scholarly journals The Journal of Applied Gerontology: An International Forum for Information

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 361-361
Author(s):  
Julie Robison
Keyword(s):  
Older Persons ◽  
Well Being ◽  
International Forum ◽  
International Context ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract The mission of applied gerontology is to bridge science and practice to benefit the health and well-being of older persons, their families, their communities, and other contexts. This presentation will provide insights from the Journal of Applied Gerontology and its attempts to publish and disseminate scholarship that has international application. Following an overview of the growing internationalization of peer-reviewed submissions to the Journal of Applied Gerontology on a variety of topics and from a range of perspectives, the presentation will highlight key achievements as well as ongoing concerns and opportunities to better achieve the goals of applying gerontological scholarship to aging contexts worldwide. Concluding comments will examine how outlets for dissemination and authors themselves can better position their work to enhance their influence on aging in an international context.

scholarly journals THE JOURNAL OF APPLIED GERONTOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S196-S196
Author(s):  
Julie Robison
Keyword(s):  
Older Persons ◽  
Well Being ◽  
International Perspective ◽  
International Context ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract The mission of applied gerontology is to bridge science and practice to benefit the health and well-being of older persons, their families, their communities, and other contexts. This presentation will provide insights from the Journal of Applied Gerontology and its attempts to publish and disseminate scholarship that has international application. Following an overview of the growing internationalization of peer-reviewed submissions to the Journal of Applied Gerontology on a variety of topics and from a range of perspectives, the presentation will highlight key achievements as well as ongoing concerns and opportunities to better achieve the goals of applying gerontological scholarship to aging contexts worldwide. Concluding comments will examine how outlets for dissemination and authors themselves can better position their work to enhance their influence on aging in an international context.

scholarly journals Meaning of Life and Well-Being: Preliminary Results of the Successful Aging Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 112-112
Author(s):  
Zvi Gellis ◽  
Kim McClive-Reed ◽  
Bonnie Kenaley ◽  
Eunhae Kim
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Presence Of Meaning ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Proxy Measure ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Meaning in life for older persons has become a focal research point, with findings that a greater sense of meaning is associated with better outcomes on a range of health and well-being factors. Our study examined relationships between scores on several personality scales, including the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (Steger et al., 2009) and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index, a proxy measure of mood/depression. Community-dwelling members (N=535) of Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes aged 50 and up (mean age 71.4, SD = 6.93) at 3 U.S. sites completed surveys. Higher wellness levels were significantly correlated with increased resilience, optimism, life satisfaction, and presence of meaning in life, while lower levels were associated with greater searching for meaning in life. A multivariate linear regression model (F = 55.597, df = 4, p = .000, R = .566, R2 = .320) showed that wellness scores increased with higher scores in optimism (ß = .348, p =.000), resilience (ß = .183, p = .000), and presence of meaning in life (ß = .106, p = .019). However, searching for meaning in life significantly predicted decreases in wellness scores (ß = -.084, p=.019). These results support those of previous studies, suggesting that for older persons, an ongoing search for meaning in life is linked to negative outcomes than a perception of existing meaning in life. A variety of available interventions aimed at increasing meaning and purpose in life (Guerrero-Torelles et al., 2017) may contribute to better health and well-being in older adults.

scholarly journals Threats to Health and Well-Being Perceived by Older People in Poland and Portugal

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria da Piedade Moreira Brandão ◽  
Laura Martins ◽  
Marlena Szewczyczak ◽  
Dorota Talarska ◽  
Ian Philp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Bodily Pain ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Joint Project ◽  
Health And Well Being

Introduction: According to the OECD, Portugal and Poland rank below average in several well-being measures such as income and wealth, and health status. Investigating how people perceive the threats to health in these two countries, is an important issue to address priority needs. To meet this need, the objective of this paper was to compare the perceptions of the threats to the health and well-being among the Polish and Portuguese older persons and explore differences between the countries in respect of patterns of self-rated health.Material and Methods: A Cross-sectional study with two convenience samples from primary health care services of Poland and Portugal was conducted; 480 adults aged 65 and over (247 Portuguese) were included. The EASYCare standard assessment of 2010 was applied under a joint project of both countries. The association between ‘self-rated unhealthy’ and socio-demographic and threats to health variables was examined using logistic regression.Results: In both countries about two thirds of the older persons self-rated their health as unhealthy. Having more than enough finances was associated with a significant lower odds of being unhealthy compared with those without enough finances at the end of the month (Portugal: OR = 0.25, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.63; Poland: OR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.88). Visual problems, bodily pain, memory loss, feeling bored or lonely and reporting shortness of breath during normal activities was consistently associated with fair or poor self-rated health.Discussion: These findings provide important information regarding the health profile of older people which can help in the development of people-centred health systems where their lives and well-being can be improved. Conclusion: The unhealthy perception of older people was consistently associated with indicators of major health threats.

scholarly journals Urban Living Environment and Mental Health of Older People: A Photovoice Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuliya Mysyuk ◽  
Guy Widdershoven ◽  
Martijn Huisman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older People ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Important Determinant ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Visual Tool ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Background Living environment has long been considered an important determinant of health. The aim of this study was to explore older people’s experiences with their living environment, their definition of, and their view on its possible impact on mental health and well-being.MethodsThis qualitative study was conducted in Amsterdam among 20 participants, 11 males and 9 females aged 55 to 70 years. We used photovoice as a visual tool to explore older persons’ unique experiences with, and perceptions of their living environment.ResultsOur findings show that social environment plays an important role in defining and shaping the living environment of older people. Older people’s living environment is a place where they feel safe and comfortable, have social contact with others, and stay active and involved.ConclusionPhotovoice was an effective method for documenting visual representation of salient aspects of older people’s living environment and capturing their experiences.

scholarly journals Why continence matters: A social work perspective

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 34-43
Author(s):  
Doug Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Or Groups ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Reflective Practitioners ◽  
Health And Well Being

The International Continence Association defines urinary incontinence (UI) as the involuntary leakage of urine (Abrams, et al., 2003; Getliffe Thomas, 2007). UI is a symptom or a collection of symptoms, not a disease (Hope, 2007; Perry, 2008). UI is widely underreported and undertreated (Fonda Newman, 2006; Getliffe Thomas, 2007; Lara Nancy, 1994). These circumstances reflect (at least in part) reluctance among many health care workers to face UI squarely (Hope, 2007; Locher, Burgio, Goode, Roth Rodriguez, 2002). Part of this reluctance may be attributable to lack of skills and knowledge (Getliffe Thomas, 2007; Hope, 2007; Locher et al, 2002). Reflective practitioners must also recognise, and guard against, being influenced by their own life experiences and beliefs (Phillips, Ray Marshall, 2006) and by erroneous and unhelpful beliefs in the society at large (Brashler, 2006; Getliffe Thomas, 2007; Hope 2007). Moreover, the failure of persons suffering chronic conditions to be ‘cured’ can elicit negative reactions from health workers (Brashler, 2006).Ageism, defined as ‘a set of beliefs, attitudes, social institutions, and acts that denigrate individuals or groups based on their chronological age’ negatively impacts on older persons’ health and well-being (Whitbourne, 2005, p. 51; see also Butler, 1975; Myers Schwiebert, 1996; Wilson, Ruch, Lymbery, Cooper, 2008). The beliefs of individuals, families and groups too often do not reflect the reality that most persons with UI can be helped (Fonda, 2006: Getliffe Thomas, 2007; Naughtin Schofield, 2009; Locher, et al., 2002). This article addresses how health care social workers can contribute to delivering this central message to clients, whanau and other caregivers.

scholarly journals A PRACTICE FRAMEWORK FOR CONSIDERATION OF GENDER IN ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S238-S238
Author(s):  
Sharon Bowland ◽  
Beth Halaas
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Ethical Decision Making ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Personal Agency ◽  
Marginalized Groups ◽  
Transgender Persons ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Practice Framework ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Gender role stereotypes, social norms and social policies negatively influence health and well-being for marginalized groups. These inequalities are embedded in the fabric of our society and are often unquestioned and hidden. Practitioners frequently use an ethical lens that does not consider the influence of gender on life course decision-making. We developed the Practice Framework for Older Persons (PFOP) to assess past and current realities that take gendered experiences into consideration. By contextualizing means and opportunities, a more complete picture can be drawn about a person’s unique gender experiences. Subsequently, we can better understand their decision-making processes, wants, needs, and desires. This type of assessment may be particularly beneficial for women and transgender persons given ethical demands for practice paradigms which consider gender fluidity and development of a sense of personal agency.

scholarly journals Factors associated with transitions between frailty states among older persons in Brazil, 2006-2010

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciana Correia Alves ◽  
Jair Licio Ferreira Santos ◽  
Yeda Aparecida de Oliveira Duarte
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Multiple Logistic Regression ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Basic Activity ◽  
Final Study ◽  
The City ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Background Frailty is considered one of the major conditions faced by ageing societies. Little has been reported about the transitions between the different frailty states in developing countries. Objective This study aimed to identify the factors associated with transitions between frailty states between 2006 and 2010 among older adults in Brazil. Method The present investigation is part of the SABE study (Health, Well-being and Ageing). Frailty state was classified according to the Fried’s criteria (nonfrail, prefrail, and frail). The final study sample was composed of 1,399 individuals representing 1,019,243 older adults in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with changes in frailty states. Results Women were more likely to present a decline in frailty states. In the prefrail-to-nonfrail model, level of education was the most strongly associated factor. Advanced age and difficulty in performing at least one basic activity of daily living reduced in 9 and 64% the risk of becoming nonfrail, respectively. Conclusion Addressing the factors associated with transition between frailty states among older adults is essential. Adequate interventions are important to reduce vulnerability and improve the health and well-being of older persons.

Diet Quality, a Term Subject to Change over Time

2012 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 144-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Elmadfa ◽  
Alexa L. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Diet Quality ◽  
Functional Foods ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
Quality Factors ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Quality Diet ◽  
Important Quality ◽  
Health And Well Being

A high-quality diet is one of the foundations of health and well-being. For a long time in human history, diet was chiefly a source of energy and macronutrients meant to still hunger and give the strength for work and activities that were in general much harder than nowadays. Only few persons could afford to emphasize enjoyment. In the assessment of quality, organoleptic properties were major criteria to detect spoilage and oxidative deterioration of food. Today, food hygiene is a quality aspect that is often taken for granted by consumers, despite its lack being at the origin of most food-borne diseases. The discovery of micronutrients entailed fundamental changes of the concept of diet quality. However, non-essential food components with additional health functions were still barely known or not considered important until recently. With the high burden of obesity and its associated diseases on the rise, affluent, industrialized countries have developed an increased interest in these substances, which has led to the development of functional foods to optimize special body functions, reduce disease risk, or even contribute to therapeutic approaches. Indeed, nowadays, high contents of energy, fat, and sugar are factors associated with a lower quality of food, and products with reduced amounts of these components are valued by many consumers. At the same time, enjoyment and convenience are important quality factors, presenting food manufacturers with the dilemma of reconciling low fat content and applicability with good taste and appealing appearance. Functional foods offer an approach to address this challenge. Deeper insights into nutrient-gene interactions may enable personalized nutrition adapted to the special needs of individuals. However, so far, a varied healthy diet remains the best basis for health and well-being.

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