This issue of the Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy focuses on the theme of health-related aspects in later life, starting off with a systematic review of the possible role of leisure activities in preventing later-life cognitive decline. Fifty-two publications, published between 2001 and 2011, were included. The findings supported the fact that leisure activities might significantly contribute to prevention of dementia, even if little consensus was found. This might be due to the identified limitations such as lack of theoretical underpinnings and standardization in the measured key variables. Overcoming the hindrances to progress within this area demands that health care professionals use and make evidence-based recommendations to promote and prevent cognitive decline in later life.
Exercising self-determination in daily activities is acknowledged to affect older people’s health and well-being. A cross-sectional study of 456 older people aged 80 or older revealed five explanatory factors that were significantly associated with perceived reduced self-determination: high education, frailty, poor self-rated health, dissatisfaction with physical health, and receiving help from a public homecare service. This calls for health care professional to consider using a person-centred and capability approach to care.
The effects of a four-month occupational based health-promotion programme for older persons living in community dwellings were investigated in a mixed design study. It was found that the intervention group showed statistically significant improvements in general health variables such as vitality and mental health, and positive trends for psychological well-being. In conclusion, participation in meaningful, challenging activities in different environments was found to stimulate the older persons’ occupational adaptation process and is recommended as a means to empower older persons to find their optimal occupational lives.
Strategies used by older adult care partner dyads to support and maintain participation in the community was studied in an ethnographic case study of three care partner dyads. The study included in-depth interviews, participant observation, and photographs. Three strategies were identified in collaboration with care partners: acting in accordance with the values of the relationship; finding and using available assistive technology; and relying on social networks. For occupational therapists working with care partner dyads it is recommended to consider historical routines, social connectedness, and needs of the care partnership in addition to functional abilities of the care recipient when addressing community mobility.
An instrument for measuring performance of activities of daily living tasks in persons with suspected cognitive impairment was developed and psychometrically tested by five expert panels using a Content Validity Index. It was further tested in a pilot study of 49 patient and 49 relatives from primary care or a specialist memory clinic. Content validity was found to be good with a CVI index of 0.83. All patients considered the included activities to be relevant and reflecting difficulties experienced, and most relatives thought the activities to be adequate and capturing the patients’ difficulties in daily life. Notable is that in general the relatives reported that patients had more difficulties performing the activities than the patients reported themselves.
Last but not least in this issue is a short communication concerning occupational science as an important contributor to occupational therapists’ clinical reasoning.