scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Combining Visual Art Activities and Physical Exercise for Older Adults on Well-Being or Quality of Life and Mood: A Scoping Review

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (12) ◽  
pp. 1784-1804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roswiyani Roswiyani ◽  
Linda Kwakkenbos ◽  
Jan Spijker ◽  
Cilia L.M. Witteman

Visual art activities and physical exercise are both low-intensity and low-cost interventions. The present study aims to comprehensively describe published literature on the effectiveness of a combination of these interventions on well-being or quality of life (QoL) and mood of older adults. Embase, CINAHL, Ovid Medline (R), PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases were searched for studies published between 1990 and 2015 that evaluated interventions combining visual art therapy and exercise for people aged 50 years or older with at least one resultant well-being or QoL or mood outcome. We found 10 studies utilizing different combination programs and outcome measures, and most had small sample sizes. Seventy percent of the studies reported that combining both interventions was effective in improving well-being or QoL and mood in older adults. Future studies are, however, requisite to investigate whether in the respective population such a combination is more effective than either of the interventions alone.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Krieger

The number of older adults living in collective dwellings is increasing. It is important to research effective strategies to maintain and enhance quality of life for older adults living in collective dwellings. Meaningful leisure, such as the ability to travel, is associated with increases in quality of life for older adults. Unfortunately, many older adults, especially those living in collective dwellings, face barriers to travel. Virtual reality (VR) may help older adults living in collective dwellings overcome barriers to travel. The present study examined whether older adults living in collective dwellings tolerated and enjoyed immersive VR, and whether six weeks of virtual tourism affected their quality of life, social engagement, and loneliness. Fourteen older adults living in retirement homes in Toronto participated in this study. Results suggested that participants tolerated immersive VR without experiencing cybersickness, and that they were happier, more excited, and less anxious immediately following VR exposure. Levels of social engagement increased following the six-week virtual tourism program. These quantitative findings were further supported by qualitative interviews. No changes in quality of life or loneliness were found. Limitations include a lack of a control group and small sample size. Addressing these limitations will help to isolate the effects of the virtual tourism program on indices of well-being.


Author(s):  
Shefaly Shorey ◽  
Ee Heok Kua ◽  
Wilson Tam ◽  
Valerie Chan ◽  
Yong Shian Goh ◽  
...  

In Singapore, many older adults suffer from subsyndromal depression and/or subsyndromal anxiety, which can negatively impact their physical and mental well-being if left untreated. Due to the general public’s reluctance to seek psychological help and the low psychiatrist-to-population ratio in Singapore, this study aims to examine the preliminary efficacy, perceptions, and acceptability of a trained volunteer-led community-based intervention on community-dwelling older adults. Twenty-one participants (control: n = 11; intervention: n = 10) completed the randomized pilot study. A mixed-methods approach (questionnaires, semistructured interviews, examining blood samples, intervention fidelity) was adopted. No significant differences were found between the intervention and the control groups in depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, friendship, and quality of life. However, there was a positive change in quality-of-life scores from baseline to 6 months in the intervention group. The control group had significantly higher cortisol levels and lower annexin-A1 levels at 6 months, while the intervention group did not. Three themes emerged from the interviews: (1) impact of the intervention on older adults’ well-being, (2) attitudes toward intervention, and (3) a way forward. However, intervention efficacy could not be established due to small sample size caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Future randomized controlled trials should evaluate volunteer-led, technology-based psychosocial interventions to support these older adults.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Krieger

The number of older adults living in collective dwellings is increasing. It is important to research effective strategies to maintain and enhance quality of life for older adults living in collective dwellings. Meaningful leisure, such as the ability to travel, is associated with increases in quality of life for older adults. Unfortunately, many older adults, especially those living in collective dwellings, face barriers to travel. Virtual reality (VR) may help older adults living in collective dwellings overcome barriers to travel. The present study examined whether older adults living in collective dwellings tolerated and enjoyed immersive VR, and whether six weeks of virtual tourism affected their quality of life, social engagement, and loneliness. Fourteen older adults living in retirement homes in Toronto participated in this study. Results suggested that participants tolerated immersive VR without experiencing cybersickness, and that they were happier, more excited, and less anxious immediately following VR exposure. Levels of social engagement increased following the six-week virtual tourism program. These quantitative findings were further supported by qualitative interviews. No changes in quality of life or loneliness were found. Limitations include a lack of a control group and small sample size. Addressing these limitations will help to isolate the effects of the virtual tourism program on indices of well-being.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-50
Author(s):  
Nicole M. Glenn ◽  
Lisa Allen Scott ◽  
Teree Hokanson ◽  
Karla Gustafson ◽  
Melissa A. Stoops ◽  
...  

Financial well-being describes when people feel able to meet their financial obligations, feel financially secure and are able to make choices that benefit their quality of life. Financial strain occurs when people are unable to pay their bills, feel stressed about money and experience negative impacts on their quality of life and health. In the face of the global economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, community-led approaches are required to address the setting-specific needs of residents and reduce the adverse impacts of widespread financial strain. To encourage evidence-informed best practices, a provincial health authority and community-engaged research centre collaborated to conduct a rapid review. We augmented the rapid review with an environmental scan and interviews. Our data focused on Western Canada and was collected prior to the pandemic (May–September 2019). We identified eight categories of community-led strategies to promote financial well-being: systems navigation and access; financial literacy and skills; emergency financial assistance; asset building; events and attractions; employment and educational support; transportation; and housing. We noted significant gaps in the evidence, including methodological limitations of the included studies (e.g. generalisability, small sample size), a lack of reporting on the mechanisms leading to the outcomes and evaluation of long-term impacts, sparse practice-based data on evaluation methods and outcomes, and limited intervention details in the published literature. Critically, few of the included interventions specifically targeted financial strain and/or well-being. We discuss the implications of these gaps in addition to possibilities and priorities for future research and practice. We also consider the results in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences.


2012 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 400-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Langlois ◽  
T. T. M. Vu ◽  
K. Chasse ◽  
G. Dupuis ◽  
M.-J. Kergoat ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Á Szabó ◽  
Eva Neely ◽  
C Stephens

© The Author(s) 2019. Community grandparenting may promote the well-being of older adults. We examined the impact of non-kin and grandparental childcare on quality of life and loneliness using longitudinal data from 2653 older New Zealanders collected over 2 years. Providing both non-kin and grandparental childcare predicted greater self-realisation for women only and was associated with reduced levels of control and autonomy for men. Non-kin childcare was also associated with reduced social loneliness over time independent of gender. Findings suggest that non-kin grandparenting has psychosocial benefits for older adults. Surrogate grandparenting offers promising avenues for those without grandchildren to experience the benefits of grandparenting.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joy Louise -Onoria ◽  
Raymond Odokonyero ◽  
Bruno Giordani ◽  
Dickens Akena ◽  
Emmanuel Mwesiga ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Uganda’s population, though, largely characterized by young people, has seen the number of people aged 60 and over grow from 686,000 twenty years ago, to 1,433,596 in 2014. Effective caring for the well-being of this population requires strategic and deliberate planning that involves quality of life (QoL) assessments. QoL assessments among the elderly are important in evaluating the efficacy of strategies, such as health interventions, welfare programs, health care, and well-being of the elderly. However, elderly in Uganda face several challenges, ranging from loneliness, poor housing, lack of social and financial support, and poor health. These may negatively affect older persons’ quality of life and consequently their perceptions and attitudes towards aging. Methods: The study was carried out in 2019 in the communities of Nansana and Busukuma town councils in Wakiso district, Uganda. The participants were 380 people 60 years and older. To establish the association between perceptions of ageing and QoL, this study utilized a locally adapted version of the Older Person’s Quality of Life Questionnaire (OPQOL) and the Brief Ageing Perceptions Questionnaire (B-APQ). The OPQOL assesses three domains of QoL: Health QoL (HQoL); Social economic QoL (SQoL); and Psychosocial QoL (PQoL). The B-APQ assesses perceptions about physical age, participation in social activities, and perceptions about ability to regulate emotions as one ages. Pearson’s Chi-square tests were used to characterize the relationship between the perceptions and quality of life.Results: The majority of the respondents, 61% (95%CI 56.7-64.8), had negative perceptions towards ageing. Eighty six percent had poor HQoL, 90% poor SQoL and 83% poor PQoL. There was a significant association between good HQoL and positive perception about participation in social activities (X2 = 7.3670, P = 0.007) as well as with positive perception on regulation of emotions (X2 = 18.1803, P<0.001). There was a significant association between good SQoL and positive perception about participation in social activities (X2 = 5.3472, P = 0.021), as well with positive perception on regulation of emotions (X2 = 10.5128, P<0.001). A significant association between good PQoL and positive perception on regulation of emotions (X2 = 9.2414, P= 0.002).Conclusion: Positive perceptions of ageing are associated with good QoL. Directly addressing perceptions of ageing could be a low cost and effective strategy to improve the QoL of older persons in SSA


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 559-559
Author(s):  
Walter Boot

Abstract There has been a great deal of research on technology to support older adults in their performance of Activities and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. There has been substantially less research, however, on exploring technology solutions that support hobbies and leisure. This is unfortunate, as quality of life and well-being are determined by more than just one’s ability to manage everyday tasks. An overview will be presented of research the Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE) has conducted over two decades with the goals of understanding and supporting older adults’ performance of technology-based leisure activities. Many of these studies have involved videogaming, where there exists a substantial age-related digital divide. CREATE has evaluated older adults’ attitudes and game experiences through survey and research studies and has even recorded longitudinal gameplay. How these findings can be applied to support technology-based leisure activities will be expanded upon. Part of a symposium sponsored by Technology and Aging Interest Group.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S752-S752
Author(s):  
Debra J Sheets ◽  
Stuart W MacDonald ◽  
Andre Smith ◽  
Mary Kennedy

Abstract Informal caregivers provide 80% of the care needed to support community-dwelling older adults with dementia. Over time caregivers often face adverse effects on their health, quality of life and well-being; particularly those caring for someone with dementia. This study examines the impact of participation in the Voices in Motion (ViM) choir on caregiver burden, mood and quality of life. A measurement burst approach was used to investigate intraindividual variability on key psychosocial and health indicators. Results indicate that choir participation significantly improves caregiver well-being (e.g. mood, burden) and quality of life. Findings suggest that choirs offer significant caregiver support and respite. The discussion focuses the public policy and on the potential economic implications which suggests a shift is needed in the services available to older adults with dementia and their caregivers.


2000 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 361-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prem S. Fry

Three hundred and thirty-one older adults participated in a study designed to examine their perceptions of what constitutes a reasonable quality of life. Participants responded to an open-ended questionnaire in which they were asked to state their priorities, preferences, aspirations, and concerns about their present and future quality of life. Responses were subjected to a principal components factor analysis which yielded four factors: 1) respondents' demands for specific guarantees; 2) respondents' aspirations and expectations for future quality of life; 3) fears and anxieties; and 4) external factors presenting a threat to quality of life. These factors accounted for 15 percent, 12 percent, 9.2 percent, and 7.1 percent, respectively, of the total variance. Additionally, data obtained from in-depth interviews with thirty-seven older adults were analyzed using a qualitative approach. Contrary to stereotypic notions that elderly persons are frail, vulnerable, and resigned to deteriorating conditions of well-being in late life, the results of both the qualitative and quantitative components of the study showed the majority of respondents as having clear demands for autonomy, control, and independence in making decisions, including the decision to terminate life. Implications are discussed in terms of future research on quality of life of older adults.


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