Digital Commons Network^™

Meaning In Life And Volunteerism In Older Adults, Nancy E. Sherman, Rebecca Michel, Christopher Rybak, G Kevin Randall, Jeanette Davidson

Adultspan Journal

No abstract provided.

One Facility’S Experience Using The Community Readiness Model To Guide Services For Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, And Transgender Older Adults, Laurie A. Carlson, Kelly S. Harper

Adultspan Journal

No abstract provided.

Age-Related Differences In Idiom Production In Adulthood, Peggy S. Conner, Jungmoon Hyun, Barbara O'Connor-Wells, Inge Anema, Mira Goral, Marie-Michelle Monereau-Merry, Daniel Rubino, Raija Kuckuk, Loraine Obler

Publications and Research

To investigate whether idiom production was vulnerable to age-related difficulties, we asked 40 younger (ages 18–30) and 40 older healthy adults (ages 60–85) to produce idiomatic expressions in a story-completion task. Younger adults produced significantly more correct idiom responses (73%) than did older adults (60%). When older adults generated partially correct responses, they were less likely than younger participants to eventually produce the complete target idiom (old: 32%; young: 70%); first-word cues after initial failure to retrieve an idiom resulted in more correct idioms for older (24%) than younger (15%) participants. Correlations between age and idiom correctness were positive for …

Lifestyle Behaviors And Cognitive Status In A Community Sample Of Older Adults, Heeyoung Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Lifestyle behaviors have been associated with better cognitive status and reduced risk of dementia. However, only individual or combinations of a few lifestyle behaviors have been studied. The present study examines the association between lifestyle behaviors and cognitive status in older adults including six lifestyle behaviors: cognitive activities, social activities, physical activities, religious involvement, diet, and alcohol consumption.

The study population is a sample of 1,216 community-dwelling men and women age 65 years and older from Cache County, Utah. The present study is conducted using the extant data from the Cache County Study on Memory Health and Aging (CCSMHA), a …

Elders’ Attitudes Toward Extending The Healthy Life Span, Victor G. Cicirelli

Department of Psychological Sciences Faculty Publications

Despite continuing debate between anti-aging researchers seeking major life span extension and concerned gerontologists and bioethicists, elders’ views have received little research attention. Study aimed to relate elders’ attitudes toward strong life span extension to psychosocial and background factors. Participants were 109 American elders (65% women) aged 60-99 (M = 77.08, SD = 9.05). Measures included attitudes toward living long and living forever, Desired Age, Death Acceptance, Goal Seeking, Internality, and background variables (age, gender, marital status, education, religion, health). Attitudes were more positive toward an extended life span than living forever (p < .01). In regression analyses, more positive attitudes were related to greater Desired Age, less Death Acceptance, greater Goal Seeking, and greater Internality, and to lower age and non-Christian religious affiliation. Qualitative analyses explored goals for various periods of additional life. Elders’ positive attitudes toward extended life need consideration by experts debating this issue.

Multifactorial Screening For Fall Risk In Community-Dwelling Older Adults In The Primary Care Office: Development And Validation Of The Fall Risk Assessment & Screening Tool (Frast), Mindy Oxman Renfro

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Background: Unintentional falls are an increasing public health problem as incidence of falls rises and the population ages. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1 in 3 adults aged 65 years and older will experience a fall this year; 20% to 30% of those who fall will sustain a moderate to severe injury. Physical therapists (PTs) and other primary care practitioners (PCPs) caring for older adults are usually engaged with these patients after the first injury fall and may have little opportunity to abate fall risk before the injuries occur.

Purpose: This manuscript describes the content selection, …

The Effects Of Pet Ownership On Physical Well-Being In Older Adults, Tami Pohnert

Theses and Dissertations

A large percentage of Americans own pets which may impact their health. This study examines pet ownership’s effect on well being in older adults looking at race/ethnicity. A sample of 6,565 older adults (>60) was selected from the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey. Pet owners comprised 28.3% of the sample. The theories of symbolic interaction and social integration were used to examine pet ownership’s effect on physical components of well-being. The descriptive results showed statistically significant differences in age, education, income, and marital status between pet owners and non-pet owners. Pet owners were younger, more educate, higher income …

Adapting To Aging In Place: An Assessment Of Residential Living Facility Resident's Frequency Of Physical Activity, Maggie L. Roe

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Village Manor is medium sized independent retirement community in rural Kentucky. When the community was built in 1995, designers did not anticipate residents’ long term physical activity needs. In order to meet the needs of current and future residents, both resident physical activity levels and their expectations were examined. The Physical Activity Scale for Elderly (PASE) was administered (n = 23) to develop a profile of current physical activity. One focus group was held to develop themes relating to residents’ current physical activity program desires. Results showed that compared to the theoretical physical activity recommendations for this age group (mean …

Computerized Cognitive Testing Among Older Adults: Exploring The Effect Of Computer Experience, Anxiety, And Attitudes On Performance, Pariya L. Fazeli

All ETDs from UAB

While computerized cognitive testing among older adults has become more common, such tests have not replaced traditional paper and pencil measures due to potential barriers to implementation. One potential barrier of concern is that prior computer attitudes, anxiety, and experience may affect performance. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship of prior computer attitudes, anxiety, and experience on the performance of three computerized cognitive tests: the Useful Field of View (UFOV®) test, the Road Sign Test (RST), and the Stroop Task. Specifically, one objective was to compare the differential effects of these computer variables on the …

Neighborhood Factors Relevant For Walking In Older, Urban, African American Adults, N. A. Gallagher, Kimberlee A. Gretebeck, Jennifer C. Robinson, Elisa R. Torres, Susan L. Murphy, Kristy K. Martyn

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Focus-group and photo-voice methodology were used to identify the salient factors of the neighborhood environment that encourage or discourage walking in older, urban African Americans. Twenty-one male (n = 2) and female (n = 19) African Americans age 60 years and older (M = 70 ± 8.7, range = 61–85) were recruited from a large urban senior center. Photographs taken by the participants were used to facilitate focus-group discussions. The most salient factors that emerged included the presence of other people, neighborhood surroundings, and safety from crime, followed by sidewalk and traffic conditions, animals, public walking tracks …

Crisis Model For Older Adults: Special Considerations For An Aging Population, Christian M. Jungers, Leslie Slagel

Adultspan Journal

No abstract provided.

Activities That Promote Wellness For Older Adults In Rural Communities, Mihyun Kang, Randall Russ

Journal of Extension

Growing interest in healthier aging coincides with the comprehensive whole person wellness model that includes physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, occupational, and social dimensions. The study reported here examined current activities for older adults in rural community centers via a mail survey sent to the directors of Oklahoma community centers. To follow up, site visits to the centers and interviews with the directors were conducted. Findings indicated that 16% of the centers offered activities for all six dimensions and that older adults generated many activities. To accommodate activities in a rural community center, programs for these diverse activities must be addressed.

Gender And Friendship Norms Among Older Adults, Diane Felmlee, Anna M. Muraco

Sociology Faculty Works

The authors examined same- and cross-gender friendship norms in a sample of 135 adults (average age 73 years). Participants evaluated a friend’s behavior, quantitatively and qualitatively, in vignettes in which the friend’s gender was experimentally manipulated. Gender often significantly, though modestly, influenced normative evaluations. Women frequently had higher expectations of friends than men and placed a greater emphasis on intimacy. Women were more disapproving of violations of friendship rules, such as betraying a confidence, paying a surprise visit, and failing to stand up for a friend in public. However, both men and women were less approving of a man than …

Just One More: An Examination Of The Prevalence, Correlates, And Consequences Of Concurrent Alcohol And Medication Use In Older Adults, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

No abstract provided.

Depressive Symptoms In Elderly Women With Chronic Conditions: Measurement Issues, Jaclene A. Zauszniewski, Abir K. Bekhet

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: Depression is highly prevalent in elderly women with chronic conditions and measuring depressive symptoms is complicated by co-occurring chronic illnesses. The 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale is commonly used with elders, but its length may result in missing data. Twelve short four to 16 item CES-D forms exist, but their psychometric properties have not been systematically evaluated.

Method: This study of 250 elderly women compared reliability and validity estimates for the 20-item CES-D and its 12 short forms; all scales used four response alternatives. The study also investigated whether women with varying numbers of chronic conditions …

Subjective And Objective Napping And Sleep In Older Adults: Are Evening Naps “Bad” For Nighttime Sleep?, Natalie D. Dautovich, Christina S. Mccrae, Meredeth A. Rowe

Nursing Faculty Publications

Objectives: To compare objective and subjective measurements of napping, and to examine the relationship between evening napping and nocturnal sleep in older adults.

Design: For twelve days, participants wore actigraphs and completed sleep diaries.

Setting: Community

Participants: 100 individuals who napped, 60–89 years (including good and poor sleepers with typical age-related medical comorbidities).

Measurements: Twelve days of sleep diary and actigraphy provided subjective and objective napping and sleep data.

Results: Evening naps (within 2 hours of bedtime) were characteristic of the sample with peak nap time occurring between 20:30–21:00 (average nap time occurred between 14:30–15:00). Two categories of nappers were …

Sleep And Affect In Older Adults: Using Multilevel Modeling To Examine Daily Associations, Christina S. Mccrae, Joseph P. H. Mcnamara, Meredeth Rowe, Joseph M. Dzierzewski, Judith Dirk, Michael Marsiske, Jason G. Craggs

Nursing Faculty Publications

The main objective of the present study was to examine daily associations (intraindividual variability or IIV) between sleep and affect in older adults. Greater understanding of these associations is important, because both sleep and affect represent modifiable behaviors that can have a major influence on older adults’ health and well-being. We collected sleep diaries, actigraphy, and affect data concurrently for 14 days in 103 community-dwelling older adults. Multilevel modeling was used to assess the sleep–affect relationship at both the group (between-persons) and individual (within-person or IIV) levels. We hypothesized that nights characterized by better sleep would be associated with days …

A Resource Guide For Designing And Facilitating Computer Classes For Older Adults, Joan Fields

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Many older adults are motivated to learn about computers and other new technology; however, they do face obstacles that can prevent or discourage them from pursuing this endeavor. They are just as capable of learning about computers as younger people; they just need encouragement, resources, and programs that are designed and facilitated to meet their needs. The reason these programs are needed and should be available is because they can be very beneficial to their mental health and their community involvement. This resource guide provides information on: (a) benefits of technology, (b) addressing obstacles, (c) motivating factors, (d) tips for …

Psycho-Social Effects Of A Brain-Training Program Among Healthy Older Adults, Desma Hurley, M. Jean Turner, William C. Bailey

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Grounded in cognitive neuroscience and social exchange theory, this research evaluated the relationship between changes in cognitive functioning and two psycho-social dimensions of life among healthy adults over the age of 70 (N=12). Specific psycho-social dimensions examined were social interaction and depression. Six females and six males participated in the study. All were white, college-educated individuals residing in a life-care residential retirement community. The participants used the Posit Science® Brain Fitness Program™, an auditory-based computer training program that improves memory and speed of processing, for forty hours over an eight-week period. Pre- and post-tests related to social interaction and depressive …

Physical Activity And Public Health In Older Adults: Recommendation From The American College Of Sports Medicine And The American Heart Association, Miriam E. Nelson, W. Jack Rejeski, Steven N. Blair, Pamela W. Duncan, James O. Judge, Abby C. King, Carol A. Macera, Carmen Castaneda-Sceppa

Faculty Publications

Objective - To issue a recommendation on the types and amounts of physical activity needed to improve and maintain health in older adults.

Participants - A panel of scientists with expertise in public health, behavioral science, epidemiology, exercise science, medicine, and gerontology.

Evidence - The expert panel reviewed existing consensus statements and relevant evidence from primary research articles and reviews of the literature. Process: After drafting a recommendation for the older adult population and reviewing drafts of the Updated Recommendation from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Heart Association (AHA) for Adults, the panel issued a …

Down-Regulation Of Natural Killer Cell Activation In Response To Influenza Virus In Older Adults, Yu Jing

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Immune senescence contributes to influenza-associated high mortality and morbidity and reduced vaccine efficacy in elderly people. Type I T cell (Thl)-mediated immunity plays a significant role in Immune responses to influenza infection and vaccination. Natural killer (NK) cells secrete significant amount of IFN-7 , a hallmark Thl cytokine, in response to influenza infection. How aging influences human NK cell IFN-7 production in response to influenza virus has not been well documented. In this study we employed human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and performed intracellular cytokine staining and flow cytometry primarily to investigate how aging influences NK cell activation with …

Lived Experiences: An Examination Of Older Adults' Late-Stage, Life-Span Ecological Transition From A Home Residence To An Assisted Living Facility, Christin Jungers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The population of older adults in the United States is growing rapidly, and in response to demographic changes, a new housing market for elders known as assisted living is emerging as the fastest growing segment of the senior housing arena. While the impact of the transition to institutional facilities has been examined thoroughly in settings such as nursing homes, little is known about the influences of a late-life transition to assisted living (AL) on American elders. Using a phenomenologically oriented approach, this qualitative investigation examined the lived experiences of assisted living residents as a means of adding to the literature …

Geropsychology Training: A National Survey Of Psychology Trainees., Brian Heath Gordon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study was designed to investigate factors that influence a trainee's pursuit of geropsychology training in effort to identify ways of attracting students to a promising area of research and practice. Researchers have indicated that the older adult population is a heterogeneous group whose numbers will increase significantly over the next 30 years. This changing age demographic is predicted to have a considerable impact on applied psychology by amplifying the need for psychologists trained in providing services to older adults. However, few psychologists have received such training, and few students elect to pursue training in aging. This study utilized a …

Assessment Of Pneumonia In Older Adults: Effect Of Functional Status, Lona Mody, Rongjun Sun, Suzanne F. Bradley

Sociology & Criminology Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVES:

Evaluate the effect of preadmission functional status on severity of pneumonia, length of hospital stay (LOS), and all-cause 30-day and 1-year mortality of adults aged 60 and older and to understand the effect of pneumonia on short-term functional impairment.

DESIGN:

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING:

University hospital.

PARTICIPANTS:

One hundred twelve patients with radiograph-proven pneumonia (mean age 74.6) were enrolled.

MEASUREMENTS:

Functional status and comorbidities were assessed using the Functional Autonomy Measurement System (SMAF) and Charlson Comorbidity Index. Clinical information was used to calculate the Pneumonia Prognostic Index (PPI).

RESULTS:

Eighty-four (75%) patients were functionally independent (FI) before admission, …

Resistance Exercise In Men Receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy For Prostate Cancer, Daniel A. Galvao

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis encompasses two literature reviews (chapter 2 & 3) and two experimental chapters (4 and 5) examining the available literature on exercise and cancer, resistance training and its anabolic responses in older men and women, the side effects of Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer and finally, the role of resistance exercise as a clinical intervention to counteract such changes as an adjuvant therapy.

Physical Function And Health Related Quality Of Life In Culturally Diverse Elders: Evidence Of Environmental Press, Robyn M. Bossier

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this project was to identify group differences in physical function and HRQL between older adults living in different environments, and to compare information from these groups to data from a random sample of elders pulled from the general population. METHODS: Seventy-eight older adults were evaluated for physical function using the continuous-scale physical functional performance test (CS-PFP) and HRQL using the SF-36 v.2. Subjects were 26 predominantly African American participants (LOW group; age 72.2 ± 8.1 years), 26 Caucasian adults (HIGH group; age 77.6 ± 4.8 years), and 26 adults selected from a population-based study (POP group; age …

A Study Of Why Older People 65+ Do Or Do Not Exercise, Nancy Mccoin Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study uses interviews to examine factors explaining why 20 elderly individuals from a variety of occupations and still living in the community independently did or did not exercise. Within the limits of this qualitative study, the reasons elderly participants gave for avoiding exercise included fear of injury, joint pain, poor health, complications from various degenerative diseases, and a lack of enjoyment of exercise. The reasons for exercising included necessity due to post-heart attack motivation, work-site exercise program or equipment availability, opportunity to habituate work-related tasks, spouse support, history of exercise experience, ability to exercise without injury, enjoyment of …

Strategy Uses And Study Time: Relationship With Memory Performance In Older Adults, Karen A. S. Doolittle

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The overall purpose of this study was to foster a greater understanding of age-related memory loss as it pertains to the aging workforce's ability to remain productive and effective in a time of complex change, and to recommend some adjustments that can be made to compensate for these memory declines. The specific intent of this current project was to test one premise of Ericsson and Chase's Skilled Memory Theory, namely that memory skill is a skill that can be developed through enhanced encoding and through practice. By introducing participants to the simple mnemonic strategy of chunking and by allowing two …

Physical Function And Quality Of Life In The Very- And Oldest-Old: Gender Differences, Kellye A. Ferachi

LSU Master's Theses

Age is associated with deterioration in physical function (PF) and health-related quality of life (HRQL). Recent investigations suggest that a decrease in function may have a greater impact on perceived activities of daily living (ADL) competency in women than in men. The purpose of this investigation was to test the hypothesis that the association between PF and HRQL among older adults is influenced by gender. We examined 108 older adults aged 60 years or older, for PF (Continuous Scale-Physical Function Performance test (CS-PFP10) and Functional Status Index (FSI)) and HRQL (SF-36). In order to address this question we assigned subjects …

Community-Acquired Pneumonia In Older Veterans: Does The Pneumonia Prognosis Index Help?, Lona Mody, Rongjun Sun, Suzanne Bradley

Sociology & Criminology Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVES: Mortality rates from pneumonia increase steadily with age. Recently, a disease severity model (the Pneumonia Prognosis Index (PPI)) has been developed to predict mortality from community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). PPI ranks severity of pneumonia from 1 to 5, with 5 being most severe. This retrospective study utilizes the PPI to address the prognosis of CAP in older adults. DESIGN: Retrospective review of medical charts. SETTING: Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

PARTICIPANTS: All adults aged 60 and older admitted to a Veterans Affairs Medical Center with CAP between January 1 and December 31, 1998.

MEASUREMENTS: PPI was calculated using subjects' …