Occupational therapy's contributions to combating climate change and lifestyle diseases.

BACKGROUND: The interdependence between human occupations, lifestyle diseases and climate change provides an opportunity to address them simultaneously. Occupational therapists' training in lifestyle modification and knowledge about the impact of the physical environment on daily occupations puts them in a unique position to contribute to global efforts of combating climate change and lifestyle diseases through the promotion of sustainable occupations. AIM: To illustrate how occupational therapists can contribute to global efforts of combating climate change and lifestyle diseases by framing climate change from a personal and public health perspective. METHOD: In this discussion paper we argue that occupational therapists can use education and lifestyle modification to support individuals in the prevention and management of lifestyle diseases and that they can help design and advocate for environments that promote sustainable occupations. RESULT: This discussion paper highlights the contributions that occupational therapists can make to how we understand and address climate change and lifestyle diseases. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: We argue that by framing the climate change discourse from a health perspective, occupational therapists can contribute to global efforts of combating climate change and lifestyle diseases by supporting individuals to engage in sustainable occupations and communities to facilitate this engagement.

The Impact of a Canadian Model of Aging in Place on Community Dwelling Older Adults' Experience of Physical Distancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) are unplanned communities with a high proportion of residents aged 65 years and older. Oasis is a Canadian aging in place model that combines health and supportive community services for adults aged 65 years and older within NORCs. The aims of this study were to explore how physical distancing restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted older adults living in a NORC (Oasis members) and to investigate whether Oasis served as a context for social connection and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. An interpretive description methodology guided this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine Oasis members (aged 66-77 years) and two Oasis site coordinators. The Oasis members also completed a social network mapping activity guided by the hierarchical mapping technique. Three overarching themes related to the impact of physical distancing on Oasis members during the COVID-19 pandemic were identified: (1) unintended consequences of physical distancing restrictions on participants' wellbeing; (2) face-to-face interactions are important for social connection; and (3) family, friend, healthcare provider, and community support mitigated the impact of physical distancing restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, two of Oasis' core pillars were found to support participants: strengthening social connectivity and connection to pre-existing community services. Findings illustrate that community programs like Oasis acted as a source of resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic and advance our understanding of the impact of aging in place models on community dwelling older adults' experience of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Undertaking Rehabilitation Research During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Emergent Strategies From a Trainee-Faculty Workshop.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted everyday rehabilitation research. Many academic institutions have halted in-person human research including rehabilitation sciences. Researchers are faced with several barriers to continuing their research programs. The purpose of this perspective article is to report the results of an interdisciplinary workshop aimed at understanding the challenges and corresponding strategies for conducting rehabilitation research during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Twenty-five rehabilitation researchers (17 trainees and eight faculty) attended a 2-h facilitated online workshop in to discuss challenges and strategies they had experienced and employed to conduct rehabilitation research during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Rehabilitation researchers reported challenges with (1) pandemic protocol adjustments, (2) participant accessibility, and (3) knowledge dissemination, along with corresponding strategies to these challenges. Researchers experienced disruptions in study outcomes and intervention protocols to adhere to public health guidelines and have suggested implementing novel virtual approaches and study toolkits to facilitate offsite assessment. Participant accessibility could be improved by engaging community stakeholders in protocol revisions to ensure equity, safety, and feasibility. Researchers also experienced barriers to virtual conferences and publication, suggested opportunities for smaller networking events, and revisiting timeframes for knowledge dissemination. Conclusion: This perspective article served as a catalyst for discussion among rehabilitation researchers to identify novel and creative approaches that address the complexities of conducting rehabilitation research during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

The Role of Cultural and Family Values on Social Connectedness and Loneliness among Ethnic Minority Elders.

OBJECTIVES: Ethnic minority elders have high levels of social isolation and loneliness. Assumptions about the family providing enough social support exist in the literature, contradicting ethnic minority elders' reported levels of isolation and loneliness. While structural barriers influence feelings of isolation and loneliness, limited information exists about the role of cultural factors such as acculturation and family values. Accordingly, this study investigated the roles of acculturation and family values on loneliness and social isolation among ethnic minority elders. METHODS: Ethnic minority elders (N = 123) completed a questionnaire that assessed their social connectedness, measured by social network and levels of loneliness, and structural factors such as income. Additionally, cultural and family values were assessed by acculturation and the 'family as referents' dimension of familism, which refers to the belief that family members' behaviour should meet with familial expectations. RESULTS: Statistical analysis using hierarchical regression indicated that 'family as referents' and acculturation predicted loneliness, but not social network. CONCLUSIONS: This study raises the importance of considering cultural values when investigating predictors of loneliness among ethnic minority elders. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Findings highlight the importance of addressing familial expectations in programs aimed at alleviating loneliness among ethnic minority elders.