People with Dementia (PwD) in the earlier stages still living in their own home experience neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) such as stress, frustration and agitation, which affect quality of life and independence, as well as adding strain to carer relations. Listening to preferred or relaxing and calming music has been reported to help manage agitation and have a positive effect on other behavioural and psychological symptoms. This paper discusses current directions in the use of music for these purposes, and ways to deliver the right music to PwD when they need it most. An overall tendency is the development of adaptive technology for facilitating music playlist compilation and music listening that can alter arousal levels and help regulate neuropsychiatric symptoms. This is discussed in the context of supporting people living independently with dementia and potentially being able to remain in their home for longer.

There are several published methodologies for assisting in sourcing and compiling music likely to be personally meaningful and beneficial for PwD, with some helpful apps and online resources such as Playlist for Life that link to Spotify accounts. There is no existing music listening technology readily available that can be: 1. installed in the home environment of PwD, 2. easily located and heard with an effective speaker system, 3. used to alter the environment in order to reduce incidence of agitated behaviour and improve quality of life. Research in this area is required in order to determine whether such technology can be developed and made publicly available that would be effective in prolonging independent living.

Background: Living with a life-threatening illness is rarely an exclusively individual matter. Research about chronic illness and palliative care; however, lack the perspectives of close caregivers. The purpose of this study was therefore to gain insight into and an understanding of how it is experienced to be a caregiver of individuals living with a life-threatening, non-malignant, chronic illness and how illness interferes in the shared everyday family life.

Material and Methods: A qualitative research design was employed underpinned by Ricoeur’s phenomenological hermeneutical philosophy as the epistemological stance. To capture the multifaceted nature of caregivers’ lived experiences, narrative interviews with caregivers of individuals with kidney failure, cystic fibrosis, or intestinal failure were conducted. The family systems theory was applied as a theoretical framework.

Results: This research highlights the importance of broadening the focus of palliative care to include caregivers of individuals living with life-threatening, non-malignant, chronic illness, as these families also face unique challenges and require specialized care. By examining caregiver perspectives, we uncovered four themes: The ripple effect – the impact of illness on family everyday life; Make it or break it - embracing strength and role dynamics; Living fully despite chronic illness; and the Paradoxes of life. These themes can inform healthcare professionals and support services about how to develop tailored interventions and resources that address the specific needs of these caregivers, ultimately improving their well-being and quality of life.

Conclusion: Living, as a caregiver in the shadow of a loved one’s illness is a complex and emotionally demanding experience. This study illuminated the diverse experiences of these caregivers, offering insights into their challenges, life strategies, and supportive care needs. The research extends to multiple stakeholders involved in the care and support of individuals receiving palliative care targeting the family as a unit of intervention.

With the increasing global aging population, stroke has become one of the major health concerns for the elderly, often leading to limb motor dysfunctions that require long-term rehabilitation. Aiming to improve the rehabilitation outcomes of hemiplegia and alleviate the shortage of rehabilitation physicians, rehabilitation robots have shown significant potential in clinical research for enhancing motor function and improving recovery outcomes in stroke patients. This paper classifies rehabilitation robots based on their drive mechanisms and interaction models and describes the scope of their structural features and applications. The current research status of rehabilitation robots is analyzed from an interdisciplinary perspective of medicine and engineering, highlighting technological shortcomings and providing directions for future development in the field of rehabilitation robotics.