scholarly journals Lessons On Using Health Research & Technology To Broaden Resources For Older Adults Across The State

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 97-97
Author(s):  
Alexis Travis
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Community Involvement ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
The State ◽  
Senior Center ◽  
Research Technology ◽  
Aging Services

Abstract The vision of the Michigan state unit on aging is for residents to live well and thrive as they age. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the existing problem of older adult social isolation. Social engagement and community involvement are keys to healthy aging. Combining state resources with the GetSetUp virtual community allowed for statewide connections and extended resources, creating an almost around-the-clock virtual senior center. Through customized courses the state was able to offer vaccine navigation sign-up classes, among other classes, to help older adults interact with essential health and aging services. As Michigan continues to work to address health equity and social determinants of health beyond the pandemic, technology designed specifically for older adults is an important component of programmatic offerings. It also allows for a public-private partnership opportunity to support older adults as they age.

scholarly journals Having a Casino in the Community: Implications for Older Residents

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 53-54
Author(s):  
Cindy Bui ◽  
Caitlin Coyle
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Problem Gambling ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Leisure Activity ◽  
The State ◽  
Senior Center ◽  
Older Population ◽  
Senior Center Directors

Abstract Casino-going has been acknowledged as a common leisure activity for older adults, but what having a casino in the community means for the local older population has been understudied. Previous research has focused on problem gambling among older adults, but little is understood about how older residents perceive having a casino nearby and further how it impacts relevant senior services. This mixed-methods study gathered perspectives from 14 senior center directors and older residents (N = 411) of communities in Massachusetts that surround Plainridge Park Casino, the first casino that opened in the state in 2015. We conducted qualitative interviews with senior center directors and distributed a quantitative survey to older residents of the surrounding communities and those who visited the casino during the study period. We found that while most senior centers did not engage in trips to this “hometown” casino, many had other creative interactions with the casino, such as using casino space to host senior center events or seeking funding support from the casino. Older residents exhibited low rates of problem gambling risk, preferred to go to casinos outside of the state as an excursion, and attributed their reasoning to go to casinos to socializing rather than gambling aspects. While we must be aware of risks for problem gambling, this study also highlights the possibility of reframing a local casino as a potential asset that could contribute back to the community by providing resources for senior service providers and expanding social engagement opportunities for the older population.

“Not Everybody’s an Athlete, But They Certainly Can Move”: Facilitators of Physical Activity Maintenance in Older Adults in a Northern and Rural Setting

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 854-863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Ward ◽  
Anne Pousette ◽  
Chelsea A. Pelletier
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Rural Setting ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Individual Program ◽  
Physical Activity Maintenance

Although the benefits of maintaining a physical activity regime for older adults are well known, it is unclear how programs and facilities can best support long-term participation. The purpose of this study is to determine the facilitating factors of physical activity maintenance in older adults at individual, program, and community levels. Nine semistructured interviews were conducted with individuals aged 60 years and older and long-term participants (>6 months) in community-based group exercise at a clinical wellness facility in northern British Columbia, Canada. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed via inductive thematic analysis. Themes identified as facilitators of physical activity included (a) social connections, (b) individual contextual factors, and (c) healthy aging. Older adults are more likely to maintain physical activity when environments foster healthy aging and provide opportunity for social engagement.

Community-Based Aging Services

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Ivery
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Limited Mobility ◽  
Age In Place ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Aging Services ◽  
Community Based Services

As individuals age, their physical community continues to be a primary entry point of intervention because of their attachment to place, social connections, and limited mobility to travel as far and as often as they would like or desire. The environment provides a context for understanding an older adult’s social interactions and the availability of and access to supportive services that reduce isolation and increased risk for reduced health status. When individuals age in place, social workers need to understand how community-based services can work with older adults in their community where they have lived for some time and have developed social networks. This knowledge will better assist social workers in their ability to effectively connect clients with appropriate resources. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for an older adult’s environment to not reflect or adapt to their changing health status and physical mobility. Healthy aging (also referred to as age-friendly) and NORC (naturally occurring retirement communities) initiatives have emerged as examples of how to provide supportive, community-based services that will enable older adults to remain engaged in their community as they experience changes in their health status, mobility, and financial security. These community-level interventions emphasize the adaptability to an older adult’s changing lifestyle factors that influence how they navigate their community. These initiatives engage older adults in planning and implementing strategies to connect older adults with services and activities that promote aging in place. Social workers play a very important role in the provision of community-based aging services because they can serve as a bridge between older adults and the local, state, and federal level programs that may be available to them.

scholarly journals Reserve and Healthy Aging

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 794-794
Author(s):  
Cynthia Felix ◽  
Briana Sprague
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Sensory Deprivation ◽  
Scientific Meeting ◽  
Common Pathway ◽  
Sensory Stimuli ◽  
Brain Reserve ◽  
Physiological Reserve

Abstract In line with the GSA 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting theme of “Turning 75: Why Age Matters”, our symposium highlights the fact healthy aging is relevant to maintaining reserve- be it brain/cognitive reserve or physiological reserve. Even among older adults 75 or older, continuing to practice healthy aging habits, helps with reserve. In this symposium, Drs. Felix and Carlson discuss how positive neuroplastic processes such as social engagement and social volunteering may aid in brain/cognitive reserve. Dr. Lin discusses how negative neuroplastic processes such as hearing loss may hamper the same. The “use-it-or-lose-it” hypothesis may be a common pathway in effecting brain reserve, regardless of whether the inputs are social or sensory stimuli. Physiological reserve is also important in aging, and Dr. Sprague talks about energy and frailty, with frailty being an accelerated decline of physiological reserve. While the studies presented are from older adult populations, reserve often takes a lifetime of effort to build and maintain. The symposium speakers present several hypotheses such as brain reserve, cognitive reserve, cognitive load, information degradation, sensory deprivation and frailty. An application of these concepts, would help older adults practice aging habits that promote reserve, into advanced old age, at individual and community levels. Brain Interest Group Sponsored Symposium

scholarly journals VA Connection Plans: A Whole Health Intervention to Promote Social Connections for Older Veterans

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 205-205
Author(s):  
Samantha Hack ◽  
Anjana Muralidharan ◽  
Amanda Peeples
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Brief Intervention ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Negative Thoughts

Abstract The Connection Plan intervention was created as a brief intervention to assist older adults experiencing social isolation during COVID-19. Based in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), it is designed to help older adults create a “Connection Plan” to cope with distress related to social isolation. In 1-2 sessions, interventionists work with the older adult to create a Connection Plan with three parts: Mind (ways to change negative thoughts), Body (ways to change unpleasant body sensations), and Connections (ways to increase social engagement). Through soliciting feedback from key stakeholders (Veterans and VA clinicians), the Connection Plan intervention was adapted for the VA context. This paper will present this process of creating the VA Connection Plans manual, as well as associated efforts to disseminate the intervention to 900 VA staff and deliver it to 600 older Veterans with (age 50+) and without (age 65+) serious mental illness.

scholarly journals Creating Virtual Community For Older Adults: During the COVID-19 Pandemic And Beyond

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 97-97
Author(s):  
Neil Dsouza ◽  
Alexis Travis ◽  
Erica Solway
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mobility Limitations ◽  
Combining Data ◽  
Customized Learning ◽  
Vaccine Information

Abstract Combining data on health and well-being from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA) with case studies and data from GetSetUp, a virtual online learning community, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), this symposium will highlight how virtual community can be created and supported during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Polling data on loneliness and physical environments demonstrate the need for opportunities for connection before and during the pandemic. Other polling data from the NPHA shows telehealth visits increased significantly as did the use of video chat technology. These findings suggest that comfort with technology may help support aging in place. GetSetUp helps to make this possible with customized learning to help older adults overcome hurdles to tech adoption and use. GetSetUp classes focus on supporting social connection and providing information on resources and services. Beyond the pandemic, these services will remain critical for many older adults, including those facing mobility limitations, those with limited community, and those looking to diversify their networks. The Senior Deputy Director of Aging and Adult Services Agency will highlight how Michigan combines data and technology to support Michigan’s aging network. The GetSetUp and MDHHS virtual community allowed for a statewide connection to health and aging services, including programs such as vaccine information sessions. The data and case studies described will highlight the need for connection during the COVID-19 pandemic and how a startup and State worked together to address this need.

scholarly journals Aging services workers in the pandemic: Voiced experience of senior center staff & case workers

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 968-968
Author(s):  
Esther Okang ◽  
Siobhan Aaron ◽  
Katherine Supiano ◽  
Abdul Osman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Direct Care ◽  
Direct Care Workers ◽  
Senior Center ◽  
Senior Centers ◽  
Center Staff ◽  
Care Workers

Abstract The pandemic necessitated immediate shutdown of senior centers, requiring a rapid pivot in the delivery of services to older adults by direct care workers. We provided psychosocial support to older adult service personnel-including Aging and Adult Services case workers and Senior Center Staff, and conducted focus groups with staff at intervals to capture the mid-point of the pandemic (peak of older adult deaths), onset of vaccine availability and the re-entry phase as programs re-opened. We evaluated coping and self-efficacy of workers and discerned sustained high levels of coping and perceived job performance. Using a phenomenological lens, we analyzed transcribed recordings, generated codes, and created categories of experiences. Several themes emerged: personal and professional resilience, passion for serving older adults, motivation to perform their job well, stress of not having face-to-face contact with clients, insufficient resources-especially in rural areas, lack of essential training, feeling disjointed as a team, and work-life balance. Over the course of the pandemic, workers expressed increasing resiliency and skills to navigate the pandemic, oscillations in their fears for their clients’ well-being, and gratitude that they kept their jobs and gained additional State resources. As the vaccine was available and utilized, and as senior centers were reopening, senior center staff were enthusiastic, yet case workers remained apprehensive about long-term consequences of the pandemic. This study affirms the role of direct care workers as essential and valuable. Yet, their expressed need for more education, psychosocial support, and community awareness of their service remains to be addressed.

scholarly journals A QUALITATIVE REVIEW OF OLDER ADULT PERSPECTIVES ON HEALTHY AGING IN THE CIRCUMPOLAR NORTH

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S264-S265
Author(s):  
Britteny M Howell ◽  
Jennifer R Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
The United States ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Cultural Research ◽  
Circumpolar North ◽  
Personal Resilience

Abstract Cross-cultural research has shown marked variation in health outcomes across the world’s older adult populations. Indeed, older adults in the Circumpolar North experience a variety of health disparities. Because aging is a biological process rooted in sociocultural context, there exists great variation in the ways older adults define and experience healthy, or “successful,” aging in their communities. The aim of this analysis was to synthesize qualitative research among older residents (aged 50+ years) in the Circumpolar North to identify a definition of healthy aging common in the region. The Circumpolar North is defined as the Arctic and subarctic regions of Canada, Finland, Denmark, Greenland & the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States. A thorough review was conducted across a variety of academic search databases for peer-reviewed, qualitative studies conducted among community-dwelling older adults. The search strategy initially identified 194 articles; 22 articles met the inclusion criteria. Included studies were coded and analyzed using Grounded Theory to examine underlying themes of healthy aging in the Circumpolar North. The findings reveal the importance older adults place on incorporating social, environmental, and personal resilience factors into multidimensional models of healthy aging. This research also highlights the need for increased translational research with populations in the Circumpolar North that are under-represented in the gerontological literature.

Disaster preparedness: Assessment of older adults living in the NYC rockaways

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 343
Author(s):  
Katie Campos-Gatjens, DNP, FNP-BC
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Senior Citizens ◽  
Alternative Hypothesis ◽  
Living Arrangement ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Traumatic Experience ◽  
Senior Center ◽  
Age Factor

Objective: To determine if there has been a measureable improvement in disaster preparedness among older adults affected by Hurricane Sandy in the NYC Rockaways and to identify if there are any characteristics among this sample that might be factors for vulnerability.Design: A 16-item self-reported survey compromised of demographics and needs assessment questions.Subjects: Senior citizens who are members of a local senior center and live in the Rockaways. Main outcome measures: Three hypotheses were tested.(1) H1: That there is a positive difference in level of the Pre- and Post- Sandy Storm Preparedness.(2) H0: That the level of Storm Preparedness is not related to relative advanced age factor in older adults.(3) H0: That the level of Storm Preparedness is not related to living arrangement, income level, and/or access to transportation Results: The alternative hypothesis was accepted for hypothesis one. The null hypotheses were accepted for hypotheses two and three. Conclusions: It was found that the level of disaster preparedness has significantly improved. The age of the participants when analyzed as two groups, those under and those over age 70, is not related to storm preparedness. Also, demographic factors are not significantly related to disaster preparedness. These findings may be a result of older adult psychological development as discussed by Erikson or the participants may be homogeneous due to their shared traumatic experience of Hurricane Sandy.

scholarly journals BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO HEALTHY AGING IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, USING CONCEPT MAPPING

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S422-S423
Author(s):  
Britteny M Howell ◽  
Daniel McLinden
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Concept Mapping ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Participatory Approach ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Holistic Model

Abstract Alaska currently has the fastest growing proportion of older adults than any state in the country, and seniors are choosing to age-in-place in Anchorage in record numbers. Research shows that including older adults with community-based professionals (aging advocates, researchers, service providers) in focus group activities can provide a rich and holistic model of aging that demonstrates a robust foundation for supporting aging and addressing health disparities. This paper presents the results of a project conducted with older adults (50+ years), advocates, and other stakeholders in Anchorage using Concept Mapping (CM) methodology, a technique not often used in the gerontology literature. CM is a mixed-method, participatory approach that uses brainstorming and unstructured card-sorting combined with multivariate statistics (multi-dimensional scaling, hierarchical cluster analysis) to create a data-driven visual representation of thoughts or ideas of a community. CM is well suited to integrating perspectives from multiple points of view. Participants were prompted to address the research question: how do we think about aging in Anchorage & what are the barriers and facilitators to aging well? Results indicate services for seniors should include culturally responsive health programming, low-cost opportunities for social engagement, inclusion of older adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, transportation considerations, navigators to locate services in Anchorage, and more. CM allowed the researchers to identify how residents view healthy aging in this urban subarctic location and brainstorm practical solutions with stakeholders and local policy-makers. This presentation will also share lessons-learned regarding the use of this participatory approach with older adults.

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