<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_fon-2019-0011_s_006_w2aab3b7c11b1b6b1aab1c17b1Aa"><h3>Objective</h3><p>The elderly population has proliferated worldwide. The empty-nest family pattern has become predominant among the aging people, and they are more vulnerable to the development of cognitive disorders. However, there is no standardized service in the community nursing care that includes procedures on how to improve the cognitive function of the elderly. Meanwhile, the booming number of empty-nest elderly stimulates the community nurses to assume the responsibility for their care. All of these bring more difficulties and opportunities for community nurses who are dedicated to the prevention of geriatric cognitive disorders.</p></sec><sec id="j_fon-2019-0011_s_007_w2aab3b7c11b1b6b1aab1c17b2Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>The authors reviewed the literature related to “empty-nest elderly”, “cognitive function”, “mahjong”, and “Chinese square dance” in the Elsevier, Web of Science (WOS), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Springer and PubMed databases. The study illustrates the utility possibility of an efficient and straightforward method for improving the cognitive function among the elderly in the context of community nursing care in China and even in the rest of the world.</p></sec><sec id="j_fon-2019-0011_s_008_w2aab3b7c11b1b6b1aab1c17b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>Mental and physical activity contributes to cognitive fitness and may be beneficial in delaying cognitive decline. Mental activities, such as playing mahjong, and physical activities, such as the Chinese square dance, are common Chinese activities. Both of them can affect cognitive function in some way.</p></sec><sec id="j_fon-2019-0011_s_009_w2aab3b7c11b1b6b1aab1c17b4Aa"><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>China is experiencing one of its most severe aging problems. Community health personnel and related professionals may consider using mahjong and Chinese square dance to promote psychological health in empty-nest elderly individuals in the community.</p></sec></abstract>

ObjectiveThe elderly population has proliferated worldwide. The empty-nest family pattern has become predominant among the aging people, and they are more vulnerable to the development of cognitive disorders. However, there is no standardized service in the community nursing care that includes procedures on how to improve the cognitive function of the elderly. Meanwhile, the booming number of empty-nest elderly stimulates the community nurses to assume the responsibility for their care. All of these bring more difficulties and opportunities for community nurses who are dedicated to the prevention of geriatric cognitive disorders.MethodsThe authors reviewed the literature related to “empty-nest elderly”, “cognitive function”, “mahjong”, and “Chinese square dance” in the Elsevier, Web of Science (WOS), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Springer and PubMed databases. The study illustrates the utility possibility of an efficient and straightforward method for improving the cognitive function among the elderly in the context of community nursing care in China and even in the rest of the world.ResultsMental and physical activity contributes to cognitive fitness and may be beneficial in delaying cognitive decline. Mental activities, such as playing mahjong, and physical activities, such as the Chinese square dance, are common Chinese activities. Both of them can affect cognitive function in some way.ConclusionsChina is experiencing one of its most severe aging problems. Community health personnel and related professionals may consider using mahjong and Chinese square dance to promote psychological health in empty-nest elderly individuals in the community.

Empty-nest elderly: mahjong and Chinese square dance for improving the cognitive function in the community

Frontiers of Nursing

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

ObjectiveThe elderly population has proliferated worldwide. The empty-nest family pattern has become predominant among the aging people, and they are more...

Empty-nest elderly: mahjong and Chinese square dance for improving the cognitive function in the community

Article Category: Original article

Published Online: May 20, 2019

Page range: 71 - 76

Received: Jan 30, 2018

Accepted: Mar 23, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fon-2019-0011

Keywords
empty-nest elderly, cognitive function, mahjong, Chinese square dance

© 2019 Yue Zhang and Marcia A. Petrini, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Empty-nest elderly: mahjong and Chinese square dance for improving the cognitive function in the community

Article Category: Original article

Published Online: May 20, 2019

Page range: 71 - 76

Received: Jan 30, 2018

Accepted: Mar 23, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fon-2019-0011

Keywordsempty-nest elderly, cognitive function, mahjong, Chinese square dance

© 2019 Yue Zhang and Marcia A. Petrini, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
empty-nest elderly, cognitive function, mahjong, Chinese square dance