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An Observational Study on the Factors of Successful Aging in a Sample of Nonagenarian Patients in a Rehabilitation Hospital Complex

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Abstract

The number of individuals aged sixty and older is expected to increase from 605 million in 2000 to over two billion in 2050. As a consequence the number of elderly medicare beneficiaries likely to be frail will triple. Our study explored the factors of successful aging in a sample of nonagenarians with no cognitive impairment, temporarily admitted to a rehabilitation hospital complex, with regard to quality of life, mood, clinical and cognitive conditions and personality traits. It was a descriptive study with forty nonagenarians of both genders, with no cognitive impairment, no psychiatric diseases and forty two younger patients with similar diseases and socio-demographic conditions, but aged <90. The sample was recruited randomly among patients temporarily admitted to Beata Vergine Consolata Rehabilitation Hospital Complex from 2009 to 2015. The nonagenarians examined showed common personality traits, better mood, better QOL than the younger patients. The nonagenarians' strengths seemed to be the awareness of having enough economic independence, some personality traits and family/social support. Old age does not seem to be a factor for poor quality of life.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Presidio Ospedaliero Riabilitativo Beata Vergine Consolata Fatebenefratelli, Via Fatebenefratelli, 70, 10077 S. Maurizio C.se, Torino, Italy

    Maria Elena Boero, Paola Vizzuso & Stefania Dessì

  2. IRCCS, Centro S. Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Via Pilastroni 4, Brescia, Italy

    Alessandra De Francesco

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  1. Maria Elena Boero
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  2. Alessandra De Francesco
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  3. Paola Vizzuso
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  4. Stefania Dessì
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Correspondence to Maria Elena Boero.

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Boero, M.E., De Francesco, A., Vizzuso, P. et al. An Observational Study on the Factors of Successful Aging in a Sample of Nonagenarian Patients in a Rehabilitation Hospital Complex. Population Ageing 10, 403–416 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12062-017-9175-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12062-017-9175-5

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