Digital Commons Network^™

Around The Center, 1998 July, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL: Issue of "Around the Center", an employee newsletter. This issue has staffing and departmental updates, patient letters, and a feature on the new equipment at the Radiology MR Institute.

Around The Center, 1997 March/April, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL: Issue of "Around the Center", an employee newsletter. This issue has staffing and departmental updates, patient letters, and a feature on a new strategic plan.

Around The Center, 1988 May, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL: Issue of "Around the Center", an employee newsletter. This issue has staffing and departmental updates, a patient letter, and features on several ambulatory care centers.

Understanding Older People’S Voice Interactions With Smart Voice Assistants: A New Modified Rule-Based Natural Language Processing Model With Human Input, Zhengxu Yan, Victoria Dube, Judith Heselton, Kate Johnson, Changmin Yan, Valerie Jones, Julie Blaskewicz Boron, Marcia Shade

College of Journalism and Mass Communications: Faculty Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic has expedited the integration of Smart Voice Assistants (SVA) among older people. The qualitative data derived from user commands on SVA is pivotal for elucidating the engagement patterns of older individuals with such systems. However, the sheer volume of user-generated voice interaction data presents a formidable challenge for manual coding. Compounding this issue, age-related cognitive decline and alterations in speech patterns further complicate the interpretation of older users’ SVA voice interactions. Conventional dictionary-based textual analysis tools, which count word frequencies, are inadequate in capturing the evolving and communicative essence of these interactions that unfold over a series …

Integrating Geriatric Content Into Traditional Undergraduate Baccalaureate Nursing Curriculum, Gina B. Diaz

Dissertations

Geriatric content in baccalaureate nursing curriculum is essential. Nursing students need the knowledge, skills, and attitude in providing quality care to older adults. The goal of this project was to integrate geriatric content into the traditional undergraduate (TUG) baccalaureate nursing curriculum. This was completed by providing a 16-week didactic learning experience in the classroom and clinical experiences in the community setting and long-term care facility. Fourteen TUG baccalaureate nursing students from a private college participated in the project. Results indicate that the integration of geriatric content into baccalaureate nursing curriculum increases students' knowledge and skills and enhanced attitude towards older …

Academic Detailing As A Health Information Technology Implementation Method: Supporting The Design And Implementation Of An Emergency Department-Based Clinical Decision Support Tool To Prevent Future Falls, Hanna J Barton, Apoorva Maru, Margaret A Leaf, Daniel J Hekman, Douglas A Wiegmann, Manish N Shah, Brian W Patterson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Clinical decision support (CDS) tools that incorporate machine learning-derived content have the potential to transform clinical care by augmenting clinicians' expertise. To realize this potential, such tools must be designed to fit the dynamic work systems of the clinicians who use them. We propose the use of academic detailing-personal visits to clinicians by an expert in a specific health IT tool-as a method for both ensuring the correct understanding of that tool and its evidence base and identifying factors influencing the tool's implementation.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess academic detailing as a method for simultaneously ensuring the correct …

Aging In The City Of Melrose: A Community Needs Assessment, Caitlin E. Coyle, Katherine Burnes, Mark Krebs, Ceara Somerville

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging (CSDRA) within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the City of Melrose. The goals of this project were to investigate the interests, preferences, and opinions of Melrose’s residents aged 55 or older by engaging the community regarding their experiences and needs relevant to the Council on Aging’s (COA’s) objective to identify and serve the needs of all Melrose citizens 55 and older. The contents of this report are meant to inform the City of Melrose, the Melrose COA, Milano …

Aging In North Andover: A Community Needs Assessment, Claire Wickersham, Caitlin E. Coyle, Ceara Somerville, Holly Stockdale

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging (CSDRA) within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Town of North Andover. The goal of this project was to identify, describe, and prioritize the needs and preferences of North Andover residents age 60 and older as they relate to aging well in the community. In 2023, North Andover opened a new Senior Community Center. The contents of this report are intended to be used for planning for the new Senior Community Center space and to inform strategic planning …

The Impact Of Interaction Time And Verbal Engagement With Personal Voice Assistants On Alleviating Loneliness Among Older Adults: An Exploratory Study, Changmin Yan, Kate Johnson, Valerie Jones

College of Journalism and Mass Communications: Faculty Publications

Background: Loneliness in older adults is a critical issue that negatively affects their well-being. The potential of personal voice assistant (PVA) devices like Amazon’s Alexa Echo in reducing loneliness is an emerging area of interest, but it remains under-researched. Objective: this study aims to investigate the effect of interaction time and verbal engagement with PVA devices on reducing loneliness among older adults living alone. Method: In this experiment, individuals aged 75 and older (n = 15), living alone, were provided with Amazon Alexa Echo devices. They were instructed to interact with the device at least five times a day …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Community-Dwelling Older Adults’ Perspectives Of Elderspeak, Katelynn Shimanski

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Compared to other forms of discrimination, ageism, and specific forms of ageism such as elderspeak are understudied. Despite the fact that the majority of older adults are community-dwelling, much of the existing literature on elderspeak focuses on caregiver perceptions on elderspeak occurring in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. The present study analyzed community dwelling older adult’s perceptions of elderspeak using their personal examples of experiences of elderspeak. Results indicated that the majority of participants had negative perceptions of elderspeak that would likely not be influenced by changes in contextual factors such as setting, relationship to the speaker, and gender …

The Missoula Senior Center, Fifty Years Of History 1970-2020, A Narrative, Mark L. Spring

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

This is the story of the Missoula Senior Center over fifty years. It began, struggled, and remains a center for gathering and sharing experiences. It started before its christening in 1969.

The history presented in these pages has been compiled from interviews, newspaper articles, Blazing Trails, The Board of Directors records, member contributions, and The First Thirty Years of History Missoula Senior Citizen’s Center by past member June Gordon Phythian.

Sex-Driven Alterations In Aging Alpha Motoneurons: Exploring Size, Type, Density, And Kv2.1 Channel Expression, Kalin R. Gerber

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

This research explores how motor neurons (MNs) and Kv2.1 clustering change with age, emphasizing sex differences and MN subtypes. We found that MN density decreases with age in both sexes, while soma size increases in male mice. FF MNs were the most affected, and old weak mice had smaller MNs than their stronger counterparts, underscoring FF MN vulnerability. Baseline studies revealed that FF and FI MNs have larger Kv2.1 clusters compared to FR and S MNs. Female mice had smaller, denser Kv2.1 clusters than male mice, suggesting less clustering in females. With age, Kv2.1 clusters grew larger but became less …

Age & Dementia Friendly Plymouth: A Community Needs Assessment, Caitlin E. Coyle, Beth Rouleau, Ceara Somerville

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging (CSDRA) within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Town of Plymouth. The goals of this project were to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Plymouth’s residents age 55 or older in support of the Council on Aging’s (COA’s) objective to identify and serve the needs of all Plymouth citizens 55 and older. The contents of this report are meant to inform the Town of Plymouth, the Plymouth COA, the Center for Active Living, and organizations that …

Web-Based Presence For Social Connectedness In Long-Term Care: Protocol For A Qualitative Multimethods Study, Anna Garnett, Halyna Yurkiv, Richard Booth, Denise Connelly, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan

Publications

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic and resultant restrictions on social gatherings significantly impacted many peoples' sense of social connectedness, defined as an individual's subjective sense of having close relationships with others. Older adults living in long-term care homes (LTCHs) experienced extreme restrictions on social gatherings, which negatively impacted their physical and mental health as well as the health and well-being of their family caregivers. Their experiences highlighted the need to reconceptualize social connectedness. In particular, the pandemic highlighted the need to explore novel ways to attain fulfilling relationships with others in the absence of physical gatherings such as through the use …

Tuberculosis Presentation And Outcomes In Older Hispanic Adults From Tamaulipas, Mexico, Belinda Medrano, Miryoung Lee, Gretchen L. Gemeinhardt, Javier E. Rodríguez-Herrera, Moncerrato García-Viveros, Blanca I. Restrepo

School of Medicine Publications

Older people are at high risk of developing and dying from pulmonary infections like tuberculosis (TB), but there are few studies among them, particularly in Hispanics. To address these gaps, we sought to identify host factors associated with TB and adverse treatment outcomes in older Hispanics by conducting a cross-sectional study of TB surveillance data from Tamaulipas, Mexico (2006–2013; n = 8381). Multivariable logistic regressions were assessed for older adults (OA ≥65 years) when compared to young (YA, 18–39 years) and middle-aged adults (40–64 years). We found that the OA had features associated with a less complicated TB (e.g., lower …

Tuberculosis Presentation And Outcomes In Older Hispanic Adults From Tamaulipas, Mexico, Belinda A Medrano, Miryoung Lee, Gretchen Gemeinhardt, Javier E Rodríguez-Herrera, Moncerrato García-Viveros, Blanca I Restrepo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Older people are at high risk of developing and dying from pulmonary infections like tuberculosis (TB), but there are few studies among them, particularly in Hispanics. To address these gaps, we sought to identify host factors associated with TB and adverse treatment outcomes in older Hispanics by conducting a cross-sectional study of TB surveillance data from Tamaulipas, Mexico (2006-2013; n = 8381). Multivariable logistic regressions were assessed for older adults (OA ≥65 years) when compared to young (YA, 18-39 years) and middle-aged adults (40-64 years). We found that the OA had features associated with a less complicated TB (e.g., lower …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy Practitioners In The Care Of Pets And Animals: A Guide To Aging In Place With Pets And Animals, Blake Randell, Mary Jan Greer, Sherry Pidgeon

Summer 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project explored the role of occupational therapy practitioners in the care of pets and animals among older adults which has been referred to as the forgotten instrumental activity of daily living (or IADL) for this population. A needs assessment was conducted to determine how to provide facilitators and remove barriers or hindrances to occupational performance in the care of pets and animals among a group of older adults (with a variety of disability- and non-disability-related needs) in independent living communities. This needs assessment identified compounding health disparities of physical and/or cognitive impairments and lack of financial and necessary …

Growing Old In Adopted Lands: The Nexus Of Ageing And Acculturation Research, Ágnes Szabó

Online Readings in Psychology and Culture

Ageing and migration are overlapping and interconnected social issues. Both ageing and acculturation research have been on the rise for decades, yet the two fields rarely intersect. Gerontological research on ageing migrants is situated outside of acculturation theory and older migrants have been largely overlooked in acculturation research. In this article, I provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on ageing in migrants, focusing on three lines of inquiry: epidemiological perspective on healthy ageing, critical approaches to understanding beliefs and values about what it means to age healthily for migrants, and research examining structural inequalities in older migrants’ …

Aging In Brockton: A Community Needs Assessment, Caitlin E. Coyle, Setarreh Massihzadegan, Josef Kijewski, Ceara Somerville

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging (CSDRA) within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the City of Brockton. The goals of this project were to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Brockton’s residents age 60 or older by engaging the community regarding their experiences and needs relevant to the COA’s objective to identify and serve the needs of all Brockton citizens 60 and older. The contents of this report are meant to inform the City of Brockton, the Brockton COA, Senior Center, and …

Occupational Therapists' Perspectives On Nursing Home Culture And Addressing The Psychosocial Needs Of Residents: Mixed Methods Design, Nayeli Mendoza, Mikayla C. Wandersee, Divya Sood

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore occupational therapists’ perspectives on the culture change movement to address the psychosocial components of care among nursing home residents and identify supports and barriers to implementing the culture change movement.

Methods: We used a sequential explanatory mixed methods design. Electronic surveys were completed by 102 occupational therapists who work in nursing home facilities. Three focus groups were conducted via conference call with occupational therapists (n = 9). The survey was analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Focus groups were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results: Seventy-four of survey …

Gyno-Gerontological Discourse And The Dearth Of Old Women Narrators In British Fiction 1790-1860, Lavender Elisabeth Earnest

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the remarkable dearth of old woman narrators in British fiction between 1790 and 1860, both documenting their under-representation and explaining it as, in part, a product of a wave of medical discourse disparaging the physical and mental vitality of post-menopausal women. Regarding methodology, I perform a random sample upon a corpus of first-person novels published in the period and categorize each according to the gender and age of the narrator. This analysis exhibits, unsurprisingly, that most narrators in the dataset are either in the first half of their life, male, or both. Old women represent only a …

Ms 225 Guide To Thomas R. Cole, Phd Papers (1973-2002), Thomas R. Cole

Manuscript Finding Aids

The Thomas R. Cole, PhD papers consists of scholarly projects and history of the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics in the University of Texas' McGovern Medical School. The papers include articles, journals, monographs, correspondence, notes, transcripts, books, syllabi, DVDs/CDs, Betacam tapes, cassettes, realia, and research primarily chronicling Dr. Cole’s professional career. See more at MS 225.

Engaging The Aging Process: Unlock The Fountain Of Youth, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

Employment for aging is a significant aspect shaping the aging processes during formative years. Therefore, work opportunities combined and consequential impacts later in life merit special consideration. Given that population aging has become a global pattern with ensuing changes in labor markets far and wide, there is increased concern about the impacts of retirement around the globe and the macroeconomic advantages frequently connected with delaying retirement. It is fundamental for nations with aging populations to maintain profitability, given an aging workforce. Governments must make it simpler for individuals to maintain a significant presence in the workforce. This contribution focuses on …

Racial Differences In Depression Indicators Before And After 2008 Financial Crisis In A Sample Of Older Adults, Angelina E. Jackson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The present study was designed to examine patterns of mental health outcomes in older Black and White adults after the national 2008 financial crisis. The data was acquired from the University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study, a publicly available dataset. This longitudinal study has obtained data from a representative sample of approximately 20,000 older adults in America, aged 55 and older. The hypotheses were (1) rates of mental health indicators related to symptoms of depression will increase after the 2008 financial crisis and (2) that increase will be significantly higher in Black respondents compared to White respondents. The analysis …

Functional Comparison Of Six-Minute Walk Tests Between Shod And Minimalist Footwear Individuals In Mid-Life: A Preliminary Pilot Study Analysis, Camille L. Nguyen, Aaron W. Johnson, Annie Smedley, Sarah T. Ridge

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Research has shown that wearing minimalistic footwear can increase intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscle size and strength,although the effect of transitioning from shod to minimalist footwear on gait functionality–such as performance on a six-minute walk test–is not well documented. PURPOSE: We observed the differences in a six-minute functional walk test between mid-life (45yrs-65yrs) individuals who transitioned to minimalist footwear (MF) over a fourteen month period compared to habitually shod (HS) individuals. METHODS: Twenty mid-life individuals participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to either the MF (n=8, age= 56.5 ± 5.18 yrs, height= 162.71 ± 7.69 cm, …

Efficacy Of A 6-Week Suspension Training Exercise Program On Fitness Components In Older Adults, Christina Pierle, Alexander T. Mcdaniel, Lindsey H. Schroeder, Michel J.H. Heijnen, Wayland Tseh

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(3): 1168-1178, 2022. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of a 6-week suspension training exercise program on fitness components in older adults. Eleven participants (age = 80 ± 5 yrs) completed a 6-week suspension training exercise program. Pre- and post-fitness assessments comprised of body composition, handgrip dynamometer, functional reach, and balance. The 6-week suspension training intervention required individuals to perform suspension training exercises for fifty minutes, twice per week. A paired sample t-test was used to determine differences from pre-and post-assessments. An improvement was observed in functional reach (57.2 ± …

Aging In Lynn: A Community Needs Assessment, Caitlin Coyle, Mary Krebs, Setarreh Massihzadegan

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the City of Lynn and the Lynn Department of Elder Services. The goals of this project were to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of residents of the City of Lynn age 60 or older. The contents of this report are meant to inform the planning and operation of the Lynn Senior Center, and organizations that work with and on behalf of older residents of the City of Lynn. The report …

Gerontoludic Character Design: Creating Engaging Player Characters For Older Adults, Robin Noelle Koman

Theses

In this thesis, findings of research in gerontoludic character design, in other words the design of game player characters focused upon the needs, wants, and expectations of older adults, are delivered. To support these findings, there is a review of qualitative and quantitative literature on ageism, including the impact of aging stereotypes and assumptions upon technology driven industries such as the game industry. This exploration of the roots of ageism includes an examination of how ageism affects the frequency and nature of older adult characters, both playable and non-playable, found in video games. Part of the justification of this topic …

The Role Of Physical Activity In Supporting Treatment Of Coxarthrosis Symptoms In Elderly Patients, Malgorzata Kawa, Malgorzata Kowza-Dzwonkowska, Agnieszka Schenk

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Next to degenerative changes of the spine, osteoarthritis of the hip is one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system in people after the age of 65. The purpose of this study is to compare and evaluate the analgesic effectiveness treatments with exercises on a bicycle ergometer in osteoarthritis of the hip in patients. Material/Methods: The study involved 30 persons with degenerative disease of the hip referred to 10-day rehabilitation with a weekend break. In Group A 14 patients were subjected to treatments with local cryotherapy and laser therapy; in Group B 16 this treatment together exercises …

Evaluation Of Analgesic Effectiveness Of Infrared Radiation And Interference Currents In Degenerative Diseases, Malgorzata Kawa, Ewa Muszynska, Malgorzata Kowza-Dzwonkowska

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

No abstract provided.