scholarly journals Factors that Influence the Emotional Impact of Memory Problems in Older Adults: A Mixed-Methods Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 698-698
Author(s):  
Emily Bratlee-Whitaker ◽  
Nikki Hill ◽  
Jacqueline Mogle ◽  
Rachel Wion ◽  
Caroline Madrigal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Memory Problems ◽  
Affective Symptoms

Abstract Older adults’ experiences with memory problems may be an important indicator of current and future well-being; however, these experiences and their impacts are poorly characterized, particularly in those with co-occurring affective symptoms. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine how the experience of memory problems influences emotional well-being in older adults without dementia, and whether this differs based on cognitive status and current depressive symptoms or anxiety symptoms. A convergent parallel mixed methods design was used in which quantitative and qualitative data were collected simultaneously, analyzed separately, and then integrated to determine how participants’ experiences differed. Community-dwelling older adults (n=49, Mage = 74.5, 63% female) without severe cognitive impairment completed study questionnaires and two individual, semi-structured interviews. Five themes were identified that described the influence of memory problems on emotional well-being: Evoking Emotions, Fearing Future, Undermining Self, Normalizing Problems, and Adjusting Thinking. The extent to which memory problems impacted emotional well-being depended on multiple factors including current affective symptoms (primarily anxiety), characteristics of the experience (such as judgments of its importance), as well as personal experience with dementia. Notably, there were no thematic differences in the emotional impact of memory problems between older adults with normal cognition and those with evidence of mild cognitive impairment. Our findings suggest that thorough assessment of reports of memory problems, regardless of cognitive testing outcomes, should consider co-occurring subsyndromal affective disorders as well as older adults’ evaluations of how memory problems influence their daily lives and well-being.

scholarly journals 0721 Daytime Sleepiness and Napping in Nursing-Home Eligible Community Dwelling Older Adults: A Mixed Methods Study

SLEEP ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. A268-A268
Author(s):  
M V McPhillips ◽  
J Li ◽  
P Z Cacchione ◽  
V V Dickson ◽  
N S Gooneratne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Daytime Sleepiness ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Takes Two to Tango: Cognitive Impairment and Sexual Activity in Older Individuals and Dyads

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda J Waite ◽  
James Iveniuk ◽  
Ashwin Kotwal
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Probit Regression ◽  
Early Dementia

Abstract Objectives This paper examines the association between cognitive impairment, including mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early dementia (ED), and sexual activity in a large, longitudinal sample of community-dwelling older adults. We focus here on sexual activity, which includes both sexual activity with a partner and masturbation. Methods We analyzed 3777 older individuals and members of 955 intimate dyads using the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project (2010 and 2015). We used ordered-probit regression, cross-lagged panels models, and probit regression. Results We find that older adults with cognitive limitations, either MCI or early dementia, are about as likely to be sexually active with a partner as those with normal cognitive function. This is the case both in the cross section and longitudinally. Both men and women with early dementia are less likely to have masturbated, however. Among married and cohabiting couples, we find no association between cognitive impairment in either the husband, the wife, or in both partners and their joint sexual activity. Women whose measured cognitive function is lower than their husband’s are less likely to report any masturbation. Discussion Sex with a partner, a fundamentally social activity, seems to be conserved in the face of cognitive limitation but masturbation, a solitary activity, does not. We argue that the intimate dyad plays an important role in conserving partnered sexual activity. Results can inform strategies to maintain sexual well-being of older adults with cognitive impairment and their partners as part of overall strategies to improve quality of life.

scholarly journals 0719 Understanding Sleep Characteristics in Nursing-Home Eligible Community Dwelling Older Adults: A Mixed Methods Study

SLEEP ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. A267-A267
Author(s):  
M V McPhillips ◽  
V V Dickson ◽  
P Z Cacchione ◽  
J Li ◽  
N S Gooneratne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Identifying Features that Enhance Older Adults’ Acceptance of Robots: A Mixed Methods Study

Gerontology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Chu ◽  
Hung-Wen Chen ◽  
Pei-Yi Cheng ◽  
Pokuan Ho ◽  
I-Tan Weng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Service Oriented ◽  
Meaningful Relationships

Background: With global aging, robots are considered a promising solution for handling the shortage of aged care and companionships. However, these technologies would serve little purpose if their intended users do not accept them. While the socioemotional selectivity theory predicts that older adults would accept robots that offer emotionally meaningful relationships, selective optimization with compensation model predicts that older adults would accept robots that compensate for their functional losses. Objective: The present study aims to understand older adults’ expectations for robots and to compare older adults’ acceptance ratings for 2 existing robots: one of them is a more human-like and more service-oriented robot and the other one is a more animal-like and more companion-oriented robot. Methods: A mixed methods study was conducted with 33 healthy, community-dwelling Taiwanese older adults (age range: 59–82 years). Participants first completed a semi-structured interview regarding their ideal robot. After receiving information about the 2 existing robots, they then completed the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology questionnaires to report their pre-implementation acceptance of the 2 robots. Results: Interviews were transcribed for conventional content analysis with satisfactory inter-rater reliability. From the interview data, a collection of older adults’ ideal robot characteristics emerged with highlights of humanlike qualities. From the questionnaire data, respondents showed a higher level of acceptance toward the more service-oriented robot than the more companion-oriented robot in terms of attitude, perceived adaptiveness, and perceived usefulness. From the mixed methods analyses, the finding that older adults had a higher level of positive attitude towards the more service-oriented robot than the more companion-oriented robot was predicted by higher expectation or preference for robots with more service-related functions. Conclusion: This study identified older adults’ preference toward more functional and humanlike robots. Our findings provide practical suggestions for future robot designs that target the older population.

scholarly journals Engagement, Acceptability, Usability, and Preliminary Efficacy of a Self-Monitoring Mobile Health Intervention to Reduce Sedentary Behavior in Belgian Older Adults: Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofie Compernolle ◽  
Greet Cardon ◽  
Hidde P van der Ploeg ◽  
Femke Van Nassau ◽  
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Sitting Time ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
System Usage ◽  
Usage Data

BACKGROUND Although healthy aging can be stimulated by the reduction of sedentary behavior, few interventions are available for older adults. Previous studies suggest that self-monitoring might be a promising behavior change technique to reduce older adults’ sedentary behavior. However, little is known about older adults’ experiences with a self-monitoring–based intervention aimed at the reduction of sedentary behavior. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to evaluate engagement, acceptability, usability, and preliminary efficacy of a self-monitoring–based mHealth intervention developed to reduce older adults’ sedentary behavior. METHODS A mixed methods study was performed among 28 community-dwelling older adults living in Flanders, Belgium. The 3-week intervention consisted of general sedentary behavior information as well as visual and tactile feedback on participants’ sedentary behavior. Semistructured interviews were conducted to explore engagement with, and acceptability and usability of, the intervention. Sitting time was measured using the thigh-worn activPAL (PAL Technologies) accelerometer before and after the intervention. System usage data of the app were recorded. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired-samples <i>t</i> tests; qualitative data were thematically analyzed and presented using pen profiles. RESULTS Participants mainly reported positive feelings regarding the intervention, referring to it as motivating, surprising, and interesting. They commonly reported that the intervention changed their thinking (ie, they became more aware of their sedentary behavior) but not their actual behavior. There were mixed opinions on the kind of feedback (ie, tactile vs visual) that they preferred. The intervention was considered easy to use, and the design was described as clear. Some problems were noticed regarding attaching and wearing the self-monitoring device. System usage data showed that the median frequency of consulting the app widely differed among participants, ranging from 0 to 20 times a day. No significant reductions were found in objectively measured sitting time. CONCLUSIONS Although the intervention was well perceived by the majority of older adults, no reductions in sitting time were found. Possible explanations for the lack of reductions might be the short intervention duration or the fact that only bringing the habitual sedentary behavior into conscious awareness might not be sufficient to achieve behavior change. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04003324; https://tinyurl.com/y2p4g8hx

Pilot testing of Dual-task Zumba Gold (DTZ) for community-dwelling people with mild cognitive impairment: A mixed-methods study

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 1397-1407
Author(s):  
Laurence Lloyd Parial ◽  
Angela Yee Man Leung ◽  
Earl Francis Sumile ◽  
Simon Ching Lam
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Pilot Testing

scholarly journals Daytime sleepiness and napping in nursing-home eligible community dwelling older adults: A mixed methods study

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 233372142097073
Author(s):  
Miranda V. McPhillips ◽  
Junxin Li ◽  
Nancy A. Hodgson ◽  
Pamela Z. Cacchione ◽  
Victoria V. Dickson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Daytime Sleepiness ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Sleep Diary ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Objectives: To describe perceptions and beliefs about daytime sleepiness and napping along with subjective and objective daytime sleep characteristics in nursing-home eligible community dwelling older adults. Methods: A mixed methods study; we conducted semi-structured interviews and measured sleep variables via Actigraphy, sleep diary, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Napping was defined as >10 minutes; anything less was considered dozing. Results: Final sample ( n = 40) was primarily female (85%), Black (100%), with a mean age of 72 ± 9.5 years. Few (25%) reported daytime sleepiness (ESS >10). However, average duration of napping per day was 33.1 ± 11.5 minutes with a nap frequency of 2.5 ± 1.5 naps. Conclusion: Our sample napped frequently throughout the day, yet the majority reported no daytime sleepiness. These older adults did not always recognize napping or how much they napped.

scholarly journals Nursing Home Eligible, Community-Dwelling Older Adults’ Perceptions and Beliefs About Sleep: A Mixed-Methods Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-188
Author(s):  
Miranda V. McPhillips ◽  
Victoria V. Dickson ◽  
Pamela Z. Cacchione ◽  
Junxin Li ◽  
Nalaka Gooneratne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
Modifiable Factors ◽  
Home Placement

Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in older adults; little is known about sleep in those who remain living in the community despite qualifying for nursing home placement. We conducted a concurrent, nested, mixed-methods study to describe sleep characteristics and sleep disturbances in this population. Our final sample ( n = 40) was Black (100%), female (85%) older adults with a mean (± SD) age of 72 ± 9.5 years. Of these, 35 had objectively measured short or long sleep duration, and 30 had subjectively reported poor sleep quality. Our evidence suggests that sleep disturbances are common in this group, and these older adults had adjusted their expectations and adapted to their sleep disturbances. Given that at-risk older adults may not perceive their sleep disturbances as problematic, clinicians must proactively assess sleep and educate about the importance of sleep. These results reveal modifiable factors with potential to improve health outcomes in this vulnerable population.

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