for over 55 years in five countries. The aim of the learning partnership was "to encourage the development of innovative practices in education of older people and their transfer between countries". Methods: Some of the following teaching tools and methods were used to promote intercultural communication skills: simulation activities, followed by reflective discussion and/or written analysis; guided group activities; local visits to contact people from other countries; ethnographic projects. Results: The courses provide knowledge and understanding of culture, institutions and different ways of life in diverse communities, and encourage reflection about their own cultural behaviour, practices and attitudes, as well as those of others. Old people enhance communication in their community by means of meetings, in which they talk about their common concerns. This can help the elderly to overcome problems and reduce feelings of loneliness. The courses also help old people acquire new knowledge and skills in a rapidly changing world. Conclusions: Participants' motivation increased as the sessions were developed, since the contents of the classes agreed with their own interests, with a constant widening of knowledge. Everybody had an active role in the discussions. This training revises some beliefs about ageing, such as the removal of the image of the idle retired person; at the same time, it promotes active retirement, intergenerational relationships and independence, and improves social and personal skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The progressive aging of the population forces the administrations with competences in sanitary matters to intervene on the adverse effects of the lack of physical or functional activity (depression, anxiety, cognitive deterioration and vital dissatisfaction among others). The aim of this study was to verify if the level of occupation in basic activities of daily life or leisure of a sample of people over 55 years has influence on the degree of cognitive functioning and their life satisfaction. This is a cross-sectional study, with a non-probabilistic convenience sample carried out with 302 persons over 55 years of age from several active participation centres (CPA) in the province of Almería (Spain). The instruments used for the assessment included the Mini Cognitive Examination, the Philadelphia Satisfaction Scale and the Senior Occupational Behavior Questionnaire (C-COM). The multigroup analysis of the data also included a structural model using path analysis. The results have verified the influence of occupation on cognitive deterioration and life satisfaction in both men and women. Leisure activities provide greater life satisfaction than the occupations of daily life. The attitude toward aging has been the factor that has shown a greater correlation with the occupational level of the person. The data support the need for adequate recommendations for the design of specific programs that favor individual and collective interventions focused on exercise, the prevention of cognitive deterioration and the promotion of life satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Stroke is a multifactorial disease, which can affect individuals at any age. Risk factors (RFs) associated with the first stroke event have been well identified; however, the influence of these RFs on the patient's age needs to be studied. (2) Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of modifiable RFs on the age at which a stroke occurs. (3) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients admitted consecutively with a first-ever acute stroke at the Burgos University Hospital (Spain). Data on sociodemographic and clinical parameters were collected (high blood pressure (HBP), smoking habit, diabetes mellitus (DM), dyslipemia, abdominal obesity, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol consumption, and cardiovascular diseases). The possible associations between RFs and age were studied using univariate and multivariate regression analyses and a decision tree. (4) Results: A total of 436 patients with a mean age of 75.39 years (standard deviation (SD) ± 12.67) were included. HBP and overweight/obesity were the most prevalent stroke RFs. Being an active smoker (OR 21.48; 95% confidence interval (CI) 8.80–52.41), having a sedentary lifestyle (OR 3.24; 95% CI 1.97–5.31), being an excessive alcohol drinker (OR 2.36; 95% CI 1.45–3.84), or being overweight or obese (OR 1.95; 95% CI 1.14–3.34) increased the risk of having an acute cerebrovascular event in individuals aged 75 years or below. However, a personal history of HBP (OR 0.40; 95% CI 0.24–0.67) was significantly associated with a greater likelihood of having an acute stroke in individuals aged more than 75 years. (5) Conclusions: This study showed that the modifiable RFs strongly influence the first stroke event in patients aged below 75 years, which will be useful in guiding different prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]