Social isolation is a common phenomenon among the elderly. Retirement, widowhood, and increased prevalence of chronic diseases in this age group lead to a decline in social relationships, which in turn has adverse consequences on health and well-being. The coronavirus COVID-19 crisis worsened this situation, raising interest for mobile telepresence robots (MTR) that would help create, maintain, and strengthen social relationships. MTR are tools equipped with a camera, monitor, microphone, and speaker, with a body on wheels that allows for remote-controlled and sometimes autonomous movement aiming to provide easy access to assistance and networking services. We conducted a narrative review of literature describing experimental studies of MTR involving elderly people over the last 20 years, including during the COVID-19 period. The aim of this review was to examine whether MTR use was beneficial for reducing loneliness and social isolation among older adults at home and in health and care institutions and to examine the current benefits and barriers to their use and implementation. We screened 1754 references and included 24 research papers focusing on the usability, acceptability, and effectiveness of MTR. News reports on MTR use during the COVID-19 period were also examined. A qualitative, multidimensional analysis methodology inspired by a health technology assessment model was used to identify facilitating and limiting factors and investigate if and how MTR could reduce social isolation in elderly people. Reviewed studies provide encouraging evidence that MTR have potential in this regard, as experiments report positive feedback on MTR design and core functionalities. However, our analysis also points to specific technical, ergonomic, and ethical challenges that remain to be solved, highlighting the need for further multidimensional research on the design and impact of MTR interventions for older adults and building on new insights gained during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study investigated cognitive function in relation to the use of a computer and a touchscreen device among older adults attending a memory clinic. The entire sample ( n = 323) was categorized into four profiles, according to the frequency of digital device use (either daily or non-daily usage). Results showed that on a daily basis, 26% of the sample used both a computer and a touchscreen device, 26.9% used only a computer, 7.1% used only a touchscreen device, and 39.9% used neither type of digital device. There were significant group differences on age, education, and clinical diagnosis ( p < .001). Non-daily users of digital devices had significantly lower performance, compared with daily users of both types of digital device, on measures of global cognitive function, processing speed, short-term memory, and several components of executive function ( p < .001). Falling behind with regard to the use of digital devices might reflect underlying poor cognitive capacities.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore whether a computerized cognitive stimulation program (CCS) induced differential effects in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) according to the severity of white matter hyperintensities (WMH), which are associated with cognitive impairment and increased risk of progression to Alzheimer’s disease because of the damage they cause to cortical and subcortical networks.Patients and methodsTwenty-nine MCI patients with no or little WMH (MCI-non-WMH) and 22 MCI patients with moderate or severe WMH (MCI-WMH) attended a 24-session CCS program (two sessions per week for a duration of 3 months) focused on executive functions, attention, and processing speed. Cognitive and psychosocial assessments were performed at baseline, postintervention, and 3 months after the intervention.ResultsBoth groups improved on several cognitive measures after the intervention. However, the MCI-non-WMH group improved on a higher number of cognitive measures than the MCI-WMH group. At postintervention assessment, CCS had a more beneficial effect on the MCI-non-WMH group than on the MCI-WMH group with regard to improving categorical fluency (4.6±6.8 vs 0.4±6.4; effect size=0.37; p=0.002). During the 3-month follow-up assessment, significantly higher score improvements were observed in the MCI-non-WMH group for the paired-associate learning test (6.4±3 vs 4.7±3.5 points; effect size=0.43; p=0.005) as well as categorical fluency (3.8±7.8 vs −0.7±6 points; effect size=0.55; p=0.0003).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that WMH severity was related to cognitive improvement induced by a CCS program and highlight the importance of considering WMH in interventional studies on subjects with MCI.

Mae'r papur hwn yn amlinellu datblygiad un rhaglen AGA integredig sy'n arwain at ddau lwybr SAC: Tystysgrif Addysg i Raddedigion Cynradd gyda Chyfoethogi Uwchradd; a Thystysgrif Addysg i Raddedigion Uwchradd gyda Chyfoethogi Cynradd. Mae rhaglen AGA integredig Dysgu Aber+ yn galluogi athrawon i 'addysgu y tu hwnt i'r ffiniau ar gyfer profiad cyfannol'. Mae'r papur yn adolygu fframwaith cysyniadol y rhaglen a'i hathroniaeth ddysgu ac wrth wneud hynny mae'n ystyried yr egwyddorion craidd a ddylanwadodd ar gynllun y rhaglen, fel a ganlyn: Partneriaeth Gynhwysol; Addysgeg Effeithiol; Addysgeg Integredig; Addysgeg Arbenigol ac wedi'i Chyfoethogi; Addysgeg a Rennir ac Adfyfyriol; Diwylliant Ymchwil Gwirioneddol Gydweithredol, Atebolrwydd Democrataidd ac wyth egwyddor yr Athroniaeth Ddysgu. Mae'r papur yn mynd ymlaen i esbonio sut mae'r rhaglen integredig yn cael ei chyflwyno drwy gyfrwng dull hwb clwstwr ar draws 5 rhanbarth hwb yng Nghanolbarth Cymru. Wrth wneud hyn, mae'n amlinellu rôl staff y Brifysgol a Phrif fentoriaid a mentoriaid Ysgolion Partner yn ogystal ag isafswm y gofynion ar gyfer athrawon dan hyfforddiant tra'u bod ar brofiad yn yr ysgol. Mae ystyriaeth hefyd yn cael ei rhoi i ddarpariaeth a chefnogaeth cyfrwng Cymraeg yn ogystal â rôl ganolog ymchwil o fewn y Bartneriaeth AGA gyfan. Mae'r papur yn cloi drwy ystyried beth sy'n arloesol am y rhaglen a'r manteision sy'n dod i'r athrawon dan hyfforddiant wrth ddilyn y rhaglen.

This paper outlines the development of one integrated ITE programme that leads to two QTS pathways: Primary Post-Graduate Certificate in Education with Secondary Enrichment; and Secondary Post-Graduate Certificate in Education with Primary Enrichment. The integrated ITE programme AberTeach + enables student teachers to 'Teach beyond boundaries for an all-through experience'. This paper reviews the programme's conceptual framework and learning philosophy and in so doing, considers the core principles that influenced the design of the programme, as follows: Inclusive Partnership; Effective Pedagogy; Integrated Pedagogy; Specialised and Enriched Pedagogy; Shared and Reflective Pedagogy; Truly Collaborative Research Culture, Democratic Accountability and the eight principles of the Learning Philosophy. The paper proceeds to explain how the integrated programme is delivered via a cluster hub approach across 5 hub regions in Mid-Wales. In doing so, it outlines the role of the University staff and Lead and Partner school mentors as well as the minimum expectations for student teachers whilst on school experience. Consideration is also given to Welsh-medium provision and support as well as the centrality of research within the ITE Partnership as a whole. The paper closes by considering what is innovative about the programme and the benefits that student teachers gain from undertaking the programme.

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