Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Impact Of Tailored Falls Prevention Education For Older Adults At Hospital Discharge On Engagement In Falls Prevention Strategies Postdischarge: Protocol For A Process Evaluation, Chiara Naseri, Steven M. Mcphail, Julie Netto, Terrence P. Haines, Meg E. Morris, Christopher Etherton-Beer, Leon Flicker, Den-Ching A. Lee, Jacqueline Francis-Coad, Anne-Marie Hill

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Introduction: Older adults recently discharged from hospital have greater incidence of adverse events, functional decline, falls and subsequent readmission. Providing education to hospitalised patients on how to prevent falls at home could reduce postdischarge falls. There has been limited research investigating how older adults respond to tailored falls prevention education provided at hospital discharge. The aim of this study is to evaluate how providing tailored falls prevention education to older patients at the point of, and immediately after hospital discharge in addition to usual care, affects engagement in falls prevention strategies in the 6-months postdischarge period, including their capability and …

The Impact Of Fall Efficacy On Occupational Performance In Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Michelle Fong, Araya Moua, Erin Denola, Merit Franklin

Student Research Posters

Falls are a major health concern in the older adult (OA) population. While there is research on falls and their prevention, research on how low fall efficacy (FE) impacts the occupational engagement of the OA population is limited. FE is defined as the confidence a person has in his/her ability to complete a task without falling (Tinetti & Powell, 1993). A qualitative study was conducted using a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of OAs with low FE and the impact on occupational performance. Participants who scored ≤ 6 on the Modified Fall Efficacy Scale (MFES) engaged in a …

The Impact Of An Interprofessional Geriatric Training Experience: Attitudes Of Future Healthcare Providers, Lisa J. Knecht-Sabres, Minetta Wallingford, Michelle M. Lee, James F. Gunn, Esperanza M. Anaya, Sarah E. Getch, Nathaniel D. Krumdick, Gloria M. Workman

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

As the older adult population increases, it is vital to educate and train healthcare providers as members of interprofessional healthcare teams who can work effectively with these individuals. Ageism is a potential obstacle to achieving this goal. The purpose of this pre/post-test design pilot study was to determine the impact of an interprofessional geriatric training experience on the attitudes of future healthcare providers towards interprofessionalism and working with older adults. Sixteen graduate level students from occupational therapy and clinical psychology programs completed four interprofessional sessions with older adults residing in a long-term care facility. Quantitative data were gathered from pre/post-test …

An Exploratory Study Of Mobile Messaging Preferences By Age: Middle-Aged And Older Adults Compared To Younger Adults, Alexis Kuerbis, Katherine Van Stolk-Cooke, Frederick Muench

Publications and Research

Introduction: Mobile technologies, such as short message service or text messaging, can be an important way to reach individuals with medical and behavioral health problems who are homebound or geographically isolated. Optimally tailoring messages in short message service interventions according to preferences can enhance engagement and positive health outcomes; however, little is known about the messaging preferences of middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: Utilizing secondary data, global messaging preferences were examined to inform the development of short message service interventions for adults of all ages. Two hundred and seventy-seven adults were recruited through an online labor market. They completed an …

Older Adults’ Experience In Owning A Guide Dog, Jeffrey Kou, Yvonne Lam, Patricia Lyons, Susan Nguyen

Student Research Posters

Low vision is an age-related condition that affects many older adults, and may create challenges in everyday activities in older adults. Guide dogs have been shown to be an effective assistive device that can help older adults within their community. Despite vast research on dog companionship, there is limited research on the facilitators and barriers of owning a guide dog among older adults with low vision. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore the facilitators and barriers of owning a guide dog as experienced by older adults with low vision participating in Guide Dogs for the Blind …

The Use Of Bilateral Motor Task Training To Augment Cognitive Function In Older Adults, Colby Craddock

Health and Kinesiology Theses

Objective: Maintaining cognitive function remains challenging in our rapidly aging society but, learning novel motor tasks may increase cognitive reserve in older adults. Bilateral tasks that combine multiple limb movements, hand-eye coordination, and object manipulation may augment shared cognitive resource function. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of simultaneous bilateral object manipulation (SBOM) training in augmenting cognitive function in older adults.

Methods: Eighteen subjects age 50-65 were recruited to be randomly assigned into an intervention (IG) or control group(CG). The IG underwent an 8-week motor training (MT) program to practice 3-ball juggling. Cognitive and motor performance …

The Impact Of Visual Impairments On Mobility Performance In Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Lauren Andrew, Talia Davis, Christian Johnson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and Purpose: Falls are a major concern for elderly adults and can have a significant impact on overall health and well-being. Declines in vision with aging may be related to the development of fear of falling (FOF) and impaired mobility. It is possible that impaired vision due to common eye diseases can increase the FOF avoidance behavior and affect mobility function in this population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation among visual impairment, mobility performance, and FOF avoidance behavior in older adults. Methods: Inclusion criteria for eligible participants were: 50 years of age and older, …

Implementing Multifactorial Education Modules With Older Adults: Individualized And Interactive Fall Prevention Education, Salvador Chavez, Jocelle Flores, Rachelle Yambao

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Falls are a significant concern for community-dwelling older adults (OAs), with one in four OAs reporting a fall every year. Occupational therapy students collaborated with first responders of the Novato Fire District to identify gaps in fall prevention community outreach programs and found that many interventions lack an interactive or individualized approach. Based on the gap analysis and current literature, seven education modules were developed to address key risk factors including home safety hazards, polypharmacy, fear of falling, and strength and balance exercises. Thirty community-dwelling OAs participated in the education modules that were implemented at two senior community sites in …

The Duc Healthy Aging Website: Providing Online Occupation-Based Information, Haley Caruthers, Samantha Talavera, Jackeline Ulloa, Stephanie Vera

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Access to current, evidence-based health information is an important step to the promotion of health and wellness for all age groups, including OAs. Since the virtual world is easily accessible and is being used more frequently by OAs, an effective way to convey relevant up-to-date health information is through a website devoted to the dissemination of health promotion information tailored for OAs, including tips for integrating healthy habits into their lifestyle. Dominican University of California’s (DUC) Healthy Aging website, developed in May 2014, contains relevant and evidence-based research, including activities and local community based programs that promote healthy aging on …

Effect Of Life Review On Quality Of Life For Older Adults Living In Nursing Homes, Rene' Wren

Occupational Therapy Collection

Aim: To examine the effects of life review on daily activities, social participation, outlook on life, and perceptions of living in a nursing home measured by life satisfaction and quality of life in older adults.

Method: The study design was a two-phase quasi-experimental pre-post-tests including development and testing of a life review protocol. Nine residents, age ≥65, participated in a life review group once weekly for 6 weeks. Outcomes were analyzed using the Life Satisfaction Index-Z (LSI-Z) and pre-post surveys.

Results: LSI-Z scores improved post-intervention and survey outcomes indicated participation in activities of daily living (ADLs), socialization, …

Safe Pet Care: Keeping Owners And Pets Safe After Illness And/Or Injury, Sara A. Lowe

MOT Student Capstones

Pet care, for the older adult population, may become problematic after returning home from a recent hospital or rehabilitation stay, due to illness and/or injury. A safe pet care guide was developed, to assist the older adult population, with caring for their pets after they returned home from the hospital or a rehabilitation facility. The safe pet care guide includes information related to safe body movements during pet care activities, products available to assist with pet care, changes to the home, and local pet care resources. Additional safety tips were included to correspond to each area addressed. The manual was …

Implementing Multifactorial Education Modules With Older Adults: Individualized And Interactive Fall Prevention Education, Salvador Chavez, Jocelle Flores, Rachelle Yambao

Student Research Posters

Falls are a significant concern for community-dwelling older adults (OAs), with one in four OAs reporting a fall every year. Occupational therapy students collaborated with first responders of the Novato Fire District to identify gaps in fall prevention community outreach programs and found that many interventions lack an interactive or individualized approach. Based on the gap analysis and current literature, seven education modules were developed to address key risk factors including home modifications, polypharmacy, fear of falling, and balance exercises. Thirty community-dwelling OAs participated in the education modules and were implemented at two senior community sites in Marin County. Participants …

Protective Factors And Resilience In Older Adults, Jessica Mcclain, Caroline Lee, Katelyn Gullatt

Student Research Posters

We sought to investigate whether three protective factors, (physical health, social support, and self-efficacy) predict resilience in Marin County older adults to promote successful aging in place. Fifty-eight Marin County participants aged 62 years and older participated in an exploratory cross-sectional quantitative study. Recruited from senior community programs and personal contacts, participants completed four self-report questionnaires. Descriptive and multivariate analyses using SPSS were conducted to investigate the relationship between the key variables. Of the three protective factors, self-efficacy is the most important predictor of resilience. Physical health and social support are important predictors of self-efficacy. In conclusion, three protective factors …

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 …

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 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 …

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

Student Research Posters

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 …

Effects Of Pelvis Impact Angle And Hip Muscle Forces On Hip Fracture Risk During A Fall Using An Advanced Hip Impact Simulator, Woochol J. Choi, Stephen N. Robinovitch

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

"Over 90% of hip fractures in older adults are caused by falls [1]. Whether a given fall will cause hip fracture depends on bone strength, and on the impact force and stress applied to the bone during impact [2]. Improved understanding is required on how peak bone stresses during a fall depend on the mechanics of a fall, and on the state of contraction at the moment of impact of the muscles spanning the hip. Recently, Choi et al showed that, for lateral impact to the hip, peak stresses decrease with increases in hip abductor muscle force [3]. In the …

Participants' Perceptions Of Factors In Preventing Falls, Rajvinder K. Bains, Jaclyn A. Fok, Nadine M. Marcelo, Tamara Vileshina

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

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 be …

Behavioral Implications Of A Cognitive Training Program For Individuals With Moderate Cognitive Impariment, Joseph L.D. Kennedy

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive training program on behavioral outcomes for individuals with moderate cognitive impairment. A total of twenty participants were randomized into either a waitlist control or an experimental group. Collateral individuals familiar with each participant completed a series of measures of behavioral and emotional functioning at both pre- and post-intervention. Results demonstrated little effectiveness for the cognitive training program in stabilizing or improving behavioral functioning. Limitations and future directions are then provided to enhance future research in this area.

Do Restorative Home Care Programs Increase Independence In Adls And Iadls In Older Adults Receiving Home Health Services?, Adrienne Angeles, Shanee Ben-Haim, Amy Smith-Schwartz, Kitsum Li

Occupational Therapy | Critically Appraised Papers Series

There has been a worldwide shift from viewing aging as a dependent stage of life to one that increasingly encourages independence and a more active lifestyle for older adults. In Australia, where this study was conducted, restorative care that embraces active aging was not yet considered an essential component of home health care on the national level. However, restorative home care has been gaining more recognition as increasing importance is placed on independence and self-management in older adults.

The researchers of this study explored whether older adults’ participation in restorative home care programs reduced the need for ongoing personal care. …

For Low-Income Adults Who Experience Trouble With One Or More Activities Of Daily Living (Adl) Or Two Or More Instrumental Activities Of Daily Living (Iadl), Does The Community Aging In Place: Advancing Better Living For Elders (Capable) Improve Performance Of Adls And Iadls?, Noelle Bakken, Lauryn Banovitz, Abigail Lafrenz, Kitsum Li

Occupational Therapy | Critically Appraised Papers Series

The growing population of older adults has created a societal shift, with many older adults preferring to stay in their homes for a longer period of time. This trend, known as aging-inplace, may provide greater independence and autonomy to older adults compared with those living in nursing homes. However, physical and cognitive changes associated with age may affect the ability to safely perform activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). This study examined performance in ADLs and IADLs, fall efficacy, and quality of life in 40 low-income, community dwelling adults aged 65 and older. Participants …

Facilitating Effective Communication Between First Responders And Older Adults During Fall Incidents, Krystin M. Beeman, Erica L. Berger, Isabel A. Cabezas, Nicole M. Mathews

Student Research Posters

PURPOSE. The purpose of this project was to provide first responders with communication strategies for older adults that may help when responding to fall- related calls. General information was also provided to First Responders on working with older adults with a focus on the aging process, fall risk factors, and communications strategies.

METHODS. A series of educational sessions to first responders at a local fire district were developed and presented by occupational therapy students. Materials were developed by presenters from evidence-based resources and tailored to the target population. Each presentation focused on statistics about older adults, the aging process, fall …

Does A Multicomponent Home Intervention Reduce Functional Difficulties In Community-Dwelling Older Adults As Compared To No Intervention?, Laura Henty-Clark, Rosemarie Lion, Nadine Marcelo, Kitsum Li

Occupational Therapy | Critically Appraised Papers Series

Many older adults live with chronic conditions that may affect their ability to safely perform their daily occupations. Small decreases in ability of older adults to function independently can have profound effects, possibly leading to hospitalization, institutionalization, or death. However, preventative home-based interventions for older adults typically are not reimbursed by Medicare or other insurance carriers.

This study on intervention effectiveness contributes to a growing body of evidence for providing preventative home-based intervention to older adults to support their abilities to function independently in their communities. This study examined whether a preventative home-based intervention, including occupational therapy and physical therapy, …

Effect Of Dual Tasking On Walking Over Even And Uneven Surfaces In Functionally Independent Community Older Adults, Olajide L. Kolawole

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

While several studies have reported a decrement in performance by older adults while walking and concurrently performing a dual task on even surfaces, to date the effects of dual tasking while walking on uneven surfaces commonly found in the community has received less attention. Thus, we sought to test the hypothesis that an incremental decrement in gait parameters will be observed, when walking on an uneven versus an even surface and furthermore, that this decrement would be dependent upon the concurrent performance of a secondary cognitive and/or motor task in functionally independent-living-community older adults.

Dynamic Gait Index assessed the subject’s …

Evidence-Based Review Of Interventions For Medically At-Risk Older Drivers, Sherilenne Classen, Miriam Monahan, Beth Auten, Abraham Yarney

Collected Faculty Scholarship

OBJECTIVE. To conduct an evidence-based review of intervention studies of older drivers with medical conditions.

METHOD. We used the American Occupational Therapy Association’s classification criteria (Levels I–V, I 5 highest level of evidence) to identify driving interventions. We classified studies using letters to represent the strength of recommendations: A 5 strongly recommend the intervention; B 5 recommend intervention is provided routinely; C 5 weak evidence that the intervention can improve outcomes; D 5 recommend not to provide the intervention; I 5 insufficient evidence to recommend for or against the intervention.

RESULTS. For clients with stroke, we recommend a graded simulator …

Encouraging Occupation: A Systematic Review Of The Use Of Life Review And Reminiscence: Therapy For The Treatment Of Depressive Symptoms In Older Adults, Allison P. Zuiderveen, Caitlin M. Ivey, Sarah A. Dordan

Older Adult

Objective: The present systematic review attempts to investigate the efficacy of both life review and reminiscence therapy interventions in the treatment of depressive symptoms in older adults. This review also attempts to clearly define each intervention; thereby determining which type of therapy was actually performed in previous research studies.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using three databases: CINAHL, PubMed, and PsycINFO. Six studies met the inclusion criteria and pertinent variables were extracted for data analysis.

Results: In all six articles, the reminiscence therapy or life review intervention was found to be effective in the treatment of …

Increasing Fall Self-Efficacy And Awareness Of Fall Risks Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Dona Diane Andersen, Brian Edwin Dinozo, Heather Vengco Enrile, Brittany Anne Hutchison

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a modified version of the Stepping On fall prevention program in increasing fall self-efficacy and awareness of fall risks in community-dwelling older adults.

Method: This research study utilized a quantitative, quasi-experimental pretest-posttest singlegroup design with a qualitative element. The fall prevention program was the intervention of this study. The Modified Falls Efficacy Scale (MFES) was a pre and post measurement tool. The Timed Up & Go Test (TUG), the Romberg test, and the Saint Louis University Mental Status Examination (SLUMS) were screening tools. Fourteen older adults aged 75 …