91 research outputs found
The Digital Age is Making Us Worse Humans
This paper examines the negative effects of digital technologies on human behavior and cognition. The use of A.I. and algorithms in the technology we utilize everyday have begun to think for us and force us into our own personal filter bubbles, where all the content and information we see on a daily basis is accurately curated to our likes and beliefs which narrows our perception of the truth. This technology is also purposefully made to be addicting so the tech industry can profit off our need to constantly be checking and using our devices for a boost of dopamine and serotonin. Our addiction to this technology that provides short, fast paced content has negatively affected our attention spans and reading comprehensions, subsequently changing the way we learn and understand. The paper also offers a critique of the harmful business model of the tech industry that does not prioritize users and uses unethical means to further their profit. While there are many negative impacts of the digital age we are living in, there is still hope for change through government regulation, public call for the companies to reform, and individual efforts in limiting screen time and platform usage
The Management of Dementia in Primary Care
High-quality in-home primary healthcare services are pivotal for people with dementia and their families to avoid inappropriate hospital admissions and premature nursing home placement, which are associated with worsened quality of life of both the person with dementia and his family and financial burden
Cohousing for people living with dementia: The Modena experience
AbstractBackgroundSocial isolation, caregiving burden and costs, loss of quality of life related to increasing disability, loss of agency and personhood, are some of the main unmet needs for people with dementia (PwD) and their caregivers. Objective: In order to support people with dementia and their caregivers we implemented a cohousing model. 5 PwD were encouraged to live together. Caregivers were supported in the care according to person centred approach.MethodParticipation in the project (supported by Modena City Council and local Alzheimer association, had been on a voluntary basis. The only exclusion criteria for PwD had been bedridden .Each PwD has his own bedroom with personal belongings and furniture, while the dining and living room are furnished according to prosthetic environment principles. Caregivers turn up in order to both maintain familial environment and reduce global care burden, while formal caregivers, provided by social service and employed by relatives, contribute to PwD care. According to carers expressed needs, voluntaries and an occupational therapist have been engaged to weekly involve PwD in leisure activities and psychosocial intervention. A granted psychologist is available to support Caregivers. A cost analysis, PwD and caregiver quality of life evaluation and caregiving burden were checked. Two control groups of PwD living at home with relatives or family assistant were considered in order to evaluated this cohousing model effectiveness. The first control group was supported by local dementia association. PwD were follow by a memory clinic in cohousing group and in both control groups.ResultA significant cost reduction was found in cohousing group (1879 €/month vs 2502€/month and 2662€/month in control groups). Moreover caregiving burden reduction and an improved PwD and caregivers quality of life were found in cohousing group.ConclusionThis is the first cohousing experience for PwD, in our Country. Relatives improved caregiving experience, reduced financial burden, isolation and time spent for assistance. PwD reduced the risk of institutionalization and improved their quality of life. According to this study results another cohousing experience was open 6 month ago by our community social services
Combined Effects of Age and Comorbidities on Electrocardiographic Parameters in a Large Non-Selected Population
Background: Previous studies have evaluated average electrocardiographic (ECG) values in healthy subjects or specific subpopulations. However, none have evaluated ECG average values in not selected populations, so we examined ECG changes with respect to age and sex in a large primary population. Methods: From digitized ECG stored from 2008 to 2021 in the Modena province, 130,471 patients were enrolled. Heart rate, P, QRS and T wave axis, P, QRS and T wave duration, PR interval, QTc, and frontal QRS-T angle were evaluated. Results: All ECG parameters showed a dependence on age, but only some of them with a straight-line correlation: QRS axis (p < 0.001, R2 = 0.991, r = 0.996), PR interval (p < 0.001, R2 = 0.978, r = 0.989), QTc (p < 0.001, R2 = 0.935, r = 0.967), and, in over 51.5 years old, QRS-T angle (p < 0.001, R2 = 0.979, r = 0.956). Differences between females and males and in different clinical settings were observed. Conclusions: ECG changes with ageing are explainable by intrinsic modifications of the heart and thorax and with the appearance of cardiovascular diseases and comorbidities. Age-related reference values were computed and applicable in clinical practice. Significant deviations from mean values and from Z-scores should be investigated
Delirium onset within a palliative care programme: nursing care for the patient and family
Delirium is a neurocognitive syndrome correlated with increased risk of hospitalization, functional and cognitive impairment, and mortality. Patients under palliative treatment regime are at higher risk of developing the syndrome due to their debilitated physical condition. In this context delirium is one of the most frequent complications, affecting around 85% of people at the end of the life. It augments the distress of the expiring individual and their family, aggravating suffering and compromising the quality of the life of the terminally ill people. The aim is to prevent the incidence of delirium identifying people at risk. If an episode of delirium occurs, it is essential to identify it with specific clinical assessment tools, to assess and to treat reversible causes in combination with enviromental, psychological and pharmacological intervention to control the symptoms. The close supporting role of the nurse within the family group confers them a fundamental role in the recognition and management of delirium. It is essential to analyse the peculiarities of assistance for patients under palliative treatment affected by delirium, together with their family. To provide personalized treatment that offers support, relief and hope, considering the person as a whole within the family setting, nurses can use the taxonomy of Nanda international classification of nursing diagnosis (Nanda-I), Nursing outcomes classification (Noc) and Nursing interventions classification (Nic)
MoCA 7.1: Multicenter Validation of the First Italian Version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment
Who gets to decide for the older patient with a limited decision-making capacity: a review of surrogacy laws in the European Union
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