scholarly journals Room Type and Social Cohesion in Senior-living Facilities

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 856-856
Author(s):  
Zhe Wang

Abstract Private rooms are generally preferred by senior-living residents. However, having roommates may help residents to build and maintain social networks in the facility, leading to promoted social cohesion and mental health. The differences in social cohesion among senior-living residents who resided in private or shared rooms need investigation. This research collected empirical data from eight senior-living facilities in Beijing and Shanghai, China. Focusing on social cohesion, room type, and personal factors, on-site questionnaire surveys recruited 345 residents receiving independent living, assisted living, or nursing care services. Facility environments were measured and rated by researchers through on-site observation. Controlling for personal and facility factors, ANOVA tests were employed to investigate the differences in social cohesion among residents who resided in private, double, or triple rooms. Room type was found significant to the social cohesion in assisted-living and nursing care residents. At the assisted-living level, compared with private and double rooms, triple rooms were more likely to contribute to social cohesion (p<=0.01). At the nursing care level, residents with less numbers of roommates (private versus double and double versus triple) had stronger social cohesion (p<=0.05). At the independent-living level, no factors significant to social cohesion were found. These findings can be used to guide the new design, renovation, and modification of senior-living environments to promote social cohesion. Recommendations for future research and practice implications for senior-living professionals and facility designers are discussed. Senior-living facilities should be built to be social-friendly through design and planning and within the context of its cultural characteristics.

2021 ◽  
pp. 13-22
Author(s):  
Britni Lookabaugh ◽  
Charles von Gunten

In caring for patients with chronic complex and life-limiting illness, models of palliative care delivery have developed across the care continuum. While many palliative care services are provided by hospital-based consult teams, palliative care is also delivered in the home, including independent living, assisted living, and group homes; in skilled nursing facilities; and in the outpatient office setting. While high variability exists for delivery of palliative care across the globe, there have been many studies reflecting the value of palliative care across these settings, for quality of end-of-life care as well as for the financial implications in the complex medical care for patients with palliative care needs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 266
Author(s):  
Sara Rizzo ◽  
Alessandro Frolli ◽  
Antonella Cavallaro ◽  
Giuseppina Sinigaglia ◽  
Sebastiano Scire

With the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), the term disability is consolidated in its dynamic meaning as a condition that is defined by the interaction between personal factors and the environment in which one lives (WHO, 2001). The characteristics of the reference context that can be an obstacle or facilitation are evaluated with greater emphasis, including the perception of disability by teachers as a factor that will mediate the implementation of different behaviors and methodologies stemming from it. The purpose of the present survey, which includes 422 teachers attending a specialization course for support activities and was conducted through the administration of a questionnaire, was precisely to evaluate this perception. In particular, it evaluated the following: the differences in starting and finishing the specialization course for the achievement of the teaching qualification in support, the impact of previous experience with the disability, and the motivation to teach. Outcomes display a progressive normalization in the characteristics of a person with disabilities. The teaching strategies undergo a change between the beginning and the end of the course, with a focus from the general to the particular, becoming more targeted and detailed. In terms of opinions, emotions, and concerns, familiarity with disability seems to produce a less prejudicial and stereotyped representation, as does the teaching experience with a disabled pupil. The importance of active previous experience is confirmed in order to develop a better representation with a consequent reduction in prejudice. Further data emerge in terms of increased ability, at the end of the course, to verbally discriminate the concepts of inclusion and integration, with probable differences in approaches. The motivation for teaching is confirmed to be connected to job placement and therefore should be further investigated with scales that control the social desirability of the response. The present study shows the importance of both the perception of familiarity with disability and specialized education in supporting disabled students. We hope that future research might further investigate this area in order to improve the quality of life of disabled people through better relations with teachers and better academic outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 449-450
Author(s):  
Margaret Danilovich ◽  
Aura Espinoza ◽  
Christie Norrick

Abstract Environmental factors influence older adult physical activity. However, the evidence about which factors lead to increased physical activity is mixed and few have studied how these factors affect those with frailty or living in retirement communities. This study investigated how environmental and weather factors influence physical activity among pre-frail and frail older adults residing in independent living retirement communities. We used ActivPal accelerometers to measure 7-day step counts among (n=108) pre-frail and frail residents in 9 independent living residences in metropolitan Chicago. We conducted environmental audits using the MAPS Abbreviated tool and collected National Weather Service Station data (temperature, precipitation, and daylight minutes) during the ActivPal periods. Participants were on average 80.0 years, 74% female, and average daily step count was 3,450 (range 151 - 11,663). Four buildings were in suburban areas and 5 in urban areas and four were private-pay residences while 5 offered subsidized rent. ANOVA results showed private-pay buildings had higher total MAPS scores than subsidized buildings (p=0.001), and urban buildings had higher total MAPS scores than suburban buildings (p < 0.000). Mean step differences were non-significant between different building types: (mean steps = 3,317 private-pay, 3,629 subsidized, 3,536 urban, 3,350 suburban). Pearson product-moment correlations showed a positive association between steps and MAPS positive streetscape features (p=0.011). Multiple regression analysis showed higher temperature days, precipitation, and more minutes of daylight were associated with higher step counts (p=.04). Given the dramatic variation in individual step counts, future research should investigate personal factors that contribute to activity among independent living residents.


2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan Plys ◽  
Rachel Johnson-Koenke

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to measure perceived social standing within an assisted living (PSS-AL), and to identify individual determinants and empirical correlates of this construct. The sample consisted of 200 residents of 21 assisted livings (ALs). A self-anchoring ladder measured PSS-AL ( M = 6.95, SD = 2.04) and an open-ended follow-up question assessed individual determinants of PSS-AL ratings. In a multiple regression, mental health ( β = .27, p = .001), intimate staff-resident relationships ( β = .22, p = .024), and extraversion ( β = .27, p < .001) were significant predictors of PSS-AL. Qualitative findings revealed that inter-personal factors, prosocial behaviors, and health were key determinants of PSS-AL. Results highlight the social demands of AL and associated implications for residents with varying social abilities, skills, and interests. Findings also suggest that staff-resident relationships may shape and-or reinforce resident social hierarchies. The authors discuss implications for research and practice.


Information ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anas Abou Allaban ◽  
Maozhen Wang ◽  
Taşkın Padır

The aging population is growing at an unprecedented rate globally and robotics-enabled solutions are being developed to provide better independent living for older adults. In this study, we report the results from a systematic review of the state-of-the-art in home robotics research for caring for older adults. This review aims to address two questions: (1) What research is being done towards integrating robotics for caring for older adults? (2) What are the research and technology challenges that robots are facing in the home? Sixty-three papers have been identified and studied in this review by following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Common themes that are consistent across the reviewed papers are distinguished and consolidated as follows: (1) Ambient assisted living, where smart home environments and physical support tools are studied; (2) Robot ecosystem, where robotic devices are used to provide various services; (3) Social interaction, where the social isolation problem has been targeted. We also summarize the results of similar literature reviews we came across during our search. The results of this study present the current research trends and technologies used in each category. The challenges and limitations of robotics applications are also identified. Suggestions for accelerating the deployment of robots at home for providing older adults with independent care in the home are presented based on the results and insights from this study.


2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 531-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcela García Vera ◽  
Miriam Aparecida Barbosa Merighi ◽  
Claudete Aparecida Conz ◽  
Marcelo Henrique da Silva ◽  
Maria Cristina Pinto de Jesus ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: to understand the meaning of nursing care in primary health care from the perspective of Chilean nurses. Method: this was a qualitative study based on the social phenomenology of Alfred Schutz. Data was collected between January and April 2013, through interviews with 13 primary health care nurses in Chile. Results: the nurses perceived primary care as a gratifying experience, considering it an encounter of subjectivities. However, they felt burdened with multiple functions and by the hierarchical pressure to achieve targets. They strived to implement innovative care, expressed by the desire to go beyond traditional care practices, and improve the efficiency of management at the various levels of health care. Conclusion: it is important to discuss the results of the present study in the context of health care and especially nursing education, with the goal of better preparing nurses who will deliver care at the primary health care level.


Crisis ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 202-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Andriessen ◽  
Dolores Angela Castelli Dransart ◽  
Julie Cerel ◽  
Myfanwy Maple

Abstract. Background: Suicide can have a lasting impact on the social life as well as the physical and mental health of the bereaved. Targeted research is needed to better understand the nature of suicide bereavement and the effectiveness of support. Aims: To take stock of ongoing studies, and to inquire about future research priorities regarding suicide bereavement and postvention. Method: In March 2015, an online survey was widely disseminated in the suicidology community. Results: The questionnaire was accessed 77 times, and 22 records were included in the analysis. The respondents provided valuable information regarding current research projects and recommendations for the future. Limitations: Bearing in mind the modest number of replies, all from respondents in Westernized countries, it is not known how representative the findings are. Conclusion: The survey generated three strategies for future postvention research: increase intercultural collaboration, increase theory-driven research, and build bonds between research and practice. Future surveys should include experiences with obtaining research grants and ethical approval for postvention studies.


Author(s):  
Ashish D Patel ◽  
Jigarkumar H. Shah

The aged population of the world is increasing by a large factor due to the availability of medical and other facilities. As the number grows rapidly, requirements of this segment of age (65+) are increasing rapidly as well as the percentage of aged persons living alone is also increasing with the same rate due to the inevitable socio-economic changes. This situation demands the solution of many problems like loneliness, chronic conditions, social interaction, transportation, day-to-day life and many more for independent living person. A large part of aged population may not be able to interact directly with new technologies. This sought some serious development towards the use of intelligent systems i.e. smart devices which helps the people with their inability to use the available as well future solutions. Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) is the answer to these problems. In this paper, issues related to AAL systems are studied. Study of challenges and limitations of this comparatively new field will help the designers to remove the barriers of AAL systems.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay Joseph Van Bavel

We review literature from several fields to describe common experimental tasks used to measure human cooperation as well as the theoretical models that have been used to characterize cooperative decision-making, as well as brain regions implicated in cooperation. Building on work in neuroeconomics, we suggest a value-based account may provide the most powerful understanding the psychology and neuroscience of group cooperation. We also review the role of individual differences and social context in shaping the mental processes that underlie cooperation and consider gaps in the literature and potential directions for future research on the social neuroscience of cooperation. We suggest that this multi-level approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of the mental and neural processes that underlie the decision to cooperate with others.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay Joseph Van Bavel ◽  
Elizabeth Ann Harris ◽  
Philip Pärnamets ◽  
Steve Rathje ◽  
Kimberly Doell ◽  
...  

The spread of misinformation, including “fake news,” propaganda, and conspiracy theories, represents a serious threat to society, as it has the potential to alter beliefs, behavior, and policy. Research is beginning to disentangle how and why misinformation is spread and identify processes that contribute to this social problem. We propose an integrative model to understand the social, political, and cognitive psychology risk factors that underlie the spread of misinformation and highlight strategies that might be effective in mitigating this problem. However, the spread of misinformation is a rapidly growing and evolving problem; thus scholars need to identify and test novel solutions, and work with policy makers to evaluate and deploy these solutions. Hence, we provide a roadmap for future research to identify where scholars should invest their energy in order to have the greatest overall impact.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document