Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Effect Of Lighting On Performance Of Tasks Requiring Near Vision In Older Adults, Karen Leigh James

Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

With age, more light is needed in order to function, but the effect of lighting on occupational performance has received little attention in occupational therapy. The purpose of the study was to determine if lighting affects older adults’ ability to perform selected occupational tasks, which require near vision and if lighting levels affects their perceived effort while performing selected occupational tasks. A quasi-experimental, repeated measures design was used with a convenience sample recruited from a retirement community. Thirty participants met the inclusion criteria, which included visual and cognitive screening. The mean age of the 30 participants was 83 years, and …

Examining Evidence Based Resistance Plus Balance Training In Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Complex Health Care Needs: Trial Protocol For The Muscling Up Against Disability Project., Justin W L Keogh, Tim Henwood, Paul Gardiner, Anthony Tuckett, Brent Hodgkinson, Kevin Rouse

Justin Keogh

Progressive resistance plus balance training (PRBT) has been demonstrated as effective in reducing later life physical disability, falls risk and poor health, even among those with complex health care needs. However, few studies have examined the influence of PRBT on health service utilisation, cognitive wellbeing and training modality acceptance or undertaken a cost benefit analysis. This project will investigate the broad scope benefits of PRBT participation among community-dwelling older Australians receiving Government supported aged care packages for their complex health care needs. Using a modified stepped-wedge design, 248 community-dwelling adults 65 years and older with some level of government support …

Multiple-Modality Exercise And Mind-Motor Training To Improve Cardiovascular Health And Fitness In Older Adults At Risk For Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Narlon Cassio Boa Sorte Silva, Micheal A. Gregory, Dawn P. Gill, Robert Petrella

Lifestyle Research Team

Background:The effects of multiple-modality exercise on arterial stiffening and cardiovascular fitness has not been fully explored. Objectives: To explore the influence of a 24-week multiple-modality exercise program associated with a mind-motor training in cardiovascular health and fitness in community-dwelling older adults, compared to multiple-modality exercise (M2) alone.

Methods: Participants (n=127, aged 67.5 [7.3] years, 71% females) were randomized to either M4 or M2 groups. Both groups received multiple-modality exercise intervention (60 min/day, 3 days/week for 24-weeks); however, the M4 group underwent additional 15 min of mind-motor training, whereas the M2 group received 15 min of balance training. Participants …

The Phenomenology Of Masters Alpine Ski Racers: Experiencing Ski Racing In Old Age, Carly Litchfield

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis is a study of the lived experience of ten older adult alpine ski racers in their continued participation in ski racing. The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of the experiences of these older adults as they continued to compete in ski racing. Masters skiers between the ages of 69 and 82 participated in individual interviews lasting between 30 and 60 minutes. Data analysis was completed using van Manen’s phenomenological methods and the visual technique of mind mapping. The major theme that emerged was the importance of being a ski racer to participants’ identities. The …

The Influence Of Strength-Training Exercises On The Functional Fitness In Older Adults, Susie Engle

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of strength-training exercises on the functional fitness in older adults. The original convenience sample consisted of 658 participants who attended group strength-training classes offered through the Cooperative Extension Service. The Senior Fitness Test was used to assess baseline fitness levels at the beginning and end of the 12-week strength-training program. Data was collected from 2008 to 2015. Of the 658 participants, 110 were aged 60 to 94 and presented posttest scores occurring approximately 12 weeks after pretest dates. Of the 110 subjects, 99 were female and 11 were male. The …

Use Of Distance Delivery Interventions (Web-Based, Mhealth, Telehealth) For Hard-To-Reach, Vulnerable Midlife And Older Individuals, Patricia A. Hageman

Posters and Presentations: Physical Therapy

As older adults may lack access to professional services and/or have limited transportation to seek care, the increasing availability of technologies for self-monitoring, safety, and/or preventive or therapeutic management may show promise for reaching vulnerable older adults. This presentation will describe several types of distance delivery platforms, such as web-based, mHealth, and/or telehealth, which may have applications to older adults in arenas of education, clinical practice or research. This session will highlight the benefits and limitations of these technologies, and will summarize current research about the effectiveness of using these technologies with midlife and older individuals.

Objectives:

1. Identify benefits and …

Preventing And Reducing Falls In Assisted Living Facilities: An Educational Intervention, Jennifer A. Borcich, Raquel F. Ramos, Taylor S. Wong

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

As the number of older adults continues to rise, falling in older adults has become a national health care issue. Many older adults who fall reside in assisted living facilities. Every time a fall incident occurs, first responders are called, utilizing a significant amount of first responder’s time and resources. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to implement a fall prevention program for residents of an assisted living facility (ALF) to reduce fall risk and fall-related calls to the local fire department. The project consisted of a four-week course given once weekly for 60 minutes to residents at an …