Vanina Dal Bello-Haas

McMaster University | McMaster · School of Rehabilitation Science

The importance of the outdoors for supporting well-being is recognized, but less is known about the role of the outdoors in supporting people living with dementia. The aim of this study was to examine three stakeholder groups’ understandings about outdoor-based support and care for people living with dementia to help understand what might be done t...

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) and exercise (EX) participation rates have not been increasing among older adults, with many not meeting recommended guidelines. This qualitative descriptive study examined factors influencing engagement in PA within and outside an older adult fitness club context, using self-determination theory (SDT). Methods:...

Introduction Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions in Canada. Despite the established benefits of non‐pharmacological management (education, exercise) for people with OA, many do not receive treatment, resulting in pain, decreased physical function, and poorer quality of life. Virtual programme options grew significant...

The objective of this study was to translate the Preference-Based Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Scale to French-Canadian. After the scale underwent forward and back translations, the expert committee examined the translated versions and found minor grammatical errors and suggested idioms to be changed to better represent French-Canadian language. C...

Purpose To evaluate the education needs of Canadian physiotherapists in working with people living with dementia. Method An online survey (English and French) was completed by physiotherapists registered to practice in Canada. Data collection included demographics, training in dementia, Confidence in Dementia Scale (CiD), Dementia Knowledge Assess...

Introduction Chronic disease management programs (CDMP) that include education and exercise enhance outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Remote CDMP have the potential to provide convenient, cost-effective, and accessible options for individuals, but it is unclear how to best implement programs that include education and exercise. This review iden...

Introduction Shortened hospital stays have shifted the burden of care for older adults to community, informal (ie, family, caregiver) and formal post-acute care and services, highlighting the need for effective post-hospital stay services and programs. As there is a dearth of information related to community-based, slow-stream rehabilitation progra...

Background Long-term care (LTC) settings are becoming home to an increasing number of people living with advanced or late-stage dementia. Residents living with advanced dementia represent some of society’s most vulnerable and socially excluded populations and are thus at an increased risk of social isolation. A multisensory intervention tailored to...

Aims To explore the lived experiences of caregivers of people living in long‐term care (LTC) homes during the initial phases of the COVID‐19 pandemic and potential supports and resources needed to improve caregivers' quality of life. Background Carers (or care partners) of adults in LTC contribute substantially to the health and well‐being of thei...

The purpose of this study was to examine the perspectives of support staff, health care professionals, and care coordinators working in or referring to a community-based, slow-stream rehabilitation, hospital-to-home transition program regarding gaps in services, and barriers and facilitators related to implementation and functioning of the program....

Objective: The self-administered version of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) is used to monitor function and disease progression in individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). However, the performance of the self-administered ALSFRS-R has not been assessed using Rasch Measurement Theory. Theref...

Background: Carers (or care partners) of adults in LTC contribute substantially to the health and well-being of their loved ones by providing physical care, emotional support, and companionship. Despite their critical role, little is known about how caregivers have been impacted by the pandemic. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived ex...

Objectives: This mixed-methods systematic review determined the impact of dance interventions on symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) among persons living in residential care. Methods: Seven databases (Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Ageline, and AMED) were searched. Studies published before June 2022 t...

Purpose: To prioritize and achieve consensus on mobility determinant factors [cognitive, financial, environmental, personal, physical, psychological, social] considered critical to include in the COmprehensive Mobility Discharge Assessment Framework (COMDAF) for older adults transitioning from hospital-to-home. Materials and methods: We conducte...

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and effects of the Namaste Care intervention for persons with advanced dementia (ie, moderate and late-stage) in long-term care (LTC) and their family carers. Design: A pre-posttest study design. Staff carers delivered Namaste Care for residents with the support of volunteers in a small group setting. Activ...

Background Residential long-term care settings are becoming home to an increasing number of people living with advanced or late-stage dementia. Residents living with advanced dementia represent some of society’s most vulnerable and socially excluded population and are thus at an increased risk of social isolation. A multisensory intervention tailor...

Objective: To synthesize available evidence of factors comprising the personal, financial, and environmental mobility determinants and their association with older adults' self-reported and performance-based mobility outcomes. Data sources: PubMed, EMBASE, PsychINFO, Web of Science, AgeLine, Sociological Abstract, Allied and Complementary Medici...

Background and Objectives Strategies to manage the COVID-19 pandemic included widespread use of physical distancing measures. These well intended strategies adversely affected long-term care (LTC) residents’ socialization and their caregiving arrangements, leading to exacerbation of social isolation and emotional distress for both residents and the...

Objective To synthesise the available evidence on physical factors, such as muscle strength and power, body mass index and their association with older adults’ self-reported and performance-based mobility outcomes. Method This review followed the Askey and O'Malley framework. We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, PsychINFO, Web of Science, Ag...

Objective(s) The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic started in March 2020, caused over 6 million coronavirus disease (COVID-19) related deaths worldwide (1, 2). Access to and delivery of rehabilitation care were severely disrupted, and patients have faced several challenges during the COVID-19 outbreak (3). These...

Background Mobility deficits have been identified as an independent risk factor for hospital readmission for adults ≥65 years. Despite evidence indicating how determinants additively influence and predict mobility, no hospital-to-home care transition models comprehensively assess all seven mobility determinants, cognitive, financial, environmental,...

Participatory research approaches have developed in response to the growing emphasis on translation of research evidence into practice. However, there are few published examples of stakeholder engagement strategies, and little guidance specific to larger ongoing research programs or those with a rural focus. This paper describes the evolution, stru...

This prospective cohort study described cardiovascular and resistance exercises completed by older adults in a community-based, slow-stream rehabilitation, hospital-to-home transition program; compared exercises completed to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) exercise guidelines; and, assessed differences in Late Life Function and Disab...

Although many factors have been associated with mobility among older adults, there is paucity of research that explores the complexity of factors that influence mobility. This review aims to synthesise the available evidence for factors comprising the cognitive, psychological, and social mobility determinants and their associations with mobility se...

Purpose The World Health Organization (WHO) declared severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) a pandemic in March 2020, causing almost 3.5 million coronavirus disease (COVID-19) related deaths worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed a significant burden on healthcare systems, economies, and social systems in many countries...

Objective: The aim of this study was to refine the items of a preference-based amyotrophic lateral sclerosis health-related quality of life scale (PB-ALS HRQL scale) based on domains generated in a previous study. Methods: Survey methodology was used to assess item importance rating (IR) and independence. Median importance was calculated for each i...

Purpose: The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2 has imposed a significant burden on health care systems, economies, and social systems in many countries around the world. The provision of rehabilitation services for persons with active COVID-19 inf...

Background: Recent research has found that family (e.g., informal, unpaid) caregivers to those in long-term care can experience significant risk of social isolation, a harmful social outcome linked to poor health and wellbeing. For many, the COVID-19 global pandemic has been a time marked by challenges that have exacerbated existing risk of social...

Objectives We examined the effects of a walking intervention in older adults residing in long-term care (LTC) homes on gait velocity (primary outcome), and stride length, cadence and heel-to-heel base of support (secondary outcomes) compared to those in an interpersonal interaction control group and a care-as-usual control group at 16-weeks post-in...

Objective The objectives of this study were to 1) assess the content validity of generic preference-based measures (GPBMs), and (2) examine the convergent validity of the EuroQol 5 Dimension 5 Level (EQ-5D-5L), against the Patient Generated Index (PGI) in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Methods Participants were recruited from 3 clinical site...

Virtual reality and video gaming offer modulation of more exercise and motor learning parameters simultaneously than other modalities; however, there is a demonstrated need for resources to facilitate their effective use clinically. This article presents a conceptual framework to guide clinical-decision making for the selection, adaptation, modulat...

Objective: The aim of this review was to synthesize the psychometric properties of generic preference-based measures (PBMs) of health-related quality of life (HRQL) in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Fou...

Background: Despite increased annual mortality in long-term care (LTC) homes, research has shown that care of dying residents and their families is currently suboptimal in these settings. The purpose of this study was to evaluate resident and family outcomes associated with the Strengthening a Palliative Approach in LTC (SPA-LTC) program, develope...

Purpose: Currently, there is a paucity of research describing physiotherapy services for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) in Canada. Using qualitative methods, we aimed to develop a survey to examine physiotherapy practice patterns for people with MS receiving services in Canada. Method: We began by conducting a review of the current litera...

Background: Residents living and dying in long-term care (LTC) homes represent one of society's most frail and marginalized populations of older adults, particularly those residents with advanced dementia who are often excluded from activities that promote quality of life in their last months of life. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the f...

Background: The most common methods for measuring mobility in older adulthood include performance-based tests, such as the Timed-Up-and-Go and gait speed. While these measures have strong predictive validity for adverse outcomes, they are limited to assessing what older adults do in standardized settings, rather than what they do in their daily li...

Background: Despite increased annual mortality in long-term care (LTC) homes, research has shown that care of dying residents and their families is currently suboptimal in these settings. The purpose of this study was to evaluate resident and family outcomes associated with the Strengthening a Palliative Approach in LTC (SPA-LTC) program, developed...

Objective: The purpose of this study was to conduct a stakeholder analysis of the strengthening a palliative approach to long-term care (SPA-LTC) model and refine it based on feedback from long-term care (LTC) residents and their families, staff, researchers and decision makers. Methods: We used a mixed-methods design to conduct a stakeholder an...

Objective: The goal of this scoping review was to identify existing palliative models in long-term care (LTC) homes and differentiate between the key components of each in terms of training/capacity-building strategies; resident, family and staff support; and advance care planning (ACP) and goals-of-care discussions. Methods: We conducted a scop...

Objectives: To document the characteristics of fall prevention programs in specific regions in two Canadian provinces and to explore older adults’ and program providers’ experiences with these programs. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 program providers/managers from 12 different programs. Ten semi-structured focus groups...

Background Multisensory approaches and programmes have been developed to improve the quality of both life and dying for people with advanced dementia. However, little is known about the experiences of staff, family and others involved in the use of these programmes, and in the relevant education provided to improve the quality of life of residents...

Background: To provide a nationwide overview of the attitudes, social pressure, perceived ability and intentions of health professionals toward exercise prescription for people living with ALS (pALS). Methods: An online survey of physician and non-physician health professionals (HPs) working in academic ALS clinics across Canada. Results: The...

Background: Despite increased annual mortality in long-term care (LTC) homes, research has shown that palliative approaches to care are currently suboptimal in these settings. The purpose of this study was to evaluate resident, family, and staff outcomes associated with the Strengthening a Palliative Approach in LTC (SPA-LTC) program, developed to...

ABSTRACT Aim: To identify existing theories and conceptual models that inform care transition interventions and to explore whether the role of rehabilitation professionals is explicitly stated or implied in these theories and models. Methods: We searched multiple databases and included articles published from 2000 to 2018, with distinct mention of...

Background: Exercise training is commonly recommended for individuals with fibromyalgia. This review is one of a series of reviews about exercise training for fibromyalgia that will replace the review titled "Exercise for treating fibromyalgia syndrome", which was first published in 2002. Objectives: To evaluate the benefits and harms of mixed e...

Background To provide a nationwide overview of the attitudes, social pressure, perceived ability and intentions of health professionals toward exercise prescription for people living with ALS (pALS). Methods An online survey of physician and other health professionals (HPs) working in academic ALS clinics across Canada. Results The response rate...

RÉSUMÉ Au Canada, les personnes âgées présentant des problèmes de santé complexes sont souvent considérées comme inadmissibles aux programmes de réadaptation traditionnels, mais peuvent toutefois bénéficier de soins en réadaptation lente (SRL). Cet examen de la portée apporte une vue d’ensemble sur les publications traitant des SRL offerts aux pers...

Purpose : Physiotherapists in Canada do not have an agreed-on list of core professional values. The purpose of this study was to identify physiotherapy values using a scoping review and to preliminarily identify the core professional values important to Canadian physiotherapists. Method: We undertook (1) a comprehensive scoping review of the prima...

RÉSUMÉ Cette étude a exploré les expériences des aidants devant s’occuper de la transition d’une personne âgée vers une institution de soins de longue durée (SLD). Une approche de description qualitative a été utilisée pour l’analyse d’entretiens semi-structurés effectués auprès de 13 aidants de personnes âgées hébergées en centres de soins de long...

Objective To examine the overall effectiveness of interventions for reducing adult sedentary behaviour and to directly compare environmental, behavioural and multicomponent interventions. Design Intervention systematic review with meta-analysis. Data sources Ovid PsycINFO, Ovid MEDLINE, EBSCOHost CINAHL, EBSCOHost SPORTDiscus and PubMed were sear...

Objectives: The study aimed to determine whether age and sex predict self-reported and performance-based mobility-related outcomes in community-dwelling middle and older aged adults with chronic conditions; and if sociodemographic factors and comorbidity influence this relationship. Methods: Data from a previous randomised controlled trial where th...

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, neurodegenerative, and inevitably fatal disease. There is no cure for ALS and life expectancy is typically 2–5 years after symptom onset. Despite the lack of a cure and the rapidly progressive nature of the disease, ALS is considered a “treatable disease” and rehabilitation is integral to optima...

A poster to seek information from stakeholders before the project starts.....

Background: The nature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is progressive and degenerative, thus influencing individuals physically, emotionally, and socially. A broad review of qualitative studies that describe the personal experiences of people with ALS with physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language pathology interventions,...

This scoping review explores circumstances surrounding the decision about, and eventual experience of, transitioning older adults into alternative levels of housing (ALH), such as long-term care. This topic is examined from a family member perspective, given their exposure and involvement in the care of older adult relatives during this transitiona...

Study design: Prospective cohort study. Introduction: Few studies have evaluated the course of recovery after distal radius fracture (DRF) when functional decline and fracture risk may be affected. Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study was to determine changes in overall functional status over the first year after a DRF in women aged...

Background The purpose of this study was to compare the differences across occupational groups related to their end-of-life care-specific educational needs and reported intensity of interprofessional collaboration in long-term care (LTC) homes. MethodsA cross-sectional survey, based on two questionnaires, was administered at four LTC homes in Ontar...

Objectives Residents living and dying in long-term care (LTC) homes represent one of society’s most frail and marginalized populations of older adults, particularly those residents with advanced dementia who are often excluded from activities that promote quality in their last months of life. This presentation will provide an overview of: (a) an in...

Home care staff who provide housekeeping and personal care to individuals with dementia generally have lower levels of dementia care training compared with other health care providers. The study's purposes were to determine whether the professional role of home care staff in a predominantly rural region was associated with preferences for delivery...

RÉSUMÉ Après l’âge de cinquante ans, les femmes éprouvent une hausse rapide de l’incidence des fractures du poignet. En conséquence, cette étude vise (1) de déterminer les circonstances internes et environnementaux liés aux chutes entraînant des fractures du poignet, et (2) d’examiner la relation entre l’état fonctionnel et de telles circonstances....

Background: Original studies published over the last decade regarding time trends in dementia report mixed results. The aims of the present study were to use linked administrative health data for the province of Saskatchewan for the period 2005/2006 to 2012/2013 to: (1) examine simultaneous temporal trends in annual age- and sex-specific dementia i...

Community-based services are important for improving outcomes for individuals with dementia and their caregivers. This study examined: (1) availability of rural dementia-related services in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, and (2) orientation of services toward six key attributes of primary health care (i.e., information/education, accessibil...

An understanding of the specific dementia learning needs of home care staff is needed to plan relevant continuing education (CE) programs and supports. The study’s objective was to examine frequency and perceived competence in performing 20 dementia-related work activities, and identify CE priorities among home care staff. A cross-sectional survey...

Background: Determining the epidemiology of dementia among the population as a whole in specific jurisdictions - including the long-term care population-is essential to providing appropriate care. The objectives of this study were to use linked administrative databases in the province of Saskatchewan to determine the 12-month incidence and prevale...

Background: Community–based participatory research (CBPR) approaches are valuable strategies for addressing complex health and social problems and powerful tools to support effective transformation of social and health policy to better meet the needs of diverse stakeholders. Objectives: Since 1997, our team has utilized CBPR approaches to improve h...