scholarly journals Staying Connected during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences of Older People in Mexico and Scotland

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 990-991
Author(s):  
Louise McCabe ◽  
Verónica Montes de Oca ◽  
Nereide Curreri ◽  
Marissa Vivaldo ◽  
Alison Dawson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Older People ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages

Abstract During the pandemic older people saw transformations in their social connections due to lockdowns and other restrictions. Technology provided one mechanism for them to stay connected with others, but technology may not be accessible or desirable for everyone. Gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, age and other factors enhance or limit engagement with technology. This project explored experiences of older people in Mexico and Scotland during the pandemic and examined the potential of everyday technology to help maintain social connectedness. A mixed methods approach included secondary analysis of large-scale datasets alongside primary data. Online semi-structured interviews and focus groups were carried out with 36 older people in Mexico and 23 older people in Scotland. Sampling was purposeful creating a diverse sample across age, gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. The findings demonstrate that advantages and disadvantages accumulated in the life course determine how older people select, optimize and compensate for new ways of staying socially connected during the pandemic in both countries. The use of technologies among older people is further mediated by structural inequalities with differences found between Mexico and Scotland in specific patterns identified. Further, stereotypes about older age and technology use are obstacles to the use of technology, as they affect the perception of self-efficacy by older people. Despite the obstacles, this study has shown that older people have a broad range of resources that have enabled them to cope with the pandemic and utilise technology to maintain social connections. The project offers recommendations to support older people’s human rights.

scholarly journals Older People and Social Connectedness: How Place and Activities Keep People Engaged

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene H. Yen ◽  
Janet K. Shim ◽  
Airin D. Martinez ◽  
Judith C. Barker
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
Ethnic Differences ◽  
Social Distance ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Future

To understand how older adults perceive and navigate their neighborhoods, we examined the implications of activity in their neighborhoods for their health. We interviewed 38 adults (ages 62–85) who lived in San Francisco or Oakland, California. Seven key themes emerged: (1) people express a wide range of expectations for neighborliness, from “we do not bother each other” to “we have keys to each other’s houses”, (2) social distance between “other” people impede a sense of connection, (3) ethnic differences in living arrangements affect activities and activity locations, (4) people try to stay busy, (5) people able to leave their homes do many activities outside their immediate residential neighborhoods, (6) access to a car is a necessity for most, and (7) it is unusual to plan for the future when mobility might become limited. Multiple locations influence older adults’ health, including residential neighborhoods. Older adults value mobility, active lives, and social connections.

scholarly journals 1025Social interaction of middle-aged and older people with and without cardiovascular disease in Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Shahdaat Bin Sayeed ◽  
Grace Joshy ◽  
Emily Banks ◽  
Rosemary Korda
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Older People ◽  
Social Group ◽  
Physical Disability ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Population Characteristics ◽  
Group Contact

Abstract Background Social interaction is important for social wellbeing and may be adversely affected in people with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Large-scale evidence on social interaction among older people with versus without CVD is limited. We quantified and compared social interaction in older people with and without CVD. Methods Survey data (2006-2009) from the 45 and Up Study were linked to hospitalisations data through CHeReL to ascertain CVD status. Four items from the Duke Social Support Index (social-visits/week, telephone-contacts/week, social-group-contact/week, and number of people to depend on) were examined, using generalised linear models to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) of no social interaction in people with versus without CVD, adjusting for relevant factors, and separately according to CVD subtype and level of physical disability. Results There were 266,504 study participants, 21.4% had CVD. People with CVD were 8%, (95%CI: 5-11%), 7% (2-12%), 4% (3-5%) and 7% (3-11%) more likely than people without CVD to have no social-visits/week, telephone-contacts/week, social-group-meetings/week and people to depend on respectively. The magnitude but not direction of results varied by CVD subtype. People with CVD and severe physical functioning limitations were 30-80% more likely than those with neither of these to have no social interaction. Conclusions Levels of social interaction were slightly lower in people with versus without CVD, but they varied by social interaction items, CVD subtypes, population characteristics and physical disability. Key messages Management to improve quality of life for people living with CVD should consider the role of physical disability for social connectedness.

scholarly journals A gradual separation from the world: a qualitative exploration of existential loneliness in old age

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Carr ◽  
Chao Fang
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Retirement Communities ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Existential Loneliness ◽  
The World ◽  
Physical Touch ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Qualitative Exploration

This study sought to qualitatively explore experiences of existential loneliness (EL) in 80 older people living in retirement communities across the UK and Australia. Qualitative semi-structured interviews permitted in-depth exploration of issues such as biographical narrative, close relationships, loss, feelings of loneliness, and retirement living. It was our intention to conduct a large-scale, deep listening exercise that would provide further clues about existential loneliness in older people and the circumstances that give rise to such feelings. Data provided rich insight into older people’s inner lives. Core themes identified loss of close attachments, lack of physical touch and intimacy, deterioration of health and body, and lack of an emotional language through which to express EL as central to older people’s experiences. Furthermore, there was a suggestion that the move to retirement living was for many people inextricably connected to their experience of EL. Our data further support and extend the notion that EL can be thought of as a gradual sense of separation from the world and that ageing intensifies a myriad of social, emotional, and physical circumstances that prompt its emergence. This sense of existential isolation need not be thought of as exclusive to those experiencing extreme frailty or who face death imminently – our data pointed to a clear and gradual emergence of EL throughout later life.

scholarly journals Exploring the Impact of Age-Related COVID-19 Messaging on Internalized Ageism in Older Adulthood

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 945-945
Author(s):  
Ruheena Sangrar ◽  
Stephanie Chesser ◽  
Michelle Porter
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Social Constructionism ◽  
Financial Stability ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Public health messages during the COVID-19 pandemic have indicated a higher risk for older people and/or those who have multiple health conditions. Subsequent societal discourse, however, has at times arguably protested the full protection and treatment of older people from COVID-19, potentially contributing to internalized ageism. To date, how older people interpret age-related pandemic messaging and discourse has not been explored. This study examined older adults’ perspectives of age-related COVID-19 messaging and societal discourse, as well as their perceptions of vulnerability, using a social constructionism framework. Adults age 65 to 89 years participated in semi-structured interviews about their thoughts and experiences with ongoing pandemic-related public messaging. Preliminary analysis suggests that participant perspectives of COVID-19 messaging are situated along a continuum of concern associated with contracting the virus. While some, for example, describe minimal concern, others express being fearful. Individual perceptions of safety appear to be informed, in part, by the presence or absence of an underlying health condition. Individual approaches to media criticism and consumption, personal risk-taking thresholds, financial stability, and social connectedness also appear to influence how the participants perceive pandemic-related messaging. Findings suggest the framing of COVID-19 and pandemic protocols, as well as the media’s sensationalization of age-related issues, can impact older peoples’ perceived vulnerability of contracting the virus. Future research is needed to understand the long-term implications of ongoing pandemic-related messaging on older adults’ experiences of aging, as well as the consequences such messaging could pose to for their health and social behaviors.

Using Propensity Score Weighting to Reduce Selection Bias in Large-Scale Data Sets

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 347-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Crystal D. Bishop ◽  
Walter L. Leite ◽  
Patricia A. Snyder
Keyword(s):  
Early Intervention ◽  
Selection Bias ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Child Outcomes ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Experimental Methodology ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Causal Relationships ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages

Data sets from large-scale longitudinal surveys involving young children and families have become available for secondary analysis by researchers in a variety of fields. Researchers in early intervention have conducted secondary analyses of such data sets to explore relationships between nonmalleable and malleable factors and child outcomes, and to address issues of measurement. Survey data have been used to a lesser extent to examine plausible causal relationships between variables, perhaps due to the increased likelihood of selection bias that results with nonexperimental data. In this article, we use National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study data to demonstrate the use of inverse probability of treatment weighting, a quasi-experimental methodology based on propensity scores that can be used to reduce selection bias and examine plausible causal relationships. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this approach, and implications for its use in early intervention research.

Mental health: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management

2017 ◽  
pp. 1035-1040
Author(s):  
Renzo Rozzini ◽  
Marco Trabucchi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Older People ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Human Relationship ◽  
Biological Factors ◽  
Pathological Conditions ◽  
Challenging Tasks

Mental health of older people is one of the most challenging tasks for the society and medicine of our time. The epidemiology of the different psychogeriatric problems indicates that the well-being of a large part of population is jeopardized, and impose large scale specific programmes to prevent, cure, and rehabilitate the most prevalent and severe diseases in old age. Interventions should be directed to the multidimensional events determining and characterizing the specific pathological conditions, since mental health is influenced by biological factors, but also by living conditions (i.e. socioeconomic status, human relationship, available support). Mental health of population in advanced age must be the centre of interest of our society in order to create the conditions for age-friendly communities.

scholarly journals A gradual separation from the world: a qualitative exploration of existential loneliness in old age

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Sam Carr ◽  
Chao Fang
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Retirement Communities ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Existential Loneliness ◽  
The World ◽  
Physical Touch ◽  
Qualitative Exploration

Abstract This study sought to explore qualitatively experiences of existential loneliness (EL) in 80 older people living in retirement communities across the United Kingdom and Australia. Qualitative semi-structured interviews permitted in-depth exploration of issues such as biographical narrative, close relationships, loss, feelings of loneliness and retirement living. It was our intention to conduct a large-scale, deep-listening exercise that would provide further clues about EL in older people and the circumstances that give rise to such feelings. Data provided rich insight into older people's inner lives. Core themes identified loss of close attachments, lack of physical touch and intimacy, deterioration of health and body, and lack of an emotional language through which to express EL as central to older people's experiences. Furthermore, there was a suggestion that the move to retirement living was for many people inextricably connected to their experience of EL. Our data further support and extend the notion that EL can be thought of as a gradual sense of separation from the world and that ageing intensifies a myriad of social, emotional and physical circumstances that prompt its emergence. This sense of existential isolation need not be thought of as exclusive to those experiencing extreme frailty or who face death imminently – our data pointed to a clear and gradual emergence of EL throughout later life.

scholarly journals “For me, it's connection”: Older Adults Experience with Technology during COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 998-998
Author(s):  
Vivian Miller ◽  
HeeSoon Lee ◽  
Erin Roark
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Ict Use ◽  
Primary Means ◽  
Socially Isolated ◽  
Barriers And Challenges

Abstract As a result of COVID-19, older adults have experienced isolation, lost social contacts, and a decrease in connections. A recent study found that “approximately one-quarter of community-dwelling older adults are considered to be socially isolated, and 43% of them report feeling lonely.” Various innovative interventions have emerged, including technology-based interventions as a means to reduce social isolation in older adults, particularly as information communication technology (ICT) use is on the rise among this population. However, it remains to be known how these connections are faring for older adults in the pandemic and whether these ICT connections lead to greater or lesser feelings of social connectedness. Thirty-nine (N=39) in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the lived experiences of technology use among older adults during COVID-19. Participants experiences with ICT ranged from illiterate to savvy. Most participants indicated Zoom was the primary means to stay socially connected to family and friends. Participants emphasized that ICT may be a possible solution to deal with loneliness for those older adults who are especially isolated due to COVID-19 restrictions. Barriers and challenges to ICT use included taking too much time to use and needing help to fix any problems that arose. Finally, participants shared essential aspects of ICT use, revealing that it was ‘technology or nothing.’ Findings from this study indicate a need for a simple ICT for the older adult population. Moreover, findings suggest opportunities for peer-support ICT training programs for older adults.

scholarly journals Modern Trends in Ownership and Acquisition of Large-scale Lands in Teshie and Kasoa, Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-116
Author(s):  
Appau Williams Miller ◽  
Oliver Tannor ◽  
Ofori Peres
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Current Trend ◽  
Land Ownership ◽  
Land Acquisition ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Family Head ◽  
Large Scale Land ◽  
Traditional Authorities

With the rising urbanisation of some parts of Ghana, the demand for land for various purposes is inevitable. The article assesses current trend of  large-scale land acquisition in Teshie and Kasoa. The study used semi-structured interviews to solicit primary data from key informants such as chiefs at Nyanyano-Kasoa and Tsie-We family head at Teshie, land guards, and investors who acquire large scale lands in these areas to identify the trends in such acquisitions between 2014 to 2019.The study uncovered that though there are variations in the nature of land ownership in Teshie and Kasoa, multiple sale of lands, poor land management practices, litigation and land guarding are common practices in both areas. The study found that there is an institutional gap as both the state and traditional institutions have not really done much to deal with the challenges  confronting LSLAs in these areas. It is recommended that land owning groups be engaged and educated by the Lands Commission in collaboration with Customary Lands Secretariat on proper ways to manage and sell their lands to avoid multiple sales and the conflicts that it brings. The Ghana police service should crackdown on land guarding which is an illegal activity. Keywords: Large-scale, Land Acquisition, Land Ownership, Customary Land Secretariat, Traditional Authorities

scholarly journals An evaluation of eThekwini Municipality’s regeneration programmes on littering and dumping

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nirmala Govender ◽  
Purshottama S. Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategies ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Urban Regeneration ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Service Levels ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Behavioural Patterns

Background: South African cities have been beleaguered with urban deterioration challenges, especially dumping and littering, notwithstanding the regulatory framework and the continuous clean-up programmes undertaken by municipalities. This article identifies the challenges within eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in addressing littering and dumping, and recommends improvements towards urban regeneration efforts.Objectives: To critically evaluate compliance of legislation and efficacy of the urban regeneration programmes implemented, which addressed littering and dumping within the inner city of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.Method: This convergent mixed-method research followed a case study approach and involved the analysis of primary data obtained from a qualitative perspective, including semi-structured interviews and questionnaires; and secondary analysis of quantitative data in the form of documents and reports obtained from the municipality.Results: The article identified that urban degeneration, specifically litter and dumping, occurred as a result of ineffective compliance of regulations and lack of enforcement; outdated service levels, lack of monitoring and evaluation of programmes; lack of education initiatives; ineffective leadership and governance; lack of involvement of citizens and businesses in clean city initiatives; and the negative behavioural patterns of citizens.Conclusion: The key recommendations for municipalities include implementing an integrated strategic plan for urban regeneration within a proactive policy and regulatory environment; monitoring and evaluation of programmes related to urban regeneration; increased resources dedicated to waste management and enforcement; implementing enforcement and consequence management strategies; and stimulating change in the behaviour patterns of citizens, businesses as well as municipality employees.

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