Inequality in Older Volunteering: Association Between Volunteer Competency and Demographic Profiles.

The present survey research investigated older people's volunteering competency relating to social inequality by exploring the latent ability profile and demographic correlates of 1,000 older volunteers in 73 community care centersin southern Taiwan. Older volunteers were classified into advanced (n = 509), basic (n = 214), and novice (n = 277) groups. Demographics examined included: individualistic characteristics (religious beliefs), resources (education; number of chronic diseases), andsocial factors (serving area and spoken language, volunteering duration, marital status, and gender).

Establishing psychometric properties of the older volunteer competency scale in the community.

Aim(s): To investigate the factorial structure, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency of the Older Volunteer Competency Scale and establish its psychometric properties.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Methods: A total of 1,000 older volunteers were recruited through random sampling and asked to complete the Older Volunteer Competency Scale.

Ultrasensitive analysis of mirtazapine and its metabolites enantiomers in body fluids using ultrasound-enhanced and surfactant-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction followed by polymer-mediated stacking in capillary electrophoresis.

A simple, rapid, and sensitive technique for measuring mirtazapine and its metabolites enantiomers in human fluids, such as urine and serum, was developed by applying ultrasound-enhanced and surfactant-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (USA-DLLME) integrated with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDAC)-mediated stacking in capillary electrophoresis (CE). The parameters that affect extraction and stacking performance, such as the extraction volume, surfactant types, surfactant concentrations, salt additives, extraction time, solution pH, and background electrolytes, were comprehensively studied and optimized to achieve optimal detection performance. Under optimal extraction conditions (injection of 120 µL of CHCl into 1 mL of a sample solution containing 0.

Psychometric Properties of the High-Need Community-Dwelling Older Adults Screening Scale.

This study aimed to verify the factorial structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and discriminant validity of the High-need Community-dwelling Older Adults Screening Scale (HCOASS). A 20-item HCOASS covering five domains was used with a systematic random sample of 818 community-dwelling older adults. After the analyses, the Exploratory Factor Analysis suggested a removal of two items, resulting in 5 domains with 18 items, and the Confirmatory Factor Analysis yielded satisfactory results with Goodness of Fit Index of .

The individualized supervision strategy and effectiveness under the strength perspective: a pilot study for the case management model of the high-care elderly in communities.

Background: This study tried to improve the operational efficiency and service quality of the community case management model for the High-Care Elderly in Communities in Taiwan. This study tried to assistant social workers in community care sites to establish individualized treatment planning, to empower them with flexibility to discover and utilize their own unique strengths, to reach the goal of developing community care capacity.

Methods: A case consulting model was employed in this study by providing case by case supervision service.

Prevalence and demographic characteristics of high-need community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan.

By early screening, the high-need older adults who require multiple care needs and resources can be identified and the necessary assistance can then be provided. However, a precise definition of and related research on high-need older adults are limited. Identifying older adults with high needs is of practical urgency.

Development of a Screening Scale for Community-dwelling Older Adults with Multiple Care Needs.

: To develop a screening scale for community-dwelling older adults with multiple care needs.: A modified Delphi was employed; 10 experts were invited to evaluate the relevancy, clarity, and suitability of the scale. A descriptive evaluation survey was tested on the screening scale users who were community volunteers to evaluate the clarity, relevance, and usefulness of the scale using a 10-point rating system.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Using Acupressure to Promote the Health of Older Adults.

Acupressure is noninvasive, safe, and appropriate for use among older adults. However, there remains little evidence of the common elements that contribute to the effectiveness of acupressure in promoting the health of older adults. A systematic review using meta-analysis was designed to examine the effects of acupressure on the health promotion in older adults.

Development of a Care Delivery Model for High-Need Older Adults in the Community.

Background: High-need older adults have multiple needs and require different types of care services. Care coordinators in community care centers in Taiwan, however, often experience difficulties in providing sufficient care services because of the inadequate capacity of case management.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a realistic care delivery model for the care coordinators to manage the care of high-need, community-dwelling older adults.

Knowledge gap regarding dementia care among nurses in Taiwanese acute care hospitals: A cross-sectional study.

Aim: The quality of dementia care in hospitals is typically substandard. Staff members are underprepared for providing care to older people with dementia. The objective of the present study was to examine dementia care knowledge, attitude and behavior regarding self-education about dementia care among nurses working in different wards.

Economic and living statuses of community-dwelling older adults and the related factors.

Aim: The health and well-being of older adults are closely related to their economic and living statuses. Socioeconomic inequality has a substantial impact on the healthcare received by these older adults. The present study aimed to understand the current economic and living statuses of community older adults, and examine the relationships among their demographics, economic status and living status.

GH-releasing peptides improve cardiac dysfunction and cachexia and suppress stress-related hormones and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in rats with heart failure.

Growth hormone (GH)-releasing peptides (GHRP), a class of synthetic peptidyl GH secretagogues, have been reported to exert a cardioprotective effect on cardiac ischemia. However, whether GHRP have a beneficial effect on chronic heart failure (CHF) is unclear, and the present work aims to clarify this issue. At 9 wk after pressure-overload CHF was created by abdominal aortic banding in rats, one of four variants of GHRP (GHRP-1, -2, and -6 and hexarelin, 100 mug/kg) or saline was injected subcutaneously twice a day for 3 wk.

Hexarelin protects rat cardiomyocytes from angiotensin II-induced apoptosis in vitro.

Loss of cardiomyocytes by apoptosis is proposed to cause heart failure. Angiotensin II (ANG II), an important neurohormonal factor during heart failure, can induce cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Inasmuch as hexarelin has been reported to have protective effects in this process, we examined whether hexarelin can prevent cardiomyocytes from ANG II-induced cell death.

The positive inotropic and calcium-mobilizing effects of growth hormone-releasing peptides on rat heart.

GH-releasing peptides (GHRP) are synthetic peptides exerting GH-dependent or GH-independent effects via GH secretagogue receptor on many organs, including the heart. The underlying mechanisms of the cardiotropic properties of GHRP are poorly understood. This study investigates these effects of four GHRP in isolated perfused heart preparations and isolated neonatal and adult ventricular myocytes.