Community-dwelling older adults' contextual experiencing of humour

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
THECLA DAMIANAKIS ◽  
ELSA MARZIALI
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Ageing Process ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Institutional Settings ◽  
Personal Context ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the contextual experiencing of humour by community-dwelling older adults. Data for this study consisted of audio-recorded, transcribed interviews with 20 older adults who had participated in a larger study of a number of dimensions associated with the process of ageing. Qualitative coding of the interview content was used to extract salient themes that identified types of humour experienced in different life contexts. The analysis of older adults' narratives about their day-to-day lives yielded four types of experienced humour: affiliative, self-enhancing, self-defeating, and authentic. Within an inter-personal context, expressing and appreciating humour contributed to sustaining positive social connections. The use of authentic humour and being able to laugh at one's self and life's uncontrollable circumstances appeared to support a positive sense of self and was adaptive for coping with the inevitable losses that accompany the ageing process, such as declining health status. The results of this study suggest that humour expression and appreciation may play an important role in managing the ageing process in ways that are adaptive especially in inter-personal contexts. Possibly health-care providers in both community and institutional settings need to be made aware of the benefits for older adults of experiencing humour in different life contexts.

scholarly journals A Pilot Study to Test the Feasibility of a Home Mobility Monitoring System in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 1512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heesook Son ◽  
Hyerang Kim
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Monitoring System ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Remote Communication ◽  
Baseline Activity ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Technology enables home-based personalized care through continuous, automated, real-time monitoring of a participant’s health condition and remote communication between health care providers and participants. Technology has been implemented in a variety of nursing practices. However, little is known about the use of home mobility monitoring systems in visiting nursing practice. Therefore, the current study tested the feasibility of a home mobility monitoring system as a supportive tool for monitoring daily activities in community-dwelling older adults. Daily mobility data were collected for 15 months via home-based mobility monitoring sensors among eight older adults living alone. Indoor sensor outputs were categorized into sleeping, indoor activities, and going out. Atypical patterns were identified with reference to baseline activity. Daily indoor activities were clearly differentiated by sensor outputs and sensor outputs discriminated atypical activity patterns. During the year of monitoring, a health-related issue was identified in a participant. Our findings indicate the feasibility of a home mobility monitoring system for remote, continuous, and automated assessment of a participant’s health-related mobility patterns. Such a system could be used as a supportive tool to detect and intervene in the case of problematic health issues.

scholarly journals Integration of physical activity in reablement for community dwelling older adults: a systematic scoping review

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanne Leirbekk Mjøsund ◽  
Cathrine Fredriksen Moe ◽  
Elissa Burton ◽  
Lisbeth Uhrenfeldt
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Cochrane Central Register ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Individual Needs ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract Introduction: Reablement is a rehabilitative intervention provided to homecare receivers (mostly older adults) with the aim of improving function and independence. There is limited evidence of the effectiveness of reablement and the content of these interventions is variable. Physical activity (PA) is known to be important for improving and maintaining function among older adults, but it is unclear how PA is integrated in reablement.Objective: To map existing evidence of how PA strategies are integrated and explored in studies of reablement for community dwelling older adults and to identify knowledge gaps.Methods: An apriori protocol was published. Studies investigating or exploring time-limited (within 6 months), interdisciplinary reablement for community-dwelling older adults, published in English, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish and German were considered for inclusion. PubMed, Cochrane central register of controlled trials, Embase, PsycINFO, AMED, PEDro, CINAHL and Google Scholar were searched for studies published between 1996 and July 2019, in addition to reference and citation searches. Study selection and data extraction were made independently by two reviewers.Results: Forty-three studies were included. Exercise strategies and practice of daily activities were reported to be included in the majority of intervention studies, but in most cases, no information was provided about the degree or intensity of which PA was involved, or how PA interventions were targeted to individual needs. Interventions aiming to increase general PA levels or reduce sedentary behavior were rarely described. None of the studies explored older adults’, health care providers’ or family members’ experiences with PA in a reablement setting, but some of the studies touched upon themes related to PA experiences. Some studies reported outcomes of physical fitness, including mobility, strength and balance, but there was insufficient evidence for any synthesis of these results. None of the studies reported PA levels among older adults receiving reablement.Conclusion: There is limited evidence regarding how PA is integrated in reablement, including how PA strategies are targeted to older adults’ individual needs and preferences in a reablement setting. The feasibility, and effectiveness of PA interventions, as well as experiences or barriers related to PA in a reablement setting should be further investigated.

scholarly journals Self-Reported Sleep Difficulties and Self-Care Strategies Among Rural Older Adults

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne C. Sandberg ◽  
Cynthia K. Suerken ◽  
Sara A. Quandt ◽  
Kathryn P. Altizer ◽  
Ronny A. Bell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Use Of Self ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Sleep Difficulty ◽  
Supplement Use ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

This study examined the use of self-care strategies to address difficulty sleeping among community-dwelling older adults. Data were collected from a series of 18 questionnaires administered to 195 rural African American and white older adults in North Carolina. Participants reported whether they had experienced difficulty sleeping and strategies used to respond to the symptom. The most widely used strategies included ignoring the symptom, staying in bed or resting, and praying. Herb and supplement use were not reported. Ethnicity, income, and education were associated with use of specific self-care strategies for sleep. This variation suggests that older adults may draw on cultural understandings to interpret the significance of difficulty sleeping and influence their use of self-care strategies, including complementary and alternative medicine use. This information may enable health care providers to communicate with the older patients about sleep difficulty strategies to minimize sleep problems.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: The Role of Information Sources

2021 ◽  
pp. 073346482110375
Author(s):  
Divya Bhagianadh ◽  
Kanika Arora
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Despite high enthusiasm surrounding the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, some older adults continue to remain hesitant about its receipt. There is limited evidence on vaccine hesitancy among community-dwelling older adults. In this study, we examine the prevalence and predictors (particularly the role played by information sources) of vaccine hesitancy in this group. We use the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey and employ multivariable logistic regression models to explore this. Relative to those relying on regular news, those depending on health care providers (HCPs), social media, other internet/webpages, and family/friends as the main information source on COVID-19 expressed higher negative vaccine intent. The high negative intent with HCPs as the main information source should be interpreted with caution. This could be reflective of the timing of the survey and changing attitude toward the vaccine among HCPs themselves.

scholarly journals Robotic Pet Use Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (9) ◽  
pp. 2018-2028 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janella Hudson ◽  
Rachel Ungar ◽  
Laurie Albright ◽  
Rifky Tkatch ◽  
James Schaeffer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Effective Solution ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Active Lifestyles ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract Objective The primary purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of robotic pets in alleviating loneliness for older adults. Method Self-reported lonely individuals with AARP Medicare Supplement plans insured by UnitedHealthcare who participated in a program with a robotic pet (n = 20) were recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Participants were asked to provide feedback about their experiences interacting with a robotic pet, their perceptions about the potential impact on loneliness, and recommendations for improving the program. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Participants’ responses were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Constant comparison and consensus-gaining processes were used to develop categories that later formed representative themes. Results Seven themes emerged from analysis: Openness to Adoption of Robotic Pet, Reactions to Pet and its Attributes, Integration of Pet in Daily Life, Strategic Utilization and Forging New Connections, Deriving Comfort and Camaraderie, Advice for Future Users, and Recommendations for Enhancing Ownership Experience. Participants living alone, with fewer social connections and less active lifestyles, derived the most benefit from interacting with their pets. Common responses to pets included cuddling, petting, grooming, and sleeping with them. Some shared or loaned their pets, while others refused to loan their pets to interested peers. Most reported showing their pets to others, which helped some facilitate communication and social connections. Conclusion Robotic pets may be an effective solution for alleviating loneliness in older adults, especially among those who live alone, have fewer social connections, and live less active lifestyles.

scholarly journals MP34: Elder abuse in the emergency department: a systematic scoping review

CJEM ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (S1) ◽  
pp. S54-S55
Author(s):  
E. Mercier ◽  
A. Nadeau ◽  
A. Brousseau ◽  
M. Emond ◽  
J. Lowthian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Physical Abuse ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Care Providers

Introduction: This systematic scoping review aims to synthetize the available evidence on the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical characteristics, screening tools, prevention strategies, interventions and knowledge of health care providers regarding elder abuse in the emergency department (ED). Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using three databases (Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library). Grey literature was scrutinized. Studies were considered eligible when they were observational studies or randomized control trials reporting on elder abuse in the prehospital and/or ED setting. Data extraction was performed independently by two researchers and a qualitative approach was used to synthetize the findings. Results: A total of 443 citations were retrieved from which 58 studies published between 1988 and 2018 were finally included. Prevalence of elder abuse following an ED visit varied between 0.01% and 0.03%. Reporting of elder abuse to proper law authorities by ED physicians varied between 2% to 50% of suspected cases. The most common reported type of elder abuse detected was neglect followed by physical abuse. Female gender was the most consistent factor associated with elder abuse. Cognitive impairment, behavioral problems and psychiatric disorder of the patient or the caregiver were also associated with physical abuse and neglect as well as more frequent ED consultations. Several screening tools have been proposed, but ED-based validation is lacking. Literature on prehospital- or ED-initiated prevention and interventions was scarce without any controlled trial. Health care providers were poorly trained to detect and care for older adults who are suspected of being a victim of elder abuse. Conclusion: Elder abuse in the ED is an understudied topic. It remains underrecognized and underreported with ED prevalence rates lower than those in community-dwelling older adults. Health care providers reported lacking appropriate training and knowledge with regards to elder abuse. Dedicated ED studies are required.

Factors influencing older adults to complete advance directives

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 267-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria J. Alano ◽  
Renee Pekmezaris ◽  
Julia Y. Tai ◽  
Mohammed J. Hussain ◽  
Jose Jeune ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
New York ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Major Surgery ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Media Campaigns ◽  
Tertiary Teaching ◽  
Relief Of Suffering

AbstractObjective:The purpose of this study was to determine the factors which influence advance directive (AD) completion among older adults.Method:Direct interviews of hospitalized and community-dwelling cognitively intact patients >65 years of age were conducted in three tertiary teaching settings in New York. Analysis of AD completion focused on its correlation with demographics, personal beliefs, knowledge, attitudes, and exposure to educational media initiatives. We identified five variables with loadings of at least 0.30 in absolute value, along with five demographic variables (significant in the univariate analyses) for multiple logistic regression. The backward elimination method was used to select the final set of jointly significant predictor variables.Results:Of the 200 subjects consenting to an interview, 125 subjects (63%) had completed ADs. In comparing groups with and without ADs, gender (p < 0.0002), age (p < 0.0161), race (p < 0.0001), education (p < 0.0039), and religion (p < 0.0104) were significantly associated with having an AD. Factors predicting AD completion are: thinking an AD will help in the relief of suffering at the end of life, (OR 76.3,p < 0.0001), being asked to complete ADs/ or receiving explanation about ADs (OR 55.2,p < 0.0001), having undergone major surgery (OR 6.3,p < 0.0017), female gender (OR 11.1,p < 0.0001) and increasing age (76–85vs.59–75: OR 3.4,p < 0.0543; <85vs. 59–75: OR 6.3,p < 0.0263).Significance of results:This study suggests that among older adults, the probability of completing ADs is related to personal requests by health care providers, educational level, and exposure to advance care planning media campaigns.

Arthritis, Depression, and Falls Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Evidence From the Health and Retirement Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (9) ◽  
pp. 1133-1149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lien T. Quach ◽  
Jeffrey A. Burr
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Health And Retirement Study ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Significant Depression ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Retirement Study

The aims of this study were to examine the association between different types of arthritis and falls and to investigate whether clinically significant depression symptoms (CSDS) moderate these relationships. The study used nationally representative data from the 2008 Health and Retirement Study ( n = 7,715, M age = 75, 62% female, and 90% White). Among the respondents, 42% experienced at least one fall during the previous 2 years. About one third had some form of arthritis: 22% osteoarthritis (OA), 4.8% rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 2.3% both OA and RA, and 7.9% with other arthritis types. About one fifth of respondents had CSDS. OA and CSDS are associated with the odds of falling (17% and 29%, respectively), adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle, health conditions, and psychiatric medications. There was no statistically significant interaction between types of arthritis and CSDS. Health care providers should pay attention to managing arthritis, especially OA, and CSDS to prevent falls among older adults.

scholarly journals Preparing for the New Normal: Chronicling the Impact of COVID-19 on Older Adults and Providers

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 585-585
Author(s):  
Rose Ann DiMaria-Ghalili ◽  
Justine Sefcik
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Retirement Community ◽  
Continuing Care ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
New Normal ◽  
Continuing Care Retirement Community ◽  
The Impact

Abstract COVID-19 and social distancing heralded an unprecedented change in the way older adults and health care providers live, work, socialize and manage their health. Early “calls-to-action” included the call for researchers to chronicle the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on care of older adults to inform models of care and best practices in the new normal. This symposium explores the impact of COVID-19 on the health of older adults across the care continuum and healthcare delivery augmented by technology. The perspectives of older adults living in the community and providers who care for this population are highlighted. Additionally, there is a focus on the most vulnerable, those living in skilled care facilities and continuing care retirement communities. Fisher analyzes the key themes in 37 COVID-19 video communiques over 11 months at a continuing care retirement community. Sefcik explores coping strategies including outdoor activities among community-dwelling older adults. DiMaria-Ghalili examined patterns of physical and mental health, technology usage and loneliness in older adults, including those living in the community and a continuing care retirement community. Using longitudinal data and COVID-19 supplemental survey data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, Huh-Yoo discusses disparities in online patient-provider communication and implications for the Post-COVID era. Coates discusses the facilitators and barriers perceived by interdisciplinary providers deploying telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic and implications for healthcare delivery in older adults. The symposium will conclude with a discussion by Dr. Sefcik on the implications for research, practice and policy in the post COVID-19 era.

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