Determinants of Successful Implementation of Assistive Technologies for Dementia: Exploratory Survey.

Background: Despite positive results for the use of assistive technologies (ATs) in dementia, the uptake of ATs lags behind. It is considered important to assess determinants of successful or unsuccessful implementation of ATs.

Objective: We explored factors that influence the implementation of ATs for community-dwelling people with dementia, with the aim to better understand potentially effective implementation strategies.

User Requirements and Perceptions of a Sensor System for Early Stress Detection in People With Dementia and People With Intellectual Disability: Qualitative Study.

Background: Timely detection of stress in people with dementia and people with an intellectual disability (ID) may reduce the occurrence of challenging behavior. However, detecting stress is often challenging as many long-term care (LTC) residents with dementia and residents with ID have communication impairments, limiting their ability to express themselves. Wearables can help detect stress but are not always accepted by users and are uncomfortable to wear for longer periods.

Barriers and facilitators for physical fitness training in orthopedic geriatric rehabilitation. A qualitative study.

Purpose: The aim of this explorative, qualitative study is to identify factors that potentially influence the execution of physical fitness training in inpatient orthopedic geriatric rehabilitation (GR), from the perspectives of patients, their relatives and professionals.

Materials And Methods: In GR wards of skilled nursing facilities in the Netherlands, semi-structured interviews were held with triads of patients, their relatives and responsible nurses, and focus groups with members of the multidisciplinary teams. Verbatim reports were analyzed according to the framework method.

Effect of stress-based interventions on the quality of life of people with an intellectual disability and their caregivers.

Purpose: People with intellectual disabilities often show challenging behaviour, which can manifest itself in self-harm or aggression towards others. Real-time monitoring of stress in clients with challenging behaviour can help caregivers to promptly deploy interventions to prevent escalations, ultimately to improve the quality of life of client and caregiver. This study aimed to assess the impact of real-time stress monitoring with HUME, and the subsequent interventions deployed by the care team, on stress levels and quality of life.

Implementation of exergaming for people with dementia: facilitators, barriers, and recommendations.

Objectives: To identify facilitators, barriers, and formulate recommendations for the implementation of exergames for people with dementia (PWD) in day-care centers (DCCs).

Methods: Within a randomized controlled trial into the effectiveness of exergaming, 73 PWD with their informal caregivers (IC) from 11 DCCs in the Netherlands and two exergame providers participated in a process evaluation. This was a mixed-methods study using focus groups, semi-structured interviews, the Measurement Instrument for Determinants of Innovations, forms for DCC staff, and a short satisfaction questionnaire.

Exercise testing and training in frail older adults with an orthopedic impairment participating in a geriatric rehabilitation program: an international Delphi study.

Background: Little is known about exercise testing and training in orthopedic geriatric rehabilitation. This study aims to obtain expert-consensus-based recommendations on this matter.

Methods: Using an online Delphi study we aimed to reach international expert consensus on statements related to testing and training of endurance capacity and muscle strength.

Implementing Active Assisted Living Technology in the Long-term Care of People Living With Dementia to Address Loneliness: European Survey.

Background: In the lives of people with dementia, loneliness is an important issue with psychological and physical consequences. Active assisted living (AAL) technology has been gaining visibility in the care of persons living with dementia, including addressing loneliness. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is a lack of evidence concerning the factors influencing the implementation of AAL technology within the context of dementia, loneliness, and long-term care (LTC).

Effectiveness and characteristics of physical fitness training on aerobic fitness in vulnerable older adults: an umbrella review of systematic reviews.

Objectives: To present an overview of effectiveness and training characteristics of physical training on aerobic fitness, compared with alternative or no training, in adults aged over 65 years with various health statuses, providing a basis for guidelines for aerobic training of vulnerable older adults that can be used in geriatric rehabilitation.

Design: An umbrella review of systematic reviews that included both randomised controlled trials and other types of trials.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library were searched on 9 September 2019.

Can technology impact loneliness in dementia? A scoping review on the role of assistive technologies in delivering psychosocial interventions in long-term care.

Purpose: We aimed to identify assistive technologies that are promising for addressing loneliness in people living with dementia in long-term care.

Materials And Methods: A scoping review was conducted. EBSCO, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest were searched from 2000 to 2020.

Cost-effectiveness of exergaming compared to regular day-care activities in dementia: Results of a randomised controlled trial in The Netherlands.

The growing number of people living with dementia will result in increased costs of dementia worldwide. The e-Health intervention 'Exergaming' may improve health and quality of life of people with dementia, but the cost-effectiveness is unknown. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of exergaming compared to regular activities from a societal perspective in day-care centres (DCC) for people with dementia and their informal caregivers (IC) alongside a cluster randomised controlled trial.

[Five years University Practice of Elderly Care: users, care provided, costs and experiences].

The increasing number of elderly people living at home demands a strengthening of primary care for (vulnerable) older adults. Therefore, in 2015 the VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam founded the Universitaire Praktijk Ouderengeneeskunde (UPO) (University Practice for Elderly Care). This practice makes the expertise of the Elderly Care physician (SO) available in primary care through a close and easy accessible collaboration between the SO and the General Practitioner.

Value of Personalized Dementia-Specific Quality of Life Scales: An Explorative Study in 3 European Countries.

Measuring Quality of Life (QOL) can be difficult due to its individual character. To explore the value of personalized QOL measurement for people with dementia, personalized versions of two dementia-specific QOL scales (Dementia quality of Life (DQoL) and Quaility of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD)) were constructed. This study investigated whether the personalized measures are more valid to detect variations in QOL than their standard versions for people with mild to moderate dementia, with sufficient internal consistency.

Costs and cost-effectiveness of the meeting centres support programme for people living with dementia and carers in Italy, Poland and the UK: The MEETINGDEM study.

We examined the costs and cost-effectiveness of the Meeting Centre Support Programme (MCSP) implemented and piloted in the UK, Poland and Italy, replicating the Dutch Meeting Centre model. Dutch Meeting Centres combine day services for people with dementia with carer support. Data were collected over 2015-2016 from MCSP and usual care (UC) participants (people with dementia-carer dyads) at baseline and 6 months.

Toward a theory-based specification of non-pharmacological treatments in aging and dementia: Focused reviews and methodological recommendations.

Introduction: Non-pharmacological treatments (NPTs) have the potential to improve meaningful outcomes for older people at risk of, or living with dementia, but research often lacks methodological rigor and continues to produce mixed results.

Methods: In the current position paper, experts in NPT research have specified treatment targets, aims, and ingredients using an umbrella framework, the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System.

Results: Experts provided a snapshot and an authoritative summary of the evidence for different NPTs based on the best synthesis efforts, identified main gaps in knowledge and relevant barriers, and provided directions for future research.

Effects of Exergaming on Cognitive and Social Functioning of People with Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: Physical activity in people with dementia (PwD) may enhance physical and mental functioning. Exergaming, which combines physical exercise with cognitive stimulation in a gaming environment, was developed to overcome barriers in performing physical activities. We evaluated the effects of exergaming in day care centers (DCCs) for PwD and informal caregivers (ICs).

Bridging the divide between biomedical and psychosocial approaches in dementia research: the 2019 INTERDEM manifesto.

Objective: To provide a new perspective on integrated biomedical and psychosocial dementia research.

Background: Dementia is being recognized as a multifactorial syndrome, but there is little interaction between biomedical and psychosocial approaches. A way to improve scientific knowledge is to seek better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the interaction between biomedical and psychosocial paradigms.

Does the Meeting Centre Support Programme decrease the experience of stigmatisation among people with cognitive deficits?

Objectives: This is the first study to focus on the role and impact of a psychosocial intervention, the Meeting Centre Support Programme (MCSP), for people living with dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) on the experience of stigmatisation across three different European countries.

Method: A pre/post-test control group study design compared outcomes for 114 people with dementia (=74) and MCI (=40) in Italy, Poland and the UK who received either the MCSP or usual care (UC). The 'Stigma Impact Scale, neurological disease' (SIS) was administered at two points in time, 6 months apart.

Utilization, effect, and benefit of the individualized Meeting Centers Support Program for people with dementia and caregivers.

Purpose: There are few interventions on an individual basis to support community-dwelling people with dementia to continue to fulfill their potential in society and to support their informal caregivers via e-Health. This study explored the effectiveness of the individualized Meeting Centers Support Program (iMCSP) consisting of DemenTalent (people with dementia work as volunteers in a society based on their talents), Dementelcoach (telephone coaching), and STAR e-Learning for caregivers, compared to regular MCSP and No day care support.

Method: An explorative randomized controlled trial with pre/post measurements (M0-M6) and two groups (iMCSP and regular MCSP).

Meeting centres support programme highly appreciated by people with dementia and carers: a European cross-country evaluation.

Background: The Meeting Centres Support Programme (MCSP) offers a combined approach to providing practical, emotional and social support to people living with mild to moderately severe dementia and their family carers in the community.

Methods: A mixed methods explanatory design was used. The evaluation took place within the framework of the international Joint Programme - Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) - MEETINGDEM study in nine Meeting Centres in Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom.

Linking DemenTalent to Meeting Centers for people with dementia and their caregivers: a process analysis into facilitators and barriers in 12 Dutch Meeting Centers.

Objectives: There have been relatively few interventions on an individual level to support community-dwelling people with dementia to continue to fulfill their potential in society. This study investigated the implementation of DemenTalent, an intervention in which people with dementia become active as volunteers in society based on their talents. The intervention was linked to existing Meeting Centers for people with dementia and their informal caregivers.

A comparison of a community-based dementia support programme and nursing home-based day care: Effects on carer needs, emotional burden and quality of life.

Objectives: Within an implementation study, we investigated the effectiveness of a combined community-based day care programme for persons with dementia and their carers versus traditional psychogeriatric nursing home-based day care. The effects on needs, sense of competence, burden and quality of life of the family carers were studied.

Methods: A pretest-posttest control group design among family carers of people with dementia who joined community-based day care centres ( = 67) or nursing home-based day care centres ( = 64).

Evaluation of a Companion Robot for Individuals With Dementia: Quantitative Findings of the MARIO Project in an Irish Residential Care Setting.

The current study focuses on the short-term effect of MARIO, a social robot, on quality of life, depression, and perceived social support in persons with dementia (PWD) and evaluates their acceptability of MARIO. Ten PWD in one nursing home took part in a 4-week pilot study, where each participant had up to 12 sessions with MARIO. Sessions comprised engagement in music, news, reminiscence, games, and calendar applications.

Linking two new E-health caregiver interventions to meeting centres for people with dementia and their carers; a process evaluation.

Research shows that carers of people with dementia experience worse physical and psychological functioning than non-caregivers or than caregivers of people with a different chronic illness. This study investigated the implementation of two new e-health interventions for carers of people with dementia, Dementelcoach (telephone coaching) and STAR e-learning (online platform to learn about dementia). The interventions were linked to existing Meeting Centres for people with dementia and their carers.

Do people with dementia and mild cognitive impairments experience stigma? A cross-cultural investigation between Italy, Poland and the UK.

Until now little research has been done to answer the question of whether people with dementia experience stigma. No previous studies investigated possible differences between countries and cultures. Therefore, the aims of this study were to compare the experience of stigma (with social isolation, social rejection and internalised shame as components) among people with dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) ( = 180) in Italy ( = 79), Poland ( = 47) and the United Kingdom (UK) ( = 54); and to investigate possible relationships with demographical and clinical outcomes.

The (cost-) effectiveness of exergaming in people living with dementia and their informal caregivers: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Physical activity is linked to benefits such as increased physical fitness, cognition, emotional and social functioning, general health and well-being in older people. Some evidence suggests that this also applies to people living with dementia. However, it can be harder for them to perform physical activities, due to several barriers, such as issues with orientation and balance problems.