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☐ ☆ ✇ Evidence-Based Nursing

Evidence-informed and community-based strategies are essential to developing affordable and accessible technology-based interventions to prevent social isolation among older adults and promote their well-being and quality of life

Por: Ghassemi · A. E. — Diciembre 15th 2023 at 10:25

Commentary on: Umoh ME, Prichett L, Boyd CM, Cudjoe TKM. Impact of technology on social isolation: Longitudinal analysis from the National Health Aging Trends Study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2023 Apr;71(4):1117–1123. doi: 10.1111/jgs.18179. Epub 2022 Dec 15.

Implications for practice and research

  • Developing and implementing targeted and integrated community-based interventions that supports steady assessment of technology access and use are required to diminish social isolation among seniors and enhance their overall quality of life.

  • Future research should focus on assessing the efficacy of technology-based interventions and advancing digital technologies to reduce social isolation among older adults.

  • Context

    Social isolation is a fundamental public health problem, and it has significant negative effect on the healthcare system along with surge in ageing population.1–3 Furthermore, social isolation is linked with increased mortality rate, cognitive and functional decline among older adults.

    ☐ ☆ ✇ Evidence-Based Nursing

    Home fall hazard assessments effective in high-risk fallers but more information needed on effects of assistive technologies

    Por: Sharma · Y. · Iaboni · A. — Diciembre 15th 2023 at 10:25

    Commentary on: Clemson L, Stark S, Pighills AC, Fairhall NJ, Lamb SE, Ali J, Sherrington C. Environmental interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Mar 10;3(3):CD013258. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013258.pub2

    Implications for practice and research

  • Home fall hazard assessments are shown to be effective in fall prevention among community-dwelling older adults at higher risk of falls. Future work should investigate the feasibility of implementing these interventions in practice settings.

  • It is uncertain whether assistive technologies can prevent falls in community-dwelling older adults, thus further research is needed.

  • Context

    Nearly 30% of older adults aged 65 years and older fall each year.1 While falls are multifactorial and include both intrinsic and environmental factors, ‘accidental’ falls, such as trips and slips related to environmental hazards, are very common reasons provided for a fall.2 Identifying effective...

    ☐ ☆ ✇ Evidence-Based Nursing

    Communication between families and hospital staff is important in understanding nutrition and hydration problems in dementia patients

    Por: Ontan · M. S. · Isik · A. T. — Diciembre 15th 2023 at 10:25

    Commentary on: Anantapong K, Davies N, Sampson EL. Communication between the multidisciplinary team and families regarding nutrition and hydration for people with severe dementia in acute hospitals: a qualitative study. Age Ageing 2022;51:afac230. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afac230.

    Implications for practice and research

  • Hydration and nutrition issues in dementia should be discussed primarily by experienced health professionals, considering the beliefs, culture and expectations of the patient and her family, from the diagnosis. Moreover, these problems may show different characteristics in the acute hospital and at the end of life.

  • Further studies with larger and interrelated study groups may emphasise more on the importance of communication in hydration and nutrition problems in dementia.

  • Context

    Eating and drinking difficulties are known sources of health problems in people with dementia. It is essential to increase the awareness of patients and family carers for these problems. Healthy communication with family carers...

    ☐ ☆ ✇ Evidence-Based Nursing

    Virtual wards versus hospital at home: care models for older people

    Por: Wheeldon · M. — Septiembre 26th 2023 at 16:14

    Commentary on: Norman G, Bennett P, Vardy ERLC. Virtual wards: a rapid evidence synthesis and implications for the care of older people. Age Ageing. 2023 Jan 8;52(1):afac319. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afac319.

    Implications for practice and research

  • While virtual wards are now an accepted model of care delivery for older people further research and evaluation of this model specifically focused on patient selection, the use of technology, impact on carers, and patient and carer satisfaction is needed.

  • The use of virtual modalities of care for older people can be a viable alternative to face to face assessment and care.

  • Context

    Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been increased interest in Virtual Wards as a viable and cost-effective alternative to hospital-based care. Applying this model of care for frail elderly people has become more common but there remains confusion about the difference and/or overlap in the models of...

    ☐ ☆ ✇ Evidence-Based Nursing

    People affected by dementia had mixed experiences of using technology during COVID-19

    Por: Pessoa Lima · D. · Rosa · I. D. — Septiembre 26th 2023 at 16:14

    Commentary on: Chirico I, Giebel C, Lion K, Mackowiak M, Chattat R, Cations M, Gabbay M, Moyle W, Pappadà A, Rymaszewska J, Senczyszyn A, Szczesniak D, Tetlow H, Trypka E, Valente M, Ottoboni G. Use of technology by people with dementia and informal carers during COVID-19: A cross-country comparison. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2022 Sep;37(9). doi: 10.1002/gps.5801.

    Implications for practice and research

  • Consider patient and caregiver preferences for using technology.

  • Offer training on the use of technology.

  • Provide the most suitable schedule for caregivers.

  • More multicentre randomised controlled trials are needed to assess the feasibility of telehealth in different stages of dementia.

  • Context

    The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light the need to adopt technology in healthcare systems worldwide due to the need for physical distancing and isolation measures, especially in the older adult group.1 2 Several studies have...

    ☐ ☆ ✇ Evidence-Based Nursing

    Refusal of care behaviours among people with major neurocognitive disorder highlight the need for multiple research approaches to account for the complexity of the phenomenon

    Por: Daneau · S. · Auclair · I. — Septiembre 26th 2023 at 16:14

    Commentary on: Backhouse T, Killett A, Mioshi E, Khondoker M. What are the factors associated with people with advanced dementia refusing assistance with personal care? Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2023 Jan;38(1): e5857. doi: 10.1002/gps.5857.

    Implications for practice and research

  • To promote caregivers’ capacity for action, the occurrence of refusal of care in people living with a major neurocognitive disorder (NCD) can be conceptualised as a need for the caregiver to adapt the care offered, its characteristics and/or the approach used.

  • Further research should address the relationship between agitation and refusal of care in people with an NCD, while considering its complexity, to reduce both behaviours.

  • Context

    Refusal of care or resistance to care is the terms frequently used to describe people living with a major NCD refusing care verbally or physically. As people with an NCD have significant cognitive impairment, these behaviours are common...

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