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Evaluating The Impact Of A Falls Prevention Community Of Practice In A Residential Aged Care Organisation, Jacqueline Francis-Coad

Theses

Falls in the residential aged care (RAC) sector are a global concern with humanitarian and economic consequences. Reducing falls using a multifactorial approach involving multidisciplinary staff is recommended, but it is not clear how RAC organisations in Australia can achieve this in a resource constrained environment. One potential solution is to develop a sustainable means of addressing falls prevention from within an organisation, creating a forum for staff to share ideas, expertise and achieve goals in a community of practice (CoP). The purpose of this research was to evaluate the impact of a falls prevention CoP on falls outcomes in …

The Impact Of Peer-Led Falls Prevention Education On Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Mixed Methods Evaluation, Linda Khong

Theses

Older adults are not optimally engaged in falls prevention strategies. Peer education may be an approach to improving engagement and uptake of falls prevention strategies by community-dwelling older adults. However, empirical research regarding this approach has been inconclusive. Accordingly, the primary aim of this research was to design a peer-led falls prevention education program and evaluate its impact on community-dwelling older adults’ beliefs, knowledge, motivation, and intention to engage in falls prevention strategies. This research was a mixed methods study conducted in two phases. Phase 1 comprised three concurrent studies. These aimed to elucidate the issues regarding falls prevention education …

A Qualitative Pilot Study Of Aging Women’S Physical Activity Experiences In One University Fitness And Wellness Center, Alexis Hobbs

Online Theses and Dissertations

Physical inactivity is one of the driving risk factors for developing health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases (World Health Organization, 2003). The prevalence of these diseases increases with the aging process, which renders participation in physical activity crucial among the aging population. There is strong evidence that physical activity reduces the risk of these health disparities and disabilities (Young & Dinan, 2005), however despite these well-documented benefits, aging women still remain sedentary. This study examined the phenomenon of women 55 years of age or older and their lived experiences of participating in physical activity within a university …

The Lived Experience Of Informal Caregivers Of Chronic Stroke Patients, Ann Snider Wigginton

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to contribute to the literature surrounding stroke-survivor caregivers and to understand the caregivers’ perspective on leisure participation and quality of life. Four caregivers of clients with chronic stroke were recruited for the study via convenience sampling. Participants were audio-recorded during a semi-structured interview lasting 60-80 minutes. The interview guide was consistent across participants and included open-ended questions about the caregiver’s leisure participation and quality of life. Recorded data was transcribed and in-vivo coding was completed. Eight categories were developed from the identified codes and narrowed into primary meaning units: role shift, loss of …

Role Of Community Participation In Improving Quality Of Life In Clients With Dementia And Their Caregivers, Mridula Dhamija

Online Theses and Dissertations

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects on quality of life for clients with dementia and their caregivers by participating in a community program, the Memory Café.

Method: In this qualitative, cross case study, the Marwit Meser Caregiver Grief Inventory (MM-CGI) was given to caregiver. Data collection was done by interviewing the participants; there was a main question with follow- up questions as needed. All the interviews were audiotaped and transcribed followed by primary and secondary coding. Shortlisting of categories resulted in emergence of themes which were common across cases and unique to each case.

Results: …

The Effects Of External Focus Of Attention Exercise Rehabilitation On Dual Task Walking In Parkinson's Disease, Eric N. Beck

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Parkinson’s disease impairs control of well-learned movements, and therefore, individuals with Parkinson’s disease are forced to walk with greater conscious control. This causes difficulties while walking and completing a secondary task simultaneously (dual tasking), in that distractions from conscious control of walking increase the risk of falls and injury. Although, attention-based exercise may be a potential avenue to decrease the demands associated with walking in Parkinson’s disease. For example, an external focus of attention (on manipulated objects) has been found to recruit the networks that are important for walking with little conscious control (automatic control networks). In contrast, an internal …

The Utility Of The Perceived Environmental Barriers In Community For The Community-Dwelling Elderly In Taiwan, Weichih Lien, Tashen Kuan, Jerhao Chang, Naiwen Guo

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find out the cut-off point of the Perceived Environmental Barriers in Community according to basic activity of daily living (BADL) and instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) independence in community-dwelling elderly in Taiwan. Methods: In this study, 200 community-dwelling elderly were sampled and administered with the Perceived Environmental Barriers in Community and Hierarchy of the Care Required (HCR). Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to find out the cut-off points of the Perceived Environmental Barriers in Community. Results: We found that the Physical/Structural domain and total score of the Perceived …

Use Of Therapeutic Exercise, Functional Endurance, And Gait Re-Training In A Deconditioned Patient With Acute Respiratory Failure: A Case Report, Ellen Forslund

Case Report Papers

Background and Purpose: The human body requires oxygen-rich blood to work efficiently. Respiratory failure occurs due to a lack of oxygen passing from the lungs into the bloodstream or if the lungs cannot remove carbon dioxide from the blood. The purpose of this case report was to describe the therapeutic exercise, functional endurance and gait training for an individual following acute respiratory failure (ARF) and (1) document the practicability of this therapeutic approach in an intensive inpatient rehabilitation setting, (2) record the outcomes that occurred for the patient, and (3) discuss the possibility for further research regarding a similar physical …

A Phenomenological Study Of Anticipated Intimacy And Sexual Expression Needs Of Aging Male And Female Baby Boomers., Charles Shawn Oak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand the phenomenon of how heterosexual Baby Boomers define and understand intimacy, sexual expression, along expectations and desires relating to their respective expressions across the lifespan through their individual experiences and reflections. A set of guiding questions were used in a hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative research design. Data was gathered from thirteen subjects (n=13) using the Rappaport Time Line (RTL) that was used to develop individualized semi-structured interviews and follow-up interviews that were professionally transcribed. These were coded to identify emergent themes. Results of the study provided insight into the phenomenon of how heterosexual …

Examining Older Adults' Perceptions Of Usability And Acceptability Of Remote Monitoring Systems To Manage Chronic Heart Failure, Lorraine S. Evangelista, Debra K. Moser, Jung-Ah Lee, Alison A. Moore, Hassan Ghasemzadeh, Majid Sarrafzadeh, Carol M. Mangione

Nursing Faculty Publications

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of using remote monitoring systems (RMS) in monitoring health status (e.g., vital signs, symptom distress) in older adults (≥ 55) with chronic heart failure (HF). Method: Twenty-one patients (52.4% women, mean age 73.1 ± 9.3) were trained to measure and transmit health data with an RMS. Data transmissions were tracked for 12 weeks. Results: All participants initiated use of RMS within 1 week; 71%, 14%, and 14% of patients transmitted daily health data 100%, ≥ 75%, and < 75% of the time, respectively, for 12 weeks. Overall usability and acceptability of the RMS were 4.08 ± 0.634 and 4.10 ± 0.563, respectively (when scored on a range of 1-5, where 1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree). Discussion: Findings show …

Primary Care Fall Risk Assessment For Elderly West Virginians, Vivian M. Minkemeyer, Matt Meriweather, Franklin D. Shuler, Saurabh P. Mehta, Zain N. Qazi

Orthopaedics

West Virginia is ranked second nationally for the percent of its population .65 years of age. The elderly are especially susceptible to falls with fall risk increasing as age increases. Because falls are the number one cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality in the West Virginia elderly, evaluation of fall risk is a critical component of the patient evaluation in the primary care setting. We therefore highlight fall risk assessments that require no specialized equipment or training and can easily be completed at an established office visit. High quality clinical practice guidelines supported by the American Geriatric Society recommend yearly …

Mobility And Cognition In Seniors. Report From The 2008 Institute Of Aging (Cihr) Mobility And Cognition Workshop, Manuel Montero-Odasso, Louis Bherer, Stephanie Studenski, Karen Gopaul, Afua Oteng-Amoako, Sarah Woolmore-Goodwin, Paul Stoole, Jennie Wells, Timothy Doherty, Aleksandra A. Zecevic, David Galinsky, R. Jane Rylett, Jeffrey Jutai, Susan W. Muir-Hunter, Mark Speechley, Richard Camicioli

Physical Therapy Publications

Background

The annual Scientific Meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology was held on October 24 and 25, 2008 in London, Ontario. Prior to the annual meeting, mobility and cognition experts met on October 23, 2008 to engage in a pre-conference workshop.

Methods

Discussions during the workshop addressed novel areas of research and knowledge and research gaps pertaining to the interaction between mobility and cognition in seniors.

Results

Workshop presenters moved from the neuromuscular, biomechanics, and neurology of gait impairments, and falls through the role of cognition and mood on mobility regulation to the whole person in the environment. Research …

The Effects Of A Novel Therapeutic Intervention In Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Patients, Adel M. Alshahrani

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common disorder affecting individuals in the United States and in the world. The prevalence of DM has increased noticeably over the last three decades with an estimated 380 million people currently diagnosed with this disease. DM is associated with numerous systemic complications that affect the retina, heart, brain, kidneys, and nerves. The most common complication of DM is diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy causes reduced sensation, reflexes, proprioception, and strength in lower limbs that leads to balance problems. Various manual therapy techniques have not approached a pilot study for the efficacy of a manual …

Co-Construction Of Personal Narratives In Supporting Identity And Communication In Adults With Aphasia: The ‘My Story’ Project, Katie A. Strong

Dissertations

Stroke and subsequent aphasia can impact a person’s identity negatively, interfering with quality of life. Co-constructing personal narratives about stroke and other aspects of a person’s life is a promising intervention for addressing identity issues. This series of three dissertation studies explored key aspects related to identity, personal narratives, and the perceived impact of telling one’s story.

Study 1 involved a survey examining whether speech-language pathologists view themselves as having a role in supporting the reconstruction of self-identity in adults with aphasia through the use of personal narratives. Results revealed that, whereas the majority of respondents viewed themselves as having …

Sex Differences In Arm Muscle Fatigability With Cognitive Demand In Older Adults, Hugo M. Pereira, Vincent C. Spears, Bonnie Schlinder-Delap, Tejin Yoon, April L. Harkins, Kristy A. Nielson, Marie K. Hoeger Bement, Sandra K. Hunter

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Muscle fatigability can increase when a stressful, cognitively demanding task is imposed during a low-force fatiguing contraction with the arm muscles, especially in women. Whether this occurs among older adults (> 60 years) is currently unknown.

Questions/purposes

We aimed to determine if higher cognitive demands, stratified by sex, increased fatigability in older adults (> 60 years). Secondarily, we assessed if varying cognitive demand resulted in decreased steadiness and was explained by anxiety or cortisol levels.

Methods

Seventeen older women (70 ± 6 years) and 13 older men (71 ± 5 years) performed a sustained, isometric, fatiguing contraction at 20% …

A Review And Case Exemplifications Of Health Enhancement Lifestyle Profile (Help) And Its Screener (Help–Screener) For Older Adults, Eric J. Hwang, Terry Peralta-Catipon

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Growing interest in promoting healthy lifestyles as a way to enhance successful aging has led to the necessity of screening and monitoring lifestyle behaviors among older adults. The 56-item Health Enhancement Lifestyle Profile (HELP) and its screening version, the 15-item HELP-Screener are a set of instruments designed for assessing various health-related lifestyle behaviors in older adults, including exercise, diet, social and productive activities, leisure, activities of daily living, stress management and spiritual participation, and other health promotion and risk behaviors. This article depicts the critical features (e.g., administration and scoring) and clinical usefulness of the two instruments and reviews the …

Performance-Based Tools For Assessing Functional Performance In Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment, Patricia Da Cunha Belchior, Melanie Holmes, Nathalie Bier, Carolina Bottari, Barbara Mazer, Alexandra Robert, Navaldeep Kaur

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: It is now recognized that individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) face subtle functional declines that can compromise performance in everyday tasks. However, it is still not clear how to capture these declines in the clinical setting. Thus, the goal of this study was to conduct a scoping review to identify performance-based tools for which the psychometric properties have been evaluated with the MCI population.

Methods: A scoping review of the scientific literature was performed with the guidance of a health science librarian in searching the MEDLINE, PsychINFO, CINAHL, and EMBASE databases from their inception until May 2014.

Results: …

Occupational Deprivation Or Occupational Adaptation Of Mexican Americans On Renal Dialysis, Shirley A. Wells

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

The aim of this study was to explore the occupational changes and perceptions experienced by Mexican Americans with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and their families living with dialysis. In-depth interviews were conducted with 17 Mexican Americans with ESRD and 17 family members. The participants with ESRD described altered or lost activity patterns, capacities and freedoms. With a heightened awareness of death, the family members made altered occupational choices, which were consistent with their cultural values. Changes in the physical body, adhering to the dialysis regimen and environmental restrictions created barriers to occupational participation. These findings suggest that living with dialysis …

Effect Of Tactile Feedback On Reducing Body Sway In Elderly, Faris Shuleih Alshammari

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Context: Body sway increases in the elderly due to normal aging and a high incidence of disease such as diabetes. Increased body sway is associated with an elevated risk of falling. Falling is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of 6 minutes training of tactile feedback (novel intervention) compared to visual feedback on body sway in the elderly with or without diabetes to develop a new technique for balance training. Design: A single blinded randomized controlled trial. Setting: Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, …

Implications Of Muscle Activation Patterns On Balance In The Elderly, Arielle Bailey, Goldie Baum, Hadassa Radzik, Aruna Woods

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

More than one third of adults ages 65 years old and older fall each year in the United States. This can result in trauma, hospital admissions, and potential death. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of waist-pull perturbation training on balance in the elderly. There were two experimental groups, elderly non-fallers (n=9) and elderly fallers (n=5) between ages 65-86, and a control group comprised of young, healthy subjects (n=10) ages 21-31. All subjects underwent baseline and post-training measurements using EMG recordings of the tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, vastus lateralis and semimembranosus. Training was performing using repeated waist-pull …

Dementia In The Context Of Disability, Rosanne Dizazzo-Miller, Fredrick D. Pociask

Department of Health Care Sciences

Patients and caregivers often associate dementia with devastation and a loss of productive contribution to society. People with dementia are often depicted as confused individuals struggling through embarrassing episodes, followed by a loss of independence. The burden and devastation of the diagnosis on the families of people with dementia is exacerbated by their assumption of the role of caregiver with inadequate preparation or training. Disability scholars, in contrast, offer physical and occupational therapists a nontragic view of disability that recognizes the importance of countering the stigma and discrimination that too often accompany dementia. This case example of a woman diagnosed …

The Effect Of Balance-Based Torso-Weighting On Mobility, Gait, Balance, Postural Control, And Falls Efficacy In Mobility Limited Older Adults, Jennifer L. Vincenzo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Exercise is a known intervention to prevent fall risk among older adults; however, adherence is poor. Therefore, it is of interest to determine if other interventions improve function and decrease fall risk among older adults. Balance-Based Torso-Weighting (BBTW) is a non-exercise intervention that improves functional measures among adults with multiple sclerosis, yet the effectiveness of BBTW has not been assessed among older adults without progressive neurological disorders. We conducted a double-blind, randomized study to analyze the effect of BBTW on functional measures and falls efficacy among community-dwelling, mobility limited older adults after 5 days of wearing BalanceWear® for 4 hours …

Participants' Perceptions Of Factors In Preventing Falls, Jaclyn Fok

Scholarly and Creative Works Conference (2015 - 2021)

Falls pose a serious threat to older adults, often resulting in physical, emotional, and financial consequences. The use of multifactorial fall prevention programs has provided community- dwelling older adults with strategies to decrease the risk of falling. Outcomes for these programs are measured in terms of such factors as fear of falling, balance and self-efficacy. One outcome of fall prevention programs that is less well understood is what the older adults themselves perceive as most beneficial. For this program evaluation project, five women participated in semi-structured interviews to understand which aspects of a multifactorial fall prevention program they found to …

Inclusion Of Seniors In The Design Of Assistive Technology, Margaret Rusnak

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference (2015)

Assistive technology helps many older adults complete essential tasks, thus providing them a means to remain functionally independent within their communities. However, many older adults either reject the use of devices or misunderstand their intention. The gap between design and need may be bridged through the active participation of elders in the design process. Previous studies have focused on older persons’ attitudes toward adopting new technology, emphasizing how to promote and maintain usage. Recent research reveals the necessity of including older adults in the design, research, and application of assistive technology in an effort to meet the real needs of …

Occupational Therapy And Family Caregiver Training: The Key To Successful Dementia Care, Catherine V. Piersol, Phd, Otr/L, Ann O'Sullivan, Otr/L, Lsw, Faota

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

Most people with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders live in the community and are cared for by family caregivers who have not received formal training. Evidence has shown that caregiving can have profound negative effects on a caregiver’s own physical and psychological health, including increasing social isolation and decreasing quality of life and wellbeing. If the demands of care exceed the caregiver’s capacity, the person with dementia can also be negatively affected. Research supports the effectiveness of teaching caregivers approaches that match the skills and interests of the person with dementia, use appropriate cues, identify and modify behavioral triggers, and …

Determinants Of Adherence To Living On Dialysis For Mexican Americans, Shirley A. Wells

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

This study explores perceptions that affect adherence behaviors among Mexican Americans living with dialysis. In-depth narrative interviews were conducted with 15 Mexican Americans with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) living on dialysis, 15 family members, and 6 health care personnel who provided care to them. Four themes emerged: (a) positive influences to adherence, (b) obstacles to adherence, (c) daily activity losses, and (d) fears about living with dialysis. From the findings, the perceptions given for non-adherence with the dialysis regimen ranged from denial of the condition, lack of pre-education, to cultural factors. Those given for adherence included prolonged life, family, and …

Stroke-Related Effects On Maximal Dynamic Hip Flexor Fatigability And Functional Implications, Henry Kuhnen, Megan M. Rybar, Tanya Onushko, Ryan E. Doyel, Sandra K. Hunter, Brian D. Schmit, Allison S. Hyngstrom

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction: Stroke-related changes in maximal dynamic hip flexor muscle fatigability may be more relevant functionally than isometric hip flexor fatigability. Methods: Ten chronic stroke survivors performed 5 sets of 30 hip flexion maximal dynamic voluntary contractions (MDVC). A maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC) was performed before and after completion of the dynamic contractions. Both the paretic and nonparetic legs were tested. Results: Reduction in hip flexion MDVC torque in the paretic leg (44.7%) was larger than the nonparetic leg (31.7%). The paretic leg had a larger reduction in rectus femoris EMG (28.9%) between the first and last …

The Correlation Between Confidence And Knowledge Of Evidence-Based Practice Among Occupational Therapy Students, Kate E. Decleene Huber, Alison Nichols, Kaila Bowman, Jessica Hershberger, Jessica Marquis, Taylor Murphy, Chanlar Pierce, Chelsea Sanders

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is used throughout multiple health-care professions and includes the use of best research available, client preferences, and the practitioner’s experience. Occupational therapy educational programs are required to incorporate EBP into their curriculum. A convenience sample of occupational therapy students from a private university completed a survey designed to measure students’ knowledge and confidence in EBP. The survey consisted of the Knowledge of Research Evidence Competencies (K-REC) and the Evidence-Based Practice Confidence (EPIC) scale, as well as demographic questions. Of the respondents (n = 47), third-year students indicated higher confidence in the ability to utilize EBP and higher …

An Exploration Of Volition: Caregiver Perceptions Of Persons With Dementia, Christine Raber, Mikel Stone

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The purpose of this study was to understand what formal caregivers know about the volition of older adults with moderate dementia. A qualitative approach was used at one assisted living facility. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with formal caregivers to gain their perceptions of residents’ volition or motivation for occupation. Volition of resident participants was assessed using the Volitional Questionnaire (VQ). Caregiver interviews and resident VQ’s were analyzed using van Manen’s phenomenological approach to examine their congruence with regard to the volitional abilities of residents. Thematic analysis yielded two broad themes: (a) Caregivers possess varying layers of insight regarding the volitional …

College Of Health Care Sciences-Physical Therapy Entering Class 2015, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.