Oral Histories and Service Learning to Promote Geriatric Competence, Comfort, and Career Interest

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. S-3-S-21
Author(s):  
Denise Gammonley ◽  
Mary Mann ◽  
Daniel Fleishman ◽  
Lloyd Duran ◽  
Shawn Lawrence ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Comparison Group ◽  
Oral Histories ◽  
Career Interest ◽  
Values Assessment ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Generalist Practice

Gathering oral histories allows BSW students to learn and apply person-centered care principles through individualized social engagement with older adults. Thirty-three undergraduates enrolled in generalist practice took part in a semester long service-learning project gathering oral histories of older adults. A mixedmethods pre/post quasi-experimental design with a comparison group of BSW students engaged in service-learning in other settings evaluated the effects on student attainment of geriatric social work competencies, comfort engaging with older adults, and career interest. Relative to the comparison group, oral history students demonstrated statistically significant gains in values, assessment, intervention, and aging services geriatric competence. Competence related to values had the strongest effect size. Student comfort with older adults and career interest did not change. Although analysis of students’ critical reflections indicated that learning to communicate with cognitively impaired older adults was challenging, findings suggest that participant understanding of the aging process expanded.

Effectiveness of empathy enhancement programs for social workers working with older adults: A quasi-experimental study

2020 ◽  
pp. 146801732094059
Author(s):  
Areum Han ◽  
Tae Hui Kim
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Experimental Study ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Comparison Group ◽  
Compassion Satisfaction ◽  
Cognitive Empathy ◽  
Affective Empathy ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Experimental Group

Summary Empathy is an essential attribute required for care providers to provide quality care and effective relationship-based practice. Cognitive empathy is understanding another person’s experiences, concerns, and perspectives, and affective empathy is sharing another person’s emotion. Cognitive empathy was found to be a significant protector to burnout and stress, while affective empathy was found to be a significant contributor to compassion satisfaction among social workers. This quasi-experimental study assessed the effectiveness of two empathy enhancement programs on 105 social workers working with older adults in South Korea. The experimental group (n = 52) received a simulation-based empathy enhancement program along with a brief mindfulness practice session, and the comparison group (n = 53) watched a 30-minute-long educational video about empathy. Data were collected prior to and two weeks after the intervention. Findings The experimental group showed significantly lower levels of psychosocial stress compared to the comparison group. It also showed significantly higher levels of cognitive empathy and significantly lower levels of compassion fatigue at posttest. Furthermore, the comparison group demonstrated significantly higher levels of a unidimensional factor of empathy, compassion satisfaction, and caring efficacy at posttest. Application Pre- and post-test differences, in different outcome measures from the groups, indicate the benefits of each empathy enhancement program on social workers working with older adults. In particular, the present study validates that the simulation-based empathy enhancement program can enhance the cognitive empathy of social workers and reduce burnout and stress. A further randomized controlled trial study is needed to examine the program’s effectiveness with minimal bias and confounding factors.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of an Intergenerational Technology Program for Older Adults: A Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 933-933
Author(s):  
Dolapo Adeniji ◽  
Margaret Adamek ◽  
Sally Catlin
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Technology Program ◽  
Know How ◽  
Technology Students ◽  
Information Technology Students ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
Technology Anxiety

Abstract While an increasing number of services and opportunities are available through technology devices such as smartphones and iPad, older adults often lack the technology skills and know-how to access such services. The use of social media, email, and texting can also lessen social isolation of older adults. In this project, nine undergraduate Computer Information Technology students enrolled in a service-learning course served as mentors for older adults. A total of 33 older adults (MAge= 77.9 SDAge= 8.62) participated in a 14 weeks intergenerational technology education at two community senior centers in an urban Midwest city. Fourteen participants completed both pre- and post-surveys. Significant improvement was found between pre- and post- surveys outcomes in technology anxiety and social engagement of the older adults. Findings from our qualitative data revealed that intergenerational program enables older adult to benefit from individual and group learning, make new friends among peers, experience intergenerational interactions, and have confidence in technology use. However, the intergenerational technology program helped to decrease technology anxiety and improve the participants’ social engagement. Engaging technology students in mentoring older adults in small group at a community center proved to be mutually beneficial to both the students and the older adults. The program boosted older adults’ comfort with technology use as well as encouraging social engagement with peers, mentors, and the virtual world.

scholarly journals EXPLORING THE EFFICACY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF REMINISCENCE USING THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTED OBJECTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S308-S308
Author(s):  
Keith A Anderson ◽  
Marla Berg-Weger ◽  
Tom Plocher ◽  
Anne Farina ◽  
Joseph E Gaugler
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Phase I ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
3D Object ◽  
3D Objects ◽  
Centered Care

Abstract Reminiscence therapy (RT) is a form of person-centered care that involves the exploration of past activities, events, and experiences with another person or in a small group. Research on RT has found an array of benefits for older adults, including improvements in mood, quality of life, social interaction, cognition, and memory. In this presentation, the researchers report on Phases I and II of an evaluation of a reminiscence using three-dimensional (3D) printed objects from older adults’ pasts. Advances in 3D printing technology now allow researchers to create scale replicas of cherished items from peoples’ pasts, such as toys, bicycles, pets, automobiles, boats, and houses. In Phase I, the researchers evaluated the efficacy of incorporating 3D objects in reminiscence using a parallel convergent mixed methods design. Participants agreed or strongly agreed that the 3D object reminiscence was well-received (88.9%), facilitated reminiscence (83.3%), increased engagement and alertness (72.3%). Qualitative data identified additional benefits of the use of 3D objects in reminiscence, including increases in social engagement and interactions with staff and family members. In Phase II, the researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of a formal 3D reminiscence intervention using a randomized control trial of 175 older adults. The researchers hypothesize that 3D object reminiscence will be more effective than reminiscence using verbal cues in stimulating memory and enhancing cognition, engagement, mood, and quality of life. Preliminary findings from Phase II will be reported along with the findings from Phase I.

Servicing the Senior Swallow: A Family-Centered Private Practice Model of Service Delivery

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvette M. McCoy
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Medical Model ◽  
Recovery Process ◽  
Swallowing Disorders ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Skilled Nursing ◽  
Person Centered Care ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Traditional Medical Model

Purpose Person-centered care shifts the focus of treatment away from the traditional medical model and moves toward personal choice and autonomy for people receiving health services. Older adults remain a priority for person-centered care because they are more likely to have complex care needs than younger individuals. Even more specifically, the assessment and treatment of swallowing disorders are often thought of in terms of setting-specific (i.e., acute care, skilled nursing, home health, etc.), but the management of dysphagia in older adults should be considered as a continuum of care from the intensive care unit to the outpatient multidisciplinary clinic. In order to establish a framework for the management of swallowing in older adults, clinicians must work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team using current evidence to guide clinical practice. Private practitioners must think critically not only about the interplay between the components of the evidence-based practice treatment triad but also about the broader impact of dysphagia on caregivers and families. The physical health and quality of life of both the caregiver and the person receiving care are interdependent. Conclusion Effective treatment includes consideration of not only the patient but also others, as caregivers play an important role in the recovery process of the patient with swallowing disorders.

The Impact of TimeSlips on Undergraduate Students in Service Learning With Older Adults

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Sabine Heuer
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Attitude Scale ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Attitudes Toward Older Adults ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Attitude Shift ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Journal Entries

Purpose Future speech-language pathologists are often unprepared in their academic training to serve the communicative and cognitive needs of older adults with dementia. While negative attitudes toward older adults are prevalent among undergraduate students, service learning has been shown to positively affect students' attitudes toward older adults. TimeSlips is an evidence-based approach that has been shown to improve health care students' attitudes toward older adults. The purpose of this study is to explore the change in attitudes in speech-language pathology students toward older adults using TimeSlips in service learning. Method Fifty-one students participated in TimeSlips service learning with older adults and completed the Dementia Attitude Scale (DAS) before and after service learning. In addition, students completed a reflection journal. The DAS data were analyzed using nonparametric statistics, and journal entries were analyzed using a qualitative analysis approach. Results The service learners exhibited a significant increase in positive attitude as indexed on the DAS. The reflective journal entries supported the positive change in attitudes. Conclusions A noticeable attitude shift was indexed in reflective journals and on the DAS. TimeSlips is an evidence-based, patient-centered approach well suited to address challenges in the preparation of Communication Sciences and Disorders students to work with the growing population of older adults.

Perceived Voice Disorders in Older Adults and Impact on Social Interactions

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Connie K. Porcaro ◽  
Clare Singer ◽  
Boris Djokic ◽  
Ali A. Danesh ◽  
Ruth Tappen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Voice Disorders ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Vocal Performance ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Cross Sectional

Purpose Many aging individuals, even those who are healthy, report voice changes that can impact their ability to communicate as they once did. While this is commonly reported, most do not seek evaluation or management for this issue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and differences in voice disorders in older adults, along with the effect of fatigue on their social interactions. Method This is a cross-sectional investigation of a community-dwelling sample of individuals aged 60 years or older. Participants completed the Questionnaire on Vocal Performance, the Social Engagement Index subset “Engagement in Social or Leisure Activities,” and the Fatigue Severity Scale. Results Results indicated 32.5% of the 332 participants reported symptoms of voice problems with no difference found between male and female respondents. A slight increase in report of voice problems was noted with each year of age. Participants who self-reported voice problems indicated less interaction in social activities involving communication than those who did not. Finally, as severity of self-reported voice problems increased, an increase was reported by the same individuals for signs of fatigue. Conclusions Voice problems and resulting decreased social interaction are commonly experienced by older individuals. Voice symptoms in older adults have been found to benefit from evidence-based treatment strategies. It is critical to provide education to encourage older individuals to seek appropriate evaluation and management for voice issues through a speech-language pathologist or medical professional.

scholarly journals Brain Health: Attitudes towards Technology Adoption in Older Adults

Healthcare ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Nadir G. Abdelrahman ◽  
Raza Haque ◽  
Molly E. Polverento ◽  
Andrea Wendling ◽  
Courtney M. Goetz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Handheld Devices ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Health Related

(1) Background: There is increasing scholarly support for the notion that properly implemented and used, technology can be of substantial benefit for older adults. Use of technology has been associated with improved self-rating of health and fewer chronic conditions. Use of technology such as handheld devices by older adults has the potential to improve engagement and promote cognitive and physical health. However, although, literature suggests some willingness by older adults to use technology, simultaneously there are reports of a more cautious attitude to its adoption. Our objective was to determine the opinions towards information technologies, with special reference to brain health, in healthy older adults either fully retired or still working in some capacity including older adult workers and retired adults living in an independent elderly living community. We were especially interested in further our understanding of factors that may play a role in technology adoption and its relevance to addressing health related issues in this population; (2) Methods: Two focus groups were conducted in an inner-city community. Participants were older adults with an interest in their general health and prevention of cognitive decline. They were asked to discuss their perceptions of and preferences for the use of technology. Transcripts were coded for thematic analysis; (3) Results: Seven common themes emerged from the focus group interviews: physical health, cognitive health, social engagement, organizing information, desire to learn new technology, advancing technology, and privacy/security; and (4) Conclusions: This study suggests that in order to promote the use of technology in older adults, one needs to consider wider contextual issues, not only device design per se, but the older adult’s rationale for using technology and their socio-ecological context.

scholarly journals Social Engagement and Episodic Memory in Non-Hispanic Black and White Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 343-343
Author(s):  
Abbey Hamlin ◽  
A Zarina Kraal ◽  
Laura Zahodne
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Activities ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Social engagement may confer cognitive benefits in older adulthood, but studies have typically been restricted to largely non-Hispanic White (NHW) samples. Levels of social engagement vary across race such that NHW report larger social networks, more frequent participation in social activities, and greater social support than non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB). Associations between social engagement and cognition may also vary by race, but research is sparse. The current cross-sectional study examined associations between different aspects of social engagement and episodic memory performance, as well as interactions between social engagement and race among NHB and NHW participants in the Michigan Cognitive Aging Project (N = 247; 48.4% NHB; age = 64.19 ± 2.92). Social engagement (network size, activities, support) was self-reported. Episodic memory was a z-score composite of immediate, delayed, and recognition trials of a list-learning task. Separate hierarchical linear regression models quantified interactions between race and each of the three social engagement variables on episodic memory, controlling for sociodemographics, depressive symptoms, and health conditions. Results showed a main effect of more frequent social activity on better episodic memory, as well as an interaction between race and social support indicating a significant positive association in NHB but not NHW. These preliminary findings suggest that participating in social activities may be equally beneficial for episodic memory across NHB and NHW older adults and that social support may be particularly beneficial for NHB. Future research is needed to determine the potential applications of these results in reducing cognitive inequalities through the development of culturally-relevant interventions.

scholarly journals The effects of social comparisons on subjective age and self-rated health

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Maayan Sayag ◽  
Gitit Kavé
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Comparison Group ◽  
Peer Group ◽  
Social Comparisons ◽  
Subjective Health ◽  
Subjective Age ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract Older adults consistently report young subjective age and provide high ratings of their subjective health. The current research examined which social comparisons older adults make when they assess their subjective age and health, as well as the effects of experimentally manipulated social comparisons on these assessments. In Study 1, 146 participants (aged 60 and over) reported to whom they compared themselves when assessing their subjective age or health. In Study 2, 100 participants (aged 60 and over) reported their subjective age and health after receiving feedback that compared them to younger adults or to their peers. Study 1 shows that participants compared themselves primarily to their peer group. Yet, individuals who selected a younger comparison group when assessing subjective age reported a younger subjective age, better self-rated health and more positive expectations regarding ageing relative to those who selected their peers as a comparison group. No equivalent differences emerged in any of the measures when participants were divided by their selection of comparison group after providing their self-rated health ratings. In Study 2, feedback that emphasised the performance of younger people led to reports of younger subjective age relative to feedback that emphasised peer performance, with no equivalent difference for self-rated health. These findings help explain why older adults feel younger and healthier than they actually are. We suggest that older adults use social comparisons as a strategy that protects them from the negative effects of ageing on self-perception.

Effectiveness of a Care Delivery Model for High-Need Older Adults in Communities

2020 ◽  
pp. 104973152098235
Author(s):  
Kuei-Min Chen ◽  
Hui-Fen Hsu ◽  
Li-Yen Yang ◽  
Chiang-Ching Chang ◽  
Yu-Ming Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Comparison Group ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Delivery Model ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Repeated Measures Design ◽  
Care Delivery Model

Purpose: This study aimed to test the effectiveness of High-Need Community-Dwelling Older Adults Care Delivery Model (HCOACDM) in Taiwan. Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial with repeated measures design was conducted in eight community care centers, involving 145 high-need older adults who were assigned to the intervention group or comparison group. The HCOACDM was provided over 6 months. Functional ability, quality of life, depressive symptoms, and health care and social service utilizations were measured at baseline, at 3 months, and 6 months into the intervention. The participants’ satisfaction was measured at the end of 6-month intervention. Results: Positive effects were shown on all variables in the intervention group at both the 3-month and 6-month intervals (all p < .05). The intervention group had a higher satisfaction with care delivery than the comparison group ( p < .05). Discussion: The promising findings supported a long-term implementation of the HCOACDM as applicable and beneficial.

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