This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Smart Homes and Health Telematics, ICOST 2013, held in Singapore, in June 2013. The 22 revised full papers presented together with one invited paper and 19 short papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 53 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on Supportive Technology for Ageing and People with Cognitive Impairment; Activity Recognition and Algorithmic Techniques; Trust, Security and Social Issues; Assistive Robotics and HCI Issues; Supporting Safety and Pervasive Healthcare; Home Energy Usage, Reasoning Framework, Services; Algorithms for Smart Homes; Eldercare – Activity Recognition and Fall Detection; Healthcare and Rehabilitation; Robotics and Assistive Living.

Rapid urbanization represents major threats and challenges to personal and public health. The World Health Organisation identifies the ‘urban health threat’ as three-fold: infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases; and violence and injury from, amongst other things, road traffic. Within this tripartite structure of health issues in the built environment, there are multiple individual issues affecting both the developed and the developing worlds and the global north and south. Reflecting on a broad set of interrelated concerns about health and the design of the places we inhabit, this book seeks to better understand the interconnectedness and potential solutions to the problems associated with health and the built environment. Divided into three key themes: home, city, and society, each section presents a number of research chapters that explore global processes, transformative praxis and emergent trends in architecture, urban design and healthy city research. Drawing together practicing architects, academics, scholars, public health professional and activists from around the world to provide perspectives on design for health, this book includes emerging research on: healthy homes, walkable cities, design for ageing, dementia and the built environment, health equality and urban poverty, community health services, neighbourhood support and wellbeing, urban sanitation and communicable disease, the role of transport infrastructures and government policy, and the cost implications of ‘unhealthy’ cities etc. To that end, this book examines alternative and radical ways of practicing architecture and the re-imagining of the profession of architecture through a lens of human health.

In the United States, some populations suffer from far greater disparities in health than others. Those disparities are caused not only by fundamental differences in health status across segments of the population, but also because of inequities in factors that impact health status, so-called determinants of health. Only part of an individual's health status depends on his or her behavior and choice; community-wide problems like poverty, unemployment, poor education, inadequate housing, poor public transportation, interpersonal violence, and decaying neighborhoods also contribute to health inequities, as well as the historic and ongoing interplay of structures, policies, and norms that shape lives. When these factors are not optimal in a community, it does not mean they are intractable: such inequities can be mitigated by social policies that can shape health in powerful ways. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity seeks to delineate the causes of and the solutions to health inequities in the United States. This report focuses on what communities can do to promote health equity, what actions are needed by the many and varied stakeholders that are part of communities or support them, as well as the root causes and structural barriers that need to be overcome.

Enhancing healthcare quality and fostering patient engagement are pivotal in healthcare management. As global healthcare systems face challenges, from rising costs to various patient outcomes, innovations in technology transform patient care techniques. From electronic health record systems that streamline data management to telemedicine platforms to expand access to care, the integration of technology improves efficiency, accuracy, and patient satisfaction. Achieving healthcare quality also demands more research into effective management strategies that combine technological innovations with patient-centric care models. Improving Healthcare Quality and Patient Engagement: Management and Technology Insights explores key insights into the convergence of healthcare management and technology. It outlines the integration of healthcare quality and patient care for improved patient outcomes and reshaped healthcare services. This book covers topics such as digital technology, sustainable development, and geriatric care, and is a useful resource for medical workers, healthcare professionals, business owners, sociologists, computer engineers, data scientists, researchers, and academicians.

There is growing interest internationally in the contributions which the creative arts can make to wellbeing and health in both healthcare and community settings. A timely addition to the field, the Oxford Textbook of Creative Arts, Health, and Wellbeing is the first work of its kind to discuss the role the creative arts have in addressing some of the most pressing public health challenges faced today. Providing an evidence-base and recommendations for a wide audience, this is an essential resource for anyone involved with this increasingly important component of public health practice. The textbook offers key insights for developing new creative arts-based approaches to health and wellbeing, and shows how these can augment established practices within a variety of social settings. Theoretically grounded and with a strong evidence base, this book brings together contributions from both practitioners and researches to provide a comprehensive account of the field. Using international examples, the textbook elucidates the various approaches that have successfully led to improvements in public health, whilst case studies in healthcare practices evaluate the impact of arts-based initiatives in a multitude of international settings, life-course stages, and social milieus. The Oxford Textbook of Creative Arts, Health, and Wellbeing is a comprehensive resource that will be essential to anyone with an interest in this increasingly important component of public health practice.

With the majority of graduate nurses going on to work in primary health, Community Health and Wellness provides the reader with the knowledge and tools they need to practise competently and safely in the community. The book provides an overview of primary healthcare principles and how to apply them, enabling a deep understanding of the role of the community health nurse in providing holistic individual and community care within an interdisciplinary healthcare environment. Continuous real-world case studies throughout enable the reader to understand how the social determinants of health influence each family member's life, their communities and the challenges they face. This seventh edition has been written by nursing experts Dr Jill Clendon and Dr Ailsa Munns, and incorporates feedback from students, users and practising community health nurses to ensure it meets the needs of today's students as they embark on their career beyond academia. Takes a unique socio-ecological approach to community health - including health promotion, health literacy and a range of health interventions Key points and information boxes allow easy navigation Case studies link theory and principles to practice Templates and tools to conduct community assessments Links to resources for further reflection An eBook included in all print purchases Additional resources on Evolve: eBook on VitalSource Instructor resources: Power Points Tutorial Activities Image Library Critical Thinking Questions and Answers Student resources: Online Care Plans Online Material - Chapter 10 Research Guide: from question to solution Weblinks Significant updates throughout More content on public health and infectious disease management, including current pandemics and epidemics Improved content on cultural safety and care planning