Gerontology Commons^™

To Adopt Or Not To Adopt: Factors Impacting States’ Pursuit And Implementation Of Aca’S Home And Community-Based Programs, Lisa Kalimon Beauregard

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) sought to improve the United States’ long-term services and supports (LTSS) system by expanding home and community-based services (HCBS). The ACA contained several optional Medicaid HCBS opportunities for states, including the Balancing Incentive Program, the 1915(k) Community First Choice personal care benefit, and the revised 1915(i) state plan benefit. This research examined these HCBS provisions to explain what factors determine whether states participate in the ACA’s new HCBS programs and, after adoption, what factors facilitate or impede implementation of these programs. To answer these questions, this study used a mixed methods research …

Analysis Of Social Services Available To Seniors In Monterey County, Marijeanne Santina

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

As America’s geriatric population increases due to the Baby Boomer generation getting older, it is crucial for sociologists to investigate the current social services available to the aging population. Increasing longevity of older adults means focusing promoting health, wellbeing and independence through different services and promoting a positive perspective of seniors by general society. The focus of this research is to examine the current geriatric resources available to seniors in Monterey County. My research question is: “To what extent are the current social services available to seniors fulfilling the needs of the community?” I would like to assess the current …

Housing Equity And Household Consumption In Retirement: Evidence From The Singapore Life Panel, Lipeng Chen, Liang Jiang, Sock Yong Phang, Jun Yu

Research Collection School Of Economics

We utilize data from the Singapore Life Panel© survey to empirically investigate the impact of housing equity on consumption of elderly households. Based on panel analysis, we find housing equity value has no significant impact on non-durable consumption for elderly people. The conclusion holds for a battery of robustness check. Moreover, heterogeneity analyses based on subsamples by age of household head, house type, and number of property possessed also show no significant impact of housing equity on consumption in general. Finally, we use scenario analysis to study the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS), a novel housing equity monetization scheme which allows …

Developing Age-Friendly Communities: Evidence From Multiple Case Studies, Patricia A. Oh

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Population aging brings opportunities and challenges for local community and economic development. One policy solution that has been adopted by 325+ jurisdictions in the United States is joining the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities or the WHO Global Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. Although the age-friendly movement is gaining momentum in the US, few studies have looked at what influences municipal decision-making about joining a network or making age-friendly changes. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore what influences municipal decision-making about joining a formal age-friendly network and how communities mobilize the resources at …

The Effect Of Perceived Level Of Social Support On The Fear Of Falling, Kali A. Todd

Honors College Theses

Background: Perhaps the most prevalent cause of anxiety among the elderly is the fear of falling (FOF), considering that a fall can lead to serious complications and the decline of health. Kumar et al. found that subjects with a FOF usually have less social support. Therefore, increased social support could possibly decrease the FOF, thus decreasing the likelihood of a fall overall. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the amount of perceived social support one receives and the FOF among people ages 60 and up. Methods: In order to measure FOF and social support among …

Falling On Deaf Ears: Social Workers’ Attitudes About Deafness, Hearing Loss, And Deaf Cultural Competence, Esperanza J. Garibay

LSU Master's Theses

D/deaf and hard of hearing people have lower health literacy and higher rates of misdiagnosis of serious illnesses than their hearing counterparts (Sheier, 2009). This is, in part, a result of the inaccessible and culturally incompetent care provided to d/Deaf and hard of hearing individuals (Kuenburg, Fellinger & Fellinger, 2016; Hoang, LaHousse, Nakaji & Sadler, 2010 Sheier, 2009). Inaccessible and culturally incompetent care may be byproducts of human service providers’ attitudes towards d/Deaf and hard of hearing people (Ulloa, 2014; Cooper, Mason & Rose, 2005), and providers’ level of competence with properly caring for d/Deaf and hard of hearing clients …

Dampak Bumdes Terhadap Kesejahteraan Masyarakat Di Desa Aik Batu Buding, Kabupaten Belitung, Provinsi Bangka Belitung.

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

Village development is a priority in national development, because it is closely related to the third point of the President's Nawacita which states that it is developing Indonesia from the periphery by strengthening regions and villages within the framework of a unitary state. This study aims to describe the impact of BUMDES on the welfare of rural communities. BUMDES is one of the programs to strengthen the role of the region. village aik batu buding, Belitung Districts, Bangka Belitung Islands Province has become one of the best BUMDES in the Province in 2016, because it is interesting to see the …

Internamente Solo: Escuchando Y Resistiendo La Soledad De Adultos Mayores En La Araucanía, Chile / Internally Alone: Hearing And Resisting The Loneliness Of Seniors In La Araucanía, Chile, Grace Ellrodt

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Research Question: Which current patterns drive or diminish loneliness among seniors of the Region of the Araucanía in the city of Temuco and surrounding rural communes?

Objectives: Understand and interpret the roots and the antidotes of the loneliness phenomenon experienced by seniors in Temuco and surrounding communes in the present moment.

Identify and analyze the drivers of pathological elder loneliness in structural, intermediary, and proximal factors.

Highlight the perspectives and narratives of seniors, community leaders, and health resources with respect to strategies to reduce the crisis.

Background: Currently, the population of seniors has risen and will continue to rise in …

Kontribusi Pengasuh Di Panti Asuhan Muslimin Dalam Pemenuhandimensi Emosional Warmth Berdasarkan Kerangka Perlindungandan Kesejahteraan Sosial Anak, Fatiyah Rahmadiana, Dwi Amalia Chandra Sekar

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

This study aims to provide an overview of the caregiver's contribution in fulfilling child welfare in orphanages as a substitute for parents who are needed to fulfill children's development needs. This study uses the UNICEF Child Welfare and Protection Framework, namely Parenting Capacity and limits the discussion on one of the indicators, namely Emotional Warmth. This study uses a qualitative approach with a type of descriptive research. Data collection methods used are literature studies, observations and in-depth interviews. The results of this study illustrate the efforts of caregivers in fulfilling emotional warmth by showing their affection first getting closer to …

Menakar Keberlanjutan Program Kube: Peluang Dan Tantanganprogram Kube Dalam Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Miskin Perkotaandi Kelurahan Keparakan, Kecamatan Mergangsan, Kotayogyakarta, Laras Aprilianti, Eka Zuni Lusi Astuti

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

KUBE is one of the poverty alleviation programs under the Directorate of Social Empowerment and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Social Affairs. This program aims to empower the poor groups through the financial assistance to support productivity in economy. KUBE in Keparakan Village, Mergangsan, Yogyakarta City is one of the KUBE in DIY Province which is the best KUBE candidate in DIY. Ironically, within 3 years implementation of the KUBE Program, from 6 KUBE, 4 KUBE sustainable and the other 2 was discontinued. This paper seeks to examine what are the supporting and inhibiting factors for the implementation of sustainability KUBE …

Badan Usaha Milik Desa (Bumdes) Ijen Lestari Sebagai Inovasipelayanan Publik Untuk Mendukung Pengembangan Ekonomilokal Melalui Community Based Tourism, Harod Rahmad Novandi, Isbandi Rukminto Adi

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

The proportion of rural poverty is always higher than urban poverty in Indonesia. Poverty reduction programs, especially in rural areas, should put the community as the priority subject in each program. Banyuwangi Regency in East Java Province is one of the best example in poverty reduction program. Banyuwangi succeed to reduce its poverty rate significantly from tourism sector. This tourism increases income per capita of Banyuwangi from year to year. The poverty reduction in Banyuwangi is influenced by smart kampung and local economic development through a community-based tourism. (CBT) and Initiating local industry.Based on observation and in depth interview, Village-Owned …

Dampak Bumdes Terhadap Kesejahteraan Masyarakat Didesa Aik Batu Buding, Kabupaten Belitung, Provinsi Bangkabelitung, Muhammad Fajar Nandra Caya, Ety Rahayu

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

Village development is a priority in national development, because it is closely related to the third point of the President's Nawacita which states that it is developing Indonesia from the periphery by strengthening regions and villages within the framework of a unitary state. This study aims to describe the impact of BUMDES on the welfare of rural communities. BUMDES is one of the programs to strengthen the role of the region. village aik batu buding, Belitung Districts, Bangka Belitung Islands Province has become one of the best BUMDES in the Province in 2016, because it is interesting to see the …

Aksi Sosial Komunitas Nelayan Cantrang Terhadapkebijakan Larangan Penggunaan Alat Penangkapan Ikan, Aulia Siti Ambarwati, Isbandi Rukminto Adi

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

This research describes the existence of interventions at the community level through social action / community action carried out by the cantrang fishing community in Tasikagung Village, Rembang Regency. This action is an effort by the cantrang fishing community to fight for their welfare after the issuance of a policy on the prohibition on the use of cantrang type fishing gear through the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia. This research is a study that uses a qualitative approach, with the type of research descriptive. The results of this study show that the change …

Is Technology The Key To Prevention Of Falls Among The Elderly In Rapidly Aging Societies? A Case Study Of Kunming, China, Phoebe Kiburi

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

As the aging society rapidly becomes more dominant in the world, there is a pressing need for different stakeholders to tend to the needs of the aging sufficiently. This is crucial in ensuring the robustness of the healthcare system as a whole; given that it can only be as strong as its weakest link. This study focuses on one of the areas of need of the ageing society: fall prevention.

Numerous studies have been done on interventions by the government, private entities, elderly people and their caregivers to prevent occurrence and recurrence of falls. However, most of these have been …

Glycine Supplementation Extends Lifespan Of Male And Female Mice, Richard A. Miller, David E. Harrison, C. Michael Astle, Molly A. Bogue, Joel Brind, Elizabeth Fernandez, Kevin Flurkey, Martin Javors, Warren Ladiges, Christiaan Leeuwenburgh, Francesca Macchiarini, James Nelson, Alexey G. Ryazanov, Jessica Snyder, Timothy M. Stearns, Douglas E. Vaughan, Randy Strong

Publications and Research

Diets low in methionine extend lifespan of rodents, though through unknown mechanisms. Glycine can mitigate methionine toxicity, and a small prior study has suggested that supplemental glycine could extend lifespan of Fischer 344 rats. We therefore evaluated the effects of an 8% glycine diet on lifespan and pathology of genetically heterogeneous mice in the context of the Interventions Testing Program. Elevated glycine led to a small (4%–6%) but statistically significant lifespan increase, as well as an increase in maximum lifespan, in both males (p = 0.002) and females (p < 0.001). Pooling across sex, glycine increased lifespan at each of the three independent sites, with significance at p = 0.01, 0.053, and 0.03, respectively. Glycinesupplemented females were lighter than controls, but there was no effect on weight in males. End‐of‐life necropsies suggested that glycine‐treated mice were less likely than controls to die of pulmonary adenocarcinoma (p = 0.03). Of the 40 varieties of incidental pathology evaluated in these mice, none were increased to a significant degree by the glycine‐supplemented diet. In parallel analyses of the same cohort, we found no benefits from TM5441 (an inhibitor of PAI‐1, the primary inhibitor of tissue and urokinase plasminogen activators), inulin (a source of soluble fiber), or aspirin at either of two doses. Our glycine results strengthen the idea that modulation of dietary amino acid levels can increase healthy lifespan in mice, and provide a foundation for further investigation of dietary effects on aging and late‐life diseases.

Depressive Symptoms, Social Activity, And Physical Activity In Older Adults, Hyeon Jung (Judith) Kim

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Depressive symptoms are negatively related to mental health and quality of life. Social and physical activities have been used as indicators of depressive symptoms in older populations. Participation in high levels of social and physical activities has been associated with decreased depressive symptoms. This pilot study explored the relationship between the levels of social and physical activities and depressive symptoms among older adults living in an independent living facility. Twenty-two participants (Age M=87.50; SD=7.50; 82% women) were recruited and completed The Geriatric Depression Scale short form, the Revised Change in Activity and Interest Index (assessed social activity level), and Godin …

Pilot Study Of Empathy In Adults, Libby Moberg

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Empathy is of critical public health importance due to its association with relationship satisfaction and well-being (Davis & Oathout, 1987; Davis, 1983). There is growing evidence that bilingual individuals may have higher levels of empathy (Javor, 2016). One potential mechanism for this relationship is that bilingual individuals tend to have higher levels of executive functioning (Costa et al, 2008), which is linked to higher empathy because individuals are able to more easily adopt others’ perspectives. Previous studies examining this question have largely relied on self-report questionnaires assessing empathy as a general tendency (i.e., trait). No studies have examined differences in …

Aging In The Town Of Weston: A Community Needs Assessment, Sue Berger, Caitlin Coyle, Jan Mutchler, Nidya Velasco

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 Weston Council on Aging, to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Weston’s population of residents who are age 55 and older. The contents of this report are meant to inform the Weston Council on Aging, and organizations that work with and on behalf of older residents of Weston, for the purposes of planning and coordination of services, but also to build awareness about issues facing the Town of Weston. …

Toward An Understanding Of Behavioral And Sensory Experiences When Living With Dementia And Related Disorders: An Environmental Gerontology Perspective, Elizabeth K. Rhodus

Theses and Dissertations--Gerontology

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia create challenges for those living with neurodegenerative cognitive impairment and their care partners. Pharmacological approaches for treatment of challenging behaviors seen in dementia have limited success and serious side effects. Because of this, nonpharmacological approaches are being investigated with increasing frequency. Of particular interest are nonpharmacological approaches involving environmental stimulation to change behaviors. Success of such approaches relies on sensory processing systems, personal preferences, and environmental congruence. There is limited evidence describing behaviors of persons with cognitive impairment in relation to these components. Currently, there is no guiding model for implementation of environmental and …

Social Networks, Identity, Health, And Quality Of Life Among Older Gay And Lesbian Individuals In Rural Environments, Marc Aaron Guest

Theses and Dissertations--Gerontology

The goal of this dissertation was to explore aging lesbian and gay individuals living in rural communities, in terms of their social networks and the relationships between these networks, identity, health, and quality of life. Guiding the study were three overarching questions. Using a multi-method design, the research was grounded within a socio-ecological context and focused on how structural systems create pathways for health and are affected by social position (intersectionality). Participants (n=25) were recruited from Kentucky (n=20), West Virginia (n=3), and Tennessee (n=2). Thirteen participants self-identified as gay and twelve as lesbian. Findings highlight the complexity of the aging …

The Effects Of Elderspeak On The Mood Of Older Adults With Dementia: A Preliminary Report, Kenia Torres-Soto

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Barriers to effective and harmonious communication between caregivers and those affected with dementia are common and inevitable. An example of a common barrier is aphasia, which is a prevalent communication deficit associated with dementia. The social environment may further hinder harmonious communication through the use of well-intended, but ineffective speech patterns. Elderspeak (ES), which is infantilizing speech directed at older adults, is one such speech pattern that is commonly used in long-term care facilities (LTC) and is related to negative outcomes for older adults receiving it. Older adults with mild to moderate cognitive impairment who were residents at a LTC …

Livable Sudbury: A Community Needs Assessment, Caitlin Coyle, Jan Mutchler, Sue Berger, Ceara Somerville

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

The Livable Sudbury Initiative is based on a distinctive framework meant to ensure that Sudbury is and remains an all-age and dementia-friendly place in which to live, work, and play. Structured around livability principles embedded in the Age-Friendly Community framework, the Livable Sudbury Initiative is designed to intersect with and inform other ongoing efforts, including development of the Sudbury Master Plan and a 14-town collaborative effort of the Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination (MAGIC) to advance regional age-friendly planning. The Sudbury framework considers physical infrastructure as well as social and service environments as it seeks to strengthen livability for …

Mapping Collective Action Structures And Activities In A Rural Age-Friendly Communities Initiative, Althea R. Pestine-Stevens

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Age-Friendly Communities (AFC) initiatives convene stakeholders across sectors and service areas throughout a community to work together to improve the social and built environments for older persons living in the community. While the AFC movement has been active internationally for thirteen years, little is known about the mechanisms that drive this work and its successes. This study aims to uncover some of the key collective action processes and structures that comprise AFC work in a rural county in New York State, through a collaboration theory framework and a social network analysis design.

Age-Related Differences In Cognition And Affect At Work : The Impact Of Mindfulness, Sara Michelle Stevens

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The present research examined job-related affective and cognitive processes across ages, and the role of trait mindfulness as a mechanism that influences the strength of these relationships. Specifically, job-related affective well-being, job satisfaction, and fluid intelligence were investigated as they relate to dynamics of aging. Participants on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (N = 174) completed a two-time longitudinal survey separating individual difference tests of trait mindfulness and fluid intelligence at Time 1 from self-report assessments of job satisfaction and job-related affective well-being at Time 2. Overall, the results from this study provide strong evidence that age and mindfulness both play an …

Mortgage Loans And Financial Security Among Middle-Aged And Older Americans, Qun Zhang

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

Mortgage loan debt is prevalent among middle-aged and older Americans. With higher average outstanding balances, many people are unlikely to pay off their mortgage debt by retirement. Meanwhile, as people age, health shocks are more likely to occur. Medical expenses may compete with mortgage payments and relate to financial insecurity in later years. In order to alleviate financial strain during times of financial hardship, senior homeowners may find reverse mortgage the solution they are looking for. Targeting American adults age 50 and older, this dissertation investigates mortgage loan debt and financial security using panel data from the Health and Retirement …

The Diversity Of Interest In Later-Life Entrepreneurship: Results From A Nationally Representative Survey Of Americans Aged 50 To 70, Cal J. Halvorsen, Yu-Chih Chen

Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging

While older entrepreneurs are more likely to be male, white, and have higher levels of human, social, and financial capital, we know less about interest in later-life entrepreneurship. This study estimates entrepreneurial interest in a nationally representative sample of Americans aged 50 to 70 using partial proportional odds modeling. We estimate that more than 31 million older Americans have some interest in entrepreneurship and reveal key predictors of this interest (e.g., younger age). Importantly, the findings indicate that a more diverse group of older adults are interested in entrepreneurship than have become entrepreneurs, suggesting the need for additional research on …

Implementing Aromatherapy For Falls Reduction In The Inpatient Hospice Population, Kimberly Kay Pistek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Falls among the elderly is a health concern affecting multiple patients annually. Hospice patients and those with multiple comorbidities are at the greatest risk of falling and sustaining injuries from falls. Aromatherapy has been used for reducing multiple symptoms as well as for decreasing falls. The practice-focused question explored whether an education program on using aromatherapy for fall prevention would increase knowledge of this intervention for an interdisciplinary group of hospice staff. The design was developed using Knowles's theory of andragogy and Bloom's taxonomy. Thirteen staff members from the same facility participated in the education program. The program was targeted …

Impact Of Socialization In Elderly Public-Housing Residents, Taylor M. Wilkerson, Schanea Ward, Amy Popovich, Pamela Parsons, Faika Zanjani

Graduate Research Posters

Older adults who experience social isolation have higher rates of mortality relative to their counterparts. Social interactions are an important way to combat this isolation. This research aims to better understand how social isolation in older adults living in low-income households in Richmond, Virginia (RVA) is related to their economic, physical, and psychological health status. As part of the iCubed Health and Wellness Aging Core and in collaboration with the Richmond Memorial: East End Housing Coalition for Older Adults, older adults from a selected public housing unit (n=28) self-reported their financial status, experiences with physical and psycho-social health, and feelings …

The Mileage Of The Weary Father: Harrison Ford As Aging Screen Action Icon, Bahnt G. Freiberger

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This thesis explores how fatherhood guides cinematic narratives of aging masculinity through a star study of the late-stage career of Harrison Ford. It bridges fundamental cultural studies of masculinity, such as those by Raewyn Connell and Michael Kimmel, with film studies to provide key insights into cultural narratives of maleness related to vulnerability, heroism, and most significantly, fatherhood. By focusing on Ford’s late-career reprisal of his iconic characters, I explore how the development of his image provides a postmillennial recontextualization of twentieth century masculine iconography. This study covers three cinematic texts: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull …

18th And 19th Tshl Legislative Sessions Supporting Documents 2019-2023, Texas Silver Haired Legislature Foundation

Texas Silver-Haired Legislature

Supporting documents from the 18th and 19th Texas Silver-Haired Legislature legislative sessions from 2019-2023.