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Background: The study aim was to identify depressed mood and frailty and its related factors in older people during the coronavirus disease 19 pandemic. Methods: Since 2010, we have conducted questionnaire surveys on all older residents, who are not certified in the long‐term care insurance, living in one district of Tokyo municipality. These residents are divided into two groups by birth month, that is those born between April and September and those born between October and March, and each group completes the survey every 2 years (in April and May). Study participants were older residents who were born between April and September and who completed the survey in spring 2018 and in spring 2020, the pandemic period. Depressed mood and frailty were assessed using the Kihon Checklist, which is widely used by local governments in Japan. We had no control group in this study. Results: A total of 1736 residents responded to both surveys. From 2018 to 2020, the depressed mood rate increased from 29% to 38%, and frailty increased from 10% to 16%. The incidence of depressed mood and frailty was 25% and 11%, respectively. Incidence of depressed mood was related to subjective memory impairment and difficulty in device usage, and incidence of frailty was related to being older, subjective memory impairment, lack of emotional social support, poor subjective health, and social participation difficulties. Conclusions: Older people with subjective memory impairment may be a high‐risk group during the coronavirus pandemic. Telephone outreach for frail older people could be an effective solution. We recommend extending the scope of the 'reasonable accommodation' concept beyond disability and including older people to build an age‐friendly and crisis‐resistant community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To examine the predictive ability of memory deterioration and grip strength for disability progression among those who utilized the home-help service. Methods We prospectively followed a cohort of community-dwelling older people who were aged 65 years or older, certified support level 1-2 or care level 1-2 and home-help service users provided by Consumers' Cooperatives in Aichi and Kanagawa prefecture. Memory capability, grip strength, chronic conditions and other indices were surveyed at baseline. Disability progression was defined as being certified care level 3 or higher, or institutionalization during 3-year follow up. Results We assessed 417 older adults, of which 386 were included (7.4% excluded). In multivariate Cox regression analyses, a higher eligibility level and memory deterioration were independently associated with a higher hazard ratio. When chronic conditions were entered in the model, cancer and low grip strength were additionally associated. Conclusions The findings of the present study show that memory deterioration is a risk factor for disability progression. Also, grip strength might be a risk factor with consideration of chronic conditions. The cause-effect relationship of those factors and disability progression would be a future challenging issue. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 568-574. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Functional status of those who have very mild cognitive impairment have not been sufficiently investigated. In the current study, we analyzed the characteristics of functional awareness in older adults who had cognitive impairment and were at high risk of requiring support/care (termed as specified elderly at high risk for care needs in the long-term care insurance scheme). Methods: The answers of a health check, which is provided by the local municipal government for those aged 75 years or older who have not been certified as eligible for care services, were analyzed. The differences of the variables between the two groups regarding yes/no answers to each of three cognition-related questions were analyzed. Then, a multiple logistic analysis was carried out to investigate the association of yes/no answers of the three cognition-related questions and the awareness of functional decline. Results: The participants who had cognitive impairment had greater awareness of functional declines. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that subjective memory impairment and disorientation were significantly associated with a wider range of awareness of functional decline. Conclusions: Subjective cognitive impairment was associated with a wide range of awareness of functional decline in older adults at high risk for care need. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 77-82. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]