scholarly journals Gerontechnology: Providing a Helping Hand When Caring for Cognitively Impaired Older Adults—Intermediate Results from a Controlled Study on the Satisfaction and Acceptance of Informal Caregivers

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anelia Mitseva ◽  
Carrie Beth Peterson ◽  
Christina Karamberi ◽  
Lamprini Ch. Oikonomou ◽  
Athanasios V. Ballis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Assistive Technology ◽  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Real Life ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Cognitively Impaired ◽  
Current Standard ◽  
System Acceptance

The incidence of cognitive impairment in older age is increasing, as is the number of cognitively impaired older adults living in their own homes. Due to lack of social care resources for these adults and their desires to remain in their own homes and live as independently as possible, research shows that the current standard care provisions are inadequate. Promising opportunities exist in using home assistive technology services to foster healthy aging and to realize the unmet needs of these groups of citizens in a user-centered manner. ISISEMD project has designed, implemented, verified, and assessed an assistive technology platform of personalized home care (telecare) for the elderly with cognitive impairments and their caregivers by offering intelligent home support services. Regions from four European countries have carried out long-term pilot-controlled study in real-life conditions. This paper presents the outcomes from intermediate evaluations pertaining to user satisfaction with the system, acceptance of the technology and the services, and quality of life outcomes as a result of utilizing the services.

scholarly journals Sounds of Healthy Aging: Assessing Everyday Cognitive Activity From Real-Life Audio Data

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 622-622
Author(s):  
Burcu Demiray ◽  
Minxia Luo ◽  
Matthew Grilli
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Prospective Memory ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
World Health ◽  
Recording Device

Abstract The healthy aging model of the World Health Organization (2015) highlights the value of assessing and monitoring everyday activities in understanding health in old age. This symposium includes four studies that used the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR), a portable recording device that periodically collects sound snippets in everyday life, to assess various real-life cognitive activities in the context of healthy aging. The four studies collected over 100,000 sound snippets (30-seconds long) over a few days from young and older adults in the US and Switzerland. Participants’ speech in the sound snippets were transcribed and coded for different cognitive activity information. Specifically, Haas and Kliegel have investigated the “prospective memory paradox” by examining the commonality and differences in utterances about retrospective and prospective memory failure in young and older adults’ everyday conversations. Demiray and colleagues investigated the relation between autobiographical memory functions and conversation types in young and older adults in relation to well-being. Luo and colleagues have identified the compensatory function of real-world contexts in cognitive aging: Their study showed that older adults benefited from talking with their spouse in producing complex grammatical structures. Finally, Polsinelli and colleagues found robust associations between language markers (e.g., prepositions, more numbers) and executive functions, highlighting the potential use of spontaneous speech in predicting cognitive status in healthy older adults. Finally, Prof. Matthew Grilli will serve as a discussant and provide an integrative discussion of the papers, informed by his extensive work on clinical and cognitive neuroscience of memory in relation to real-life contexts.

scholarly journals MORE OR LESS? A DECADE’S TREND OF SOCIAL PARTICIPATION AMONG CHINESE OLDER ADULTS: BASED ON A LONGITUDINAL SURVEY

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S630-S630
Author(s):  
Chenxin Tan ◽  
Yun Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Chinese Older Adults ◽  
The Family ◽  
Family Centered ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Social participation is of great significance in healthy aging. While studies on social participation among Chinese elderly are growing, there is a lack of understanding the changes over time of the participation. Using datasets from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), this paper presents a comprehensive analysis on a decade’s trend of social participation among Chinese older adults. First, we use the method of Latent Class Analysis (LCA) to identify types of social participation; in this study, we concluded three types, no participation, the family-centered, and the society-oriented. Second, we examine the characteristics of the elderly by types of participation in terms of demographic, socioeconomic and health condition and analyze the changes in the characteristics over time. And third, we interpret the trend of social participation with broader social environment, or the fluctuant structural and institutional differences under the context of China’s unique social system. Our general conclusion is that while the overall level of participation holds relatively steady, there is a dynamic micro progress and complex mechanisms in this long period. In addition, although both the family-centered participants and the society-oriented possess broader scopes of social participation, the related attributes are different across time. This paper contributes to our knowledge of life of the elderly under the circumstances of fast aging process in China.

scholarly journals Assessing Capacity in the Elderly: Comparing the MoCA with a Novel Computerized Battery of Executive Function

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Brenkel ◽  
Kenneth Shulman ◽  
Elias Hazan ◽  
Nathan Herrmann ◽  
Adrian M. Owen
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Assessment ◽  
Screening Tool ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cognitively Impaired ◽  
Cognitive Screening ◽  
Decision Making Capacity ◽  
Brain Sciences ◽  
Cognitively Intact

Background/Aims: Clinicians are increasingly being asked to provide their opinion on the decision-making capacity of older adults, while validated and widely available tools are lacking. We sought to identify an online cognitive screening tool for assessing mental capacity through the measurement of executive function. Methods: A mixed elderly sample of 45 individuals, aged 65 years and older, were screened with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the modified Cambridge Brain Sciences Battery. Results: Two computerized tests from the Cambridge Brain Sciences Battery were shown to provide information over and above that obtained with a standard cognitive screening tool, correctly sorting the majority of individuals with borderline MoCA scores. Conclusions: The brief computerized battery should be used in conjunction with standard tests such as the MoCA in order to differentiate cognitively intact from cognitively impaired older adults.

scholarly journals Playability and Player Experience in Digital Games for Elderly: A Systematic Literature Review

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (14) ◽  
pp. 3958
Author(s):  
Antonio Rienzo ◽  
Claudio Cubillos
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Digital Games ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Psychomotor Skills ◽  
Player Experience ◽  
Exercise Promotion

A higher number of people increasingly uses digital games. This growing interest in games, with different objectives, justifies the investigation of some aspects and concepts involved, such as product quality (game), usability, playability, and user or player experience, topics investigated by the multidisciplinary area called Human–Computer Interaction (HCI). Although the majority of users of these games are children and young people, an increasing number of older adults join technology and use different types of digital games. Several studies establish the increase in learning, socialization and exercise promotion, and cognitive and psychomotor skills improvement, all within the context of active and healthy aging. The objective of this work is to carry out a systematic literature review investigating the player experience of the elderly in digital games. The work allowed answering five research questions that were formulated. The evolution and maturity level of the research area are studied together with the research methods used. The factors that motivate adults to play were also analyzed; what are the recommended technical characteristics for games and some tools and metrics with which games are evaluated for older adults? Research gaps were detected in the area; there are not many specific studies on playability and player experience applied to the older adult, nor are there proven tools and metrics to evaluate them. Particular techniques for assessing and designing games focused on older adults are lacking, and quantitative studies that better identify the factors that affect the playability and experience of older adults in digital games.

scholarly journals The Intensity of Chair-Assisted Exercises in Cognitively Healthy Older Adults

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 260-271
Author(s):  
Karin M. Volkers ◽  
Tim C.W. van Dijk ◽  
Laura H. Eggermont ◽  
A. Peter Hollander ◽  
Erik J.A. Scherder
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Sports Medicine ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Perceived Exertion ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Production ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Cross Sectional

Introduction:The American College of Sports Medicine prescribes regular performance of at least moderate-intensity physical activity for healthy aging. This study examined whether 1 session of 30 min of chair-assisted exercises for the elderly meets this intensity criterion.Method:This cross-sectional study included 47 cognitively healthy volunteers (mean age 84 years). During the performance of 30 min of chair-assisted exercises the authors determined oxygen uptake (VO2), carbon dioxide production, heart rate (HR), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). These measures were expressed as a percentage of the estimated maximal VO2 (VO2max) and the estimated maximal HR (HRmax) and estimated as metabolic equivalent units (METs).Results:Participants performed chair-assisted exercises at 61.0% ± 14.7% of VO2max, 67.6% ± 11.3% HRmax, 3.9 ± 0.9 METs, and 13.1 ± 2.1 RPE.Conclusions:The intensity of these chair-assisted exercises is at least moderate for older adults, which is necessary for healthy aging.

scholarly journals Executive Dysfunctions Mediate Between Altered Sensory Processing and Daily Activity Performance in Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Batya Engel Yeger ◽  
Sara Rosenblum
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Sensory Processing ◽  
Daily Activity ◽  
Real Life ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Sensory Profile ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Activity Performance ◽  
Executive Dysfunctions

Abstract Background: Sensory processing is essential for the interaction with the environment and for adequate daily function. Sensory processing may be deteriorated in the elderly and restrict daily activity performance. Another factor impacted by aging which significantly affects daily activities is Executive functions (EF). Yet, most studies refer separately to the impacts of sensory processing or EF on daily activities and use clinical evaluations that do not necessarily reflect functional restrictions in real life. This study aims to describe the prevalence of altered sensory processing in the elderly as expressed in daily life scenarios and explore whether EF mediate between altered sensory processing and daily activity performance in older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 167 healthy and independently functioning people living in the community and aged 65 years and older. Participants who had sufficient cognitive status and no symptoms of depression completed a demographic and health-status questionnaire, the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function–Adult Version and the Daily Living Questionnaire. Results: Altered sensory processing, and mainly by the reduced ability to register and modulate sensory input from daily environment, are prevalent in older adults. Their impacts on daily activity performance are mediated by executive dysfunctions. Conclusions: Executive dysfunctions may worsen the negative effects of altered sensory processing on daily activity performance in older adults. The interaction between executive functions and sensory processing should receive growing attention in intervention and prevention programs for older adults, with the emphasis on their expressions in peoples’ real life context.

scholarly journals Assessing the Transferability of Physical Activity Type Detection Models: Influence of Age Group Is Underappreciated

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoda Allahbakhshi ◽  
Christina Röcke ◽  
Robert Weibel
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Training Data ◽  
Behavioral Differences ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Level Walking ◽  
Age Related

Increasing the amount of physical activity (PA) in older adults that have shifted to a sedentary lifestyle is a determining factor in decreasing health and social costs. It is, therefore, imperative to develop objective methods that accurately detect daily PA types and provide detailed PA guidance for healthy aging. Most of the existing techniques have been applied in the younger generation or validated in the laboratory. To what extent, these methods are transferable to real-life and older adults are a question that this paper aims to answer. Sixty-three participants, including 33 younger and 30 older healthy adults, participated in our study. Each participant wore five devices mounted on the left and right hips, right knee, chest, and left pocket and collected accelerometer and GPS data in both semi-structured and real-life environments. Using this dataset, we developed machine-learning models to detect PA types walking, non-level walking, jogging/running, sitting, standing, and lying. Besides, we examined the accuracy of the models within-and between-age groups applying different scenarios and validation approaches. The within-age models showed convincing classification results. The findings indicate that due to age-related behavioral differences, there are more confusion errors between walking, non-level walking, and running in older adults’ results. Using semi-structured training data, the younger adults’ models outperformed older adults’ models. However, using real-life training data alone or in combination with semi-structured data generated better results for older adults who had high real-life data quality. Assessing the transferability of the models to older adults showed that the models trained with younger adults’ data were only weakly transferable. However, training the models with a combined dataset of both age groups led to reliable transferability of results to the data of the older subgroup. We show that age-related behavioral differences can alter the PA classification performance. We demonstrate that PA type detection models that rely on combined datasets of young and older adults are strongly transferable to real-life and older adults’ data. Our results yield significant time and cost savings for future PA studies by reducing the overall volume of training data required.

Naming in Older Adults: Complementary Auditory and Visual Assessment

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Marla J. Hamberger ◽  
Nahal Heydari ◽  
Elise Caccappolo ◽  
William T. Seidel
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Normative Data ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Performance Measure ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Common Symptom ◽  
Current Standard ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Naming Test

Abstract Objectives: Naming difficulty is a common symptom of multiple age-related neurodegenerative disorders. As naming difficulty increases with age, valid, up-to-date naming assessment tools are crucial for differentiating between neurotypical changes in healthy aging and pathological naming difficulty. We aimed to develop and provide normative data for complementary auditory description naming and visual naming tests for older adults. Furthermore, these measures would include not only untimed accuracy, typically the sole naming performance measure, but also additional scores that incorporate features characteristic of actual word finding difficulty. Methods: A normative sample of 407 healthy older adults, aged 56–100 years, were administered the Auditory Naming Test (ANT) and Visual Naming Test (VNT), and other standardized measures. Results: Item analyses resulted in 36 stimuli for both tests. Age-stratified, education-based normative data are provided for accuracy, response time, tip-of-the-tongue (i.e., delayed, yet accurate responses plus correct responses following phonemic cueing), and multiple Summary Scores. Internal and test–retest reliability coefficients were reasonable (.59–.84). Untimed accuracy scores were high across age groups, seemingly reflecting stability of naming into late adulthood; however, time- and cue-based scores revealed reduced efficiency in word retrieval with increasing age. Conclusions: These complementary auditory and visual naming test for older adults improve upon the current standard by providing more sensitive performance measures and the addition of an auditory–verbal component for assessing naming. Detection of subtle naming changes in healthy aging holds promise for capturing symptomatic naming changes during the early stages of neurocognitive disorders involving expressive language, potentially assisting in earlier diagnoses and more timely treatment.

scholarly journals Functions of Real-Life Conversational Time Travel in the Context of Healthy Aging

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 622-623
Author(s):  
Burcu Demiray ◽  
Minxia Luo ◽  
Mike Martin
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Time Travel ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Social Functions ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Audio Recorder

Abstract Using smartphone sensing in real life, we examined conversational time travel (i.e., talking about the personal past versus future), its functions and relation with positive affect (i.e., laughing behavior). We used the Electronically Activated Recorder (audio recorder that periodically records snippets of ambient sounds and speech) and collected a random sample of over 30,000 sound snippets (30 seconds long) from 61 young and 48 healthy older adults across four days. We transcribed and manually coded participants’ speech. Multilevel models conducted in R showed that individuals tended to talk about their past with more social functions (e.g., give advice), whereas talked about their future for more directive purposes (e.g., planning). Age group differences were minimal. We also found that individuals laughed two times more while talking about their past than their future. Results are discussed in relation to the functions of mental/conversational time travel in the context of healthy aging.

scholarly journals The Regional EEG Pattern of the Sleep Onset Process in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1261
Author(s):  
Maurizio Gorgoni ◽  
Serena Scarpelli ◽  
Ludovica Annarumma ◽  
Aurora D’Atri ◽  
Valentina Alfonsi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Sleep Onset ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Specific Pattern ◽  
Alpha Power ◽  
Delta Activity ◽  
Eeg Pattern

Healthy aging is characterized by macrostructural sleep changes and alterations of regional electroencephalographic (EEG) sleep features. However, the spatiotemporal EEG pattern of the wake-sleep transition has never been described in the elderly. The present study aimed to assess the topographical and temporal features of the EEG during the sleep onset (SO) in a group of 36 older participants (59–81 years). The topography of the 1 Hz bins’ EEG power and the time course of the EEG frequency bands were assessed. Moreover, we compared the delta activity and delta/beta ratio between the older participants and a group of young adults. The results point to several peculiarities in the elderly: (a) the generalized post-SO power increase in the slowest frequencies did not include the 7 Hz bin; (b) the alpha power revealed a frequency-specific pattern of post-SO modifications; (c) the sigma activity exhibited only a slight post-SO increase, and its highest bins showed a frontotemporal power decrease. Older adults showed a generalized reduction of delta power and delta/beta ratio in both pre- and post-SO intervals compared to young adults. From a clinical standpoint, the regional EEG activity may represent a target for brain stimulation techniques to reduce SO latency and sleep fragmentation.

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