How Has COVID-19 Impacted Older Adults and Their Needs for Services?

Abstract COVID-19 has had profound effects on older adults and will have lasting impacts on their preferences and needs for services, including those offered by Meals on Wheels and other community organizations. Organizations serving older adults would benefit from insights about how to prioritize resources and services to address older adults’ needs during the pandemic and beyond. On behalf of Meals on Wheels America, NORC at the University of Chicago conducted a study to explore COVID-19’s impacts on older adults and older adults’ needs during the pandemic. We conducted two data collection activities with adults age 60 and older: a nationally representative survey with 1,535 respondents and 24 interviews. Results indicated that COVID-19 has affected older adults’ physical and mental health, social connectedness, employment, and use of services and technology. Informal networks of family members and friends are a source of assistance for 50% of older adults during the pandemic. Impacts of COVID-19 differed by income, rurality, disability status, and living situation. Findings documented the extent to which older adults had unmet needs during the pandemic, such as activities to help keep busy at home and affordable food to meet dietary needs. Survey respondents who have a lower income, are 75 and older, live alone, and who are Black were more likely to have unmet needs. Findings suggested a need to strengthen partnerships among organizations that serve older adults to address diverse needs, conduct ongoing assessments of older adults’ needs and preferences, and enhance assistance for informal support networks.

Download Full-text

Loneliness and aging in China–a public health problem in need of solutions

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s104161021400177x ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 26 (11) ◽

pp. 1771-1772 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Shulin Chen ◽

Yeates Conwell ◽

Helen Fung Kum Chiu

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Relationships ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Research Attention ◽

Her Family ◽

The Individual

Loneliness is a common, distressing feeling that results when one perceives his/her social relationships and supports as inadequate. Social connectedness refers to the relationships between the individual and his or her family, friends, community, and other supports. Neither loneliness nor social connectedness has received enough research attention, in particular with regard to older adults’ physical and mental health.

Download Full-text

Exercise participation : sleep quality in Thai older adults

10.32469/10355/62493 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Chantra Promnoi

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Social Network ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Exercise Participation

Physical activity and social interaction may be related to sleep quality in older adults. This study aimed to explore differences in sleep quality among older adults who performed exercise at elder clubs, older adults who exercised at home, and older adults who did not exercise, as well as identify factors associated with sleep quality in this population. The Symptom Management Model was adopted to guide this study. Using a cross-sectional correlational design, three groups of participants (60 persons per group) who met inclusion criteria were recruited from senior clubs and communities from HatYai District, Songkha Province, Thailand. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to analyze the differences in sleep quality as measured by the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index and the Insomnia Severity Index among three groups. Logistic regression was used to estimate the extent to which health conditions, pain, depressive symptoms, social connectedness (social network and social support), and self-reported physical activity predicted sleep quality. No significant differences in sleep quality scores were found among the three groups, although the non-exercise group reported scores indicating poorer sleep quality, compared to the other two groups. Sleep quality was associated with number of health conditions, pain level, depressive symptoms, social connectedness (social network), and physical activity. The results of the logistic regression analysis showed that pain and depressive symptoms were significant predictors of sleep quality when controlling for age, gender, education, and marital status. The findings suggest that exercising can positively influence sleep. Healthcare providers should evaluate sleep quality in older adults within the context of their physical and mental health, as well as their social connections.

Download Full-text

Food Insecurity in Older Adults: Gerontology Students and RSVP a Partnership that Works

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.3051 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 841-841

Author(s):

Phyllis Greenberg ◽

Jessica VanderWerf

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Service Learning ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Grocery Stores ◽

Food Banks ◽

Meals On Wheels ◽

Catholic Charities ◽

Set Up ◽

The University

Abstract A gerontology course related to policies /programs each year researches, develops and designs a service-learning project related to an issue/concern for older adults and their quality of life. Students wanted to work with vulnerable older adults and after research and discussion decided on tackling the issue of food insecurity in older adults. Food insecurity is a growing issue for older adults which has been exasperated by COVID-19. According to Meals on Wheels America (2020) there has been a 22% increase in the number of older adults needing food assistance. In addition, while the need for food banks has increased donations have declined (Next Avenue, 2020). Students partnered with RSVP, which had previously conducted a food donation project.. Students took on the responsibility for advertising, soliciting grocery stores to allow us to set up and engage shoppers in purchasing items for the project. In addition, they reached out to the university community and set up food donation stations. RSVP sent out emails to their constituents to encourage them to volunteer and do their shopping on the date of the project. Students were paired with RSVP volunteers at two stores and provided shopping lists and information about food insecurity in older adults to shoppers. Students collected 566 pounds of food. The food was distributed equally between Catholic Charities, which has a senior shopping program and the Somali Elder Community. Students sorted the food by categories and removed any foods with pork/gelatin products for the Somali Community.

Download Full-text

Odor Sensitivity Versus Odor Identification in Older US Adults: Associations With Cognition, Age, Gender, and Race

Chemical Senses ◽

10.1093/chemse/bjaa018 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 45 (4) ◽

pp. 321-330

Author(s):

Lucy Xu ◽

Jia Liu ◽

Kristen E Wroblewski ◽

Martha K McClintock ◽

Jayant M Pinto

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Life ◽

Odor Identification ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Gender And Race ◽

Network Characteristics ◽

Cognitive Component ◽

Representative Study ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Odor Sensitivity

Abstract The ability to identify odors predicts morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. It varies by age, gender, and race and is used in the vast majority of survey and clinical literature. However, odor identification relies heavily on cognition. Other facets of olfaction, such as odor sensitivity, have a smaller cognitive component. Whether odor sensitivity also varies by these factors has not been definitively answered. We analyzed data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, a nationally representative study of older US adults (n = 2081). Odor identification was measured using 5 validated odors presented with Sniffin’ Stick pens as was odor sensitivity in a 6-dilution n-butanol constant stimuli detection test. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression modeled relationships between olfaction and age, gender, race, cognition, education, socioeconomic status, social network characteristics, and physical and mental health. Odor sensitivity was worse in older adults (P < 0.01), without gender (P = 0.56) or race (P = 0.79) differences. Odor identification was also worse in older adults, particularly men (both P ≤ 0.01), without differences by race. Decreased cognitive function was associated with worse odor identification (P ≤ 0.01) but this relationship was weaker for odor sensitivity (P = 0.02) in analyses that adjusted for other covariates. Odor sensitivity was less strongly correlated with cognitive ability than odor identification, confirming that it may be a more specific measure of peripheral olfactory processing. Investigators interested in associations between olfaction and health should consider both odor sensitivity and identification when attempting to understand underlying neurosensory mechanisms.

Download Full-text

Educational Attainment and Self-Rated Oral Health among American Older Adults: Hispanics’ Diminished Returns

Dentistry Journal ◽

10.3390/dj7040097 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 97 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Shervin Assari ◽

Mohsen Bazargan

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Oral Health ◽

Educational Attainment ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

University Of Michigan ◽

Single Item ◽

National Poll ◽

The Us ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

The University

Background: Minorities’ diminished returns (MDRs) refer to systemically weaker effects of socioeconomic status (SES), particularly educational attainment, on the health of non-Whites compared to Whites. Aim: Using a nationally representative sample, we aimed to investigate ethnic differences in the effect of SES (educational attainment) on the self-rated oral health of Hispanic older adults in the US. Methods: This study analyzed the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging (UM-NPHA) 2017 data, which included 2131 older adults who were 50 to 80 years old (202 Hispanics and 1929 non-Hispanics). Ethnicity, race, educational attainment (SES), age, gender, employment, retirement, and self-rated oral health (single item) were measured. Logistic regressions were applied for data analysis. Results: High educational attainment was associated with lower odds of poor oral health in the pooled sample, net of all covariates. The effect of educational attainment on poor self-rated oral health was found to be weaker for Hispanics than for non-Hispanics. Conclusion: We observed MDRs of educational attainment (SES) on oral health for Hispanic older adults. In other words, compared to non-Hispanics, Hispanics gain less oral health from their educational attainment (SES).

Download Full-text

Type of Care and Living Situation Are Associated with Nutritional Care but Not Nutritional Status of Older Persons Receiving Home Care

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare8030296 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 296

Author(s):

Neshat Chareh ◽

Eva Kiesswetter ◽

Anja Rappl ◽

Peter Stehle ◽

Helmut Heseker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Nutritional Status ◽

Home Care ◽

Older Persons ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Living Situation ◽

Nutritional Care ◽

Meals On Wheels ◽

Food Shopping ◽

Study Type

Nutritional care and nutritional status may differ in older persons receiving informal (IC) or professional (PC) home care and further depend on the living situation, but little is known in this regard. In this analysis of a cross-sectional multicenter study, type of care, living situation, and nutritional care were enquired in 353 older adults (≥65) receiving IC or PC, living either with partner (LP), with others (LO) or alone (LA), and the nutritional status was determined by BMI and MNA®. For IC receivers, food shopping (IC-LP 94%, IC-LO 96%, IC-LA 92%) and warm meals (IC-LP 89%, IC-LO 90%, IC-LA 71%) were mainly provided by relatives, whereas 47% of PC-LA prepared warm meals by themselves and 22% received meals on wheels. Thirteen percent were underweight, 13% malnourished, and 57% at risk of malnutrition without differences between the groups. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) of being malnourished were also not different (IC-LP 2.2 [95% CI 0.5–9.7], IC-LO 1.4 [0.3–6.6], IC-LA 1.4 [0.3–6.6]) compared to PC-LA. In conclusion, provision of nutritional care obviously differed according to the type of care and living situation, whereas nutritional status does not seem to be affected by these aspects. More research is clearly needed in this field.

Download Full-text

Changes in Social Networks as a Response to Loneliness Among Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1930 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 580-580

Author(s):

Abhijit Visaria ◽

Pildoo Sung ◽

Angelique W M Chan

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Networks ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Reciprocal Relationship ◽

Social Connections ◽

Representative Study ◽

Frequency Of Contact ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Perceived Social Isolation

Abstract The expression of loneliness suggests perceived social isolation and the lack of meaningful, rewarding and desired social connections. In this paper we seek to estimate whether loneliness among older adults is related to subsequent changes in two attributes of their social networks, i.e. the size and frequency of contact with network members. We use the Panel on Health and Ageing of Singaporean Elderly, a nationally representative study of older adults aged 60 years and older, conducted in 2009 (N=4990) with two follow-up waves in 2011 and 2015, and measure loneliness in terms of relational connectedness, i.e. feeling a lack of companionship, and social connectedness, i.e. feeling left out. Our preliminary analysis shows that loneliness is associated with a subsequent reduction in the size but not strength of social networks. We further propose to assess the causal relationship using cross-lagged panel analysis, thereby accounting for the possibility of a reciprocal relationship.

Download Full-text

Frailty and depression predict instrumental activities of daily living in older adults: A population-based longitudinal study using the CARE75+ cohort

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0243972 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (12) ◽

pp. e0243972

Author(s):

Peter A. Coventry ◽

Dean McMillan ◽

Andrew Clegg ◽

Lesley Brown ◽

Christina van der Feltz-Cornelis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Activities Of Daily Living ◽

Daily Living ◽

Frailty Index ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Population Based ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Living Situation ◽

Instrumental Activities

Objectives To evaluate if depression contributes, independently and/or in interaction with frailty, to loss of independence in instrumental activities of daily living (ADL) in older adults with frailty. Methods Longitudinal cohort study of people aged ≥75 years living in the community. We used multi-level linear regression model to quantify the relationship between depression (≥5 Geriatric Depression Scale) and frailty (electronic frailty index), and instrumental activities of daily living (Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living scale; range: 0–66; higher score implies greater independence). The model was adjusted for known confounders (age; gender; ethnicity; education; living situation; medical comorbidity). Results 553 participants were included at baseline; 53% were female with a mean age of 81 (5.0 SD) years. Depression and frailty (moderate and severe levels) were independently associated with reduced instrumental activities of daily living scores. In the adjusted analysis, the regression coefficient was -6.4 (95% CI: -8.3 to -4.5, p<0.05) for depression, -1.5 (95% CI: -3.8 to 0.9, p = 0.22) for mild frailty, -6.1 (95% CI: -8.6 to -3.6, p<0.05) for moderate frailty, and -10.1 (95% CI: -13.5 to -6.8, p<0.05) for severe frailty. Moreover, depression interacted with frailty to further reduce instrumental activities of daily living score in individuals with mild or moderate frailty. These relationships remained significant after adjusting for confounders. Conclusion Frailty and depression are independently associated with reduced independence in instrumental activities of daily living. Also, depression interacts with frailty to further reduce independence for mild to moderately frail individuals, suggesting that clinical management of frailty should integrate physical and mental health care.

Download Full-text

Update on Polling and Policy Efforts on Loneliness, Telehealth, Caregiving, and Advance Care Planning

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.670 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 178-178

Author(s):

Erica Solway ◽

Brian Lindberg

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Advance Care Planning ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Household Survey ◽

Care Planning ◽

University Of Michigan ◽

National Poll ◽

Advance Care ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

The University

Abstract Older adults and their caregivers experienced dramatic changes in many aspects of their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in important shifts in organizational and federal priorities and policies. To explore older adults’ changing experiences and perspectives amidst the pandemic, the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA), a recurring, nationally representative household survey, polled over 2,000 adults age 50-80 at multiple timepoints through January 2021 about their feelings of loneliness and use of telehealth. In June 2020, the NPHA also surveyed adults age 50-80 about advance care planning before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and asked family caregivers about their care challenges in the three months since the pandemic. This session will start with a presentation of results from these polls, first exploring change over time in loneliness and telehealth use and then focusing on experiences related to advance care planning and caregiving challenges. Next, presenters from diverse national coalitions and organizations, including the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness, the National Academy for State Health Policy, the National Alliance for Caregiving, and the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care will describe their organizations’ efforts, including their work with research and advocacy partners, state and federal agencies, and the Biden administration to facilitate dialogue and advance activities and policies related to these timely topics.

Download Full-text

Can We Replace Our Human Connection With Technology?

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.134 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 36-36

Author(s):

Nicholas Cone ◽

Jeongeun Lee

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Representative Study ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

The Relationship

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has led to social distancing protocols, subsequently increasing social isolation for older adults. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between social connectedness and mental health outcomes. Leveraging NHATS, a nationally representative study (n = 2,558, Mage = 79.20, SDage = 6.25), we examined the association between the method of social connectedness and mental health outcomes. Descriptive analyses revealed older adults are using various methods (e.g., in-person, phone, and video calls) to remain connected with their social networks during COVID-19. Findings from all of the linear regression analyses indicated phone or video calls are associated with negative affect, whereas in-person visits are associated with lower levels of negative affect. These findings suggest substituting in-person visits with video calls or phones may not be sufficient to relieve their loneliness and negative affect. Future studies should investigate this effect on physical or emotional health outcomes.

Download Full-text