Aging, Place, and Technology

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1373-1389 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Satariano ◽  
Andrew E. Scharlach ◽  
David Lindeman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Economic Barriers ◽  
Older Populations ◽  
Monitoring Devices

Objective: To review the range of promising technologies (e.g., smart phones, remote monitoring devices) designed to enhance aging in place; identify challenges for implementation of those technologies; and recommend ways to improve access to technologies in older populations. Method: A narrative review of research, practice, and policies from multiple fields, including information science, gerontology, engineering, housing and social services, health care and public health. Results: Despite a wide range of emerging and current technologies, there are significant challenges for implementation, including an uneven evidence base, economic barriers, and educational and ergonomic issues that adversely affect many older adults. Discussion: Recommendations for future development and adoption include improving the evidence base through field-testing of “packages” of devices in diverse populations of older adults; development of innovative funding mechanisms involving multidisciplinary teams, older adults, and caregivers; and promotion of safety and security in the use of these technologies in older populations.

scholarly journals FINDING THE ELDERS WHO STAYED- CONDUCTING OUTREACH IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE MICHAEL

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S944-S944
Author(s):  
Jessica L Tice ◽  
Megan Bond
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Food Distribution ◽  
Voter Participation ◽  
Property Damage ◽  
Census Tracts ◽  
Florida Department ◽  
Older Populations

Abstract The Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) provides programs and services for over 65,300 older people and adults with disabilities. These individuals are uniquely vulnerable and may be displaced, and/or disoriented during natural disasters. DOEA clients are dependent upon community-based services to provide supervision or assistance to perform basic self-care, which often makes sheltering in place alone a danger to their health and well-being. During Hurricane Michael (2018) many older adults who previously were independent sought help for many issues including property damage, utility interruption, food and medicine scarcity, and physical or mental health problems associated with the storm and its aftermath. In normal conditions, DOEA identifies older populations via Census tracts and then conducts outreach events to inform the public how to access social services. However, after the widespread displacement post-storm, traditional outreach approaches were insufficient. A method was needed to remove areas that were rendered uninhabitable and find who remained in place. DOEA identified viable neighborhoods by overlaying property damage locations on base layers of Census tracts with concentrations of older adults and polling places with high percentage of age 60+ voter participation in the subsequent November election. Then in partnership with Feeding Florida, we provided information and registration assistance via local food distribution sites in those areas. This methodology of overlaying Division of Emergency Management property damage records and voter participation records against publicly available Census tract files is a strategy that could be replicated by other disaster and flood-prone communities or organizations that have similar needs.

A systematic review of quality improvement initiatives for continuous sedation until death

2021 ◽  
pp. 026921632199699
Author(s):  
Lenzo Robijn ◽  
Luc Deliens ◽  
Anne-Lore Scherrens ◽  
Nele S Pauwels ◽  
Peter Pype ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Original Data ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Expert Consultation ◽  
Effective Implementation ◽  
Continuous Sedation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Monitoring Devices ◽  
Range Of Values

Background: Extensive debate surrounds the practice of continuous sedation until death within end-of-life care. Aim: To provide insight into existing initiatives to support the practice of continuous sedation until death and assess their feasibility and effectiveness. Design: Systematic review and narrative synthesis, registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020149630). Data sources: Records were searched through MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, and Web of Science from inception to April 16 2020. Peer-reviewed studies reporting original data on initiatives to support the practice of continuous sedation were included for review. Results: Twenty-one studies met the criteria and were included. Initiatives were focused on assessment tools of consciousness and discomfort (9), the use of guidelines and protocols (8), and expert consultation (3). All initiatives were reported as useful, acceptable, and feasible. Studies on the use of monitoring devices showed that a small proportion of patients were found to be awake, despite the patient being unresponsive according to the observer-based sedation scales. However, the wide range of values of these monitoring devices for comfortable and adequately sedated patients seems to hamper its overall implementation in daily clinical practice. Physicians reported changes in practice conform to guideline recommendations but the shift was modest at best. Expert consultation was regarded as supportive when sufficient expertise is lacking and helpful in avoiding possibly unnecessary sedations. Conclusions: The reviewed initiatives may contribute to improvement of continuous sedation until death, though their evidence base is rather limited. More insight is needed into their feasibility, preconditions for effective implementation and impact in actual practice.

scholarly journals VIRTUAL REALITY AND OLDER ADULTS: A USABILITY STUDY

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S240-S240
Author(s):  
Julie A Brown
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Older Populations

Abstract Within the past two years there has been a very small but growing number of scholarly articles that highlight the potential benefit of mobile Virtual Reality (VR) platforms among older adult populations. Yet, it is critical to assess older adult user needs and preferences, as well as ethical considerations, before utilizing VR in applied contexts. This pilot study investigated perceptions of VR use and its potential application by individually interviewing ten community-dwelling older adults (ages 63 to 89) both before and after trying the Samsung Gear VR and followed with two focus group discussions. Themes identified from the transcripts include 1) usability, 2) video subject matter preferences, and 3) implications with use. These themes highlighted both the challenges and opportunities of VR use among a wide range of older populations, and provided greater insight with its exploration and application in future studies, particularly with individuals with functional limitations.

DSM-5 alcohol use disorder features among treatment-seeking older adults

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 185-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silke Behrendt ◽  
Barbara Braun ◽  
Randi Bilberg ◽  
Gerhard Bühringer ◽  
Michael Bogenschutz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorder ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Dsm 5 ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
And Gender ◽  
International Multicenter

Abstract. Background: The number of older adults with alcohol use disorder (AUD) is expected to rise. Adapted treatments for this group are lacking and information on AUD features in treatment seeking older adults is scarce. The international multicenter randomized-controlled clinical trial “ELDERLY-Study” with few exclusion criteria was conducted to investigate two outpatient AUD-treatments for adults aged 60+ with DSM-5 AUD. Aims: To add to 1) basic methodological information on the ELDERLY-Study by providing information on AUD features in ELDERLY-participants taking into account country and gender, and 2) knowledge on AUD features in older adults seeking outpatient treatment. Methods: baseline data from the German and Danish ELDERLY-sites (n=544) were used. AUD diagnoses were obtained with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, alcohol use information with Form 90. Results: Lost control, desired control, mental/physical problem, and craving were the most prevalent (> 70 %) AUD-symptoms. 54.9 % reported severe DSM-5 AUD (moderate: 28.2 %, mild: 16.9 %). Mean daily alcohol use was 6.3 drinks at 12 grams ethanol each. 93.9 % reported binging. More intense alcohol use was associated with greater AUD-severity and male gender. Country effects showed for alcohol use and AUD-severity. Conclusion: European ELDERLY-participants presented typical dependence symptoms, a wide range of severity, and intense alcohol use. This may underline the clinical significance of AUD in treatment-seeking seniors.

Lead removal from drinking water - development and validation of point-of-use treatment devices

2002 ◽  
Vol 2 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 209-216
Author(s):  
R. Sublet ◽  
A. Boireau ◽  
V.X. Yang ◽  
M.-O. Simonnot ◽  
C. Autugelle
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Fixed Bed ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Lead Removal ◽  
Ministry Of Health ◽  
Point Of Use ◽  
Taste And Odor ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Lead Levels ◽  
Safety Considerations

Two lead removal water filters were developed to lower lead levels in drinking water below 10 μg.L-1 in order to meet the new regulation given by the European Directive 98-83, applicable in December 2013. An appropriate adsorbent was selected through a stringent research program among a wide range of media, and is composed of a synthetic zeolite and an activated carbon. Two prototypes were developed: the first is a faucet-mounted filter which contains a fixed bed of the adsorbent and a hollow fiber bundle, while the second is an under-sink cartridge made of a porous extruded block of carbon and adsorbent. Both are able to treat at least 1,000 litres of any water containing on average 100 to 150 μg Pb.L-1, by lowering the lead concentration below 10 μg.L-1. Once their safety considerations were addressed by an independent laboratory according to the French Ministry of Health recommendations, 20 prototypes were installed at consumers' taps in northeastern France. Their performance in terms of lead removal, HPC control and bad taste and odor reduction was followed for 6 months. This field testing program resulted in the validation of both prototypes which meet the new French Ministry of Health recommendations and assures that the filtered water is fully ED 98-83 compliant. Their commercialization will be launched first in France in middle 2002.

scholarly journals The Impact of Work Hours on Depressive Symptoms among Koreans Aged 45 and Over

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 853
Author(s):  
Juyeong Kim ◽  
Eun-Cheol Park
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Work Hours ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Health Studies ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Impact

Background: Given the documented importance of employment for middle-aged and older adults’ mental health, studies of the association between their number of work hours and depressive symptoms are needed. Objectives: To examine the association between the number of work hours and depressive symptoms in Korean aged 45 and over. Methods: We used data from the first wave to fourth wave of the Korea Longitudinal Study of Aging. Using the first wave at baseline, data included 9845 individuals. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. We performed a longitudinal analysis to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms by work hours. Results: Both unemployed males and females aged 45–65 years were associated with higher depressive symptoms (β = 0.59, p < 0.001; β = 0.32, p < 0.001). Females working ≥ 69 h were associated with higher depressive symptoms compared to those working 41–68 h (β = 0.25, p = 0.013). Among those both middle-aged and older adults, both males and females unemployed were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Those middle-aged female working ≥69 h were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Conclusions: An increase in depressive symptoms was associated with unemployed males and females working ≥69 h compared to those working 41–68 h. Although this association was found among middle-aged individuals, a decrease in depressive symptoms in both sexes was associated with working 1–40 h. Depressive symptoms should decrease by implementing employment policies and social services to encourage employers to support middle-aged and older adults in the workforce considering their sex and age differences.

Experience and expression of social isolation by inner-city high-rise residents

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Love M. Chile ◽  
Xavier M. Black ◽  
Carol Neill
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Inner City ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Rise ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Health And Social Care

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the significance of social isolation and the factors that create social isolation for residents of inner-city high-rise apartment communities. We critically examine how the physical environment and perceptions of safety in apartment buildings and the inner-city implicate the quality of interactions between residents and with their neighbourhood community. Design/methodology/approach – The authors used mixed-methods consisting of survey questionnaires supplemented by semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions using stratified random sampling to access predetermined key strata of inner-city high-rise resident population. Using coefficient of correlation we examine the significance of the association between social isolation, age and ethnicity amongst Auckland's inner-city high-rise residents. Findings – The authors found the experience and expression of social isolation consistent across all age groups, with highest correlation between functional social isolation and “being student”, and older adults (60+ years), length of tenure in current apartment and length of time residents have lived in the inner-city. Research limitations/implications – As a case study, we did not seek in this research to compare the experience and expressions of social isolation in different inner-city contexts, nor of inner-city high-rise residents in New Zealand and other countries, although these will be useful areas to explore in future studies. Practical implications – This study is a useful starting point to build evidence base for professionals working in health and social care services to develop interventions that will help reduce functional social isolation amongst young adults and older adults in inner-city high-rise apartments. This is particularly important as the inner-city population of older adults grow due to international migration, and sub-national shifts from suburbs to the inner-cities in response to governmental policies of urban consolidation. Originality/value – By identifying two forms of social isolation, namely functional and structural social isolation, we have extended previous analysis of social isolation and found that “living alone” or structural social isolation did not necessarily lead to functional social isolation. It also touched on the links between functional social isolation and self-efficacy of older adults, particularly those from immigrant backgrounds.

scholarly journals An Exploration of Learning Results and Curricula Gaps Within an Online Grandfamilies Certificate Program

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 70-71
Author(s):  
Jennifer Crittenden
Keyword(s):  
Online Education ◽  
Continuing Education ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Program Content ◽  
Initial Program ◽  
Individual Program ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
Training Opportunities

Abstract Professionals who work with grandparents raising grandchildren have cross-cutting training needs that span content in gerontology, social services, child welfare and program development. To address these needs, a unique, asynchronous, online continuing education program was launched by the UMaine Center on Aging. To-date the program has 177 individual program completers with learners from across the U.S. and Hong Kong that are affiliated with a diverse set of organizations and perform a wide range of professional and lay functions. Participant data indicate that the program has appealed to a wide variety of learners including participants who serve caregivers generally (60.8%) and grandparents raising grandchildren specifically (81%). A small majority (55.6%) of the agency-based learners reported serving, on average, more than 40 grandfamilies annually. Self-reported learning levels were notable ranging from a mean low of 3.46 out of 4 points (N = 157, SD = 0.59) for the volunteer recruitment and mentorship programming module to a mean high of 3.79 (N = 167 ,SD = 0.45) for the caregiver self-care module. Evaluation results from the first seven learner cohorts underscore the efficacy of program content as well as the utility of performing an initial program needs assessment to guide curriculum development. Practice implications for future continuing education efforts targeting grandfamilies professionals and lay leaders include: the need for easily accessible online education in combination with supplemental training opportunities addressing topics such as the long-term impact of substance use disorder and trauma combined with locally relevant content on grandfamilies and legal resources.

scholarly journals Enhancing Our Understanding of Transitional Care Programs

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 136-137
Author(s):  
Katherine McGilton ◽  
Shirin Vellani ◽  
Alexandra Krassikova ◽  
Alexia Cumal ◽  
Sheryl Robertson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Transitional Care ◽  
Discharge Planning ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Hospitalized Older Adults

Abstract Many hospitalized older adults experience delayed discharge. Transitional care programs (TCPs) provide short-term care to these patients to prepare them for transfer to nursing homes or back to the community. There are knowledge gaps related to the processes and outcomes of TCPs. We conducted a scoping review following Arksey & O’Malley’s framework to identify the: 1) characteristics of older patients served by TCPs, 2) services provided within TCPs, and 3) outcomes used to evaluate TCPs. We searched bibliographic databases and grey literature. We included papers and reports involving community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 65 years and examined the processes and/or outcomes of TCPs. The search retrieved 4828 references; 38 studies and 2 reports met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted in Europe (n=19) and America (n=13). Patients admitted to TCPs were 59-86 years old, had 2-10 chronic conditions, 26-74% lived alone, the majority were functionally dependent and had mild cognitive impairment. Most TCPs were staffed by nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers and physicians, and support staff. The TCPs provided 5 major types of services: assessment, care planning, treatment, evaluation/care monitoring and discharge planning. The outcomes most frequently assessed were discharge destination, mortality, hospital readmission, length of stay, cost and functional status. TCPs that reported significant improvement in older adults’ functions (which was the main goal of the TCPs) included multiple services delivered by multidisciplinary teams. There is a wide variation in the operationalization of TCPs within and between countries.

scholarly journals Feasibility and Acceptability of an mHealth Delivered Mindfulness Therapy for Caregivers

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 316-316
Author(s):  
Elissa Kozlov ◽  
XinQi Dong
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Proven Efficacy ◽  
Managing Stress ◽  
With Memory ◽  
Mindfulness Therapy

Abstract Decades of research have documented the profound, negative effects of caregiving on unpaid caregivers. Mindfulness Therapy (MT) is a promising, non-pharmacological technique with proven efficacy and effectiveness in managing stress, depression and anxiety in diverse populations. While the evidence-base for MT in caregiving is growing, traditional MT (8+ hours of face-to-face treatment with trained providers) is likely not a realistic treatment model for most caregivers due to lack of trained personnel, time constraints of the caregiver, and reimbursement issues. Therefore, in order to meet the unique needs of caregivers of older adults with cognitive impairment, an innovative delivery model is required. MHealth can be a useful tool to deliver behavioral interventions, as it overcomes barriers of traditional psychotherapy such as provider availability, scheduling conflicts, and cost. The objective of this paper is to report the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a pilot trial of mHealth delivered MT for stress and caregiver burden in caregivers of persons with dementia. The average age of participant was 63.2 years old. After two weeks, 93% of participants reported using the mindfulness app for an average of 48.38 minutes per week. At eight weeks, 88% of users reported using the mindfulness app for an average of 35 minutes per week. At 8 weeks, 100% of users reported practicing mindfulness without using the app for an average of 45.6 minutes per week. MHealth mindfulness therapy appears to be a feasible method of delivering mindfulness to caregivers of older adults with memory impairment.

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