Digital Gaming by Older Adults: Can It Enhance Social Connectedness?

2019 ◽  
pp. 167-176
Author(s):  
David Kaufman ◽  
Louise Sauve
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Digital Gaming

Investigation of the Associations Between Social Connectedness and Internet Usage for Older Adults

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edd D. Easton-Hogg ◽  
Nicholas K. Lim ◽  
Tomas Bergandi ◽  
Kevin Borders
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Internet Usage

scholarly journals Effects of Participation in Social Activities on Cognitive Function Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Korea

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 2315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jongnam Hwang ◽  
Sangmin Park ◽  
Sujin Kim
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Activities ◽  
The Social ◽  
Gender Groups

Cognitive function is a critical health issue in later life, the decline of which disrupts well-being and daily life function. Cognitive decline in older ages can also be understood in the context of the social environment such as social connectedness and engagement in personal life. This study aimed to examine: (1) whether participation in social activities contributes to preventing cognitive decline, and (2) what type of social activities are beneficial to maintaining cognitive function. Data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLOSA) 2006–2014, a longitudinal survey of the household-dwelling population aged 45 and older in Korea were used. The results revealed that Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores decreased with increasing age, at a rate of approximately 0.18 units across all age-gender groups, and the decrease was steeper for adults aged 65 and over. Participation in social gatherings was likely to delay the decline in cognitive function after the age of 65. In a gender-stratified model, social activity may not have an impact on the decline of cognitive function for men, whereas participation in social gatherings was negatively related to the decline of MMSE scores in women. This study suggests the need for a gender-stratified policy for preventing the decline of cognitive function while promoting engagement in social activities in Korean older adults.

scholarly journals Innovative solutions to enhance safe and green environments for ageing well using stakeholder co-design.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna L Hatton ◽  
Catherine Haslam ◽  
Sarah Bell ◽  
Joe Langley ◽  
Ryan Woolrych ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Small Group ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Human Movement ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Physical Environments ◽  
Innovative Solutions ◽  
The Uk

Abstract Background There is a need to develop innovative solutions to enhance safe and green physical environments, which optimise health, wellbeing and community participation among older adults. In order to develop solutions that meet the needs of a diverse ageing population, an interdisciplinary approach is needed. Our aim was to identify the needs of older people in relation to ageing well in the environment by bringing together knowledge from different stakeholder and interdisciplinary perspectives. Methods An international consortium (Retrofit living For ageing well through Understanding and Redesign of Built environments consortium: ReFURB) was established in April 2018, including ten core members, to (i) explore cutting-edge solutions to safe living for ageing populations and (ii) develop innovative approaches to everyday physical environments, which bring about health benefits. We used a co-design, interdisciplinary framework involving older adults, carers, physiotherapists, geriatricians, engineers, human movement experts, geographers and psychologists from the UK and Australia. This engaged people in a one day workshop that comprised a series of presentations from international speakers on urban design, social connectedness, hazards and injury prevention, and the physical environment. Small group discussions (facilitated by consortium members) followed presentations to consider the opportunities, challenges and barriers encountered with ageing, which included the use of creative engagement activities (LEGO® Serious Play, mind maps, poster gallery walk), to help participants share personal stories and reflect on the issues raised. Thematic coding was used to synthesise the outputs of the small group work. Results Five themes emerged across the workshops, comprising: access and transport; involvement of the whole community; restoration rather than redesign; assistive and digital technology; and intergenerational approaches. These dimensions related to the physical, social and nature-based qualities of everyday environments, as they pertain to ageing well. Conclusions Co-design was a valuable tool that helped understand the perceptions of stakeholders and essential to develop effective interventions and solutions. Participants highlighted several issues affecting people as they age and key environmental considerations to promote wellbeing, activity, and participation. The consortium identified gaps in the existing evidence base and are now planning activities to further develop research ideas in collaboration with our co-design participants.

scholarly journals Social Connectedness in Preventing Suicide among Older Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Malith Kadirappulli-Hewage ◽  
◽  
Rasika Jayasekara ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Connectedness

Loneliness and aging in China–a public health problem in need of solutions

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 1771-1772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shulin Chen ◽  
Yeates Conwell ◽  
Helen Fung Kum Chiu
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Her Family ◽  
The Individual

Loneliness is a common, distressing feeling that results when one perceives his/her social relationships and supports as inadequate. Social connectedness refers to the relationships between the individual and his or her family, friends, community, and other supports. Neither loneliness nor social connectedness has received enough research attention, in particular with regard to older adults’ physical and mental health.

scholarly journals Improving Attitudes to Volunteering Among Older Adults: A Randomized Trial Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle I. Jongenelis ◽  
Ben Jackson ◽  
Jeni Warburton ◽  
Robert U. Newton ◽  
Simone Pettigrew
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Volunteer Work ◽  
Group Design ◽  
Perceptions And Attitudes ◽  
Parallel Group Design ◽  
Parallel Group ◽  
Negative Perceptions

Promoting engagement in formal volunteering represents a potential means of facilitating healthy aging. Given reluctance to participate in volunteering has been partially attributed to negative perceptions of various aspects of this activity, this study assessed whether trialing volunteering can improve perceptions among older people. Using a parallel-group design, Australians aged 60+ years ( n = 445) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions, one in which they were encouraged to trial volunteering and one in which they were asked to continue their usual activities. Perceptions and attitudes among those in the volunteering condition became significantly more favorable over 6 months relative to those in the control condition, with this change predicted by several aspects of the volunteering experience (e.g., acquisition of skills, increased social connectedness). Providing access to roles that cater to the learning and social needs of older adults appears to be important for improving attitudes toward engaging in volunteer work.

scholarly journals Perceived personal deadlines for late-life preparation across adulthood

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frieder R. Lang ◽  
Fiona S. Rupprecht
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Longitudinal Data ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Multilevel Regression ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Opportunity Structures ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Throughout adulthood, individuals follow personal timetables of deadlines that shape the course of aging. We examine 6-year-longitudinal data of perceived personal deadlines for starting with late-life preparation across adulthood. Findings are based on a sample of 518 adults between 18 and 88 years of age. Multilevel regression analyses were conducted to explore changes in personal deadlines for preparation in five domains (i.e., finances, end of life, housing, social connectedness, caregiving) in relation to calendar age, self-rated health, subjective position in life, and sociodemographic variables. Findings suggest that personal deadlines for starting preparatory activities differ depending on calendar age and domain of late-life preparation. Older adults as compared to younger adults are likely to report narrower deadlines for beginning with late-life preparation. Perceived deadlines for late-life preparation were furthermore found to be preponed and slightly dilated over time. Findings suggest that depending on age-graded opportunity structures, individuals flexibly adjust their personal deadlines for late-life preparation.

scholarly journals EXAMINING DISCREPANCIES IN SOCIAL ROBOT VERSUS HUMAN ASSESSMENTS OF GERIATRIC WELL-BEING

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S329-S329
Author(s):  
Erin Harrington ◽  
Ha Do ◽  
Alex J Bishop ◽  
Celinda Reese-Melancon ◽  
and Weihua Sheng
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Geriatric Depression Scale ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Falls Prevention ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Assessment Scores ◽  
Loneliness Scale

Abstract Socially assistive robotic (SAR) technologies represent a viable tool for monitoring the safety and health of older adults. However, it is unclear whether SARs can comprehensively screen geriatric well-being as effectively as trained human clinicians. The purpose of this study was to compare SAR versus human assessment of geriatric well-being. Participants included 30 older adults (Mage = 73.40, SD = 7.88) who completed a robot-administered well-being assessment session during which human-administered evaluation was simultaneously performed. Standardized clinical screening assessment tools common in geriatric care were administered (e.g., Short Blessed Test (SBT), UCLA Loneliness Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, PHQ-4, Iowa Fatigue Scale, Fall Risk). Multiple dependent sample t-tests were used to explore variability in assessment scores between SAR and human evaluation. Assessment scores significantly differed on several measures, including the SBT (t(29) = -9.33, p < .001), UCLA Loneliness scale (t(19) = 2.37, p < . 05), and fall risk assessment (t(29) = 3.03, p < .01). Specifically, the SAR indicated that older adults were significantly more cognitively impaired, less lonely, and more likely to fall compared to the human administrator. Other observed differences and hypothesized explanations will be discussed in greater detail. The current study indicates that there is a divergence in geriatric assessment outcomes based on human versus SAR administration. Findings have implications relative to further developing SAR technology to align with human-based evaluations to enhance cognitive well-being, social connectedness, and falls prevention.

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