Leveraging Emotional Wellbeing and Social Engagement of the Oldest Old by Using Advanced Communication Technologies: A Pilot Study Using Uniper-Care's Technology

Author(s):  
M. Isaacson ◽  
I. Cohen ◽  
C.N. Shpigelman
2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Keller-Cohen ◽  
Diane L. Miller ◽  
Katherine L. Fiori

2020 ◽  
pp. 364-375
Author(s):  
Vittoria Sichi ◽  
Giacomo Ercolani ◽  
Luca Franchini ◽  
Luca Golfari ◽  
Silvia Varani ◽  
...  

The use of virtual reality (VR) shows promising results in improving the emotional wellbeing of cancer patients, reducing anxiety, depression, and pain symptoms. No data exist concerning the use of VR in cancer patients assisted at home. The ANT Foundation decided to conduct a pilot study to test the use of VR in cancer patients assisted at home. Fifty-eight ANT patients were randomized and assigned to a control group that didn't use VR devices and to an experimental group that used them. The primary objective of the pilot study was to determine whether VR device could be a viable instrument in homecare patients. Furthermore, the aim of the study was to discover if VR could have beneficial effects on patients' quality of life as well as discover which kind of videos were more effective. The innovative aspect of this study was to test the use of VR directly at home of patients, proposing a use of VR that is compatible with the needs and the daily rhythms of families, and investigating its effectiveness through appropriate validated psychometric questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.


2021 ◽  
pp. 146144482110543
Author(s):  
Matthias Hofer ◽  
Eszter Hargittai

As opportunities for social interactions proliferate online, questions arise as to how engagement in such activities may relate to mental health. Given older adults’ shrinking networks and increasing use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), online interactions could offer alternatives for connections that could ultimately benefit older users’ mental health. This article examines associations between older adults’ online social engagement and their mental health. Using data from an online survey of older adults ages 60+, we find positive and negative associations between different forms of online social engagement and anxiety. In terms of depression, two forms of online social engagement showed positive associations with this mental health indicator. Our results can help explain inconclusive findings of previous research on ICT use and mental health by looking at how specific online social activities relate to mental health.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 23-23
Author(s):  
Ad Maulod ◽  
Normala Manap ◽  
Sasha Rouse ◽  
Angelique W M Chan

Abstract Centenarians have often been regarded as living paradigms of exceptional longevity yet little is known from their perspective about the purpose, meaning and quality of living longer lives. In Singapore, the number of centenarians has multiplied 30-fold from 50 in 1990 to about 1500 in 2020. Although centenarians are respected as ‘national treasures’ – having witnessed Singapore’s transformation from British colony to global city state, their needs remain invisible in both the healthcare and social sectors. The tendency to romanticize exceptional longevity neglects a deeper understanding of (i) its consequence on the oldest old (85+ years) who may be impacted by severe functional and sensory deficits and (ii) their experience of social isolation in the family and communities. This paper discusses findings based on interviews with 15 Singapore centenarians (100 to 111 years old) and their family carers. Diverse experiences of longevity are shaped by these factors: health status; personal disposition; strength of family and social networks; exposure to adversity and coping resources; spiritual beliefs; role loss; and changes in the lived environment. Appropriate health and psychosocial interventions could have been delivered earlier in the life trajectory to enable better quality of life and continued social engagement. Learning from the challenges (eg. social withdrawal; extensive functional and sensory losses) of existing centenarians contributes to a more precise understanding of how best to harness the productive capacities of our oldest old.


Author(s):  
John C. Bricout ◽  
Paul M. A. Baker

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) offer a promising technology for citizens with disabilities to participate in local e-governance planning and implementation, provided that underlying issues of social exclusion and technology accessibility are properly addressed. Existing research suggests that for citizens with disabilities gateway issues such as technology access, usability, community- and government-receptivity are barriers to participation in local e-governance. Results from a pilot study indicate that the e-governance landscape for people with disabilities is heterogeneous; likely reflecting both differences within the disability community, as well as among the online governance entities. Systematic changes to the development, implementation, and evaluation of local e-governance for people with disabilities are recommended, informed by an analytical model suitable for empirical testing.


2017 ◽  
Vol 07 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Enrique de la Rubia Orti ◽  
Carmen Cabanes Iranzo ◽  
Sandra Sancho Castillo ◽  
Jose Luis Platero Armero ◽  
Maria Benlloch ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Vittoria Sichi ◽  
Giacomo Ercolani ◽  
Luca Franchini ◽  
Luca Golfari ◽  
Silvia Varani ◽  
...  

The use of virtual reality (VR) shows promising results in improving the emotional wellbeing of cancer patients, reducing anxiety, depression, and pain symptoms. No data exist concerning the use of VR in cancer patients assisted at home. The ANT Foundation decided to conduct a pilot study to test the use of VR in cancer patients assisted at home. Fifty-eight ANT patients were randomized and assigned to a control group that didn't use VR devices and to an experimental group that used them. The primary objective of the pilot study was to determine whether VR device could be a viable instrument in homecare patients. Furthermore, the aim of the study was to discover if VR could have beneficial effects on patients' quality of life as well as discover which kind of videos were more effective. The innovative aspect of this study was to test the use of VR directly at home of patients, proposing a use of VR that is compatible with the needs and the daily rhythms of families, and investigating its effectiveness through appropriate validated psychometric questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1037-1048
Author(s):  
Leocadia Díaz Romero

Social media, if correctly used, enhance cultural, political, economic and social engagement. They also represent key communications tools for administrators to highlight the principles of openness and transparency. Nowadays Local Governments have as well a social media presence. The following contribution casts light on contemporary forms of democracy, deepening on concepts such as E-Government and E-Democracy. The paper describes as well how the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Social Media can benefit governance, and promote good governance, focusing on some experiences launched at the local and municipal level. Finally, it offers an empirical approach of the use of ICTs by the Office of the Mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio.


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