A randomized, controlled trial of a home environmental intervention: effect on efficacy and upset in caregivers and on daily function of persons with dementia

Bridging gaps in the design and implementation of socially assistive technologies for dementia care: the role of occupational therapy

Dementia is a global health challenge, and people living with dementia (PLWD) are especially susceptible to reduced engagement in meaningful occupations, including social participation. In the past few decades, socially assistive technologies continue to be developed amidst a rapidly evolving technological landscape to support the social health of PLWD and their caregivers. Examples include social robots, virtual reality, smart home technology, and various digital technologies, such as mobile applications for tablets and smartphones. Despite an increasing body of research and interest in this field, several gaps relating to the design and implementation process of socially assistive technologies continue to undermine their relevance for PLWD in daily life. In this paper, some of these gaps are highlighted and the role of occupational therapy in the design and implementation of socially assistive technology is presented. In the design process, occupational therapists are uniquely skilled to advise and advocate for the tailoring and personalisation of technology to address the occupational needs of PLWD. In the implementation of socially assistive technologies, occupational therapists are skilled to educate, train, and conduct ongoing evaluations with PLWD and their caregivers, to incorporate socially assistive technologies into their routine and daily lives. We recommend that occupational therapists should continue to be acquainted with such technologies through continuous professional development and educational curricula. Moreover, we highlight the necessary collaboration between occupational therapists, technology developers, and researchers to enhance the process of designing and implementing socially assistive technology, so that their relevance for PLWD and their caregivers can be maximised.Implications for rehabilitationDevelopers and designers of socially assistive technology should consider the disease trajectory of different types of dementia, as well as the different needs, abilities, preferences, occupations and routines of people living with dementia (PLWD) and/or their caregivers.Collaborations between technology developers, researchers, and occupational therapists should take place iteratively throughout the process of designing and implementing socially assistive technology to maximise their relevance and applicability for people living with dementia and their caregivers.To continue enhancing the current role of occupational therapy in socially assistive technology provision, occupational therapists should keep up to date with socially assistive technology that are being developed to support the social health of PLWD.

Quality and Accessibility of Home Assessment mHealth Apps for Community Living: Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Home assessment is a critical component of successful home modifications, enabling individuals with functional limitations to age in place comfortably. A high-quality home assessment tool should facilitate a valid and reliable assessment involving health care and housing professionals, while also engaging and empowering consumers and their caregivers who may be dealing with multiple functional limitations. Unlike traditional paper-and-pencil assessments, which require extensive training and expert knowledge and can be alienating to consumers, mobile health (mHealth) apps have the potential to engage all parties involved, empowering and activating consumers to take action. However, little is known about which apps contain all the necessary functionality, quality appraisal, and accessibility.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the functionality, overall quality, and accessibility of mHealth home assessment apps.

METHODS

mHealth apps enabling home assessment for aging in place were identified through a comprehensive search of scholarly articles, the Apple (iOS) and Google Play (Android) stores in the United States, and fnd.io. The search was conducted between November 2022 and January 2023 following a method adapted from PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). Reviewers performed a content analysis of the mobile app features to evaluate their functionality, overall quality, and accessibility. The functionality assessment used a home assessment component matrix specifically developed for this study. For overall quality, the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) was used to determine the apps' effectiveness in engaging and activating consumers and their caregivers. Accessibility was assessed using the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 (A and AA levels). These 3 assessments were synthesized and visualized to provide a comprehensive evaluation.

RESULTS

A total of 698 apps were initially identified. After further screening, only 6 apps remained. Our review revealed that none of the apps used thoroughly tested assessment tools, offered all the functionality required for reliable home assessment, achieved the "good" quality threshold as measured by the MARS, or met the accessibility criteria when evaluated against WCAG 2.1. However, DIYModify received the highest scores in both the overall quality and accessibility assessments. The MapIt apps also showed significant potential due to their ability to measure the 3D environment and the inclusion of a desktop version that extends the app's functionality.

CONCLUSIONS

Our review revealed that there are very few apps available within the United States that possess the necessary functionality, engaging qualities, and accessibility to effectively activate consumers and their caregivers for successful home modification. Future app development should prioritize the integration of reliable and thoroughly tested assessment tools as the foundation of the development process. Furthermore, efforts should be made to enhance the overall quality and accessibility of these apps to better engage and empower consumers to take necessary actions to age in place.

Resilience in patients and family caregivers living with congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG): a quantitative study using the brief resilience coping scale (BRCS)

BACKGROUND

Patients and family caregivers living with Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG) experience a heavy burden, which can impact their resiliency and quality of life. The study's purpose was to measure the resilience levels of patients and family caregivers living with CDG using the brief resilience coping scale.

METHODS

We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study with 23 patients and 151 family caregivers living with CDG. Descriptive analyses were performed to characterize patients with CDG and family caregivers' samples. Additionally, we assessed correlations between resilience and specific variables (e.g., age, academic degree, time until diagnosis) and examined resilience differences between groups (e.g., sex, marital status, occupation, professional and social support).

RESULTS

GNE myopathy was the most prevalent CDG among patients, while in family caregivers was PMM2-CDG. Both samples showed medium levels of resilience coping scores. Individuals with GNE myopathy had significantly higher scores of resilience compared to patients with other CDG. Resilience was positively correlated with educational degree in patients with CDG. Family caregivers had marginally significant higher scores of resilience coping if they received any kind of professional support or had contact with other families or people with the same or similar disease, compared with unsupported individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the inherited difficulties of living with a life-threatening disease like CDG, patients and family caregivers showed medium resilient coping levels. Resilience scores changed significantly considering the CDG genotype, individual's academic degree and professional and social support. These exploratory findings can empower the healthcare system and private institutions by promoting the development of targeted interventions to enhance individuals` coping skills and improve the overall well-being and mental health of the CDG community.

Removing home hazards for older adults living in affordable housing: A stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Falls are the leading cause of injury, disability, premature institutionalization, and injury-related mortality among older adults. Home hazard removal can effectively reduce falls in this population but is not implemented as standard practice. This study translated an evidence-based home hazard removal program (HARP) for delivery in low-income senior apartments to test whether the intervention would work in the "real world."

METHODS

From May 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020, a stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trial was used to implement the evidence-based HARP among residents with high fall risk in 11 low-income senior apartment buildings. Five clusters of buildings were randomly assigned an intervention allocation sequence. Three-level negative-binomial models (repeated measures nested within individuals, individuals nested within buildings) were used to compare fall rates between treatment and control conditions (excluding a crossover period), controlling for demographic characteristics, fall risk, and time period.

RESULTS

Among 656 residents, 548 agreed to screening, 435 were eligible (high fall risk), and 291 agreed to participate and received HARP. Participants were, on average, 72 years, 67% female, and 76% Black. Approximately 95.4% of fall prevention strategies and modifications implemented were still used 3 months later. The fall rate (per 1000 participant-days) was 4.87 during the control period and 4.31 during the posttreatment period. After adjusting for covariates and secular trend, there was no significant difference in fall rate (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.97, 95% CI 0.66-1.42). After excluding data collected during a hiatus in the intervention due to COVID-19, the reduction in fall rate was not significant (IRR 0.93, 95% CI 0.62-1.40).

CONCLUSIONS

Although HARP did not significantly reduce the rate of falls, this pragmatic study showed that the program was feasible to deliver in low-income senior housing and was acceptable among residents. There was effective collaboration between researchers and community agency staff.

Cognitive rehabilitation for people with mild to moderate dementia

BACKGROUND

Cognitive impairments affect functional ability in people with dementia. Cognitive rehabilitation (CR) is a personalised, solution-focused approach that aims to enable people with mild-to-moderate dementia to manage everyday activities and maintain as much independence as possible.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effects of CR on everyday functioning and other outcomes for people with mild-to-moderate dementia, and on outcomes for care partners. To identify and explore factors that may be associated with the efficacy of CR.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group Specialised Register, which contains records from MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, LILACS, and other clinical trial databases, and grey literature sources. The most recent search was completed on 19 October 2022.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CR with control conditions and reporting relevant outcomes for the person with dementia and/or the care partner.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We extracted relevant data from published manuscripts and contacted trial authors if necessary. Within each of the comparisons, we pooled data for each outcome of interest and conducted inverse-variance, random-effects meta-analyses. We evaluated the certainty of the evidence using GRADEpro GDT.

MAIN RESULTS

We identified six eligible RCTs published in English between 2010 and 2022, which together included 1702 participants. The mean age of participants ranged from 76 to 80 and the proportion of male participants was between 29.4% and 79.3%. Most participants, in the studies where the type of dementia was reported, had a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD; n = 1002, 58.9% of the whole sample, 81.2% of the participants for whom the specific diagnosis was reported). Risk of bias in the individual studies was relatively low. The exception was a high risk of bias in relation to blinding of participants and practitioners, which is not usually feasible with psychosocial interventions.  Our primary outcome of everyday functioning was operationalised in the included studies as goal attainment in relation to activities targeted in the intervention. For our main comparison of CR with usual care, we pooled data for goal attainment evaluated from three perspectives (self-rating of performance, informant rating of performance, and self-rating of satisfaction with performance) at end of treatment and at medium-term follow-up (3 to 12 months). We could also pool data at these time points for 20 and 19 secondary outcomes respectively. The review findings were strongly driven by one large, high-quality RCT.  We found high-certainty evidence of large positive effects of CR on all three primary outcome perspectives at the end of treatment: participant self-ratings of goal attainment (standardised mean difference (SMD) 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26 to 1.66; I2 = 0%; 3 RCTs, 501 participants), informant ratings of goal attainment (SMD 1.61, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.21; I2 = 41%; 3 RCTs, 476 participants), and self-ratings of satisfaction with goal attainment (SMD 1.31, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.54; I2 = 5%; 3 RCTs, 501 participants), relative to an inactive control condition. At medium-term follow-up, we found high-certainty evidence showing a large positive effect of CR on all three primary outcome perspectives: participant self-ratings of goal attainment (SMD 1.46, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.68; I2 = 0%; 2 RCTs, 432 participants), informant ratings of goal attainment (SMD 1.25, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.72; I2 = 29%; 3 RCTs, 446 participants), and self-ratings of satisfaction with goal attainment (SMD 1.19, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.66; I2 = 28%; 2 RCTs, 432 participants), relative to an inactive control condition. For participants at the end of treatment we found high-certainty evidence showing a small positive effect of CR on self-efficacy (2 RCTs, 456 participants) and immediate recall (2 RCTs, 459 participants). For participants at medium-term follow-up we found moderate-certainty evidence showing a small positive effect of CR on auditory selective attention (2 RCTs, 386 participants), and a small negative effect on general functional ability (3 RCTs, 673 participants), and we found low-certainty evidence showing a small positive effect on sustained attention (2 RCTs, 413 participants), and a small negative effect on memory (2 RCTs, 51 participants) and anxiety (3 RCTs, 455 participants).  We found moderate- and low-certainty evidence indicating that at the end of treatment CR had negligible effects on participant anxiety, quality of life, sustained attention, memory, delayed recall, and general functional ability, and at medium-term follow-up on participant self-efficacy, depression, quality of life, immediate recall, and verbal fluency. For care partners at the end of treatment we found low-certainty evidence showing a small positive effect on environmental aspects of quality of life (3 RCTs, 465 care partners), and small negative effects of CR on level of depression (2 RCTs, 32 care partners) and on psychological wellbeing (2 RCTs, 388 care partners).  For care partners at medium-term follow-up we found high-certainty evidence showing a small positive effect of CR on social aspects of quality of life (3 RCTs, 436 care partners) and moderate-certainty evidence showing a small positive effect on psychological aspects of quality of life (3 RCTs, 437 care partners). We found moderate- and low-certainty evidence at the end of treatment that CR had negligible effects on care partners' physical health, psychological and social aspects of quality of life, and stress, and at medium-term follow-up for the physical health aspect of care partners' quality of life and psychological wellbeing.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

CR is helpful in enabling people with mild or moderate dementia to improve their ability to manage the everyday activities targeted in the intervention. Confidence in these findings could be strengthened if more high-quality studies contributed to the observed effects. The available evidence suggests that CR can form a valuable part of a clinical toolkit to assist people with dementia in overcoming some of the everyday barriers imposed by cognitive and functional difficulties. Future research, including process evaluation studies, could help identify avenues to maximise CR effects and achieve wider impacts on functional ability and wellbeing.

Psychometric Calibration of a Tool Based on 360 Degree Videos for the Assessment of Executive Functions

INTRODUCTION

Over the last decades, interactive technologies appeared a promising solution in the ecological evaluation of executive functioning. We have developed the EXecutive-functions Innovative Tool 360° (EXIT 360°), a new instrument that exploits 360° technologies to provide an ecologically valid assessment of executive functioning.

AIM

This work wanted to evaluate the convergent validity of the EXIT 360°, comparing it with traditional neuropsychological tests (NPS) for executive functioning.

METHODS

Seventy-seven healthy subjects underwent an evaluation that involved: (1) a paper-and-pencil neuropsychological assessment, (2) an EXIT 360° session, involving seven subtasks delivered by VR headset, and (3) a usability assessment. To evaluate convergent validity, statistical correlation analyses were performed between NPS and EXIT 360° scores.

RESULTS

The data showed that participants had completed the whole task in about 8 min, with 88.3% obtaining a high total score (≥12). Regarding convergent validity, the data revealed a significant correlation between the EXIT 360° total score and all NPS. Furthermore, data showed a correlation between the EXIT 360° total reaction time and timed neuropsychological tests. Finally, the usability assessment showed a good score.

CONCLUSION

This work appears as a first validation step towards considering the EXIT 360° as a standardized instrument that uses 360° technologies to conduct an ecologically valid assessment of executive functioning. Further studies will be necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the EXIT 360° in discriminating between healthy control subjects and patients with executive dysfunctions.

Gaps between Activities of Daily Living Performance and Capacity in People with Mild Dementia

Persons with mild dementia can effectively maintain and improve their quality of life (QOL) by regularly performing their daily activities. However, research on activities of daily living (ADL) in this population often fails to distinguish between ADL performance and ADL capability, that is, actual independence in daily lives and potential independence in an ideal setting. This study aimed to identify the potential gaps between ADL performance and capability in individuals with mild dementia. A total of 137 community-dwelling older adults (aged ≥ 65 years) who had been diagnosed with dementia and assessed as 0.5 and 1 on a global clinical dementia rating (CDR). Participants were evaluated for basic ADL (BADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL) using the Hyogo Activities of Daily Living Scale (HADLS). Around 35 individuals who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. BADL performance and BADL capacity were not significantly different (p = 0.128); however, participants rated IADL capacity significantly higher than IADL performance (p < 0.01). Gaps between performance and capability were observed for IADL but not for BADL. This study distinguishes between ADL performance and capability in individuals with mild dementia and is the first to identify the IADL-specific gap between these two components; pertinent targeted interventions are vital in closing this gap. Environmental adjustments are important to improve QOL of persons with mild dementia.

Inclusive Environments: Home, Work, Public Spaces, Technology, and Specialty Environments within Occupational Therapy Practice

This position statement describes the role and importance of occupational therapy practitioners in integrating inclusive environments into their professional services and into their underlying science. Primary documents that define the occupational therapy profession clearly support its role in creating and ensuring inclusive environments.

Occupational Therapy Interventions for Dementia Caregivers: Scoping Review

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

caregivers of people with dementia (PwD) often experience a significant caregiver burden. Occupational Therapy (OT) is a helpful discipline for improving quality of life and other health factors for these caregivers. We conducted a Scoping Review to describe OT interventions for caregivers of PwD.

METHODS

two authors searched PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE and Web of Science databases and OT journals indexed in the Journal Citation Reports. Terms included in the search strategy were: dementia, Alzheimer, Parkinson, caregivers and OT. We included articles with experimental design in which an OT intervention in caregivers of PwD was carried out, written in Spanish or English and with the full text available.

RESULTS

a total of 2121 articles were obtained, 31 of which were included; 22 of them described home-based OT interventions: Tailored Activity Program (TAP) (n = 5), Environmental Skill-Building Program (ESP) (n = 4) and Advancing Caregiver Training (ACT) (n = 3) and other household interventions (n = 10); the remaining studies described OT interventions in other settings (n = 9).

CONCLUSIONS

OT interventions for caregivers of PwD were mainly carried out at home. The most commonly used interventions were TAP focused on caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease, aimed at lessening the burden, depression and stress experienced by caregivers.

Do the caregiving spouses of people with dementia in Spain perceive the same barriers for taking part in interventions as caregiving offspring?

The aim of this qualitative research is to examine the difficulties perceived by caregivers for taking part in an offered intervention, exploring whether there are differences depending on caregiver's degree of kinship. Forty-two family caregivers from Salamanca (Spain) were interviewed after declining an invitation to take part in an intervention programme. All the telephone conversations were transcribed verbatim. The transcriptions were subject to a thematic content analysis using QDA MINER software. The barriers identified were (1) difficulties adapting to the intervention's schedule due to a lack of time, or incompatibility with its dates or timetables, (2) belief among the caregivers that they do not need or are not interested in the support the intervention provides, (3) impossibility to separate from the family member to attend due to the absence of relief or a feeling of guilt, (4) caregiver's health issues, (5) difficulties with accessibility, and (6) belief that the therapies serve no useful purpose. Certain differences were identified depending on the caregiver's kinship. Understanding the difficulties caregivers face for taking part in the interventions will enable steps to be taken to remove and/or reduce such barriers, whereby more caregivers will benefit from interventions.

Behavioural and psychological symptoms of early-onset and late-onset Alzheimer's disease among Chinese adults: analysis of modifiable factors

BACKGROUND

To conduct a comprehensive comparison of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in Chinese people with early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) and late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) and analyse the factors of differences.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of 93 EOAD and100 LOAD and their caregivers in China from November 2018 to May 2019.

RESULTS

The total Neuropsychiatric Inventory score was significantly higher in LOAD. A higher level of agitation in EOAD was related to a lower quality of life of caregivers and the emotional expression of ignoring people with dementia. Higher euphoria scores in LOAD were associated with reduced negative coping by caregivers and reduced stability and predictability at home.

CONCLUSION

The early identification and management of specific BPSD of EOAD and LOAD by family members and health professionals may improve the quality of care and life for people with dementia and that of caregivers.

Available Virtual Reality-Based Tools for Executive Functions: A Systematic Review

Introduction

Executive dysfunctions constitute a significant public health problem: their high impact on everyday life makes it a priority to identify early strategies for evaluating and rehabilitating these disorders in a real-life context. The ecological limitation of traditional neuropsychological tests and several difficulties in administering tests or training in real-life scenarios have paved the way to use Virtual Reality-based tools to evaluate and rehabilitate Executive Functions (EFs) in real-life.

Objective

This work aims to conduct a systematic review to provide a detailed description of the VR-based tools currently developed for the evaluation and rehabilitation of EFs.

Methods

We systematically searched for original manuscripts regarding VR tools and EFs by looking for titles and abstracts in the PubMed, Scopus, PsycInfo, and Web of Science databases up to November 2021 that contained the following keywords “Virtual Reality” AND “Executive function^*.”

Results and Conclusion

We analyzed 301 articles, of which 100 were included. Our work shows that available VR-based tools appear promising solutions for an ecological assessment and treatment of EFs in healthy subjects and several clinical populations.

Organization of rehabilitation services in randomized controlled trials - which factors influence functional outcome? A systematic review

Objective

To identify factors related to the organization of rehabilitation services that may influence patients’ functional outcome and make recommendations for categories to be used in the reporting of rehabilitation interventions.

Data Sources

A systematic review based on a search in MEDLINE indexed journals (MEDLINE [OVID], Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) until June 2019.

Study Selection

In total 8587 candidate randomized controlled trials reporting on organizational factors of multidisciplinary rehabilitation interventions and their associations with functional outcome. An additional 1534 trials were identified from June 2019 to March 2021. Data Extraction: Quality evaluation was conducted by 2 independent researchers. The organizational factors were classified according to the International Classification for Service Organization in Health-related Rehabilitation 2.0.

Data Synthesis

In total 80 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. There was a great heterogeneity in the terminology and reporting of service organization across all studies. Aspects of Settings including the Mode of Service Delivery was the most explicitly analyzed organizational category (44 studies). The importance of the integration of rehabilitation in the inpatient services was supported. Furthermore, several studies documented a lack of difference in outcome between outpatient vs inpatient service delivery. Patient Centeredness, Integration of Care, and Time and Intensity factors were also analyzed, but heterogeneity of interventions in these studies prohibited aggregation of results.

Conclusions

Settings and in particular the way the services were delivered to the users influenced functional outcome. Hence, it should be compulsory to include a standardized reporting of aspects of service delivery in clinical trials. We would also advise further standardization in the description of organizational factors in rehabilitation interventions to build knowledge of effective service organization.

Impact of dementia literacy interventions for non-health-professionals: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To assess evidence regarding the effects of interventions aimed at improving dementia literacy for different groups of non-health-professionals.

METHODS

A systematic search for relevant interventions was conducted using a range of online databases (e.g. CINAHL, Embase, Medline, ProQuest, and PsycINFO) and hand-searching of reference lists. Eligible interventions were identified based on predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria and methodological quality criteria. Meta analyses were performed using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

The final review included 14 interventions, which were either randomised controlled trials or non-randomised controlled trials. The interventions had varied contents, approaches, settings, and outcome measures. Evidence of improved dementia literacy in various aspects was found, and the intervention effects were strongest on knowledge of dementia.

DISCUSSION

There is evidence for the positive impact of dementia literacy interventions on different groups of non-health-professionals. Best practices in intervention contents, approaches, and outcome measures should be examined to guide future interventions.

Effects of Client-Centered Occupational Therapy on Behavioral Psychological Symptoms, Social Interaction, Occupational Performance, Quality of Life, and Caregiver Burden among the Individuals with Dementia

This study aimed to verify the effects of client-centered occupational therapy on individuals with dementia. Twenty participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (client-centered occupational therapy) and a control group (general occupational therapy). A pretest, post-test, and follow-up tests were used to compare the effects of the intervention. The experimental group had significant changes in all variables, and the control group showed significant differences in verbal social interaction, quality of life, and burden of caregivers (p < 0.05). As a result of repeated measurement variance analysis, it was found that there was a significant effect within the group except for the NPI-Q distress items (p < 0.05), but the effect was not verified in all areas between the groups. Client-centered customized occupational therapy can be more effective than general occupational therapy in problem behavior, social interaction, quality of life, caregiver burden, and occupational performance of individuals with dementia.

Effect of a tailored multidimensional intervention on the care burden among family caregivers of stroke survivors: a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness of a tailored multidimensional intervention in reducing the care burden of family caregivers of stroke survivors. This intervention considered caregivers' perceived needs and incorporated three evidence-based dimensions (psychoeducation, skill-building and peer support).

DESIGN

A prospective randomised control trial.

SETTING

A community-based study conducted in Egypt.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 110 caregivers aged ≥18 years who cared for a survivor within 6 months of stroke, with modified Rankin Scale scores of 3-5, and without other physical disabilities or terminal illnesses were recruited between December 2019 and May 2020. Participants were assigned to the intervention group (IG; n=55) and control group (CG; n=55) through open-label, parallel 1:1 randomisation.

INTERVENTION

The IG was provided with tailored multidimensional interventions for 6 months until November 2020, including three home visits, six home-based telephone calls and one peer-support session. The CG received simple educational instructions at a single visit.

OUTCOME

The participants completed the Zarit Burden Interview (primary outcome) and the WHO Quality of Life-BREF (secondary outcome) before the intervention (T0), at 3 months (T1) and at 6 months (T2).

RESULTS

No differences were observed between the characteristics of the groups at baseline (T0). The independent t-test showed no significant differences in the care burden and Quality of Life (QoL) at T1 and T2 between the groups. The intervention had no significant effect on the outcomes between or within groups over time, as shown by the repeated-measures analysis of variance. However, the group and time interaction had significant main effects on caregivers' QoL (psychological and social domains).

CONCLUSION

The main results showed that participants in the IG did not experience an improvement in the main outcomes. Nevertheless, the improvement in the psychological and social domains may have been attributed to our intervention.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04211662.

Nurse-led home modification interventions for community-dwelling older adults with dementia and their impact on falls prevention

This quasi-experimental study aimed to investigate the effects of nurse-led home modification interventions on the family members of home-dwelling older adults with dementia. The sample consisted of 42 older adults diagnosed with dementia and their family members. A number of validated tools were used. Three home visits were undertaken, a training package with family members was instigated, and the patients were followed up for a 6-month period. It was determined that there was a decrease in falls in the first 3-month period (p=0.002). The number of falls in the second 3-month period was lower in the older adults who had their homes modified (p=0.000). Family-centred, nurse-led home-modification interventions can be effective in the prevention and reducing of falls in older adults with dementia.

Influences of Physical Environmental Cues on People With Dementia: A Scoping Review

Physical environmental cues can provide important support to people with dementia (PwD). Compared to interventions involving construction, some cues can be achieved more easily, with less expense, and with fewer disruptions to PwD's daily lives. This review aims to examine existing empirical evidence about the impacts of cues on PwD's behaviors. We adopted the PRISMA scoping review approach and identified 32 articles. The results show visual cues have been frequently studied. The signage facilitates PwD's wayfinding. Concealed doors (e.g., concealing doorknobs) effectively prevent exit attempts. PwD also eat better with tableware of higher-contrasting colors or good lighting conditions. Clearer toilet signage results in better continence. Applying cues properly contributes to improving PwD's well-being and decreasing the burden for caregivers. However, knowledge gaps still exist in the impacts of other sensory cues (e.g., tactile, olfactory, and auditory), which require further research.

Use of Virtual Reality Technology to Support the Home Modification Process: A Scoping Review

Healthcare is a field in which the benefits of virtual reality (VR), such as risk-taking without consequences, direct experience, and service outcome prediction, can be utilized. VR technology has been used to help clients face environmental barriers by implementing a home environment in virtual reality without a home visit by an expert. This scoping review was conducted to identify the areas and implementation methods of the home modification process supported by VR technology. Twelve studies met the research criteria. The following three types of tools supported by VR technology for the home modification process were identified: educational tools for clients or specialists, home environment measurement tools, and intermediaries for decision making and collaboration between clients and specialists. Most of the studies reported positive results regarding the usability and acceptability of the technology, but barriers have also been reported, such as technical problems, inappropriate population groups for technical use, cost-related issues, the need for training, and fear that the technology could replace home visits. Thus, VR technology has potential value in the home modification process. However, for future clinical applications, additional studies to maximize the benefits of these VR technologies and address the identified problems are required.

A New and Tidier Setting: How Does Environmental Clutter Affect People With Dementia's Ability to Perform Activities of Daily Living?

BACKGROUND

The relationship between the physical environment and the person with dementia's (PwD) activities of daily living (ADLs) task performance is controversial. Although the general assumption is that this population benefits from their home environment when performing ADLs, very few experimental studies have been conducted to date.

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to investigate the influence of the environment (home vs. Research-lab) and the role of clutter on ADL performance.

METHODS

Sixty-five PwD were evaluated with a performance-based ADL assessment (at home and clutter-free Research-lab). Paired t tests compared ADL performance and level of clutter in both environments. Multiple regression analysis investigated factors associated with better ADL performance.

RESULTS

Overall, PwD performed better at home even though clutter was significantly lower in the Research-lab. When stratified by dementia stage, PwD in the moderate stage of the disease performed better at home.

CONCLUSION

Absence of clutter in the Research-Lab did not appear to play a beneficial role in ADLs. When stratified by dementia stage, only PwD in the moderate stage appeared to benefit from their home environment when performing ADL tasks. Future studies are required to elucidate the wider role of the environment in supporting engagement in daily activities in different dementia stages.

Home Hazard Removal to Reduce Falls Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

Falls are the leading preventable cause of morbidity, mortality, and premature institutionalization for community-dwelling older adults.

OBJECTIVE

To test the effectiveness of a behavioral intervention on fall risk among older adults receiving services from an Area Agency on Aging.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This randomized clinical trial examined a home hazard removal intervention in the community using a race- and sex-stratified randomization design. Older adults receiving services from the Area Agency on Aging in urban St Louis, Missouri, were assigned to a home hazard removal intervention delivered over 2 weeks with a 6-month booster or usual care control. Eligible participants were adults aged 65 years or older who did not have dementia, were at high risk for falling, and resided in the community. Enrollment occurred from January 2015 to September 2016; 12-month follow-up occurred from February 2016 to October 2017. Data were analyzed from February 2019 to July 2021.

INTERVENTIONS

The intervention was a home hazard removal program delivered by an occupational therapist in the home that included a comprehensive clinical assessment and a tailored hazard removal plan. Usual care control consisted of annual assessments and community referral.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was the hazard of a fall over 12 months. Prespecified secondary outcomes included the rate of falls over 12 months, daily activity performance, falls self-efficacy, and self-reported quality of life.

RESULTS

A total of 310 participants (mean [SD] age, 75 [7.4] years; 229 [74%] women; 161 Black participants [52%]) were randomized, with 155 participants assigned to the intervention and 155 participants assigned to usual care. Retention was 127 participants (82%) in the intervention group and 126 participants (81%) in the control group. There was no difference for our primary outcome of fall hazard (hazard ratio, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.66-1.27). There was a 38% reduction in the rate of falling in the intervention group compared with the control group (relative risk, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.40-0.95; P = .03). At 12 months, the rate of falls per person-year was 1.5 (95% CI, 1.32-1.75) in the intervention group and 2.3 (95% CI, 2.08-2.60) in the control group. There was no difference in daily activity performance (adjusted difference, -0.20; 95% CI, -0.95 to 0.55; P = .60), falls self-efficacy (adjusted difference, -0.12; 95% CI, -1.25 to 1.01; P = .84), or quality of life (adjusted difference, 0.84; 95% CI, -0.95 to 2.64; P = .35).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This randomized clinical trial found that a brief home hazard removal program did not reduce the hazard of falls among community-dwelling older adults at high risk for falling. The intervention was effective in achieving a reduced rate of falls, a prespecified secondary outcome. This effectiveness study has the potential for delivery through the national aging services network.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02392013.

Utilization of occupational therapy services and relation to survival in people taking dementia-specific medication in Austria-A retrospective population-based study with a 13-year observation period

OBJECTIVES

Evidence-based treatment of dementia includes pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of which psycho-social interventions are an important component, commonly administered by occupational therapists. The aim of this study was to investigate the utilization of occupational therapy (OT) services and its association with survival in people taking dementia-specific medication in a population-based Austrian dataset compared to a two times as large control group without dementia-specific medication.

METHODS/DESIGN

A retrospective study with a 13-year observation period (2003-2016) was conducted on real-world data. Two stratifications were done and we used descriptive statistics, Chi-squared/Fisher's Exact Tests and survival analyses including three Cox models.

RESULTS

Data from 286,553 participants were analysed. Only 4.5% (n = 12,950) received OT services. In the dementia-medication group (n = 111,033), participants who received OT services (3.6%; n = 4032) had significantly more comorbidities (4.7%) compared to those without OT (3.5%; p < 0.001) and were also more likely to be male (4 vs. 3.5%; p < 0.001). While persons taking dementia-specific medication showed a slightly reduced survival with OT (p < 0.001) compared to those without, the result in the control group without dementia-specific medication showed a slightly better result of the participants who received OT (p < 0.001). The reduced survival in the dementia-medication group with OT is likely to be related to the higher number of comorbidities in this group.

CONCLUSION

People receiving dementia-specific medication were more likely to receive OT if they had additional comorbidities, however our analysis showed that utilization of OT services in Austria was very low indicating an overall insufficient accessibility of OT services for patients who needed it.

Components, impacts and costs of dementia home support: a research programme including the DESCANT RCT

Background

Over half of people with dementia live at home. We know little about what home support could be clinically effective or cost-effective in enabling them to live well.

Objectives

We aimed to (1) review evidence for components of home support, identify their presence in the literature and in services in England, and develop an appropriate economic model; (2) develop and test a practical memory support package in early-stage dementia, test the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of routine home support in later-stage dementia and design a toolkit based on this evidence; and (3) elicit the preferences of staff, carers and people with dementia for home support inputs and packages, and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of these approaches in early- and later-stage dementia.

Design

We undertook (1) an evidence synthesis, national surveys on the NHS and social care and an economic review; (2) a multicentre pragmatic randomised trial [Dementia Early Stage Cognitive Aids New Trial (DESCANT)] to estimate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of providing memory aids and guidance to people with early-stage dementia (the DESCANT intervention), alongside process evaluation and qualitative analysis, an observational study of existing care packages in later-stage dementia along with qualitative analysis, and toolkit development to summarise this evidence; and (3) consultation with experts, staff and carers to explore the balance between informal and paid home support using case vignettes, discrete choice experiments to explore the preferences of people with dementia and carers between home support packages in early- and later-stage dementia, and cost–utility analysis building on trial and observational study.

Setting

The national surveys described Community Mental Health Teams, memory clinics and social care services across England. Recruitment to the trial was through memory services in nine NHS trusts in England and one health board in Wales. Recruitment to the observational study was through social services in 17 local authorities in England. Recruitment for the vignette and preference studies was through memory services, community centres and carers’ organisations.

Participants

People aged > 50 years with dementia within 1 year of first attendance at a memory clinic were eligible for the trial. People aged > 60 years with later-stage dementia within 3 months of a review of care needs were eligible for the observational study. We recruited staff, carers and people with dementia for the vignette and preference studies. All participants had to give written informed consent.

Main outcome measures

The trial and observational study used the Bristol Activities of Daily Living Scale as the primary outcome and also measured quality of life, capability, cognition, general psychological health and carers’ sense of competence.

Methods

Owing to the heterogeneity of interventions, methods and outcome measures, our evidence and economic reviews both used narrative synthesis. The main source of economic studies was the NHS Economic Evaluation Database. We analysed the trial and observational study by linear mixed models. We analysed the trial by ‘treatment allocated’ and used propensity scores to minimise confounding in the observational study.

Results

Our reviews and surveys identified several home support approaches of potential benefit. In early-stage dementia, the DESCANT trial had 468 randomised participants (234 intervention participants and 234 control participants), with 347 participants analysed. We found no significant effect at the primary end point of 6 months of the DESCANT intervention on any of several participant outcome measures. The primary outcome was the Bristol Activities of Daily Living Scale, for which scores range from 0 to 60, with higher scores showing greater dependence. After adjustment for differences at baseline, the mean difference was 0.38, slightly but not significantly favouring the comparator group receiving treatment as usual. The 95% confidence interval ran from –0.89 to 1.65 (p = 0.56). There was no evidence that more intensive care packages in later-stage dementia were more effective than basic care. However, formal home care appeared to help keep people at home. Staff recommended informal care that cost 88% of formal care, but for informal carers this ratio was only 62%. People with dementia preferred social and recreational activities, and carers preferred respite care and regular home care. The DESCANT intervention is probably not cost-effective in early-stage dementia, and intensive care packages are probably not cost-effective in later-stage dementia. From the perspective of the third sector, intermediate intensity packages were cheaper but less effective. Certain elements may be driving these results, notably reduced use of carers’ groups.

Limitations

Our chosen outcome measures may not reflect subtle outcomes valued by people with dementia.

Conclusions

Several approaches preferred by people with dementia and their carers have potential. However, memory aids aiming to affect daily living activities in early-stage dementia or intensive packages compared with basic care in later-stage dementia were not clinically effective or cost-effective.

Future work

Further work needs to identify what people with dementia and their carers prefer and develop more sensitive outcome measures.

Study registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN12591717. The evidence synthesis is registered as PROSPERO CRD42014008890.

Funding

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grants for Applied Research programme and will be published in full in Programme Grants for Applied Research; Vol. 9, No. 6. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Factors Associated with Home Care Outcomes among Community-Dwelling Older Adult Patients with Dementia

Background

With the increase in the proportion of people with dementia (PWD), it is necessary to address dementia-related issues among older adults who live at home; however, there is no integrative review on this issue.

Objectives

To describe and analyze quantitative and qualitative studies from primary sources in order to identify the factors which impact home care outcomes among PWD.

Methods

A computer search of PsycINFO, MEDLINE (PubMed), and the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) was performed. This study was guided by Whittemore and Knafl's integrative review method.

Results

This review of the literature identified 3 main factors related to home care outcomes among PWD. These factors are environmental factors, caregiver-related factors, and social network factors.

Conclusions

Further research is required to investigate the impacts of multiple social and environmental factors on home care outcomes among PWD; which can eventually be used by nurses and family caregivers when providing care for older adult PWD.

A Simple and Effective Way to Study Executive Functions by Using 360° Videos

Executive dysfunctions constitute a significant public health problem due to their high impact on everyday life and personal independence. Therefore, the identification of early strategies to assess and rehabilitate these impairments appears to be a priority. The ecological limitations of traditional neuropsychological tests and the numerous difficulties in administering tests in real-life scenarios have led to the increasing use of virtual reality (VR) and 360° environment-based tools for assessing executive functions (EFs) in real life. This perspective aims at proposing the development and implementation of Executive-functions Innovative Tool 360° (EXIT 360°), an innovative, enjoyable, and ecologically valid tool for a multidimensional and multicomponent evaluation of executive dysfunctions. EXIT 360° allows a complete and integrated executive functioning assessment through an original task for EFs delivered via a mobile-powered VR headset combined with eye tracker (ET) and electroencephalograms (EEG). Our tool is born as a 360°-based instrument, easily accessible and clinically usable, that will radically transform clinicians’ and patient’s assessment experience. In EXIT 360°, patients are engaged in a “game for health,” where they must perform everyday subtasks in 360° daily life environments. In this way, the clinicians can obtain quickly more ecologically valid information about several aspects of EFs (e.g., planning, problem-solving). Moreover, the multimodal approach allows completing the assessment of EFs by integrating verbal responses, reaction times, and physiological data (eye movements and brain activation). Overall, EXIT 360° will allow obtaining simultaneously and in real time more information about executive dysfunction and its impact in real life, allowing clinicians to tailor the rehabilitation to the subject’s needs.

Aging in Place with Age-Related Cognitive Changes: The Impact of Caregiving Support and Finances

In the United States, aging in place is a common concept that refers to older adults’ desire to remain in their homes as they age. However, this ability to age in place is a complex process that is not only impacted by the home’s accessibility or individual functional abilities. This paper aims to examine different factors, such as home environment and home modification, caregivers, finances, and other supports present in the participants’ lives, that impact older adults with age-related cognitive changes (ARCC) (in)ability to age in place. Qualitative interviews with older adults with ARCC (n = 5) and their caregivers (n = 5) were conducted. The participants’ experiences while aging in place indicate that finances and caregiving support greatly impacted their lives at home and ability to age in place. Personal finances dictated where some of the participants could age and the support, they could afford from home health aides. Additionally, informal and formal caregivers were an important source of support that aided in the older adults’ ability to remain home. As researchers, we need to continue to address personal finances and the support that the individual has in their lives to most effectively promote aging in place and their life at home.

Feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of an online training and support program for caregivers of people with dementia in India: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

Internet-based interventions involving elements of cognitive behavior therapy, psychoeducation, relaxation and skills training for caregivers of people with dementia have been found to be promising in Western countries. Given these outcomes, the adapted version of a multi-component online caregiver skills training and support program of the World Health Organization, called iSupport, was tested for feasibility and preliminary effectiveness in India.

METHODS

One hundred fifty-one caregivers of family members with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or dementia were randomized to either the intervention arm (iSupport; n = 74) or to the control group (an education-only e-book program; n = 77). Participants were assessed using self-rated measures of depression and perceived burden, which were the primary outcome measures, at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Person-centered attitude, self-efficacy, mastery and self-rated health were also assessed.

RESULTS

Fifty-five caregivers (29 in the iSupport group and 26 in the control condition) completed the study. The recruitment and retention rate of the study were 44.67% and 36.42% respectively. No significant differences were found between the two groups at 3-month follow-up on the primary outcomes. Among the secondary outcomes, significant improvement was only seen in caregivers' person-centered attitude towards persons with dementia in the iSupport group (t = 2.228; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite efforts to recruit and retain participants to the online program, this study had a low recruitment and retention rate, which require closer attention and indicates a need for further adaptations of the Indian version of the iSupport program to improve its acceptability and accessibility. The lessons learned from this study will guide the further development of caregiver training and support interventions in India. The trial was registered with the Clinical Trials Registry-India (Trial Registration No. CTRI/2017/02/007876).

Modifiable factors associated with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia among patients residing at home: The impacts of patient, caregiver and environmental variables

The present study aimed to explore the modifiable factors of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) among patients residing at home in terms of patient, caregiver and environmental factors. A cross-sectional survey of 193 patients with dementia residing at home and their caregivers who visited the memory clinic of the Department of Neurology in a tertiary (the highest level) hospital in China from November 2018 to May 2019 was performed. Exacerbated BPSD were associated with patient (old age, high education level, increased dementia severity, and the use of psychotropic drugs), caregiver (low positive aspects and high expressed emotion) and environmental (poor home environment) factors. The use of psychotropic drugs by the patient, positive aspects and expressed emotions of the caregiver, and home environment were modifiable factors that provided evidence for the direction of intervention for BPSD among patients residing at home.

Performance of the Hendrich Fall Risk Model II in Patients Discharged from Rehabilitation Wards. A Preliminary Study of Predictive Ability

(1) Background: Falls are a dangerous adverse event in patients discharged from rehabilitation units, with the risk of falling being higher in the first weeks after discharge. In this study, we assessed the predictive performance of the Hendrich Fall Risk Model II tool (HIIFRM) when administered before discharging patients to their home from rehabilitative units in orthopedic (OR), neurologic (NR) and pulmonary (PR) rehabilitation wards. (2) Methods: Over a 6-month period, all adult patients who returned home after discharge were assessed by HIIFRM. At six months from discharge the occurrence of falls was obtained by performing a structured survey. The HIIFRM predictive performance was determined by the area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) for the whole sample and split by ward. (3) Results: 85 of 141 discharged patients were living at home and agreed to take part in the survey. Of these, 19 subjects fell, 6 suffered fractures or head traumas and 5 were hospitalized. The AUC was 0.809 (95% CI: 0.656–0.963), Se was 0.67 (0.30–0.93) and Sp was 0.79 (0.63–0.90) for OR patients. (4) Conclusions: Our preliminary results support the use of HIIFRM as a tool to be administered to OR patients at discharge and provides data for the design of a large study of predictive ability.

Home-Based Occupational Therapy for Adults With Dementia and Their Informal Caregivers: A Systematic Review

IMPORTANCE

People with dementia require tailored interventions to support participation and performance in their desired occupations, and informal caregivers need interventions that reduce caregiving burden to enable them to continue with their roles.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review investigated whether home-based occupational therapy interventions for adults with dementia and their informal caregivers optimized care recipients' performance of daily occupations and reduced caregiving burden and improved caregivers' sense of competence.

DATA SOURCES

Eight databases were searched from 1946 to November 2019 using MeSH terms, keywords, and subject headings as appropriate for each database. Inclusion criteria were quantitative studies investigating the effects of home-based therapy provided by a qualified occupational therapist for adults with dementia and their informal caregivers.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA COLLECTION

Study selection, data collection, and methodological quality assessments using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme criteria tool were performed independently by two reviewers. Data analysis involved a two-stage process.

FINDINGS

From 1,229 articles identified through searches, 970 titles and abstracts were screened for eligibility after removal of duplicates. Twenty studies reported in 22 articles were included. Moderate evidence supported interventions provided jointly for adults with dementia and their informal caregivers using a combination of intervention strategies. Included studies demonstrated high risk of bias, particularly in blinding of outcome assessments.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Combining individualized interventions framed in client-centeredness can enhance occupational performance for adults with dementia, reduce caregiving burden, and improve informal caregivers' sense of competence. Further research on leisure and home management occupations is warranted.

WHAT THIS ARTICLE ADDS

The findings provide evidence supporting the effectiveness of home-based occupational therapy for people with dementia and their informal caregivers for consideration by funders of services.

Development and Evaluation of the 8-item Caregiver Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES-8)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

This paper describes the development and evaluation of a short caregiving self-efficacy measure. The self-administered 8-item Caregiver Self-efficacy Scale (CSES-8) was developed to reflect components of typical caregiver-support interventions and to be practical for inclusion in future self-efficacy and caregiving research.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We administered the CSES-8 in two samples: participants in an intervention for caregivers of persons with cognitive disabilities, and a voluntary on-line survey for caregivers of adults. We evaluated the completion rate, item-scale correlations, reliability, descriptive statistics, and preliminary construct validity of the CSES-8 in both samples, and sensitivity to change in the intervention sample.

RESULTS

The intervention caregivers' sample (N=158) was 85% female (mean age=65 years). The on-line survey sample (N=138) was 90% female (mean age=78). In both samples, the CSES-8 had excellent internal-consistency reliability (0.89 and 0.88) and good distribution with sufficient variability to detect change. Test-retest reliability was good in the on-line sample (0.73). As evidence of construct validity, most hypotheses were confirmed in both samples. The CSES-8 was sensitive to change at 6 months for caregivers in the intervention program (p < .001).

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

The CSES-8 is short, comprehensive with respect to common components of interventions to improve caregivers' quality of life, and sensitive to change. It can serve a useful role exploring mechanisms by which caregiver intervention studies work, and it can be helpful in examining whether self-efficacy mediates the effect of these intervention on various outcomes such as psychological well-being.

Caregiver influences on 'living well' for people with dementia: Findings from the IDEAL study

Objectives: The capability to 'live well' in people with dementia can be influenced by many factors, including those related to the experiences of their informal caregiver. How caregivers experience their own role can affect not only their well-being but also the way they provide care and hence the experience of the person with dementia. The aim of this study is to identify the potential impact of the caregiver's perception of the caregiving experience on how people with mild to moderate dementia self-rate their QoL, well-being and satisfaction with life.Method: This study utilised time-point 1 data from 1283 informal caregiver and the 1283 people with dementia whom they provide care from the IDEAL cohort study. Multivariate modelling was used to investigate the associations between measures related to the caregiver's perception of the caregiving experience (caregiving stress, perceived social restrictions, caregiving competence, positive aspects of caregiving, and coping) and the self-ratings of QoL, satisfaction with life, and well-being by the person with dementia.Results: Lower QoL ratings by the person with dementia were associated with high caregiver stress (-1.98; 95% CI: -2.89, -1.07), high perceived social restrictions (-2.04; 95% CI: -2.94, -1.14) and low caregiving competence (-2.01; 95% CI: -2.95, -1.06). Similar associations were found for satisfaction with life and wellbeing. Positive aspects of caregiving and coping were not associated with outcomes for the person with dementia.Conclusion: The findings indicate that how the caregiver experiences caregiving can affect the person with dementia. This finding reinforces the importance of providing support to caregivers.

Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process—Fourth Edition

The fourth edition of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process (hereinafter referred to as the OTPF–4), is an official document of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Intended for occupational therapy practitioners and students, other health care professionals, educators, researchers, payers, policymakers, and consumers, the OTPF–4 presents a summary of interrelated constructs that describe occupational therapy practice.

Emerging Issues of Intelligent Assistive Technology Use Among People With Dementia and Their Caregivers: A U.S. Perspective

The increasing number of older adults with cognitive deficits, including dementia, poses a major challenge for public health in the United States. At the same time, the limited number of informal and professional caregivers available to support this rapidly growing population is of mounting concern. Not only does population aging limit the number of potential caregivers, but extant caregivers often lack skills to provide quality care. The integration of intelligent assistive technologies (IAT), including devices, robotics and sensors in many forms, into eldercare, may offer opportunities to reduce caregiver burden and enhance healthcare services while improving the quality of life among older adults with mild to severe cognitive deficits. However, many caregivers and their care recipients lack access to these technologies. The reasons for this reduced access are multifactorial, including the digital divide, sociocultural factors, and technological literacy. This mini review investigates the emerging use of IAT available to caregivers and older adults with cognitive deficits and explores the challenges in socioeconomic status and technological literacy as well as ethical and legal implications that should be considered in the design and development of IAT for older adults with cognitive deficits. Drawing from existing literature, it will suggest frameworks for design and adoption aimed at increased and equitable access for this vulnerable population.

Screening for Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force

IMPORTANCE

Early identification of cognitive impairment may improve patient and caregiver health outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review the test accuracy of cognitive screening instruments and benefits and harms of interventions to treat cognitive impairment in older adults (≥65 years) to inform the US Preventive Services Task Force.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials through January 2019, with literature surveillance through November 22, 2019.

STUDY SELECTION

Fair- to good-quality English-language studies of cognitive impairment screening instruments, and pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments aimed at persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), mild to moderate dementia, or their caregivers.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Independent critical appraisal and data abstraction; random-effects meta-analyses and qualitative synthesis.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Sensitivity, specificity; patient, caregiver, and clinician decision-making; patient function, quality of life, and neuropsychiatric symptoms; caregiver burden and well-being.

RESULTS

The review included 287 studies with more than 280 000 older adults. One randomized clinical trial (RCT) (n = 4005) examined the direct effect of screening for cognitive impairment on patient outcomes, including potential harms, finding no significant differences in health-related quality of life at 12 months (effect size, 0.009 [95% CI, -0.063 to 0.080]). Fifty-nine studies (n = 38 531) addressed the accuracy of 49 screening instruments to detect cognitive impairment. The Mini-Mental State Examination was the most-studied instrument, with a pooled sensitivity of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.85 to 0.92) and specificity of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.85 to 0.93) to detect dementia using a cutoff of 23 or less or 24 or less (15 studies, n = 12 796). Two hundred twenty-four RCTs and 3 observational studies including more than 240 000 patients or caregivers addressed the treatment of MCI or mild to moderate dementia. None of the treatment trials were linked with a screening program; in all cases, participants were persons with known cognitive impairment. Medications approved to treat Alzheimer disease (donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, and memantine) improved scores on the ADAS-Cog 11 by 1 to 2.5 points over 3 months to 3 years. Psychoeducation interventions for caregivers resulted in a small benefit for caregiver burden (standardized mean difference, -0.24 [95% CI, -0.36 to -0.13) over 3 to 12 months. Intervention benefits were small and of uncertain clinical importance.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Screening instruments can adequately detect cognitive impairment. There is no empirical evidence, however, that screening for cognitive impairment improves patient or caregiver outcomes or causes harm. It remains unclear whether interventions for patients or caregivers provide clinically important benefits for older adults with earlier detected cognitive impairment or their caregivers.

Kaixinsan, a Well-Known Chinese Herbal Prescription, for Alzheimer's Disease and Depression: A Preclinical Systematic Review

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia, is highly prevalent worldwide with no modifying therapy. Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) occur in most patients with AD, and depression is one of the most common AD-related BPSD. Kaixinsan (KXS) is an ancient Chinese herbal prescription widely used to treat dementia and forgetfulness. In this systematic review, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess preclinical evidence for the effects of KXS on cognitive impairment and depression. Thirty-eight articles involving 1,050 animals were included after searching from six databases from the inception up to June 2019. The primary outcome measures were behavioral outcome. Indicators of cognitive function in AD included escape latency, time spent on the target quadrant, and the number of target platform crossings in the Morris water maze (MWM) test. Indicators of depression included number of rearing events and total distance in the open-field test, duration of immobility in the forced swim test, and sucrose consumption or sucrose preference index in the sucrose preference test. The secondary outcomes were mechanisms of KXS for treatment of AD and depression. The results showed that KXS significantly reduced escape latency (P < 0.01), increased time spent in the target quadrant (P < 0.01), and increased the number of target platform crossings (P < 0.01) in the MWM test in AD models compared with control. The possible mechanisms for KXS-mediated improvements in cognitive function were antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity, antiapoptotic activity, neuroprotection, and synapse protection. In addition, the results demonstrated that KXS significantly increased the number of rearing instances (P < 0.01) in the open-field test, decreased the duration of immobility (P < 0.01) in forced swim test, and increased sucrose consumption or sucrose preference index (P < 0.01) in the sucrose preference test in depression models compared with control. The mechanisms of KXS-mediated anti-depressive effects were HPA axis regulation, antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity, synapse protection, and neuroprotection. The results of this study suggested that KXS can be used to effectively treat AD and depression through multiple mechanisms, extrapolating the therapeutic potential of KXS for treating AD-related BPSD.

Scope of occupational therapy practice for adults with both Down syndrome and dementia: A cross-sectional survey

INTRODUCTION

Dementia in adults with Down syndrome causes a progressive decline in daily occupations impacting both persons with Down syndrome and their informal caregivers. This study aimed to explore the scope of occupational therapy practice for adults with both Down syndrome and dementia and their informal caregivers living in their homes.

METHODS

A survey was conducted with occupational therapists having clinical experience in providing interventions for adults with Down syndrome. A web-based survey was developed to explore occupational therapy practice for this group of people with Down syndrome and their informal caregivers. Responses to closed-ended questions were analysed descriptively, and inductive content analysis was used for open-ended questions.

RESULTS

Forty-three occupational therapists from Australia, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States of America participated in the survey. Two-thirds were from the United Kingdom, most of whom were employed in the public sector and had at least 10 years of clinical experience. Over 90% of respondents received one or more referrals in a typical month for adults with Down syndrome having dementia, 68% of which were for a decline in activities of daily living. Home environment and activities of daily living were frequently assessed areas, and the commonest interventions were compensatory strategies and environmental modifications. Only half the respondents provided interventions for informal caregivers. Risk and safety and manual handling were frequently addressed domains for informal caregivers. Collaboration and developing clinical expertise were the two key perceived enablers for providing effective occupational therapy services. Fragmentation of services and a lack of client-centred care were the common perceived barriers.

CONCLUSION

Occupational therapists often address decline in activities of daily living for individuals with both Down syndrome and dementia. To support participation in meaningful occupations for these people and support the needs of their informal caregivers, it is essential that services are offered in a collaborative approach.

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Elderly With Dementia During COVID-19 Pandemic: Definition, Treatment, and Future Directions

BACKGROUND

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) of dementia, such as anxiety, depression, agitation, and apathy, are complex, stressful, and costly aspects of care, and are associated to poor health outcomes and caregiver burden. A steep worsening of such symptoms has been reported during Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, their causes, their impact on everyday life, and treatment strategies have not been systematically assessed. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide a detailed description of behavioral and psychopathological alterations in subjects with dementia during COVID-19 pandemic and the associated management challenges.

METHODS

A PubMed search was performed focusing on studies reporting alterations in behavior and mood and treatment strategies for elderly patients with dementia, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The following search strategy was utilized: (COVID* OR coronavirus OR "corona vir*" OR SARS-CoV-2) AND (dementia OR demented OR dement* OR alzheimer* OR "pick's disease" OR "lewy body" OR "mild cognitive" OR mild cognitive impairment OR MCI).

RESULTS

Apathy, anxiety and agitation are the most frequently NPS during the COVID-19 pandemic and are mainly triggered by protracted isolation. Most treatment strategies rely on pharmacotherapy; technology is increasingly utilized with mixed results.

CONCLUSIONS

NPS of dementia during COVID-19 appear to arise from social restrictions occurring as a consequence of the pandemic. Implementation of caregiver support and the presence of skilled nursing home staff are required to restore social interaction and adjust technological support to the patients' needs.

Psychological distress in partners of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and progressive muscular atrophy: what's the role of care demands and perceived control?

Caregivers of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Progressive Muscular Atrophy (PMA) patients often experience psychological distress. Yet, it is unclear which factors explain the variance in psychological distress. This study seeks to evaluate how care demands and perceived control over caregiving influence psychological distress using moderation and mediation analysis. Data were collected as part of a RCT and 148 partners of patients with ALS or PMA were included. Psychological distress was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Care demands were operationalized as physical functioning (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised) and behavioural changes of the patient (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Frontotemporal Dementia-Questionnaire). Perceived control over caregiving was assessed using items adapted from the Job Content Questionnaire. Results showed that more behavioural changes and lower perceived control over caregiving were associated with higher levels of psychological distress in caregivers. Patients' physical functioning was not significantly related to caregivers' psychological distress. No moderation or mediation effects were found of perceived control over caregiving on the relationship between demand and psychological distress. Monitoring, psychoeducation and caregiver support with regard to behavioural changes in patients, seem to be important for the wellbeing of caregivers. Caregivers' perceived control might be a target for future interventions.

Occupational therapy for people with dementia and their family carers provided at home: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of occupational therapy provided at home on activities of daily living, behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and quality of life (QOL) for people with dementia, and the effect on family carer burden, depression and QOL.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Eight databases were searched to February 2018. Randomised controlled trials of occupational therapy delivered at home for people with dementia and their family carers that measured ADL, and/or BPSD were included. Two independent reviewers determined eligibility, risk of bias and extracted data.

RESULTS

Fifteen trials were included (n=2063). Occupational therapy comprised multiple components (median=8 sessions). Compared with usual care or attention control occupational therapy resulted in improvements in the following outcomes for people with dementia: overall ADL after intervention (standardised means difference (SMD) 0.61, 95% CI 0.16 to 1.05); instrumental ADL alone (SMD 0.22, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.37; moderate quality); number of behavioural and psychological symptoms (SMD -0.32, 95% CI -0.57 to -0.08; moderate quality); and QOL (SMD 0.76, 95% CI 0.28 to 1.24) after the intervention and at follow-up (SMD 1.07, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.55). Carers reported less hours assisting the person with dementia (SMD -0.33, 95% CI -0.58 to -0.07); had less distress with behaviours (SMD -0.23, 95% CI -0.42 to -0.05; moderate quality) and improved QOL (SMD 0.99, 95% CI 0.66 to 1.33; moderate quality). Two studies compared occupational therapy with a comparison intervention and found no statistically significant results. GRADE ratings indicated evidence was very low to moderate quality.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that occupational therapy provided at home may improve a range of important outcomes for people with dementia and their family carers. Health professionals could consider referring them for occupational therapy.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42011001166.

Self-management and social participation in community-dwelling people with mild dementia: a review of measuring instruments

BACKGROUND

In order to evaluate interventions promoting social health in people with dementia it is essential to have reliable and valid measures. The present review aims to provide an overview of available instruments for the assessment of two domains of social health in community-dwelling people with mild dementia, i.e., the ability to manage life with some degree of independence (self-management) and participation in social activities.

METHODS

An electronic search was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. Characteristics of the instruments, feasibility and psychometric properties of the instruments included are reported on.

RESULTS

We identified eight instruments measuring aspects of self-management and three instruments measuring social participation. Validity and reliability of self-management instruments varied between moderate and good. Little information was found on the psychometric properties of the instruments for social participation. In general, feasibility and responsiveness data regarding application in community-dwelling people with dementia were scarce for both types of instruments.

CONCLUSIONS

Future research into assessment tools for social health should focus on the development of instruments for self-management that also cover the areas of coping with and adapting to the emotional consequences of the disease; instruments for social participation covering the involvement in social interactions that are experienced as meaningful by the person; and on the psychometric properties and responsiveness of instruments. More attention should also be given to the feasibility (ease of use) of these instruments for people with mild dementia, professionals, and researchers.

Rehabilitation for People Living with Dementia: A Scoping Review of Processes and Outcomes

Objectives

The aim of this scoping review was to map intervention studies of rehabilitation for people living with dementia regarding processes and outcomes, with a particular focus on whether the intervention is person-centred, home-based, or organised adopting a multidisciplinary approach and measures outcomes relating to everyday functioning and well-being.

Methods

A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase, and Cochrane. Studies from 2005 to November 2018 were collected and screened for relevance and quality. Randomised control trials and prospective cohort trials reporting a statistically significant effect on one or more outcome measures were included. Included studies were mapped according to selected processes and outcome measures.

Results

Twenty-six intervention studies were included and mapped. Nineteen of the interventions were person-centred, nine were home-based, and 14 reported a multidisciplinary approach. Twelve of the interventions had activities of daily living as an outcome measure, and 14 had quality of life as an outcome measure.

Conclusion

Person-centredness appears in most rehabilitation interventions for people living with dementia. Other processes and outcomes are heterogeneously described in the research literature. Rehabilitation programmes can be home-based or take place at a centre. Although not exclusive, the organisation of rehabilitation can be multidisciplinary. Fewer than half of the intervention studies measure the impact on activities of daily living and quality of life. Future guidelines must take into account the weak evidence regarding these aspects.

Housing Design and Community Care: How Home Modifications Reduce Care Needs of Older People and People with Disability

The extent to which housing design can minimise levels of community caregiving has remained largely unmeasured. This paper reports the potential for home modifications to reduce caregiving in the peoples' homes, particularly older people and people with a disability. It contributes to new knowledge in understanding how housing can play a role in community caregiving and acknowledges the role of the built environment in managing care levels in ageing societies. This paper analyses self-reported care data from 157 Australian community care recipients (average age: 72 years) who had received home modifications within the past 6 months. A before/after comparison of care provided revealed that home modifications reduced hours of care provided by 42% per week. More detailed analysis revealed that the positive association of home modifications with care reduction is stronger with informal care (46% reduction) followed by formal care (16% reduction). These results suggest the role that home modifications, and housing design in general, play in reducing care needs in a community setting.

What is important to people living with dementia?: the 'long-list' of outcome items in the development of a core outcome set for use in the evaluation of non-pharmacological community-based health and social care interventions

Background

Core outcome sets (COS) prioritise outcomes based on their importance to key stakeholders, reduce reporting bias and increase comparability across studies. The first phase of a COS study is to form a ‘long-list’ of outcomes. Key stakeholders then decide on their importance. COS reporting is described as suboptimal and this first phase is often under-reported. Our objective was to develop a ‘long-list’ of outcome items for non-pharmacological interventions for people with dementia living at home.

Methods

Three iterative phases were conducted. First, people living with dementia, care partners, health and social care professionals, policymakers and researchers (n = 55) took part in interviews or focus groups and were asked which outcomes were important. Second, existing dementia trials were identified from the ALOIS database. 248 of 1009 pharmacological studies met the inclusion criteria. Primary and secondary outcomes were extracted from a 50% random sample (n = 124) along with eight key reviews/qualitative papers and 38 policy documents. Third, extracted outcome items were translated onto an existing qualitative framework and mapped into domains. The research team removed areas of duplication and refined the ‘long-list’ in eight workshops.

Results

One hundred seventy outcome items were extracted from the qualitative data and literature. The 170 outcome items were consolidated to 54 in four domains (Self-Managing Dementia Symptoms, Quality of Life, Friendly Neighbourhood & Home, Independence).

Conclusions

This paper presents a transparent blueprint for ‘long-list’ development. Though a useful resource in their own right, the 54 outcome items will be distilled further in a modified Delphi survey and consensus meeting to identify core outcomes.