Disengaging from Unattainable Goals May Be Protective for Older Adults As Social Networks Decline

Abstract Although the impact of dementia on the health and well-being of those living with Alzheimer’s Disease and related Disorders (ADRD) and their care partners has been widely studied, less attention has been paid to how the disease impacts individuals within the context of their larger social networks. This symposium presents findings from a series of integrated studies aimed at strengthening measurement of health and well-being among older adults with living with dementia and well-being among members of their social networks. Findings will be presented from five studies: (1) a scoping review of social network measurement in older adults in chronic illness, including dementia, that emphasizes the use of technology in measuring older adults’ social networks; (2) a simulation study to evaluate the feasibility and reliability of sensor technology to measure social interaction among a person living with dementia and others in their immediate surroundings; (3) development of a web-based application that allows older adults to map and activate their social networks; (4) a qualitative analysis of interviews from persons living with dementia, their unpaid caregivers, and paid caregivers from an adult day health program concerning well-being focused outcomes; and (5) a mixed methods analysis of the feasibility of using both traditional and novel measures of health and well-being deployed among networks of people living with dementia. Emerging technologies for measuring social networks health and well-being hold promise for advancing the study of the relationship-based nature of care for people living with dementia.

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The Influence of Social Networks and Supports on Depression Symptoms: Differential Pathways for Older Korean Immigrants and Non-Hispanic White Americans

Care Management Journals ◽

10.1891/1521-0987.17.1.13 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 13-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Haesang Jeon ◽

James Lubben

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Networks ◽

Los Angeles ◽

The United States ◽

Korean Immigrants ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Older Korean Immigrants ◽

Hispanic White

Objectives: The current cross-cultural study examines the pathways underlying different formations of social networks and social support systems, which affect depression symptoms among older Korean immigrants and non-Hispanic Whites in the United States.Method: Data for this study came from a panel survey of 223 older Korean American immigrants and 201 non-Hispanic White older adults 65 years of age and older living in Los Angeles. Structural equation modeling (SEM) is used to test the proposed conceptual model designed to explain the direct and indirect relationships between social networks and social support on depression symptoms.Results: Empirical evidence from this study indicated different effect of one’s social networks and social support on depression by race/ethnicity.Discussion: The work discussed in this article pointed to the need to recognize the role of culture in assessing the relationships between social networks, social support, and health among older adults.

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Natural neighborhood networks — Important social networks in the lives of older adults aging in place

Journal of Aging Studies ◽

10.1016/j.jaging.2011.03.007 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 263-271 ◽

Cited By ~ 158

Author(s):

Paula J. Gardner

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Networks ◽

Aging In Place

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How Area Agencies on Aging Contribute to Social Connection for Older Adults in Rural America

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2092 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 616-616

Author(s):

Claire Pendergrast

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

New York ◽

Social Networks ◽

Service Organizations ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Social Service Organizations ◽

Upstate New York ◽

Rural Aging ◽

Rural Older Adults

Abstract Social ecological models of health identify intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, community, and policy-level contexts as social factors influencing individual and population health outcomes. However how institutions such as Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) shape rural older adults’ social networks and influence health is little explored. This research examines institutional influences of social networks for rural older adults, particularly the social connections resulting from their AAA services and programs. AAAs are local social service organizations that coordinate home- and community-based supports. Our 2020 case study of a rural AAA in upstate New York involved in-depth semi-structured interviews with AAA staff, volunteers and participants included key themes related to older adults’ social networks, social wellbeing, and physical and mental health. Our findings have both theoretical implications for rural community social structure as experienced by older adults, and practical implications to build AAA’s capacity to address social isolation for rural older adults. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Rural Aging Interest Group.

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