Supporting a Virtual Community for the Elderly

2011 ◽  
pp. 428-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis M. Camarinha-Matos ◽  
Filipa Ferrada
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Elderly Care ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Technological Infrastructure ◽  
Community Concept ◽  
Human Actors

An important application context for virtual communities is elderly care. One of the key challenges facing modern societies is the increasing speed at which the population is aging. In Europe, for example, during the last three decades the number of people aged 60 years or more has risen by about 50%. Traditional approaches to care provision are based on support from either the relatives or the elderly care centers. Nevertheless, these two solutions have become increasingly insufficient due to (1) the impractical responsibility onto relatives¾given the fact that more and more family members have to work to secure steady incomes; (2) the costs of providing sufficient care centers, which leads to a relocation of the elderly people, often beyond their home communities; and (3) the fact that many elderly people preserve enough robustness to be in their homes, a situation that is often preferable to them, and as such, better for their welfare (Castolo, Ferrada, & Camarinha-Matos, 2004). This will inevitably place a considerable strain on resources and finances. To deal with this challenge, new ways of providing elderly assistance and care must be found, including the creation of a new technological infrastructure. An integrated elderly care system comprises a number of organizations, such as social security institutions, care centers/day centers, health care institutions and so forth, and involves the cooperation of a number of different human actors; for example, social care assistants, health care professionals, the elderly people and their relatives. If supported by computer networks and adequate assistance tools, such systems may evolve towards operating as a long-term virtual organization, and the various involved actors become part of a virtual community. Furthermore, virtual communities can bring the sense of community and of recognition, respect and belonging, which gives the elderly a strong feeling of usefulness along with better support for their own needs. In this context, the IST TeleCARE project (Camarinha-Matos & Afsarmanesh, 2002, 2004) was launched with the aim of designing and developing a configurable framework, based on mobile (software) agents, focused on the establishment of virtual communities for elderly support. In this article, the TeleCARE Time Bank virtual community concept is presented and the developed supporting infrastructure is discussed.

An Active Grid infrastructure for elderly care

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 363-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doan Hoang ◽  
Elaine Lawrence
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Elderly Care ◽  
Elderly Person ◽  
Preventive Health Care ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Grid Middleware ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Monitoring Technologies

We propose a technique in which elderly people can be monitored non-intrusively. The information is kept in an ‘active’ health record which becomes alive when attention or action is necessary concerning the condition of the elderly person. The proposed system consists of three main components: a sensor/actor loop, sensor records and associated active services, and a Grid middleware platform. Information is captured in realtime within a collaborative health-care Grid. The Grid connects elderly people, caregivers and medical service providers in ways that reduce unnecessary calls on expensive medical services through an intermediate local service centre (which can be virtual) assisted with Internet communications and monitoring technologies. The proposal should support preventive health-care programmes for reducing the cost of caring for the elderly.

scholarly journals Method to Record and Analyze the Operation of Seal Robot in Elderly Care

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 730-738
Author(s):  
Kohei Kuramochi ◽  
Kazuyoshi Wada ◽  
Koji Kimita ◽  
Haruka Kurokawa ◽  
Kaoru Inoue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Bayesian Network ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Elderly Care ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Recorded Data ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Intended Effect

Robot therapy, a mental health care through interactions with robots, has attracted attention as a new method of dementia care. In particular, the therapeutic seal robot named “PARO” is being widely used. When using PARO in elderly facilities, caregivers called “handlers” encourage the elderly people to interact with PARO. However, the usage of PARO was left to the handlers itself. Therefore, there was no intended effect in certain cases. To solve this problem, this study aims to develop a method to record the behaviors of handlers and the reactions of elderly people during the robot therapy and a method to support planning by analyzing the recorded data. A Bayesian network was applied to analyze the relationship between the handler’s behavior and the elderly people’s reactions. To verify usefulness, the experiment was conducted at four elderly facilities between November 2019 and January 2020. The participants were 12 handlers and 21 elderly people. We observed the robot therapy using PARO for 20 min, and subsequently, conducted interviews. Consequently, a model that visualized the relationship between the handler’s behaviors and the elderly people’s reactions was obtained from 40 observed cases. The interviews confirmed that the model was useful for planning a robot therapy.

scholarly journals PERAWATAN KESEHATAN LANSIA DI INDONESIA

Populasi ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mubasyir Hasanbasri
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Elderly Care ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Household Structure ◽  
Economic Changes ◽  
Health Care Practices ◽  
The Family ◽  
Show Difference ◽  
The Relationship

The role offamily inelderly care in Indonesia remainsfeasible solutionfor both economic andcultural reasons. Rapidsocio-economic changes have raised the concerns whetherfamily members can effectively meet the need ofelderly care. This study examines the relationship between household structure variables and the use of health services. We seek to learn the household structure characteristics that facilitate or constrain elderly care. If there is no constraint within the family,elderly people living dependently to their children will be less likely to show difference in health care practices as opposed to those living independently. The datafor this analysis is drawnfrom the 1993 Indonesian Socio-Economic Survey. Individuals aged 65 years or above reported to have illness complaints in the past two weeks and remained suffered when the survey was performed are included for the analysis.The finding sindicate that the elderly people living dependently with their children or with other families use less health care available outside their homes than those living independently.

scholarly journals A Review of Aging and the Lower Urinary Tract: The Future of Urology

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hisae Nishii
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Lower Urinary Tract ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Social Characteristics ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Lower Urinary Tract Function ◽  
Lower Urinary

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common among elderly people, with significant effects on individuals, caregivers, and the wider health care system. As the elderly population with multiple comorbidities is increasing, the burden of LUTS will increase. This review describes the demographic trends in the aging society, changes in lower urinary tract function with aging, and deterioration of physical and cognitive function in aging, as well as what has been done regarding geriatric urology and what urologists should do to meet the health care needs of the aging population. Frailty and dementia are unmissable factors in the evaluation of elderly patients. Numerous reports have described associations between LUTS and frailty and between LUTS and dementia. Urologists must be aware of the multiplex physical, cognitive, and social characteristics of elderly people. Maintaining a geriatric viewpoint in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of elderly individuals with LUTS will fulfill the unmet needs of elderly people. It is also essential to discuss the treatment and management goals of LUTS with patients and caregivers. Active case identification, appropriate evaluations of LUTS and comorbidities, and a multidisciplinary approach with other health-care professionals are recommended for better treatment and management.

scholarly journals Placed in homecare: Living an everyday life restricted by dependence and monitoring

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stinne Glasdam ◽  
Jeanette Praestegaard ◽  
Nina Henriksen
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Monitoring And Control ◽  
Time Work ◽  
The Will ◽  
And Control

Through a sociological case study this article analyses how, seen from a relational perspective, everyday life for elderly people receiving care in their own homes is lived with dependence on health-care professionals. The health-care professionals’ time and tasks are assigned and allocated in advance so that the elderly people are neither allowed nor able to vary their response in relation to the situation they encounter. The life of the client is also treated as though it were a solid, structured everyday life with minimal private time. Work in the home, for example, household chores and personal care, resembles a disciplining strategy. The client lives under conditions of monitoring and control comparable to conditions of imprisonment. The client is subject to the will of and social intercourse with other people in his own home; he both knows it is necessary and offers resistance to the conditions. In short, the authors argue that the homecare service acts as a disciplining practice in modern society.

scholarly journals EM NOME DO CUIDADO SE NATURALIZA A VIOLÊNCIA: o caso da contenção

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 279
Author(s):  
Beltrina Côrte ◽  
Bruna Suelem Mendes Dos Santos
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Palabras Clave

A violência está na agenda dos estudos sobre o envelhecimento, e manifesta-se de forma estrutural, interpessoal e institucional, sinalizando a encruzilhada à qual a humanidade chegou. A naturalização da violência como forma de cuidado é um exemplo. Para prevenir quedas de pessoas idosas residentes em instituições asilares profissionais da saúde fazem uso da contenção, prática de cuidado prejudicial à saúde física e mental que, além de pôr em perigo a integridade e a saúde dos idosos, coloca-os em situações degradantes ou desumanas. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Naturalização da violência; idosos; instituições asilares; cuidados; contenção   ABSTRACT Violence is on the agenda of the studies on aging, and it manifests itself in a structural, interpersonal and institutional manner, signaling the crossroad human beings have reached. The naturalization of violence as a form of care is an example. To prevent falls from elderly people residing in nursing homes, the health care professionals make use of restraint, a practice of care detrimental to both the physical and mental health of the elderly, and in addition puts them in degrading or inhumane situations.   KEYWORDS: Naturalization of violence; Elderly; Nursing homes; Care; Containment.   RESUMEN La violencia está en la agenda de los estudios sobre el envejecimiento y se manifiesta de forma estructural, interpersonal y institucional, señalando la encrucijada a la que llegó la humanidad. La naturalización de la violencia como forma de cuidado es un ejemplo. Para prevenir caídas de personas mayores residentes en instituciones asilares, los profesionales de la salud se utilizan de la contención, una práctica de cuidado perjudicial para la salud física y mental que, además de poner en peligro la integridad y la salud de los ancianos, los coloca en situaciones degradantes o inhumanas.   PALABRAS CLAVE: Naturalización de la violencia; personas mayores; Instituciones asilares; Cuidado; Contención.

Does an impaired capacity for self-care impact the prevalence of social and emotional loneliness among elderly people?

2018 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Irena Canjuga ◽  
Danica Železnik ◽  
Marijana Neuberg ◽  
Marija Božicevic ◽  
Tina Cikac
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Self Care ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The Self ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care Assessment ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of self-care on the prevalence of loneliness among elderly people living in retirement homes and older people living in their homes/communities. Design/methodology/approach The research was conducted through standardized SELSA-L assessment loneliness questionnaires and the Self Care Assessment Worksheet for self-care assessment. The results were processed using the Kruskal–Wallis test. Findings The obtained results have shown that impaired self-care ability affects the prevalence of loneliness among the elderly almost the same in both groups of participants. However, regarding the relationship between the state of health and self-care, only a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of loneliness is found in the case of the participants living in their homes, with the worst health condition affecting the poorer psychological care. Research limitations/implications It is necessary to point out the limitations of the research, primarily sample limitations and the selected design of the study. The sample consisted of two different and relatively small groups of participants which could adversely affect the representativeness of the sample and reduce the possibility of generalising the results. The next limiting factor is the age distribution the authors used in the research, where the age of the participants as a very important variable was collected by age range and not precisely which consequently resulted in inequality in subgroup sizes. Thus, the middle age (75–85) covers up to ten years, which is a huge range at an older age and can mean major differences in functional ability, and can impact the self-care assessment. Practical implications Nurses are indispensable in care for the elderly and they need to promote and encourage self-care of the elderly through health care. Elderly people living in retirement homes should be allowed to participate equally in health care in order to preserve their own autonomy and dignity. However, to benefit those who live in their homes, nurses should be connected to the local community and thus stimulate various forms of preventative (testing blood sugar levels, blood pressure and educating on the importance of preventive examinations) or recreational activities in the environment of elderly people with the goal of preserving their functional abilities. Originality/value The impact of self-care on loneliness was not sufficiently researched, and this paper contributed to understanding the complexity of loneliness phenomena among the elderly with the aim of developing a model of prevention.

scholarly journals Pain Research and Treatment in the Gerontological Context: A Discussion of the Issues

1998 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-96
Author(s):  
Margaret C Gibson ◽  
Michael R Thomas ◽  
Andrew J Cook
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Pain Treatment ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Pain Research ◽  
Sociopolitical Context ◽  
Pain Experiences ◽  
Pain In The Elderly

An appreciation of the context in which gerontological health care occurs is crucial to the successful and ethical collection, interpretation and utilization of data on the pain experiences of elderly people. Important contextual considerations for researchers and clinicians who are addressing pain in the elderly are identified. It is argued that topics that are the focus of current attention in the field of pain and ageing, such as the effect of dementia on memory for pain and the responsiveness of the elderly to psychosocial pain treatment, would be clarified by an understanding of the broader sociopolitical context in which ageing occurs.

scholarly journals Understanding the perspectives of older adults and elderly regarding vaccination; a snapshot in four European countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Timen ◽  
R Eilers ◽  
S Lockhart ◽  
R Gavioli ◽  
S Paul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Elderly Care ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Syncytial Virus

Abstract Prevention of infectious diseases in elderly by immunization is a prerequisite to ensuring healthy ageing. However, in order for the vaccine programs to be effective, these need to be provided by health care professionals who have up-to-date knowledge and high motivation. Furthermore, the knowledge and attitudes towards vaccination in the targeted age groups needs to be fully understood. When focusing on the information provision, it is important to know from whom or which institution older adults and elderly would like to receive and in which form. In January 2019, an international project called the VITAL (The Vaccines and InfecTious diseases in the Ageing population) project was started, within the framework of IMI (Innovative Medicines Initiatives). One of the goals of the VITAL project is to develop strategies to educate and train health care professionals (HCPs) and to promote awareness among stakeholders involved in elderly care management. We briefly focus on the results of studies undertaken in four European countries (Italy, France, The Netherlands and Hungary), which reveal the perspective of older adults and elderly regarding influenza, pneumococcal, herpes zoster vaccination and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as well as generic characteristics of the vaccines and diseases. We will show how attitudes towards vaccination are represented in our study population and which determinants influence the decision-making process of accepting vaccination. Furthermore, we shall elaborate on how the decision-making process towards vaccination takes place and which additional information is needed. In the second part of the session, we shall invite the audience to reflect on the findings and identify the factors they consider most important for setting up a training and education programme on vaccination.

scholarly journals Travel, Pilgrimage and Health Hazards

JMS SKIMS ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-90
Author(s):  
Shariq Rashid Masoodi
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Health Hazards ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Anticipatory Guidance ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Preventative Measures ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Potential Risks

Today more people are travelling than ever before. Travel uWith more people travelling, health care professionals should become more familiar with some of the unique health issues associated with travel and pilgrimage.Travel has some unique safety and health issues, especially for the young and the elderly. Physicians need to be aware of the health issues related to travelling, identify people at risk for health problems during travel, and provide appropriate anticipatory guidance. Many guidelines have been developed to help inform physicians about some of the health issues of people travelling. These guidelines are to provide information on the risks of travel to people, determine which pre-existing health conditions may be complicated by a particular mode of travel, and offer preventative measures that can minimize potential risks to people during the travel. sed to be a leisure which could only be afforded by a few.... JMS 2012;15(2):87-90

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