scholarly journals Assessment of older adults' decision‐making capacity in relation to independent living: A scoping review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Usher ◽  
Tadhg Stapleton
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Decision Making Capacity

scholarly journals 27 Decision-Making Capacity Assessment: Occupational Therapy’s Contribution within a Multidisciplinary Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii17-iii65
Author(s):  
Ruth Usher ◽  
Tadhg Stapleton
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Capacity Assessment ◽  
Decision Making Capacity ◽  
Health And Social Care

Abstract Background Increasing age and life expectancy, alongside the growing incidence of chronic conditions and dementia-related diseases, indicate more older individuals are likely to experience challenges regarding decision-making capacity. In Ireland, the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 provides a statuary framework for adults who are experiencing difficulties with decision-making. This legislation has significant implications for all who work in health and social care, especially those working with older adults. An online survey was conducted to explore occupational therapy practices regarding decision-making capacity assessment and factors impacting on engagement in this area. Methods Occupational therapists in Ireland were invited to participate in a cross-sectional online questionnaire. Results One hundred and seventy-two occupational therapists responded. Most occupational therapists (65.77%, n=98) reported involvement in decision-making capacity assessments, particularly those working with older adults. Occupational therapists were more frequently requested to contribute to assessments of capacity regarding independent living (79.19%, n=118), driving (45.89%, n=67), and financial management (44.44%, n=64). Occupational therapists reported using a combination of approaches to inform decision-making capacity assessment, including interviews, observations and assessments of cognition and functional performance, and emphasised a strength-based approach. Many participants reported decision-making capacity assessment is more difficult than other aspects of practice and that they are not satisfied with decision-making capacity assessment procedures in their workplace. A large majority (91.86%, n=113) reported occupational therapists would benefit from additional training and practice resources for decision-making capacity assessment. Conclusion The study confirms that occupational therapists have a role to play in assessment of decision-making capacity assessment, particularly regarding independent living. However, the recommended approach to assessment should include all appropriate multidisciplinary team members. There is need for further education, resources and guidelines for occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals to better guide decision-making capacity assessment.

scholarly journals The Role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Older Adults’ Decision-Making Related to Health, and Health and Social Care Services in Daily Life—A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
Susanna Nordin ◽  
Jodi Sturge ◽  
Maria Ayoub ◽  
Allyson Jones ◽  
Kevin McKee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Information And Communication

Information and communication technology (ICT) can potentially support older adults in making decisions and increase their involvement in decision-making processes. Although the range of technical products has expanded in various areas of society, knowledge is lacking on the influence that ICT has on older adults’ decision-making in everyday situations. Based on the literature, we aimed to provide an overview of the role of ICT in home-dwelling older adults’ decision-making in relation to health, and health and social care services. A scoping review of articles published between 2010 and 2020 was undertaken by searching five electronic databases. Finally, 12 articles using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method designs were included. The articles were published in journals representing biology and medicine, nursing, informatics, and computer science. A majority of the articles were published in the last five years, and most articles came from European countries. The results are presented in three categories: (i) form and function of ICT for decision-making, (ii) perceived value and effect of ICT for decision-making, and (iii) factors influencing ICT use for decision-making. According to our findings, ICT for decision-making in relation to health, and health and social care services was more implicitly described than explicitly described, and we conclude that more research on this topic is needed. Future research should engage older adults and health professionals in developing technology based on their needs. Further, factors that influence older adults’ use of ICT should be evaluated to ensure that it is successfully integrated into their daily lives.

scholarly journals The Decision-Making and Communication Capacities of Older Adults with Dementia: A Population-Based Study

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuko Mitoku ◽  
Setsu Shimanouchi
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Decision Making Capacity ◽  
One Year

The present study assessed the decision-making and communication capacities of older adults with dementia who required assistance and care and measured the subsequent changes in these capacities. Of 845 older adults who received long-term care between April 2003 and December 2004, about half of them without dementia were excluded and the remaining 448 were finally included in the analyses. These individuals were completed follow-up for assessment for two years. The data were obtained from the Long-Term Care Insurance Certification Committee for Eligibility in Gujo City. A total of 73.7% of people with dementia were somewhat capable of making decisions (32.4% were reported as being “always capable”; 41.3% were reported as being “sometimes capable”). A total of 93.7% were somewhat capable of communicating with others (78.3% were reported as being “always capable”; 15.4% were reported as being “sometimes capable”). The results indicate that older adults with dementia can participate in their own care decisions, even if they require assistance and support in their daily lives. The present study shows, however, that baseline decision-making capacity declined to about half what they were after one year and to about one-third of what they were after two years, suggesting that earlier efforts are needed to ensure that the preferences of individuals with dementia are reflected in their care.

scholarly journals Technology Use and Frailty for Community Dwelling Older Adults: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Geriatric Syndrome ◽  
Frail Older Adults

Background: Frailty is a common geriatric syndrome defined as a state of increased vulnerability to acute stressors related to a decline in reserve. There is abundant literature on frailty interventions, however, the literature on technology as an intervention for frailty is scarce. Objectives: The purpose of this scoping review is to identify and summarize existing evidence on technology use as an intervention for frail older adults and to identify research gaps in the evidence base in order to inform future research. Methodology: This review utilized the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and a rigorous scoping review method to search the literature. A comprehensive search of computerized databases was conducted in July 2018 in the following databases published from 2013 to 2018: CINAHL, PubMed, and Academic Search Complete. Results: The database searches yielded a total of 183 articles. Forty-four duplicates were removed. There were 114 results excluded based on title and abstract ineligibility. Thirty-two relevant articles were retrieved for fulltext examination. Eighteen of the articles were excluded based on the inclusion or exclusion criteria. References of 14 included articles were hand-searched for relevant works to ensure completeness of the search. Four pertinent additional articles were identified. The final analysis included 18 articles. Discussion: Current research on technology use for frail older adults focuses on assessment and diagnosis. Methodological weaknesses limit generalizability and the validity of its findings. Few studies utilize frailty as an outcome measure, limiting available research directly related to frailty. Conclusion: More research is needed on the potential for technological tools as interventions for frailty in older adults living at home, specifically, to prevent pre-frailty and frailty. Keywords: frailty, frail elderly, aged, independent living, technology

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