scholarly journals Family and Aging in Cross-National Contexts

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 392-392
Author(s):  
Jennifer Ailshire ◽  
Jennifer Ailshire
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
International Comparisons ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Global Aging ◽  
Cross National

Abstract The global aging of the population, combined with shifts in the structure and composition of families, has led to increased attention to the role of family and social relationships in the aging experience. The importance of family in determining healthy aging, however, may largely depend on the social, political, and economic context in which individuals are embedded. Cross-national investigations offer a unique opportunity to understand how family relationships and family caregiving influence health and well-being among older adults by comparing family dynamics across different sociocultural contexts. The HRS-family of surveys, which have been harmonized within the Gateway to Global Aging, provides remarkable opportunities for cross-national comparative analysis. The papers in this session use harmonized data from the Gateway to compare the influence of family on health across different social dimensions in multiple countries from around the world, including examinations of: 1) the impact of grandparenting on health of older adults in Europe and China; 2) psychological well-being among European older adults whose partners receive formal care; 3) the influence of parent-child relationships on health and well-being of older adults in China and the U.S.; and 4) how loneliness among older adults is patterned according to their living arrangements and relationship quality. The discussion will highlight the promises and challenges of cross-national research on families and aging and how harmonized aging data facilitates international comparisons.

scholarly journals SOCIAL NETWORKS, HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING AMONG PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S71-S71
Author(s):  
Eleanor S McConnell ◽  
Kirsten Corazzini ◽  
T Robert Konrad
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sensor Technology ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Care Partners ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Although the impact of dementia on the health and well-being of those living with Alzheimer’s Disease and related Disorders (ADRD) and their care partners has been widely studied, less attention has been paid to how the disease impacts individuals within the context of their larger social networks. This symposium presents findings from a series of integrated studies aimed at strengthening measurement of health and well-being among older adults with living with dementia and well-being among members of their social networks. Findings will be presented from five studies: (1) a scoping review of social network measurement in older adults in chronic illness, including dementia, that emphasizes the use of technology in measuring older adults’ social networks; (2) a simulation study to evaluate the feasibility and reliability of sensor technology to measure social interaction among a person living with dementia and others in their immediate surroundings; (3) development of a web-based application that allows older adults to map and activate their social networks; (4) a qualitative analysis of interviews from persons living with dementia, their unpaid caregivers, and paid caregivers from an adult day health program concerning well-being focused outcomes; and (5) a mixed methods analysis of the feasibility of using both traditional and novel measures of health and well-being deployed among networks of people living with dementia. Emerging technologies for measuring social networks health and well-being hold promise for advancing the study of the relationship-based nature of care for people living with dementia.

Coping with Loneliness

2019 ◽  
pp. 216-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawn Joosten-Hagye ◽  
Anne Katz
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Transnational Feminism ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Major Predictor ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Global Growth

This chapter examines loneliness and how it affects health and well-being. It discusses how loneliness may lead to ill health but also how ill health may lead to feelings of loneliness. It reviews the evidence suggesting that loneliness is not only linked to overall morbidity and mortality in older adults but also a major predictor of psychological distress. With the global growth of the aging population, considerable research attention focuses on these issues in Europe, the United States, and Australia. The proportion of Australians aged 65 years or older is growing, with prevalence rates of loneliness among older adults as high as 30%. The impact of this is discussed in this chapter, as are recent developments, current conditions, historical trends, transnational feminism and advocacy, and how loneliness impacts the health and well-being of older women in Australia.

scholarly journals Contextualizing the COVID-19 Era in Puerto Rico: Compounding Disasters and Parallel Pandemics

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine García ◽  
Fernando I Rivera ◽  
Marc A Garcia ◽  
Giovani Burgos ◽  
María P Aranda
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Puerto Rican ◽  
Debt Crisis ◽  
Wealth Inequality ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Research Report ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Objectives The COVID-19 outbreak has worsened the ongoing economic crisis in Puerto Rico by creating “parallel pandemics” that exacerbate socioeconomic and health inequalities experienced by its most vulnerable residents. Unfortunately, conditions on the island have been largely overlooked by national media outlets and the mainland U.S. population. Thus, this research report aims to draw attention to the disparate burden multiple and compounding disasters have on older island-dwelling Puerto Rican adults’ health and well-being. Methods We characterize the lived experiences of the older population in Puerto Rico by incorporating data from multiple sources and contextualizing the effects of compounding disasters, the fiscal pandemic, and health care challenges to provide a more nuanced portrait of existing compounding factors that negatively affect the health and well-being of older adults in the era of COVID-19. Results We highlight 2 main factors that exacerbate pre-pandemic inequities experienced by the older adult population amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico: (a) the impact of multiple and compounding disasters; and (b) health care challenges. Discussion The human suffering of the Puerto Rican population is compounded by the consequences of fiscal austerity, increasing levels of income and wealth inequality, the debt crisis, significant emigration, and a dysfunctional health care system. Future governmental actions are required to lessen the burden of parallel pandemics on older adults in Puerto Rico.

The Impact of a Short-Term Iyengar Yoga Program on the Health and Well-Being of Physically Inactive Older Adults

2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliane Vogler ◽  
Lily O'Hara ◽  
Jane Gregg ◽  
Fiona Burnell
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Range Of Motion ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Holistic Health ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Active Range Of Motion ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Physically Inactive

Background: With the current challenge of rapidly aging populations, practices such as yoga may help older adults stay physically active, healthy, and fulfilled. Methods: The impact of an 8-week Iyengar yoga program on the holistic health and well-being of physically inactive people aged 55 years and over was assessed. Thirty-eight older adults (mean age 73.21 ± 8.38 years; 19 intervention, 19 control) engaged in either twice-weekly yoga classes or continued their usual daily routines. Physical health measures were muscle strength, active range of motion, respiratory function (FEV1), resting blood pressure, and immune function (salivary IgA and lysozyme). Self-perceived general,physical, mental, spiritual, and social health and well-being were assessed with the Life's Odyssey Questionnaire and the SF12v2™ Health Survey. Results: Muscle strength, active range of motion, physical well-being, and aspects of mental well-being (emotional well-being and self-care) improved significantly in the yoga group (p < .05). Median changes in most of these variables were also significantly different from those in the control group. Conclusions:Participation in Iyengar yoga programs by older people is beneficial for health and well-being, and greater availability of such programs could improve quality of life.

The Effectiveness of Transition Interventions to Support Older Patients From Hospital to Home: A Systematic Scoping Review

2020 ◽  
pp. 073346482096871
Author(s):  
Renee O’Donnell ◽  
Melissa Savaglio ◽  
Helen Skouteris ◽  
Jane Banaszak-Holl ◽  
Chris Moran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hospital Readmissions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
Readmission Rates ◽  
Hospital Readmission Rates ◽  
Hospital To Home ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being

Background: Interventions supporting older adults’ transition from hospital to home can address geriatric needs. Yet this evidence base is fragmented. This review describes transitional interventions that provide pre- and post-discharge support for older adults and evaluates their implementation and effectiveness in improving health and well-being. Method: Articles were included if they examined the extent to which transitional interventions were effective in improving health and well-being outcomes and reducing hospital readmission rates among older adults. Results: Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. Four types of interventions were identified: education-based (10/20); goal-oriented (4/20); exercise (4/20); and social support interventions (2/20). Education and goal-oriented interventions were effective in improving health and well-being outcomes. The impact of interventions on mitigating hospital readmissions was inconclusive. Only five studies examined implementation. Discussion: Older adults transitioning from hospital to home would benefit from tailored education and goal-oriented interventions that promote their capacity for self-care.

scholarly journals “Conviv\^{e}ncia” Groups: Building Active and Healthy Communities of Older Adults in Brazil

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tânia R. Bertoldo Benedetti ◽  
Eleonora d'Orsi ◽  
Andiara Schwingel ◽  
Wojtek J. Chodzko-Zajko
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Programs ◽  
Crucial Component ◽  
Older Adult Population ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being

In old age, social groups can be a crucial component for health and well-being. In 2009-2010, a follow-up survey was carried out in Florianópolis, Brazil to understand the impact of a variety of programs established since 2002 that were designed to enhance social activities among the older adult population. This study employed two surveys within the population of older adults in Florianópolis. The first survey interviewed a total of 875 older adults in 2002, and the second survey involved 1,705 older adults between 2009 and 2010. By 2010, many new programs were offered in the community and the enrollment of older adults in social programs followed similar trends. “Convivência” groups stood out as extremely popular social groups among this population. This paper discusses some of the potential outcomes associated with participation in “convivência” groups.

scholarly journals Disability and Long-Term Care in Singapore

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 705-705
Author(s):  
Cynthia Chen Huijun ◽  
Ngee Choon Chia
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Population Aging ◽  
International Comparisons ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Life Lessons ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Public systems for long term care (LTC) redistribute resources between generations. Population aging is one of the most significant transformations in the 21st century, where the number of older persons aged 60 years and above is expected to double by 2050, rising to 2.1 billion. We used the Future Elderly Model (FEM) to project the impact of population aging in Singapore up to the year 2050. The FEM is a dynamic economic and demographic microsimulation model. By 2050, the total number of older adults with potential limitation in activities of daily living (ADL) was projected to increase to 275 thousand (18.9%). With the increasing prevalence of disability and chronic diseases, older adults might not have sufficient savings to meet future needs sustainably, despite the expansion of disability insurance from ElderShield to CareShield Life. Lessons and best practices for LTC could be transferred from our experiences to other aging cities globally. Part of a symposium sponsored by International Comparisons of Healthy Aging Interest Group.

scholarly journals Cross-National Perspectives on Health and Well-Being in Later Life

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 484-484
Author(s):  
Jennifer Ailshire ◽  
Yuan Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
International Comparisons ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Early Life Adversity ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
The U.S ◽  
Cross National

Abstract Cross-national comparisons are increasingly being used to re-evaluate whether our theories of aging are dependent on sociocultural context and to develop new insights into both long-standing and emerging issues in aging. The papers in this symposium use harmonized data from the Gateway to Global Aging to examine a range of topics in aging and provide new insights into key questions in aging research. Liu et al., determine whether social relationships mediate the association between early life adversity and later life health and well-being using longitudinal data from the U.S. and England. Considering multiple domains of the social determinants of health, such as socioeconomic status, social relationships, and health care access, Cho et al. identify which are related to self-rated health in China, Japan, and South Korea. Cheng et al. test the age-as-leveler hypothesis for explaining how socioeconomic differentials in health change in older ages in China and 19 European countries to determine if the protective effect of socioeconomic status on multi-morbidity changes with age. Harmonized data facilitate international comparisons papers, but additional efforts are sometimes needed to calibrate specific measures across international surveys. A major challenge in cross-national aging research, for instance, has been the limited ability to compare cognition across countries. Nichols and colleagues present a novel method for cocalibration of cognitive function across the U.S., England, and India that could be used for additional cross-national comparative research. The papers in this symposium demonstrate both the potential and challenges of cross-national studies of health and well-being among older adults.

scholarly journals COVID-19 pandemic-related changes in wellness behavior among older Americans

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elgloria Harrison ◽  
Lillie Monroe-Lord ◽  
Andrew D. Carson ◽  
Anne Marie Jean-Baptiste ◽  
Janet Phoenix ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Background COVID-19 has taken its toll on citizens in all 50 states of the United States. The United States (U.S.) leads the world with 30,291,863 confirmed reported cases and 549,664 deaths as of March 29, 2021 compared to globally confirmed cases at 127,442,926 and 2,787,915 deaths as of March 29, 2021. The U.S. federal government primarily left the response to the virus to individual states, and each implemented varying measures designed to protect health of citizens and the state’s economic well-being. Unintended consequences of the virus and measures to stop its spread may include decreased physical activity and exercise, shifting access and consumption of food, and lower quality-of-life. Therefore, our primary goal was to quantify the impact of COVID-19 on health and well-being by measuring changes in physical activity, mental health-quality of life, food security and nutrition in adults ages 40 and older. We believed shifts in health behaviors would be more prevalent in minorities, less educated, lower socio-economic status, older adults, and those with underlying health conditions, so a secondary goal was to determine the impact of COVID-19 on these sub-populations. Methods We conducted an online survey with 9969 adults 40 years and older between 9 August and 15 September 2020 in urban areas across the four U.S. census regions. The survey included questions about demographic variables, pre-existing health conditions, physical activity, access to food, quality-of-life, and nutritional food status and asked participants to respond with information from pre-pandemic and pandemic conditions. We used paired-sample t-tests to detect changes in variables after the start of the pandemic and Cohen’s d to determine effect sizes. Results Our main findings showed a decrease in physical activity since the onset of COVID-19 for minorities and non-minorities. Food security also slightly increased for minorities during the pandemic, but we found no other changes in food security, quality-of-life indicators, or nutritional status of those who responded to this survey. Conclusions It is concerning that physical activity declined. Such activity helps maintain physical and mental health, and it is also an important time to socialize for many older adults. In many ways, our data indicate that the older adult population in U.S. cities may be more resilient than expected during the pandemic. However, the pandemic could have negative impacts that we did not detect, either due to the survey instrument or the timing of our survey, so the health and well-being of older adults should continue to be monitored in order to mitigate potential negative impacts.

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