Improving Healthcare Quality and Clinical Outcomes for Persons with Dementia in the Sub-Acute Hospital Through Person-Centered Care Practice.

Background: Person-centered care is considered beneficial for persons with dementia.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a person-centered knowledge translation intervention on the quality of healthcare and outcomes for persons with dementia.

Methods: Over nine months, sub-acute hospital nursing, allied health, and medical staff (n = 90) participated in online and/or face-to-face person-centered education and were supported by senior nursing, allied health, and medical staff champions (n = 8) to implement person-centered healthcare.

Pilot Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial Evaluating the Feasibility of an Intranasal Oxytocin in Improving Social Cognition in Individuals Living with Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Individuals living with Alzheimer's disease (AD) demonstrate extensive deficits in social cognition. To date, no studies have investigated the feasibility of an intranasal oxytocin (INOT) treatment to improve social cognition in individuals living with AD.

Objective: We conducted a pilot trial to determine recruitment feasibility, enrolment acceptability, and adherence to an INOT treatment to inform on the subsequent design of a future randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Lifespace metrics of older adults with mild cognitive impairment and dementia recorded via geolocation data.

Objective: Lifespace, the physical area in which someone conducts life activities, indicates lived community mobility. This study explored the feasibility of technology-based lifespace measurement for older people with dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), including the generation of a range of lifespace metrics, and investigation of relationships with health and mobility status.

Methods: An exploratory study was conducted within a longitudinal observational study.

Is Healthy Neuroticism Associated with Health Behaviors? A Coordinated Integrative Data Analysis.

Current literature suggests that neuroticism is positively associated with maladaptive life choices, likelihood of disease, and mortality. However, recent research has identified circumstances under which neuroticism is associated with positive outcomes. The current project examined whether "healthy neuroticism", defined as the interaction of neuroticism and conscientiousness, was associated with the following health behaviors: smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity.

Is Healthy Neuroticism Associated with Chronic Conditions? A Coordinated Integrative Data Analysis.

Early investigations of the neuroticism by conscientiousness interaction with regards to health have been promising, but to date, there have been no systematic investigations of this interaction that account for the various personality measurement instruments, varying populations, or aspects of health. The current study - the second of three - uses a coordinated analysis approach to test the impact of the neuroticism by conscientiousness interaction on the prevalence and incidence of chronic conditions. Using 15 pre-existing longitudinal studies ( > 49,375), we found that conscientiousness did not moderate the relationship between neuroticism and having hypertension ( = 1.

Prolonged use of antipsychotic medications in long-term aged care in Australia: a snapshot from the HALT project.

Objectives: Use of antipsychotic drugs in long-term aged care (LTC) is prevalent and commonly exceeds the recommended duration, but contributors to this problem are not well understood. The objective of this study is to provide a snapshot of the features of and contributors to prolonged use of antipsychotic medications (>12 weeks) among a sample of LTC residents.

Design: We present retrospective and baseline data collected for the Australian Halting Antipsychotic Use in Long-Term Care (HALT) single-arm longitudinal deprescribing trial.

The prevalence and predictors of anxiety and depression in near-centenarians and centenarians: a systematic review.

Background: Current research on the psychological health of near-centenarians (95-99 years old) and centenarians remains limited. Existing studies have mainly characterized their physical, cognitive, and social health. Results on the anxiety and depression of near-centenarians and centenarians (more than 95 years old) have been mixed with some studies, finding higher rates of anxiety and depression among those older than 95 years and others reporting no difference in rates compared with younger age groups.

Why deprescribing antipsychotics in older people with dementia in long-term care is not always successful: Insights from the HALT study.

Introduction: Antipsychotic medications are commonly used to manage behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia despite their side effects and harms. While the Halting Antipsychotic Use in Long-Term care (HALT) deprescribing trial was successful at reducing antipsychotic use, 19% of participants had their antipsychotics represcribed or never reached a dose of zero. The aim of this study was to investigate the reasons for represcription of antipsychotic medication and factors associated with ongoing antipsychotic use, relating to care staff requests and perceived behavioural changes.

The psychological health of 207 near-centenarians (95-99) and centenarians from the Sydney Centenarian Study.

Objective: While near-centenarians (95-99) and centenarians are the fastest growing sectors of the population in many countries, few studies have investigated their psychological health. We aimed to compare levels of psychological distress and life satisfaction in individuals aged 95 or above (95+) with younger age groups and identify the factors associated with psychological distress and life satisfaction in near-centenarians and centenarians.

Methods: We assessed the physical, cognitive, social and psychological health of 207 participants aged 95+ in the Sydney Centenarian Study.

Critical Contextual Elements in Facilitating and Achieving Success with a Person-Centred Care Intervention to Support Antipsychotic Deprescribing for Older People in Long-Term Care.

Antipsychotic and other tranquilising medicines are prescribed to help care staff manages behaviour in one-quarter of older people living in Australian long-term care homes. While these medicines pose significant health risks, particularly for people with dementia, reliance on their use occurs when staff are not educated to respond to resident behaviour using nonpharmacological approaches. The Halting Antipsychotic use in Long-Term care (HALT) single-arm study was undertaken to address this issue with 139 people 60 years and over with behaviours of concern for staff living in 24 care homes.

Antipsychotic Deprescription for Older Adults in Long-term Care: The HALT Study.

Objectives: Despite limited efficacy and significant safety concerns, antipsychotic medications are frequently used to treat behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in long-term residential care. This study evaluates the sustained reduction of antipsychotic use for BPSD through a deprescribing intervention and education of health care professionals.

Design: Repeated-measures, longitudinal, single-arm study.

Halting Antipsychotic Use in Long-Term care (HALT): a single-arm longitudinal study aiming to reduce inappropriate antipsychotic use in long-term care residents with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.

Background: Inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications to manage Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) continues despite revised guidelines and evidence for the associated risks and side effects. The aim of the Halting Antipsychotic Use in Long-Term care (HALT) project is to identify residents of long-term care (LTC) facilities on antipsychotic medications, and undertake an intervention to deprescribe (or cease) these medicines and improve non-pharmacological behavior management.

Methods: LTC facilities will be recruited across Sydney, Australia.

Apathy in Dementia: Systematic Review of Recent Evidence on Pharmacological Treatments.

Increasing recognition that apathy is one of the most prevalent behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and causes substantial caregiver distress has led to trials evaluating psychosocial and pharmacological treatments of apathy in dementia. We evaluated evidence of the efficacy of pharmacotherapies for apathy in dementia from studies since 2013. Previously reported benefits of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and memantine were not replicated in recent studies.

The Lifestyle Engagement Activity Program (LEAP): Implementing Social and Recreational Activity into Case-Managed Home Care.

Objectives: The Lifestyle Engagement Activity Program (LEAP) incorporates social support and recreational activities into case-managed home care. This study's aim was to evaluate the effect of LEAP on engagement, mood, and behavior of home care clients, and on case managers and care workers.

Design: Quasi-experimental.

How attempts to meet others' unrealistic expectations affect health: health-promoting behaviours as a mediator between perfectionism and physical health.

The traits of perfectionism have been associated with health and longevity. Theoretically and empirically, health behaviours are considered a primary mechanism through which such associations of personality and health occur. However, scant evidence to date indicates behaviours did not mediate between perfectionism and health as anticipated.

Development of two measures of client engagement for use in home aged care.

The aim of the study was to develop and validate measures of client engagement in aged homecare. The Homecare Measure of Engagement-Staff questionnaire (HoME-S) is a self-complete measure of six dimensions of client engagement: client acceptance, attention, attitude, appropriateness, engagement duration and passivity. The Homecare Measure of Engagement-Client/Family report (HoME-CF) is a researcher-rated interview which obtains client and/or family perspectives regarding frequency and valence of conversational and recreational engagement during care worker visits.

What do clients expect of community care and what are their needs? The Community care for the Elderly: Needs and Service Use Study (CENSUS).

Objective: To investigate the relationship between objectively assessed care needs and expectations for care of older people and their carers, before commencement of community care services.

Method: Cross-sectional research on 55 community-dwelling older adults and carers, recruited after receiving approval for government-subsidised community care services. Care needs and expectations of care were assessed at interview.

Does personality affect risk for dementia? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: A life course epidemiologic approach suggests that personality may have lifelong pathways of influence on risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This article aimed to systematically review case-control and prospective studies on the association between personality and risk of these cognitive disorders.

Methods: Studies were identified through Scopus, Medline, PubMed, and PsycINFO.

Can mild cognitive impairment be accurately diagnosed in english speakers from linguistic minorities? Results from the Sydney Memory and Ageing study.

Objectives: : The aim of this article was to examine the prevalence and incidence over 2 years of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in English speakers from linguistic minorities.

Design: : Cross-sectional and longitudinal with 2-year follow-up.

Setting: : Eastern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Recognition, attitudes and causal beliefs regarding dementia in Italian, Greek and Chinese Australians.

Background/aim: To investigate recognition, attitudes and causal beliefs regarding dementia in Italian, Greek and Chinese Australians in comparison with 3rd generation Australians. Little is known about dementia literacy in these racial and ethnic minority groups.

Methods: A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted of 350 Italian, 414 Greek, 437 Chinese and 500 3rd generation Australians randomly selected from the telephone directory.