scholarly journals Mitigation of Perceived Pain in Older Adults by Serious Motion-Based Exercise Games (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Brauner ◽  
Martina Ziefle

UNSTRUCTURED Many societies face a demographic change that challenges the viability of health and welfare systems. Serious Games for Healthcare as well as Ambient Assisted Living offer support and health benefits for older adults and mitigate the negative effects of the demographic shift. We developed a motion-based serious exercise game for older adults in prototypic Ambient Assisted Living environments. In two user studies outside (n=69) and within (n=64) the AAL context we studied the influence of age, gender, self-efficacy in interacting with technology, and need for achievement on performance, effect of the game, evaluation of the game, and overall acceptance. Both games were evaluated as easy to use and fun to play. Remarkably, both game interventions had a strong pain mitigating effect in older adults (-55%; -66%). Consequently, serious exercise games outside and inside Ambient Assisted Living environments can contribute to individuals' health and well-being and to the stability of health care systems.

10.2196/14182 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e14182
Author(s):  
Philipp Brauner ◽  
Martina Ziefle

Background Many societies are facing demographic changes that challenge the viability of health and welfare systems. Serious games for health care and ambient assisted living (AAL) offer health benefits and support for older adults and may mitigate some of the negative effects of the demographic shift. Objective This study aimed to examine the acceptance of serious games to promote physical health in AAL environments. Since AAL environments are designed specifically to support independent living in older adults, we studied the relationship among age and user diversity, performance in the game, and overall usability and acceptance evaluation. Methods We developed a motion-based serious exercise game for prototypical AAL environments. In two evaluations, outside (n=71) and within (n=64) the AAL environment, we investigated the influence of age, gender, self-efficacy in interacting with technology, need for achievement on performance, effect of the game, usability evaluation of the game, and overall acceptance. Results Both games were evaluated as easy to use and fun to play. Both game interventions had a strong pain-mitigating effect in older adults (game 1: −55%, P=.002; game 2: −66%, P=.01). Conclusions Serious exercise games outside and inside AAL environments can contribute to individuals’ health and well-being and to the stability of health care systems.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arne Manzeschke ◽  
Galia Assadi ◽  
Willy Viehöver

Big Data and biopolitics are two major issues currently attracting attention in public health discourse, but also in sociology of knowledge, STS Studies as well as in philosophy of science and bioethics. The paper considers big data to be a new form and instrument of biopolitics (Foucault) which addresses both the categories of body and space. It is expected to fundamentally transform health care systems, domestic environments and practices of self-observation and reflection. Accordingly the paper points out some problems and pitfalls as well as open questions that have emerged in the field of AAL, which merit more attention in future public and academic debate.


Author(s):  
Wiktoria Wilkowska ◽  
Philipp Brauner ◽  
Martina Ziefle

Based on the demographic shift and the related challenges resulting from the growing number of elderly and persons with chronic diseases, the idea of smart home that supports its inhabitants in the daily life, gains importance. The purpose of this paper was to examine in a prototypic Ambient Assisted Living environment if users after interaction with different health-supporting applications intend to use such in the future. Two experimental studies exemplary show possible applications of home-integrated technology that can support, assist and accompany the target group in different contexts, and examine to what extent participants are willing to future use such sophisticated technology at home. The results show that people in general, but especially the old and chronically ill ones are quite fascinated of health-supporting ambient technology and the majority intends to use such ambient assistance in the future (study I). Moreover, serious games for healthcare are shown as a hedonic use of technology in smart homes that have a great potential to retain or improve the physical health, mobility and the overall well-being of the inhabitants (study II). The article provides two examples of ambient technology to leverage the demographic change and presents important user factors for facilitating high user acceptance.


2021 ◽  
pp. 073346482110058
Author(s):  
Cameron J. Gettel ◽  
Kevin Chen ◽  
Elizabeth M. Goldberg

Objectives: We aimed to describe recent technologic advances in the three domains of dementia care, falls, and home supports; summarize existing literature on usability; and identify knowledge gaps. Methods: A comprehensive search of five databases for recent peer-reviewed publications was conducted in May 2020. Independent reviewers performed title/abstract review, full-text screening, data extraction, and study characteristic summarization. Results: Out of 2,696 citations, 151 articles were retrieved for full-text evaluation, after which 54 studies were included in this scoping review. For each domain, different technologies are available to enhance the health and well-being of older adults; many users deemed them usable and useful. Technologies targeted improving function, psychosocial and cognitive status, home safety, and caregiver burden. Barriers to widespread uptake include privacy concerns, suboptimal user experience, and willingness to accept assistance. Conclusion: Technologic innovations directed toward dementia care, fall detection, and ambient-assisted living can aid older adults “aging in place.”


2020 ◽  
Vol 09 (04) ◽  
pp. 106-113
Author(s):  
Ysabeau Bernard-Willis ◽  
Emily De Oliveira ◽  
Shaheen E Lakhan

AbstractChildren with epilepsy often have impairments in cognitive and behavioral functioning which may hinder socio-occupational well-being as they reach adulthood. Adolescents with epilepsy have the added worry of health problems while starting the transition from family-centered pediatric care into largely autonomous adult care. If this transition is not appropriately planned and resourced, it may result in medical mistrust, nonadherence, and worsening biopsychosocial health as an adult. In recent years, there has been increased availability of digital health solutions that may be used during this stark change in care and treating teams. The digital health landscape includes a wide variety of technologies meant to address challenges faced by patients, caregivers, medical professionals, and health care systems. These technologies include mobile health products and wearable devices (e.g., seizure monitors and trackers, smartphone passive data collection), digital therapeutics (e.g., cognitive/behavioral health management; digital speech–language therapy), telehealth services (e.g., teleneurology visits), and health information technology (e.g., electronic medical records with patient portals). Such digital health solutions may empower patients in their journey toward optimal brain health during the vulnerable period of pediatric to adult care transition. Further research is needed to validate and measure their impact on clinical outcomes, health economics, and quality of life.


2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 405-422
Author(s):  
MG Figueiro ◽  
HC Kales

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias is the collective term for a progressive neurodegenerative disease for which there is presently no cure. This paper focuses on two symptoms of the disease, sleep disturbances and depression, and discusses how light can be used as a non-pharmacological intervention to mitigate their negative effects. Bright days and dark nights are needed for health and well-being, but the present components of the built environment, especially those places where older adults spend most of their days, are too dimly illuminated during the day and too bright at night. To be effective light needs to be correctly specified, implemented and measured. Yet, without the appropriate specification and measurement of the stimulus, researchers will not be able to successfully demonstrate positive results in the field, nor will lighting designers and specifiers have the confidence to implement lighting solutions for promoting better sleep and mood in this population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 961-961
Author(s):  
Anna Kornadt ◽  
Martine Hoffmann ◽  
Elke Murdock ◽  
Josepha Nell ◽  
Isabelle Albert

Abstract During the Covid-Crisis, stereotypes of older adults as helpless and vulnerable were spread, and intergenerational conflict was stirred more or less openly. We thus focused on perceived ageism during the crisis and its effects on well-being and health of older adults. Since views on aging are multifaceted and can be both, risk and resource for individual development, we assessed people’s self-perceptions of aging (SPA) as social loss, continued growth and physical decline and subjective age (SA). We hypothesized that people with SPA of social loss and physical decline would be more susceptible to negative effects of perceived ageism, whereas those with SPA of continued growth and younger SA would be less affected. NT1 = 611 community-dwelling adults aged 60 – 98 (Mage = 69.92 years) were recruited in June 2020 online and via phone in Luxembourg. In September 2020, participants will be contacted again for a follow-up. Analyses with cross-sectional data show that participants who felt more discriminated reported lower life satisfaction after the onset of the crisis (r = -.35) and worse subjective health (r = -.14). SPA of social loss and higher SA increased the negative effect of ageism on well-being (beta = -.57) and subjective health (beta = -.53), respectively. Our results point to mid- and long-term consequences of age discriminatory and stereotype-based crisis communication for the well-being of older adults and the importance of individual SPA in critical situations.


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