MMSL 2024, 93(2):176-187 | DOI: 10.31482/mmsl.2023.025

ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION TOOLS FOR THE ELDERLY IN TIMES OF RESTRICTED SOCIAL CONTACTSOriginal article

Irena Tušer ORCID...1*, Jana Pupíková ORCID...1, Eliška Polcarová ORCID...1, Rudolf Urban ORCID...1, Tomáš Zeman ORCID...1, Renata Havránková ORCID...2, Ludmila Čírtková ORCID...2, Tibor Brečka ORCID...2, Hana Kličková ORCID...2, Leoš Navrátil ORCID...2
1 Department of Security and Law, Ambis University, Lindnerova 1, 180 00 Praha, Czech Republic
2 Department of Health Care Disciplines and Population Protection Faculty of Biomedical Engineering Czech Technical University in Prague, Kladno, Czech Republic

Background and objective: Nursing homes are threatened by external and internal threats, effect of which may result in a crisis situation (state of emergency). While managing an already existing emergency, it is necessary to create conditions allowing the elderly to maintain their fundamental human and civil rights. Any interference with human and civil rights is acceptable only in a state of emergency when crisis measures are applied. Social isolation was one of the emergency measures within the Covid-19 pandemics and involuntary social isolation may result in one´s state of depression. To eliminate this prediction, it is necessary to create such conditions that enable the elderly to maintain their basic human needs as well as civil rights. The authors therefore aim to identify and evaluate the effectiveness of possible alternative communication tools and strategies in the nursing homes along with the ways of a potential reduction of negative effects of social contacts restrictions.

Methods: On the basis of an online questionnaire, a community of experts evaluated alternative communication tools on a scale from 1 to 5, considering three factors: 1. benefit for the elderly; 2. financial requirements for purchasing/provision for a nursing home; 3. organization requirements for a nursing home. A cost-benefit evaluation was performed to determine a ranking of individual alternative tools.

Results: The acquired results of questionnaire survey served as a tool to determine the ranking of importance of individual alternative communication tools that are feasible depending on specific conditions of a nursing home.

Conclusion: The research identified useful tools that may help in the nursing homes to mitigate the impacts resulting from restrictions applied in the state of emergency and associated initiatives in the field of mental health.

Keywords: Alternative communication tools; Nursing home; Mental health; Communication; Crisis measures; Crisis management; state of emergency; Restrictions; The elderly; Social isolation

Received: March 19, 2023; Revised: May 10, 2023; Accepted: May 12, 2023; Prepublished online: May 24, 2023; Published: June 3, 2024  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Tušer, I., Pupíková, J., Polcarová, E., Urban, R., Zeman, T., Havránková, R., ... Navrátil, L. (2024). ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION TOOLS FOR THE ELDERLY IN TIMES OF RESTRICTED SOCIAL CONTACTS. MMSL, 93(2), 176-187. doi: 10.31482/mmsl.2023.025
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. World Health Assembly, 69. The Global strategy and action plan on ageing and health 2016-2020: towards a world in which everyone can live a long and healthy life. World Health Organization. 2016. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/252783
    2. HelpAge International, Older People in Disasters and Humanitarian Crises: Guidelines for Best Practice, 2000. [accessed 22 February 2023]. Available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4124b9f44.html Go to original source...
    3. World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. In emergencies and crises, health comes first. WHO Strategic Objective 5: "To reduce the health consequences of emergencies, disasters, crises and conflicts, and minimize their social and economic impact". [accessed 22 February 2023]. Available at: https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/140670/CorpBrochure_emergencies_crises.pdf
    4. Jaarsveld GM. The Effects of COVID-19 Among the Elderly Population: A Case for Closing the Digital Divide. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2020;11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.577427 Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    5. Ahmed MZ, Ahmed O, Aibao Z, et al. Epidemic of COVID-19 in China and associated Psychological Problems. Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2020;51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102092 Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    6. Meda N, Pardini S, Slongo I, et al. COVID-19 and depressive symptoms in students before and during lockdown. MedRxiv [Preprint] 2020. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.27.20081695 Go to original source...
    7. Guerrero Z, Aliev AA, Kondrátová L, et al. Mental Health and Quality & Safety of Care in Czech Residential Institutions during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Study. Psychiatric Quarterly. 2021;(92),1393-1411. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-021-09912-z Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    8. Chambonniere C, Lambert C, Tardieu M, et al. Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior of Elderly Populations during Confinement: Results from the FRENCH COVID-19 ONAPS Survey, Experimental Aging Research. 2021;47(5):401-413. https://doi.org/10.1080/0361073X.2021.1908750 Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    9. Ekelund Ch, Dahlin-Ivanoff S, Eklund K. Self-determination and older people - A concept analysis, Scandinavian. Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2014;21:2,116-124. https://doi.org/10.3109/11038128.2013.853832 Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    10. Kaelen S, van den Boogaard W, Pellecchia U, et al. How to bring residents' psychosocial well-being to the heart of the fight against Covid-19 in Belgian nursing homes-A qualitative study. PLOS ONE. 2021;16(3). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249098 Go to original source...
    11. Hammar IO, Dahlin-Ivanoff S, Wilhelmson K, et al. Self-determination among community-dwelling older persons: explanatory factors, Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2016;23(3):198-206. https://doi.org/10.3109/11038128.2015.1126348 Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    12. Randall PS, Koppel PD, Docherty SL, et al. The Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Postsecondary Students: An Analysis of Self-Determination. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022;19(14):8545. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148545 Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    13. Bolcato M, Aurilio MT, Di Mizio G, et al. The Difficult Balance between Ensuring the Right of Nursing Home Residents to Communication and Their Safety. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021;18(5),2484. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052484 Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    14. Wammes JD, Kolk D, Van den Besselaar JH, et al. Evaluating Perspectives of Relatives of Nursing Home Residents on the Nursing Home Visiting Restrictions During the COVID-19 Crisis: A Dutch Cross-Sectional Survey Study. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 2020;21(12),1746-17503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2020.09.031 Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    15. Verbeek H, Gerritsen DL, Backhaus R, et al. Allowing Visitors Back in the Nursing Home During the COVID-19 Crisis: A Dutch National Study Into First Experiences and Impact on Well-Being. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 2020;21(7),900-904. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2020.06.020 Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    16. Noone Ch, McSharry J, Smalle M, et al. Video calls for reducing social isolation and loneliness in older people: a rapid review. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013632 Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    17. Koszalinski RS, Olmos B. Communication challenges in social isolation, subjective cognitive decline, and mental health status in older adults: A scoping review (2019-2021). Perspectives in psychiatric care. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.13115 Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    18. Sacco G, Lléonart S, Simon R, et al. Communication Technology Preferences of Hospitalized and Institutionalized Frail Older Adults During COVID-19 Confinement: Cross-Sectional Survey Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2020;8(9):e21845. https://doi.org/10.2196/21845 Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    19. Daly JR, Depp C, Graham SA, et al. Health Impacts of the Stay-at-Home Order on Community-Dwelling Older Adults and How Technologies May Help: Focus Group Study. JMIR Aging. 2021;4(1):e25779. https://doi.org/10.2196/25779 Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    20. Hockley Jo, Hafford-Letchfield T, Noone S, et al. COVID, Communication and Care Homes: A Staffs' Perspective of Supporting the Emotional Needs of Families. Journal of Long Term Care. 2021:167-176. https://doi.org/10.31389/jltc.74 Go to original source...
    21. Feder S, Smith D, Griffin H, et al. "Why Couldn't I Go in To See Him?" Bereaved Families' Perceptions of End-of-Life Communication During COVID-19. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2021;69(3):587-592. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.16993 Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    22. Simard J, Volicer L. Loneliness and Isolation in Long-term Care and the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2020;21(7):966-967. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2020.05.006 Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    23. Camberg L, Woods P, Ooi WL, et al. Evaluation of Simulated Presence: a personalized approach to enhance well-being in persons with Alzheimer's disease. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1999;47(4):446-452. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.1999.tb07237.x Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    24. Kavan Š. Selected social impacts and measures resulting from the Covid-19 epidemic in the Czech Republic on the specific example of the South Bohemian Region. Health and Social Care in the Community. 2021;29(5),224-231. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13272 Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    25. Project TL05000480 entitled "Improving the quality of life in homes for the elderly under crisis conditions" from the ETA programme of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic. Available at: https://www.isvavai.cz/cep?s=jednoduche-vyhledavani&ss=detail&n=0&h=TL05000480
    26. Home for the elderly: personal interview with the deputy director of the Home for the Elderly Mikuláškovo náměstí, p.o., on 17.2. 2022, Brno. In Czech Osobní rozhovor se zástupkyní ředitele Domova pro seniory Mikuláškovo náměstí, p. o. Brno, dne 17.2. 2022, Brno.
    27. Association of Social Service Providers of the Czech Republic: personal interview with the Vice President of the Association, on 15.4.2021, Hradec Králové. In Czech Asociace poskytovatelů sociálních služeb ČR: Osobní rozhovor s viceprezidentkou APSS ČR, dne 15.4.2021, Hradec Králové.
    28. Diakonie of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren: personal interview with the director of Diakonia, on 12.3.2021, Myslibořice. In Czech Diakonie Českobratrské církve Evangelické: Osobní rozhovor s ředitelkou Diakonie ČCE-středisko v Myslibořicích, dne 12.3.2021, Myslibořice.

    Return to the content