Search results for ‘Subject term:"activities of daily living"’ Sort:
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The efficiency of using everyday technological devices by older adults: the role of cognitive functions
- Authors:
- SLEGERS Karin, VAN BOXTELL Martin P. J., JOLLES Jelle
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 29(2), February 2009, pp.309-325.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
To test the role of cognitive abilities in performing technological tasks, the authors designed the Technological Transfer Test (TTT). This new and ecologically valid test comprises eight technological tasks that are common in modern life (operating a CD player, a telephone, an ATM, a train-ticket vending machine, a microwave-oven, an alarm clock, a smart card charging device and a telephone voice menu). The TTT and a comprehensive battery of cognitive tests were administered to 236 healthy adults aged 64–75 years living in the Netherlands on two separate occasions. The results demonstrated that the performance time for five of the eight tasks was predicted by cognitive abilities. The exact cognitive functions affecting technological performance varied by the technological task. Among several measures and components of cognition, the speed of information processing and cognitive flexibility had the greatest predictive power. The results imply that age-related cognitive decline has a profound effect on the interaction between older adults and technological appliances.
Usability of a new electronic assistive device for community-dwelling persons with mild dementia
- Authors:
- MEILAND Franka J.M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(5), July 2012, pp.584-591.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
COGKNOW is a three-year project supported by the Inclusion unit of the European Commission’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) Research Programme. The project commenced in September 2006 and concludes in late summer of 2009. The goal of COGKNOW is to develop an integrated cognitive prosthetic solution that supports people with mild dementia in four areas: memory, social contact, recreational activities and experiences of safety. A user participatory method was applied to evaluate the development process of the COGKNOW Day Navigator (CDN), and consisted of three iterative 1-year cycles with field tests in Amsterdam, Belfast and Luleå. In the successive cycles 16, 14 and 12 persons with dementia and their carers participated. Data on usability were collected by means of interviews, observations, questionnaires, logging and diaries. The CDN prototype consists of a touch screen, a mobile device, sensors and actuators. The evaluation showed that persons with dementia and carers valued the CDN overall as user-friendly and useful. CDN was expected to be a useful tool for supporting community-dwelling persons with mild dementia and their carers. Implication for practice are discussed.
Mediating effects of psychosocial factors on concerns about falling and daily activity in a multicomponent cognitive behavioral group intervention
- Authors:
- ZIJLSTRA G.A. Rixt, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 15(1), January 2011, pp.68-77.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study explored the mediating effects of psychosocial factors on concerns about falling and daily activity in a cognitive behavioural group intervention. Five hundred and forty older people, with concerns about falling and activity avoidance, participated in a randomised controlled trial evaluating this intervention. Control beliefs, self-efficacy beliefs, outcome expectations, social interactions, and concerns about falling and daily activity were assessed at baseline, and at 2, 8, and 14 months. Moderate statistically significant effects of the intervention on the potential mediators were found at nearly all follow-up assessments. Separate psychosocial factors showed modest mediating effects on the outcomes. Overall, the multicomponent cognitive behavioural intervention improved control beliefs, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and social interactions. These variables mediated the association between the intervention and concerns about falling or daily activity in older people. The authors suggest that this study may enable further improvement and development of interventions to reduce concerns about falling for old people.
Characteristics of help-seeking behaviour in subjects with subjective memory complaints at a memory clinic: a case-control study
- Authors:
- RAMAKERS Inez H.G.B., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 24(2), February 2009, pp.190-196.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Memory complaints in the absence of objective test impairments are common. Only a subset of these subjects seeks medical attention for these complaints. The aim of the present study was to investigate which factors determine why people with subjective memory complaints (SMC) seek medical attention. Thirty-three cases with SMC from a memory clinic in the Netherlands were compared to 85 control subjects with SMC from a population-based study who did not seek help for their complaints. The study investigated whether cases differed from controls with respect to the following: depressive and anxiety symptoms (SCL-90), extraversion and neuroticism (EPQ), meta-memory (MIA), quality of life (SF-36), changes in memory and daily functioning according to a relative (DECO), life-changing events, and a family history of dementia. Cases with SMC who seek medical attention, scored lower on memory self-efficacy and quality of life. They were more often worried due to a positive family history of dementia by comparison to the control subjects. Relatives of cases reported more deterioration in daily functioning than relatives of controls. Both the cases and control subjects had similar levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well as levels of extraversion and neuroticism.
Does visual impairment lead to additional disability in adults with intellectual disabilities?
- Authors:
- EVENHUIS H.M., SJOUKES L., KOOT H. M., KOOIJMAN A. C.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53(1), January 2009, pp.19-28.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study addresses the question to what extent visual impairment leads to additional disability in adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). In a multi-centre cross-sectional study of 269 adults with mild to profound ID in the Netherlands, social and behavioural functioning was assessed with observant-based questionnaires, prior to expert assessment of visual function. With linear regression analysis the percentage of variance, explained by levels of visual function, was calculated for the total population and per ID level. A total of 107/269 participants were visually impaired or blind (WHO criteria). On top of the decrease by ID visual impairment significantly decreased daily living skills, communication & language, recognition/communication. Visual impairment did not cause more self-absorbed and withdrawn behaviour or anxiety. Peculiar looking habits correlated with visual impairment and not with ID. In the groups with moderate and severe ID this effect seems stronger than in the group with profound ID. Although ID alone impairs daily functioning, visual impairment diminishes the daily functioning even more. Timely detection and treatment or rehabilitation of visual impairment may positively influence daily functioning, language development, initiative and persistence, social skills, communication skills and insecure movement.
Limitations in mobility: experiences of visually impaired older people
- Authors:
- BROUWER Diana M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71(10), October 2008, pp.414-421.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This paper presents a new insight into the limitations experienced by older people with reduced vision in daily life activities. With an ageing population, increasing numbers of Dutch people are affected by visual impairment. In contrast to other European countries, occupational therapists in the Netherlands do work with this specific group, but little research has as yet been conducted in this field. This study explores in detail the mobility experiences of 10 older people with a visual impairment. Each participant was interviewed twice; the data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Giorgi's method of empirical phenomenology. The participants' severely limited mobility clearly influenced their occupational choices, space and independence, with a particularly negative change in activities of daily living. They attended fewer social activities and became more dependent on assistance, which made them anxious. Visual impairments were often misunderstood by others and the absence of facial recognition was experienced as a severe barrier to social interaction. Some specific difficulties that visually impaired older people may experience are now more transparent, which might inspire occupational therapists in other countries to work in this field.
Randomized controlled feasibility study of FindMyApps: first evaluation of a tablet-based intervention to promote self-management and meaningful activities in people with mild dementia
- Authors:
- KERKHOF Yvonne, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 17(1), 2022, pp.85-99.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Objectives: We tested the feasibility, implementation strategy and mechanism of impact of FindMyApps. FindMyApps is a tablet intervention consisting of a selection tool to help people with dementia find usable apps for self-management and meaningful activities, including training to support informal carers in employing errorless learning principles to help people with dementia learn tablet and tool usage. Methods: We conducted an exploratory, pilot randomized controlled trial with a mixed-methods design. Twenty persons with mild dementia and carer dyads were randomly assigned to the FindMyApps group (n = 0), receiving either the FindMyApps training and selection tool, or a control condition (n = 10), receiving only a short tablet training. Pre- and post-test measurements at a three month follow-up, consisted of questionnaires and post-test semi-structured interviews. Results: The FindMyApps tool was mostly perceived as useful and easy to use. Persons with dementia were generally able to learn how to use the tool, though they regularly needed support from informal carers. Persons with dementia found apps through the tool, which they used regularly. Persons with dementia and informal carers were positive about the training and support they received. No significant differences were found on outcome measures of persons with dementia, but based on effect sizes FindMyApps is a promising intervention. Conclusions: Qualitative results indicate that the FindMyApps intervention has the potential to positively influence the self-management abilities and engagement in meaningful activities of people with dementia. Remarks are made to improve the intervention and recommendations are given for future effectiveness studies. (Edited publisher abstract)
Exploring the relation between positive emotions and the functional status of older adults living independently: a systematic review
- Authors:
- CABRITA Miriam, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 21(11), 2017, pp.1121-1128.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Literature suggests that positive emotions positively influence physiological parameters but their relation to functioning in the daily life of older adults living independently remains unclear. The present work aims to investigate the relation between positive emotions and functional status in daily life of older people living independently. Method: A systematic literature review was conducted using the PubMed, PsycINFO and Scopus electronic databases. Included works were peer-reviewed empirical studies that analysed the relation between positive emotions and ability to perform activities of daily living with older adults living independently. Results: After removal of duplicates, 10 out of 963 papers met the inclusion criteria. Cross-sectional studies (n = 6) provided limited evidence about a relation between positive emotions and functioning in daily life. However, longitudinal studies (n = 4) provide significant evidence for an interaction between the two factors, suggesting that time influences this interaction. Conclusion: The variety on the design and samples of the studies included in this review does not allow a cohesive conclusion of the results. Nevertheless, limited evidence suggests that higher frequency in the experience of positive emotions might be associated with lower functional limitations. The issue of causality in emotions-functioning remains unclear from the review. Further observational studies are highly recommended, supported by innovative technologies. (Publisher abstract)
Activity involvement and quality of life of people at different stages of dementia in long term care facilities
- Authors:
- SMIT Dieneke, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 20(1), 2016, pp.100-109.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Involvement in activities is assumed to positively influence the quality of life of people with dementia, yet activity provision in long-term care remains limited. This study aims to provide more insight into the value of activity involvement for domains of the quality of life of long-term dementia care residents, taking resident characteristics and cognitive status into account. Method: Data were derived from 144 long-term care facilities participating in the second measurement (2010/2011) of the living arrangements for dementia study. Amongst 1144 residents, the relationship between time involved in activities (activity pursuit patterns; RAI-MDS) and quality of life (Qualidem) was studied using multilevel linear regression analyses. Analyses were adjusted for residents’ age, gender, neuropsychiatric symptoms, ADL dependency and cognition. To check for effect modification of cognition, interactions terms of the variables activity involvement and cognitive status were added to the analyses. Results: Despite resident's cognitive status, their activity involvement was significantly related to better scores on care relationship, positive affect, restless tense behaviour, social relations, and having something to do. A negative relationship existed between the activity involvement and positive self-image. The explained variance in the quality of life between residents caused by the activity involvement was small. Conclusion: Activity involvement seems to be a small yet important contributor to higher well-being in long-term care resident at all stages of dementia. Adjusting activities to individual preferences and capabilities might enlarge this relationship. Further research is needed to confirm this hypothesis, using measurement instruments less sensitive to recall bias and differentiating between the active and passive activity involvement. (Publisher abstract)
Experiences of using a memory aid to structure and support daily activities in a small-scale group accommodation for people with dementia
- Authors:
- KERKHOF Yvonne J.F., RABIEE Fatemeh, WILLEMS Charles G.
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 14(5), 2015, pp.633-649.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Background: Use of technology to structure and support the daily activities of the residents in a small-scale group accommodation (SSGA) for dementia is a new innovation in the Netherlands. This paper presents the process of development of this new way of structuring activities and the findings of a pilot study looking at the experiences of using this device in people with dementia. Method: A qualitative method was chosen, data were collected using individual interviews with the residents (n = 6), focus groups interviews with informal carers (n = 5) and members of staff (n = 6). Data were analysed using Ritchie & Spencer’s framework (1994). Findings: Three main themes emerged: issues regarding the implementation, needs for further development and the learning experiences acquired during the development. The majority of the residents were happy with the use and function of the memory aid. However, the occurrence of installation errors, limited ease of use and a lack of knowledge regarding the function and use of the memory aid were issues that prevented a successful implementation. Findings highlighted shared views about ways of improving through adaptation of the software program and additional technological applications; internet connectivity, improving its accessibility by using a remote control and adding videos and photos. Conclusion: Lessons are learned about the use and transferability of this innovation in people with dementia and other vulnerable target groups including those with learning disabilities as well as its limitation and the needs for further development. (Publisher abstract)