Home Residents Research Articles

The impact of socio-demographic factors on occupants’ thermal comfort and sensation: An integrated approach using statistical analysis and agent-based modeling

The thermal comfort and thermal sensation of occupants can significantly impact the overall performance of the building. However, very little is known about how occupants perceive or thermally respond to their building interior layouts or what factors affect their thermal comfort and sensation, particularly in low-income residential homes. Through a post-occupancy evaluation of 394 occupants from 190 households in Chittagong, Bangladesh, this study examines the socio-demographic factors (i.e., gender, age, and home ownership) that influence occupants' thermal comfort and sensation. The chi-square, Cramer's V, and Lambda tests were used to statistically analyze the impact of selected socio-demographic factors. The results showed that female occupants were significantly less satisfied than male occupants with their existing thermal environment. However, the study did not find any influence of age or home ownership on occupant thermal comfort. Furthermore, comprehensive agent-based modeling (ABM) was implemented to support the results of the statistical analysis of the influence of gender on occupants' thermal comfort levels. The ABM was designed based on the theory of planned behavior. As a simulation output, the ABM model stochastically estimated occupants' thermal comfort and sensation level in terms of the predicted mean vote. Similar to the statistical analyses, the results of the ABM also indicated better thermal comfort and thermal sensation for male occupants than for female occupants. The results of the study can serve as a guideline for better understanding the socio-demographic factors involved in the modeling or remodeling of occupant thermal comfort in developing economies.

6.P. Workshop: Responding to violence and abuse across the life-course

Abstract Much research on the mental health effects of violence focus on domestic violence as experienced in adulthood. The mental health impacts are often gauged using cross-sectional studies and focus on current associations between violence and health. This workshop presents a range of analyses - drawing on data from New Zealand, Germany and the UK - that address the ways in which violence and abuse manifest at different life stages, including in childhood, among working-age adults, and in later life. The presentations highlight differences across the life course, as well as commonalities. They provide evidence of the long-term, even life long, shadow that violence and abuse can cast over people's health, and provide evidence of the extensive costs for society. Health impacts are shown to be broad, not only anxiety and depression, but substance dependence, chronic physical health conditions, and related health risks such as obesity. This workshop comprises four presentations that each consider violence and abuse prevalent at a particular stage of life, and provide evidence to inform the sensitive tailoring of responses from and for families, schools, health and social services, workplace human resource employees, and care and residential homes. The format of the workshop comprises brief presentations, with a focus on extended audience discussions. We invite engagement from people from a range of disciplines interested in how different forms of violence and abuse present at different life stages, the impacts on health, and the ways in which society should respond. This workshop is submitted on behalf of the EUPHA Public Mental Health Section. Key messages • Violence occurs across the life course. While its prevalence and form often vary between life stages, at every stage it has major, long-term, and diverse implications for health. • Interventions need to be tailored to the life course and sensitive to changing context, including domestic, workplace, and care home environments.

Bisphenol and analogues in indoor dust from E-waste recycling sites, neighboring residential homes, and urban residential homes: Implications for human exposure

The compound 4-hydroxyphenyl 4-isoprooxyphenylsulfone (BPSIP) has recently emerged as a novel alternative to bisphenol A (BPA) and has been found in various paper products. However, there is limited information available regarding the identification of BPSIP as a novel contaminant in the e-waste dismantling area. In our research, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of 16 bisphenol analogues (BPs), including BPSIP, within indoor dust samples obtained from a representative e-waste recycling facility, neighboring rural communities, and control urban communities. Out of the 16 target BPs, ten were found in both e-waste and local household dust, while only six BPs were identified in the control urban household dust. Bisphenol A (BPA) remained the predominant compound, followed by bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol S (BPS), BPSIP and bisphenol AF (BPAF). The total concentrations of BPs in e-waste dust were notably higher compared to both local and urban household dust (p < 0.01), with BPA and BPF, in particular, exhibiting significantly elevated levels. Importantly, BPSIP was first identified in e-waste dust, and its concentration significantly exceeded that of the commonly used BPA alternative, BPAF, which justifiably merits increasing concern. Correlation analysis indicated that BPs were commonly used in the production of electronic products, and e-waste dismantling activities contributed significantly to their widespread emission. The daily intakes of BP through dust ingestion for these three population groups exceeded the recently established tolerable daily intake for BPA, especially among e-waste dismantling workers. This represents the first report indicating that e-waste recycling is causing substantial emissions of multiple bisphenol analogues, including a novel contaminant.

Exploring the Changing Experiences of Chaplains Employed in Care and Residential Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This article presents an exploration of the changing experiences of six chaplains employed by a large care provider (LCP) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews carried out over a ten-month period with six chaplains during the pandemic highlighted three key themes relating to their experiences in care homes during the crisis: (i) adapting work practices; (ii) mental health and well-being; (iii) giving and receiving support. In the context of a worldwide pandemic, this study highlights the issues experienced by chaplains in residential and aged care homes at the epicentre of COVID-19-related deaths in the United Kingdom.

EFFECTIVENESS OF THE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY INTERVENTION PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH-TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION CENTER (DOH-TRC)

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the Therapeutic Community Intervention Program operated by the Department of Health-Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DOH-TRC) in the Philippines. The research focused on four components of the program, namely the Residential, Outpatient, Aftercare, and Recovery Home programs. The study determined the areas of success and those requiring improvement to enhance the overall effectiveness of each program. Structured questionnaires and surveys were administered to two groups of respondents-program staff and patients-who had received the respective intervention programs. The survey questions were designed to evaluate the effectiveness of various aspects of the programs, such as treatment plan individualization, program implementation fidelity, program structure, family involvement, patient support systems, post-treatment monitoring, relapse prevention, and post-recovery support. The statistical analysis revealed significant insights into the effectiveness of each program. The Residential and Recovery Home programs received high mean scores, indicating that staff and patients perceived them as highly effective. However, the Outpatient and Aftercare programs demonstrated areas requiring attention and improvement. The Outpatient Program showed that family support, patient anxiety towards reintegration into the community, and the absence of a program for patient and family interaction were significant concerns. For the Aftercare Program, areas of concern included the lack of a structured patient monitoring system and financial support for staff assigned to monitor aftercare patients. The findings offered valuable insights into areas that needed enhancement to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Based on the data findings, a comprehensive action plan was developed to improve the effectiveness of the Therapeutic Community Intervention Program. The action plan involved specific key performance indicators, activities, budget allocations, timelines, personnel involvement, and continuous quality improvement efforts tailored to each program. The study provided information on the advantages and disadvantages of the Therapeutic Community Intervention Program implemented by DOH-TRC. By implementing the proposed action plan, the center can further improve the effectiveness of its Residential, Outpatient, Aftercare, and Recovery Home programs, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and contributing to the programs overall success in combating substance abuse and promoting lasting recovery. Continuous evaluation and improvement will be essential to ensure the program remains responsive to the evolving needs of its participants and consistently delivers high-quality care. KEYWORDS: Rehabilitation, Residential Program, Outpatient Program, Aftercare Program, Recovery Home Program

One-year dataset of hourly air quality parameters from 100 air purifiers used in China residential buildings

Household air purifiers have been widely used as an effective approach to improving indoor air quality. Air purifiers can automatically record indoor air quality parameters, providing valuable data resources for in-depth data-driven analysis. This work presents a one-year hourly indoor air quality dataset collected by household air purifiers in 100 residential homes in 18 provinces across 4 different climate zones in China. The data were collected from July 1, 2021, to July 1, 2022. The concentrations of formaldehyde, PM2.5, TVOC, temperature, relative humidity, on/off status and the airflow rate of air purifiers during operations were recorded hourly. The data were carefully screened with possibly missing values imputed using chained equation-based methods if any. The dataset provides a comprehensive and detailed picture of the indoor air quality in residential buildings, enabling evaluations on the cleaning effect of air purifiers, the impact of outdoor climate change on indoor air quality, and the future trends in indoor human behavior.

JAVA Memory Care program: Facilitating social and occupational engagement for older adults living with advanced dementia.

Residents in aged care homes often report lack of life purpose and meaning and limited opportunities to contribute to their community. The JAVA Memory Care program is designed to facilitate engagement for older adults with advanced dementia. This study explored whether JAVA Memory Care engaged such adults meaningfully, on social and occupational levels, within one Australian residential care home. A mixed method design guided this exploration. Trained staff facilitated six JAVA groups over 2 months. Three sources of data were utilised. Observational data (qualitative and quantitative) were obtained using a narratively enhanced Assessment Tool for Social and Occupational Engagement (ATOSE). The other two data sources were qualitative and analysed thematically: reflections by the lead JAVA facilitator and data generated by a research discussion group. The quantitative data comprised 564 ATOSE behaviour markers. Participants were categorised as being engaged in 93% of these markers. Two of the three qualitative themes focused on the collective and self-expressive nature of participant engagement. The third theme focused on practicalities such as time pressures, facilitator training, resident selection, and resource preparation. For residents, the groups provided a context for relating meaningfully to others. The JAVA program achieved a high level of engagement. However, it was a time intensive intervention and required a person-centred philosophy, appropriate staff training, organisational support, and a suitable quiet space. The program had positive benefits, but practical issues identified needed to be considered before implementation.

A Survey of Intergenerational Programs in Australian Residential Aged Care Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT People living in residential aged care homes in Australia often have limited opportunities for meaningful social engagement. The present study aimed to characterize the state of intergenerational programs in residential aged care within a nationwide Australian sample. A total of 572 valid survey responses were received. A large number of aged care homes had existing programs, but only 18.2% had active programs; 44.4% reported their programs as temporarily suspended, predominantly due to COVID-19. The most common activities included singing (67.8%), games (56.8%), reading (51.1%) and craft (41.5%). Mental health and wellbeing, opportunity to socialize, and connection with the community were considered as the main benefits. There is consensus on the benefits of well-placed programming and engagement. Several barriers and challenges to engagement exist, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Aged care homes need adequate information and support to increase their ability to offer intergenerational programs between residents and community members.

Wellbeing at home: a mediation analysis of residential satisfaction, comfort, and home attachment

AbstractIn the study of residential satisfaction in architectural design different physical comfort domains have received the most attention. But with this comfort-driven approach, residential satisfaction is reduced to a psychophysical relationship. Adding psychological substance to the design process, the paper argues that a distinction should be made between residential satisfaction and home attachment and that we need to consider home attachment as a mediator variable for comfort. The aim of the paper is to empirically assess whether the mediation, if it exists at all, is partial or complete. Distinguishing different forms of comfort, a set of alternative structural equation models are tested with data from a 14-nation population survey in Europe. The result of the model tests is that our wellbeing at home comes in two forms—satisfaction and attachment—and that there is partial as well as complete mediation of home attachment on satisfaction depending on the kind of comfort studied.

Systematic child abuse incidents in a children’s residential home in Hong Kong: regulatory and criminal law reform proposals

PurposeThe paper aims to recommend legal and regulatory reforms to better prevent child abuse in childcare institutions in Hong Kong.Design/methodology/approachA summary of investigation report and news reports are referred to in describing the abuse incidents which occurred in a children’s residential home. Routine Activity Theory (RAT) is used as the framework for identifying the causes. Local and overseas legislation, regulations, case law, and policies are analysed to provide recommendations for reforms.FindingsThere are systematic failures such as workload issues, inadequate supervision, and the absence of continuing professional development (CPD) that contributed to the incidents. The regulations governing the operation of childcare centres and criminal laws against child abuse are long overdue for an update in Hong Kong. On the institutional side, this paper recommends enacting regulations that mandate CPD, lower the staff-to-child ratio, and strengthen the Social Welfare Department’s (SWD) supervisory powers over childcare centres. From the criminal law perspective, it is recommended that “reasonable chastisement” be abolished as a defence of corporal punishment, and that there be new offences for failure to report suspected child abuse incidents and causing or allowing the death/serious harm of a child.Originality/valueThe child abuse incidents, occurring in a childcare institution, have drawn wide public concern. Reform is required to protect vulnerable children and regain public confidence.

Embodied Carbon in Australian Residential Houses: A Preliminary Study

Embodied carbon is a buzzword in the construction industry. Australia is committed to achieving Net Zero 2050 targets, and minimizing embodied carbon (EC) is inevitable. Owing to the population growth, there will be a significant demand for residential construction. Therefore, the material consumption in residential construction should be evaluated and proper strategies should be in place to minimize EC. The aim of this research is to undertake a preliminary study of EC in the Australian residential sector, with an emphasis on new residential home construction. This research presents a preliminary study on EC in residential buildings in Australia. Three case study residential buildings were used in this study. All three case studies are single -story residential units, with a gross floor area between 200 and 240 m2. One Click LCA software was used to calculate the EC. The EC of three case study residential homes is between 193 and 233 kgCO2e/m2. Based on the findings of this study, ‘other structures and materials’ contribute to a large amount of EC in residential construction. Concrete and aluminum are considered significant contributors to EC. Therefore, it is vital to either introduce low-EC material to replace aluminum windows or introduce various design options to minimize the use of aluminum in windows. There are various sustainable concretes available with low EC. It is essential to explore these low-EC concretes in residential homes as well. This research identifies the importance of adopting strategies to reduce the carbon impact from other sources, including concrete. It is also essential to consider the EC through transportation related to construction and promote locally sourced building materials in residential construction. Therefore, the results of this research indicate the necessity of reducing raw material consumption in Australian residential construction by implementing approaches such as a circular economy in order to circulate building materials throughout the construction supply chain and reduce raw material extraction.

Who cares? Tinkering with values in geriatric care by first-generation immigrant newcomers and established caregivers in a German residential home

A German residential home invited recently arrived refugees who were interested in working in geriatric care. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into how established caregivers and first-generation immigrant newcomers tinkered with values to enact care for people with dementia. This ethnographic study included 200 h of participant observations, 24 in-depth interviews, two focus-group interviews with six first-generation immigrants and six established staff members. The established caregivers and first-generation immigrant newcomers demonstrated a willingness and ability to tinker in situations when different values came into play. However, when the workload becomes too heavy, staff from both groups may experience feelings of powerless, indifferent and demotivation. Institutional constraints exert a negative influence on the interaction between established caregivers and first-generation immigrant newcomers and impact their enactment of care for geriatric residents with dementia. In such situations, it becomes crucial for staff to have a supportive supervisor who can help them cope with the daily stressors of their practice.

Implementing music therapy interventions in a dementia inpatient unit: reflections and practicalities.

There is a growing evidence base to suggest that music therapy is an effective clinical intervention for people with dementia, having positive effects on mood, emotion, communication and memory, and reducing agitation, anxiety and apathy. However, the evidence to support this is predominantly from community settings such as residential care homes or people's own homes. This article captures the authors' experiences and reflections regarding their implementation of a music therapy intervention in a dementia inpatient unit. It explores some of the considerations and learning points gained from their experience, including the practicalities around engaging individuals and staff, the use of space, the timing of sessions, available resources and the potential benefits for patients, family members and the unit as a whole. The authors' experiences suggest that the benefits of music therapy appear to be transferable to the dementia inpatient setting.

Response of organic aerosol to Delhi's pollution control measures over the period 2011–2018

Some of the world's highest air pollution episodes occur in Delhi, India and studies have shown particulate matter (PM) is the leading air pollutant to cause adverse health effects on Delhi's population. It is therefore vital to chart sources of PM over long time periods to effectively identify trends, particularly as multiple air quality mitigation measures have been implemented in Delhi over the past 10 years but remain unevaluated. An automated offline aerosol mass spectrometry (AMS) method has been developed which has enabled high-throughput analysis of PM filters. This novel offline-AMS method uses an organic solvent mix of acetone and water to deliver high extraction recoveries of organic aerosol (OA) (95.4 ± 8.3%). Positive matrix factorisation (PMF) source apportionment was performed on the OA fraction extracted from PM10 filter samples collected in Delhi in 2011, 2015 and 2018 to provide snapshots of the responses of OA to changes in sources in Delhi. The nine factors of OA resolved by PMF group into four primary source categories: traffic, cooking, coal-combustion and burning-related (solid fuel or open burning). Burning-related OA made the largest contribution during the winter and post-monsoon, when total OA concentrations were at their highest. Annual mean burning-related OA concentrations declined by 47% between 2015 and 2018, likely associated with the 2015 ban on open waste burning and controls and incentives to reduce crop-residue burning. Compositional analysis of OA factors shows municipal waste burning tracers still present in 2018, indicating further scope to reduce burning-related OA. The closure of the two coal power stations, along with initiatives to decrease coal use in industry, businesses, and residential homes, resulted in a significant decrease (87%) in coal-combustion OA. This corresponds to a 17% reduction in total OA, which shows the effectiveness of these measures in reducing PM10. Increases in traffic OA appear to have been offset by the introduction of the Bharat stage emissions standards for vehicles as the increases do not reflect the rapid increase in registered vehicles. However, daytime restrictions on heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) entering the city is linked to large increases in PM10 during the winter and post-monsoon, likely because the large influx of diesel-engine HGVs during the early mornings and evenings is timed with a particularly low planetary boundary layer height that enhances surface concentrations.

Investigating community-based care service factors delaying residential care home admission of community dwelling older adults and cost consequence.

To examine factors contributing to delaying care home admission; and compare the rates of care home admission and cost consequence between two government subsidised programmes, Veterans' Affairs Community Nursing (VCN) and Home Care Package (HCP). Our national, population-based retrospective cohort study and cost analysis used existing, de-identified veterans' claims databases (2010-19) and the Registry of Senior Australians Historical Cohort (2010-17), plus aggregate programme expenditure data. This involved 21,636 VCN clients (20,980 aged 65-100years), and an age- and sex-matched HCP cohort (N = 20,980). Service factors associated with lower risk of care home admission in the VCN cohort were periodic (versus continuous) service delivery (HR 0.27 [95%CI, 0.24-0.31] for ≤18months; HR 0.89 [95%CI, 0.84-0.95] for >18months), and majority care delivered by registered nurses (versus personal care workers) (HR 0.86 [95%CI, 0.75-0.99] for ≤18months; HR 0.91 [95%CI, 0.85-0.98] for >18months). In the matched cohorts, the time to care home admission for VCN clients (median 28months, IQR 14-42) was higher than for HCP clients (14, IQR 6-27). Within 5years of service access, 57.6% (95%CI, 56.9-58.4) of HCP clients and 26.6% (95%CI, 26.0-27.2) of VCN clients had care home admission. The estimated cost saving for VCN recipients compared to HCP recipients over 5years for relevant government providers was over A$1 billion. Compared to an HCP model, individuals receiving VCN services remained at home longer, with potentially significant cost savings. This new understanding suggests timely opportunity for many countries' efforts to enhance community-based care services.

Enhancing hurricane risk perception and mitigation behavior through customized virtual reality

Hurricanes are one of the most destructive natural disasters, and proper preparation and mitigation are essential to enhance resilience. However, homeowners may have inaccurate risk perceptions, resulting in inadequate mitigation decision-making. Virtual reality (VR) damage visualization has the potential to communicate hurricane risk effectively and improve disaster resilience. Previous studies utilizing VR for hurricanes have primarily focused on disaster response such as evacuation, and often presented generalized visualization consistent across all users. This study presents a methodology for offering individual users a customized tool to experience the impacts of hypothetical hurricane events on their residential structures and explore the effects of various building retrofit actions in customized 3D virtual environments. The methodology was tested with 25 participants. Participants experienced structural damage and utility disruptions caused by hurricanes in their own residential homes in a customized, immersive virtual environment. Participants’ pre- and post-VR risk perceptions, as well as their choices of mitigation actions were surveyed. The results indicate that customized VR was effective in enhancing risk awareness and that participants were able to reduce their structural damages in hypothetical hurricane events by adopting various mitigation measures after the customized VR experience. The outcomes suggest that customized visualization of potential damages in virtual environments can effectively help disaster preparation and mitigation.

Being Present and Meaningful Engagement for Aged Care Residents Living With Dementia: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Australian Care Worker's Experiences.

Meaningful engagement is essential for aged care residents living with dementia. Our knowledge pertaining to caring presence for residents living with dementia is limited. This study aims to understand care workers' experiences of providing care to residents, the challenges they face in being present with residents and support that enable them to be more present and provide person-centered care. A mixed-methods approach using surveys and semi-structured interviews with care workers from three Australian residential aged care homes was adopted. Surveys were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Open-ended survey responses and interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Twenty-six care workers completed surveys and a subset (n = 8) participated in interviews. Survey participants were largely positive about their role and reported that they loved caring for and making a difference in the lives of residents. Three themes emerged from interviews: (a) trust, connection, and the complexities of maintaining engagement; (b) time as gift and challenge; (c) organizational culture, structure and resources, and enabling carer presence. Care workers in our study expressed their desire to be present with residents and stated that enablers such as meaningfully engaging with residents was one of the most enjoyable aspects of their work. Barriers such as staff shortages, competing demands of the role, and time-related impediments to being present were reported. Addressing challenges to being present with residents living with dementia is key to help avoiding poor care practices and resident outcomes.

Job Satisfaction for Caregivers and Other Employees in Innovative Long-Term Care Homes for Residents With Cognitive Problems.

New housing models have emerged in Europe, Australia, the United States, and Canada. Intended for individuals with neurocognitive disorders, these models are characterized by a philosophy centered on the person, self-determination, liberty of choice, flexibility of care, acceptance of risk, and autonomy. Work and care are organized according to the pace and preferences of residents. The current multiple case study highlights the main sources of job satisfaction for caregivers and other employees in four innovative residential settings. Five themes are addressed as perceived by 58 employees: Work Motivation, Work Organization, Collaboration and Decision-Making Latitude, Quality of Work Life, and Continuing Education. These data will help inform clinical staff, policymakers, and the scientific community about clinical and organizational practices that contribute to job satisfaction in innovative residential settings. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 49(10), 36-43.].

Day Ahead Solar Generation Forecasting in Smart Grids to Minimize Electricity Bill

Abstract: In order to meet the increasing growth of energy demand, integration of renewable resources into residential applications appears to be a viable solution. In the proposed model,a residential house is considered where the consumer is able to generate his own energy from a microgrid consisting of solar panels and wind turbines. In this study, an optimization method is employed to minimize the overall electricity bill of a residential home over a periodof 24 hours. In smart grids, energy management is imperative in reducing the electricity cost of consumers under a real time pricing approach. Nowadays, learning-based modeling methods are utilized to build a precise forecast model for renewable power sources. In this paper, we propose a long short-term memory (LSTM) recurrent neural network-based framework, which is one of the most popular techniques of deep learning. This technique predicts day ahead solar irradiation and wind speed data. We also consider an energy storage system (ESS) for efficient energy utilization. Optimization is done and from the obtained results a substantial reduction in electricity bill is observed

Dementia as a material for co-creative art making: Towards feminist posthumanist caring

This article generates new understandings of dementia through feminist posthumanist and performative engagements with co-creative artmaking practices during a six-month study in a residential care home in Norway. Dementia emerges within multisensorial entanglements of more-than-human materials in three different artmaking sessions, which first materialized in the form of collective photographs and vignettes and culminated in a final exhibition, Gleaming Moments, in the care home. Drawing on these photographs, vignettes, and the author's engagement as a research artist in the sessions, this analysis examined how dementia was enacted as a spark of inspiration, felted warm seat pads, and a friendly more-than-human touch, that is, a touch of human and nonhuman art materials. These findings suggest new ontologies of dementia within multisensorial artmaking practices, in which dementia functions as a material for co-creative artmaking rather than a disease. These findings disrupt dominant biomedical ontologies of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, as well as humanist person-centered practices in dementia care, which have concretized an individual, rather than relational, focus on dementia. In contrast, this study explores dementia as a phenomenon within the entanglements of human and nonhuman intra-active agencies. By highlighting the significance of these agencies (i.e., sponge holder-painting, wool-felting, choir-singing, chick-making) for different worlds-making with dementia, this study provides an entry point for imagining feminist posthumanist caring. Thus, dementia becomes a matter in life that is not to be managed and defeated to achieve successful aging, but to be interrogated and embraced.