P13 A work experience with diabetic and non-diabetic elderly adults in times of pandemic: the “Learning to live” program

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease with a high frequency in older adults estimated at 30% of this stage of life. Being a systemic disease, it affects all organs and systems, especially the cardiovascular system, vision, kidney, peripheral and central nervous systems. Its management depends on the active participation of the affected person and their environment, for which diabetes education and participation in activities that help maintain physical condition and self-care are essential. For 6 years the extension program "Learning to Live" has been developed between the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the Universidad Nacional Córdoba and “Grupo de Amigos de los Diabéticos” Fundation of Villa Carlos Paz, in order to improve the quality of life of the older adults (AM) with and without diabetes.

Goals: To evaluate the effects of the “Learning to Live” program on the psycho-affective health of a group of older adults during the isolation imposed by the SARS-COV 2 pandemic.

Materials and methods: The group of participants in the "Learning to Live" program develops two sessions of physical activity adapted to older adults weekly and two psychological stimulation activities through the use of videoconferences. The physical activity sessions are 60 minutes long in which you work through Taekwon-do Harmony, a form adapted to the AM where the whole body is worked, focusing on the prevention of falls and fractures, visuo-spatial orientation, memory and cardiovascular function. During the virtual sessions, psychological activities are carried out, one associated with physical activity and the other independent, both in order to stimulate resilience. The sessions were aimed at accompanying the AM at this stage. They were carried out: a Vital Satisfaction Questionnaire (SWLS) to determine the selfperception of happiness and a reduced Yesavage test to evaluate the levels of depression (a score of 5 or more suggests depression) to the participants of the program “Learning to live”(n=14) and to a control group of older adults with similar socioeconomic characteristics (n=46). The significance of the results obtained was analyzed using the chi square test (p≥0.05).

Results: During isolation due to the SARS-COV 2 pandemic, the number of participants in the “Learning to Live” program was reduced by 58.82% overall, while the number of participating diabetic patients was reduced by 72.72%. The average age of the participants did not vary in this period and was similar to the control group: 71-72 years. Significant differences were observed in the results of both tests between the groups. The group of participants in the "Learning to Live" program felt happier and more satisfied with their life. This group also obtained a better score, significantly lower than the control group (3.57 vs 9.65), in the instrument to evaluate depression.

Conclusions: The activities of the “Learning to Live” program have a positive effect on its participants, improving their psycho-emotional health.