Gerontology Commons^™

Older Artists And Acknowledging Ageism, Liz Langdon

International Journal of Lifelong Learning in Art Education

Intergenerational (IG) learning has the potential to reinforce ageist ideas, through the culturally produced binary of old and young which often describes IG learning. This research with older artists revealed implicit age bias associated with a modernist tradition in art education which minimized the value of art production viewed as feminine. Language associated with ageism shares the descriptors of the feminine and seep into our perceptions. Cooperative action research with multi-age participants facilitated personal growth and through critical reflection, implicit ageism revealed in the researcher’s prior perspective is revealed.

Leaf-Ing A Legacy, Susan R. Whiteland

International Journal of Lifelong Learning in Art Education

Leaf-ing a Legacy is the story of a university art education class that joined with an elementary classroom and residents in a long term health/rehabilitative center through a service-learning project that utilized digital technology and art making in a problem-based learning format to explore the concept of legacy. Evidence was found that the experience promoted socio-emotional learning and fostered the building of socio-emotional capital for the participants involved.

Editorial, Pamela H. Lawton

International Journal of Lifelong Learning in Art Education

No abstract provided.

International Journal Of Lifelong Learning In Art Education 2018 Full Issue, Pamela H. Lawton

International Journal of Lifelong Learning in Art Education

No abstract provided.

Higher Quality At Lower Cost: Community Health Worker Interventions In The Health Care Innovation Awards, Caitlin Cross-Barnet, Sarah Ruiz, Megan Skillman, Rina Dhopeshwarkar, Rachel Singer, Rachel Carpenter, Suzanne Campanella, Maysoun Freij, Lynne Snyder, Erin Colligan

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: Published evidence regarding cost savings, reduced utilization, and improved quality associated with employing community health workers (CHWs) is largely lacking. This paper presents findings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Health Care Innovation Awards (HCIA), with a focus on six diverse programs that employ CHWs. We examine outcomes associated with programs incorporating CHWs into care teams for a broad age range of patients with various health issues such as cancer, asthma, and complex conditions.

Methods: This mixed-methods study used data from claims and site visits to assess the effectiveness of CHW programs. In difference-in-differences analyses of Medicare …

Perceptions Of Chronic Disease Among Older African Americans: A Qualitative Analysis, Karon Phillips, Charles Rogers, Adrienne Morgan

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Research has documented that African Americans suffer disproportionately from chronic diseases when compared to the general population. Yet, limited research examines older African Americans’ perceptions about having chronic diseases. Accordingly, the first aim of the study provided insight into this disparity with the intent of revealing how older African Americans feel about their overall health, and how much they understand about their individual chronic disease(s). The second aim was to gather information about strategies and coping mechanisms older African Americans use to manage their chronic diseases. The purpose of this aim was to determine if any of the strategies they …

Adult Day Service Providers: Untapped Potential For Care Coordination, Nicole Ruggiano, Ellen L. Brown, Karen L. Fortuna

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

Adult Day Services (ADS) have become increasingly available for community-dwelling older adults who are often experiencing multiple chronic conditions and/or dementia. ADS providers spend a significant amount of time with their clients and offer the opportunity for a wealth of clinical information that can be used by primary care providers and specialists for decision-making about patient care. There are also opportunities for hospitals to coordinate care transitions with ADS providers by involving them with discharge planning with appropriate patients who require post-hospital care. However, ADS providers are often viewed as social service providers, and there is little known about the …

The Social, Economic, And Public Health Consequences Of Global Population Aging: Implications For Social Work Practice And Public Policy, Mitchell A. Kaplan, Marian M. Inguanzo

Journal of Social Work in the Global Community

Human populations around the world are growing older at the most astounding rate in the history of humanity. Advances in technology are enabling health care providers to deliver the latest innovations in treatment and prevention services to a broader spectrum of adult populations across the lifespan making longevity increasingly more commonplace rather than the exception to the rule in most of the industrialized world. This article provides an overview of the key social, economic, and public health costs and consequences that aging populations will exact upon international communities in the years ahead. It also examines the most significant social challenges …

“I Feel Like I’M Drawing Strength From It”: Lived Experiences Of Filipino Elderly Participating In Craft-Making, Sharon B. Cajayon, Romeo Luis A. Macabasag, Norilyn Limchanco, Vanessa O. Umali, Ellayza N. Blas, Michelle S. Angulo, Cristine Joy A. Breguera, Nikka Angela A. De Guzman, Sheila N. Malapi, Emmalyn E. Quibote

The Qualitative Report

In this phenomenological study, we offer an insightful understanding of the lived experiences of seven (7) Filipino elderly participating in craft-making. We purposively selected the key informants from a municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. The transcribed data gathered through a semi-structured in-depth interview was analyzed using Colaizzi’s approach. Six themes describing the lived experiences emerged: “Fostering friendship,” “Flourishing health,” “Furthering service,” “Facing aging with acceptance,” “Finding felicity and self-fulfillment,” “Feelings of belongingness and security.” Just like the sun, the elderly’s participation in craft-making serves as a nourishment for them. This exploration speaks to understanding the potential of craft-making …

End Of Life Care For The Incarcerated, Codie Robinson

Dialogue & Nexus

As the prison population ages, a new need has come to light – caring for those who are in the final stage of life. This paper will examine the current end of life services provided to those in prison throughout the United States. After a general awareness of the system is presented, a more complete discussion of end of life care for prisoners will be considered, in light of ethics, social justice, and the Christian perspective. The two care options presented, hospice care and compassionate release, are observed through these lenses. In order to make a decision on how to …

Grandparenting In Selected West African Countries: Implications For Health And Hygiene Behaviours In The Household, Joshua Oyeniyi Aransiola Dr, Akanni Ibukun Akinyemi Dr, Ambrose Akinlo Dr, Funmi Togonu-Bickesteeth Prof.

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

This is a descriptive study of the health and hygiene behaviors of grandparents who are the primary caregivers of their grandchildren in four West African countries, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. The article utilizes data from each country’s most recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). The study identified 20,841 households where grandparents were primary caregivers. As expected, most of these households are in Nigeria given their population exceeds the collective population of the other three West African countries. However, the number of grandfamilies in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia is still worrisome for their population size. In each country, …

Parenting A Second Time Around: The Strengths And Challenges Of Indigenous Grandparent Caregivers, Jessica Y. Hsieh, Kristen J. Mercer, Sarah A. Costa

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

Background: There is a lack of knowledge and research of Indigenous grandparents rearing grandchildren. A burgeoning area of research, the literature only includes studies conducted from the year 2002 and onwards. In order to minimize the burdens that Indigenous grandparents encounter when assuming this role, a greater understanding of this population is crucial. This scoping review was undertaken in an attempt to gain insight into and generate awareness of this population, specifically concerning their needs and experiences. Methods: Sixteen databases were searched, including two medical databases and fourteen social science databases. A total of 92 titles and abstracts were independently …

Aging In Rural Communities: Older Persons’ Narratives Of Relocating In Place To Maintain Rural Identity, Joyce Weil

Online Journal of Rural Research & Policy

Literature often looks at older persons’ rural-to-urban moves, but relocation within the same region is less explored. The purpose of this study is to understand the perspectives of older persons who move to age in town in the same rural setting. Using data from 16 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with older persons in a rural community and directed content analysis, this study examines these older persons’ assessments of their current living situation, still seen as living rurally but now in a more populous location. Although moving within a rural environment, for different reasons, they do not report feelings of being “stuck …

Sociology Between The Gaps Volume 2 (2015 - 2016)

Sociology Between the Gaps: Forgotten and Neglected Topics

No abstract provided.

Community: Eclipsed Or Resurgent?, Mary Lou Mayo

Sociology Between the Gaps: Forgotten and Neglected Topics

The locus of community has been identified with the small town. With urbanization and industrialization, a shift occurred to spatially unbounded networks which are relationally defined and can be found in multiple contexts. The importance of community has long been recognized for both the individual and the society. Intentional communities represent attempts to create it. Examples include communes in the past, cohousing, gated communities, ecovillages and neighbornets. New Urbanist design attempts to create community through architecture and land use patterns, increasing the potential for people to come into contact with one another. The success of these efforts remains ambiguous. The …

When ‘Places’ Include Pets: Broadening The Scope Of Relational Approaches To Promoting Aging-In-Place, Ann M. Toohey, Jennifer A. Hewson, Cindy L. Adams, Melanie J. Rock

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Aging-in-place is a well-established concept, but discussions rarely consider that many older adults live with pets. In a ‘pet-friendly’ city, we conducted semi-structured interviews to explore perspectives of community-based social support agencies that promote aging-in-place, and those of animal welfare agencies. Applying a relational ecology theoretical framework, we found that pets may contribute to feeling socially- situated, yet may also exacerbate constraints on autonomy experienced by some older adults. Pet-related considerations at times led to discretionary acts of more-than-human solidarity, but also created paradoxical situations for service-providers, impacting their efforts to assist older adults. A shortage of pet-friendly affordable housing …

Building Age-Friendly Community: Notes From The Field, Rachel Filinson, Marianne Raimondo, Maureen Maigret

Sociology Between the Gaps: Forgotten and Neglected Topics

Building age-friendly communities is a global as well as a national concern. The purpose of this paper is to explore fundamental tensions underlying the formulation of age-friendly goals and their implementation, based on a review of age-friendly projects and reflections on the journey towards age friendliness in one state (Rhode Island). The authors conducted a comprehensive investigation of the relevant literature on previous age-friendly initiatives, which included case studies of individual projects, meta-analyses of age-friendly work, and educational toolkits for promoting age-friendly community. They also collected original data from ten focus groups with older adults, interviews with key informant service …

Our Future Selves

SIGNED: The Magazine of The Hong Kong Design Institute

In 2009, Dr. Yanki Lee initiated a series of projects to challenge the concept of ageing as a problem to be solved, choosing instead to cast the ageing process as unique experience for each individual and a culture from which design lessons can be drawn. Her research is leading to a series of innovative design projects that will benefit all segments of the community.

Concerns And Supports Of Grandfamilies Using Formal Services: Do They Have The Help They Need?, Susan M. Collins, Christine A. Fruhauf, Kimberly Bundy-Fazioli

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

The objective of this exploratory study was to discover the functional and psychosocial concerns of grandfamilies already receiving support services in their community, and to ask if they had the help they needed. Data were gathered from a convenience sample of 16 grandparents who were raising their grandchildren and were involved with a support group or a grandfamily workshop. Results indicated that grandparents affiliated with formal supports still experience psychosocial concerns (i.e., child’s emotional problems) and functional concerns (i.e., financial strain). Suggestions are included for further development on this measure as derived from the literature, service provider observations, and grandfamily …

Policy Brief No. 24 - Are Female Baby Boomers Ready For Retirement?, Lori Curtis, Kate Rybczynski

Population Change and Lifecourse Strategic Knowledge Cluster Research/Policy Brief

Due to their life-course socio-economic conditions, many female boomers may suffer large decreases in well-being as they head into retirement. Pension reforms which increase retirement age will disproportionately disadvantage those already in low income. While changes to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) will reduce losses from poor or sporadic labour force participation, these changes are too late to help the early boomer women. Likewise, while research suggests that improving retirement outcomes must begin with improved labour market conditions, inequitable conditions persist. Therefore, any current policy change will miss helping the early boomers. Finally, with increasing rates of chronic disease and …

Policy Brief No. 23 - Health Inequalities Among Older Adults: Reconciling Theories And Policy Approaches, Amélie Quesnel-Vallée, Andrea Willson, Sandra Reiter-Campeau

Population Change and Lifecourse Strategic Knowledge Cluster Research/Policy Brief

Despite universal access to healthcare, there are disparities in older people’s health status in developed countries. These inequalities are rooted in lifelong differences in social and economic status. Government policies to assist older people may end up reinforcing these inequalities if they fail to create a buffer against their effects. However, best case practices and WHO guidance show that policies can also mitigate against the effects of lifelong disadvantage in older age. There is opportunity to design initiatives for older people in Canada that lessen the disparities in health outcomes that we currently see.

Policy Brief No. 21 - An Increasing Age At Retirement May Amplify Socioeconomic Inequalities, Yves Carrière, Jacques Légaré, Mélanie Léger St-Cyr, Chloé Ronteix, Viorela Diaconu

Population Change and Lifecourse Strategic Knowledge Cluster Research/Policy Brief

Population ageing raises questions about the sustainability of the public pillars of the retirement income system and about inter-generational equity. In response to this, a number of countries have raised the normal retirement age in an attempt to reduce projected future expenditures on their state pension system. In this context, private savings and later retirement represent the best ways of avoiding a major fall in living standards when retiring. Increased life expectancy at age 65 appears to justify this policy trend. But there are substantial differences in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy between people of different socioeconomic status, and …

Policy Brief No. 20 - The Oldest Old: A New Reality In Canada's Population, Jacques Légaré, Yann Décarie, Kim Deslandes, Yves Carrière

Population Change and Lifecourse Strategic Knowledge Cluster Research/Policy Brief

Canadians aged 85 and over (the oldest old) form a distinct group which is destined to grow as a proportion of the country’s population. This is a demographic reality which needs to be taken into account in policy making.

Dossier De Politique No. 21 - Une Hausse De L’Âge De La Retraite Risque De Creuser Les Inégalités Socioéconomiques, Yves Carrière, Jacques Légaré, Mélanie Léger St-Cyr, Chloé Ronteix, Viorela Diaconu

Population Change and Lifecourse Strategic Knowledge Cluster Research/Policy Brief

Le vieillissement démographique a pour effet de remettre en question la viabilité des régimes publics de retraite et l’équité intergénérationnelle. Plusieurs pays ont donc relevé l’âge normal de la retraite pour réduire les dépenses prévues de leur régime public de retraite dans le futur. L’épargne privée et le report de la retraite représentent alors la meilleure alternative pour éviter une baisse de niveau de vie importante à la retraite. Les gains en espérance de vie à 65 ans semblent justifier cette politique. Mais les écarts d’espérance de vie et de santé selon le statut socioéconomique sont substantiels et semblent vouloir …

Dossier De Politique No. 20 - Les Canadiens Très Âgés Forment Une Nouvelle Réalité Démographie, Jacques Légaré, Yann Décarie, Kim Deslandes, Yves Carrière

Population Change and Lifecourse Strategic Knowledge Cluster Research/Policy Brief

Les Canadiens très âgés (« Oldest Olds ») forment une population distincte, appelée à prendre une place grandissante au pays. Il faut considérer cette réalité démographique dans l’élaboration des politiques publiques.

Dossier De Recherche No. 22 - De Nouvelles Pistes Sur Le Vieillissement Démographique Et Les Coûts Des Soins De Santé Au Québec, Michaël Boissonneault, Jacques Légaré, Yann Décarie

Population Change and Lifecourse Strategic Knowledge Cluster Research/Policy Brief

Cette recherche s'intéresse aux déterminants individuels associés à la variation des coûts publics des soins de santé, chez les Québécois de 65 ans et plus, vivant en ménage privé, avec incapacités. À l'aide de données administratives, la variation des coûts pour la consultation de professionnels de la santé et la consommation de produits pharmaceutiques a été analysée en fonction du nombre d’incapacités ainsi que de la nature de celles-ci. Les résultats montrent que des coûts plus élevés sont associés à un nombre plus élevé d'incapacités ainsi qu'à certains types particuliers d'incapacité, soient celles liées à l’agilité, la mobilité et, plus …

Policy Brief No. 19 - Caregiver Assessment: An Essential Component Of Continuing Care Policy, Janice Keefe, Nancy Guberman, Pamela Fancey, Lucy Barylak

Population Change and Lifecourse Strategic Knowledge Cluster Research/Policy Brief

Family and friend caregivers are the backbone of Canada’s health and social care systems. The support they provide is indispensable in enabling individuals with long-term health issues to remain in their communities. Caregivers take on a challenging role—one that can impact their physical and mental health, social activities, personal finances, employment and relationships (Health Council of Canada, 2012; Keefe, 2011). Caregivers’ health and wellbeing has repercussions for the care recipient, their family, their communities and the health care system. To support this critical role, caregivers need to be understood as partners in care, but also as potential individual clients of …

Research Brief No. 17 - Rethinking Retirement, David K. Foot, Rosemary A. Venne

Population Change and Lifecourse Strategic Knowledge Cluster Research/Policy Brief

Current pension policies in Canada do not take into account rising life expectancy. A Canadian worker in 1950 who retired at age 65 could expect to live 4 years in retirement. In 2006, a Canadian retiring at age 65 can now expect to have 16 years in retirement. Older workers can be a valuable resource with their years of experience that can be used to train younger replacement workers through the use of partial retirement schemes. Since many older workers would prefer to keep working after age 65, employers would benefit by offering flexible retirement schemes, such as a reduced …

Dossier De Recherche No. 14 - Trajectoires Familiales Et Réseau De Soutien Des Canadiens Âgés De Demain, France-Pascale Ménard, Céline Le Bourdais

Population Change and Lifecourse Strategic Knowledge Cluster Research/Policy Brief

Depuis quelques décennies, les comportements touchant la vie en couple et la parenta-lité ont considérablement changé, bouleversant par la même occasion les réseaux fami-liaux des Canadiens. Ces changements auront indéniablement des répercussions sur l’apport d’aide aux personnes âgées dans l’avenir. Dans cette optique, on observe comment les étapes marquant la vie conjugale et la parentalité ont évolué chez les personnes étant nées entre 1923 et 1972. On compare ainsi les personnes âgées d’aujourd-’hui à celles de demain, ces dernières correspondant aux baby-boomers. Les résultats montrent que les comportements de ces derniers se sont diversifiés et complexifiés face à ceux de …

Research Brief No. 3 - Disability And Support Networks Of Older Canadians, Janice Keefe, Samuel Vézina, Jacques Légaré, Yann Décarie, Guillaume Lefrançois

Population Change and Lifecourse Strategic Knowledge Cluster Research/Policy Brief

The percentage of older Canadians requiring assistance with health-related tasks due to a long-term health condition increases sharply with age (Chen & Wilkins, 1998). As the first of the Boomers reach age 65 in 2011, it is of great interest to identify trends in disability and support network usage, to better predict future needs and resources within community care. This project used data from five national datasets to investigate the global disability rate and examine socio-demographic characteristics associated with disability and the use of informal and formal support networks to assist older adults with a health problem in performing everyday …