Introduction

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Fabrice Jotterand ◽  
Marcello Ienca ◽  
Tenzin Wangmo ◽  
Bernice S. Elger
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Assistive Technologies ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Regulatory Frameworks ◽  
Legal Challenges ◽  
Specialized Care

Dementia and especially Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are among the most expensive and burdensome diseases in Western societies. It is estimated that the number of older adults being diagnosed and living with dementia reached 35.6 million worldwide in 2010 and it is expected to increase up to 135.5 million in 2050. The increased incidence of the disease poses a major challenge for public health systems and health care services in terms of financial management and provision of specialized care to this patient population. The development and implementation of smart assistive tools (Intelligent Assistive Technologies - IATs) to compensate for the specific physical and cognitive deficits of older adults with dementia have been recognized by many as one of the most promising approaches to this emerging financial and caregiving burden. This volume aims at providing an up-to-date overview of the current state of the art of IATs for dementia care, determining their current taxonomy, and defining their functionality, capability, and level of implementation. In addition, this collection of essays examines the implications of the use of IATs at the medical level, including psychological and clinical issues and the ethical and legal challenges such as problems related to their long-term effects (psychological and physiological), questions related to privacy, and the values and norms guiding the development of regulatory frameworks at the national and international stage.

scholarly journals Longitudinal Follow-Up of Long-Term Care Planning Using PlanYourLifespan.org

2020 ◽  
pp. 073346482094306
Author(s):  
Vanessa Ramirez-Zohfeld ◽  
Anne Seltzer ◽  
Ana Ramirez ◽  
Ruqayyah Muhammad ◽  
Lee A. Lindquist
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Term Care ◽  
User Perceptions ◽  
Care Plans ◽  
Age In Place ◽  
Care Services

Many older adults wish to age-in-place but do not have long-term care plans for when they may require more assistance. PlanYourLifespan.org (PYL) is an evidence-based tool that helps older adults understand and plan for their long-term care needs. We examined the long-term effects of PYL use on user perceptions and planning of long-term care services. Individuals who previously accessed PYL were invited to complete an online, nation-wide mixed methodology survey about end-user outcomes related to PYL. Among 115 completed surveys, users found PYL helpful with long-term planning for their future needs. Over half of website users reported having conversations with others because of PYL use. However, 40% of respondents reported not having a conversation with others about their plans; common themes for barriers to planning included procrastination and a lack of immediate support needs. Although PYL helps with planning, many people are still not communicating their long-term care plans.

scholarly journals Inpatient and outpatient health care utilization and expenditures among older adults aged 50 years and above in India

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 11-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ankit Anand
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Socioeconomic Characteristics ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Older Adult Population

Background: Social and economic inequality in utilization of health care services, as well as high out of pocket expenditures are prevalent in overall Indian population. The situation among older adults will be much more critical as they require long-term health care services. The objective of this study is to assess the utilization of outpatient and inpatient care among older adults and incurred out of pocket health expenditure. It also tried to explore the association between socioeconomic factors on receiving health care services and out of pocket health expenditure among older adults in India.Data source: The data from the Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) Wave 1 was used, which was conducted in 2007-08 in India. Respondents aged 50 and above are taken as older adult population. The final sample size was 7150 respondents aged 50 years and above.Results: The percentage of older adults aged 50 years and above receiving outpatient and inpatient health care service were 87.5% and 14.6% respectively. The use of private health facilities was high compared to government health facility. High utilization of outpatient among women and high use of inpatient care among men were found, which was insignificant after adjusting for other variables. Socioeconomic characteristics also play an important role in access to health care among older adults. Place of residence, marital status, caste, education and presence of morbidity were related to the utilization of health care services. Place of residence, education and wealth quintile were also significantly associated with health expenditures.Conclusion: Requirement of long-term health care among older adult population may result in increasing burden of health care expenditures. Socioeconomic characteristics also play an important role in access to health care among older adults. Developing quality and affordable health care services for older adults to ensure equity in accessibility and affordablility will be a major task for the public health system in India.

Experiences and Needs of Older Adults Following Hurricane Ike: A Pilot Study of Long-Term Consequences

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shilpa Krishnan ◽  
Monique R. Pappadis ◽  
Ray Runo ◽  
James E. Graham
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Psychological Support ◽  
Hurricane Ike ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Group Interviews

Objective. This study explored the experiences and needs of older adults during and following Hurricane Ike. Method. Two focus group interviews were conducted among older adults who lived in or around Galveston Island before Hurricane Ike. Nine older adults (six women and three men) participated in two focus group sessions. These qualitative interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic content analyses. Results. The findings of this study reveal the need for continuity in health care services, medications, psychological support, social and family support, community-level services, and information among older adults. Conclusions. The contribution of factors such as health care continuity and psychological support reinforces the importance of specific postdisaster resources to meet the needs of older adults following hurricanes. These results suggest the importance of designing hurricane preparedness guidelines specifically for older adults.

Earthquakes, Fuel Crisis, Power Outages, and Health Care in Nepal: Implications for the Future

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 625-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bipin Adhikari ◽  
Shiva Raj Mishra ◽  
Sujan Babu Marahatta ◽  
Nils Kaehler ◽  
Kumar Paudel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Emergency Care ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Health Hazards ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Power Outages ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The Future

AbstractEarthquakes are a major natural calamity with pervasive effects on human life and nature. Similar effects are mimicked by man-made disasters such as fuel crises and power outages in developing countries. Natural and man-made disasters can cause intangible human suffering and often leave scars of lifelong psychosocial damage. Lessons from these disasters are frequently not implemented. The main objective of this study was to review the effects of the 2015 earthquakes, fuel crisis, and power outages on the health services of Nepal and formulate recommendations for the future. The impacts of earthquakes on health can be divided into immediate, intermediate, and long-term effects. Power outages and fuel crises have health hazards at all stages. It is imperative to understand the temporal effects of earthquakes, because the major needs soon after the earthquake (emergency care) are vastly different from long-term needs such as rehabilitation and psychosocial support. In Nepal, the inadequate and nearly nonexistent specialized health care at the peripheral level claimed many lives during the earthquakes and left many people disproportionately injured. Preemptive strategies such as mobile critical care units at primary health centers, intensive care training for health workers, and alternative plans for emergency care must be prioritized. Similarly, infrastructural damage led to poor sanitation, and alternative plans for temporary settlements (water supply, food, settlements logistics, space for temporary settlements) must be in place where the danger of disease outbreak is imminent. While much of these strategies are implementable and are often set as priorities, long-term effects of earthquakes such as physical and psychosocial supports are often overlooked. The burden of psychosocial stresses, including depression and physical disabilities, needs to be prioritized by facilitating human resources for mental health care and rehabilitation. In addition, inclusion of mental health and rehabilitation facilities in government health care services of Nepal needs to be prioritized. Similarly, power outages and fuel crises affect health care disproportionately. In the current context where permanent solutions may not be possible, mitigating health hazards, especially cold chain maintenance for essential medicines and continuation of life-saving procedures, are mandatory and policies to regulate all health care services must be undertaken. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:625–632)

scholarly journals Feasibility and Enjoyment of Exercise Video Games in Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 559-559
Author(s):  
Sara Freed ◽  
Briana Sprague ◽  
Lesley Ross
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Video Games ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Xbox Kinect ◽  
Game Developers

Abstract Interventions using exercise video games, or exergames, have shown short-term cognitive and physical benefits to older adults, though long-term effects are less promising. Enjoyment of exergames may promote exergame use after the intervention period, though little work has examined older adults’ views of exergames before and after gameplay experience. We invited 20 older adults between 65 and 84 years of age (M=73.30, SD=5.95) to play two Xbox Kinect games, Just Dance and Kinect Sports Rivals, for twenty minutes. In our presentation, we will present qualitative and quantitative findings of this pilot study, including findings that older adults reported that they were not likely to play similar exergames in the future and that they did not find the exergames to be more fun compared to other ways of exercising. We will discuss implications for game design and research relevant to game developers, manufacturers, and researchers. Part of a symposium sponsored by Technology and Aging Interest Group.

Long-term effects of mnemonic training in community-dwelling older adults

2007 ◽  
Vol 41 (7) ◽  
pp. 585-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth O’Hara ◽  
John O. Brooks ◽  
Leah Friedman ◽  
Carmen M. Schröder ◽  
Kevin S. Morgan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

scholarly journals Examining Fall Recurrence Risk of Homebound Hispanic Older Adults Receiving Home Care Services

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-26
Author(s):  
Guillermina R. Solis ◽  
Jane Dimmitt Champion
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Home Health Care ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Home Care Services ◽  
Recurrence Risk ◽  
The United States ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Risk Of Fall

Introduction: Unintentional falls and injuries is a major problem among older adults and the fourth cause of death in the United States. A previous fall event doubles the risk of recurrence and lessens the person’s quality of life. Hispanic older adults have higher rates of disability and lower independent functioning due to poor medical health and risk for fall recurrence. Most fall studies focus on fall risk with few studies on fall recurrence in older adults receiving home health care services unrelated to fall incident. Method: A descriptive pilot study of 30 homebound Hispanic older adults receiving home care services who reported a fall within 3 months was conducted by a multidisciplinary team to evaluate risk of fall recurrence. Results: A heightened risk for fall recurrence was identified with high number of chronic illnesses, high intake of medications, vision problems, and prevalence of urinary incontinence. Conclusion: Findings highlight significant number of intrinsic factors for fall risk recurrence and injuries in a Hispanic older adults population that is homebound and receiving home care services. A multidisciplinary evaluation and culturally appropriate interventions to lessen the risk of fall recurrence are recommended.

scholarly journals Hospital to Home: Supporting the Transition From Hospital to Home for Older Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 084456212110443
Author(s):  
Brittany Barber ◽  
Lori Weeks ◽  
Lexie Steeves-Dorey ◽  
Wendy McVeigh ◽  
Susan Stevens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Home Care Services ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Hospital To Home

Background An increasing proportion of older adults experience avoidable hospitalizations, and some are potentially entering long-term care homes earlier and often unnecessarily. Older adults often lack adequate support to transition from hospital to home, without access to appropriate health services when they are needed in the community and resources to live safely at home. Purpose This study collaborated with an existing enhanced home care program called Home Again in Nova Scotia, to identify factors that contribute to older adult patients being assessed as requiring long-term care when they could potentially return home with enhanced supports. Methods Using a case study design, this study examined in-depth experiences of multiple stakeholders, from December 2019 to February 2020, through analysis of nine interviews for three focal patient cases including older adult patients, their family or friend caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Results Findings indicate home care services for older adults are being sought too late, after hospital readmission, or a rapid decline in health status when family caregivers are already experiencing caregiver burnout. Limitations in home care services led to barriers preventing family caregivers from continuing to care for older adults at home. Conclusions This study contributes knowledge about gaps within home care and transitional care services, highlighting the importance of investing in additional home care services for rehabilitation and prevention of rapidly deteriorating health.

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