Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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Personalised software application compensating memory disorders
- Authors:
- LEIKAS Jaana, PARKKA Juha, JAMSA Petteri
- Journal article citation:
- New Technology in the Human Services, 12(1/2), 1999, pp.61-68.
- Publisher:
- Centre for Human Service Technology
Describes a system developed in Finland consisting of a stationary memory support system and an array of software models that will be a pioneer in a new, virtually unexploited market that is expected to grow with the increasing elderly population. The system reminds the user of important events, e.g. taking medicine. The user is also able to make a phone call by touching on a photograph of the receiver and to browse through the photographs in the album by touching on the screen.
Need for age- and memory-friendly housing environments is urgent!
- Author:
- RAPPE Erja
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Care and Caring, 4(2), 2020, pp.275-284.
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
Countries are ageing globally, which has effects on both the individual and societal levels. Adjustments in the living environment of older people are often needed in order to enable a comfortable and independent everyday life for them. The housing environment is important for healthy and active ageing, which can support the physical, psychological and social well-being of older people. This article discusses global ageing and the challenges connected with it, the characteristics of age- and memory-friendly environments and housing, and how to develop these, providing examples of different housing solutions. (Publisher abstract)
Investigating burden of informal caregivers in England, Finland and Greece: an analysis with the short form of the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers (BSFC-s)
- Authors:
- KONERDING Uwe, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 22(2), 2018, pp.280-287.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: The burden of informal caregivers might show itself in different ways in different cultures. Understanding these differences is important for developing culture-specific measures aimed at alleviating caregiver burden. Hitherto, no findings regarding such cultural differences between different European countries were available. In this paper, differences between English, Finnish and Greek informal caregivers of people with dementia are investigated. Methods: A secondary analysis was performed with data from 36 English, 42 Finnish and 46 Greek caregivers obtained with the short form of the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers (BSFC-s). The probabilities of endorsing the BSFC-s items were investigated by computing a logit model with items and countries as categorical factors. Statistically significant deviation of data from this model was taken as evidence for country-specific response patterns. Results: The two-factorial logit model explains the responses to the items quite well (McFadden's pseudo-R-square: 0.77). There are, however, also statistically significant deviations (p < 0.05). English caregivers have a stronger tendency to endorse items addressing impairments in individual well-being; Finnish caregivers have a stronger tendency to endorse items addressing the conflict between the demands resulting from care and demands resulting from the remaining social life and Greek caregivers have a stronger tendency to endorse items addressing impairments in physical health. Conclusion: Caregiver burden shows itself differently in English, Finnish and Greek caregivers. Accordingly, measures for alleviating caregiver burden in these three countries should address different aspects of the caregivers’ lives. (Publisher abstract)
Design and dementia: a case of garments designed to prevent undressing
- Authors:
- ILTANEN-TÄHKÄVUORI Sonja,, WIKBERG Minttu,, TOPO Päivi
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 11(1), January 2012, pp.49-59.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This study investigated a patient garment developed for the care of people with severe memory problems, severe learning difficulties and brain injuries. A patient garment is designed to prevent undressing in socially inappropriate situations and/or to stop the user from removing an incontinence pad. This study is based on interviews with 14 designers of medical textiles, 9 dementia patients and 3 family carers in Finland. Results indicated that both designers and patients found patient garment to be infantilising and stigmatising for the user but accepted the basic functions of the product. The authors report on the results of a design project aimed at designing a new type of garment that takes into account the technical requirements but provides a more dignified look and opportunities for activity. Finally, they explore the ethical issues concerning the use of this kind of product in dementia care settings.
Let's blur the divide that's between staff and residents
- Authors:
- KOTALA Pirjo, SIUKOLA Katri
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dementia Care, 9(6), November 2001, pp.14-15.
- Publisher:
- Hawker
Describe a group of small homes for people with dementia in Finland which involve residents in every aspect of their running.
The comparison of burden between caregiving spouses of depressive and demented patients
- Authors:
- LEINONEN Esa, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 16(4), April 2001, pp.387-393.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Article compares the burden of the spouses of depressive and demented elderly patients admitted to a Psychogeriatric Clinic in Finland. Found that the spouses of demented patients as a group were psychologically more stressed than the spouses of depressive patients. However, when demented patients were divided into two groups, in those admitted mainly for noncognitive symptoms related to dementia and in those admitted for memory assessment and diagnostic purposes, the burden of the spouses in the former group was higher than that of the group of depressive patients' spouses. No difference was found between the latter group of demented patient spouses and depressive patients' spouses. A correlation was found within both groups between low functional capacity of the patient and the stress of the spouse. In both groups the spouses who felt their own mental health to be poor were more likely to have high levels of burden. Concludes that among the general psychogeriatric patient groups, the caregiving spouses of demented patients with noncognitive psychiatric symptoms are the most burdened group. However, spouses of depressive patients are as much burdened as those of demented patients with mild to moderate memory impairment. More support is needed for every spouse group caring for psychogeriatric patients.
Day care: old and young together
- Author:
- SEPPANEN Riitta
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dementia Care, 6(2), March 1998, pp.18-19.
- Publisher:
- Hawker
Reports on a project in Finland which has found that day care for older people and older people with dementia in a care worker's own home has many benefits.
The care of older people with dementia in surgical wards from the point of view of the nursing staff and physicians
- Authors:
- HYNNINEN Nina, SAARNIO Reetta
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Clinical Nursing, 24(1-2), 2015, pp.192-201.
- Publisher:
- John Wiley and Sons
Aims and objectives: The aim of this study is to describe the care of older people with dementia in surgical wards from the viewpoint of the nursing staff and physicians. Background: There has been little research on the impact of the increasing number of older people with dementia in surgical wards and the preparedness of multi-professional staff caring for them. Design: A qualitative, descriptive design was used. Methods: The data were collected using unstructured interviews with nursing staff (n = 19) and physicians (n = 9) who participate in caring for people with dementia in surgical wards. The collected data were analysed using inductive content analysis. Result: The nursing staff reported that caring for people with dementia was physically and mentally demanding. Physicians regarded memory disorder-related symptoms as primary causes of patients’ challenging behaviour, while in similar situations the nursing staff felt that such behaviour was related to their own personality or a deficiency in their nursing competence. The nursing staff commented that they had not received specific training in caring for people with dementia. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of developing nurses’ skills to meet the current demands of their jobs. Thus, nursing staff urgently require additional training to safely care for this group of patients. In addition, the well-being of nursing staff needs further support, and working practices in the wards should be reviewed. Relevance to clinical practise: Education and up-to-date information related to patient care strongly improve the quality of nursing. The results can be applied to the development of competences related to the care of older people with dementia in surgical wards from a multi-professional standpoint. (Publisher abstract)
Cognitive mobile games for memory impaired older adults
- Authors:
- MERILAMPI Sari, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Assistive Technologies, 8(4), 2014, pp.207-223.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: Cognitive self-rehabilitation lacks updated means and tools. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of cognitively simulating mobile games on the cognitive skills and recreation of older people with memory impairment. Design/methodology/approach: Mobile games that require cognitive skills were developed. The games were tested by memory-impaired older adults, average age of 90. Gaming interventions took place for three months on a daily basis. Game outcomes were automatically recorded and user feedback was collected by interviews. The progress of the testees was also evaluated by means of Trial Making Test A. Findings: Improvement in game scores was found. Other significant effects of game play were enhanced recreation and self-managed activity level. Game play did not have any effect on the traditional Trail Making Test results but the results of the Trail Making game showed improvement. The Trail Making game also showed a large variance in daily scores, which implies that performing just a single Trail Making Test might lead to misreading a person's condition. Research limitations/implications: The results are an encouragement for conducting further testing (on a larger test group, over a longer time) and continuing with game development for cognitively impaired older adults. A similar game trial will also be arranged for a younger population with better overall health condition. Practical implications: New business opportunities are also possible in game development and gaming services. Social implications: Games have the potential for self-rehabilitation and to support extending independent living at home. Originality/value: The paper provides a synopsis of novel cognitive recreation tools, an analysis of their effect and user feedback from professional staff as well as potential new ideas for game developers. (Publisher abstract)
Effects of a group-based exercise program on the mood state of frail older women after discharge from hospital
- Authors:
- TIMONEN L., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 17(12), December 2002, pp.1106-1111.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Older people with somatic illnesses are at increased risk of depression. It is not known whether exercise alleviates depressive symptoms in frail, very old people recuperating from an acute illness. Group-based exercise program organized in the context of a Finnish health care organization improved mood in frail older women recuperating from an acute illness. After the intervention, there was a significant improvement in mood in the intervention group compared to the home exercise control group.