Sedative load of medications prescribed for older people with dementia in care homes

The objective of this study was to determine the sedative load and use of sedative and psychotropic medications among older people with dementia living in (residential) care homes.

Load Testing of Floor Slabs in a Full-Scale Reinforced Concrete Building

A series of short and long term service load tests were undertaken on the sixth floor of the full-scale, seven storey, reinforced concrete building at the Large Building Test Facility of the Building Research Establishment at Cardington. By using internally strain gauged reinforcing bars cast into an internal and external floor bay during the construction process it was possible to gain a detailed record of slab strains resulting from the application of several arrangements of test loads. Short term tests were conducted in December 1998 and long term monitoring then ensued until April 2001. This paper describes the test programmes and presents results to indicate slab behaviour for the various loading regimes.

Finite-Element Time-Step Coupled Generator, Load, AVR and Brushless Exciter Modelling

This paper presented results from a details and comprehensive simulation using finite element method of the practical operation of an electrical machine. The results it displayed have been used in practice to design more efficient equipment.

The effect of type of hip protector and resident characteristics on adherence to use of hip protectors in nursing and residential homes - an exploratory study

Objectives: To investigate the factors influencing the acceptability of hip protectors to residents of nursing and residential homes, especially the effect of hip protector type, and resident characteristics. Design: A randomised controlled trial with 12 weeks follow-up. Participants were randomised to receive either Safehips or HipSaverTM hip protectors. Setting/Participants: 109 residents aged 61 to 98 years from seven residential homes and two nursing homes in Northern Ireland. Main outcome measures: Percentage day-time use of the hip protectors over 12 weeks and ongoing use at 12 weeks. Results: 42% (119/285) of residents invited to enter the studyagreed to take part, and 109 started to wear the hip protectors. 43.1% (47/109) were still using them at 12 weeks. Mean percentage day-time use for all residents during 12 weeks was 48.6%. There was no significant difference in percentage day-time use (p=0.40), or use at 12 weeks (p=0.56) between the residents wearing Safehips and HipSaverTM protectors. Greater percentage daytime use of hip protectors was associated with being resident in a home for the elderlymentallyinfirm (75.1%, pp0.0005), having a low (12 or less) Barthel score (61.1%, pp0.0005), and having been injured in a fall in the last 12 months (57.3%, p=0.012). Conclusions: The type of hip protector appeared to make no difference to their continued use by residents. Residents with a historyof a fall and those who are physicallyand mentallyincapacitated appear to be more likelyto wear hip protectors. These residents, who are at high risk of falling, are also highlydependent on nursing staff. Efforts to increase hip protector use in residential and nursing home should focus on staff, who are in the best position to advise and influence residents and their relatives.