438 research outputs found

    Wellbeing and HCI in later life – what matters?

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    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

    Schoenstatt’s Shrine for the Pilgrim People of God

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    The authors reflect on the anthropological notion of pilgrimage of the People of God and the place of ecclesial movements therein. While many movements are associated with a pilgrimage to a particular shrine, the very birth of the Schoenstatt Movement coincides with, and depends upon, the Schoenstatt Shrine. Founded in Germany at the outbreak of World War I, on October 18, 1914, by Father Joseph Kentenich (1885–1968), the international Apostolic Movement of Schoenstatt is animated by a threefold spirituality corresponding to the three graces received through pilgrimage to Schoenstatt’s shrine. This essay argues that the structural principles of formation inherent in every pilgrimage have found a unique pedagogical application in the Schoenstatt Shrine, where pilgrims encounter Our Lady—the Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen, and Victress of Schoenstatt—as Educatrix and archetype of each pilgrim. Fittingly, all centennial celebrations in Schoenstatt, Germany, in Rome, and at more than two hundred Schoenstatt shrines throughout the world take on the character of a pilgrimage to thank God for the stream of life and grace that originated from this shrine and that continues to flow as a blessing for the church and world of the third millennium

    Comparing recent reviews about touch screen for Dementia with lessons learnt from the field

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    Conclusions were synthesised from recent reviews on (touchscreen)technologies and people with dementia and lessons learnt, using these devices in projects in the UK, the Netherlands and Canada. The combined findings provide a strong basis for defining new strategies for exploiting touchscreen technology for people with dementia

    Touchscreen interventions and the wellbeing of people with dementia and caregivers: a systematic review

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    Background: Dementia can have significant detrimental impacts on the wellbeing of those with the disease and their carers. A range of computer-based interventions, including touchscreen-based interventions have been researched for use with this population in the hope that they might improve psychological wellbeing. This article reviews touchscreen-based interventions designed to be used by people with dementia, with a specific focus in assessing their impact on wellbeing. Method: The data bases, PsycInfo, ASSIA, Medline, CINAHL and Cochrane were searched for touchscreen-based interventions designed to be used by people with dementia with reported psychological wellbeing outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed using Pluye et al.’s (2011) Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) checklist. Results: Sixteen papers were eligible. They covered fourteen methodologically diverse interventions. Interventions were reported to be beneficial in relation to mental health, social interaction and sense of mastery. Touchscreen interventions also reportedly benefit informal carers in relation to their perceived burden and the quality of their relationships with the people they care for. Key aspects included the user interface, provision of support, learning style, tailored content, appropriate challenge, ergonomics and users’ dementia progression. Conclusions: Whilst much of the existing research is relatively small-scale, the findings tentatively suggest that touchscreen based interventions can improve the psychological wellbeing of people with dementia, and possibilities for more rigorous future research are suggested

    More green, less lonely? A longitudinal cohort study.

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    BACKGROUND: Urban greening may reduce loneliness by offering opportunities for solace, social reconnection and supporting processes such as stress relief. We (i) assessed associations between residential green space and cumulative incidence of, and relief from, loneliness over 4 years; and (ii) explored contingencies by age, sex, disability and cohabitation status. METHODS: Multilevel logistic regressions of change in loneliness status in 8049 city-dwellers between 2013 (baseline) and 2017 (follow-up) in the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia study. Associations with objectively measured discrete green-space buffers (e.g. parks) (30% green space, respectively. Compared with the 30% green space, respectively. These associations were stronger again for people living alone, with 10-20% (OR = 0.608, 95% CI = 0.448 to 0.826), 20-30% (OR = 0.649, 95% CI = 0.436 to 0.966) and >30% (OR = 0.480, 95% CI = 0.278 to 0.829) green space within 1600 m. No age, sex or disability-related contingencies, associations with green space within 400 or 800 m or relief from loneliness reported at baseline were observed. CONCLUSIONS: A lower cumulative incidence of loneliness was observed among people with more green space within 1600 m of home, especially for people living alone. Potential biopsychosocial mechanisms warrant investigation
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