scholarly journals Impairment and activity limitation changes in assisted living facility residents over the course of one year- A pilot study

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Larsen ◽  
Rebecca Luedeker ◽  
Carlos Morgan ◽  
Christina Taylor ◽  
Heather Braden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Activity Limitation ◽  
Assisted Living Facility ◽  
One Year

The effects of exercise on depressive symptoms of individuals with dementia: A pilot study

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Deborah Logan, MS, LRT/CTRS ◽  
Marieke Van Puymbroeck, PhD, CTRS, FDRT
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Nonparametric Statistics ◽  
Exercise Group ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Assisted Living Facility ◽  
Diagnosis Of Dementia

Dementia is a disease that can affect individuals as they age, and for many individuals with dementia, there is a chance of additional comorbidities, such as depression. When these two health conditions occur simultaneously, it is more difficult to treat the depressive symptoms. To evaluate changes of depressive symptoms in residents of an assisted living facility who have the diagnosis of dementia, 10 days of 30-minute exercise sessions were conducted. Nonparametric statistics indicated a significant decrease in depressive symptoms for the seven participants in this exploratory pilot study. The results from this study indicate that a decrease in depressive symptoms is possible and can be facilitated by a recreational therapist via a structured exercise group. Further research ideas and implications for practice are described.

scholarly journals Wii-Fit for Improving Gait and Balance in an Assisted Living Facility: A Pilot Study

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalpana P. Padala ◽  
Prasad R. Padala ◽  
Timothy R. Malloy ◽  
Jenenne A. Geske ◽  
Patricia M. Dubbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Berg Balance Scale ◽  
Assisted Living Facility ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Wii Fit ◽  
Walking Program ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Walking Group

Objectives. To determine the effects on balance and gait of a Wii-Fit program compared to a walking program in subjects with mild Alzheimer’s dementia (AD).Methods. A prospective randomized (1 : 1) pilot study with two intervention arms was conducted in an assisted living facility with twenty-two mild AD subjects. In both groups the intervention occurred under supervision for 30 minutes daily, five times a week for eight weeks. Repeated measures ANOVA and pairedt-tests were used to analyze changes.Results. Both groups showed improvement in Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Tinetti Test (TT) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) over 8 weeks. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups over time. Intragroup analysis in the Wii-Fit group showed significant improvement on BBS (P=0.003), and TT (P=0.013). The walking group showed a trend towards improvement on BBS (P=0.06) and TUG (P=0.07) and significant improvement in TT (P=0.006).Conclusion. This pilot study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of Wii-Fit in an assisted living facility in subjects with mild AD. Use of Wii-Fit resulted in significant improvements in balance and gait comparable to those in the robust monitored walking program. These results need to be confirmed in a larger, methodologically sound study.

Falls and fear of falling among older adults in an assisted-living facility: A qualitative and foundational study for intervention development in a developing country

2021 ◽  
Vol 94 ◽  
pp. 104375
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Chiebuka Okoye ◽  
Christopher Olusanjo Akosile ◽  
Fatai Adesina Maruf ◽  
Ifeoma Uchenna Onwuakagba ◽  
Ukamaka Gloria Mgbeojedo
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Intervention Development ◽  
Assisted Living Facility

scholarly journals A Web-Based Communication Platform to Improve Home Care Services in Norway (DigiHelse): Pilot Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linn Nathalie Støme ◽  
Tron Moger ◽  
Kristian Kidholm ◽  
Kari J Kværner
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Rate Ratio ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Behavioral Data ◽  
Home Care Service ◽  
Early Assessment ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Digital Platform ◽  
One Year

BACKGROUND Home care service in Norway is struggling to meet the increasing demand for health care under restricted budget constraints, although one-fourth of municipal budgets are dedicated to health services. The integration of Web-based technology in at-home care is expected to enhance communication and patient involvement, increase efficiency and reduce cost. DigiHelse is a Web-based platform designed to reinforce home care service in Norway and is currently undergoing a development process to meet the predefined needs of the country’s municipalities. Some of the main features of the platform are digital messages between residents and the home care service, highlighting information on planned and completed visits, the opportunity to cancel visits, and notifications for completed visits. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to test the usability and economic feasibility of adopting DigiHelse in four districts in Oslo by applying registry and behavioral data collected throughout a one-year pilot study. Early health technology assessment was used to estimate the potential future value of DigiHelse, including the predictive value of behavior data. METHODS Outcome measures identified by stakeholder insights and scenario drafting in the project’s concept phase were used to assess potential socioeconomic benefits. Aggregated data were collected to assess changes in health consumption at baseline, and then 15 and 52 weeks after DigiHelse was implemented. The present value calculation was updated with data from four intervention groups and one control group. A quasi-experimental difference-in-difference design was applied to estimate the causal effect. Descriptive behavioral data from the digital platform was applied to assess the usability of the platform. RESULTS Over the total study period (52 weeks), rates increased for all outcome estimates: the number of visits (rate ratio=1.04; <italic>P</italic>=.10), unnecessary trips (rate ratio=1.37; <italic>P</italic>=.26), and phone calls (rate ratio=1.24; <italic>P</italic>=.08). A significant gap was found between the estimated value of DigiHelse in the concept phase and after the one-year pilot. In the present pilot assessment, costs are expected to exceed potential savings by €67 million (US $75 million) over ten years, as compared to the corresponding concept estimates of a potential gain of €172.6 million (US $193.6 million). Interestingly, behavioral data from the digital platform revealed that only 3.55% (121/3405) of recipients actively used the platform after one year. CONCLUSIONS Behavioral data provides a valuable source for assessing usability. In this pilot study, the low adoption rate may, at least in part, explain the inability of DigiHelse to perform as expected. This study points to an early assessment of behavioral data as an opportunity to identify inefficiencies and direct digital development. For DigiHelse, insight into why the recipients in Oslo have not made greater use of the Web-based platform seems to be the next step in ensuring the right improvement measures for the home care service.

scholarly journals A Web-Based Communication Platform to Improve Home Care Services in Norway (DigiHelse): Pilot Study

10.2196/14780 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e14780
Author(s):  
Linn Nathalie Støme ◽  
Tron Moger ◽  
Kristian Kidholm ◽  
Kari J Kværner
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Rate Ratio ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Behavioral Data ◽  
Home Care Service ◽  
Early Assessment ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Digital Platform ◽  
One Year

Background Home care service in Norway is struggling to meet the increasing demand for health care under restricted budget constraints, although one-fourth of municipal budgets are dedicated to health services. The integration of Web-based technology in at-home care is expected to enhance communication and patient involvement, increase efficiency and reduce cost. DigiHelse is a Web-based platform designed to reinforce home care service in Norway and is currently undergoing a development process to meet the predefined needs of the country’s municipalities. Some of the main features of the platform are digital messages between residents and the home care service, highlighting information on planned and completed visits, the opportunity to cancel visits, and notifications for completed visits. Objective This study aimed to test the usability and economic feasibility of adopting DigiHelse in four districts in Oslo by applying registry and behavioral data collected throughout a one-year pilot study. Early health technology assessment was used to estimate the potential future value of DigiHelse, including the predictive value of behavior data. Methods Outcome measures identified by stakeholder insights and scenario drafting in the project’s concept phase were used to assess potential socioeconomic benefits. Aggregated data were collected to assess changes in health consumption at baseline, and then 15 and 52 weeks after DigiHelse was implemented. The present value calculation was updated with data from four intervention groups and one control group. A quasi-experimental difference-in-difference design was applied to estimate the causal effect. Descriptive behavioral data from the digital platform was applied to assess the usability of the platform. Results Over the total study period (52 weeks), rates increased for all outcome estimates: the number of visits (rate ratio=1.04; P=.10), unnecessary trips (rate ratio=1.37; P=.26), and phone calls (rate ratio=1.24; P=.08). A significant gap was found between the estimated value of DigiHelse in the concept phase and after the one-year pilot. In the present pilot assessment, costs are expected to exceed potential savings by €67 million (US $75 million) over ten years, as compared to the corresponding concept estimates of a potential gain of €172.6 million (US $193.6 million). Interestingly, behavioral data from the digital platform revealed that only 3.55% (121/3405) of recipients actively used the platform after one year. Conclusions Behavioral data provides a valuable source for assessing usability. In this pilot study, the low adoption rate may, at least in part, explain the inability of DigiHelse to perform as expected. This study points to an early assessment of behavioral data as an opportunity to identify inefficiencies and direct digital development. For DigiHelse, insight into why the recipients in Oslo have not made greater use of the Web-based platform seems to be the next step in ensuring the right improvement measures for the home care service.

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