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Healthcare
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Health Promotion and Long-Term Care for Older Adults
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Health Promotion and Long-Term Care for Older Adults

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Chronic Care".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 29 December 2026 | Viewed by 4872

Editors

Dr. Raphaelle-Ashley Guerbaai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Frankston, VIC 3199, Australia
Interests: mixed-methods research; long-term care; implementation science; clinical nursing education
Dr. Kotkowski Kornelia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Gesundheitszentren für das Alter, 8050 Zürich, Switzerland
Interests: ageing; older people; long term care; implementation science

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As global populations age, the intersection of health promotion and long-term care has never been more critical. This Special Issue will explore innovative strategies, policies, and interventions aimed at enhancing the well-being, autonomy, and quality of life of older adults in various care settings. We welcome contributions that address preventive health measures, integrated care models, rehabilitation strategies, and person-centred approaches to long-term care. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, dementia care, fall prevention and management, nutrition, mental health support, and the role of technology in fostering health promotion. By bringing together evidence-based research and practice insights, this Special Issue will advance our understanding and inform best practices with regard to sustaining health and dignity in ageing populations.

Dr. Raphaelle-Ashley Guerbaai
Dr. Kotkowski Kornelia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • older adults
  • long-term care
  • quality of life of older adults
  • aging populations
  • health services

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 1088 KB  
Article
Intergenerational Mealtimes in Adult Day Care Settings: Impact of a Pilot Randomised Control Study on the Well-Being, Health, and Food Intake of Older Adults
by Raúl López-López, Reyes Artacho, Celia Rodríguez-Pérez, Judith Justicia-García, Alicia Carrillo and Mariano Sánchez
Healthcare 2026, 14(5), 635; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14050635 - 3 Mar 2026
Viewed by 915
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Empirical evidence on intergenerational commensality in institutional care settings remains scarce. This pilot and feasibility study evaluated the preliminary impact of an innovative intergenerational mealtime model on older adults’ subjective well-being, self-esteem, perceived health, and food consumption in an adult day [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Empirical evidence on intergenerational commensality in institutional care settings remains scarce. This pilot and feasibility study evaluated the preliminary impact of an innovative intergenerational mealtime model on older adults’ subjective well-being, self-esteem, perceived health, and food consumption in an adult day care setting. Methods: A 16-week wait-list randomised controlled pilot trial with a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was conducted in an intergenerational centre in southern Spain. Twenty-two older adults who reside in a community living setting and attend a day care service were randomly assigned to two intergenerational dining intervention/waiting-list groups or a control group. Participants in the intervention/waiting-list groups had lunch four times per week with children 2–3 years of age, following a structured protocol. The quantitative outcomes examined included subjective well-being (WHO-5 Well-Being Index), self-esteem (Rosenberg scale), perceived health (EuroQol EQ-5D), and objective assessment of plate leftovers using photographic records and the Comstock visual estimation method. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews and ethnographic observation. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06996418). Results: Across the study period, intervention, waiting-list, and control groups showed preliminary improvements in subjective well-being and self-esteem, but with no significant group-by-time interaction. In contrast, mixed-effects models revealed an encouraging significant reduction in plate leftovers among older adults during intergenerational meals, particularly in second courses. The reduction was consolidated during the post-intervention follow-up. Qualitative findings showed perceived improvements in emotional well-being, motivation, and appetite, thus highlighting potential relational and affective mechanisms underlying changes in eating behaviour. Conclusions: This pilot study shows promise for intergenerational commensality in adult day care settings and provides preliminary evidence of its potential to promote well-being and self-esteem and reduce food waste among older adults. Larger, multi-centre, appropriately powered trials are warranted to validate these findings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Promotion and Long-Term Care for Older Adults)
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35 pages, 2747 KB  
Article
Response Facilitation in Dementia Care: Exploring Engagement Through Social Contexts: A Qualitative Study in Dutch Nursing Homes
by Coosje Hammink, Nienke Moor and Masi Mohammadi
Healthcare 2026, 14(4), 539; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14040539 - 22 Feb 2026
Viewed by 836
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Dementia-related cognitive impairments and staffing shortages in nursing homes challenge the possibilities for individually tailored recreational activities, raising the question of how the physical and social environment might be leveraged to stimulate engagement through response facilitation, a form of vicarious incentive motivation [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Dementia-related cognitive impairments and staffing shortages in nursing homes challenge the possibilities for individually tailored recreational activities, raising the question of how the physical and social environment might be leveraged to stimulate engagement through response facilitation, a form of vicarious incentive motivation grounded in Social Cognitive Theory. This study examines in which social contexts observing others’ recreational activities can effectively engage residents with moderate to advanced dementia. Methods: A qualitative, scenario-based multiple case study was conducted in four nursing homes (n = 21), using fly-on-the-wall observations, narratives, and three experimentally embedded social contexts (individual, dyadic, group) around familiar leisure activities. Behavioural engagement, mood, and agitation were assessed with validated observational scales (e.g., OERS and MEDLO), complemented by wearable sensor data (HR/PR, HRV/PRV, SCL, and temperature) and video for contextualised interpretation. Results: Across scenarios, non-participating residents showed limited behavioural responses in individual and dyadic settings, while group activities more frequently elicited both observable engagement and physiological markers consistent with attention or cognitive engagement. Observational and physiological data frequently diverged, which may indicate cognitive or emotional engagement even when overt participation or affect remained minimal or appeared negative. Conclusions: Response facilitation appears most likely in structured group activities if supported by explicit social scaffolding, rather than in individual or dyadic constellations alone. Reliance on behavioural observation or environmental design in isolation risks underestimating engagement; multimodal, context-sensitive approaches are recommended to better harness social mechanisms for meaningful participation in dementia care. Future research should integrate contextual factors with physiological measurements and observations as well as further explore patterns of inactivity to distinguish disengagement from subtle forms of cognitive engagement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Promotion and Long-Term Care for Older Adults)
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17 pages, 533 KB  
Article
The Lived Experience of Older Adults with Monitoring Technologies: An Interpretive Phenomenology Study
by Alisha Harvey Johnson, Chang-Chun Chen, K. Melinda Fauss and Shu-Fen Wung
Healthcare 2026, 14(3), 288; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14030288 - 23 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1309
Abstract
Background: Most older adults prefer to age in place. Technology-assisted monitoring can enhance safety while maintaining independence. However, there is limited understanding of older adult end users’ preferences and experiences. Methods: In this interpretive phenomenological study, we interviewed eight older adults, with and [...] Read more.
Background: Most older adults prefer to age in place. Technology-assisted monitoring can enhance safety while maintaining independence. However, there is limited understanding of older adult end users’ preferences and experiences. Methods: In this interpretive phenomenological study, we interviewed eight older adults, with and without dementia, to understand their lived experiences with monitoring technology and its impact on self-identity, independence, and aging-in-place. Results: We found that older adults use pragmatic strategies to process the meaning of life as “monitored” individuals, reflected in four themes: (1) freedom to age in place, (2) the need for active and integrated intervention, (3) individualized approaches to technology based on temperament, usefulness, and worldview, and (4) a sense of changing situations while remaining unchanged. Adaptive techniques for older adults with dementia successfully elicited complex thoughts and desires when participants were given sufficient time and space. Conclusions: As technology-assisted monitoring becomes more common, it is imperative to understand the perspectives of older adult end users. Focusing on lived experiences offers valuable insights to ensure technology-assisted monitoring interventions are effective and accepted as older adults navigate changes in their capabilities and endeavor to age in place. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Promotion and Long-Term Care for Older Adults)
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11 pages, 949 KB  
Article
Using Step Trackers Among Older People Receiving Aged Care Services Is Feasible and Acceptable: A Mixed-Methods Study
by Rik Dawson, Judy Kay, Lauren Cameron, Bernard Bucalon, Catherine Sherrington and Abby Haynes
Healthcare 2026, 14(1), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14010086 - 30 Dec 2025
Viewed by 850
Abstract
Background: Maintaining physical activity (PA) is vital for older people, particularly those with frailty and mobility limitations. Wearable activity trackers and digital feedback tools show promise for encouraging PA, but their feasibility and acceptability in aged care remain underexplored. This study evaluated the [...] Read more.
Background: Maintaining physical activity (PA) is vital for older people, particularly those with frailty and mobility limitations. Wearable activity trackers and digital feedback tools show promise for encouraging PA, but their feasibility and acceptability in aged care remain underexplored. This study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of using wearable and mobile devices for step tracking and examined the usability of three interfaces (Fitbit, mobile app, and website) for reviewing PA progress in aged care. Methods: This is a user experience and feasibility study that does not involve objective physical activity quantification or device performance analysis. It is a mixed-methods feasibility study conducted with 14 participants aged ≥65 years from residential and community aged care services in metropolitan and regional New South Wales, Australia. Participants used a Fitbit Inspire 3 linked to a study website and a mobile phone step-counting app to monitor their steps across the three interfaces for four weeks. Feasibility was evaluated through enrolment and retention, and acceptability through a facilitator-led survey. Quantitative items on usability, comfort, motivation and device preference were summarised descriptively; open-ended responses were analysed thematically to identify user experiences, benefits, and barriers. Results: Step tracking was feasible, with 82% enrolment and 93% retention. Participants preferred the Fitbit over the mobile phone or website due to its ease of use, visibility and more enjoyable experience. Step tracking increased awareness of PA and supported confidence to move more. Participants valued reminders, rewards and opportunities for social sharing. Reported barriers included illness, usability challenges and occasional technical issues. Conclusions: Wearable step trackers show promise for supporting PA among older people receiving aged care. Despite the small sample and short follow-up, strong acceptability signals suggest that simple digital tools could enhance the reach and sustainability of mobility-promoting interventions into aged care systems. Future studies should examine long-term adherence, usability across diverse mobility and cognitive needs, and conditions for successful scale-up. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Promotion and Long-Term Care for Older Adults)
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