Resident-, family-, and staff-identified goals for rehabilitation of long-term care residents with dementia: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Long-term care (LTC) residents with dementia can benefit from rehabilitation to improve function and quality of life. However, specific goals for rehabilitation with this population are not always clear. The purpose of this study was to describe the goals for rehabilitation for LTC residents with dementia from the perspective of residents, family, and staff. METHODS: This was a phenomenological qualitative study. LTC residents with moderate to severe dementia, family members, and staff were recruited from two LTC homes in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and field notes from observations with residents while they were being active within the home. Data were analyzed via the principles of thematic content analysis, mapped onto the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) Model, and reported by the participant group (i.e., residents, family, or staff). RESULTS: The 15 participants were three female residents aged 82 to 98 years, seven predominantly (86%) female family members aged 56 to 74 years, and five staff members (two females, three males, aged 22 to 55 years) who were physiotherapists, a physiotherapy assistant, a healthcare aide, and a registered licenced practical nurse. Most identified goals fell within the activities and participation constructs of the ICF model and focused on maintaining or improving function, mobility, and quality of life. Specific themes included preventing falls, walking or locomoting, stair climbing, maintaining activities of daily living, engaging in enjoyable exercise, maintaining independence and human connections, keeping busy, leaving the home for activities, and participating in group activities. CONCLUSIONS: Rehabilitation goals for LTC residents living with dementia often focus on quality of life and functional activities and participation in LTC and family activities and events. Function and quality of life are interrelated, whereby functional goals influence quality of life. While some goals focus on improvement in function, maintenance or prevention of decline were also key elements. Future work should ensure rehabilitation interventions are developed relative to individually identified goals, and interventional success is measured in relation to the goal.

Piloting a Supplemental Assessment Tool with Younger Residents of Long-Term Care.

Background: Young adults living with disabilities may sometimes end up in long-term care facilities which may not always meet their needs. Our project set out to pilot a supplemental assessment tool, a questionnaire to be used upon admission of younger adults into long-term care. We wanted the opinions of both staff and younger residents on what modifications may be needed in the implementation processes to ensure effectiveness of the tool. Methods: This project followed a qualitative design, implementing a previously designed supplemental assessment tool with five staff members and seven younger residents of two long-term care homes in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Residents completed the questionnaire with members of staff involved in admissions. Each group participated in follow-up interviews regarding their thoughts on implementation of the tool. Responses were analyzed using the constructs of the Consolidated Framework in Implementation Research following direct content analysis methods. Results: Feedback from residents and staff suggested that the tool could not be used as a one-size-fits-all solution but that flexibility in the format, content, and structure of the tool would be beneficial to ensure its utility in a variety of settings. Issues raised by staff and residents included, but were not limited to, accessibility of the intervention, the availability of resources, the format of the intervention and topics covered within it, and ensuring that processes for implementation are clearly defined. Conclusions: Both staff and residents approved of the tool for use in the admissions process and agreed that it would enhance the admissions practices already in place.

Transitional care programs for older adults moving from hospital to home in Canada: A systematic review of text and opinion.

BACKGROUND: Investing in transitional care programs is critical for ensuring continuity of health and coordinated care for older adults transitioning across health settings. However, literature delineating the scope of transitional care programs across Canada is limited. The aim of this systematic review of text and opinion is to characterize Canadian transitional care programs for older adults transitioning from hospital to home. METHODS: Following JBI guidelines for systematic review of text and opinion, we conducted a search of Canadian grey literature sources published online between 2016 to 2023. A 3-phase search was undertaken for: 1) Canadian databases and organizational websites; 2) advanced Google search of national sources and news media reports; and 3) advanced Google search of provincial/territorial sources. Two reviewers independently screened sources for eligibility against inclusion criteria. Data were extracted by one reviewer and verified by a second. Textual data were extracted from multiple sources to characterize each transitional care program. RESULTS: Grey literature search produced a total of 17,092 text and opinion sources, identifying 119 transitional care programs in Canada. Model of care was a key characteristic defining the design and delivery of transitional care programs within community (n = 42), hospital (n = 45), and facility-based (n = 32) settings. Programs were characterized by goal, population and eligibility, setting and length of program, intervention and services, and healthcare team members. Patient, caregiver, and health system outcomes were reported for 18 programs. The province of Ontario has the most transitional care programs (n = 84) and reported outcomes, followed by British Columbia (n = 10). CONCLUSIONS: Characterizing transitional care programs is important for informing health services planning and scaling up of transitional care program models across Canada. Recognizing transitional care programs as a core health service is critical to meet the health care needs of older adults at the right time and place. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO ID 298821.

Long-term care home residents' experiences with socially assistive technologies and the effectiveness of these technologies: a mixed methods systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this review were to determine the effectiveness of socially assistive technologies for improving depression, loneliness, and social interaction among residents of long-term care (LTC) homes, and to explore the experiences of residents of LTC homes with socially assistive technologies. INTRODUCTION: Globally, the number of older adults (≥ 65 years) and the demand for LTC services are expected to increase over the next 30 years. Individuals within this population are at increased risk of experiencing depression, loneliness, and social isolation. The exploration of the extent to which socially assistive technologies may aid in improving loneliness and depression while supporting social interactions is essential to supporting a sustainable LTC sector. INCLUSION CRITERIA: This mixed methods systematic review included studies on the experiences of older adults in LTC homes using socially assistive technologies, as well as studies on the effectiveness of these technologies for improving depression, loneliness, and social interaction. Older adults were defined as people 65 years of age and older. We considered studies examining socially assistive technologies, such as computers, smart phones, tablets, and associated applications. METHODS: A JBI mixed methods convergent, segregated approach was used. CINAHL (EBSCOhost), MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, APA PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), and Scopus databases were searched on January 18, 2022, to identify published studies. The search for unpublished studies and gray literature included ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, Open Access Theses and Dissertations, Google, and the websites of professional organizations associated with LTC. No language or geographical restrictions were placed on the search. Titles, abstracts, and full texts of included studies were screened by 2 reviewers independently. Included studies underwent quality appraisal and data extraction. Quantitative and qualitative data findings were analyzed separately and then integrated. Where possible, quantitative data were synthesized using comparative meta-analyses with a fixed-effects model. RESULTS: From 12,536 records identified through the search, 14 studies were included. Quantitative (n=8), mixed methods (n=3), and qualitative (n=3) approaches were used in the included studies, with half (n=7) using quasi-experimental designs. All studies received moderate to high-quality appraisal scores. Comparative meta-analyses for depression and loneliness scores did not find any significant differences, and narrative findings were mixed. Qualitative meta-aggregation identified 1 synthesized finding (Matching technology functionality to user for enhanced well-being) derived from 2 categories (Enhanced sense of well-being, and Mismatch between technology and resident ability). CONCLUSIONS: Residents' experiences with socially assistive technologies, such as videoconferencing, encourage a sense of well-being, although quantitative findings related to depression and loneliness reported mixed impact. Residents experienced physical and cognitive challenges in learning to use the technology and required assistance. Future work should consider the unique needs of older adults and LTC home residents in the design and use of socially assistive technologies. REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42021279015.

Effectiveness of physical rehabilitation for physical functioning and quality of life in long-term care residents with dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of physical rehabilitation vs non-rehabilitation comparators for physical functioning and quality of life in long-term care (LTC) residents with dementia. INTRODUCTION: LTC residents living with dementia often have impaired physical functioning and quality of life. Physical rehabilitation can improve physical functioning and quality of life for individuals living with dementia; however, many LTC residents with dementia do not receive physical rehabilitation and providers are unsure what interventions to employ. A synthesis of studies examining physical rehabilitation will help guide practice in the LTC sector where most residents live with dementia. Previous syntheses have focused on all residents in LTC, specific professions, interventions, or people with dementia in the community. Our review focused on LTC residents with dementia and used a broader definition of physical rehabilitation. INCLUSION CRITERIA: This review included studies that evaluated physical rehabilitation in comparison with non-rehabilitation controls among LTC residents with any severity of dementia. We included experimental and quasi-experimental studies that measured the effect on activities of daily living, performance-based physical functioning, and self- or proxy-rated quality of life. METHODS: Searches were conducted in APA PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), PubMed (National Library of Medicine), Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane CENTRAL database with no date or language limitations. Two independent reviewers assessed the studies against the inclusion criteria. Two independent reviewers extracted data and conducted a methodological quality assessment using standardized checklists from JBI. Certainty of evidence was ascertained using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Where possible, studies were pooled in meta-analyses; otherwise, a narrative synthesis was presented. RESULTS: Thirty-three studies were included (n=3072 participants); 27 were randomized controlled trials and (RCTs) the remaining 6 were non-randomized trials. The overall risk of bias of the included studies was low to unclear. Many of the included studies focused on increasing activity or walking, while few were individually tailored or at an intensity appropriate to induce therapeutic effects on physical function. Physical function was measured via several outcome measures, limiting our ability to pool results. There was low-certainty evidence that physical rehabilitation improved activities of daily living assessed with multiple instruments (12 RCTs, 1348 participants, standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.78; 95% CI 0.27 to 1.30) and lower extremity function assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery Score (3 RCTs, 258 participants, mean difference [MD] 3.01 points; 95% CI 1.37 to 4.66), compared with non-rehabilitation interventions. There was very low- to moderate-certainty evidence that physical rehabilitation demonstrated no change in the 30-Second Sit to Stand Test (2 RCTs, 293 participants, MD 0.79 repetitions; 95% CI -0.45 to 2.03), 6-Minute Walk Test (4 RCTs, 363 participants, MD 17.32 meters; 95% CI -29.41 to 64.05), Timed Walk Test (4 RCTs, 400 participants, MD 0.10 meters/seconds; 95% CI -0.02 to 0.22), Timed Up and Go Test (3 RCTs, 275 participants, MD -2.89 seconds; 95% CI -6.62 to 0.84), or quality of life (4 RCTs, 419 participants, SMD 0.20; 95% CI -0.08 to 0.47). CONCLUSIONS: This review demonstrates that physical rehabilitation may improve activities of daily living for LTC residents living with dementia, although the evidence is of low certainty. The effect of physical rehabilitation on specific functional tasks, such as gait speed and quality of life, are less clear. Future research should examine the effects of individualized, progressive interventions on outcome measures that reflect the capacity and preferences of LTC residents with more advanced dementia. REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022308444.

Nursing interventions to improve care of people living with dementia in hospital: A mixed methods systematic review.

BACKGROUND: There are growing numbers of people living with dementia being admitted to acute care hospitals. Hospitalization for people living with dementia can be difficult and is often associated with negative outcomes. Nurses play a significant role in shaping the hospital experience of people living with dementia, and there have been efforts to design, implement and evaluate interventions to improve nursing care of people living with dementia. OBJECTIVE: To synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of, and experiences with, nursing interventions to improve care of hospitalized people living with dementia. DESIGN: Mixed methods systematic review following the JBI convergent segregated approach to synthesis and integration of findings. METHODS: The quantitative component considered studies that evaluated nursing interventions to improve the care of people living with dementia in hospital, comparing the intervention to usual care, other therapeutic modalities, or no comparator. The qualitative component considered studies that explored the experiences of nursing interventions from the perspectives of people living with dementia, caregivers, and nurses. A total of 8 databases were used to search for published and unpublished studies. Titles, abstracts, and full text selections were screened by two or more independent reviewers and assessed for methodological quality. RESULTS: A total of 38 studies were included in the review, 24 quantitative, 9 qualitative and 5 mixed method designs. Critical appraisal scores were moderate. All studies regardless of methodological quality were included in the review. Interventions were grouped as principally related to (1) dementia education for nurses, (2) technology, (3) nursing skills, and (4) physical environment. Outcomes are presented related to health outcomes of people living with dementia; nurses' knowledge, confidence, and self-efficacy; and health system outcomes. As the interventions were heterogeneous, a meta-analysis of quantitative findings was not possible. The qualitative analysis incorporated 60 findings from 12 studies and led to nine categories and two synthesized findings recognizing external influences on nurses' practice with people living with dementia and the importance of interventions to humanize nurses' work with people living with dementia. Integration of the quantitative and qualitative results demonstrates the need to recognize the role of organization- and unit-level factors in the design and implementation of effective interventions. CONCLUSIONS: There is limited high-quality evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of interventions to improve nursing care of people living with dementia in hospital. Using approaches to intervention design and implementation that draw on models of behavior change and learning health systems may support effective change. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO 2021CRD42021230951.

Recent innovations in long-term care coverage and financing: a rapid scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: To identify, chart and analyse the literature on recent initiatives to improve long-term care (LTC) coverage, financial protection and financial sustainability for persons aged 60 and older. DESIGN: Rapid scoping review. DATA SOURCES: Four databases and four sources of grey literature were searched for reports published between 2017 and 2022. After using a supervised machine learning tool to rank titles and abstracts, two reviewers independently screened sources against inclusion criteria. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Studies published from 2017-2022 in any language that captured recent LTC initiatives for people aged 60 and older, involved evaluation and directly addressed financing were included. DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS: Data were extracted using a form designed to answer the review questions and analysed using descriptive qualitative content analysis, with data categorised according to a prespecified framework to capture the outcomes of interest. RESULTS: Of 24 reports, 22 were published in peer-reviewed journals, and two were grey literature sources. Study designs included quasi-experimental study, policy analysis or comparison, qualitative description, comparative case study, cross-sectional study, systematic literature review, economic evaluation and survey. Studies addressed coverage based on the level of disability, income, rural/urban residence, employment and citizenship. Studies also addressed financial protection, including out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures, copayments and risk of poverty related to costs of care. The reports addressed challenges to financial sustainability such as lack of service coordination and system integration, insufficient economic development and inadequate funding models. CONCLUSIONS: Initiatives where LTC insurance is mandatory and accompanied by commensurate funding are situated to facilitate ageing in place. Efforts to expand population coverage are common across the initiatives, with the potential for wider economic benefits. Initiatives that enable older people to access the services needed while avoiding OOP-induced poverty contribute to improved health and well-being. Preserving health in older people longer may alleviate downstream costs and contribute to financial sustainability.

Elderly people living alone / Pessoas idosas que vivem em domicílios unipessoais

Introduction: In the last decades, a social phenomenon has emerged: the number of elderly people residing in single-person households, that is, living alone. Among these individuals are those who accumulate losses in health, social and personal life during their lifespan. Objective: To integrate scientific knowledge about elderly people living alone. Methods: It is an integrative review performed on four international databases. The theoretical reference of the Quality of Life was chosen to categorize the results. Results: After critical reading and analysis of 16 selected articles, two main themes and four subthemes emerged. The first main theme was named by "Contextualization of the Elderly that Lives Alone"; the second main theme was called "The role of family in the life of the elderly living alone". Conclusion: This age group needs a support network to maintain their quality of life; this network must encompass family members, friends, neighbors and health professionals and these must aid the elderly living alone in daily activities, travels and healthcare, among others; since the elderly living alone usually present chronic conditions, cognitive/motor deficit and higher risk of social isolation. (AU)

Introdução: Nas últimas décadas um fenômeno social vem emergindo: o número de pessoas que residem em domicílios unipessoais, isto é, que moram sós. Dentre esses indivíduos destacamse aqueles idosos que acumulam perdas na saúde, na vida social e pessoal durante o seu ciclo vital. Objetivo: Integrar o conhecimento científico sobre as pessoas idosas que moram sós. Métodos: Revisão Integrativa de literatura realizada em quatro bases de dados internacionais. O referencial teórico da Qualidade de Vida foi escolhido à categorização dos resultados. Resultados: Após a análise e leitura crítica das 16 referências selecionadas, emergiram dois temas principais "Contextualização da pessoa idosa que vive só", que foi subdividida em quatro subtemas. O segundo tema foi nomeado como "O papel da família na vida da pessoa idosa que vive só". Conclusão: Esse grupo etário necessita de uma rede de apoio para manutenção de sua qualidade de vida; tal rede pode ser formada por familiares, amigos, vizinhos e profissionais de saúde e esses devem auxiliar a pessoa idosa que reside só em suas atividades diárias, viagens, cuidados de saúde e outros; pois o idoso que mora sozinho geralmente apresenta condições crônicas de saúde, déficit cognitivo e/ou motor, com risco ao isolamento social. (AU)