Multispecies Occupations Involving Equines: An Action-Oriented Inquiry to Inform Occupational Therapy Practitioners.

Research related to human-animal engagement often fails to address the complexity and nuance present in occupations and occupational therapy services that incorporate animals. The goal of this research was to develop a basic understanding of multispecies occupations (MSO) involving humans and equines, focusing on the action-oriented processes and transactions during socialization in outdoor, non-therapeutic contexts. We employed a multi-modal qualitative design with interviews and videography with n = 6 horse-human dyads, creating opportunities to understand and represent engagement beyond anthropocentric norms. Findings included a variety of dyad-specific features of occupation, including processes of embodied communication, the presence of behavioral synchrony, and perceptions of attunement arising from these processes. Examining MSO via a multi-modal inquiry offers new perspectives about the nature and experience of such occupations and supports a deeper understanding of potential mechanisms of change when animals are incorporated in occupational therapy interventions and practice.

"You Know, I Swipe My Card and Hope for the Best": Technology and Cognition as Dual Landscapes of Change.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or objective and subjective cognitive decline, affects an estimated 15%-20% of individuals over the age of 65 . People with MCI generally live in community settings but may be at risk for functional changes in out-of-home participation, particularly when their instrumental activities are cognitively demanding or complex. Technology is part of the interface in complex person-place relationships. The purpose of this study is to examine the nature of everyday technology use in the context of out-of-home participation for community-dwelling older adults with MCI. Community-dwelling older adults with MCI (MoCA <26, >17; (n = 10)) were recruited for data collection using a Go-along method (naturalistic observation, semi-structured interviews, and photography) for multiple out-of-home activities. Findings from this project suggested that participants felt that technology, like their cognition, was out of their control and difficult to predict or change. Four ways the participants experienced the "technology landscape" in their daily lives included: enabling being present, facilitating participation, impeding goals, and constricting options. We present a model of the intersection of cognition, participation, and technology in daily life, and discuss ways that technology can most effectively be used to extend well-being for a population aging in place.

Fidelity and utility of GPS loggers as a tool for understanding community participation of older adults.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research was to examine the fidelity and utility of global positioning system (GPS) technology for studying community mobility indicators, and to explore implications for community participation for older adults. METHOD: A longitudinal cohort design with community-dwelling older adults (n = 33) was employed. GPS spatial data and activity logs were collected at baseline and one year later. Data were analysed to evaluate the fidelity of the GPS protocol, the nature and frequency of destinations, and the stability of community mobility over time. RESULTS: Findings include evidence for high reliability of the GPS loggers to record out-of-home trips when compared to activity logs; utility of the technology for identifying frequency and type of occupational destinations; and the relative stability of two community mobility variables over time. GPS loggers generate key insights into how older adults move in and through their community as they engage in a range of occupations. CONCLUSION: GPS technology is a robust and useful tool for gathering novel information, especially when combined with qualitative data. GPS loggers may be incorporated in evaluation or to tailor interventions. Community mobility enables social participation, and warrants further research using these methods to support processes of aging in place.

"We need more things for us": Being low income and underoccupied in older age.

BACKGROUND.: Low-income older adult populations have increased vulnerability to occupational engagement barriers and poor health outcomes while aging in community settings. PURPOSE.: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between community navigation and well-being for low-income older adults. METHOD.: Community-dwelling older adults (N = 10) were recruited for this multimethod observational cohort study, which employed GPS data, measures of well-being, and semistructured interviews across 12 months. Grounded theory processes were followed to analyze and integrate the qualitative, quantitative, and spatial data. FINDINGS.: Findings were three patterns of community navigation. In particular, patterns of being chronically underoccupied were noted for this low-income population. Specific place-based challenges are explained along with strategies used to mitigate these challenges. IMPLICATIONS.: Supporting community navigation, especially social interaction opportunities, can maximize well-being; and older residents' occupational participation may be unnecessarily curtailed by geographic, economic, and social factors beyond their control. Community navigation strategies should be considered holistically by occupational therapists as part of interventions supporting aging in place.

Geospatial Mapping of Late-Life Couplehood: Dimensions of Joint Participation.

For older adults aging in place, community mobility affects a constellation of interconnected occupations and can become a problematic aspect of the person-place relationship. The purpose of this research was to examine an older couple's mutually negotiated change in their community mobility and navigation patterns. Spatial data (using global positioning system [GPS] trackers), maps, activity logs, interviews, and well-being measures were collected longitudinally for both members of a long-married community-dwelling couple. Analyses showed changing patterns of occupational engagement and declining navigation and function over time, as well as three dimensions of joint navigation (intersection of health and abilities, perpetuation of long-term roles through participation, and an orientation toward future potentialities). Findings suggest that joint community navigation is multidimensional and may buffer individual functional losses as well as maximize perception of and performance in meaningful activities. This study also demonstrates the utility of mapping methods to better understand occupation for community-dwelling populations.

Processes of developing 'community livability' in older age.

OBJECTIVE: 'Community livability' is a widely used term that is still under-conceptualized. The purpose of the project was to theorize key dynamics of livability for older adults who are aging in place in their homes and communities. METHODS: Twelve community-dwelling adults (70+) were recruited in a multiple-case study design. Interviews and naturalistic observations were used over the course of 6months. Global positioning system (GPS) devices were used to generate maps (routines, routes, type and duration of activities) to elicit additional insights through interviews. We used grounded theory analysis. RESULTS: For older adults, livability is not experienced as the presence of amenities, but rather involves active and ongoing negotiation of physical and social dimensions of their communities. We identify three core processes of livability including enacting an ideology of aging, building social infrastructure, and negotiating daily participation. These three processes unfolded in varied ways, yet closely shaped-and were shaped by-the older adults' participation in their necessary and chosen daily activities. DISCUSSION: Community livability is a process that varies considerably from the current conceptualizations. Understanding and expanding livability considerations will have positive implications for older adults' well-being while aging in community settings.