Using informatics to capture older adults’ wellness

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this paper is to demonstrate how informatics applications can support the assessment and visualization of older adults’ wellness. A theoretical framework is presented that informs the design of a technology enhanced screening platform for wellness. We highlight an ongoing pilot demonstration in an assisted living facility where a community room has been converted into a living laboratory for the use of diverse technologies (including a telehealth component to capture vital signs and customized questionnaires, a gait analysis component and cognitive assessment software) to assess the multiple aspects of wellness of older adults. Methods A demonstration project was introduced in an independent retirement community to validate our theoretical framework of informatics and wellness assessment for older adults. Subjects are being recruited to attend a community room and engage in the use of diverse technologies to assess cognitive performance, physiological and gait variables as well as psychometrics pertaining to social and spiritual components of wellness for a period of eight weeks. Data are integrated from various sources into one study database and different visualization approaches are pursued to efficiently display potential correlations between different parameters and capture overall trends of wellness. Results Preliminary findings indicate that older adults are willing to participate in technology-enhanced interventions and embrace different information technology applications given appropriate and customized training and hardware and software features that address potential functional limitations and inexperience with computers. Conclusion Informatics can advance health care for older adults and support a holistic assessment of older adults’ wellness. The described framework can support decision making, link formal and informal caregiving networks and identify early trends and patterns that if addressed could reduce adverse health events.

An Evaluation of Wellness Assessment Visualizations for Older Adults

“…We created hand sketches of several ideas for each concept and conducted an evaluation session with researchers in gerontological care. Based on our initial sketches, the researchers' feedback, and preferences expressed by community-dwelling older adults in earlier sessions, 18,19 we created four design goals for guiding our preliminary data visualization wireframes:…”

A Holistic Approach to Assess Older Adults' Wellness Using e-Health Technologies

“…In the course of the study 7 participants discontinued participation before completion. Reasons for attrition varied and included death of spouse (1), illness/ hospitalization (2), and other time commitments (3). The issue of attrition due to illness/hospitalization introduces the problem of missing data not at random which must be carefully addressed in future studies to avoid bias.…”

“…1 Hoyman further explored the multidimensional nature of wellness by emphasizing that the person needs to be examined in their everyday milieu and suggested that four dimensions are addressed: (1) physical well-being/ fitness; (2) mental and cognitive health; (3) social well-being; and (4) spiritual well-being. 2 (For full discussion, please see Demiris et al 3 )…”

Using Partial Least Squares (PLS) in Predicting Behavioral Intention for Telehealth Use among Filipino Elderly

“…In such case, constructive integration of information and communication technologies (ICT) like Telehealth to public health informatics (PHI) is seen as an effective and favorable solution to the most pressing healthcare issues and demands of health promotion among the elderly. Telehealth systems hold the premise of helping older adults to live an independent life (Pountney, 2009;Milligan, Roberts, & Mort, 2011); empower patients; and promote selfmanagement (Suter, Suter, & Johnston, 2011) across geographical distance (Demiris et al, 2013;Sorrells-Jones, Tschirch, & Liong, 2006). Moreover, the increasing healthcare cost associated with aging creates diverse market opportunities for Telehealth (DelliFraine, & Dansky, 2008).…”