Energy Management and Information Systems

Quality assessment form used in this systematic review, based on CASP (2013) and Viswanathan et al. [21, 22]. (DOCX 18 kb

Care and rhythmanalysis: Using metastability to understand the routines of dementia care

An increasing number of people living with dementia worldwide receive informal care from their family members. A key element of dementia care is maintaining a daily routine and familiarity, making caring an extremely rhythmic practice. To explore the rhythmic nature of informal care, we apply and advance Lefebvre's unfinished rhythmanalysis by developing an original typology of eurhythmia as a metastable equilibrium. Metastability, although appearing macroscopically stable, is a vulnerable state where a slight disturbance can result in deviation to another state (i.e., stable or unstable). Drawing upon interviews with informal caregivers, we discuss the rhythms and (dis)harmonies of caring practice, including the substantial rhythms of caring practice, the relational balance of rhythms between the caregiver and care recipient, and the various rhythmic disruptions that occur. We demonstrate how metastability provides an understanding of the ever-changing rhythms of every day and allows us to move beyond the immediacy of arrhythmic breaks and explore the subtle changes that occur in (poly)rhythms. Thus, eurhythmia as a metastable equilibrium allows us to explore the gradual and subtle development of, and changes to, dementia care and other routine practices in health geography.</p

Seasonal differences in mobility and activity space in later life: a case study of older adults in the Northern Netherlands

Mobility is crucial for maintaining well-being in later life. Previous research has shown that older adults’ mobility fluctuates throughout the day, with a particular focus on afternoon outdoor movement. This paper takes a broader approach and explores the seasonal differences and similarities in mobility and activity space in later life, using older adults in the Northern Netherlands as a case study. Seventeen older adults participated in the study, for which we used a mixed-methods approach combining GPS-, activity diaries, and in-depth interview data analysed through grounded visualisation. We have collected data from each participant for a week, once during fall/winter and once during summer. The findings of this paper defy common expectations around older adult mobility; for instance, the participants walked less in summer and had a larger activity space in winter. Equally, we demonstrate that it is crucial to distinguish between daily and incidental activity spaces, particularly when factoring in seasonal variations. Yet our mixed-methods approach revealed discrepancies between perceived and measured mobility and activity space. We argue that the intricate interplay of seasonal influences, weather conditions, and personal factors significantly shapes mobility practices in later life, underscoring the need for holistic planning of age-inclusive environments.</p

Older adults’ adaptations to life events: A mobility perspective

Mobility research tends to focus on physical movement and experiences in later life; however, changes in older adult mobility over time remains underexplored. Furthermore, older adults typically experience many life events, some of which result from cognitive and physical decline, and many of which impact mobility. This article aims to explore how life events affect the mobility of older adults over time. We conducted in-depth interviews with 22 older adults aged 55 years and over from Lancashire, United Kingdom. Of these participants, eight lived with memory problems. The findings show that both anticipated and unexpected life events play a profound role in the participants’ mobility over time. Retirement, long-term illness and age-related illness were examples of anticipated life events, while the death of a loved one and developing memory problems were examples of unexpected life events. In both cases, participants’ made external adaptations, such as moving home, or internal adaptations, such as self-awareness. The findings also emphasise the layered nature of life events and adaptations playing a role in the participants’ mobility. Additionally, life events such as developing memory problems showed a domino effect, triggering further life events and adaptations which impacted the participants’ mobility. This article emphasises how transition periods can occur before or after a life event, showing that adaptations can be pre-emptive to a life event. Our article contributes to calls for internal adaptations to be fully incorporated into age-related policy and also for age-related policy to be more inclusive for older adults who experience memory problems and dementia. </p

Additional file 2: of Community-based initiatives improving critical health literacy: a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative evidence

PRISMA 2009 checklist. (DOC 62 kb

Challenges and opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic: A layered vulnerabilities perspective

The COVID-19 pandemic has had wide-ranging implications on the academic community and there have been numerous commentaries on the effects of the pandemic on qualitative health research. However, the vulnerabilities faced by participants and researchers during the pandemic have remained underexplored. Addressing this gap, this reflective article discusses the intersecting challenges and opportunities arising for participants and researchers in qualitative health research during the pandemic through the lens of layered vulnerability. Vulnerability, as a layered concept, provides novel insight to discussions on the effects of the pandemic as it provides a depth of insight into the multifaceted and dynamic nature of vulnerabilities, while considering individual differences and contexts. Reflecting on the research we conducted during the pandemic, we draw out the layers of vulnerability that both participants and researchers faced during the research process, as well as the obligations and strategies we developed to mitigate these vulnerabilities. We discuss the intersectionality of individual characteristics and the digitisation of work and life, including the impact of moving qualitative health research online and the use of creative methodological approaches. Our article highlights how, through engaging with their own vulnerabilities throughout the research process, researchers can develop creative and new solutions for qualitative research which mitigate the increased vulnerabilities participants faced during the pandemic.</p