Defining patient-centered characteristics of a telerehabilitation system for patients with COPD.

Studies have shown that pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can help to restore or enhance residual functional capacity and improve quality of life. Home-based telemedicine systems can promote comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD patients. Successful acceptance of such systems depends on how well they reflect needs, values and preferences of older adults with COPD.

The physical environment influences neuropsychiatric symptoms and other outcomes in assisted living residents.

Objective: Although the number of elderly residents living in assisted living (AL) facilities is rising, few studies have examined the AL physical environment and its impact on resident well-being. We sought to quantify the relationship of AL physical environment with resident outcomes including neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), quality of life (QOL), and fall risk, and to compare the effects for demented and non-demented residents.

Methods: Prospective cohort study of a stratified random sample of 326 AL residents living in 21 AL facilities.

Effect of dementia and treatment of dementia on time to discharge from assisted living facilities: the Maryland assisted living study.

Objectives: To estimate the association between dementia and time to discharge from individual assisted living (AL) facilities and examine, in residents with dementia, factors associated with shorter duration of residence in individual AL facilities.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Twenty-two AL facilities in central Maryland.