Mental healthcare for older adults in rural Greece.

p = 0.262). Neither difference proved statistically significant. We had hoped to recruit much larger numbers of residents and family carers but our strict inclusion criteria proved an obstacle. This greatly limited the study’s statistical power. These pilot study results look promising nonetheless and warrant further exploration. Older people make increasing use of the internet and many nursing homes now provide internet access to residents’ rooms (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2014). It makes sense therefore to harness new digital technology to help cognitively impaired residents engage more fully with family members between visits. Volunteers might also play a role as “communication therapists” (van der Ploeg et al., 2014). Our findings suggest, but do not prove, that combining visual with auditory sensory inputs captures attention and reduces agitated behaviors more effectively than auditory inputs alone.