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Background: Spending time away from bed is important in older adults. Not doing so can lead to functional decline rapidly. Objective: To investigate the association between oral function and time spent away from bed in older adults living in nursing homes. Methods: We enrolled 748 adults aged ≥65 years across eight nursing homes between April 2022 and March 2023. 'Problems with oral hygiene' and 'problems with oral function' were the dependent variables in the multiple regression analyses to determine their association with time spent away from bed. Results: We selected 304 participants (76 men; mean age, 86.3 ± 7.5 years) and divided them into three groups: group S (< 4 h), group M (4 to < 6 h) and group L (≥ 6 h), with 28, 23 and 253 participants, respectively. Comparison of the characteristics between the groups demonstrated significant differences in the Barthel index (p <.001), time spent away from bed (p <.001), history of aspiration pneumonia (p <.001), confirmation of meals and food forms (p =.010), problems with oral hygiene (p =.014), and problems with oral function (p =.002). Based on multiple regression analyses, 'problems with oral hygiene' (p <.001) and 'problems with oral function' (p <.001) were significantly associated with time spent away from bed. Conclusions: The time spent away from bed was significantly associated with both oral hygiene and function in older adults, suggesting the importance of extending the time that older adults spend away from bed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While rapid population ageing is occurring worldwide, its speed is especially prominent in Asian countries. In Asia, cultural diversity might significantly affect care burden; however, few studies have investigated the differences in care burden, and mental, physical and social conditions among Asian countries. This study aimed to clarify the situations of and differences in family caregivers (FCs) of older persons in Japan and Thailand, and evaluate the factors associated with care burden in both countries. Methods: A cross‐national survey of 217 in‐home FCs was conducted in Japan and Thailand and mainly included items regarding care burden and psychosocial conditions. Differences between the two countries were obtained, and the factors associated with care burden were analysed by multiple regression analyses. Results: The FCs' and care receivers' mean ages (64.8 ± 11.1 and 84.8 ± 8.6 years, respectively) in Japan were significantly higher than the mean ages (49.1 ± 13.3 and 77.1 ± 9.5 years) in Thailand. In Japan, FCs had more severe care burden, loneliness, and stress compared to those in Thailand. In Thailand, FCs had more social connections and informal support than those in Japan. The factors associated with care burden were different in each country; thus, severe stress, low emotional care preparation, and low willingness to continue care at home were significantly associated with severe care burden in Japan, whereas poor relationships with care receivers, few social connections, low confidence in providing care, low emotional care preparation, and lack of informal support were significantly associated with severe care burden in Thailand. Conclusions: Despite there being a long‐term care insurance system in Japan, which is absent in Thailand, care burden and psychosocial conditions of FCs might be worse in Japan. There was a clear difference in the factors associated with care burden between Japan and Thailand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disaster preparedness is the most important measure that can be taken to reduce damage. However, disaster preparedness is predicted to be difficult for older adults with cognitive impairment. Thus, we investigated the effects on disaster preparedness of cognitive impairment in persons requiring special care who are 75 or older. The survey included subject characteristics such as demographic indicators, physical function, cognitive function impairments, community involvement, and disaster preparedness. Cross-sectional data from 711 subjects were divided into two groups, a cognitive impairment group and an unimpaired group. Next, to show the effects of subject characteristics in each group on disaster preparedness, a binomial logistic regression analysis was performed. Then, the effects on disaster preparedness were compared between the two groups. This study showed that persons requiring special care who are 75 or older, and have the characteristics of "living alone," "requiring care," and "needing mobility assistance" in addition to cognitive impairment, have increased difficulty making disaster preparedness. Government officials and community supporters therefore need to recognize that these people should be supported on a priority basis, and to provide continuing support for disaster preparedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]