scholarly journals Starts and Stops: Strategizing an Age-Friendly University Commitment During a Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 761-761
Author(s):  
Paige Ebner ◽  
Kenneth Ferraro ◽  
Brian Pastor ◽  
Wendy Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Global Network ◽  
Land Grant Universities ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Pen Pal ◽  
The University ◽  
Influenza Vaccinations

Abstract The Global Network of Age-Friendly Universities seeks to enhance age-inclusivity and engagement in higher education, but delivering age-friendly programming became very challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examine how two land-grant universities adapted to the pandemic and draw some lessons from those experiences that may be useful for other universities seeking to implement or resume the AFU programming. The two main responses were to either pause many of the age-friendly initiatives at the university or adapt to virtual or online delivery platforms. To ensure the health and safety of older adults, colleges and universities paused many age-friendly initiatives such as intergenerational service-learning, technological assistance to older adults, and influenza vaccinations. Other programs continued but in a modified delivery format. Examples include: converting a face-to-face balance-training program to telehealth delivery; transitioning visitation programs to pen pal communication; and replacing face-to-face workshops offered by Extension Services with webinar delivery. Despite these challenges, we conclude that moving to virtual platforms and other methods of delivery, including conventional mail, has in some cases increased access for many older adults and became a lifeline during a time of social isolation for many older adults. Taken together, these experiences highlight the need for age-friendly universities to have contingency plans to ensure continuation of age-friendly programming in the event of pandemics or disasters. Finally, the pause in programming creates opportunities to re-launch or re-organize those initiatives in accord with federal and state safety guidelines.

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

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.

HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY IN THE FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING MODALITY

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Antonio Martínez ◽  
Fernando José Valls ◽  
Pedro Antonio Díaz ◽  
Lorenzo Tomás ◽  
Juan Roldán ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health And Safety ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Face ◽  
The University ◽  
Teaching Modality ◽  
University Community

scholarly journals Intergenerational Programming During the Pandemic: Transformation During (Constantly) Changing Times

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 402-402
Author(s):  
Shannon Jarrott ◽  
Skye Leedahl ◽  
Donna Butts
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Retirement Communities ◽  
Community Partners ◽  
Intergenerational Programs ◽  
Changing Times ◽  
Intergenerational Programming ◽  
Shared Site

Abstract Implementing intergenerational programming amidst the COVID-19 pandemic has required creativity, partnership, and dedication to the work. Most intergenerational programs involving in-person meetings or events are accompanied by guidelines to protect participant health and safety. Programming is routinely cancelled or postponed due to poor weather or contagious illness, particularly when a vulnerable population is involved. The needs for safety precautions and continued intergenerational contact were both amplified during the pandemic, leading many to modify or innovate ways to engage generations rather than eliminate contact for extended periods. Technology has afforded new approaches to engage young people and older people with each other; non-technological ways have also proven effective. This symposium will address strategies used to implement intergenerational programs during the pandemic. Authors will highlight lessons learned and strategies they expect to retain in the future. The first paper describes a pivot in nutrition programming designed for a shared site with preschool children and frail older adults. In paper two, authors discuss their partnership-based approach shifting to remote offerings of Cyber-Seniors programming. Paper three addresses how MentorUp Service-Learning expanded its reach by adaptations to virtual programming for older adults in retirement communities. The final paper presents evaluation data comparing arts programming delivered in-person pre-pandemic and again virtually during the pandemic. In each case, researchers and community partners learned techniques to maintain their programmatic foci. Some projects developed strategies they plan to maintain post-pandemic. Donna Butts, Executive Director of Generations United serves as the symposium discussant.

scholarly journals Formación de cuidadores del adulto mayor en la comunidad mediante la metodología de aprendizaje-servicio.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar Alejandro Rangel Selvera ◽  
Roberto Antonio De Lira Ortega ◽  
Alfredo Torres Rodríguez ◽  
Rogelio David Cervantes
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Informal Caregivers ◽  
Community Medicine ◽  
Geriatric Syndromes ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Community Work ◽  
The University

This study was conducted through the implementation of the service learning methodology with a group of students of community medicine at the University of Monterrey. A total of 60 students and 290 informal caregivers participated. The students carried out training sessions at elderly people’s homes, educating informal caregivers about geriatric syndromes and conditions. At the end of the study, a caregiver's manual was delivered to each of the p articipating caregiver. The analysis of the feedback gathered after the training sessions showed 43% of achievement and overall improvement of the caregiver's knowledge. 98% of participants (older adults and their caregivers) reported satisfaction with the sessions. This project demonstrates the significant learning students achieve through a service learning methodology, whilst also promoting commitment and a socially responsible and sensitive protagonism in meeting the community’s real needs. These practi ces develop medical students’ ability to reflect, improve their empathy and boost their capacity to take the initiative towards improving their community, through significant experience in community work.

Older Adults’ Experience With Fall Prevention Recommendations Derived From the STEADI

2019 ◽  
pp. 152483991986196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Vincenzo ◽  
Susan Kane Patton
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Community Service ◽  
Fall Prevention ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
The University ◽  
Purposive Sample ◽  
National Effort

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries (STEADI) toolkit is a national effort to prevent falls among older adults. Studies have been conducted on implementation of the STEADI, but no studies have investigated older adults’ adherence to or perceptions of fall prevention recommendations delineated within the STEADI algorithm. Semistructured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of older adults 6 months after attending a falls risk assessment. Seventy-nine percent accurately recalled their fall risk, 57% followed one or more recommendations, and 32% did not recall at least one recommendation correctly. The most common recommendation recalled and adhered to was exercise. No participants recalled or adhered to recommendations including medication review, taking time changing positions, vision check, podiatrist visit, or physical therapy. Thirty-two percent fell. Of these, 55.6% did not follow any recommendations. Interview transcripts were analyzed using comparative methodology following the tenets of thematic analysis. Three themes emerged: participating in fall prevention, barriers to following recommendations, and providers can encourage people to prevent falls. An unexpected facilitator to participation in fall prevention efforts emerged—older adults’ perception that they were positively influencing society by participating in research and working with students and the university. This finding provides an opportunity for providers of health education to address the growing public health issue of falls among older adults while also creating opportunities for students to engage in community service and interdisciplinary service learning.

The Impact of TimeSlips on Undergraduate Students in Service Learning With Older Adults

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Sabine Heuer
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Attitude Scale ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Attitudes Toward Older Adults ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Attitude Shift ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Journal Entries

Purpose Future speech-language pathologists are often unprepared in their academic training to serve the communicative and cognitive needs of older adults with dementia. While negative attitudes toward older adults are prevalent among undergraduate students, service learning has been shown to positively affect students' attitudes toward older adults. TimeSlips is an evidence-based approach that has been shown to improve health care students' attitudes toward older adults. The purpose of this study is to explore the change in attitudes in speech-language pathology students toward older adults using TimeSlips in service learning. Method Fifty-one students participated in TimeSlips service learning with older adults and completed the Dementia Attitude Scale (DAS) before and after service learning. In addition, students completed a reflection journal. The DAS data were analyzed using nonparametric statistics, and journal entries were analyzed using a qualitative analysis approach. Results The service learners exhibited a significant increase in positive attitude as indexed on the DAS. The reflective journal entries supported the positive change in attitudes. Conclusions A noticeable attitude shift was indexed in reflective journals and on the DAS. TimeSlips is an evidence-based, patient-centered approach well suited to address challenges in the preparation of Communication Sciences and Disorders students to work with the growing population of older adults.

No Significant Difference in Service Learninng Online

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Y. McGorry
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Program Outcomes ◽  
Online Delivery ◽  
Leadership And Management ◽  
Business Programs ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Significant Difference

Institutions of higher education are realizing the importance of service learning initiatives in developing awareness of students’ civic responsibilities, leadership and management skills, and social responsibility. These skills and responsibilities are the foundation of program outcomes in accredited higher education business programs at undergraduate and graduate levels. In an attempt to meet the needs of the student market, these institutions of higher education are delivering more courses online. This study addresses a comparison of traditional and online delivery of service learning experiences. Results demonstrate no significant difference in outcomes between the online and face-to-face models.

scholarly journals Analysis of Stress Factors for Female Professors at Online Universities

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 2958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marialuz Arántzazu García-González ◽  
Fermín Torrano ◽  
Guillermo García-González
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Time Pressure ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Psychosocial Risks ◽  
Primary Stress ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The University ◽  
Mental Overload

The aim of this paper is to analyze the primary stress factors female professors at online universities are exposed to. The technique used for the prospective and exploratory analysis was the Delphi method. Two rounds of consultations were done with fourteen judges with broad experience in health and safety at work and university teaching who reached a consensus of opinion regarding a list of nine psychosocial risk factors. Among the most important risk factors, mental overload, time pressure, the lack of a schedule, and emotional exhaustion were highlighted. These risk factors are related to the usage and expansion of information and communication technology (ICT) and to the university system itself, which requires initiating more research in the future in order to develop the intervention programs needed to fortify the health of the affected teachers and protect them from stress and other psychosocial risks.

scholarly journals Making the Case and Laying the Groundwork for Integrating Age-Friendly Practices Into a University Strategic Plan

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 552-552
Author(s):  
Melissa Cannon
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Strategic Plan ◽  
College Campus ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Faculty Senate ◽  
Accessibility Issues ◽  
Intensive Group ◽  
The University

Abstract A crucial first step in preparing to become an Age-Friendly University (AFU) is seeking endorsement from the campus community and leadership. This presentation describes the mapping of the AFU principles to the strategic plan and initiatives of Western Oregon University, leading to endorsement by its faculty senate, and highlights a study of the older community members’ use of the university, laying the groundwork for advancing age-friendliness on campus. Data were collected through surveys (N=46), interviews (N=9), and photovoice method (N=7) with older adults, and data were analyzed using SPSS, team coding, and intensive group discussion to develop categories and themes. Themes emerged related to how the college campus is used by older adults, the need to promote lifelong learning to the community, and the need to address accessibility issues in order to be more age-friendly, providing helpful insight to other institutions of higher education seeking to join the AFU network.

scholarly journals Sex disparities in cardiovascular health metrics among rural-dwelling older adults in China: a population-based study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaolei Han ◽  
Ziying Jiang ◽  
Yuanjing Li ◽  
Yongxiang Wang ◽  
Yajun Liang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Cardiovascular Health ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Baseline Survey ◽  
Chinese Older Adults ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Sex Disparities

Abstract Background Cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics among Chinese older adults are poorly understood. We investigated sex disparities in CVH metrics and their management among rural-dwelling older adults in China. Methods This community-based study included 5026 participants (age ≥ 65 years; 57.2% women) in the baseline survey of a multimodal intervention study in rural China. In March–September 2018, data were collected through face-to-face interviews, clinical examinations, and laboratory tests. We defined six CVH metrics (three behavioral factors—smoking, body mass index, and physical activity; three biological factors—blood pressure, total cholesterol, and blood glucose) following the modified American Heart Association’s recommendations. We performed descriptive analysis separately for men and women. Results Of all participants, only 0.8% achieved ideal levels in all six CVH metrics. Men were more likely than women to have ideal levels in all CVH metrics but smoking. Women had higher prevalence of ideal global (9.7% vs. 7.8%) and behavioral (18.3% vs. 9.5%) CVH metrics (p < 0.001), whereas men had higher prevalence of ideal biological CVH metrics (5.4% vs. 3.5%, p < 0.001). The prevalence of ideal global and behavioral CVH metrics increased with age in both women and men (p for trend< 0.001). Women were more likely to be aware of their hypertension and diabetes, and to receive antihypertensive treatment, while men were more likely to achieve the goal of high cholesterol treatment (p < 0.05). Conclusions The CVH metrics among older adults living in the rural communities in China are characterized by an extremely low proportion of optimal global CVH metrics and distinct sex differences, alongside poor management of major biological risk factors. Trial registration ChiCTR1800017758 (Aug 13, 2018).

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