title: Do elderly clubs in Alexandria meet the needs of their consumers?
abstract: The rapid rise in the number of the independent elderly persons in the community has become a world-wide phenomenon. Recently, more attention has been devoted to community based programs for the elderly. One type of these programs offering multiple services is the elderly clubs. These clubs may provide health and physical care beside social interaction and peer group support for the independent elderly in the community. In Alexandria, elderly health and social care provided are not coping with the increasing numbers of the aged population and consequently with their needs and problems. So the aim of this study was to describe the health profile of the consumers of the elderly clubs in Alexandria and to determine the preferred activities needed by the consumers of the elderly clubs in Alexandria. To fulfil this aim, a sample of 163 elderly representing the consumers from all (five) elderly clubs in Alexandria were interviewed. The results revealed that almost one third (30.67%) of the elderly consumers had no health complaints, 35.58% had only one health complaint and 33.74% had more than one complaint. The most health complaints stated by the consumers were cardiovascular diseases/hypertension followed by diabetes mellitus then rheumatic diseases/arthritis. The results also revealed that all the elderly consumers had one or more minor signs and symptoms during the last six months of the interview. These signs and symptoms varied from amnesia, low concentration, constipation, dizziness and dyspepsia. The majority of the elderly consumers preferred the recreational trips and attending religious seminars/reading Quraan. Walking and checking on blood pressure were the most preferred activities mentioned by nearly half the consumers. The results of this study can be considered as a base line data to help policy makers in taking decisions during planning and providing the needed services to the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Community Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Mitwally
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006285:Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D009042:Motivation; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016138:Walking