Download Pdf - Uwi.edu

More documents

Recommendations

Info

R E S E A R C H F O R D E V E L O P M E N T 2 0 1 1SusanneNeitaThe CommunitySurvey of the ElderlyUWI, acknowledging the growing importance ofan ageing population, awarded a New Initiative Grantto the Department of Community Health and Psychiatry(Mona Ageing and Wellness Centre), which - underthe leadership of Professor Denise Eldemire-Shearer- conducted a survey of older persons living in the StAndrew communities of August Town and Mona Heights.The study, which was done over six months in 2010,obtained a wealth of data on the mental and physicalhealth of older people, and on their social and economicsituations. The initial report from the study focused ondementia and determined the proportion of persons withthis condition and factors associated with it.Dementia is a brain disorder that causes problems inmemory, thinking and overall functioning, which worsenwith time. It mainly affects elderly people and occurs atincreasingly higher rates as ages increase, though notevery older person develops the condition. It is a highlydisabling disease which causes dependency and lossof productivity in affected persons. Frequently familymembers who have to care for them suffer financialand emotional strain, and lose productivity themselvesas needs for caregiving mount. Additionally, dementiais costly to the public health sector and the nationaleconomy as a whole, due to the expense of treatments,the high levels of care that are necessary, as well as theaforementioned losses in productivity.When results of the study were related to the Jamaicanpopulation we found that approximately one in twentypeople aged 60 years and over has dementia.40 41
Compared with studies of dementia in othercountries, our results showed that the Jamaicancommunity sample would rank fairly low inthe global proportion of elderly with dementia.Reasons for Jamaica’s low prevalence can befound in certain health-related trends. Theprimary trend is the rapid growth in size of theelderly population due to persons living longer;greater numbers of older people means morepeople at risk for the disease. A second trendis the rising numbers of people with chronicillnesses such as hypertension and diabetes;these diseases increase the risk of affectedpeople developing dementia. A third trend is theincreasing number of people with obesity, owingto people changing their diet to that more typicalof industrialized countries; obesity predisposesaffected persons to many chronic illnesses. Thesetrends - changes in patterns of ageing, chronicdiseases and nutrition - are at early stages inJamaica, so dementia rates are currently low, butas the trends progress, rates will rise to thoseseen in industrialized countries.There are further implications: if retirementpatterns remain the same, with the growingproportion of elderly people there will be asmaller proportion of persons in the workforceto meet the increased demand for health servicesdue to dementia; hence a serious nationaleconomic strain can be expected.Given the projected future rise in numbers ofpeople with dementia and the major economicburden associated with the disease, research ondementia in Jamaica is vital at this time. UWI willbe expected to continue providing the necessaryleadership. Information from this and futurelocal studies can be used in a timely manner toplan interventions which will r<strong>edu</strong>ce the impactof dementia on society.Specifically, data from this study could be usedas the basis for decision-making and budgetallocations regarding the needed governmentsubsidy of medications used in the treatmentof dementia. Our data can inform the allocationof personnel and financial resources for thetraining and employment of health care workers,the development of nursing care facilities, andthe development of social services for patientsand caregivers. Information from this study canalso aid social planning regarding workforcelevels, retirement and pensions.When results of the study were related to the Jamaicanpopulation we found that approximately one in twenty peopleaged 60 years and over has dementia.Other results from the study can be used to prioritizetreatment and preventative care for the chronicdiseases and lifestyle factors which increase dementiarisk in the Jamaican population. Our results alsosuggest the need for research beyond the scope ofdementia studies into these risk factors, researchthat could be undertaken by our colleagues in othermedical disciplines.It is hoped that our research will help improve the livesof older persons and their families and aid nationaldevelopment. More reports from this study will bepublished in the near future.Susanne Neita conducted this study as her thesis forthe degree of Doctor of Medicine in Psychiatry at theUniversity of the West Indies.sneita10@hotmail.com42 43
Page 3 and 4: Contents814182226FACULTY OFHUMANITI
Page 6 and 7: R E S E A R C H F O R D E V E L O P
Page 11: R E S E A R C H F O R D E V E L O P
Page 14 and 15: Industries’ Commitment to Educati
Page 16 and 17: That we are about to enter the 10th
Page 18 and 19: In keeping with its remit to facili
Page 20 and 21: The population movement that has at
Page 26 and 27: F A C U L T Y O FPURE ANDAPPLIEDSCI
Page 28 and 29: It was discovered, after carrying o
Page 30 and 31: The lionfish (Pterois volitans and
Page 32 and 33: Often, the ultimate carcinogen is f
Page 34 and 35: Mapping the AreaA major aim of the
Page 36 and 37: Physiological Fluid DynamicsPhysiol
Page 38 and 39: Health Effects of Cell Phone Radiat
Page 42 and 43: F A C U L T Y O FSOCIALSCIENCESDr.
Page 44 and 45: Data collection was mainly through
Page 46 and 47: The research conducted by By Dr. Li
Page 48: • The majority of businesses stat

Download Pdf - Uwi.edu

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?