A comparison of green space indicators for epidemiological research

<p><b>Background</b> The potential for natural environments to be salutogenic has received growing interest from epidemiologists, but there has been no critical examination of the extent to which associations between green space and health might vary according to the indicator of green space coverage used.</p> <p><b>Methods</b> Three different indicators of green space coverage were derived for a set of 268 small areas in four cities within Britain. The indicators had different origins and provided a spectrum of sensitivity from larger spaces only, through to ambient greenery. Two indicators reproducible for anywhere in Europe were included. Agreement between the indicators on the quantity of green space in a small area, and their independent association with measures of mortality and self-reported morbidity, were compared.</p> <p><b>Results</b> Overall, the indicators showed relatively close overall agreement (all r2>0.89, p<0.001). However, agreement varied by level of area socioeconomic deprivation (p<0.001). The indicator that detected larger spaces only found less green space in areas of socioeconomic deprivation than the other two. Despite this difference, all indicators showed similar protective associations with the risk of mortality and self-reported morbidity suggesting that larger green spaces may be more important for health effects than smaller spaces.</p> <p><b>Conclusions</b> Associations between green space indicator and health were not sensitive to indicator origin and type. This raises the possibility of trans-European epidemiological studies. Larger green spaces may be the most important for health effects, but may also be less prevalent in more deprived areas.</p&gt

Technology-supported group activity to promote communication in dementia : a protocol for a within-participants study

Background. CIRCA (Computer Interactive Reminiscence and Conversation Aid; Alm et al., 2004) is an interactive conversation support for people living with dementia. CIRCA facilitates one-to-one conversations and caregiving relationships in formal care environments (Astell, 2009). Originally developed as a standalone device, a new web-based version of CIRCA has been created to increase availability. The potential of CIRCA to support group activities and conversation between people living with dementia and a facilitator has not previously been explored. Objectives. The two objectives of this study are: (i) To validate the new web-based version of CIRCA against the original standalone device; (ii) To explore the efficacy of CIRCA to support group activity with people with dementia in a formal care setting. Methods. This mixed methods study comprises two parts: (i) 8-session group activity using the CIRCA stand-alone device; (ii) 8-session group activity using the web-based CIRCA. One hundred and eighty people with dementia will be recruited: 90 for part (i) and 90 for part (ii). Measures of cognition and quality of life will be taken at baseline, post-CIRCA intervention and three-months later, plus video recordings of the group sessions. Results. Both parts of the study will be completed in February 2018. Discussion. The study will provide evidence on two issues: (i) a validation of the new web-based version of CIRCA; and (ii) the suitability of CIRCA to support group activities in formal care settings for people living with dementia

Computer Interactive Reminiscence and Conversation Aid groups – delivering cognitive stimulation with technology

INTRODUCTION: Group-based cognitive stimulation is the only nonpharmacological intervention recommended by the UK National Institute for Clinical and Health Excellence (NICE) for people with dementia. The potential of technology to extend the availability of group-based cognitive stimulation has not been tested. METHOD: One hundred and sixty-one people with dementia participated in an 8-session group activity using Computer Interactive Reminiscence and Conversation Aid (CIRCA). Cognition, quality of life and general health were assessed pre-, post- and three-months later. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in cognition and quality of life at the end of the CIRCA group intervention, which was further improved at three-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: CIRCA group sessions improved cognition and quality of life similar to group-base cognitive stimulation approved by NICE. These benefits were maintained at three-month follow-up. The data confirm the potential of CIRCA, which can be populated with different cultural and language contents for different user groups

“Tota Pulchra Es”: Mary, the Song of Songs, and the Sacraments

In a pair of articles published in 1951 in Orate Fratres, Jean Daniélou, S.J., demonstrated that the Fathers of the Church interpreted the Song of Songs as a prophecy of the sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. This interpretation fostered continuity between the Jewish liturgy, which features the Song of Songs in the observance of Passover and Sabbath, on the one hand, and Christian ritual, which gives a place of honor to the sacraments of initiation in the Easter vigil, on the other. This article traces the application of the Song of Songs to the sacraments of initiation in early Christian writers such as Hippolytus and Ambrose and in medieval writers such as Paschasius Radbertus, Honorius Augustodunensis, and Alain de Lille. These writers linked Mary as “full of grace” to the sacraments of the Church, given as means for grace. The seal given in Baptism, the signaculum placed on the heart (Sg. 8:6), the sealed fountain of the Song (Sg. 4:12), and the “Seal of Holy Mary” became closely connected with each other. The article ends with examples of how depictions of the Immaculate Conception as “Tota pulchra” (Sg.4:7) in the modern period came to inspire catechetical visual art that intermingled the metaphors of the Song with the iconography of the sacraments

“Like another human being in the room”: a community case study of smart speakers to reduce loneliness in the oldest-old

This community case study examined the potential benefits of smart speakers to tackle loneliness in the oldest old adults living in supported accommodation. The program was established as a collaboration between the supported accommodation provider and a technology company to explore the feasibility of smart speakers to alleviate resident loneliness. Loneliness in later life often accompanies a shrinking social circle, loss of a spouse or increased disability. People aged 85 years of age and over are increasingly likely to experience these life events, leading to an increased risk of social isolation and loneliness. Five older people, mean age 90 years of age, who resided in supported accommodation, were given a smart speaker for 8 weeks to examine their experience with the voice assistant. The experiences of the five older adults are explored as case studies, with each person interviewed both before and after receiving the smart speaker. All five valued their smart speaker, recognised its potential for tackling loneliness, and wanted to keep it. The three most lonely individuals reported that their smart speaker made them feel less lonely and isolated through two mechanisms: (i) creating a presence and (ii) having some control over their situation. Although only a small study, these experiences suggest providing smart speakers for lonely and isolated oldest-old people, could be one way to help combat loneliness in community settings

Wellbeing and HCI in later life – what matters?

As part of the Challenging Obstacles and Barriers to Assisted Living Technologies (COBALT) project, we developed the COBALT Tools for EngagementTM, a number of innovative techniques to engage older people in all stages of technology development process. In the present study we used Technology Tours of the homes of eight older adults to look at their daily usage and examine the ways in which tech-nology influences well-being. All of the participants use multiple tech-nologies every day both inside the home and out. The data highlighted how technology contributes to well-being in a number of ways, includ-ing enabling them to maintain current activities; providing a means of staying in touch with families and friends; being easy to access and learn to use; and enhancing their lives. These can be divided into two types of factors: ones that relate to the direct outcomes of technology use and how these contribute to feelings of wellbeing and factors that relate to meeting an individual’s needs, which if met contribute to their well-being. The findings indicate that well-being is a multi-faceted con-struct that includes autonomy, i.e. remaining independent, competence both in continuing to complete activities and learning new ones, and communication with other people. The study also indicates that Tech-nology Tours provide an easily applicable and accessible means for en-abling older adults to speak as ‘experts’ on technology

Kinect Project: people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment learning to play group motion-based games

Introduction: Motion-based technologies (MBT) could provide nonpharmacological interventions for people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (PCI). This study examined the use of errorless learning techniques to empower PCI to use MBT. Methods: Thirty-eight PCI were recruited to a 10-week (20 x 1-hour sessions) Xbox Kinect bowling group. Video recorded data from first, middle, and final sessions were coded to track: (1) number of prompts per turn, (2) independent turn completion, and (3) duration of turns. were compared using repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Learning and improvement over time was demonstrated in 23 participants who were available for final analysis by significant decreases in number of prompts per turn and turn duration and significant increases in turns completed independently. Discussion: Errorless learning supported PCI to learn MBT and improve over time as evidenced by their need for fewer prompts, shorter turns, and more turns completed independently, confirming the potential of MBT to provide leisure activities for PCI

Green space and child weight status : does outcome measurement matter? Evidence from an Australian longitudinal study

Taren Sanders is supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award. Thomas Astell-Burt is supported by a Fellowship with the National Heart Foundation of Australia.Objective. To examine whether neighbourhood green space is beneficially associated with (i) waist circumference (WC) and (ii) waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) across childhood. Methods. Gender-stratified multilevel linear regressions were used to examine associations between green space and objective measures of weight status in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, a nationally representative source of data on 4,423 children aged 6 y to 13 y. WC and WtHR were measured objectively. Percentage green space within the local area of residence was calculated. Effect modification by age was explored, adjusting for socioeconomic confounding. Results. Compared to peers with 0-5% green space locally, boys and girls with >40% green space tended to have lower WC (βboys -1.15, 95% CI -2.44, 0.14; βgirls -0.21, 95% CI -1.47, 1.05) and WtHR (βboys -0.82, 95% CI -1.65, 0.01; βgirls -0.32, 95% CI -1.13, 0.49). Associations among boys were contingent upon age (p valuesage green space40% green space at 73.85 cm and 45.75% compared to those with 0-5% green space at 75.18 cm and 46.62%, respectively. Conclusions. Greener neighbourhoods appear beneficial to alternative child weight status measures, particularly among boys.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Studies involving people with dementia and touchscreen technology: a literature review

Background: Devices using touchscreen interfaces such as tablets and smartphones have been highlighted as potentially suitable for people with dementia due to their intuitive and simple control method. This population experience a lack of meaningful, engaging activities, yet the potential use of the touchscreen format to address this issue has not been fully realized. Objective: To identify and synthesize the existing body of literature involving the use of touchscreen technology and people with dementia in order to guide future research in this area. Methods: A systematized review of studies in the English language was conducted, where a touchscreen interface was used with human participants with dementia. Results: A total of 45 articles met the inclusion criteria. Four questions were addressed concerning (1) the context of use, (2) reasons behind the selection of the technology, (3) details of the hardware and software, and (4) whether independent use by people with dementia was evidenced. Conclusions: This review presents an emerging body of evidence demonstrating that people with dementia are able to independently use touchscreen technology. The intuitive control method and adaptability of modern devices has driven the selection of this technology in studies. However, its primary use to date has been as a method to deliver assessments and screening tests or to provide an assistive function or cognitive rehabilitation. Building on the finding that people with dementia are able to use touchscreen technology and which design features facilitate this, more use could be made to deliver independent activities for meaningful occupation, entertainment, and fun