A feasibility study for improving balance in community-dwelling elders using trained volunteers within faith-based institutions

AbstractThis article examines the current debate in the United States (primarily) and Britain regarding government-funded social service provision via faith-based institutions. By highlighting the tension between the 'priestly' and 'prophetic' roles of public religion, it argues for the critical importance of protecting religion's prophetic role even as society moves toward more extensive public financing of priestly social service provision. The article first outlines contemporary prophetic religion in the United States, especially faith-based community organizing (also known as broad-based community organizing) efforts, emphasizing three facets of the field: its scale, its role in building social capital, the issues it has addressed. Secondly, the article argues that, despite the narrow partisan tenor of recent faith-based social service provision in the US, it may have redeeming features that new leaders will want to preserve. However, H. R. Niebuhr's (1951) analysis of the relationship between religion and culture is invoked to characterize four key tensions between priestly and prophetic religion that may be exacerbated by governmental funding. The conclusion outlines several approaches through which practitioners, policymakers, the press, and scholars can help society maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of such funding.

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Use of an Internet-of-Things Smart Home System for Healthy Aging in Older Adults in Residential Settings: Pilot Feasibility Study

JMIR Aging ◽

10.2196/21964 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. e21964

Author(s):

Yong K Choi ◽

Hilaire J Thompson ◽

George Demiris

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Internet Of Things ◽

Feasibility Study ◽

Real World ◽

Smart Home ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Perceived Usefulness ◽

Residential Settings ◽

Iot Devices

Background The Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies can create smart residences that integrate technology within the home to enhance residents’ safety as well as monitor their health and wellness. However, there has been little research on real-world testing of IoT smart home devices with older adults, and the feasibility and acceptance of such tools have not been systematically examined. Objective This study aims to conduct a pilot study to investigate the feasibility of using IoT smart home devices in the actual residences of older adults to facilitate healthy aging. Methods We conducted a 2-month feasibility study on community-dwelling older adults. Participants chose among different IoT devices to be installed and deployed within their homes. The IoT devices tested varied depending on the participant’s preference: a door and window sensor, a multipurpose sensor (motion, temperature, luminosity, and humidity), a voice-operated smart speaker, and an internet protocol (IP) video camera. Results We recruited a total of 37 older adults for this study, with 35 (95%) successfully completing all procedures in the 2-month study. The average age of the sample was 78 (SD 9) years and primarily comprised women (29/37, 78%), those who were educated (31/37, 86%; bachelor’s degree or higher), and those affected by chronic conditions (33/37, 89%). The most widely chosen devices among the participants were multipurpose sensors and smart speakers. An IP camera was a significantly unpopular choice among participants in both phases. The participant feedback suggests that perceived privacy concerns, perceived usefulness, and curiosity to technology were strong factors when considering which device to have installed in their home. Conclusions Overall, our deployment results revealed that the use of IoT smart home devices is feasible in actual residences of older adults. These findings may inform the follow-up assessment of IoT technologies and their impact on health-related outcomes and advance our understanding of the role of IoT home-based monitoring technologies to promote successful aging-in-place for older adults. Future trials should consider older adults’ preferences for the different types of smart home devices to be installed in real-world residential settings.

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Holistic Transformative Development Amid Global Pandemic - Singapore’s Journey

International Journal of Interdisciplinary and Strategic Studies ◽

10.47548/ijistra.2021.37 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 168-177

Author(s):

Fazrihan Duriat ◽

Bibi Jan Md Ayyub ◽

Murtadha Mustafa

Keyword(s):

Task Force ◽

Social Changes ◽

Damage Scenario ◽

Faith Based ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

Transformative Development ◽

Multiple Challenges ◽

The Government ◽

Faith Based Institutions ◽

Nations Development

COVID-19 is a global pandemic (Jaihah) that brings hardships (Haraj). This has affected all aspects of our life. The United Nations Development Programme reported that uncertainties due to this global pandemic are manifold. Under a 'High Damage’ scenario, the world could see a staggering 251 million people driven into extreme poverty by the pandemic, bringing the total number to one billion by 2030. The Singapore government had made swift and comprehensive response by forming multi-ministry task force and galvanise various organisations, at all levels, including faith-based institutions to manage and address the multiple challenges in hands. This paper highlights the 3Rs approach adopted by the government through their policies, measures, and actions on various aspects of sustainability including climate and social changes and how the rest of the stakeholders come together for greater impact, with specific focus on the response from the Muslim community.

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Application of Faith and Learning

Metropolitan Universities ◽

10.18060/23986 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 163-180

Author(s):

Theresa Harrison ◽

Dottie Weigel ◽

Melinda Smith

Keyword(s):

Capital City ◽

Faith Formation ◽

Case Study Methodology ◽

The Public ◽

Faith Based ◽

Study Methodology ◽

Faith And Learning ◽

Faith Based Institutions ◽

Competing Priorities ◽

The Impact

Higher education institutions face many competing priorities and are still expected to serve the public good. Faith-based institutions, in particular, aim to meet a faith-inspired calling and serve the communities in which they are situated while guiding students in their faith formation by integrating service and academic priorities. In this paper, the authors explore, through a case study methodology, the unique positionality of Messiah University, a faith-based university located near the capital city of Harrisburg, PA. Specifically, this study explores the impact of a community engaged course with an urban nonprofit agency.

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