scholarly journals Dance as Lifeline: Transforming Means for Engagement and Connection in Times of Social Isolation

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 64S-69S
Author(s):  
Maria Portman Kelly ◽  
David Leventhal
Keyword(s):  
Social Engagement ◽  
Community Intervention ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Socioeconomic Background ◽  
Teaching Artists ◽  
Physical Support ◽  
Training Opportunities ◽  
At Home

Over the past 20 years, dance has emerged as a safe, effective, and evidence-based community intervention that helps thousands of people living with Parkinson’s disease around the globe maintain well-being and improve quality of life. From its initial emergence to the present, COVID-19 has posed fundamental challenges to people living with Parkinson’s, forcing them to balance the need and desire to stay active and socially connected with the requirement to adhere to strict shelter-at-home orders. As cities and towns worldwide began shutting down in early 2020, people living with Parkinson’s found themselves unable to access live dance activities that had provided consistent, reliable physical support; joyful cognitive stimulation; emotional connection; and social engagement. Government sanctioned closures and stay-at-home orders increased the potential for apathy, isolation, anxiety, and stress—factors that are already heightened in people with Parkinson’s. COVID-19 also exacerbated disparities based on race, language, socioeconomic background, and age, inequities already present in the Parkinson’s community and in Parkinson’s-focused dance programming. In this article, the authors provide a description and analysis of ways one dance for Parkinson’s program addressed multiples challenges through three key initiatives: online group classes in English and Spanish, telephone-based resources for people without internet access, and robust online training opportunities for teaching artists. The authors outline ways in which the pandemic has increased the inclusive nature of dance for Parkinson’s programming and suggest that changes implemented during the pandemic will permanently alter program delivery for the better when it is safe to restore group classes in community settings.

scholarly journals A Typical Week With Mild Cognitive Impairment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenna N Renn ◽  
Jenny L Wool ◽  
Basia Belza
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Religious Practice ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Photo Elicitation ◽  
Design And Methods

Abstract Background and Objectives Identifying the experience of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may help develop research agendas, interventions, and other supports to better match individuals’ needs. The purpose of this study was to explore the subjective experience of a “typical week” living with MCI to document (a) important activities, (b) barriers to usual activities, and (c) facilitators and supports. Research Design and Methods We conducted remote individual photo-elicitation interviews with 11 community-dwelling adults aged 55 years or older with MCI. Participants each provided 5–10 photographs of daily life taken over 1 week to facilitate a semistructured qualitative interview. Interview transcriptions were coded in Dedoose software and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Participants shared photos and narratives highlighting the important activities in a typical week, in which physical activity, social engagement, spiritual and religious practice, hobbies, and cognitive stimulation were central. Many also shared disruptions to former routines and reduction of activities alongside increased use of new strategies and environmental supports (e.g., calendars, smartphones). Finally, emergent themes centered on disclosure of their diagnosis and reflections about the future. Discussion and Implications Participant-generated images aided data collection and facilitated discussion of sensitive topics with individuals with MCI. Such narratives may illustrate the needs and opportunities to promote well-being in individuals with MCI, including engagement in meaningful and health-promoting activities, assessing barriers to important daily activities, and considering supports that match the experience and needs of those with MCI.

scholarly journals ‘Getting back to normality seems as big of a step as going into lockdown’: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with early to middle stage dementia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine V Talbot ◽  
Pam Briggs
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Social Worlds ◽  
Middle Stage ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
The Social ◽  
Function Loss ◽  
The Government ◽  
Person With Dementia ◽  
The Impact

Abstract People with dementia can experience shrinkage of their social worlds, leading to a loss of independence, control and reduced well-being. We used ‘the shrinking world’ theory to examine how the COVID 19 pandemic has impacted the lives of people with early to middle stage dementia and what longer-term impacts may result. Interviews were conducted with 19 people with dementia and a thematic analysis generated five themes: the forgotten person with dementia, confusion over government guidance, deterioration of cognitive function, loss of meaning and social isolation, safety of the lockdown bubble. The findings suggest that the pandemic has accelerated the ‘shrinking world’ effect and created tension in how people with dementia perceive the outside world. Participants felt safe and secure in lockdown but also missed the social interaction, cognitive stimulation and meaningful activities that took place outdoors. As time in lockdown continued, these individuals experienced a loss of confidence and were anxious about their ability to re-engage in the everyday practises that allow them to participate in society. We recommend ways in which the government, communities and organisations might counteract some of the harms posed by this shrinking world.

scholarly journals Community intervention strategies to reduce the impact of financial strain and promote financial well-being: a comprehensive rapid review

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-50
Author(s):  
Nicole M. Glenn ◽  
Lisa Allen Scott ◽  
Teree Hokanson ◽  
Karla Gustafson ◽  
Melissa A. Stoops ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Community Intervention ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Financial Strain ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Impact

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.

Lifestyle intervention to prevent Alzheimer’s disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 817-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Ko ◽  
Soi Moi Chye
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Lifestyle Intervention ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Systemic Review ◽  
Lifestyle Interventions ◽  
Alternative Approaches ◽  
The Brain

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease that leads to significant morbidities in elderly. The major pathological hallmark of AD is beta-amyloid plaques (Aβ) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) deposition in hippocampus of the brain. These abnormal protein deposition damages neuronal cells resulting in neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. As a result of limited treatment options available for this disease, there is huge economic burden for patients and social health care system. Thus, alternative approaches (lifestyle intervention) to prevent this disease are extremely important. In this systemic review, we summarized epidemiological evidence of lifestyle intervention and the mechanisms involved in delaying and/or preventing AD. Lifestyle interventions include education, social engagement and cognitive stimulation, smoking, exercise, depression and psychological stress, cerebrovascular disease (CVD), hypertension (HTN), dyslipidaemia, diabetes mellitus (DM), obesity and diet. The methods are based on a literature review of available sources found on the research topic in four acknowledged databases: Web of Science, Scopus, Medline and PubMed. Results of the identified original studies revealed that lifestyle interventions have significant effects and our conclusion is that combination of early lifestyle interventions can decrease the risk of developing AD.

scholarly journals Social Volunteering in Aging Adults Increases Regions of the Amygdala and Correlates With Enhanced Generativity

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 795-795
Author(s):  
Michelle Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Social Engagement ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Volunteer Program ◽  
Intention To Treat ◽  
Intervention Impact ◽  
Aging Adults ◽  
The Brain

Abstract The Brain Health Study (BHS) of the Baltimore Experience Corps Trial (BECT) examined whether a randomized, controlled trial of an intergenerational social volunteer program, entitled Experience Corps, increased subregions of the amygdala related to socioemotional memory and risk for Alzheimer’s disease in aging adults. We further assessed functional correlates of these intervention-related changes and changes in aging adults’ developmental need to be generative, or, to give back to the well-being of others. The BHS simultaneously randomized 112 men and women (59 intervention; 53 control) within BECT to evaluate intervention impact on biomarkers of brain health at baseline and annual follow-ups during the two-year trial. Intention-to-treat analyses revealed program-specific increases in the shape of the centromedial and basomedial regions of the left amygdala (p’s≤0.05 adjusted), which were correlated with increases in generativity (p’s =0.06). Meaningful social engagement buffered amygdalar declines important to preservation of emotionally salient memory and risk for dementia. Part of a symposium sponsored by Brain Interest Group.

Understanding Social Isolation Among Urban Aging Adults: Informing Occupation-Based Approaches

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 188-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carri Hand ◽  
Jessica Retrum ◽  
George Ware ◽  
Patricia Iwasaki ◽  
Gabe Moaalii ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Information Access ◽  
Community Based Participatory Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Aging Adults

Socially isolated aging adults are at risk of poor health and well-being. Occupational therapy can help address this issue; however, information is needed to guide such work. National surveys characterize social isolation in populations of aging adults but fail to provide meaningful information at a community level. The objective of this study is to describe multiple dimensions of social isolation and related factors among aging adults in diverse urban neighborhoods. Community-based participatory research involving a door-to-door survey of adults 50 years and older was used. Participants ( N = 161) reported social isolation in terms of small social networks (24%) and wanting more social engagement (43%). Participants aged 50 to 64 years reported the highest levels of isolation in most dimensions. Low income, poor health, lack of transportation, and infrequent information access appeared linked to social isolation. Occupational therapists can address social isolation in similar urban communities through policy and practice that facilitate social engagement and network building.

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