scholarly journals Geography matters to disability: regional disparity of bathing difficulty among older adults in China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmon W. T. Hoh ◽  
Qiushi Feng
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Regional Disparity ◽  
Major Type ◽  
Healthy Longevity ◽  
Policy Interventions ◽  
Confounding Variables ◽  
Northern Regions ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Specific Disability

AbstractBathing is a major type of disability among older adults. While studies on bathing difficulties have recently started to go beyond the limitations of the human body to examine bathroom amenities; researchers have rarely considered the environment beyond the bathroom. This study explored the regional disparities in bathing disability among older adults in China. Using data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey from 1998 to 2018, random-effects logistic regressions were performed to examine how bathing difficulties differed across regions among older adults in China. We found that older adults residing in the northern regions were significantly more likely to experience bathing disability compared to those from the South after controlling for confounding variables. Women and the oldest-old were also the most likely to experience bathing disabilities. Within the Northern regions itself, individuals from the Northeast stood out for having the highest likelihood of experiencing bathing disability. Interestingly, this regional disparity only existed for bathing disability and not the other Activities of Daily Living (ADL) items. It is concluded that the large regional disparity could be due to both climate differences and uneven economic development across the different regions in China. As bathing is a highly environment-dependent activity, this study highlights the potential for policy interventions to reduce the prevalence of bathing disability among older adults through improving the bathing environment. Additionally, we aim to put forth the notion that disability research should move towards analyses of specific disability items rather than an undifferentiated ADL index.

scholarly journals Physical and Mental Health Differences Reported by Three Age Groups of Older Adults With Diabetes

2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 233372142110558
Author(s):  
Jungjoo Lee ◽  
Junhyung Kim ◽  
Richard Holden
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Health Differences ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Univariate Analyses

Most studies have classified older adults with diabetes into one group despite substantial variation in health status across different stages of late adulthood. In this study, we examined difference in self-reported physical and mental health among three age groups of older adults with diabetes. Using data from the 2016 National Social Life, Health and Aging Project, Wave 3, we classified 424 individuals diagnosed with diabetes into three age groups, young-old (YO): 50–64 years; middle-old (MO): 65–74; and oldest old (OO): 75+ years. A one-way multivariate analysis of covariance was used to assess group differences, followed by univariate analyses. The results indicate that the YO group reported significantly lower physical health and higher depression than the MO group and higher levels of loneliness than the MO and OO groups. These findings indicate that physical and mental health may differ among different age groups of older adults with diabetes and suggest that the YO might be more vulnerable to diminished physical and mental health than the other age groups.

scholarly journals Household Context and Subjective Well-Being Among the Oldest Old in China

2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (10) ◽  
pp. 1379-1403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feinian Chen ◽  
Susan E. Short
Keyword(s):  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Living Arrangement ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Dominant Type ◽  
Healthy Longevity ◽  
Using Data

This article investigates the importance of household context to subjective well-being among the oldest old (aged 80 years and older) in China. Using data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, the authors find that living arrangements have strong implications for elderly emotional health. First, living alone is associated with lower subjective well-being. Second, coresidence with immediate family (spouse or children) is associated with positive subjective well-being. Third, compared to living with a son, the traditionally dominant type of living arrangement, coresidence with a daughter appears positively linked to the emotional health of the oldest old. Results highlight the importance of family and cultural context to subjective well-being of the oldest old. They also suggest that the gendered nature of caregiving merits further attention in China and other patrilineal societies.

Predictors of Physical Functioning Trajectories among Chinese Oldest Old Adults: Rural and Urban Differences

2009 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Sun ◽  
Nan Sook Park ◽  
David L. Klemmack ◽  
Lucinda L. Roff ◽  
Zhihong Li
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hierarchical Linear Modeling ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Linear Modeling ◽  
Healthy Longevity ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Rural Sample ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

This article examined the differences between rural/urban older adults in their trajectories of activities of daily living (ADL) over a 4-year period. The sample included 2,490 community dwelling older adults who completed three waves (1998, 2000, and 2002) of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Among them, 63.5% were from rural areas. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was run for the whole sample and separately for rural and urban samples. For both rural and urban samples, older age and involvement in fewer activities predicted increases in ADL difficulties over time. In addition, being female and routinely smoking predicted increases in ADL difficulties for the rural sample. Implications for interventions to slow down ADL decline were discussed.

Psychological disposition and self-reported health among the ‘oldest-old’ in China

2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZHENG WU ◽  
CHRISTOPH M. SCHIMMELE
Keyword(s):  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Independent Effect ◽  
Healthy Longevity ◽  
Data Limitations ◽  
Reported Health ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Psychological Disposition

This study contributes to our understanding of the ageing process by investigating whether particular psychological dispositions among older people are associated with healthy ageing. The study's objective is to further our knowledge about what constitutes ‘health’ for the ‘oldest-old’ (people aged 80 or more years) in China. It is recognised that apart from the absence of disease, good health is a subjective experience, and it is posited that self-reported health is associated with psychological disposition, or in other words, that an individual's personal attitudes, motivations, and beliefs condition their perception of health and illness. Using data from China's Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (1998 and 2000 waves), we examine whether psychological disposition in 1998 had an independent effect on self-reported health in 2000. The study is based on a stratified random sample of 4,366 people aged 80 or more years. After introducing controls for health status and socio-demographic variables, the multivariate, longitudinal results demonstrate that a robust psychological disposition was indeed associated with good short-term, self-reported health. The findings also illustrate that the effect differed by age, for the relationship was significant for octogenarians and nonagenarians but insignificant for centenarians. Data limitations prevented an empirical investigation of the processes that underlie the relationship between psychological disposition and self-reported health.

scholarly journals Risk Factors of Orofacial Pain Symptoms Among Older Adults at the End of Life

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 832-833
Author(s):  
Yaolin Pei ◽  
Bei Wu
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Orofacial Pain ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Chinese Older Adults ◽  
Healthy Longevity ◽  
Prevalence Of Pain ◽  
Pain Symptoms

Abstract The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence of orofacial pain symptoms in Chinese older adults at the end of life, and to investigate risk factors related to orofacial pain. The sample derived from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), a national respresentative sample of the oldest-old. The results showed that the 6-month prevalence of pain when chewing or biting at the end of life was 11.1%, and the rate was 5% for jaw joint pain/facial pain. Lower SES, smokers, and having chronic diseases were associated with having orofacial symptoms. Unexpectedly, the results revealed that dentate older adults (retain at least one natural tooth) who brushed their teeth more often were more likely to have orofacial symptoms. Older adults have poor oral health, particularly at the end of their life. This study highlights the importance of improving oral health for vulnerable older adults.

scholarly journals Self-rated health and interviewer-rated health: differentials in predictive power for mortality among subgroups of Chinese elders

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiyan Zhu ◽  
Qiushi Feng ◽  
Danan Gu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Predictive Power ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Older Population ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Healthy Longevity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Valid Predictor ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Chinese Elders

Interviewer-rated health (IRH) and self-rated health (SRH) have strong and independent predictive power for mortality, but their relative predictive power has not been examined among subpopulations. Because individuals from different subpopulations have distinct views, understandings, and judgments about health that influence their criteria and referents for SRH, we examine whether IRH is a valid predictor of mortality within subpopulations, which may provide added value for understanding its association with mortality. Using data from the 2005 and 2008 waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, this study modeled associations of SRH and IRH with mortality in various subgroups among 12,583 older adults in China. We found that IRH is a robust predictor of mortality, independent of SRH, across major demographic and socioeconomic subpopulations after adjusting for a wide range of covariates. The predictive power of IRH for mortality was generally more robust than that of SRH in most subpopulations. Our findings suggest that IRH could be a good complement to SRH among subgroups of the Chinese older population.

scholarly journals Denture Use and Cognitive Decline in Chinese Older Adults: A Propensity Score Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 31-32
Author(s):  
Bei Wu ◽  
Xiang Qi
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Tooth Loss ◽  
Propensity Scores ◽  
Propensity Score Analysis ◽  
Healthy Longevity ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Matched Data

Abstract Using data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (2011 to 2018), we examined the effect of denture use on cognitive decline (assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]) among 1,316 cognitively normal older adults with severe tooth loss (≤9 remaining teeth) at baseline. We generated propensity scores for weighted and matched analyses using 18 covariates, classified as socio-demographics, health-related behaviors, health status, and oral health conditions. The results show that non-denture users had worse cognitive decline than denture users. In the kernel-based matched data, the difference in the declined score of cognitive function between denture and non-denture users was 2.25 (95%CI=1.37 to 3.13). In the weighted data, the difference in cognitive function score was 2.14 (95% CI=1.35 to 2.94). Using dentures is beneficial for cognitive health in older adults with severe tooth loss, suggesting that prosthodontic rehabilitation with dentures might have benefits beyond restoring oral functioning.

scholarly journals Disability, Frailty and Depression in the community-dwelling older adults with Osteosarcopenia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ki-Soo Park ◽  
Gyeong-Ye Lee ◽  
Young-Mi Seo ◽  
Sung-Hyo Seo ◽  
Jun-Il Yoo
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Geriatric Depression Scale ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Normal Group ◽  
World Health ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of osteosarcopenia in the over 60-year-old community and to evaluate whether osteosarcopenia is associated with disability, frailty and depression. Methods This study was performed using the baseline data of Namgaram-2, among the 1010 surveyed subjects, 885 study subjects who were 60 years or older and had all necessary tests performed were selected. The Kaigo-Yobo checklist (frailty), World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) and Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form-Korean (GDSSF-K) were used. The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS 2019) were applied in this study. Osteopenia was measured using data from dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and osteopenia was diagnosed when the T-score was less than − 1.0. The study subjects were divided into four groups: the normal group, in which both sarcopenia and osteopenia were undiagnosed, osteopenia only, sarcopenia only and the osteosarcopenia group, which was diagnosed with both sarcopenia and osteopenia. Results Of the 885 subjects over 60 years old evaluated, the normal group comprised 34.0%, the only osteopenia group 33.7%, the only sarcopenia group 13.1%, and the osteosarcopenia group 19.2%. WHODAS (17.5, 95% CI: 14.8-20.1), Kaigo-Yobo (3.0, 95% CI: 2.6-3.4), and GDSSF mean score (4.6, 95% CI: 3.9-5.4) were statistically significantly higher in the osteosarcopenia group compared the other groups. Partial eta squared (ηp2) of WHODAS (0.199) and Kaigo-Yobo (0.148) values ​​according to Osteosarcopenia were large, and GDSSF (0.096) was medium Conclusions Osteosarcopenia is a relatively common disease group in the older adults community that may cause deterioration of health outcomes. Therefore, when evaluating osteopenia or sarcopenia in the older adults, management of those in both disease groups should occur together.

scholarly journals Social isolation, rather than loneliness, is associated with cognitive decline in older adults: the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Bin Yu ◽  
Andrew Steptoe ◽  
Yongjie Chen ◽  
Xiaohua Jia
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Mental Status ◽  
Chinese Older Adults ◽  
Confounding Variables

Abstract Background Social isolation and loneliness have each been associated with cognitive decline, but most previous research is limited to Western populations. This study examined the relationships of social isolation and loneliness on cognitive function among Chinese older adults. Methods This study used two waves of data (2011 and 2015) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and analyses were restricted to those respondents aged 50 and older. Social isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function were measured at baseline. Follow-up measures on cognitive function were obtained for 7761 participants (mean age = 60.97, s.d. = 7.31; male, 50.8%). Lagged dependent variable models adjusted for confounding factors were used to evaluate the association between baseline isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function at follow-up. Results Loneliness was significantly associated with the cognitive decline at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.03, p < 0.01; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) in the partially adjusted models. These associations became insignificant after additional confounding variables (chronic diseases, health behaviors, disabilities, and depressive symptoms) were taken into account (all p > 0.05). By contrast, social isolation was significantly associated with decreases in all cognitive function measures at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.05, p < 0.001; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) even after controlling for loneliness and all confounding variables. Conclusions Social isolation is associated with cognitive decline in Chinese older adults, and the relationships are independent of loneliness. These findings expand our knowledge about the links between social relationships and the cognitive function in non-Western populations.

scholarly journals Depression and loneliness of older adults in Europe and Israel after the first wave of covid-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josefine Atzendorf ◽  
Stefan Gruber
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Epidemic Control ◽  
Government Response ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Interaction Terms ◽  
Share Data ◽  
Using Data

AbstractEpidemic control measures that aim to introduce social distancing help to decelerate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, their consequences in terms of mental well-being might be negative, especially for older adults. While existing studies mainly focus on the time during the first lockdown, we look at the weeks afterward in order to measure the medium-term consequences of the first wave of the pandemic. Using data from the SHARE Corona Survey, we include retired respondents aged 60 and above from 25 European countries plus Israel. Combining SHARE data with macro-data from the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker allows us to include macro-indicators at the country level, namely the number of deaths per 100,000 and the number of days with stringent epidemic control measures, in addition to individual characteristics. The findings show that both macro-indicators are influential for increased feelings of sadness/depression, but that individual factors are crucial for explaining increased feelings of loneliness in the time after the first lockdown. Models with interaction terms reveal that the included macro-indicators have negative well-being consequences, particularly for the oldest survey participants. Additionally, the results reveal that especially those living alone had a higher risk for increased loneliness in the time after the first COVID-19 wave.

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