scholarly journals User experience and acceptance of a device assisting persons with dementia in daily life: a multicenter field study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa König ◽  
Martina Pigliautile ◽  
Oscar Águila ◽  
Jon Arambarri ◽  
Christophoros Christophorou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Field Trial ◽  
Positive Attitude ◽  
Assistive Technologies ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Essential Variable ◽  
Dementia Patients ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Frequency Of Use ◽  
The One

Abstract Background Assistive technologies have the potential to facilitate everyday life of people with dementia and their families. Close collaboration with affected people and interdisciplinary research are essential to understand and address the needs of prospective users. In this study, we present the results of the evaluation of such an assistive system prototype. Aims Challenges from the patient and caregiver side, technical and design problems and acceptance and usability with regard to our special target group were evaluated. Methods MEMENTO, a system of two e-ink tablets and a smartwatch, was tested in the domestic environment of dementia patients. Thirty participants from Italy, Spain and Austria took part in a 3-month field trial and compared the MEMENTO system to traditional strategies in everyday life. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected and frequency of use of the system was monitored. Results There were no significant changes in quantitative measurements, such as activities of daily living and caregiver burden over the duration of the 3-month field trial. More frequent usage was significantly correlated with positive attitude towards technology (r = 0.723, p < 0.05), but not with age. The design of the system was positively emphasized, reducing fear of the technology on the one hand and stigmatization on the other. Conclusion We show that a positive attitude towards technology is the essential variable for successful implementation of such systems, regardless of age. Participants showed great interest in digital solutions and agreed that technological systems will help in maintaining independency of persons with cognitive dysfunction in the future.

Make Love at War? Representing Gender and Memory in the Soviet Estonian Film Dark Windows (Pimedad aknad, Tõnis Kask, 1968)

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-37
Author(s):  
Liis Jõhvik
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Interpersonal Relations ◽  
Nazi Germany ◽  
National Narrative ◽  
Moral Choices ◽  
The One ◽  
Falling In Love ◽  
The Way

Abstract Initially produced in 1968 as a three-part TV miniseries, and restored and re-edited in 2008 as a feature-length film, Dark Windows (Pimedad aknad, Tõnis Kask, Estonia) explores interpersonal relations and everyday life in September 1944, during the last days of Estonia’s occupation by Nazi Germany. The story focuses on two young women and the struggles they face in making moral choices and falling in love with righteous men. The one who slips up and falls in love with a Nazi is condemned and made to feel responsible for the national decay. This article explores how the category of gender becomes a marker in the way the film reconstructs and reconstitutes the images of ‘us’ and ‘them’. The article also discusses the re-appropriation process and analyses how re-editing relates to remembering of not only the filmmaking process and the wartime occupation, but also the Estonian women and how the ones who ‘slipped up’ are later reintegrated into the national narrative. Ultimately, the article seeks to understand how this film from the Soviet era is remembered as it becomes a part of Estonian national filmography.

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Antipsychotic Therapy in the Elderly Patients with Dementia

Psychiatry ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 6-15
Author(s):  
I. V. Kolykhalov
Keyword(s):  
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Mixed Dementia ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Antipsychotic Therapy ◽  
Dementia Patients ◽  
Frequency Of Use ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
High Incidence

The objective of the study was to investigate syndromal-nosological specificities of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and the frequency of use of antipsychotics in patients with various types of dementias, institutionalized to geriatric units of mental hospitals.Patients and methods: a total of 106 in-patients of three psychogeriatric units were examined. The median age of patients is 75 years [69; 80].The diagnostic distribution of patients at the time of the examination was as follows: in 33 subjects (31.1%) Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was diagnosed, in 25 (23.6%) - mixed dementia (MD), in 32 (30.2%) - vascular dementia (VD) and in 16 (15.1%) patients had dementia of complex origin (DCO).Results: a high incidence (54.7%) of NPS was found in patients with dementia of various origins. The greatest number of patients with behavioral and psychotic symptoms was found in AD and MD. The proportion of dementia patients with such disorders in each of these types of dementia is about 70%, while in CGD and VD, the proportion of patients with NPS is noticeably smaller (30% and 40%, respectively). For the treatment of NPS, antipsychotics were most often prescribed, but their use caused adverse events (AEs) in 1/3 of cases. Patients with VD are most susceptible to the development of AE, and AD patients are the least susceptible.Conclusion: the study showed that NPS are one of the important components of dementia, regardless of the nosology and stage of the disease. The treatment of NPS in dementia is particularly challenging because, although the symptoms cause significant distress, there are currently no effective alternative therapies. The risk of AE can be minimized by carefully considering the indications for prescribing antipsychotics and their short-term use, regular monitoring of the patient’s condition, and educating caregivers.

Involving people with dementia and their informal caregivers in the development process of assistive technology: Description and evaluation of a user-centered design (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris A.G.M. Geerts ◽  
Liselore J.A.E Snaphaan ◽  
Inge M.B. Bongers
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Field Study ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Informal Caregivers ◽  
Assistive Technologies ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
User Centered

BACKGROUND Despite the potential value of assistive technology to support people with dementia (PWD) in everyday activities, use of these technologies is still limited. To ensure that assistive technologies better address the specific needs and daily context of PWD and their informal caregivers, it is particularly important to involve them in all different phases of assistive technology development. The literature rarely describes the involvement of PWD throughout the development process of assistive technologies, which makes it difficult to further reflect on and improve active involvement of PWD. OBJECTIVE This two-part study aimed to gather insights on the user-centered design (UCD) applied in the development process of the alpha prototype of the serious game PLAYTIME by describing the methods and procedures of the UCD as well as evaluating the UCD from the perspective of all involved stakeholders. METHODS The first three phases of the user-driven Living Lab of Innovate Dementia 2.0 were applied to directly involve PWD and their informal caregivers through qualitative research methods, including focus groups and a context-field study, in the development of the alpha prototype of PLAYTIME from exploration to design to testing. After the testing phase, a total number of 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted with PWD, their informal caregivers and the project members of PLAYTIME to evaluate the applied UCD from the perspective of all involved stakeholders. The interviews addressed five of the principles for successful UCD and the appropriateness of the different methods used in the focus groups and context-field study. RESULTS Results of the interviews focused, amongst others, on the level of involvement of PWD and their informal caregivers in the development process, the input provided by PWD and their informal caregivers, the value of early prototyping, continuous iterations of design solutions and in-context testing, the role of dementia care professionals in the multidisciplinary project team, and the appropriateness of open- and closed-ended questions for obtaining input from PWD and their informal caregivers. CONCLUSIONS The description and evaluation of the UCD applied in the development process of the alpha prototype of PLAYTIME resulted in several insights on the relevance of UCD for all involved stakeholders as well as how PWD can be involved in the subsequent phases of usable and meaningful assistive technology development.

Evidence-based eHealth interventions for caregivers of people with dementia (Myinlife and Partner in Balance): Evaluation of implementations in municipality contexts (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Liane Christie ◽  
Lizzy Mitzy Maria Boots ◽  
Huibert Johannes Tange ◽  
Frans Rochus Josef Verhey ◽  
Marjolein Elizabeth de Vugt
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Measurement Instrument ◽  
Implementation Process ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Implementation Context

BACKGROUND Very few evidence-based eHealth interventions for caregivers of people with dementia are implemented into practice. Municipalities are one promising context to implement these interventions, due to their available policy and innovation incentives regarding (dementia) caregiving and prevention. In this study, two evidence-based eHealth interventions for caregivers of people with dementia (Partner in Balance and Myinlife) were implemented in eight municipalities in the Euregion Meuse-Rhine. OBJECTIVE This study’s objectives were to (1.) evaluate this implementation and (2.) investigate determinants of successful implementation. METHODS This study collected eHealth usage data, Partner in Balance coach evaluation questionnaires, and information on implementation determinants. This was done by conducting interviews with the municipality officials, based on the Measurement Instrument for Determinants of Implementation (MIDI). This data from multiple sources and perspectives was integrated and analysed to form a total picture of the municipality implementation process. RESULTS The municipality implementation of Partner in Balance and Myinlife showed varying levels of success. In the end, three municipalities planned to continue the implementation of Partner in Balance, while none planned to continue the implementation of Myinlife. The two Partner in Balance municipalities that did not consider the implementation to be successful, viewed the implementation as an external project. For Myinlife, it was clear that more face-to-face contact was needed to engage the implementing municipality and the target groups. Successful implementations were linked to implementer self-efficacy CONCLUSIONS The experiences of implementing these interventions suggested that this implementation context was feasible regarding the required budget and infrastructure. The need to foster sense of ownership and self-efficacy in implementers will be integrated into future implementation protocols, as part of standard implementation materials for municipalities and organisations implementing Myinlife and Partner in Balance.

scholarly journals Delivering and Embedding Dementia-Friendly Training in a Healthcare System

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 160-161
Author(s):  
Ellen Schneider ◽  
Maureen Dale ◽  
Krista Wells ◽  
John Gotelli ◽  
Carol Julian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Clinical Staff ◽  
Pilot Training ◽  
Readmission Rates ◽  
Dementia Patients ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Aging And Health ◽  
The University

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease is the 4th leading cause of death in North Carolina for people 65 and older. People with dementia are hospitalized more often and have prolonged stays, poorer outcomes, higher costs, and increased readmission rates. Hospital employees have expressed the desire to have specialized training to learn how to more effectively communicate with and provide better care to patients with dementia. To address identified patient and hospital employee needs, the University of North Carolina (UNC) Center for Aging and Health is disseminating hospital-specific dementia-friendly training at five hospitals within the UNC Health System. The training is being delivered via online modules and follow-up didactic sessions over a three-year period to clinical and non-clinical staff who interact with patients. To date, 1,948 employees at three of the five hospitals have launched the online training; 1,102 have completed the training. The pilot training took place at the UNC Hospitals--Hillsborough Campus (“Hillsborough Hospital”) in 2019. Hillsborough Hospital staff (n=195) who participated in the dementia friendly training completed a survey to assess their ability to recognize symptoms and provide appropriate care to dementia patients pre- and post-training. Clinical staff answered 23 Likert scale self-efficacy questions; non-clinical staff answered the first 12 of these questions. Positive change in self-efficacy ratings from pre- to post-training was significant for every question (p &lt; .0001). Additional results will be included in the poster. The dementia-friendly hospital initiative is preparing employees to provide better care for people with dementia and is effective in increasing employee self-efficacy.

scholarly journals Personality and Dementia: an Approach to Differential Profile of the Caregiver

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 85-94
Author(s):  
Elena de Andrés-Jiménez ◽  
Rosa Mª Limiñana-Gras ◽  
Encarna Fernández-Ros
Keyword(s):  
Relevant Information ◽  
Personality Profile ◽  
Family Carers ◽  
Psychological Variables ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
The Family ◽  
Study Population ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this study is to determine the existence of a characteristic personality profile of family carers of people with dementia. The correct knowledge and use of psychological variables which affect the carer, helps to promote appropriate actions to mitigate the impact of care and improve the carer’s quality of life and likewise the one of the person cared for. The study population consists of 69 family carers of people with dementia, members of various associations and care centers. The results allow us to identify a characteristic personality profile for these carers and it reveals a specific psychological working in this sample, although we cannot directly relate it with the tasks of caring for people with this disease, this profile gives us very relevant information to pay more attention to the needs of this group. Moreover, the analysis of personality styles depends on the sex of the family carer, showing, once again, that the woman is in a situation of most vulnerability.

scholarly journals Burnout in Professional Caregivers and Quality of Life in Institutionalized Center Residents

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-53
Author(s):  
Juan P. Martínez ◽  
Inmaculada Méndez ◽  
Esther Secanilla ◽  
Ana Benavente ◽  
Julia García Sevilla
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽  
The Other ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Professional Caregiver ◽  
The One ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Professional Accomplishment

Starting from previous studies in professional caregivers of people with dementia and other diseases in institutionalized centers of different regions, the aim of this study was to compare burnout levels that workers present depending on the center, to create a caregiver profile with high professional accomplishment and to describe the quality of life that residents perceive Murcia and Barcelona. The instruments used were the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the Professional Caregiver Survey developed ad hoc and the Brief Questionnaire of Quality of Life (CUBRECAVI in Spanish) on residents. The results show, on the one hand, that levels of professional accomplishment may be paradoxically higher in the case of catastrophe and, on the other hand, the 98.2% of users are satisfied with the residence in which is located and 81.8% with the manner in which occupy the time. The conclusions that are extrapolated from the study shed light on the current situation of workers and residents and the influence that an earthquake can have on them.

„Staunest Fremdling / Diese Stein an?“ Das Außen des Innen in Tourismus und Idylle

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-33
Author(s):  
Jan Gerstner
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
19Th Century ◽  
The Other ◽  
Specific Difference ◽  
Early 19Th Century ◽  
Tourist Gaze ◽  
Structural Analogy ◽  
The One

Abstract This article examines the structural analogy between the literary idyll and tourism that lies in the specific difference between idyllic and touristic spaces on the one hand and those of a modern, functionally differentiated, and rational everyday life on the other. The peak in the production of literary idylls as well as the onset of tourism in the late 18th and early 19th century can thus be conceptualized as a reaction to experiences of alienation due to emerging processes of modernization. An analysis of Goethe’s Der Wandrer shows however how literary idylls not only helped to shape the tourist gaze, but also reflected on the touristic and idyllic experience as an experience between foreignness, alienation and belonging.

"Getting down with Covid, being crowned, under quarantine, or language transformations during a pandemic "

Lyuboslovie ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 276-292
Author(s):  
Desislava Cheshmedzhieva-Stoycheva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Media ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Search Engines ◽  
Active Part ◽  
Mainstream Media ◽  
Frequency Of Use ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Mass Media

The focus of the paper is on the neologisms that have occurred in Bulgarian as a result of the pandemic. The corpus of analysis comprises linguistic exchanges collected during some personal conversations of the author with a number of informants as well as occurrences of the encountered neologisms in the social and mainstream media. The neologisms were also compared with the linguistic entries in some reference books and their frequency of use was checked through search engines. One of the main conclusions reached is that despite the fact that some of the analysed neologisms are not part of the official lexicon they are widely used in the social and the mass media, which means they are an active part of everyday life of Bulgarians.

scholarly journals Personalisation, customisation and bricolage: how people with dementia and their families make assistive technology work for them

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 2502-2519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant Gibson ◽  
Claire Dickinson ◽  
Katie Brittain ◽  
Louise Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Technology Use ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Assistive Technologies ◽  
Everyday Practice ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Manage Care ◽  
Age In Place ◽  
Care Services ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
The Everyday

AbstractAssistive technologies (ATs) are being ‘mainstreamed’ within dementia care, where they are promoted as enabling people with dementia to age in place alongside delivering greater efficiencies in care. AT provision focuses upon standardised solutions, with little known about how ATs are used by people with dementia and their carers within everyday practice. This paper explores how people with dementia and carers use technologies in order to manage care. Findings are reported from qualitative semi-structured interviews with 13 people with dementia and 26 family carers. Readily available household technologies were used in conjunction with and instead of AT to address diverse needs, replicating AT functions when doing so. Successful technology use was characterised by ‘bricolage’ or the non-conventional use of tools or methods to address local needs. Carers drove AT use by engaging creatively with both assistive and everyday technologies, however, carers were not routinely supported in their creative engagements with technology by statutory health or social care services, making bricolage a potentially frustrating and wasteful process. Bricolage provides a useful framework to understand how technologies are used in the everyday practice of dementia care, and how technology use can be supported within care. Rather than implementing standardised AT solutions, AT services and AT design in future should focus on how technologies can support more personalised, adaptive forms of care.

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