scholarly journals Owners’ Perceptions of Pet influence: Relation to Health Outcomes & Pet Attachment in Community-Living Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 926-926
Author(s):  
Erika Friedmann ◽  
Nancy Gee ◽  
Eleanor Simonsick ◽  
Barbara Resnick ◽  
Erik Barr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Oblique Rotation ◽  
Fiscal Health ◽  
Pet Attachment

Abstract Pet ownership (PO) has been linked to better health outcomes in older adults, particularly those with chronic health conditions. It is suggested that pets influence their owners lives both by encouraging social interaction and by interfering with owners’ willingness or ability to seek care for themselves. We use data from 6 questions about the positive and negative influence of pets on community dwelling older adults’ administered to pet owners (N=223, age >=50 years) in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. We use principal components analysis (oblique rotation) to extract dimensions of owner’s perceptions of pet influences (PPI) and examine the relationship of these dimensions to owners’ cognitive, physical functional, and psychological status. Three dimensions of PPI include: fiscal/health challenges (F1: 3 items, alpha=0.70), wellness promotion (F2: 2 items, alpha=0.80); and reason for social/travel constraints (F3: 1 item). In regression analysis with all factors entered simultaneously, after controlling for age, higher magnitude of F1 significantly independently predicted poor physical quality of life (p=.0007), greater perceived stress (p=0.041), and lower happiness (p=0.014); F2 did not independently predict any health outcome; higher F3 significantly independently predicted lower emotional vitality (p=0.048). Controlling for age, all three factors were independent predictors of pet attachment (p’s=0.001, 0.010, 0.047, respectively). F1 and F3 were positively and F2 was negatively correlated with attachment. PPI was associated with owners’ physical and mental health. Perhaps older adults with higher attachment to pets are more likely to keep them despite higher challenges.

Clinical and Ambulatory Gait Speed in Older Adults: Associations With Several Physical, Mental, and Cognitive Health Outcomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 718-727
Author(s):  
Miguel Á De la Cámara ◽  
Sara Higueras-Fresnillo ◽  
Kabir P Sadarangani ◽  
Irene Esteban-Cornejo ◽  
David Martinez-Gomez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Predictive Validity ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Walk Test ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Cognitive Health

Abstract Background Although clinical gait speed may indicate health and well-being in older adults, there is a lack of studies comparing clinical tests with ambulatory gait speed with regard to several health outcomes. Objective The objective of this study was to examine the associations of clinical gait speed, measured by the 2.44-m walk test and the ambulatory gait speed with several physical, mental, and cognitive health outcomes in older adults. Design A cross-sectional design was used. Methods The study population comprised 432 high-functioning, community-dwelling older adults (287 women) aged between 65 and 92 years. Clinical and ambulatory gait speeds were measured using the 2.44-m walk test and a portable gait analysis device, respectively. Multiple linear regressions were used to examine the association of clinical and ambulatory gait speeds with several health outcomes (body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, chronic conditions, self-rated health, exhaustion, upper- and lower-body strength, physical and mental health status, cognitive status, and self-rated cognitive status). Results The results showed that the average gait speed for clinical and ambulatory measures cannot be directly compared. Clinical gait speed was associated with 7 health outcomes, and the ambulatory gait speed was associated with 6 health outcomes. The significant associations between measures of gait speed and the health outcomes converged in 5 of the 13 health outcomes studied; however, the strength of associations was singly different between measures. Limitations The short monitoring time, the inability to distinguish between the ambulatory gait speed inside the home and outdoor gait speed, and the under-representative sample are limitations of the study. Conclusion The results indicated differences in the number and strength of associations between clinical and ambulatory gait speed. Both measures have construct validity because they have been associated with physical and health outcomes; however, they may have different predictive validity. Further research should be conducted to compare their predictive validity in longitudinal designs.

scholarly journals Impact of a Wearable Device-Based Walking Programs in Rural Older Adults on Physical Activity and Health Outcomes: Cohort Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Il-Young Jang ◽  
Hae Reong Kim ◽  
Eunju Lee ◽  
Hee-Won Jung ◽  
Hyelim Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Wearable Devices ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Wearable Device ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

BACKGROUND Community-dwelling older adults living in rural areas are in a less favorable environment for health care compared with urban older adults. We believe that intermittent coaching through wearable devices can help optimize health care for older adults in medically limited environments. OBJECTIVE We aimed to evaluate whether a wearable device and mobile-based intermittent coaching or self-management could increase physical activity and health outcomes of small groups of older adults in rural areas. METHODS To address the above evaluation goal, we carried out the “Smart Walk” program, a health care model wherein a wearable device is used to promote self-exercise particularly among community-dwelling older adults managed by a community health center. We randomly selected older adults who had enrolled in a population-based, prospective cohort study of aging, the Aging Study of Pyeongchang Rural Area. The “Smart Walk” program was a 13-month program conducted from March 2017 to March 2018 and included 6 months of coaching, 1 month of rest, and 6 months of self-management. We evaluated differences in physical activity and health outcomes according to frailty status and conducted pre- and postanalyses of the Smart Walk program. We also performed intergroup analysis according to adherence of wearable devices. RESULTS We recruited 22 participants (11 robust and 11 prefrail older adults). The two groups were similar in most of the variables, except for age, frailty index, and Short Physical Performance Battery score associated with frailty criteria. After a 6-month coaching program, the prefrail group showed significant improvement in usual gait speed (mean 0.73 [SD 0.11] vs mean 0.96 [SD 0.27], P=.02), International Physical Activity Questionnaire scores in kcal (mean 2790.36 [SD 2224.62] vs mean 7589.72 [SD 4452.52], P=.01), and European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions score (mean 0.84 [SD 0.07] vs mean 0.90 [SD 0.07], P=.02), although no significant improvement was found in the robust group. The average total step count was significantly different and was approximately four times higher in the coaching period than in the self-management period (5,584,295.83 vs 1,289,084.66, P<.001). We found that participants in the “long-self” group who used the wearable device for the longest time showed increased body weight and body mass index by mean 0.65 (SD 1.317) and mean 0.097 (SD 0.513), respectively, compared with the other groups. CONCLUSIONS Our “Smart Walk” program improved physical fitness, anthropometric measurements, and geriatric assessment categories in a small group of older adults in rural areas with limited resources for monitoring. Further validation through various rural public health centers and in a large number of rural older adults is required.

The glass is not half empty: optimism, pessimism, and health among older adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Barnett ◽  
Ellen A. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Life Orientation Test ◽  
Health And Well Being

ABSTRACTObjectives:Optimism and pessimism are distinct constructs that have demonstrated independent relationships with aspects of health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether optimism or pessimism is more closely linked with physical and mental health among older adults.Design:Cross-sectional survey.Participants:Community-dwelling older adults (N = 272) ages 59–95 in the southern United States.Measurements:The Life Orientation Test—Revised and the Short Form 8.Results:At the bivariate level, optimism was associated with higher physical health and mental health, while pessimism was associated with lower physical health and mental health. Multiple-regression analyses as well as comparison of correlation coefficients found that pessimism was more closely associated with physical health and mental health than optimism.Conclusions:These results add to the literature suggesting that, in terms of older adults’ health and well-being, avoiding pessimism may be more important than being optimistic.

The Role of Pet Ownership and Attachment in Older Adults

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deidre Watt ◽  
Nancy A. Pachana
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Clinical Work ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Pet Ownership ◽  
Pet Attachment ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

AbstractAustralia is preparing for a population increase in persons aged over 65 years, which will likely result in increased mental health needs for this group. Sub-clinical levels of depression, anxiety and loneliness are common in older adults. Older adults are also more likely than any other age group to live alone. Research has suggested that older adults living on their own often report companion animals as providing important social support. Thirty-two community-dwelling older adults, between 60 and 75+ years of age, took part in this study examining attachment to pets in an older cohort. Previous or current pet ownership was a requirement for inclusion in the study in order to account for possible bias of nonpet owners on reporting pets as a positive influence on wellbeing. Results found support for the psychometric properties of a relatively new attachment scale designed for older adults. Results also indicated limited support for a relationship between pet attachment and quality of life in the study group. Implications for clinical work with older adults and areas for future research are discussed.

The relationship between attitudes to aging and physical and mental health in older adults

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (10) ◽  
pp. 1674-1683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Bryant ◽  
Bei Bei ◽  
Kim Gilson ◽  
Angela Komiti ◽  
Henry Jackson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
Positive Attitudes

ABSTRACTBackground: Attitudes are known to exert a powerful influence on a range of behaviors. The objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of attitudes toward one's own aging to satisfaction with life and physical and mental health measured in a sample of community-dwelling older adults.Methods: Adults who were part of a larger study of health and well-being in rural and regional Australia aged ≥60 years (N = 421) completed a cross-sectional postal survey comprising the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire, the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale.Results: Overall, attitudes to aging were positive in this sample. More positive attitudes to aging were associated with higher levels of satisfaction with life, better self-report physical and mental health on the SF-12, and lower levels of anxiety and depression, after controlling for confounding variables. Better financial status and being employed were both associated with more positive attitudes to aging and better self-reported physical health. Relationship status was also significantly associated with mental health and satisfaction with life, but not physical health.Conclusion: The promotion of successful aging is increasingly becoming important in aging societies. Having positive attitudes to aging may contribute to healthier mental and physical outcomes in older adults. Overcoming negative stereotypes of aging through change at the societal and individual level may help to promote more successful aging.

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