The Functional Efficiency of Older Patients after Lumbar Spine Surgery, the Impact of Pain, and the Passage of Time: Tips for Care Providers.

Chronic back pain in adults is often a cause of absenteeism from work, limitations in social interactions, and difficulties in performing daily activities. This study aimed to check whether the functioning of everyday activities in elderly patients after neurosurgery improved over time compared to their condition before the procedure and whether there is a connection between fitness, self-esteem, and pain intensity. This was a cross-sectional study carried out using an anonymous survey.

Threats to Health and Well-Being Perceived by Older People in Poland and Portugal.

Introduction: According to the OECD, Portugal and Poland rank below average in several well-being measures such as income and wealth, and health status. Investigating how people perceive the threats to health in these two countries, is an important issue to address priority needs. To meet this need, the objective of this paper was to compare the perceptions of the threats to the health and well-being among the Polish and Portuguese older persons and explore differences between the countries in respect of patterns of self-rated health.

Is independence of older adults safe considering the risk of falls?

Background: Falls affect approx. 30% of elderly population per year. They cause major injuries and reduce independence of the older adults' functioning.

The most common factors hindering the independent functioning of the elderly at home by age and sex.

Objective: Changes occurring with increased age as well progressive illnesses can negatively affect the independent functioning of older people. The goal of this study was to identify the most common problems that make independent life at home more difficult for the elderly and to try and present their relation with age and gender.

Patients And Methods: A total of 506 persons over 60 years of age took part in the study.