Preparing students for intentional conversations with older adults

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Margaret McAllister ◽  
Leanne Dodd ◽  
Colleen Ryan ◽  
Donna Lee Brien
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Older People ◽  
Educational Intervention ◽  
Narrative Theory ◽  
Life Stories ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Story Theory

Abstract This paper presents the findings from a study introducing nursing students to narrative production. The aim was to use Story Theory to inspire students to intentionally collaborate with older people and produce a mini-biography of those individuals. Narrative theory was utilised in four ways: designing an educational intervention; collecting and developing older peoples’ life stories; framing an understanding of the meaning of the stories collected; analysing the significance of the storytelling approach. The paper explains the study approach and findings and outlines the benefits as well as challenges that occurred during the process. Most particularly, the anthology produced has become a tangible reminder about a clinical practice that allowed students to meet frail aged residents and come to know them as vibrant human beings.

Neuropsychological assessment in older people: old principles and new directions

2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 362-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin G. Morris ◽  
Claire Worsley ◽  
David Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Older People ◽  
Neuropsychological Assessment ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Clinical Psychologist ◽  
Narrow Sense ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Common Clinical Practice

Neuropsychological assessment, in the broader sense, is common clinical practice with older adults because of the widespread use of mental status examinations and dementia rating scales. In the more narrow sense, a neuropsychological assessment conducted by a clinical psychologist or clinical neuropsychologist is used less frequently and for more specific purposes. This paper outlines these uses and provides a brief overview of the different types of test that might be used, with a clinical example to illustrate the type of information gained. This review is designed not to be comprehensive, but to provide a pointer towards the latest trends in test development.

scholarly journals Learning Together During a Pandemic Lockdown: Connecting Older Mentors with Nursing Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 951-951
Author(s):  
Alison Phinney ◽  
Frances Affleck
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Nursing Education ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Older People ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Undergraduate Nursing ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Nursing education tends to focus on complex clinical issues affecting older adults who are acutely ill or in long-term care. This creates challenges for educators wanting to expose students to a greater range of experience, including realities of healthy aging. Opportunities to do things differently were presented when an established undergraduate nursing course on complex aging care underwent significant adjustment in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the course was condensed and moved online and clinical sites closed, invitations were extended to community-dwelling older people who wanted to “help teach nursing students about aging”. The response was overwhelming; over nine days, 118 people (ages 65-94) volunteered to be mentors. Through weekly online/ phone conversations, each person guided their assigned student to learn about diverse experiences of aging. Post-survey results showed the impact of these conversations. Over 90% of mentors felt they had contributed in a meaningful way to student learning and would do it again and recommend it to others. 85% of students felt it was a meaningful experience, offering comments like: “I am more mindful of my assumptions now” and “I learned to approach interactions with older adults as a collaboration; we have so much to give each other”. These results provide a needed counterpoint to the predominant COVID discourse of older people as “isolated, helpless, and needy”. Students came to understand that older people were also “engaged, active, and contributing” and identified how this had changed their view of aging. Implications for nursing education are explored.

scholarly journals Engaging nursing students and older adults through service-learning

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine S. Gipson ◽  
Julie A. Delello ◽  
Rochell R. McWhorter
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Older People ◽  
Cultural Knowledge ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Technological Competency ◽  
Prior Experiences ◽  
Cultural Skills

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine nursing students’ (n = 18) perceptions of interrelating with older adults to understand how such interactions might improve students’ levels of cultural competence and enhance their future nursing practice. Additionally, the study sought to contribute to a higher level of technological competency in older adults. Design/methodology/approach A basic qualitative study design (Merriam and Tisdell, 2016) was used to direct the data collection and analysis to achieve the aims of this study. Findings Four themes emerged from the data collected based on cultural knowledge, cultural skills, cultural desire and engaging in cross-cultural interactions. Students reflected on how their experiences would help them to interact with older adults in their future nursing practices. Research limitations/implications The limitation of the research is that the exploratory study cannot be generalized for a wider demographic. Also, the students’ prior experiences working with older adults were not considered and their reflections may not have accurately portrayed their true biases. Practical implications Reflection is a valuable practice to help students think through their experiences and is considered a key component of service-learning. In this study, students reflected on how their experiences would help them to interact with older adults in their future nursing practices. Social implications Nursing students who are later used take with them empathy, more sensitivity and positive attitudes toward older people to benefit the nurse-patient relationship with this population. Originality/value This is one of a handful of studies located that pairs nursing students with older people in teaching technology skills through iPad technology.

scholarly journals Factors Affecting Attitudes towards Older People in Undergraduate Nursing Students

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1231
Author(s):  
Lourdes López-Hernández ◽  
Francisco Miguel Martínez-Arnau ◽  
Elena Castellano-Rioja ◽  
Marta Botella-Navas ◽  
Pilar Pérez-Ros
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Older People ◽  
Student Attitudes ◽  
Positive Attitude ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Previous Experience ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Undergraduate Nursing Students ◽  
Undergraduate Nursing

Background: The population of older people is increasing worldwide. The social and healthcare systems need many nurses to care for the elderly. Positive attitudes increase the preference to work with older people and improve the quality of care. This study describes attitudes towards the elderly in a sample of nursing students, and analyzes the potential factors influencing these attitudes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in nursing students during the academic course 2017–2018. Kogan’s Attitude Toward Old People Scale was used to assess student attitudes towards older people. Results: The study included 377 undergraduate nursing students, of which 75.9% were women. The mean age was 22.23 (5.69) years. Attitude proved positive, with a mean Kogan’s score of 131.04 (12.66). Women had higher scores than men, with a mean difference of 7.76 (95% CI: 4.87–10.66; p < 0.001). The male sex, age ≥ 25 years, and previous experience with institutionalized older adults worsened attitudes, while studying the subject of geriatrics, each higher course within the degree, work placements in hospitals and nursing homes, and previous experience with community older adults or with older relatives favored a more positive attitude. Participants with no interest in working with older adults yielded lower scores. Conclusions: Attitudes towards the elderly among nursing students are positive. Women have a more positive attitude. Analyzing the factors that improve attitudes in nursing students is suggested, as it may contribute to improve nursing care.

scholarly journals Nursing students’ willingness to care for older adults in Turkey in 2020

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
İsmail Toygar ◽  
Sadık Hançerlioğlu ◽  
Dimitrios Theofanidis
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Great Majority ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
The Mean

Background & Aim: The population of older adults is dramatically increasing in the world. This increase results in more demand for health care services from older adults. So, nurses’ and nursing students’ willingness to care for older adults gain importance. The aim of the study was to determine the willingness of nursing students to care for older adults and the factors affecting this in Turkey. Methods & Materials: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between November-December 2019 in the nursing faculty of a public university. 299 students were randomly selected and data were collected by using a demographic student form and the Willingness to Care for Older People scale. Data were analyzed via the SPSS version 25 program. Results: The great majority (90.3%) of the students were female and the mean age was 21.3±1.2 years. The mean score of the students' willingness to care for the elderly was 36.82±5.96. The willingness to care for the older adults was found to be affected by caring for the older adults in clinical practice (B=2.136, β=0.174, p=0.008) and wanting to live with an elderly relative (B=2.022, β=0.168, p=0.016). Conclusions: The experience of caring for an older adult in clinical practice and to be willing to live with an older relative in the same house is positively associated with the willingness of student nurses to consider geriatric nursing as an option.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Older Adults

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory A. Hinrichsen
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Older People ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Interpersonal Psychotherapy ◽  
Life Change ◽  
Individual Psychotherapy ◽  
Role Transitions ◽  
Life Problems ◽  
Complicated Bereavement

In clinical practice with older adults, depression is a common presenting problem and is usually interwoven with one or more life problems. These problems are often the focus of psychotherapy. Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is a highly researched and effective treatment for depression in adults and older adults. IPT is time-limited, and as an individual psychotherapy it is usually conducted over 16 sessions. IPT focuses on one or two of four interpersonally relevant problems that may be a cause or consequence of depression. These include: role transitions (life change), interpersonal role disputes (conflict with another person), grief (complicated bereavement), and interpersonal deficits (social isolation and loneliness). The four IPT problem areas reflect issues that are frequently seen in psychotherapy with depressed older people.

scholarly journals The Moderating Role of Empathy Profiles in the Relationship Between Knowledge About Aging and Attitudes Toward Older Adults Among Nursing Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gui-Ying Yao ◽  
Yan-Yan Luo ◽  
Zhi-Min Zhao ◽  
Bo Zhu ◽  
Min Gao
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Older People ◽  
Latent Profile Analysis ◽  
Chinese Version ◽  
Reactivity Index ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Attitudes Toward Older Adults ◽  
Moderating Role

Knowledge about aging (KA) and empathy affect nursing students’ attitudes toward older adults. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon from an integrated, person-centered perspective. The purposes of the present study were (1) to identify empathy profiles based on the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) among Chinese nursing students and (2) to explore whether these latent empathy profiles moderate the association between KA and attitudes toward older people. A cross-sectional survey design was used, and a battery of questionnaires – including those on demographic information, the Chinese version of Palmore’s Facts on Aging Quiz (C-FAQ), the Chinese version of Kogan’s Attitude Toward Older People Scale (C-KAOP), and the IRI – was filled in by 622 Chinese nursing students (Mage 21.76; SD = 1.33). The mean total scores on KAOP and C-FAQ were 164.96 ± 18.32 and 10.436 ± 3.015, respectively, indicating relatively positive attitudes toward older people but low KA among Chinese nursing students. Latent profile analysis was used to identify a three-profile solution characterized by distinct levels of four dimensions of empathy, namely average empathy (AE, n = 399), high empathy (HE, n = 42), and low empathy (LE, n = 181). Subsequent linear regression analysis revealed that the LE rather than the HE profile predicted positive attitudes toward older adults. It is worth noting that the LE profile played a remarkable moderating role in associations between KA and negative attitudes toward older adults after controlling for covariant variables. Both the identification of distinct empathy profiles and the interplay between the LE profile and KA are of significance in reducing negative attitudes toward older adults among Chinese nursing students. Nursing educators should combine improving nursing students’ levels of KA and fostering greater empathy to reduce negative attitudes toward older adults. Such training should give priority to nursing students with LE.

scholarly journals How long should older people take antidepressants to prevent relapse?

2002 ◽  
Vol 24 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 70-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Spear
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Older People ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Psychotherapeutic Interventions ◽  
Risk Of Relapse

Patients with depressive disorder have a high risk of relapse after recovery from a depressive episode. Can the relapse of depressive disorder be prevented or delayed for older adults? This paper reviews the evidence from randomised clinical trials and open label trials of the effectiveness of maintenance antidepressant therapy for older adults with depressive disorder. It also examines the evidence for the effectiveness of psychosocial and psychotherapeutic interventions. The paper concludes with recommendations for clinical practice and future research.

scholarly journals Factors affecting the attitudes of nursing students toward ageism

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismail Toygar ◽  
Ayfer Kardakovan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Older People ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Attitude Scale ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Nurse Students

Background & Aim: The world's older adult population is increasing and is expected to increase in the future. Ageism is one of the difficulties older adults experienced. Nursing students as a candidate for the nursing profession will frequent contact with older adults. Ageism attitudes among nursing students are essential for this reason. This study aims to determine the attitudes of nursing students toward ageism and the factors affecting it. Method & Materials: The study was cross-sectional, and the data were collected from January to February 2019. The study included 509 students. A demographic data form and the Ageism Attitude Scale were used to collect data. Results: The mean age of the participants was 20.94±1.30 years and 439 (86.2%) participants were female. Female nurse students show lower ageist attitudes than males (p<0.001) and between the year of study and attitudes to ageism (p = 0.001). A statistically significant difference was found between nurse students caring for older people and those not caring for older people and attitudes to ageism (p<0.001). Conclusion: In nursing students, giving care to older people during their education, and having lived with an older relative should be considered to reduce ageism. We offer that nurse curriculums revised to reduce ageism according to factors affecting attitudes to ageism.

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