Preferences for collaborative and individual everyday problem solving in later adulthood

2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
JoNell Strough ◽  
Suling Cheng ◽  
Lisa M. Swenson
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Social Comparisons ◽  
Social Resources ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Meal Preparation ◽  
Everyday Problem ◽  
And Control ◽  
Everyday Problems ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Individual and contextual predictors of preferences for solving everyday problems alone and in collaboration with others were investigated in a sample community-dwelling older adults ( M age = 71.80 years, SD = 5.78, range = 56–87, 51 men, 56 women). Gender differences in problem-solving preferences were found in gender-stereotyped domains (e.g., meal-preparation; house repair). In several problem domains, more positive social comparisons of problem-solving ability were related to greater preferences for solving problems alone and lesser preferences for solving problems with others. Marital status, temporal comparisons of ability, and perceived health and control were related to problem-solving preferences in some problem domains. Results are discussed from a contextual perspective that focuses on the fit between individuals’ personal and social resources and their preferred approaches to solving everyday problems.

Collaborative Everyday Problem Solving: Interpersonal Relationships and Problem Dimensions

2003 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
JONell Strough ◽  
Julie Hicks Patrick ◽  
Lisa M. Swenson ◽  
Suling Cheng ◽  
Kristi A. Barnes
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Finance House ◽  
Everyday Problem Solving ◽  
Everyday Problem ◽  
Everyday Problems ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Older adults' preferred partners for collaborative everyday problem solving and the types of everyday problems solved alone and with others were examined in a sample of community dwelling older adults ( N = 112, M age = 71.86 yrs., SD = 5.92 yrs.). Family members (i.e., spouses, adult children) were the most frequently nominated partners for collaborative everyday problem solving, but friends, neighbors, and church members also were nominated. Older adults reported that they solved numerous types of problems, including finance, house repair, and health, in collaboration with others. These problems were also prominent when older adults reported the problems that they consulted others for advice on how to solve and the problems they solved alone. Together the results suggest new directions for research on collaborative everyday problem solving in terms of the types of interpersonal relationships and problems to be investigated. Implications of the findings for researchers and practitioners are discussed in terms of how to best understand and promote successful aging.

scholarly journals The role of attentional focus on walking efficiency among older fallers and non-fallers

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 811-816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toby C T Mak ◽  
William R Young ◽  
Wing-Kai Lam ◽  
Andy C Y Tse ◽  
Thomson W L Wong
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Attentional Focus ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Thigh Muscle ◽  
Balance Confidence ◽  
Functional Balance ◽  
History Of ◽  
And Control ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract Background This study evaluated the effect of attentional focus instructions on movement efficiency during a level-ground walking task in older adults with and without a history of falls. Methods One hundred and thirty-four community-dwelling older adults were categorised into older fallers (OF) (n = 37) and older non-fallers (ONF) (n = 97). Each participant was instructed to walk at a self-selected pace along a 6 m walkway under three attentional focus conditions (i.e. internal, goal-directed and control) for a total of nine trials. Average muscle activity indices of lower limb co-contractions were measured using surface electromyography. Results Both shank and thigh muscle co-contractions were higher in OF than in ONF in all three conditions. OF also demonstrated higher shank muscle co-contraction under the internal relative to the goal-directed condition, with no such change observed in ONF. Conclusion Despite no significant between-group differences in functional balance and balance confidence, relative walking inefficiencies were observed in OF compared with ONF. This finding demonstrates the debilitating consequences of falling that can occur with relative independence from various physiological or psychological factors that are commonly associated with falling and used to rationalise behavioural change. We also provide evidence that OF are more susceptible to conditions that provoke them to allocate attention internally. Therefore, in clinical contexts (e.g. gait rehabilitation), verbal instructions that refer to body movements (internal focus) might serve to compromise movement efficiency in older adults with a history of falls. Such changes will, theoretically, lessen the ability to react efficiently to changing environments experienced in daily life.

scholarly journals Self-management program versus usual care for community-dwelling older adults with multimorbidity: A pragmatic randomized controlled trial in Ontario, Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 2235042X2096339
Author(s):  
Kathryn Fisher ◽  
Maureen Markle-Reid ◽  
Jenny Ploeg ◽  
Amy Bartholomew ◽  
Lauren E Griffith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Home Care Services ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Care Services ◽  
And Control ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Background: Multimorbidity, the co-existence of 2+ (or 3+) chronic diseases in an individual, is an increasingly common global phenomenon leading to reduced quality of life and functional status, and higher healthcare service use and mortality. There is an urgent need to develop and test new models of care that incorporate the components of multimorbidity interventions recommended by international organizations, including care coordination, interdisciplinary teams, and care plans developed with patients that are tailored to their needs and preferences. Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of a 6-month, community-based, multimorbidity intervention compared to usual home care services for community-dwelling older adults (age 65+ years) with multimorbidity (3+ chronic conditions) that were newly referred to and receiving home care services. Methods: A pragmatic, parallel, two-arm randomized controlled trial evaluated the intervention, which included in-home visits by an interdisciplinary team, personal support worker visits, and monthly case conferences. The study took place in two sites in central Ontario, Canada. Eligible and consenting participants were randomly allocated to the intervention and control group using a 1:1 ratio. The participants, statistician/analyst, and research assistants collecting assessment data were blinded. The primary outcome was the Physical Component Summary (PCS) score of the 12-Item Short-Form health survey (SF-12). Secondary outcomes included the SF-12 Mental Component Summary (MCS) score, Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression (CESD-10), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease, and service use and costs. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) tested group differences using multiple imputation to address missing data, and non-parametric methods explored service use and cost differences. Results: 59 older adults were randomized into the intervention (n = 30) and control (n = 29) groups. At baseline, groups were similar for the primary outcome and number of chronic conditions (mean of 8.6), but the intervention group had lower mental health status. The intervention was cost neutral and no significant group differences were observed for the primary outcome of PCS from SF-12 (mean difference: −4.94; 95% CI: −12.53 to 2.66; p = 0.20) or secondary outcomes. Conclusion: We evaluated a 6-month, self-management intervention for older adults with multimorbidity. While the intervention was cost neutral in comparison to usual care, it was not found to improve the PCS from SF-12 or secondary health outcomes. Recruitment and retention challenges were significant obstacles limiting our ability to assess intervention effectiveness. Yet, the intervention was grounded in internationally-endorsed recommendations and implemented in a practice setting (home care) viewed as a key upstream resource fostering independence in older adults. These features collectively support the identification of ways to recruit/retain older adults and test alternative implementation strategies for interventions that are based on sound principles of multimorbidity management.

Effects of Resistance Training on Muscular Strength and Functional Abilities of Community-Dwelling Older Adults

1995 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 238-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanne F. Nichols ◽  
Lori M. Hitzelberger ◽  
Jennifer G. Sherman ◽  
Patricia Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Functional Abilities ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Weight Trainers ◽  
Shoulder Strength ◽  
And Control ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

This study examined the efficacy of a progressive resistance exercise program, using equal concentric/eccentric (CE) or greater eccentric/concentric (GE) workloads, for increasing strength and improving functional abilities of community-dwelling older adults. Sixty men and women were randomly assigned to one of three groups: CE, GE, or control. All strength testing and training took place on six Lifecircuit machines. Functional tests included a bas carry, weighted stair climb, shelf task 1-RM, and static balance. Significant interactions in strength tests were noted for the chest, back, and shoulder exercises. GE improved in shoulder strength more than CE and control For functional measures, all weight trainers were grouped and compared to controls. A significant interaction occurred for the stair climb and balance with the exercise groups decreasing stair climb time by 11% and increasing balance time by 26%. Relative improvements by weight trainers of 12% for the shelf task and 7% for the bag carry were not significant. These data indicate that a moderate intensity resistance program can have positive effects on tasks required for everyday function.

Medication Use and Control of Urination Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 661-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine M. Ruby ◽  
Joseph T. Hanlon ◽  
Gerda G. Fillenbaum ◽  
Carl F. Pieper ◽  
Laurence G. Branch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
And Control ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Age and Experiential Differences in Strategy Generation and Information Requests for Solving Everyday Problems

1999 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 615-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia A. Berg ◽  
Sean P. Meegan ◽  
Paul Klaczynski
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Problem Definition ◽  
Amount Of Information ◽  
Everyday Problem Solving ◽  
Everyday Problem ◽  
Everyday Problems ◽  
Information Requests

The role of experience in understanding age differences in strategy generation and information requests for solving everyday problems was explored in young and older adults. Participants received three hypothetical problems dealing with going to doctor’s offices and going to dinner parties and were probed extensively for their strategies and information they would like to solve the problems. Experience with these two domains was assessed by participants’ reports of their experience, script knowledge, and the presence of experience in problem definitions. No age differences were found in these experience measures. Age differences were found in the number of strategies generated and the amount of information requested to solve the problem. Two patterns of everyday problem solving were uncovered: an exhaustive style (involving inferential problem definition, elaborate strategy generation, and information requests); and an experiential style (involving experiential problem definition, less strategy generation, and fewer information requests). The results are interpreted within a model that uses individuals’ problem definitions to understand multiple aspects of everyday problem-solving performance.

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