Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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A social model of loneliness: the roles of disability, social resources, and cognitive impairment
- Authors:
- BURHOLT Vanessa, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 57(6), 2017, pp.1020-1030.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Purpose of the study: The authors consider the points at which cognitive impairment may impact on the pathway to loneliness for older people, through impeding social interaction with family and friends, or by interfering with judgements concerning satisfaction with relationships. Design and methods: The authors conceptualise a mediation model anticipating that social resources (LSNS-6) will mediate the pathway between disability (Townsend Disability Scale) and loneliness (De Jong Gierveld 6-item scale) and a moderated-mediation model in which the authors hypothesise that cognitive impairment (MMSE) will moderate the association between disability and social resources and between social resources and loneliness. To validate the hypothesised pathways, the authors draw on the CFAS Wales data set (N = 3,593) which is a nationally representative study of community-dwelling people aged 65 and older in Wales. Results: Disability had a significant indirect effect on loneliness through the mediating variable social resources. Cognitive impairment was significantly associated with social resources, but did not moderate the relationship between disability and social resources. Cognitive impairment had a significant impact on loneliness, and moderated the effect of social resources on loneliness. Implications: Social structures can (dis)empower people with cognitive impairment and lead to exclusion from social resources or impact on the social construction of ageing, cognitive impairment, and dementia. The sense of self for an older person with cognitive impairment may be influenced by social norms and stereotypes, or through a temporal social comparison with an “earlier” sense of self. The authors conclude that loneliness interventions should be theoretically informed to identify key areas for modification. (Edited publisher abstract)
Can mindfulness-based interventions influence cognitive functioning in older adults? A review and considerations for future research
- Authors:
- BERK Lotte, BOXTEL Martin van, OS Jim van
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 21(11), 2017, pp.1113-1120.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: An increased need exists to examine factors that protect against age-related cognitive decline. There is preliminary evidence that meditation can improve cognitive function. However, most studies are cross-sectional and examine a wide variety of meditation techniques. This review focuses on the standard eight-week mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). Method: The authors searched the PsychINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, COCHRANE, and PubMed databases to identify original studies investigating the effects of MBI on cognition in older adults. Results: Six reports were included in the review of which three were randomised controlled trials. Studies reported preliminary positive effects on memory, executive function and processing speed. However, most reports had a high risk of bias and sample sizes were small. The only study with low risk of bias, large sample size and active control group reported no significant findings. Conclusion: The authors conclude that eight-week MBI for older adults are feasible, but results on cognitive improvement are inconclusive due a limited number of studies, small sample sizes, and a high risk of bias. Rather than a narrow focus on cognitive training per se, future research may productively shift to investigate MBI as a tool to alleviate suffering in older adults, and to prevent cognitive problems in later life already in younger target populations. (Edited publisher abstract)
Clock drawing test in screening for Alzheimer's dementia and mild cognitive impairment in clinical practice
- Authors:
- VYHNALEK Martin, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 32(9), 2017, pp.933-939.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objectives: The clock drawing test (CDT) is a commonly used brief cognitive measure. The authors evaluated diagnostic accuracy of subjective ratings of CDT by physicians (with/without specialty in cognitive neurology) and neuropsychologists in discriminating amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), Alzheimer's dementia (AD) and cognitively healthy older adults. They further compared the diagnostic accuracy of subjective categorical ratings with complex scoring of CDT. Methods: Three cognitive neurologists, three neuropsychologists and six neurology residents without experience in cognitive neurology blinded to the diagnosis rated 187 CDTs (50 mild AD, 49 aMCI and 88 cognitively healthy older adults) using a “yes” (abnormal) versus “suspected” versus “no” (normal) classification. The rating suspected was combined with yes or no to obtain two sets of sensitivity estimates. The authors also used a 17-point CDT rating system. Results: When using the categorical rating, neuropsychologists had highest sensitivity (89%) in differentiating patients with mild AD (yes/suspected versus no), followed by neurologic residents (80%) and cognitive neurologists (79%). When differentiating patients with aMCI (yes/suspected versus no), the sensitivity was 84% for neuropsychologists, 64% for cognitive neurologists and 62% for residents. The sensitivity using the complex scoring system was 92% in patients with mild AD and 69% in patients with aMCI. Conclusions: A categorical rating of CDT shows high sensitivity for mild AD even in non-experienced raters. Neuropsychologists outperformed physicians in differentiating patients with aMCI from cognitively healthy older adults (specificity), which was counterbalanced by the lower specificity of their ratings. The diagnostic accuracy was not substantially improved by using complex scoring system. (Edited publisher abstract)
Staying engaged: health patterns of older Americans who participate in the arts
- Authors:
- RAJAN Kumar B., RAJAN Rekha S.
- Publisher:
- National Endowment for the Arts
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 46
- Place of publication:
- Washington, DC
This report describes arts participation patterns of older adults tracked by the 2014 Health and Retirement Study in the United States. It examines the health characteristics - cognitive ability, physical function, and hypertension rates- among adults who created art, who attended arts events, or who did both or did neither. The analysis found that older adults who both created and attended art events in 2014 reported better health outcomes that year than did adults who neither created nor attended art. Older adults involved in both creating art and attending events, also experienced slower rates of decline in cognitive and physical functioning over the last decade, and less growth in hypertension, compared with other older adults. Greater frequency of arts attendance and arts creation also were positively linked to health outcomes. The findings suggest a positive relationship between arts participation and health benefits, especially when also linked with art-making, in therapeutic or non-therapeutic settings. (Edited publisher abstract)
Physical restraints and associations with neuropsychiatric symptoms and personal characteristics in residential care: a cross-sectional study
- Authors:
- KURONEN Marja, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 32(12), 2017, pp.1418-1424.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Physical restraints are widely used in residential care. The objective was to investigate restraint use and its associations with neuropsychiatric symptoms and personal characteristics in residential care. Methods: Data were collected in the South Savo Hospital District from 66 of 68 public or private institutions providing long-term residential care. Nurses assessed the use of physical restraints and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) included in the symptom list of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Drug use was obtained from medical records, and activities of daily living (ADL) were assessed by the nurses according to the Barthel Index. Results: The total number of persons in residential care was 1386. Any restraint was used for 721 patients (52%) in the preceding 24 h. Bedrails were the most common restraints. In the multivariate analysis, psychotic symptoms (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.14–3.31) and use of benzodiazepines (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.18–2.41) were positively associated with restraint use, whereas antipsychotic (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.44–0.87) and antidepressant drug use (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.45–0.90) and higher ADL score (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.92–0.93) were negatively associated. Concomitant use of at least two restraints was associated with high prevalence of hyperactivity NPS symptoms. Conclusions: More than half of the residents were exposed to some physical restraint, most frequently bedrails, within the last 24 h. Psychotic symptoms and benzodiazepine use increased while good ADL and antipsychotic or antidepressant use decreased the risk of restraint use. Bedridden persons were the most frequently restrained which may pose an ethical problem. (Publisher abstract)
The cognitive daisy in residential care
- Authors:
- POLLUX Petra, HUDSON John
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dementia Care, 25(5), 2017, pp.12-13.
- Publisher:
- Hawker
The authors explain how they have developed the "cognitive daisy" (COG-D) as a simple guide to the cognitive status of care home residents and they argue that care is better adapted to residents' needs as a result. (Edited publisher abstract)
Potential of mobile technologies and applications in the detection of mild cognitive impairment among older generation groups
- Authors:
- KLIMOVA Blanka, VALIS Martin, KUCA Kamil
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Health Care, 56(7), 2017, pp.588-599.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
At present, demographic changes result in the growing number of older people. This trend inevitably brings about serious social and economic issues, as well as occurrence of ageing diseases. The purpose of this study is to discuss the potential of using mobile technologies and applications in the detection of ageing disorders such as mild cognitive impairment. The methods used for this review study include a literature search in the world’s acknowledged databases. The findings of this study indicate that mobile applications can serve as appropriate diagnostic tools for ageing disorders such as mild cognitive impairment because they seem to provide better, faster, and less costly care for older people. (Publisher abstract)
Intelligent power wheelchair use in long-term care: potential users' experiences and perceptions
- Author:
- RUSHTON Paula W.
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 12(7), 2017, pp.740-746.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Purpose: Long-term care (LTC) residents with cognitive impairments frequently experience limited mobility and participation in preferred activities. Although a power wheelchair could mitigate some of these mobility and participation challenges, this technology is often not prescribed for this population due to safety concerns. An intelligent power wheelchair (IPW) system represents a potential intervention that could help to overcome these concerns. The purpose of this study was to explore a) how residents experienced an IPW that used three different modes of control and b) what perceived effect the IPW would have on their daily lives. Materials and methods: The authors interviewed 10 LTC residents with mild or moderate cognitive impairment twice, once before and once after testing the IPW. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide, audio recorded and transcribed verbatim for thematic analyses. Results: The analyses identified three overarching themes: (1) the difference an IPW would make, (2) the potential impact of the IPW on others and (3) IPW-related concerns. Conclusions: Findings from this study confirm the need for and potential benefits of IPW use in LTC. Future studies will involve testing IPW improvements based on feedback and insights from this study. (Edited publisher abstract)
Moments of homecoming among people with advanced dementia disease in a residential care facility
- Authors:
- NORBERG Astrid, TERNESTEDT Britt-Marie, LUNDMAN Berit
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 16(5), 2017, pp.629-641.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This study concerns moments of homecoming among people with advanced dementia disease living in a residential care facility. The authors' main finding from participant observations with nine residents was that the residents showed moments of homecoming, i.e. they alternated between verbal and/or nonverbal expressions of feeling at home and of not feeling at home. If care providers understand that they can help people with advanced dementia disease experience moments of homecoming, they can focus on aspects of care that can promote these experiences (Edited publisher abstract)
Living arrangement and cognitive decline among older people in Europe
- Authors:
- MAZZUCO Stefano, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 37(6), 2017, pp.1111-1133.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Family resources may play an important role in the wellbeing of older people. In this paper, the authors examine the association between living arrangement and cognitive decline among people over 65 living in different European countries. The underlined hypothesis is that living with others (i.e. spouse or/and children) vis-à-vis living alone may have a positive role in maintaining cognitive functioning, but also that such beneficial influence varies according to the circumstances. To this end, the authors used data from the first two waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), which provides indicators of several cognitive functions: orientation, immediate recall, delayed recall, verbal fluency and numeracy. Net of both the potential biases due to the selective attrition and the re-test effects, the evidence shows that the association between living arrangement and cognitive decline depends on the geographical area and on the starting level of cognitive function. (Edited publisher abstract)