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.

scholarly journals Intergeneration Bonding: An Acceptability and Feasibility Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 712-713
Author(s):  
Lauren Rezac ◽  
Miechelle McKelvey ◽  
Ladan Ghazi Saidi
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Interest Level ◽  
The University

Abstract Social isolation and loneliness are detrimental risk factors to older adult’s physical and psychological well-being and quality of life. Given the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation has risen. Social isolation affects younger adults as well and may increase the chances of depression and anxiety. In this study, we tested the acceptability and feasibility of an Intergenerational Bonding (IGB) Program with older and younger adults. Participants include students aged 19-29 at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and older adults above the age of 60 residing in the community. First, we surveyed younger and older adults to determine their interest level in participating in an IGB Program. Both groups of participants rated their interest in different activities. The most popular activities among both groups included engaging in conversations, board games, and an exchange of skills. Neither of the groups was in favor of participating in free housing opportunities or sports-related activities. Response rates were high in young adults but low in older adults, due to lack of trust. Then, in a pilot study, we measured the feasibility and acceptability of the IGB Program. Older adults residing in independent dwellings, assisted living environments, nursing homes and members of community groups were invited to participate in the intergenerational program. Response rates of older adults were low. Further, establishing collaboration with institutions such as nursing homes was not easy despite initial interest. Building trust and working with community activity group facilitators would be beneficial in recruiting older adults.

scholarly journals 14C Analysis and Sample Preparation at the New Bern Laboratory for the Analysis of Radiocarbon with AMS (LARA)

Radiocarbon ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (02) ◽  
pp. 561-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sönke Szidat ◽  
Gary A Salazar ◽  
Edith Vogel ◽  
Michael Battaglia ◽  
Lukas Wacker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Ion Source ◽  
Carbon Dating ◽  
Climate Research ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometer ◽  
History Of ◽  
Set Up ◽  
University Of Bern ◽  
The University

The University of Bern has set up the new Laboratory for the Analysis of Radiocarbon with AMS (LARA) equipped with an accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) MICADAS (MIni CArbon Dating System) to continue its long history of14C analysis based on conventional counting. The new laboratory is designated to provide routine14C dating for archaeology, climate research, and other disciplines at the University of Bern and to develop new analytical systems coupled to the gas ion source for14C analysis of specific compounds or compound classes with specific physical properties. Measurements of reference standards and wood samples dated by dendrochronology demonstrate the quality of the14C analyses performed at the new laboratory.

Relationship Between Personality Traits, Generativity, and Life Satisfaction in Individuals Attending University Programs for Seniors

2017 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Belen Navarro-Prados ◽  
Sara Serrate-Gonzalez ◽  
Jose-Manuel Muñoz-Rodríguez ◽  
Unai Díaz-Orueta
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Improve Quality ◽  
Sociodemographic Data ◽  
The University

Personality traits of older adults and their contribution to life satisfaction and generative interest were assessed. A total of 342 older participants (66% women), mean age = 67.89 years old ( SD = 6.52, range = 55–84 years old), who attended the University of the Experience in Salamanca (Spain), were evaluated. Information on sociodemographic data, perceived health and activity, personality traits, generativity, and life satisfaction was collected using self-reported questionnaires. Results confirmed a relation between personality traits, life satisfaction, and generativity. In addition, generative concern, neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness predicted life satisfaction at this stage. Moreover, the role of personality on generativity was confirmed. Individuals with interest and agreeableness toward others, who are organized, persistent, and motivated, are more predisposed to generativity. These results open the way to develop intervention programs that enhance positive personality traits and generative interest to improve quality of life of older people.

scholarly journals Choice Food Pantries in the Deep South: A Novel Approach to Addressing Food Insecurity in Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 773-773
Author(s):  
David Buys ◽  
Masey Smith ◽  
Erin King
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Choice Model ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Deep South ◽  
Food Pantry ◽  
Food Pantries ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Emergency Food Assistance

Abstract Older adults in the deep south are living with high food insecurity rates; this is exacerbated by challenges with rural-living, like transportation limitations and no grocery stores. To address this, we must increase emergency food assistance offerings and adopt best practices for food pantries including choice food pantry approaches, which empowers clients with some autonomy in choosing the foods they receive as part of their pantry distribution. Coalitions in eight income-limited, aging, rural Mississippi Delta counties received support from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Grant to enhance the food-related infrastructure in their communities through technical assistance and economic investments. A detailed process evaluation was conducted on this effort. Each coalition adopted food pantry-related policies like adding new food pantries and adapting their existing food pantries with the choice model. Both aging volunteers and clients indicated positive outcomes from the process of adding pantries and adapting existing ones.

scholarly journals Food Insecurity Is Associated with the Quality of Diet of Non-Institutionalized Older Adults from a Southern Chilean Commune: A Cross-Sectional Study

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Orietta Segura-Badilla ◽  
Ashuin Kammar-García ◽  
Addí Rhode Navarro-Cruz ◽  
Jacqueline Araneda-Flores ◽  
Javier Mancilla-Galindo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Poisson Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Modifiable Factors

As the population ages, greater attention to age-related health problems related to diet and lifestyles is needed. Here, we sought to evaluate the associations between demographic and clinical characteristics and food insecurity with the quality of diet of non-institutionalized elderly from a southern Chilean commune. We performed an analytical cross-sectional study in a sample of 376 older adults. Nutritional status was evaluated through anthropometric measurements. Quality of diet was determined by the healthy eating index (HEI), obtained through the frequency of consumption questionnaire. Socioeconomic, demographic, and lifestyle variables were also collected. Ordinal logistic and Poisson regression models were applied to study associations with quality of diet. The sample consisted of more women (81.6%) than men (18.4%). Most older adults were found to live in a situation of vulnerability or poverty (82.4%), with most having food security (65.7%). According to the HEI, only 14.1% had a good quality of diet, 83.8% had diet in need of improvement, and 2.1% had an unhealthy diet. There was an association of food insecurity and cardiovascular risk (according to waist circumference) with lower quality of diet categories. However, an association with the unhealthy quality of diet category was not confirmed with Poisson regression analysis, which was possibly due to the low number of subjects in that category (n = 8, 2.1%). Other modifiable factors like physical activity, hours of sleep, and polypharmacy were not associated with lower quality of diet categories. Socioeconomic status, which is a structural health determinant, was not associated with decreased quality of diet. Since this was a cross-sectional study performed on a small sample from a Chilean commune, directionality of associations cannot be discerned, and future longitudinal studies could aim to better characterize these associations in larger samples of elderly patients.

scholarly journals Editorial: FAREWELL AND WELCOME NEW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. ix
Author(s):  
Iva Adlerová
Keyword(s):  
Web Of Science ◽  
Board Members ◽  
Editorial Process ◽  
Successful Management ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The Right ◽  
The University ◽  
Young Researchers

<p>My seven years with Acta Polytechnica ended on June 30. The opportunity to lead this journal from a local list of reviewed periodicals to the prestigious databases – Web of Science, Scopus, Inspec, CAS and more – was a rewarding experience and privilege for me.</p><p>All this would have not been possible without the continual cooperation and understanding of many individuals, who contribute to putting the journal together.</p><p>In the first place there are authors of excellent submissions and reviewers who contributed their time, expertise, knowledge and experience to help the authors to improve their manuscripts and, through their comments and questions, gave them an inspiration for their further research. During my tenure I saw very satisfying trends in our submissions, mainly the increasing quality of the manuscripts submitted by young researchers.</p><p>I very appreciate the continual support of all the members of the editorial board. As experts in their field they contributed to the editorial process, provided invaluable advices and recommendations. In particular I would like to thank the internal board members, who collaborated with their colleagues from faculties and institutes. Without this motivating communication and cooperation across the university the AP would not be what it is.</p><p>A special thanks belongs to Tomáš Hejda. Seven years ago he created the image of the journal and set up typographic rules and standards. Last but not least, AP could not grow without the work of the language editors, especially Robin Healey.</p><p>And, of course, I would like to thank all the colleagues from the CTU Central Library for their support and intensive cooperation. Without them it would not be possible to set the necessary publishing standards and processes. Especially I would like to thank Lenka Němečková for being a source of energy and inspiration for the AP, and thank to the director of the CTU Central Library Marta Machytková for her support.</p><p>Finally, I would like to introduce and welcome an outstanding colleague and the new Editor-in-Chief Tereza Karlová. I very respect her professional skills, I am convinced that she has the right motivation for the successful management of Acta Polytechnica and I wish her all the best.</p><p>Iva Adlerová Outgoing Editor-in-Chief</p>

Beyond food insecurity

2016 ◽  
Vol 118 (11) ◽  
pp. 2614-2631 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chung-Yi Chiu ◽  
Jessica Brooks ◽  
Ruopeng An
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Food Banks ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food Pantry ◽  
Self Sufficiency ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to inquiry dietary behavior and the physical and mental health status of food pantry users to better understand issues related to food insecurity and to explore predictors of intentions for self-sufficiency. Design/methodology/approach The authors randomly surveyed 12 food pantries (151 consumers) sponsored by the North Texas Food Bank in USA, regarding dietary behavior, health status, reasons for food pantry use, satisfaction with services provided, and self-sufficient behavior and support. Findings About 37 percent of survey participants would expect to continue using food pantry services for one or more years. Reasons for food pantry use included low job earnings, unemployment, poor health, and disability. Over 83 percent of them were either overweight or obese, and over half (57 percent) of them had moderate or severe mental disorder symptoms that warrant examination by healthcare practitioners. On average, their health-related quality of life was lower than the general population. Participants’ physical health was significantly correlated with work intention. The hierarchical regression model predicting work intention had a large effect size. Research limitations/implications This research has highlighted the importance of improving food pantry consumers’ health and self-sufficiency in order to live sufficiently and healthily. Practical implications Community health practitioners need to help food banks address the needs beyond hunger to focus on the larger ramification of food insecurity such as self-sufficiency and health-related quality of life. Originality/value This work extends the existing studies focused on food insecurity, and it will enable the collaborations among food banks, social workers, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and public health practitioners.

scholarly journals Corona children studies "Co-Ki": First results of a Germany-wide registry on mouth and nose covering (mask) in children

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silke Schwarz ◽  
Ekkehart Jenetzky ◽  
Hanno Krafft ◽  
Tobias Maurer ◽  
David Martin
Keyword(s):  
Research Question ◽  
Vulnerable Group ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Risk Benefit Assessment ◽  
First Results ◽  
Set Up ◽  
New Research ◽  
The University

Abstract Background: Narratives about complaints in children and adolescents caused by wearing a mask are accumulating. There is, to date, no registry for side effects of masks.Methods: At the University of Witten/Herdecke an online registry has been set up where parents, doctors, pedagogues and others can enter their observations. On 20.10.2020, 363 doctors were asked to make entries and to make parents and teachers aware of the registry. Results: By 26.10.2020 the registry had been used by 20,353 people. In this publication we report the results from the parents, who entered data on a total of 25,930 children. The average wearing time of the mask was 270 minutes per day. Impairments caused by wearing the mask were reported by 68% of the parents. These included irritability (60%), headache (53%), difficulty concentrating (50%), less happiness (49%), reluctance to go to school/kindergarten (44%), malaise (42%) impaired learning (38%) and drowsiness or fatigue (37%).Discussion: This world's first registry for recording the effects of wearing masks in children is dedicated to a new research question. Bias with respect to preferential documentation of children who are particularly severely affected or who are fundamentally critical of protective measures cannot be dismissed. The frequency of the registry’s use and the spectrum of symptoms registryed indicate the importance of the topic and call for representative surveys, randomized controlled trials with various masks and a renewed risk-benefit assessment for the vulnerable group of children: adults need to collecticely reflect the circumstances under which they would be willing to take a residual risk upon themselves in favor of enabling children to have a higher quality of life without having to wear a mask.

scholarly journals Corona children studies "Co-Ki": First results of a Germany-wide registry on mouth and nose covering (mask) in children

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silke Schwarz ◽  
Ekkehart Jenetzky ◽  
Hanno Krafft ◽  
Tobias Maurer ◽  
David Martin
Keyword(s):  
Research Question ◽  
Vulnerable Group ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Risk Benefit Assessment ◽  
First Results ◽  
Set Up ◽  
New Research ◽  
The University

Abstract Background: Narratives about complaints in children and adolescents caused by wearing a mask are accumulating. There is, to date, no registry for side effects of masks.Methods: At the University of Witten/Herdecke an online registry has been set up where parents, doctors, pedagogues and others can enter their observations. On 20.10.2020, 363 doctors were asked to make entries and to make parents and teachers aware of the registry.Results: By 26.10.2020 the registry had been used by 20,353 people. In this publication we report the results from the parents, who entered data on a total of 25,930 children. The average wearing time of the mask was 270 minutes per day. Impairments caused by wearing the mask were reported by 68% of the parents. These included irritability (60%), headache (53%), difficulty concentrating (50%), less happiness (49%), reluctance to go to school/kindergarten (44%), malaise (42%) impaired learning (38%) and drowsiness or fatigue (37%).Discussion: This world's first registry for recording the effects of wearing masks in children is dedicated to a new research question. Bias with respect to preferential documentation of children who are particularly severely affected or who are fundamentally critical of protective measures cannot be dismissed. The frequency of the registry’s use and the spectrum of symptoms registryed indicate the importance of the topic and call for representative surveys, randomized controlled trials with various masks and a renewed risk-benefit assessment for the vulnerable group of children: adults need to collecticely reflect the circumstances under which they would be willing to take a residual risk upon themselves in favor of enabling children to have a higher quality of life without having to wear a mask.

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