Page 97 - Petelin, Ana, and Šarabon, Nejc. 2018. Eds. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Znanstvena monografija / Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 97
Discussion physical activity and its importance for the elderly’s health 97
The self-assessment of the health status of the older population in Slovenia is
among the higher assessed in the survey. In this part of the research, 19 coun-
tries were covered, and Slovenia ranked 7th among the countries according to
the criterion of the self-assessed health status. The ability of older people in Slo-
venia to take care of themselves is very high, as 86 % of them stated that they
do not use help from the outside of their household, while the possibility of
self-care was lower in the older population from other countries (74 %). The re-
search shows that older people from other countries are generally more satis-
fied with their lives than older people from Slovenia. At the same time, we com-
pared the assessment of health, considering whether the participants are able
to care for themselves, and found that self assessed health is higher in Slove-
nia and in also in other countries in people who do not need assistance from
outside of their household. Mitzer et al., (2013) noted that self-care is associat-
ed with positive health behaviour, which leads to improvement of health status,
reduces costs of health services, hospital days, number of hospitalizations, vis-
its to a doctor; and has positive effects on health.
Birsa (2014) notes that in Slovenia, most of the people are largely indepen-
dent in carrying out daily tasks, but this independence decreases with age. Dif-
ferences between women and men occur mainly in instrumental tasks. Bilban
(2005) states that, with regular physical activity, we maintain the power, endur-
ance, flexibility and good balance that is necessary for ensuring mobility and is
the basis for independence. Based on the analysed variables, we found that the
physical activity of the elderly is inadequate.
The results of the study show that the body mass index was not affected
by the level of physical activity of an individual. For all participants, both nor-
mal and overweight, it is possible to detect the greatest proportion of those who
are almost never or never engaged in sports or intense activities. According to a
study carried out in Rotterdam, the improvement of the nutritional status leads
to an improvement in the quality of life (Gariballa, 2011). Additionally, it is im-
portant that the older population adapts their activity to their physical abilities
and health status (Drev, 2011).
Tang & Lee (2011) state that good social inclusion leads to better well-be-
ing of older people, including better self-assessed health, lower mortality risk,
higher quality of life, and less depression. Wikman et al. (2011) state that poor
health does not always mean poor quality of life, as some individuals are able
to overcome specific disease limits and adjust their lives to achieve their goals.
However, the broader aspects of the quality of life of the elderly, including emo-
tional wellbeing, autonomy, self-realization, controlling the important aspects
of life with its meaning and fulfilment need more research. Of the 1209 partici-
pants in Slovenia, there are as many as 841 (70 %) overweight, while among the
55,000 elderly people in the rest of the world, the total proportion of overweight
participants is 34147 (63 %). In both studied groups, both in participants from
Slovenia and those from other countries, it can be seen that most of them are
The self-assessment of the health status of the older population in Slovenia is
among the higher assessed in the survey. In this part of the research, 19 coun-
tries were covered, and Slovenia ranked 7th among the countries according to
the criterion of the self-assessed health status. The ability of older people in Slo-
venia to take care of themselves is very high, as 86 % of them stated that they
do not use help from the outside of their household, while the possibility of
self-care was lower in the older population from other countries (74 %). The re-
search shows that older people from other countries are generally more satis-
fied with their lives than older people from Slovenia. At the same time, we com-
pared the assessment of health, considering whether the participants are able
to care for themselves, and found that self assessed health is higher in Slove-
nia and in also in other countries in people who do not need assistance from
outside of their household. Mitzer et al., (2013) noted that self-care is associat-
ed with positive health behaviour, which leads to improvement of health status,
reduces costs of health services, hospital days, number of hospitalizations, vis-
its to a doctor; and has positive effects on health.
Birsa (2014) notes that in Slovenia, most of the people are largely indepen-
dent in carrying out daily tasks, but this independence decreases with age. Dif-
ferences between women and men occur mainly in instrumental tasks. Bilban
(2005) states that, with regular physical activity, we maintain the power, endur-
ance, flexibility and good balance that is necessary for ensuring mobility and is
the basis for independence. Based on the analysed variables, we found that the
physical activity of the elderly is inadequate.
The results of the study show that the body mass index was not affected
by the level of physical activity of an individual. For all participants, both nor-
mal and overweight, it is possible to detect the greatest proportion of those who
are almost never or never engaged in sports or intense activities. According to a
study carried out in Rotterdam, the improvement of the nutritional status leads
to an improvement in the quality of life (Gariballa, 2011). Additionally, it is im-
portant that the older population adapts their activity to their physical abilities
and health status (Drev, 2011).
Tang & Lee (2011) state that good social inclusion leads to better well-be-
ing of older people, including better self-assessed health, lower mortality risk,
higher quality of life, and less depression. Wikman et al. (2011) state that poor
health does not always mean poor quality of life, as some individuals are able
to overcome specific disease limits and adjust their lives to achieve their goals.
However, the broader aspects of the quality of life of the elderly, including emo-
tional wellbeing, autonomy, self-realization, controlling the important aspects
of life with its meaning and fulfilment need more research. Of the 1209 partici-
pants in Slovenia, there are as many as 841 (70 %) overweight, while among the
55,000 elderly people in the rest of the world, the total proportion of overweight
participants is 34147 (63 %). In both studied groups, both in participants from
Slovenia and those from other countries, it can be seen that most of them are
