Suggestions on the ideal method of conducting community screenings for older adults

Since dementia and frailty lead to a reduced quality of life and risk of needing long-term care in the older adults, we hypothesized that evaluations related to dementia and frailty would be useful and of high interest in screening for the older adults. Therefore, we conducted a community screening incorporating multiple simple evaluations related to dementia and frailty. In addition to various functional evaluations, we investigated interest in tests, thoughts on the disease, and the relationships between subjective (i.e., how one feels about oneself) and objective evaluations (i.e., the results of tests and rating scales). The purpose of this study was to examine the thoughts regarding tests and diseases and the functions that make it difficult to accurately perceive changes by oneself, and to obtain suggestions on the ideal method of community screening for the older adults.

The participants were 86 people aged 65 and over living in Kotoura Town who participated in the community screening, for which we obtained background information and body measurements. We also assessed physical, cognitive and olfactory function, evaluated nutritional status, and we administered a questionnaire (interest in tests, thoughts on dementia and frailty, and a subjective functional evaluation).

Regarding interest in tests, the participants answers were highest for physical, cognitive and olfactory function, in that order (68.6%, 60.5%, and 50.0%, respectively). In the survey on thoughts on dementia and frailty, 47.6% of participants felt that people with dementia were viewed with prejudice, and 47.7% did not know about frailty. Regarding the relationship between subjective and objective evaluations, only the assessment of cognitive function did not show a correlation between both evaluations.

From the viewpoint of the participants' degree of interest in and the need for accurate evaluations through objective examination, the findings suggest that the assessment of physical and cognitive function may be beneficial as a screening tool for older adults. Objective evaluation is essential, particularly for assessing cognitive function. However, approximately half the participants believed people with dementia were viewed with prejudice and did not know about frailty, which may lead to barriers to testing and low interest. The importance of increasing the participation rate in community screening through disease-related educational activities was suggested.