Empowering Older Adults: Incorporating Technology for Retirement Adjustment

Preliminary effects of a WeChat-based educational intervention on social participation among older adults in a community

BACKGROUND

The social participation of older people should be encouraged, as it is fundamental to their well-being and the practice of aged care. Therefore, the ability of older persons to participate in society should be strengthened.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the preliminary effects of a WeChat-based educational intervention on the social participation of community-dwelling older adults in China.

METHODS

This study was a quasi-experimental design. Twenty-eight community-dwelling older adults participated in a WeChat-based educational intervention. The intervention contents included concepts and preparation of social participation, analysis of participation resources and capabilities, technological adaptation, emotional management, setting of to-do lists, etc. Social participation, self-worth and subjective well-being were measured via the WeChat application on smartphones at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and a 3-month follow-up. We analysed data using paired t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA).

RESULTS

We found statistically significant improvements in social participation (active aging) (F = 4.408; p < .05) as well as the self-worth dimensions of moral worth (F = 4.135; p < .05) and psychological worth (F = 3.234; p < .05), and the negative-affect dimension of subjective well-being being decreased (F = 2.484; p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The WeChat-based education intervention can effectively improve social participation and self-worth, and may provide effective preventive healthcare solutions for older adults in China.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The enormous value of the social participation of independent older adults must be recognised. Nurses can use smartphones to deliver health and social participation information in routine programs in aged care.

A call for digital inclusion initiatives in mental health services: An integrative review

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Digital tools such as video calls or mobile phone applications (apps) are increasingly used in the provision of mental healthcare. There is evidence that people with mental health problems are more likely to face digital exclusion: that is, they do not have access to devices and/or skills to use technology. This leaves some people unable to use digital mental health services (e.g., apps or online appointments) or to benefit more generally from access to the digital world (e.g., online shopping or connecting with others virtually). People can be digitally included through initiatives that provide devices, Internet and digital mentoring to increase knowledge and confidence when using technology. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Some initiatives in academic studies and grey literature have been shown to increase access to and knowledge of technology, but this has been outside of mental health care settings. There are currently limited digital inclusion initiatives that take into consideration the specific needs of people with mental health problems, and how they can be equipped and familiarised with digital technologies to help their recovery journey and everyday life activities. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Further work is needed to improve the provision of digital tools in mental health care, with more practical digital inclusion initiatives to ensure equal access for all. If digital exclusion is not addressed, the gap between people with and those without digital skills or access to technology will continue to grow, enlarging mental health inequalities.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The rise in the provision of digital healthcare during the pandemic has called attention to digital exclusion: inequality in access and/or capacity to use digital technologies. Digital exclusion is more profound in people with mental health problems, leaving an implementation gap of digital practice in mental health services.

AIM

Identify the available evidence of (a) addressing digital exclusion in mental health care and (b) the practical solutions to enhance uptake of digital mental health.

METHOD

Digital inclusion initiatives were searched from both academic and grey literature available and published between the years 2007 and 2021.

RESULTS

A limited number of academic studies and initiatives were found that supported people with mental health difficulties who had limited skills and/or access to overcome digital exclusion.

DISCUSSION

Further work is needed to combat digital exclusion and establish ways to reduce the implementation gap in mental health services.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Access to devices, Internet connectivity and digital mentoring for mental health service users is essential. More studies and programmes are needed to disseminate impact and results for digital inclusion initiatives for people with mental health problems and to inform best practice for digital inclusion within mental health services.

The use of the term ‘occupational profile’ in occupational therapy and occupational science literature: A scoping review

Introduction

The term ‘occupational profile’ is widely used within the occupational therapy profession; however, its use and application appear inconsistent in the literature. Understanding how occupational profile is described in existing literature can reduce ambiguity and strengthen consistent use of terminology across practice and research.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted to examine how occupational profile has been described in occupational therapy and occupational science literature.

Results

Seventy-six journal papers were included. A lack of consistent definitions, conceptualisation and measurements was identified. Key concepts relating to the conceptualisation of occupational profile included occupational history, motivation and performance. Only one measurement was used consistently with paediatric clients to identify individuals’ occupational profiles. Occupational profiles of populations and communities were not identified.

Conclusion

The lack of consistency in definitions, conceptualisation and measurement of the term ‘occupational profile’ presents significant issues for occupational therapy practice, including an inability to compare populations. Researchers should articulate their conceptualisation of occupational profile in the absence of a universally agreed-upon definition. More comprehensive measures seeking to explore the occupational profile of a variety of clients need to be developed. Occupational profiles of communities and populations should be explored to understand occupational patterns and identify potential occupational issues.

Tailoring to support digital technology-mediated occupational engagement for older adults - a multiple case study

Background: With the evolution of contemporary occupations mediated by digital technologies (DTs), there is a need for occupational therapists to develop and structure knowledge on how to support older adults' engagement in occupations and social participation in a digitalised society.Objective: The objective of this study is to explore how tailoring to support older adults' engagement in DT-mediated occupations could be schematised.Material and methods: The study employed a multiple case study methodology. There were nine cases, with each case involving an older adult undergoing a collaborative process to support engagement in DT-mediated occupations. The collaborative process was initiated through questionnaires, observations, and dialogues. Meetings and tailoring strategies were documented in fieldnotes and memos on tailoring, respectively. Semi-structured interviews concluded data collection. Cross-case synthesis was used in data analysis.Results: The result is a proposed scheme for tailoring to support older adults' engagement in digital technology-mediated occupations, wherein strategies undertaken in the collaborative processes were synthesised and described.Conclusion and significance: The proposed scheme for tailoring could contribute to occupational therapists' knowledge on how to support older adults' engagement in contemporary occupations. Testing the model in various practice settings is recommended in order to enhance occupational therapy practice.