Gerontology Commons^™

Health Vulnerability Of Immigrants With Limited English Proficiency: A Study Of Older Korean Americans, Yuri Jang, Hyunwoo Yoon, Nan Sook Park, David A. Chiriboga

Social Work Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVES—To examine the extent to which limited English proficiency (LEP) poses a risk to physical and mental health, using older Korean Americans as a target population.

DESIGN—Cross-sectional survey.

PARTICIPANTS—Older Korean Americans (N = 1,301).

MEASUREMENTS—Health outcomes were indexed using binary variables covering activity limitation, self-rated health, and probable depression. Participants who reported that they spoke English less than very well were categorized as manifesting LEP.

RESULTS—Approximately 71% of the sample had LEP. Those with LEP scored lower on all measures of health than their English-proficient counterparts. In multivariate models, the risk of having activity limitations was 2.72 times as great …

The South African Elderly: Neglect, Social Contribution And The Hiv/Aids Epidemic, Alessia Frisoli

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

With a slowing fertility rate and an increasing longevity, the world population is aging. Both developed and developing countries have seen their elderly become more numerous with an increasing burden on their financial, medical and social system. Many scholars have suggested immediate change of policies to contain the predicted crisis that will affect the health care and the pension schemes in the next decades. However, few have investigated the positive role that the seniors play contributing to society, beyond the complications caused to the economy and welfare system. This thesis will support the argument that the elderly, if appropriately cared …

Age-Friendly Boston: Assessing Need And Charting A Course Of Action, Jan Mutchler, Caitlin Coyle, Hayley Gleason

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

Boston’s population of residents age 60 and older is rapidly growing in size as well as racial and ethnic diversity. In response to these demographic features and as a means of assuring Boston’s commitment to current and future older residents, Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced in 2014 that the City of Boston would join the World Health Organization’s Age-Friendly Cities Network, in cooperation with the Massachusetts AARP. Boston’s Age-Friendly Initiative promotes eight domains of age-friendliness: outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, and community supports and health services. …

Envisioning An Age-Friendly Belmont, Jan Mutchler, Ceara Somerville

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

The Belmont Council on Aging is a municipal office charged with “advocating on behalf of the seniors of Belmont and ensuring that their social, financial and healthcare needs are met." Services provided to seniors living in the community range from transportation support to nutrition services and social services, along with a range of programs and activities meant to enhance well-being and quality of life. Similar to many Councils on Aging, the Belmont COA also provides leadership in the community, as the community as a whole addresses the growing number and changing needs of senior residents.

As a means of learning …

Smart Living For Elderly: Design And Human-Computer Interaction Considerations, Ranjana Sharma, Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah, Kavya Sharma, Teja S. Katta, Natalie Pang, Alvin Yong

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

To address aging challenges, we examine the concept of smart living and its applications for the elderly. Smart living refers to improving quality of life by transforming environments to become more intelligent and adaptable to users. In this paper, we discuss how smart living applications can help to address the needs of the elderly, as well as the design and human-computer interaction considerations for such applications.

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 …

Living Alone And Subsequent Living Arrangement Transitions Among Older Americans, Yao-Chi Shih

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Past research often considers living alone as a risk factor for older persons. In fact, adverse health outcomes are associated with living arrangement transitions, suggesting a need to consider the dynamic process of living arrangements. Using eight waves of the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2012), this study examines three research questions: (1) Do older Americans’ living arrangements exhibit a pattern of sequence? (2) What are implications of living arrangements at particular older ages on life expectancy? (3) What factors predict transitions out of a living alone arrangement?

The first analysis displays and classifies ordered patterns of living arrangements over time. …

Ageism: Abilene Christian University Students’ Perception Of Aging Adults, Taylor A. Nix

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The world is aging at a rapid pace. This creates a need for society to focus attention toward issues that are affecting the elderly population. This shift in focus regarding the elderly population also calls for the need of additional geriatric education as well as training while working with this vulnerable population. Research targeting college students’ shows that there is a lack of desire among students for working with the aging adult population. This lack of desire to work with the elderly population is associated with ageism; or, biased perceptions about age. The purpose of this study was to determine …

Primetimes Newsletter, Spring 2016, Office Of Lifespan Studies

PrimeTimes Newsletter

PrimeTimes is the newsletter of the Office of Lifespan Studies in the College of Science at Coastal Carolina University.

Predicting Depression In Older Adults: Community Vs. Nursing Home, Hannah Vitello, Skye Leedahl

Senior Honors Projects

With the population of the United States slowly growing older, the issues surrounding long-term services and supports (LTSS) will become more prevalent. Little research has been done comparing older adults living in nursing homes to older adults living in the community, especially regarding mental health and depression. Depression is a mental illness that affects people emotionally and physically, as well as mentally, which can lead easily into other health complications in the older adult population. This study seeks to determine if factors such as demographics, health, social interaction, and family relationships affect mental health in nursing home residents differently than …

Staff Interactions And Affect In Persons With Dementia: An Observational Study Of A Memory Care Unit, Keirstin V. Meyer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

It is estimated that the number of people in the United States living with dementia in 2015 will nearly triple by the year 2050. With no cure for dementia, we are faced with providing care in a way that maximizes well-being. The majority of prior research focused on the best ways to reduce behavioral problems and mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety. The objective of this study was to increase knowledge about the social influences on well-being in persons with dementia, particularly from staff in residential memory care units. This study found that the most common interaction type from …

Unmarried Midlife Adults And Economic Well-Being, Katie Finch

Honors Projects

Much research has been conducted on how married older adults fare in comparison to unmarried older adults. Since the amount of unmarried older adults is increasing, I found it important to see how these unmarried groups (early divorcees, gray divorcees, never-marrieds, and widoweds) stacked up against each other in terms of economic well-being. Using the 2012 Health and Retirement Study, I looked at how demographic factors and economic well-being indicators were correlated to another. The demographic factors examined included gender, marital status, race, and educational attainment. Income, poverty level, and assets were used to assess economic well-being. Similar to previous …

Enriching Or Discouraging? Competing Pictures Of Aging And Paid Work In Later Life, Rebecca Casey, Ellie Berger

Population Change and Lifecourse Strategic Knowledge Cluster Discussion Paper Series/ Un Réseau stratégique de connaissances Changements de population et parcours de vie Document de travail

The picture and experience of work and retirement are continuously changing in Canada and will likely continue to change into the future with the aging of the population. There are two pictures of work in older age presented in the literature: a positive and enriching picture and a picture that highlights the challenges facing some older workers. The positive and enriching picture focuses on the experiences of older individuals who are able to continue working if they want to work and are able to work; those who continue working because they are motivated by work rather than pay or new …

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. 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 …

Oregon Community-Based Care Survey 2016: Adult Foster Homes, Paula C. Carder, Jacklyn Nicole Kohon, Aubrey Limburg, Amanuel Zimam, Megan Rushkin, Margaret B. Neal

Institute on Aging Publications

This report describes adult foster homes in Oregon. An adult foster home (AFH) is a type of licensed community-based care (CBC) setting that provides residential, personal care, and health-related services, primarily to older adults. The study collected information from adult foster homes to achieve the following four main goals.

1. Describe adult foster home characteristics, including staffing types and levels, policies, and monthly charges and fees
2. Describe current residents’ health and social characteristics
3. Compare current results to prior Oregon surveys and to national studies of similar setting types to identify changes and possible trends
4. Compare setting types for differences that might …

Oregon Community-Based Care Survey: Assisted Living, Residential Care, And Memory Care, Paula C. Carder, Jacklyn Nicole Kohon, Aubrey Limburg, Amanuel Zimam, Megan Rushkin, Margaret B. Neal

Institute on Aging Publications

This report, prepared by the Institute on Aging (IOA) at Portland State University (PSU) in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Human Services, describes community-based care (CBC) settings that provide residential, personal care, and health-related services, primarily to older adults. The study collected information from assisted living, residential care, and memory care communities to achieve the following four main goals.

1. Describe assisted living, residential care, and memory care community characteristics, including staffing types and levels, policies, and monthly charges and fees
2. Describe current residents’ health and social characteristics
3. Compare current results to prior Oregon surveys and to national studies of …

The Future Of Aging In The Town Of Brewster: Brewster Council On Aging Needs Assessment Study, Jan E. Mutchler, Ceara Somerville, Maryam Khaniyan, Mai See Yang, Molly Evans

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes efforts undertaken by the Town of Brewster Council on Aging, in partnership with the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Brewster’s older population. The focus of this report is on two cohorts of Brewster’s residents — those aged 45 to 59, and the cohort of individuals who are currently aged 60 and over (“seniors”). The content of this report is intended to inform the Town of Brewster, the Brewster Council on Aging, and organizations that provide …

Age-Friendly Yarmouth Needs Assessment Report, Jan Mutchler, Ceara Somerville, Maryam Khaniyan, Molly Evans, Mai See Yang, Lindsey A. Baker, Hayley Gleason

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

Communities throughout the nation are pursuing new strategies to promote health and quality of life among their residents. In 2014, the Town of Yarmouth joined the Age-Friendly Network through the World Health Organization and embarked on a five-year process to evaluate the community’s age-friendly features, plan for improvements, and implement change. The primary purpose of this report is to describe findings developed as part of the initial needs assessment phase of Yarmouth’s age-friendly initiative.

Neural Activity Reveals Effects Of Aging On Inhibitory Processes During Word Retrieval, Ranjini Mohan

Open Access Dissertations

Word retrieval difficulties are one of the most frustrating problems in older adults. Poorer access to phonological (speech sound) representation of the target word has been postulated as the underlying deficit, supported by findings of improvement in word retrieval after phonological priming. But the great variability in naming performance among older adults may reflect cognitive scaffolding or compensatory neurophysiological processes related to maintenance or decline of naming abilities. In order better understand aging effects in the underlying neurophysiological changes associated with phonological retrieval, the present study examined electrophysiological correlates of phonological priming and word retrieval in adults across the lifespan. …

The Things They Carried: The Biological Residue Of Childhood Misfortune, Patricia M. Morton

Open Access Dissertations

There is a well-established relationship between childhood misfortune and adult health, but how these early-life experiences “get under the skin” to later manifest as poor health is less clear. To elucidate this process, this dissertation investigates (1) how childhood conditions influence immune functioning and (2) whether these physiological consequences of early misfortune lead to poor health, indicated by ischemic heart disease (IHD) onset. Guided by cumulative inequality theory and biological embedding, this dissertation also examines adult health lifestyles and socioeconomic status (SES) as possible mechanisms linking childhood misfortune to inflammation and IHD in later life. Data come from six waves …

The Role Of Workplace Supervisor Support In Cargivers' Marital Relationships, Kenona H. Southwell

Open Access Dissertations

Family caregivers make important contributions to care recipients and the economy. However, providing care for ill or disabled family members can be challenging, particularly when the role of caregiver is accompanied by additional roles such as employee, spouse, and parent ( Hammer & Neal, 2008). There is some evidence that the demands of caregiving may negatively influence the quality of caregivers’ marriages (Bookwala, 2009). Much of caregiving research, however, is focused on the influence of caregiving and multiple caregiving roles on caregivers’ health (see Pinquart & Sörensen, 2011), but less attention has been paid to other aspects of caregivers’ lives …