SUMMARYBackground and Aim: Nutrition is an important social determinant of health that influences the ageing process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional condition of a group of seniors and identify the bio-psycho-social factors that increase the risk of malnutrition.Methods: The research was conducted using a quantitative method. The standardised scales Mini Nutritional Assessment -Short Form (MNA -SF) and the Geriatric depression scale (GDS-5) were used to evaluate the nutritional condition and tendency towards depression of the tested group. This group consisted of seniors aged 75 and above living in home environment in the České Budějovice region. The group was comprised of 320 seniors, 115 men (35.9%) and 205 women (64.1%), which corresponds to the composition of the population in the chosen region of the Czech Republic. Statistical data analysis was conducted using SASD 1.4.10 and SPSS 15.0 programs. Pearson's chi-squared test (χ 2 ) and Cramér's V were chosen for statistical testing. The significance level was set at 5%.Results: The average BMI value of the seniors was 26.2 kg/m 2 (overweight). This value decreased with age. More than one third of the respondents were evaluated as being at risk of malnutrition (36.3%). Unintended weight loss was determined as the strongest risk factor of malnutrition. Seniors who had lowered their food intake stated unintended weight loss 10 times more often than respondents with no noticeable reduction in food intake. Seniors who showed signs of depression indicated weight loss three and a half times more often than respondents without depression. Meanwhile acute illness increased the risk by three times. Depression was found to be the cause and also the consequence of malnutrition.Conclusion: Despite the high prevalence of overweight and obesity, a large proportion of the respondents were running the risk of malnutrition. It was concluded that the strongest risk factors for malnutrition in the respondents were unintended weight loss, depression and lowered food intake. Compared to biological factors, social and economic factors were less significant in causing malnutrition in seniors.

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Objective: Care of handicapped or elderly by the family members in the home environment brings not only many positives for the care recipients, but can also impose a significant burden on the caregiver. The goal of the study was to assess the caregiver burden, burnout syndrome and the effect of caregivers’ sociodemographic characteristics. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: The sample consisted of 168 caregivers who took care of disabled children or seniors. Methods: Zarit Burden Interview identifying the subjective burden of informal caregivers, and Maslach Burnout Inventory assessing the burnout syndrome were used. Results: A higher level of caregiver burden and the development of burnout syndrome occurring most frequently in the dimensions of Emotional Exhaustion and Personal Accomplishment was observed. The caregiver burden was found to be lower in men, in caregivers living alone, and in the respondents from higher income households; it increased with the weekly amount of care. Conclusions: The results proof the demanding nature of informal care. A longitudinal study could illuminate the temporal changes in the family dynamics.

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Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích, Zdravotně sociální fakulta, katedra supervize a odborné praxe SummaryThe report familiarizes with the results of the research implemented at weekend reconditioning stays focused on zootherapy, organized by the Faculty of Health and Social Care of the University of South Bohemia of České Budějovice in 2004. The research was focused on evaluation of canistherapy and hiporehabilitation applied on children during reconditioning weekends.The results of the research show that even a short period (one weekend) of intense contact with animals has positive contribution for children, particularly in psycho-social sphere. The children go emotionally through delightful experiences, develop positive relation to animals, learn correct approach to animals and enrich their view. Emotional and social enrichment is important particularly for children from institutional facilities. Positive relation to dogs and familiarization with the possibilities of use of service dogs is very important for children with sensorial handicaps. Zootherapy offers support of right psycho-social development to children with mental handicap. SouhrnPříspěvek seznamuje s výsledky výzkumu provedeného na víkendových rekondičních pobytech se zaměřením na zooterapii, které pořádala Zdravotně sociální fakulta Jihočeské univerzity v Českých Budějovicích v roce 2004. Výzkum byl zaměřen na evaluaci canisterapie a hiporehabilitace praktikované u dětí v průběhu rekondičních víkendů. Z výsledků výzkumu vyplývá, že i krátká doba (jeden víkend) intenzivního kontaktu se zvířaty má pro děti pozitivní přínos, a to především v oblasti psychosociální. Děti prožívají emočně libé prožitky, vytváří si ke zvířatům pozitivní vztah, učí se správnému přístupu ke zvířatům a obohacují si svůj rozhled. Emoční a sociální obohacení je důležité především pro děti z ústavních zařízení. Pro děti se smyslovým postižením je velmi důležité pozitivní navázání vztahu ke psům a seznámení s možnostmi využití servisních psů. Dětem s mentálním postižením nabízí zooterapie podporu správného psychosociálního vývoje.