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As the older adult population rise globally, technologies to monitoring activities of daily living (ADL) may have a role in supporting aging in place for older adults. The objective of this systematic literature review was to study the scope, diversity and readiness of technologies developed to monitor ADL in older adults. We systematically searched two scientific databases (CINAHL and IEEE), following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We included studies on technologies used to monitor older adults' ADL in the home but excluded studies focused on communication technologies (phone calls, text messages) or monitoring postures alone. The JBI checklist for case series was used for quality assessment. Extracted details included population characteristics, ADL assessment outcomes, types of monitoring technology, and technology readiness and usability. The search found 147 papers, with 16 papers included in the final analysis. The literature described 48 types of technologies. Of moderate quality studies, five studies used wearables at technology readiness level 4–6 to monitor basic ADL (walking, transfers and walking up stairs) and one used ambient sensors to detect urinary incontinence. Monitoring technologies remain at development stages. More research is needed to strengthen technologies that monitor activities of daily living. Monitoring activities of daily living at home remains focused on using wearables to assess in-home functional mobility to support rehabilitation. Technologies remain a 4–6 readiness level and there is a lack of evidence to recommend in-home monitoring technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Motor and sensory challenges are commonly reported among autistic individuals and have been linked to challenges with daily living skills (DLS). To best inform clinical intervention, greater specificity in how sensory and motor challenges relate to DLS is needed. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between combined sensory and motor scores and DLS performance among autistic and nonautistic children and to explore associations between motor scores and performance on specific DLS items. Design: Descriptive design. Setting: University research lab. Participants: Autistic children, nonautistic children with no family history of or diagnosis related to autism, and nonautistic children with a family history of or diagnosis related to autism (ages 6–10 yr; N = 101). All participants communicated verbally. Intervention: None. Outcomes and Measures: Parent-report measures of DLS and sensory features and standardized assessments of motor performance. Results: Findings indicated a strong relationship between motor difficulties and all domains of DLS. At the item level, motor skills were associated with occupations of dressing, bathing, health management, cleaning up and organization, meal preparation and clean-up, education, and safety. Combined sensory and motor measures better predicted DLS than sensory or motor measures alone. Conclusions and Relevance: Children with motor and sensory challenges are likely to experience challenges with a diversity of occupations, which is important given the prevalence of motor and sensory challenges among autistic children and among children with other neurodevelopmental conditions. Therapeutic interventions that account for or address these motor challenges and associated sensory features are likely to further enhance DLS. What This Article Adds: A combination of motor challenges and sensory features better predict DLS than either motor or sensory challenges alone. In addition, motor challenges in children are most highly associated with DLS challenges in the domains of dressing, bathing, cleaning, education, safety, health, and meal preparation. Occupational therapists can use this information when considering how the results of sensory and motor assessment may guide clinical intervention in autistic and nonautistic children. This article shows that a combination of motor challenges and sensory features better predict daily living skills than either motor or sensory challenges alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this study, the effects of ohmic cooking (OH) and water bath cooking (WB) on the reduction of Escherichia coli O157:H7 inoculated in pork batter with addition of sodium chloride (NaCl) were studied, and the recovery and growth of OH and WB treated E. coli O157:H7 were also investigated during storage. The time for samples cooked by OH to reach the targeted endpoint temperature (61, 65, and 72 °C) was shorter than that of WB, and the addition of NaCl dramatically shortened the cooking time of OH treated samples, however, no significant effect was observed by WB. Samples with NaCl and cooked by OH had lower cooking loss than that of WB, but the inactivation effect of E. coli O157:H7 by OH was comparable to WB. During storage, the recovery and growth of sublethally injured E. coli O157:H7 were slower at 4 °C, and storage at 4 °C for 24 h delayed their recovery at 37 °C from 36 h to 48 h. These results indicated that OH had greater potential in the application of meat batter processing. • The addition of NaCl led to higher cooking yield of pork batter. • The addition of NaCl shortened the cooking time of pork batter by OH. • The addition of 2% NaCl enhanced the inactivation of E. coli O157:H7 by OH. • 4 °C for 24 h delayed the recovery of E. coli O157:H7 following storage at 37 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2009, groundwater contamination was discovered in a west Wichita neighborhood; the contamination was later attributed to the disposal of tetrachloroethylene (also called PERC or PCE) from dry cleaning facilities. Although the dry cleaning businesses were in operation for approximately 50 years, the extent of resident exposure to the contamination is unknown. Many residents in the affected area relied on nonpublic water wells for drinking, cooking, bathing, and irrigation. The residents were not aware that their wells had become contaminated by PERC at levels exceeding the Safe Drinking Water Act standard of 5 ppb. In 2014, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment connected these homes to the City of Wichita's public water system. In 2015, our team conducted focus groups with area residents to address any lingering needs and concerns. Participants reported general satisfaction with their homes' connectivity to city water. Participants reported poor communication, however, regarding the initial notifi cation about the groundwater contamination in their neighborhood; most were notifi ed through the media. This communication failure continued after their homes were connected to Wichita's public water supply. Participants shared many potential health concerns and requested that a health study be conducted of their neighborhood. Needs and concerns are ongoing among focus group participants, most of which could be addressed through regular communication with affected residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE. Homelessness prematurely ages people. A large subgroup of formerly homeless adults between ages 40 and 64 yr have health conditions similar to or worse than people categorized as elderly. Little is known about the impact of this group's chronic health conditions on their ability to safely function in supportive housing. METHOD. Home safety visits were carried out with 25 formerly homeless adults, ages 40-64 yr, now residing in supportive housing. RESULTS. Participants had physical, cognitive, and mental health problems that significantly interfered with their ability to perform daily life skills, safely function in an apartment, and manage chronic health conditions. Home safety hazards included cluttered walking paths, the presence of steps, and the lack of grab bars and nonskid flooring. CONCLUSION. The homeless population would benefit from aging specialists, such as occupational therapists, who could help people to maintain and function more safely in their homes. Without such services, this population may be at risk for home safety events leading to hospitalization and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]