Clinical gerontologist
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Clinical gerontologist · Oct 2020
Effects of a Video-based Intervention on Caregiver Confidence for Managing Dementia Care Challenges: Findings from the FamTechCare Clinical Trial.
The Supporting Family Caregivers with Technology trial tested the FamTechCare video support intervention against telephone support. Dementia caregivers' video-recorded challenging care encounters and an interdisciplinary team provided tailored feedback. This paper reports on the effects of the intervention on caregiver confidence in managing priority challenges, a secondary outcome of this non-blinded parallel randomized controlled trial. ⋯ Innovative technology provides new opportunities to support family caregivers in dementia home care. Video-recording can be used to enhance support for family caregivers facing care challenges.
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Clinical gerontologist · Aug 2020
"It's Huge, in a Way." Conflicting Stakeholder Priorities for Managing Hearing Impairment for People Living with Dementia in Residential Aged Care Facilities.
The aims of this study were to a) explore the impact of hearing impairment on people living with dementia in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) and b) investigate management of hearing impairment for this population. ⋯ Changes in practices of both care staff and audiologists are required to improve hearing impairment management for this population.
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Clinical gerontologist · May 2020
Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Arabic Version of the Rating Anxiety in Dementia Scale.
Objectives: This study aims to cross-culturally adapt the Rating Anxiety in Dementia (RAID) scale into Arabic language, evaluate its psychometric properties in a sample of Lebanese patients with dementia and determine the optimal cutoff for the identification of anxiety. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 136 patients with dementia aged 55 years and above. RAID-A was administered to a formal caregiver of the patient as well as a battery of psychological tools namely Hamilton anxiety scale (HAM-A) and Neuropsychiatric Inventory anxiety subscale (NPI-A). ⋯ Results from the receiver operating curve analysis identified a score of 11 as the optimal cutoff for the diagnosis of GAD with a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 82%. Conclusions: The Arabic version of the RAID scale exhibits good psychometric properties. Clinical Implications: RAID is a valid tool to measure anxiety in Arabic elder patients suffering from dementia.
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Clinical gerontologist · May 2019
Comparative StudyA Comparison of the Influence of Anticipated Death Trajectory and Personal Values on End-of-Life Care Preferences: A Qualitative Analysis.
We examined anticipated preferences for end-of-life (EOL) care in healthy older adults in the context of various terminal disease scenarios to explore the relationship between personal values and diseases and conditions that would influence EOL care choices. ⋯ Because personal values do influence EOL preferences, care should be taken to ascertain patient values when presenting diagnoses, prognoses, and treatment options. In particular, patients and families of patients with progressive neurological diseases will likely face a time when the patient cannot self-represent EOL wishes. Early discussion of values and preferences, particularly in the context of cognitive disease is vital to assure patient-directed care.
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Clinical gerontologist · May 2019
Autobiographical Narration as a Tool for the Empowerment of Older Adults' Subjective and Psychological Wellbeing in Nursing Homes.
Conceiving narration as a resource to promote older people's wellbeing, the present work aimed to implement a narrative-based intervention to empower the subjective and psychological wellbeing of older adults living in nursing homes. ⋯ Brief narrative interventions implementing deconstruction-reconstruction techniques are feasible for long-term care residents.