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Music therapy can help social workers deal with negative behaviors and symptoms of dementia in older adults without drugs or physical restraints, thereby improving the quality of care. This study tested the effectiveness of music therapy activities for improving agitated behavior in older adults with dementia living in long-term care institutions. The study was quasi-experimental. Eighty older adults were recruited from two nursing homes. A purposive sampling strategy was used to select subjects aged 65 years and above with dementia and agitated behavioral tendencies residing in nursing homes. The music therapy program comprised 90 minute sessions 3 times a week for two months. The program evaluation focused on one criterion: the agitated behavior of participants at the beginning and end of the music theory program, which was measured using a structured scale. Ultimately, the music therapy program showed promise for improving agitated behavior in older adults with dementia living in nursing homes. Incorporating music therapy activities into social work may help make long-term care more diverse and innovative.

Older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are at increased risk of progression to dementia. Whether it is feasible to engage this population in expressive arts therapy and yield effects on cognition and depression for older adults with MCI remained unclear. The aim of this study examined the effects of expressive arts therapy on the cognitive function and depression levels of older adults with MCI in day care centers in Taiwan. A quasi-experimental design was conducted in a sample of day care centers older adults with MCI. A total of 88 participants with MCI were assigned to the intervention or comparison group. The intervention groups participated in an expressive arts therapy for 12 weeks in addition to their daily activities. Data were collected at the baseline point and immediately after post-intervention. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine the effect of the intervention on the outcomes. At week 12, findings indicated that the intervention group had significant improvement in cognitive function and depression over time than the comparison group. These findings provide evidence for the feasibility and efficacy of expressive arts therapy intervention in older adults with MCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taiwanese community mental health facilities encounter opposition/resistance from residents, commonly known as "Not-In-My-Backyard" (NIMBYism). This study investigated NIMBYism during the establishment of such facilities and how they respond to such resistance. A qualitative study through semi-structured interviews was used to obtain purposively sampled data. Fifteen frontline healthcare professionals from community mental health facilities in Taiwan were interviewed individually, using an organizational analysis structure. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Two themes: "Reasons for Resident Resistance" and "Institutional Response Strategies", two categories, and 11 subcategories emerged. The findings demonstrated the following: (1) Reasons behind residents' resistance toward establishing community mental health facilities are diverse. (2) Communities lack understanding regarding people with mental disorders, leading to irrational beliefs. (3) Fear and negative perceptions toward people with mental disorders exist. (4) Strategies employed by the facilities include providing community services to foster amicable relationships, organizing community outreaches, training people with mental disorders within communities, nurturing neighborhood connections, establishing and sustaining friendships within communities, inviting residents to visit community mental health facilities or introducing the facilities to communities, and leveraging governmental support. The government should adopt regulations or laws to reduce discrimination, promote human rights, and legislate to demarcate the use of community land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological disorders have become more prevalent in the presence of modernization and societal changes. Community-based mental health is important in healthcare. Taiwan has passed the Mental Health Act, and county governments have established community-based mental healthcare centers. This study aimed to fill the research gap regarding the operational status of these centers. A qualitative study design using semi-structured interviews was used to obtain data from a purposive sample. Seventeen healthcare professionals who were front-line workers of a community-based mental healthcare center in Taiwan were interviewed individually. This study uses the organizational analysis structure as the research base. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The theme—"operational status and difficulties"—and two categories with twelve subcategories emerged. The findings demonstrate (1) unclear objectives and imprecisely defined roles, (2) incomplete services provided, an overly defined area, and ineffectiveness, (3) the central government lacking clear objectives and operational strategies, (4) the public being ignorant of mental diseases and the operation of the centers, and (5) the lack of local resources for mental and social welfare. The government should immediately form clear policies to improve community-based mental healthcare, clarify the structure and models, increase resources for the centers, and provide direct services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of life review therapy on the life satisfaction levels of older adults in day care centers in Taiwan. A quasi-experimental design was adopted. A total of 88 adults aged 65 and older were recruited from day care centers through convenience sampling and assigned to two groups based on their level of life satisfaction on Life Satisfaction Index A. The intervention groups participated in a life review therapy for eight weeks in addition to their daily activities. Data were collected at the baseline point and immediately after post-intervention. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine the effect of the intervention on the outcomes. At week eight, the intervention group showed a significantly higher level of life satisfaction than the comparison group. These findings suggest that life review programs may improve general life satisfaction among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the perceptions of wheelchair‐bound older adults with and without dementia toward the Wheelchair‐bound Senior Elastic Band exercise program, and to compare the differences of their perceptions to the program. Methods: A descriptive and comparative design was applied. Data were derived from the experimental groups of two cluster‐randomized controlled trials. A total of 133 participants from eight long‐term care facilities were recruited: dementia trial (four facilities, n = 73) and non‐dementia trial (four facilities, n = 60). All participants received the Wheelchair‐bound Senior Elastic Band exercises, which included three phases of warm‐up, aerobic motion and harmonic stretching, three times per week, 40 min per session for 6 months. The self‐rating survey using the criteria of simplicity, safety, appropriateness and helpfulness was applied to rate the program through face‐to‐face individual interviews at the end of the study. Results: Wheelchair‐bound older adults with or without dementia have positive perceptions of the Wheelchair‐bound Senior Elastic Band exercise program with regard to its simplicity, safety, appropriateness and helpfulness after 6 months of practice (mean scores ranged 8.75–9.59). No significant differences were found between groups on self‐rating of the program in most of the criteria. Conclusions: Older adults with dementia might be able to express their perceptions toward the exercise program through the self‐rating survey, as did the participants without dementia. The participants' perceptions provide direct feedback for modifying, improving and sustaining the long‐term implementation of the program. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 103–107. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore a comprehensive overview of digital technologies used for fall detection in older adults, categorizing the types, functions, and usability of these systems., Design: A scoping review was conducted to search across 5 databases [Embase, Medline (OVID), CINAHL, Coherence and IEEE Explore] from January 2013 to September 2023., Setting and Participants: Studies in older adults living in nursing homes, care homes, residential homes, respite care homes, and all skilled and ambulatory care facilities (without context restrictions)., Methods: This review followed the 6 methodological stages: (1) identification of research question; (2) identification of relevant studies; (3) study selection; (4) charting the data; (5) collating, summarizing, and reporting the results; and an optional stage, (6) consulting with stakeholders regarding findings to explore pivotal concepts in emerging technology usage in long-term care for falls detection among older people. Data were extracted and categorized based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines., Results: A total of 73 studies met the inclusion criteria. Four main categories of fall detection technologies were identified: motion and sensor technologies, imaging and visual systems, environmental sensors, and robotic and autonomous systems. Commonly used devices: wearable accelerometers, gyroscopes, infrared array sensors, and smart carpet pressure sensors. Data storage methods were wearable devices, cameras, and floor-mounted sensors. Communication technologies included Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS, and notification methods ranged from alarms and SMS to cloud communications. Various health care response teams, including caregivers, health care providers, and emergency services, were integral to the fall detection systems., Conclusions and Implications: Most studies primarily focus on fall detection; however, we recommend further clinical research to emphasize both fall detection and, more importantly, fall prevention (both primary and secondary). Investigating the effectiveness of fall prevention technologies in real-world settings will be crucial for enhancing the safety and quality of life of the aging population., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Community mental health is an important area of public health. This study initially elaborates from the perspective of community psychology the concept and basis of the practice of community mental health work, including the importance of prevention over treatment, of valuing personal advantages and capabilities, and of adopting an ecological perspective, a respect for diversity, empowerment, and scientific cooperation and integration. Subsequently, this paper reviews the history of the development of community mental health work in Taiwan and of the operations, developmental issues, and difficulties currently faced by community mental health centers. Finally, this paper addresses the future prospects for community mental health work in Taiwan in hopes that the government will attach greater importance to related policies and implementation plans, optimize the service and delivery systems of community mental health organizations, reinforce community mental health education, develop effective community mental health promotion strategies, provide accessible and continuous direct services, integrate community mental health resources, and support the families of mental health patients in order to consolidate and better promote community-based mental health work.