Later life care planning conversations for older adults and families.

While most older adults have thought about their future care needs, few have discussed their preferences with family members. We interviewed older persons (24), adult children (24), health professionals (23), and representatives of stakeholder associations (3) to understand their views and experiences on later life care (LLC) planning conversations, in terms of (a) their respective roles, and (b) barriers and facilitators that should be taken into account when having these conversations. Roles described included that of information user (older persons), information seeker (family members), and information provider (health care providers).

Age and verbal fluency: the mediating effect of speed of processing.

Background And Purpose: Cognitive decline is a function of normal aging; however, the effect of age on various domains is differential. This study examined the effect of age on verbal fluency and showed how speed of processing modifies fluency performance in healthy older adults compared to younger individuals.

Methods: Three age groups, 62 young (17-40 years), 30 middle-aged (41-59 years), and 38 older adults (60-78 years), were studied using the Controlled Oral Word Association Test, National Adult Reading Test, and speed-of-processing composite score.

Deconstructing Williamsburg: Using focus groups to examine residents' perceptions of the building of a walkable community.

Background: Components of the built environment are associated with active living behaviors, but research in this area has employed surveys and other quantitative methods almost exclusively. Qualitative approaches can provide additional detail about how neighborhoods influence physical activity, including informing the extent to which such relationships are causal in nature. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of residents' attitudinal and behavioral responses to living in a neighborhood designed to be walkable.

Direct quantitation of omega-3 fatty acid intake of Canadian residents of a long-term care facility.

An increased dietary intake of n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA; >or=20 carbons, >or=3 carbon-carbon double bonds), particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3), is associated with the decreased risk and incidence of several morbidities afflicting the elderly, including cognitive decline, dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, and macular degeneration. In this study, the dietary intake and blood levels of fatty acids were directly determined in residents of a retirement home or assisted living phase of a continuum of care facility for Canadian seniors. Finger-tip-prick blood samples, 3-day food duplicates, and 3-day food records were collected.

Physiological demands of the firefighter Candidate Physical Ability Test.

Purpose: The Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) is used by fire departments across North America to screen for minimal physical capabilities in potential candidates, but its physiological demands are unknown.

Methods And Results: We examined oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide output (V x O2, V x CO2) and heart rate (HR) responses with the portable system in 57 subjects (23 females) who were familiarized before completing the CPAT in times similar to those of actual candidates. Two men and nine women failed to complete the circuit because of fatigue.

Enhancing service delivery capacity through knowledge exchange: the Seniors Health Research Transfer Network.

The Seniors Health Research Transfer Network (SHRTN) was launched in 2005 in Ontario to improve the quality of health care provided to seniors by facilitating knowledge exchange opportunities for formal and informal caregivers, researchers and policymakers. This article describes the conceptual basis and development of SHRTN, as well as achievements, challenges and lessons learned during its first year of operation, which ended in March 2006. We begin by discussing knowledge exchange networks and their conceptual basis.

Canada's physical activity guides: background, process, and development.

This historical background paper chronicles the major events leading to the development of Canada's physical activity guides (for children, youth, adults, and older adults). The paper outlines the process and the steps used, including information (where applicable) regarding national partners, project administration, Health Canada communications, product development, endorsement, distribution and implementation, collateral activities, media relations and evaluation framework. Brief summaries of the science that led to the recommended guidelines are included.

[Physical activity guidelines in Canada: context, process and development].

This historical background paper chronicles the major events leading to the development of Canada's physical activity guides (for children, youth, adults, and older adults). The paper outlines the process and the steps used, including information (where applicable) regarding national partners, project administration, Health Canada communications, product development, endorsement, distribution and implementation, collateral activities, media relations and evaluation framework. Brief summaries of the science that led to the recommended guidelines are included.