Letter to a grandchild as a narrative tool of older adults’ biographical experience exploration

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-49
Author(s):  
Urszula Tokarska ◽  
Elżbieta Dryll ◽  
Anna Cierpka
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Experience ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Frequency Count ◽  
Applied Psychology ◽  
Narrative Paradigm ◽  
Female Data ◽  
Narrative Mode ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract The paper purports to present a method that allows to obtain and analyze letters written by older adults to their real or imaginary grandchildren. This enables an insight into their individual life experience. The study used a narrative paradigm. Letter texts were obtained from 128 older adults from Poland, both male and female. Data was analyzed with mixed methods combining qualitative content analysis (using inductive analytical categories described in originally created Coder Completion Sheet) with frequency count. The analysis allowed a systematic description of content (themes in wisdom legacy) and the differentiation of two major formal patterns in the letters: (1) the narrative mode (storytelling); (2) the argumentative mode (legacy without narrative examples: advice, warnings, and wishes). The outcomes demonstrate the letter technique may be recommended for future research in psychology, narrative gerontology and for used in applied psychology also.

scholarly journals Listening to Older Adults: A Qualitative Analysis of Advice Given During COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 889-890
Author(s):  
Bryce Van Vleet ◽  
Heather Fuller ◽  
Andrea Huseth-Zosel
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Experience ◽  
Physical Distance ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Grocery Shopping ◽  
Intentional Actions ◽  
Specific Advice ◽  
Pattern Coding

Abstract The life experience of older adults offers a unique perspective of coping through historical crises. Specific advice offered by older adults is generally underrepresented in the literature. This qualitative study explores advice offered by older adults to others on how to cope through the COVID-19 pandemic as well as advice for the community about the needs of older adults. A Midwestern sample of 67 older adults aged 70-97 completed one phone interview in June of 2020 as part of a larger study about their experiences with social distancing and isolation. Participants were asked what advice they would give to others during the pandemic and what advice they would give to communities and families about the needs of older adults during the pandemic. Transcripts of these conversations were coded using in vivo and holistic coding as first-cycle methods. These codes were then analyzed using pattern coding as a second-cycle method. Results indicated older adults offered advice along three domains: fostering physical and mental wellbeing, promoting positive life perspectives, and maintaining connections. Advice to communities regarding the needs of older adults included having a selfless attitude and taking intentional actions like grocery shopping and writing letters. However, older adults also recommended avoiding extremes to allow them to maintain their independence and preserve physical distance for safety. Older adults utilized their life perspective and their own coping strategies when offering advice. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of the advice given and how likely that the advice will be utilized by others.

Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities: A Scoping Review (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Parniak ◽  
Vince G DePaul ◽  
Clare Frymire ◽  
Samuel DePaul ◽  
Catherine Donnelly
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Aging In Place ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Body ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Retirement Communities ◽  
Naturally Occurring

BACKGROUND As Canada’s population ages there is a need to explore community-based solutions to support older adults. Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs), defined by Hunt and Gunter-Hunt in 1986 as buildings or areas not specifically designed for, but which attracts, older adults and associated supportive service programming (NORC-SSP) have been described as potential resources to support aging-in-place. However, while the body of literature on NORCs has been growing since the 1980s, no synthesis of this work has been done to date. OBJECTIVE The goal of this scoping review was to highlight the current state of NORC literature to inform future research and to offer a summarized description of NORCs and how they have and can support older adults to age-in-place. METHODS Using a published framework, a scoping review was conducted searching twelve databases (CINAHL, Ovid Medline, HealthSTAR, Embase, APA PsycInfo, AMED, Johanna Briggs Institute, REHABDATA, Sociofile, Education Source, ERIC, Urban Planning, and the Cochrane Library) from earliest date of coverage to July 2020. We included English peer and non-peer reviewed scholarly journal publications that described, critiqued, reflected on, or researched NORCs. Aging-in-place literature with little to no mention of NORCs were excluded, as were articles that recruited from NORCs but did not connect findings to the setting. A qualitative content analysis of the literature was conducted, guided by Greenfield et al.’s 2012 conceptual framework to examine the promise of NORC programs to promote aging-in-place. RESULTS From 762 publications, we included 61 articles. All publications were North American and most used a descriptive approach (49/61; 80.3%). Just over half provided a specific definition of a NORC (32/61; 52.5%); of those, almost half (14/32; 43.8%) used Hunt and Gunter-Hunt’s 1986 definition; yet there were discrepancies in the defined proportions of older adults that constitutes a NORC (e.g. 40%, 50%). Six articles (6/61; 9.8%) described processes for identifying NORCs. Thirty-seven articles (37/61; 60.7%) specifically described Articles about NORC SSPs, described both external partnerships with organizations for service delivery (30/61; 49.2%), and internal resources, including staff (19/61; 31.1%), volunteers (13/61; 21.3%), or neighbours (5/61; 8.2%). Identified key components of a NORC-SSP included activities fostering social relationships (24/61;39.3%) and access to resources and services (24/61;39.3%). Sustainability and funding of NORC-SSPs was described (25/61; 40.9%), particularly as challenges to success. Initial outcomes, including self-efficacy (6/61; 9.8%) and increased access to social and health supports (14/61; 22.9%) were cited; however, long-term outcomes were lacking. CONCLUSIONS This review synthesizes the NORC literature to date and demonstrates that NORCs with programming (NORC-SSPs) have potential as an alternative model of supporting aging-in-place. Longitudinal research exploring the impacts of both NORCs and NORC-SSPs on older adult health and well-being is recommended. Future research should also explore ways to improve the sustainability of NORC-SSPs.

Motivation and the Social Context of Aging and Decision Making

2021 ◽  
pp. 234-251
Author(s):  
JoNell Strough ◽  
Kelly Smith
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Life Experience ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
Adult Age ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Social ◽  
Motivational Influences

This chapter focuses on the role of motivation for understanding adult age differences in decision making. It begins by reviewing research on cognitive aging and decision making. It then reviews research that highlights older adults’ motivation to selectively allocate cognitive resources when making decisions and their motivation to draw upon life experience and emotion regulation strategies. Next, because age-related shifts in motivation accentuate a focus on meaningful social relationships, the chapter considers social aspects of aging and decision making. It discusses age-related differences in selection of social network members and considers factors that may motivate older adults to involve others in the decision-making process. It suggests how research on motivation and aging and decision making could be used to inform decision-making interventions. After suggesting directions for future research, it concludes by highlighting the implications of research on aging and decision making for understanding contextual and motivational influences on cognitive aging.

scholarly journals RISKS AND VULNERABILITIES AFFECTING ADVANCED CARE PLANNING FOR OLDER ADULTS INVOLVED IN ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S181-S181
Author(s):  
Joy S Ernst
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Advanced Care Planning ◽  
Protective Services ◽  
Adult Protective Services ◽  
Difficult Conversations ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract Adult protective services (APS) workers regularly engage in advanced care planning (ACP). This qualitative content analysis of 21 APS cases sought to extend knowledge and uncover characteristics that influenced the ACP process and increased vulnerability of older adults in cases of neglect. The case narratives were examined to identify themes of vulnerability and risk related to ACP. Vulnerabilities of the older adults included multimorbidities, geriatric syndromes, and functional limitations. Risks involving caregivers included health problems and cognitive impairment. Caregivers were overwhelmed or lacked insight into the older adults’ needs. Involvement of other family members was detrimental or non-existent while some advocated for improvements where the caregiver refused assistance. Findings support the development of methods of ACP, including the facilitation of difficult conversations, that would respect the autonomy and dignity of the older adult while meeting the multiple needs of caregivers and family members.

Refining Evidence-Based Treatments for Late-Life Depression

GeroPsych ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-76
Author(s):  
Grace C. Niu ◽  
Patricia A. Arean
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Aging Population ◽  
The United States ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
Evidence Based Treatments

The recent increase in the aging population, specifically in the United States, has raised concerns regarding treatment for mental illness among older adults. Late-life depression (LLD) is a complex condition that has become widespread among the aging population. Despite the availability of behavioral interventions and psychotherapies, few depressed older adults actually receive treatment. In this paper we review the research on refining treatments for LLD. We first identify evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for LLD and the problems associated with efficacy and dissemination, then review approaches to conceptualizing mental illness, specifically concepts related to brain plasticity and the Research Domain Criteria (RDoc). Finally, we introduce ENGAGE as a streamlined treatment for LLD and discuss implications for future research.

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 Spontaneous Eye Blinks Predict Executive Functioning in Seniors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessika I. V. Buitenweg ◽  
Jaap M. J. Murre ◽  
K. Richard Ridderinkhof
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Functional Decline ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Blink Rate ◽  
Memory Updating ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Working Memory Updating

AbstractAs the world’s population is aging rapidly, cognitive training is an extensively used approach to attempt improvement of age-related cognitive functioning. With increasing numbers of older adults required to remain in the workforce, it is important to be able to reliably predict future functional decline, as well as the individual advantages of cognitive training. Given the correlation between age-related decline and striatal dopaminergic function, we investigated whether eye blink rate (EBR), a non-invasive, indirect indicator of dopaminergic activity, could predict executive functioning (response inhibition, switching and working memory updating) as well as trainability of executive functioning in older adults. EBR was collected before and after a cognitive flexibility training, cognitive training without flexibility, or a mock training. EBR predicted working memory updating performance on two measures of updating, as well as trainability of working memory updating, whereas performance and trainability in inhibition and switching tasks could not be predicted by EBR. Our findings tentatively indicate that EBR permits prediction of working memory performance in older adults. To fully interpret the relationship with executive functioning, we suggest future research should assess both EBR and dopamine receptor availability among seniors.

The Socialization of Unpaid Family Caregivers: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 016402752110050
Author(s):  
Kirstie McAllum ◽  
Mary Louisa Simpson ◽  
Christine Unson ◽  
Stephanie Fox ◽  
Kelley Kilpatrick
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Family Caregiving ◽  
Family Processes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Socialization Process ◽  
Role Negotiation ◽  
Role Learning ◽  
Socialization Agents

As unpaid family caregiving of older adults becomes increasingly prevalent, it is imperative to understand how family caregivers are socialized and how they understand the caregiving role. This PRISMA-ScR-based scoping review examines the published literature between 1995–2019 on the socialization of potential and current unpaid family caregivers of older adults. Of 4,599 publications identified, 47 were included. Three perspectives of socialization were identified: (1) role acculturation; (2) role negotiation and identification; and (3) specialized role learning. The findings show how socialization involves different contexts (e.g., cultures), imperatives for action (e.g., circumstances), socialization agents (e.g., family), processes (e.g., modeling), and internal (e.g., normalization) and external (e.g., identification) consequences for caregivers. Future research could fruitfully explore how caregivers manage key turning points within the socialization process, disengage from the caregiving role, and negotiate the socialization and individualization processes within diverse cultural and funding contexts.

Towards Interconnected Blockchains

2021 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 1-39
Author(s):  
Ankur Lohachab ◽  
Saurabh Garg ◽  
Byeong Kang ◽  
Muhammad Bilal Amin ◽  
Junmin Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
The State ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Missing Link ◽  
Layered Architecture ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Wide Scale ◽  
Effective Development ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Game Changer

Unprecedented attention towards blockchain technology is serving as a game-changer in fostering the development of blockchain-enabled distinctive frameworks. However, fragmentation unleashed by its underlying concepts hinders different stakeholders from effectively utilizing blockchain-supported services, resulting in the obstruction of its wide-scale adoption. To explore synergies among the isolated frameworks requires comprehensively studying inter-blockchain communication approaches. These approaches broadly come under the umbrella of Blockchain Interoperability (BI) notion, as it can facilitate a novel paradigm of an integrated blockchain ecosystem that connects state-of-the-art disparate blockchains. Currently, there is a lack of studies that comprehensively review BI, which works as a stumbling block in its development. Therefore, this article aims to articulate potential of BI by reviewing it from diverse perspectives. Beginning with a glance of blockchain architecture fundamentals, this article discusses its associated platforms, taxonomy, and consensus mechanisms. Subsequently, it argues about BI’s requirement by exemplifying its potential opportunities and application areas. Concerning BI, an architecture seems to be a missing link. Hence, this article introduces a layered architecture for the effective development of protocols and methods for interoperable blockchains. Furthermore, this article proposes an in-depth BI research taxonomy and provides an insight into the state-of-the-art projects. Finally, it determines possible open challenges and future research in the domain.

The Application of the Blockchain Technology in Voting Systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Jun Huang ◽  
Debiao He ◽  
Mohammad S. Obaidat ◽  
Pandi Vijayakumar ◽  
Min Luo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Agenda ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Voting Systems ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
Formal Expression ◽  
Future Research Agenda ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Peer Network ◽  
Peer To Peer Network ◽  
Insight Into

Voting is a formal expression of opinion or choice, either positive or negative, made by an individual or a group of individuals. However, conventional voting systems tend to be centralized, which are known to suffer from security and efficiency limitations. Hence, there has been a trend of moving to decentralized voting systems, such as those based on blockchain. The latter is a decentralized digital ledger in a peer-to-peer network, where a copy of the append-only ledger of digitally signed and encrypted transactions is maintained by each participant. Therefore, in this article, we perform a comprehensive review of blockchain-based voting systems and classify them based on a number of features (e.g., the types of blockchain used, the consensus approaches used, and the scale of participants). By systematically analyzing and comparing the different blockchain-based voting systems, we also identify a number of limitations and research opportunities. Hopefully, this survey will provide an in-depth insight into the potential utility of blockchain in voting systems and device future research agenda.

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