Although persons with dementia (PWD) and their family caregivers need in-home support for common neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), few if any assistive technologies are available to help manage NPS. This implementation study tested the feasibility and adoption of a touch screen technology, the Companion, that delivers psychosocial, nondrug interventions to PWD in their home to address individual NPS and needs. Interventions were personalized and delivered in-home for a minimum of 3 weeks. Post-intervention measures indicated the technology was easy to use, significantly facilitated meaningful and positive engagement, and simplified caregivers’ daily lives. Although intervention goals were met, caregivers had high expectations of their loved-one’s ability to regain independence. Care recipients used the system independently, but were limited by cognitive and physical impairments. We conclude the Companion can help manage NPS and offer caregiver respite at home. These data provide important guidance for design and deployment of care technology for the home.

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In the United States, chronic pain affects at least 116 million Americans, differentially impacting older adults. One of the leading causes of pain for older adults is osteoarthritis. This disease affects approximately 14% of the United States population and can cause disability and mobility problems, in addition to having a high cost for the healthcare system. The methods individuals use to manage their pain are contingent upon their model of the disease (e.g., their beliefs about osteoarthritis pain management). The purpose of the present investigation was to: 1) understand what variables older adults with osteoarthritis believe impact pain, and 2) understand current approaches for selfmanagement of osteoarthritis pain. We conducted structured interviews with eight older adults who have osteoarthritis. The interviews revealed current approaches in pain management, as well as gaps in knowledge. We propose an expansion of the idea of a general disease model for pain management that is patient-centered, allowing for personal customization of factors for reducing pain and increasing successful pain-management.

Osteoarthritis is expected to affect approximately 72 million older adults by the year 2030. It is one of the top causes of disability, mobility problems, and chronic pain among older adults. With so many individuals affected, it is important to identify how to effectively manage the pain associated with osteoarthritis. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the factors and knowledge critical to the successful management of osteoarthritis pain and to evaluate the management tools currently available to the general public. We conducted structured interviews with three subject matter experts (SMEs). The interviews identified critical variables in pain management, such as physical activity, mood, and medication taking behavior, as well as common misconceptions about pain management held by many older adults. In addition, we assessed the usability of available pain management tools with six older adults and conducted a heuristic analysis of several additional pain management tools available on the market. All of the tools reviewed were found to be lacking in several key areas, such as failing to include critical variables and difficulty integrating the data collected into a meaningful representation of one's pain experience. Resolving these issues will improve the quality of life for individuals suffering from osteoarthritis.

Cognitive readiness is the fit of cognitive state to a task or mission. High cognitive readiness enables successful execution of tasks and missions and supports good decision-making under the complex and dynamic conditions common to military operations. In these environments, where the consequences of poor performance can be catastrophic, cognitive readiness assessment could enable leaders to ensure that individuals and teams are ready to maintain safety and attain mission success. The current paper summarizes Aptima Inc.'s work with individual cognitive readiness, including the development of a revised definition and model of individual cognitive readiness, and the proposal of a multi-modal measurement approach for its assessment.