Digital Commons Network^™

Envisioning An Age Friendly Stoneham, Caitlin Coyle, Mary Krebs

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

Tucked between two major highways, about nine miles from Boston, the Town of Stoneham is currently home to more than 22, 000 residents, 27% of which are age 60 and older. According to projections created by the Donahue Institute at the University of Massachusetts, a trend toward an older population in Stoneham is expected in future decades. Donahue Institute vintage projections suggest that by 2035, more than one out of each three Stoneham’s residents will be age 60 or older—28% of the town’s population will be between the ages of 60 and 79, with an additional 10% age 80 and …

Aging Strong For All: Examining Aging Equity In The City Of Boston, Jan Mutchler, Caitlin Coyle, Nidya Velasco Roldán, Paul Watanabe, Cedric Woods, Lorna Rivera, Quito Swan, Elena Stone, Laurie Nsiah-Jefferson

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

The experience of being and becoming older differs substantially based on one’s race, ethnicity, and gender. In the City of Boston, it has never been more critical to strategically pursue greater equity in the aging experience of residents. According to data from the US Census Bureau, the number of Boston residents aged 60 or older increased by more than a third just since 2010 and persons of color now make up half of Boston’s older adults. As well, stakeholders share a growing recognition of the powerful ways in which inequity, racism and discrimination shape health outcomes and the aging experience, …

Prediction Of Nocturia In Live Alone Elderly Using Unobtrusive In-Home Sensors, Barry Nuqoba, Hwee-Pink Tan

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Nocturia, or the need to void (or urinate) one or more times in the middle of night time sleeping, represents a significant economic burden for individuals and healthcare systems. Although it can be diagnosed in the hospital, most people tend to regard nocturia as a usual event, resulting in underreported diagnosis and treatment. Data from self-reporting via a voiding diary may be irregular and subjective especially among the elderly due to memory problems. This study aims to detect the presence of nocturia through passive in-home monitoring to inform intervention (e.g., seeking diagnosis and treatment) to improve the physical and mental …

Altruistic Attitudes Among Older Adults: Examining Construct Validity And Measurement Invariance Of A New Scale, Tirth R. Bhatta, Eva Kahana, Nirmala Lekhak, Boaz Kahana, Elizabeth Midlarsky

Sociology Faculty Research

Background and Objectives: Scholarly research has established the role of altruism in facilitating human cooperation and prosocial behaviors and highlighted its contribution to psychological well-being. Given the health significance of altruistic attitudes and orientations, we developed a valid and reliable measure of this construct that is suitable for use with older adults. Research Design and Methods: Based on data from a long-term panel study on adaptation to frailty among older adults (n = 366; mean age = 86 years), we used confirmatory factor analysis to perform construct validation of a five-item Elderly Care Research Center Altruism Scale among older adults …

Harmony Study: Pimavanserin Significantly Reduces Risk Of Relapse Of Dementia-Related Psychosis, Erin P. Foff, Jeffrey L. Cummings, Maria-Eugenia Soto-Martin, Pierre Tariot, Bradley Mcevoy, Srdjan Stankovic

Integrated Health Sciences Faculty Research

No abstract provided.

Age Is An Attitude, Not A Number: The Change In Perceptions Of College Students About Aging., Jennifer Nelson

Honors College Theses

“Ageism is an untrue assumption that chronological age should be the main determinant of human characteristics and that one age group is better than another” (Cavannaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2015, p. 31). Even though America is currently undergoing population aging, ageism is still experienced by 77% of adults (Novak, 2012). Although there has been an abundance of research on the outcomes of ageism (Burnes, et al., 2019; Kallio & Thomas, 2019, Scott, 2019) not as much attention has been given to intergenerational programs. The current study compared qualitative feedback to better understand students’ experiences in service learning with different populations of …

The Gap Remains: Social Security Benefits Continue To Fall Short Of Covering Basic Cost Of Living For Older Americans, 2015-2020, Jan Mutchler, Yang Li

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

Older Americans rely heavily on Social Security to support an independent lifestyle. Recent estimates suggest that among adults aged 65 years or older, more than half rely on Social Security for at least 50% of their family income, while nearly a quarter depend on Social Security for 90% or more of their family income.

Despite this substantial reliance on Social Security among older adults, Social Security benefits fall short of what is required to cover a basic cost of living across the United States, according to new estimates based on the Elder Index, a county-by-county measure of the income older …

Envisioning An Age-Friendly Norwood, Caitlin Coyle, Beth Rouleau

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

Nestled just outside the I-95 beltway, the Town of Norwood, Massachusetts is a community southwest of Boston that takes pride in the history of residents staying in, or returning to, the community across the lifespan. Projections indicate that by 2035, about one out of three Norwood residents will be age 60 or older—24% of the Town’s population will be between the ages of 60 and 79, with an additional 8% age 80 and older (see Appendix A). The desire to stay and a growing older adult population lends to many multi-generational families within the community, creating a sense of supportive …

New Cultures Of Care? The Spatio-Temporal Modalities Of Home-Based Smart Eldercare Technologies In Singapore, Orlando Woods, Lily Kong

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Increasingly, technology-enabled strategies of eldercare are being developed and deployed to minimize the socio-economic costs of ageing. As part of this shift, home-based ‘smart’ technologies have been embraced as a way of enabling ageing-in-place. Smart technologies flatten space and time, and can increase the reach of caregivers. In this sense, they foreground the emergence of new cultures of care. Through an empirical focus on the triallists of smart eldercare technologies living in a public housing estate in Singapore, this paper considers the ways in which new cultures of care are being formed and negotiated in response to the encroachment of …

Federal Sentencing Disparities And Marginalized Offenders: Revisiting Cumulative Disadvantage Theory Through Individual-Level Variables, April Terry, Ashley Lockwood

Academic Leadership Journal in Student Research

Over the past several decades, sentencing reforms have claimed to establish guidelines to reduce sentencing disparity; yet, recent studies continue to find discrepancies in sentencing outcomes. The current study explored individual factors using data from the U.S. Sentencing Commission (FY 2010) to further analyze these variables through the lens of cumulative disadvantage theory. The factors included the influence of age, race, sex (gender), offense type, instant offense score, and overall criminal history score on sentencing length (in months). Hierarchical regression revealed being identified as Black, committing fraud/white collar crime or a property offense, and overall criminal history were able to …

From Participants To Co-Researchers: Methodological Alterations To A Qualitative Case Study, Elizabeth M. Pope

The Qualitative Report

Researchers request a variety of levels of engagement from their participants in a research study. This can range from merely serving as a data generation opportunity to being actively involved in each stage of the project. The latter is a co-researcher. In this paper, I explore how nine participants in a qualitative case study became co-researchers by the study’s conclusion. The increase in their active participation required methodological alterations to the project while I conducted the study. This paper presents these alterations by examining: (1) my position as a researcher; (2) my relationship with the participants; (3) the trajectory of …

Physical Health Impacts Of Grandparenting Children With Disabilities, Ynesse Abdul-Malak, Madonna Harrington Meyer

Population Health Research Brief Series

Although caring for grandchildren with disabilities often brings substantial joy to grandparents, it can adversely impact grandparents' physical health. For many grandparents, caring for their grandchildren makes them feel younger, mostly because they are more physically active and maintain healthier diets.

Social Isolation: Do Helpers Help Ward It Off?, Kirsten Young Brown

MA Research Paper

Social isolation is particularly relevant among elderly individuals who are more likely to need care and help with their physical and living needs. Little is known about whether receiving help correlates with social isolation in older adults living at home as often there is no focus from caregivers and helpers on older adults' social needs. Using data from the 2018 US National Health and Aging Trends Study, a sample of adults aged 65 plus on Medicare/Medicaid (N=4,321), I examine the relationship between social isolation and help. I estimate ordinary least squares regression models to test the association between receiving help …

The Link Between Nativity Status And Racial Infant Mortality Disparities, Hannah Pierson

McNair Scholars Manuscripts

The United States has one of the highest rates of infant mortality in the developed world. Studies indicate infant mortality varies greatly across racial groups. Black women are twice as likely to report preterm birth or infant death relative to White women. Foreign-born Black women have similar rates to that of native-born White women rather than native-born Black women, suggesting the link between race and reproductive health is more complex than previously understood. Thus, this study examines the interplay between nativity, race, and reproductive health. The cumulative disadvantage perspective has been employed to better unpack how life course stressors may …

Penerapan Sistem Attachment Pada Anak Melalui Gawai, Dwi Amalia Chandra Sekar, Aqilatul Layyinah

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

Attachment between mother and child is an affective bond that is important to maintain in a family. For working mothers, the device is one solution to maintain attachment to their children. This research aims to describe the attachment system in children aged 2-3 years through the device and the application of the attachment system to fulfill the developmental tasks of the child. The articles are arranged based on qualitative research with descriptive methods. Although the attachment system that was built was adapted to the use of the device, but working mothers always maintain the quality of their relationship by interacting …

Individualize Outcome Evaluation Program Rehabilitasi Sosial Anak Berkonflik Hukum (Abh) Di Brsampk Rumbai., Rieza Satifa, Isbandi Rukminto Adi

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

This study aims to individually evaluate the impact (Outcomes) of a social rehabilitation program for Children in Legal Conflict (ABH) in BRSAMPK Rumbai. One of the programs available is the Rumah Antara that is intended for ABH who have already been or are undergoing legal proceedings. By using a qualitative approach, this research evaluated ABH who have carried out social rehabilitation and have resumed life in their communities, so that they can provide a pattern and input to the Balai and the justice system in handling child with criminal cases. Past conditions cause the family to be more possessive to …

Fungsi Badan Usaha Milik Desa Dalam Meningkatkan Kesejahteraan Masyarakat : Studi Bumdes Serang Makmur Sejahtera, Desa Serang, Kabupaten Purbalingga, Rojaul Huda, Bambang Shergi Laksmono

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

One of the efforts to reduce poverty and improve community welfare is through entrepreneurship. Village owned enterprises (BUMDes) are one of the places for entrepreneurial learning for rural communities. Likewise, what happened at BUMDes Serang Makmur Sejahtera in Serang Village, Karangreja District, Purbalingga Regency. The research objective is to gather information about the function of BUMDes in improving the welfare of the community in rural areas. This article uses a qualitative research method with a descriptive type. Data were collected by observation and in-depth interviews with BUMDes managers, village officials, and village communities. Based on this research, it is found …

How To Track Down Your Lost 401(K), Pension Action Center, University Of Massachusetts Boston

Pension Action Center Publications

This fact sheet was produced by the Pension Action Center at the University of Massachusetts Boston in conjunction with the COVID-19 Rapid Response Systems Summer Institute, a joint partnership of Justice Catalyst, the People’s Parity Project, and the Systemic Justice Project.

Protect Your 401k When You Leave Your Job, Pension Action Center, University Of Massachusetts Boston

Pension Action Center Publications

This fact sheet was produced by the Pension Action Center at the University of Massachusetts Boston in conjunction with the COVID-19 Rapid Response Systems Summer Institute, a joint partnership of Justice Catalyst, the People’s Parity Project, and the Systemic Justice Project.

Dukungan Sosial Guna Pemenuhan Hak Sosial Ekonomi Bagi Klien Pemasyarakatan Di Balai Pemasyarakatan Kelas I Jakarta Pusat., Dina Setyani, Fentiny Nugroho

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

This study aims to describe social support in order to fulfill the socio-economic rights of correctional clients. The socio-economic rights are the second generation of human rights groups which focus on the welfare aspect. Assistance as a form of social approach to achieve welfare based on human rights, where clients can identify their own needs, so as to minimize human rights violations and have the opportunity to function socially and live well. The existence of social support from the nearest environment makes the client able to adapt back to the community and be able to develop his potential. The research …

Partisipasi Masyarakat Pada Daya Tarik Wisata Pantai Maimol Di Kabupaten Alor., Yudha Eka Nugraha, Pasifikus Mala Meko, Yerry B. G. Blegur

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

According to Indonesian tourism policy in UU 10 year 2009, tourism will increase community welfare towards community participation. This research aims to identify community participation in tourism activity of Maimol beach using three main concepts namely: factors, forms and levels of participation. The method used was descriptive qualitative by conducting observations and direct interviews with predetermined informants such as the Government, the beach management, the community and tourists, as well as collecting research evidence in the form of image documentation. The results showed that the community around the Maimol beach had participated by working together for every decision was made, …

Iot-Enabled Community Care For Ageing-In-Place: The Singapore Experience, Hwee-Pink Tan

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

The paradigm of ageing-in-place – where the elderly live and age in their own homes, independently and safely, with care provided by the community – is compelling, especially in societies that face both shortages in institutionalized eldercare resources, and rapidly ageing populations. When the number of elderly who live alone rises rapidly, support and care from their communities become increasing crucial. Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. They can become the fundamental enabler for smart community eldercare. In this presentation, I would like to share our experiences and learnings gathered from large-scale deployments of IoT systems in in-home and community spaces …

Financial Knowledge And Portfolio Complexity In Singapore, Benedict S. K. Koh, Olivia S. Mitchell, Susann Rohwedder

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Financial literacy in Singapore has not been analyzed in much detail, despite the fact that this is one of the world’s most rapidly aging nations. Using the Singapore Life Panel®, we explore older Singaporeans’ levels of financial knowledge and compare them to those observed in the United States. We assess portfolio complexity for these older households, to examine how financial literacy is related to outcomes of interest. We show that older Singaporeans’ levels of financial literacy are comparable overall to those in the United States, even though older Singaporeans score slightly lower on some dimensions (knowledge of interest and inflation), …

Well-Being Among Older Adults In Mississippi: Exploring Differences Between Metropolitan, Micropolitan, And Noncore Rural Settings, Carolyn E. Adams-Price, Joshua J. Turner, Margaret Ralston

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

It is a common belief that older adults in rural areas have high subjective well-being, despite often experiencing greater poverty and having access to fewer resources than older adults who live in urban areas, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as the “rural-urban paradox.” However, research does not consistently find high well-being in rural areas, which might be due to research not distinguishing between very rural and semi-rural (or small town) settings. This study compares the subjective well-being of older adults in micropolitan and noncore counties with the well-being of older adults in metropolitan areas in Mississippi (n = 659). Preliminary …

Utilizing A Community-University Partnership To Meet Grandfamilies’ Needs: Development And Evaluation Of A Grandchildren-Mentoring Program, Christine A. Fruhauf, A. Nancy Mendoza, Pamela Bishop, Gail Engel, Suzanna Hetchler

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

In response to the increasing rate of grandparent-headed homes and the needs of grandparents and grandchildren, we engaged in a community-university partnership to develop, implement, and evaluate a grandchildren-mentoring program. Prior to developing the grandchildren-mentoring program, a county needs assessment was conducted. The needs assessment revealed that grandparents wanted opportunities for mentorship of their grandchildren. As a result, we partnered with an undergraduate practicum course to create a new option of college students engaging with grandchildren. During our inaugural grandchildren-mentoring program, we conducted focus groups/interviews with grandparents (n = 5) and grandchildren (n = 7) at the end of the …

Many Older Americans Do Not Receive The Recommended Home Health Care After Hospitalization, Jun Li, Mingyu Qi, Rachel M. Werner

Population Health Research Brief Series

Only 54% of Medicare patients referred to home health care services following a hospitalization received home health care visits. Policymakers must address this discrepancy to ensure all patients receive the home health services they need.

It's The Little Things: A Community Resource For Strengthening Social Connections, Caitlin Coyle, Shayna Gleason, Cindy Bui

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we prioritize connection for ourselves and the people around us. The global COVID-19 pandemic and the national reckoning with systemic racism has made people more aware and appreciative of their relationships and has made some painfully aware of how distant and disconnected they are. While the evidence is clear that social isolation is bad for health and well-being, the evidence base of solutions is far less so. Thus, this report sought to harness the energy, creativity, and progressive thinking of cities and towns in Massachusetts by documenting their efforts to keep people …

Self-Determination In Transportation: The Route To Social Inclusion For People With Disabilities, Jessica Murray

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

People with disabilities encounter many challenges with transportation but are not usually considered in research about travel behavior and well-being. Research on transportation challenges is often disability-specific even though different access needs can complement or conflict with each other. I argue that disability should be centered in the study of travel and well-being because it magnifies problems that may also frustrate people who do not currently consider themselves disabled. The goal of the dissertation was to identify how basic psychological needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence apply to the context of transportation and identify ways to measure fulfillment and frustration …

The Disproportionate Impact Of Covid-19 On Older Latino Mortality: The Rapidly Diminishing Latino Paradox, Rogelio Sáenz, Marc A. Garcia

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Objectives: This brief report aims to highlight stark mortality disparities among older Latinos that result from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods: We use recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to compute age-specific death rates (ASDRs) for three causes of death: deaths from COVID-19, residual deaths, and total deaths for four age-groups (55-64, 65-74, 75-84, and 85 and older) to assess the impact of COVID-19 on older Latino mortality relative to non-Latino Whites and non-Latino Blacks and also in comparison to residual deaths. Additionally, we obtain ASDRs for all causes of deaths from 1999 to …

Diurnal, Metabolic And Thermogenic Alterations In A Murine Model Of Accelerated Aging, David B. Allison, Guang Ren, Rodrigo A. Peliciari-Garcia, Sobuj Mia, Graham R. Mcginnis, Jennifer Davis, Karen L. Gamble, Jeong A. Kim, Martin E. Young

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Research

Senescence-Accelerated Mouse-Prone 8 (SAMP8) mice exhibit characteristics of premature aging, including hair loss, cognitive dysfunction, reduced physical activity, impaired metabolic homeostasis, cardiac dysfunction and reduced lifespan. Interestingly, circadian disruption can induce or augment many of these same pathologies. Moreover, previous studies have reported that SAMP8 mice exhibit abnormalities in circadian wheel-running behavior, indicating possible alterations in circadian clock function. These observations led to the hypothesis that 24 h rhythms in behavior and/or circadian clock function are altered in SAMP8 mice and that these alterations may contribute to perturbations in whole-body metabolism. Here, we report that 6-month-old SAMP8 mice exhibit a …