This study aims to describe the experiences of critically ill elderly patients (CIEPs) who were treated using the high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) after extubation. A descriptive phenomenological approach was conducted to interview eleven CIEPs using face-to-face semi-unstructured interviews. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using Giorgi’s method. Experiences of CIEPs included their fears of failure, getting comfortable and uncomfortable, as well as asking for assistance. Fears of failure were described as involving worsening symptoms related to their diseases and failure of HFNC leading to the need for reintubation. While receiving HFNC, their breathing was comfortable, and they were free from intubation. However, they were uncomfortable because of the sensation of burning in the nasal passages. Additionally, they asked for assistance from nurses in managing their symptoms, and the alarms of HFNC oxygen therapy devices resulted in fears of HFNC failure. The paper indicates that CIEPs experienced physical and psychological impacts from HFNC oxygen therapy (e.g. burning sensation in the nose and fear of failure). Although they had comfortable breathing, being uncomfortable also occurred. Therefore, health-care professionals should support what CIEPs need and develop a program or guidelines for managing the complications of HFNC – neither burning noses nor psychological issues enhance the comfort of CIEPs – by considering age-related changes.

The aim of this scoping review is to describe the published gerotranscendence interventions targeting older adults’ caregivers and their outcomes. Six databases were searched, and three studies were selected for analysis: one short-term quasi-experimental study and two observational studies. The interventions consisted in an instructional moment about the gerotranscendence theory and a moment for sharing personal perceptions. Gerotranscendence interventions can be essential for the caregivers to have a better relationship with the older adults, as they could improve their perception on their needs. Even though the interventions presented promising results benefiting caregivers and older adults, none of the studies confirmed that these changes persisted in the long term and additional studies are needed to robustly investigate this subject.

This paper aims to study the inequalities faced by older people through the analysis of semistructured interviews with older residents of Saint Petersburg and the villages in the Republic of Karelia in Russia. The authors begin the research by studying the nature of the perception of inequalities in older people’s lives, as well as examining the concept of inequality in the context of modern reality affected by the pandemic and postpandemic repercussions. Furthermore, the authors analyze empirical cases and, using thematic analysis, examine the specifics and the nature of the emerging inequalities, as well as the ways in which older people overcome them. In the modern world, individual rather than class competition is increasingly manifested, which stipulates the specific character of research associated with the necessity to study personal competition and interactions in the context of everyday life. The empirical basis of the study was 30 semistructured interviews conducted in 2022 in St. Petersburg and rural areas of the Republic of Karelia. The study of the everyday features of the manifestation of inequalities and ageism was carried out using modern sociological approaches. It is concluded that older people find ways to adapt to social changes in pandemic and postpandemic times through strategies such as emotional reflection on the past, hobbies, reviewing old resources and searching for new ones, changing ways of communication and solving problems. The desire to take care of one’s own well-being is becoming an important focus of attention for the older in their daily routine. These strategies create positive opportunities for adaptation and contribute to reducing the fears and anxiety of the elderly regarding the possible return to similar situations like the COVID-19 pandemic and related inequalities.

The emergence of residential aged care facilities (RACFs) within the Ghanaian health-care system has raised eyebrows because, hitherto, the concept of nursing homes had largely been perceived as an anomaly. The purpose of this study is to understand this emerging phenomenon and the activities of care provided within two facilities in the nation’s capital, Accra. The study draws on participant observations and in-depth interviews with purposively sampled 15 residents in the two facilities and eight caregivers. The data were analysed using thematic approach. The study found that the daily forms of care mostly performed for the elderly were intimate and non-intimate physical, medical, emotional and spiritual and end-of-life care. The bulk of activities of care were performed in the morning. The study reveals that the changing landscape of health-care facilities in Ghana to include RACFs indicates RACFs have come to stay to provide different forms of care to older persons who otherwise were cared for by the family.

The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the need for holistic geriatric health care in rural India. Many older people in Indian villages suffer from chronic ailments without any relief or intervention because of inaccessible and unaffordable health-care services. This paper explores how holistic health care can be assured for older people in Indian villages. This paper is based on reflections of the authors who have had experiences as caregivers to older persons within their respective families rooted in the Indian villages. Besides, they interacted with 30 older persons (18 males and 12 females in the age group of 60–80 years) living in the villages in three states of India, namely, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to develop a comprehensive viewpoint on the need of geriatric health care in rural India. Relevant reports, newspaper articles and research papers were also reviewed while developing viewpoints on such an important topic. Geriatric health-care facilities in rural India are abysmal. The older people in the villages cannot leverage health-care facilities that are generally inaccessible, inadequate and unaffordable. Even the government support for medical treatment is minuscule. Furthermore, there is lack of trained health-care professionals at all levels, namely, doctors, nurses and paramedic personnel. Training opportunities in geriatrics are also negligible. The scenario vis-à-vis geriatric health care in rural India can be upturned by increasing public spending on health-care infrastructure, increasing numbers of health-care professionals and expanding training programmes in geriatrics. This paper is based on the critical reflections of the authors as well as their informal interactions with some of the older people in the Indian villages.