Despite the increased use of sensory rooms, there is little published evidence related to their benefits. The purpose of this study was to explore staff and patient perspectives of the use of a sensory room in an Australian forensic mental health setting. Staff and patients on a forensic hospital unit were recruited for this study. Focus group data was obtained from the perspective of the healthcare staff. A sensory assessment identified patients' sensory preferences. The details of the patients sensory room use and stress experienced before and after using the sensory room were recorded. The results showed a mean decrease in stress that was attributed to the use of the sensory room. Stress reducing benefits of sensory room use may improve a patient's experience within a forensic mental health facility while applying a recovery approach. As a limitation of the study, patient stress was rated on an un-validated scale. Further research is needed for greater insight and evidence in evaluating the use of sensory rooms in forensic mental health settings in reducing stress. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Institutional environments are challenging settings in which to provide rehabilitation. This study describes the time use of a group of inpatients, the majority diagnosed with schizophrenia, in a secure forensic psychiatric unit in Australia. Time diaries, interviews and fieldnotes were collected over 5 weeks. Eight participants completed time diaries for two consecutive days, of whom five were also interviewed using the Occupational Performance History Interview II. The participants' time use was dominated by personal care and leisure occupations. In general, the participants were dissatisfied with their time use, describing themselves as ‘bored’ or ‘killing time’. Many perceived that the environment created barriers to their participation in valued occupations, yet some also found occupations that provided solace, challenge or a connection with the outside world. The findings indicate the importance of understanding individuals' unique occupational histories, interests and skills in order to create opportunities to engage them in relevant occupations that use personal resources, as part of forensic rehabilitation programmes, and the utility of the Occupational Performance History Interview II in this context. Further research exploring patient and staff perspectives on the challenges of occupational programming in forensic settings and the longitudinal impact of such programming on inpatients' occupational functioning, health and wellbeing is recommended.

Objective: To describe the characteristics of people under 60 years of age living in residential aged care in Victoria and to examine the occupational participation of younger residents in aged care facilities by measuring their social contact, participation in recreation and community access. Methods: A survey was sent to the Directors of Nursing at all 803 Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care registered aged care facilities in Victoria. Results: The survey had a 78% response rate and information was provided about the characteristics of 330 people under 60 years with high clinical needs residing in aged care facilities. This sample was extremely isolated from peers, with 44% receiving a visit from a friend less often than once per year. Sixteen per cent of residents participated in a recreation activity less than once per month and 21% went outside less than once per month. Of the sample, 34% almost never participated in any community-based activities such as shopping, leisure or visiting friends and family. Conclusion: Over one third of younger people in aged care are effectively excluded from life in our community. Most younger residents are socially isolated and have limited opportunities for recreation. Placement of younger people in aged care facilities is inappropriate, and alternative care models and settings are required.

People with very severe ABI have the potential to increase their level of independence in community-based accommodation settings; a potential that is not fostered in most aged care environments. The findings inform the outcome variables and environmental factors that should be measured in studies of transition from aged care to the community.

Adverse side effects of the medications used to treat the symptoms of psychoses often include sedation and decreased metabolism, leading to rapid weight gain (Wilson 2008). This weight gain can lead to problems with an individual's health, wellbeing and quality of life (World Health Organization [WHO] 2010) and ability to perform necessary daily occupations (Wilson 2010). This is especially problematic for individuals with mental illness in the criminal justice system. It can be difficult to address their rapid weight gain when they are incarcerated, because physical, legal and institutional barriers prevent them from accessing exercising opportunities that are available in the general community. Additionally, negative symptoms of mental illness, such as avolition, further make it difficult for these forensic mental health patients to be motivated to participate in physical activity (Wilson 2008). The challenge for occupational therapists is to find a better match between the person, environment and occupation (Townsend and Polatajko 2007) in this scenario, in order to assist forensic mental health patients to participate in exercise within a secure setting, to improve their health and wellbeing, and potentially to assist them to lose weight. Virtual reality technologies, and specifically the Nintendo Wii system, are being investigated for their potential use in rehabilitation to assist in meeting

Findings from this study help us to understand the relationship between use of time and social well-being, particularly the nature of time use of young offenders, and will help to inform occupational therapy practices with such groups.

Secondary health conditions can significantly impact occupational participation following SCI. Appropriate intervention, including customised equipment and direct support, if delivered as part of an effective NDIS, may prevent or reduce the severity of these conditions and offer the potential to influence health and participation outcomes of people who have returned to community living.

A primary assumption underlying occupational therapy intervention is that peoples’ use of time, or their participation in activities, is related to their overall well‐being and quality of life. However, the translation of this assumption into occupational therapy practice often is not only invisible, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain in current health care practices. This paper outlines current research and literature related to relationships between peoples’ time use, tempo and temporality, and their well‐being, and will discuss implications for occupational therapy theory, practice and research.