Utility of 3D modelling of the patient's living environment as perceived by occupational therapists.

Introduction: Visiting a patient's living environment is important for occupational therapists, albeit costly and time consuming. MapIt is a mobile app producing a 3D representation of a home with the possibility of taking measurements. The purpose of this study was to explore the utility of a 3D representation of a patient's home for the clinical practice of occupational therapists.

Potential assistive technology preferences of informal caregivers of people with disability.

Background: Preferences of informal caregivers of people with neurocognitive disorders for technological solutions are important in user- centered design approaches. It is crucial to take into consideration the needs and preferences of users when developing new technology to facilitate their uptake.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine caregiver preferences for potential technological solutions to help address their needs and compare technology preferences of caregivers who provide care to those with and without neurocognitive disorders (NCD).

The effectiveness of Tai Chi for short-term cognitive function improvement in the early stages of dementia in the elderly: a systematic literature review.

This systematic review examines intervention studies using Tai Chi in the early stages of dementia to determine the effectiveness of Tai Chi for the short-term improvement of cognitive functions for elderly persons with the disease. A keyword search was done in PubMed/MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), and Cochrane Library databases using keywords such as Tai Chi, Dementia*, and cognition. A secondary search strategy consisting of a manual search in the reference lists of selected articles was also used.

Effects of a caregiver-inclusive assistive technology intervention: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The principal aim of this study was to investigate whether a caregiver-inclusive assistive technology intervention improved older care recipients' functional autonomy and decreased the perceived burden of their family caregivers compared to customary care.

Methods: The study was a single-blind, mixed-methods, randomized controlled trial with baseline data collection and follow-ups at 6-, 22-, and 58-weeks after baseline evaluation, which was prospectively registered ( ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01640470.

Caregivers' experiences with the selection and use of assistive technology.

Qualitative data from a mixed-methods clinical trial are used to examine caregivers' experiences with the selection and use of assistive technology to facilitate care recipients' independence. Through a thematic analysis of interviews from 27 caregivers, three broad themes were identified. "A partial peace of mind" described the generally positive psychological impacts from assistive technology, mainly reduced stress and a shift in caregiving labour from physical tasks to a monitoring role.

Effect of a tailored assistive technology intervention on older adults and their family caregiver: a pragmatic study protocol.

Background: Many older adults with mobility limitations use assistive technology to help them perform daily activities. However, little attention has been paid to the impact on their family caregivers. This neglect produces an incomplete portrayal of the outcomes of assistive technology provision.

[The participation of seniors in volunteer activities: a systematic review].

Context: Volunteer work can be a very significant form of social participation for seniors. It can also provide seniors with important physical and psychological health benefits. This explains why occupational therapists and other health care professionals, as well as community workers who are concerned with healthy aging, appeal to seniors to volunteer in health promotion and community support However, the recruitment and ongoing involvement of seniors as volunteers is often challenging.

Association between daily activities following stroke rehabilitation and social role functioning upon return to the community.

Purpose: To examine the association between independence in daily activities at discharge from rehabilitation and the degree of resumption of social roles 6 months later in older adults with stroke.

Method: A total of 111 adults participated (mean age 77 years). Daily activities were measured using portions of the Functional Measurement of Autonomy System (SMAF).

Rapid and sensitive detection of hepatitis A virus in representative food matrices.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is an important cause of foodborne disease worldwide. The detection of this virus in naturally contaminated food products is complicated by the absence of a reliable culture method, low levels of contamination, and the presence of matrix-associated compounds which inhibit molecular detection. In this study, we report a novel method to concentrate HAV from foods prior to the application of reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) for detection.