scholarly journals Influence of Perceived Baseline Contact on the Acceptability of a Personal Contact Intervention Among People Living With Dementia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Sullivan ◽  
Tynisha Whynot ◽  
Jennifer Swindle ◽  
Heunjung Lee ◽  
Hannah O'Rourke
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Missing Data ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Personal Contact ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Contact Group ◽  
Moderate Dementia ◽  
Effectiveness Studies

Abstract Background: Living with dementia can be a lonely experience, undermining older adults’ quality of life. Evidence supports that personal contact interventions can address older adults’ loneliness. However, effects have been small to date, and little is known about how one’s perceptions of baseline contact may influence an intervention’s use and effects. The purpose of this study was to explore how baseline contact, as perceived by older adults living with dementia, may be associated with the acceptability of a personal contact intervention. Methods: This descriptive study was a secondary analysis of data that we collected from 15 people living with mild to moderate dementia in a long-term care home who participated in Connecting Today. Connecting Today is a personal contact intervention that involves 30 minutes of scheduled, unscripted interaction between persons living with dementia and a family member, friend or research assistant. Visits occurred for six weeks, face-to-face or by phone. We compared groups that perceived that they had high (i.e., weekly, n=8) versus low (i.e., monthly or unknown, n=7) contact at baseline to explore differences in acceptability. We measured perceived acceptability (adapted Treatment Perception and Preferences Questionnaire) and the amount and reasons reported for missing data and study withdrawal. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and proportions and frequencies were compared in tables and charts to explore differences between groups.Results: In visits one and two when there were little missing data, a larger proportion (85.7% to 100%) of low contact participants reported feeling better, that the visits helped them, and that the visits were easy ‘mostly’ or ‘a lot’, as compared to the high contact group (37.5% to 62.5%). Retention and attrition after visit two further supported that Connecting Today may be more acceptable for people with low perceived baseline contact: the majority of missing data (71%) and all study withdrawals were observed in the high contact group. Conclusions: Testing the hypotheses generated in this study about the influence of perceived baseline contact upon acceptability in larger feasibility and effectiveness studies will support development of tailored, theory-based personal contact interventions.

Use of vitamin and mineral supplements in long-term care home residents

2012 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Navita Viveky ◽  
Lynda Toffelmire ◽  
Lilian Thorpe ◽  
Jennifer Billinsky ◽  
Jane Alcorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Dementia Diagnosis ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Supplement Use ◽  
Supplement Usage

Vitamin–mineral supplementation may offer older adults health and cognition-related benefits but overuse may contribute to polypharmacy. We examined the prevalence of supplement usage in long-term care facility (LTC) residents (≥65 years of age). As cognition may be affected by nutrition, we also examined use in those with diagnosis of dementia and those with no dementia diagnosis. The prevalence of supplement usage and overall “pill count” from pharmaceutical use was assessed in 189 LTC residents and a subsample of 56 older adults with dementia diagnosis, respectively. Participants were residing in an LTC facility of a mid-size metropolitan area during 2009. The average use of supplements was 1.0 per day for all residents, with 35% taking vitamin D supplements, 20% multivitamins, and 26% calcium. Supplement use was similar (p ≥ 0.05) for those with dementia diagnosis (53%, average 2.0 per day) and for those without such diagnosis (45%, average 2.2 per day). Usage ranged between 1–6 supplements per day. In both of these groups, ∼73% of users were taking vitamin D. The number of prescribed medications ranged from 4 to 24 (average 10.2) in a subsample of residents whose supplement intake was 0 to 6 (average 2). These findings suggest an overall low rate of supplement use, with no significant differences (p ≥ 0.05) in use between residents with and without dementia diagnosis. However, some residents were at risk for supplement overuse.

Dietetic Students’ Experiences: Providing Meal Assistance in Long-term Care Facilities

2013 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Osinga ◽  
Heather Keller
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Qualitative Thematic Analysis ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Role Learning ◽  
Dietetic Students

Purpose: This qualitative study involved describing the experiences of dietetic students who provided meal help to older adults. Of interest were benefits and challenges, and how training could be enhanced. Methods: Individual, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine undergraduate dietetic students. In the preceding year, these students had volunteered as meal helpers in a long-term care home. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to analyze the transcripts. Results: All participating students were female and from one undergraduate program. Three main themes emerged: growing into the role, learning outside the classroom, and providing quality assistance. Conclusions: This study provides an understanding of how meal helping can be a valuable experience for emerging dietitians. It also gives insights into training and the development of the meal helper role.

scholarly journals Seniors’ campus continuums: local solutions for broad spectrum seniors care

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances Morton-Chang ◽  
Shilpi Majumder ◽  
Whitney Berta
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
System Level ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Housing Options

Abstract Background As demand and desire to “age-in-place” grows within an aging population, and new areas of need emerge, governments nationally and internationally are focusing effort and attention on innovative and integrative approaches to health and well-being. Seniors’ Campus Continuums are models of care that seek to broaden access to an array of services and housing options to meet growing health and social needs of aging populations. The objective of this study is to increase understanding of this model and factors that influence their evolution, development, ongoing functioning and capacity to integrate care for older adults wishing to age in their own home and community. Methods This research uses a comparative case study approach across six-bounded cases offering four geographically co-located components (mixed housing options, internal and external community supports, and a long-term care home) in various contexts across Ontario, Canada. Onsite in-person and phone interviews with senior campus staff (N = 30), and campus partners (N = 11), enhanced by direct observation at campuses explored historical and current efforts to offer health, housing and social care continuums for older adults. Results Analysis highlighted eight key factors. Enabling factors include i. rich historical legacies of helping people in need; ii. organizational vision and readiness to capitalize on windows of opportunity; iii. leveraging organizational structure and capacity; iv. intentional physical and social design; v. broad services mix, amenities and innovative partnerships. Impeding factors include vi. policy hurdles and rigidities; vii. human resources shortages and inequities; and viii. funding limitations. A number of benefits afforded by campuses at different levels were also observed. Conclusion Findings from this research highlight opportunities to optimize campus potential on many levels. At an individual level, campuses increase local access to a coordinated range of health and social care services, supports and housing options. At an organizational level, campuses offer enhanced collaboration opportunities across providers and partners to improve consistency and coordination of care, and improved access to shared resources, expertise and infrastructure. At a system level, campuses can address a diversity of health, social, financial, and housing needs to help seniors avoid premature or inappropriate use of higher intensity care settings.

scholarly journals Seniors’ Campus Continuums: Local Solutions for Broad Spectrum Seniors Care

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances Margaret Morton-Chang ◽  
Shilpi Majumder ◽  
Whitney Berta
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
System Level ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Housing Options

Abstract Background: As demand and desire to “age-in-place” grows within an aging population, and new areas of need emerge, governments nationally and internationally are focusing effort and attention on innovative and integrative approaches to health and well-being. Seniors’ Campus Continuums are models of care that seek to broaden access to an array of services and housing options to meet growing health and social needs of aging populations. The objective of this study is to increase understanding of this model and factors that influence their evolution, development, ongoing functioning and capacity to integrate care for older adults wishing to age in their own home and community.Methods: This research uses a comparative case study approach across six-bounded cases offering four geographically co-located components (mixed housing options, internal and external community supports, and a long-term care home) in various contexts across Ontario. Onsite in-person and phone interviews with senior campus staff (N=30), and campus partners (N=11), enhanced by direct observation at campuses explored historical and current efforts to offer health, housing and social care continuums for older adults.Results: Analysis highlighted eight key factors. Enabling factors include i. rich historical legacies of helping people in need; ii. organizational vision and readiness to capitalize on windows of opportunity; iii. leveraging organizational structure and capacity; iv. intentional physical and social design; v. broad services mix, amenities and innovative partnerships. Impeding factors include vi. policy hurdles and rigidities; vii. human resources shortages and inequities; and viii. funding limitations. A number of benefits afforded by campuses at different levels were also observed. Conclusion: Findings from this research highlight opportunities to optimize campus potential on many levels. At an individual level, campuses increase local access to a coordinated range of health and social care services, supports and housing options. At an organizational level, campuses offer enhanced collaboration opportunities across providers and partners to improve consistency and coordination of care, access to shared resources, expertise and infrastructure among other benefits. At a system level, campuses can address a diversity of health, social, financial, and housing needs to help seniors avoid premature or inappropriate use of higher intensity care settings.

scholarly journals Serotonergic antidepressant use and morbidity and mortality among older adults with COPD

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 1800475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas T. Vozoris ◽  
Xuesong Wang ◽  
Peter C. Austin ◽  
Anne L. Stephenson ◽  
Denis E. O'Donnell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Propensity Score ◽  
Reuptake Inhibitor ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Term Care ◽  
All Cause Mortality ◽  
Antidepressant Use

We evaluated the relationship between new selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or serotonin–noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) drug use and respiratory-related morbidity and mortality among older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).This was a retrospective population-based cohort study using heath administrative data from Ontario, Canada. Individuals aged ≥66 years, with validated, physician-diagnosed COPD (n=131 718) were included. New SSRI/SNRI users were propensity score matched 1:1 to controls on 40 relevant covariates to minimise potential confounding.Among propensity score matched community-dwelling individuals, new SSRI/SNRI users compared to non-users had significantly higher rates of hospitalisation for COPD or pneumonia (hazard ratio (HR) 1.15, 95% CI 1.05–1.25), emergency room visits for COPD or pneumonia (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.03–1.24), COPD or pneumonia-related mortality (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.03–1.55) and all-cause mortality (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.11–1.29). In addition, respiratory-specific and all-cause mortality rates were higher among long-term care home residents newly starting SSRI/SNRI drugs versus controls.New use of serotonergic antidepressants was associated with small, but significant, increases in rates of respiratory-related morbidity and mortality among older adults with COPD. Further research is needed to clarify if the observed associations are causal or instead reflect unresolved confounding.

scholarly journals Walking Interviews and Wandering Behavior: Ethical Insights and Methodological Outcomes While Exploring the Perspectives of Older Adults Living With Dementia

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 160940692092013
Author(s):  
Adebusola A. Adekoya ◽  
Lorna Guse
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Research Participant ◽  
Health Care Research ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Walking Behavior ◽  
Moderate Dementia ◽  
Nurse Clinician ◽  
Experienced Nurse

While the use of walking interviews is not new in health care research, this method has not been used to study the wandering behavior of older adults living with dementia in long-term care (LTC) homes. The aim of this article is to describe ethical insights and consequential methodological outcomes when walking interviews were used as a means of exploring the perspectives of older adults living with mild to moderate dementia. We suggest that our use of walking interviews with older adults who presented with wandering behavior respected participants’ agency and, at times, placed the first author in the situation of “ethical vulnerability” in the roles of researcher and clinician. The first author, an experienced nurse clinician, walked with eight participants while interviewing them about why they walk and their intended destinations. Walking interviews provided the opportunity not only to interview participants but also to observe their walking behavior and interaction with others in the LTC home. Walking interviews with older adults living with dementia who are highly mobile in the LTC home acknowledge the primacy of the research participant and the researcher as learner.

scholarly journals Effects of 1 Year of Lifestyle Intervention on Institutionalized Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7612
Author(s):  
Daniele Magistro ◽  
Fabio Carlevaro ◽  
Francesca Magno ◽  
Martina Simon ◽  
Nicola Camp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Lifestyle Intervention ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Term Care

The socio-economic and health consequences of our ageing population are well documented, with older adults living in long-term care facilities amongst the frailest possessing specific and significant healthcare and social care needs. These needs may be exacerbated through the sedentary behaviour which is prevalent within care home settings. Reducing sedentary time can reduce the risk of many diseases and improve functional health, implying that improvements in health may be gained by simply helping older adults substitute time spent sitting with time spent standing or in light-intensity ambulation. This study identified the impact of 1 year of lifestyle intervention in a group of older adults living in a long-term care setting in Italy. One hundred and eleven older adults (mean age, 82.37 years; SD = 10.55 years) participated in the study. Sixty-nine older adults were in the intervention group (35 without severe cognitive decline and 34 with dementia) and 42 older adults were in the control group. Data on physical functioning, basic activities of daily living (BADL) and mood were collected 4 times, before, during (every four months) and after the 1 year of intervention. The lifestyle intervention focused on improving the amount of time spent every week in active behaviour and physical activity (minimum 150 min of weekly activities). All participants completed the training program and no adverse events, related to the program, occurred. The intervention group showed steady and significant improvements in physical functioning and a stable situation in BADL and mood following the intervention in older adults with and without dementia, whilst the control group exhibited a significant decline over time. These results suggest that engagement in a physical activity intervention may benefit care home residents with and without dementia both physically and mentally, leading to improved social care and a reduced burden on healthcare services.

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