ALEXA, ASSESS MY MEMORY: THE FEASIBILITY OF EXTENDED HEALTH MONITORING IN AN OLDER-ADULT-LIVING COMMUNITY

Abstract The goal of most older adults is to live independently in their own homes, for as long as possible. There are many advantages to aging in place for the individual, but also challenges as changes in cognitive and physical health can occur over time. Especially for older adults living alone, tracking these changes is critical for early intervention and prevention. The relatively easy availability of consumer technology may provide one mechanism for monitoring older adults in their homes. We designed a pilot study to test the feasibility and acceptability of using wearable sensors (Fitbit sensors), in conjunction with automated interactive voice recognition technology (Amazon Echo), to monitor older adults’ physical and cognitive health during daily activities. Participants (7 females, 2 males; 65-80 years of age) were recruited from a housing complex for older adults with low income. They were interviewed about health monitoring technology before and after a 2-week measurement period during which they were expected to wear the Fitbit daily and interact with the Amazon Echo for 8 consecutive days. Feasibility challenges included limited skill in Echo interactions, remembering to do the assessments, and charging/uploading Fitbit data. Qualitative analysis of interviews revealed generally positive attitudes about technology, but low comfort operating the devices. These preliminary findings suggest that with additional training for older adults, sensors and voice recognition technologies could have significant roles in maintaining older adult quality of life by contributing to early detection of decline and timely intervention.

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Starting an Older Adult Lecture for First Semester Nursing Students With a Truth or Myth Game

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.047 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 14-14

Author(s):

Lynn Brown ◽

Pao-feng Tsai

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Care ◽

Nursing Students ◽

Older Adult ◽

Care Needs ◽

Final Exam ◽

Negative Stereotypes ◽

First Semester ◽

Positive Attitudes ◽

New Information

Abstract False ideas about the physical and psychosocial characteristics of older adults exist in America. It is especially important that nurses are not susceptible to myths and stereotypes as these myths can affect the quality of patient care. For example, some people stereotype older adults as forgetful, disabled, ill, and unable to understand new information. Misconceptions and negative stereotypes are also present in first year nursing students. It is vital that students assess their own attitudes about older adults to form positive attitudes and gain knowledge about aging and health care needs. To achieve this goal, the older adult lecture in a first semester theory and fundamental course begins with a PowerPoint slide presentation asking students to distinguish truths and myths. The truth or myth topics include a) developmental tasks; b) common physiological changes; c) a comparison of delirium, dementia, and depression; and d) addressing health concerns of older adults. Active discussion follows the activity. Seventy to ninety percent of students correctly answered nine of ten questions related to older adult content on the final exam. Considering the increasing number of older adults in the health care setting, nurse educators must dismantle negative stereotypes with creative teaching strategies.

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Pre-frailty, frailty and associated factors in older caregivers of older adults

Revista de Saúde Pública ◽

10.11606/s1518-8787.2020054001655 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 54 ◽

pp. 17

Author(s):

Roberta De Oliveira Máximo ◽

Ingrid Cristina Lopes ◽

Allan Gustavo Brigola ◽

Bruna Moretti Luchesi ◽

Aline Cristina Martins Gratão ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older Adult ◽

Low Income ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Clinical Aspects ◽

Frailty Phenotype ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Older Caregivers

INTRODUCTION: Providing care to an older adult is an activity that requires considerable physical effort and can cause stress and psychological strain, which accentuate factors that trigger the cycle of frailty, especially when the caregiver is also an older adult. However, few studies have analyzed the frailty process in older caregivers. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of pre-frailty, frailty and associated factors in older caregivers of older adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted including 328 community-dwelling older caregivers. Frailty was identified using frailty phenotype. Socio-demographic, behavioral and clinical aspects, characteristics related to care and functioning were covariables in the multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of pre-frailty and frailty were 58.8% and 21.1%, respectively. An increased age, female sex, not having a conjugal life, depressive symptoms and pain were commonly associated with pre-frailty and frailty. Sedentary lifestyle was exclusively associated with pre-frailty, whereas living in an urban area, low income and the cognitive decline were associated with frailty. A better performance on instrumental activities of daily living reduced the chance of frailty. CONCLUSION: Many factors associated with the frailty syndrome may be related to the act of providing care, which emphasizes the importance of the development of coping strategies for this population.

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Interviewing an Elder: Students’ Perceptions of Change in an Introduction to Gerontology Classroom

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.385 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 102-102

Author(s):

Sarah Hahn

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older Adult ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Qualitative Data ◽

High Impact ◽

High Impact Practices ◽

Positive Attitudes ◽

Attitudes Toward Older Adults

Abstract Within the gerontological classroom, high-impact practices and creative assignments have consistently shown to help engage students, optimize learning, and increase positive attitudes toward older adults and aging (e.g., Chonody, 2015; Yamashita, et al., 2018). One such creative assignment, interviewing an older adult, has been cited as both an influential and valuable experience to gerontology students (e.g., O’Hanlon & Brookover, 2002). Although this assignment has been popular in and out of gerontology courses, more data regarding this and student’s understanding is needed. As such, this presentation aims to 1) introduce and establish the value of using the written assignment, "Interview an Elder" in the gerontology classroom and 2) present preliminary qualitative data on how students’ perceptions of older adults changed after the assignment. Using thematic analysis, results suggest that students are not only surprised by what they learned, but have increased positive perceptions of older adults overall.

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Effectiveness of an educational intervention on knowledge-attitude-practice of older adults’ caregivers

Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem ◽

10.1590/0034-7167-2017-0100 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 71 (3) ◽

pp. 1055-1062 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andréa Carvalho Araújo Moreira ◽

Maria Josefina da Silva ◽

Juan José Tirado Darder ◽

Janaína Fonseca Victor Coutinho ◽

Maristela Inês Osawa Vasconcelos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older Adult ◽

Educational Intervention ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Practice Research ◽

Attitude And Practice ◽

Adult Feeding ◽

Before And After ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Knowledge Attitude And Practice

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the knowledge, attitude and practice of older adults’ caregivers before and after an educational intervention in the domains of the care between caregiver and older adult, feeding, bathing, hygiene and mobility and transportation. Method: Quasi-experimental study carried out with 82 caregivers, of which 34 participated in the intervention. Interviews were conducted through a knowledge, attitude and practice research on the older adults` care Results: The educational intervention led to improvements in knowledge, attitude and practice, with statistical significance of attitude (p <0.020) and practice (p <0.001), in the domain of the care between caregiver and older adult; knowledge (p <0.001) and practice (p <0.003) in feeding; Knowledge (p <0.001) and practice (p <0.001) in bathing and hygiene; and knowledge (p <0.001), attitude (p <0.001) and practice (p <0.001) in mobility and transportation. The analysis of the 34 caregivers who started and completed the study showed an improvement in attitude in most of the domains. Conclusion: the educational intervention is an effective and viable strategy for older adults’ caregivers.

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Expectations for Communication with Positive and Negative Subtypes of Older Adults

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development ◽

10.2190/gw3c-5cnm-8dpd-n81e ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. 11-33 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Jake Harwood ◽

Angie Williams

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older Adult ◽

Communication Apprehension ◽

Theoretical Models ◽

Intergenerational Communication ◽

Negative Attitudes ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Age Identity ◽

Positive Attitudes ◽

To Receive

The study uses a recently-developed scale for eliciting perceptions, expectations, and evaluations of intergenerational communication. As predicted, it is found that younger adults expect to experience more anxiety, receive more complaining, and receive lower levels of attunement from an older adult who is portrayed as “despondent” than one who is portrayed as a “perfect grandparent.” In addition, younger adults with more negative attitudes toward older adults expect to experience more negative affect, anxiety, and communication apprehension, to feel more compassion for the older adult, and to receive lower levels of attunement and more complaining from the older adult than those with more positive attitudes. Surprisingly, younger adults with higher levels of young age identification expect to experience lower levels of apprehension, more attunement from the older adult, and to feel more compassion for the older adult than those with lower levels of age identity. These findings are discussed in terms of theoretical models of intergenerational communication, in particular the communication predicament model. In addition, younger people's feelings of having “helped” an older person are discussed in the context of intergroup theory.

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Are the Attitudes of Exercise Instructors Who Work With Older Adults Influenced by Training and Personal Characteristics?

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.20.1.47 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 47-63 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Helen Hawley ◽

Dawn A. Skelton ◽

Malcolm Campbell ◽

Chris Todd

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older Adult ◽

Personal Characteristics ◽

Later Life ◽

Positive Attitudes ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Clinical Background ◽

Exercise Classes ◽

The Relationship ◽

Positive Effect

Little is known about the relationship between attitudes and characteristics of instructors and uptake and adherence of older people to exercise classes. This article explores these issues.Methods:The authors surveyed 731 UK exercise instructors with specialist older adult exercise qualifications. A questionnaire investigated instructors’ characteristics and attitudes toward older adults’ participation in exercise.Results:For mostly seated classes, EXTEND qualification (B = 0.36, p = .005) had a positive effect on instructors’ attitudes. Later Life Training qualification (B = −2.80, p = .003), clinical background (B = −3.99, p = .005), and delivering classes in National Health Services (B = −3.12, p < .001), leisure centers (B = −2.75, p = .002), or nursing homes (B = −2.29, p = .005) had a negative effect on attitudes. For mostly standing classes, experience (B = 0.20, p = .003) and delivering in leisure centers (B = 0.46, p = .032) had a positive and clinical background (B = −1.78, p = .018) had a negative effect on instructors’ attitudes.Conclusions:Most instructors have positive attitudes, but training and work context can influence attitudes toward older people’s participation in exercise classes both positively and negatively.

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A Scoping Review of Social Housing Models for Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.3346 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 910-910

Author(s):

Christine Sheppard ◽

Matthew Yau ◽

Carol Kwon ◽

Jorge Rios ◽

Andrea Austen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older Adult ◽

Affordable Housing ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Low Income ◽

Support Services ◽

Social Housing ◽

Relevant Literature ◽

Housing Service ◽

Service Models

Abstract Access to affordable housing is a rising concern for many older adults, and government-sponsored social housing programs are one approach to support low-income older adult renters; however, these housing models are limited in availability and may not all be well-suited to support aging in place. To better understand how to promote the physical, mental and social wellbeing of older tenants in social housing, this scoping review mapped relevant literature to examine: 1) the characteristics of older adults in social housing; and 2) social housing service models and policies. Seven peer reviewed databases were searched for relevant articles, which were screened by two independent reviewers. A total of 140 articles met the inclusion criteria. Studies were predominately from the US and Canada; spanning over five decades of research, with publications surging in the 1980’s and in the 2010’s. Almost all studies reported on the sociodemographic and health characteristics of older tenants, and two thirds presented findings on social housing service models, including policies, staff positions and training, and access to on-site support services. This review points to a high level of vulnerability among older adult tenants living in social housing and highlights the importance of co-locating support services in social housing buildings, with dedicated tenant-support staff to identify vulnerable tenants and link them to these services. There is an acute need for more research on key issues related to housing retention, such as eviction prevention, in order to identify opportunities for social housing landlords to help older tenants age in place.

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Evaluation of Food Waste at a Portuguese Geriatric Institution

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13052452 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 2452

Author(s):

Margarida Liz Martins ◽

Ana Sofia Henriques ◽

Ada Rocha

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older Adult ◽

Food Waste ◽

Service System ◽

Food Service ◽

The Other ◽

Plate Waste ◽

Before And After ◽

Waste Food

Care institutions attending to older adults are responsible for their food supply, which influences their health and quality of life. Food waste at care institutions has been reported to be a matter of great concern, that requires regular monitoring. In this study, we aim to quantify food waste in the food service of an elderly institution, both as leftovers and plate waste. Data collection was performed over 15 consecutive days, at lunch and dinner served to older adults. The aggregate weighing of food was performed before and after distribution, as well as after consumption. Leftovers and plate waste were calculated by the differences in weight. During the study period, 2987 meals were evaluated, corresponding to 1830 kg of food produced, of which only 67% was consumed. For each meal, approximately 610 g of food was produced per older adult, and only about 410 g were consumed, corresponding to 150 g of leftovers and 50 g of plate waste. Food waste represented 36.1% of meals served, composed of 24.1% leftovers and 12.0% plate waste. The wasted meals would be enough to feed 1486 older adults and would correspond to annual losses of approximately €107,112. Leftovers and plate waste were above the limits of acceptability (below 6% and 10%, respectively), indicating excessive food waste. High values of leftovers are related to the food service system and staff, pointing to the need for improvements during the planning and processing of meals. On the other hand, high plate waste values are associated with consumers, indicating the low adequacy of the menu regarding to older adults’ habits and preferences.

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Digital Home Assistants and Aging: Initial Perspectives from Novice Older Adult Users

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1071181320641327 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 64 (1) ◽

pp. 1367-1371

Author(s):

Kenneth A. Blocker ◽

Travis Kadylak ◽

Lyndsie M. Koon ◽

Christopher E. Kovac ◽

Wendy A. Rogers

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

General Population ◽

Older Adult ◽

Functional Independence ◽

Daily Activities ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Digital Home ◽

General Utility ◽

Positive Attitudes ◽

Novice Users

Digital home assistants like the Amazon Echo are increasing in popularity each year among the general population and provide assistance across a wide array of daily activities. Despite their general utility, they may be most useful for supporting older adults with the various challenges of aging. However, little is known about older adults’ opinions regarding these devices, which is necessary to encourage their adoption of these devices. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 older adult novice users to learn about their initial opinions regarding two digital home assistants, the Amazon Echo smart speaker and Echo Show smart display. Results revealed an overall trend of positive attitudes toward them and their capabilities, with a preference toward the Echo Show. These findings provided insights into older adults’ first impressions of digital home assistants, plus the foundation for investigating their potential in supporting older adults in maintaining functional independence.

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Exploring the Psychometric Properties of the Questionnaire on Family Members Adapting to an Older Adult’s Admission to a Nursing Home (CAFIAR-15) in a Colombian Sample

Behavioral Sciences ◽

10.3390/bs12010004 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 4

Author(s):

Marta Martín-Carbonell ◽

Antonio Riquelme-Marín ◽

Martha Fernández-Daza ◽

Juan Manuel Ortigosa-Quiles ◽

Inmaculada Méndez-Mateo

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Nursing Home ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Cultural Differences ◽

Older Adult ◽

Low Income ◽

Traumatic Events ◽

Family Members ◽

Factorial Structure ◽

The Family

Institutionalization to a nursing home can be one of the most significant and traumatic events in a senior’s life, and for their family. For this reason, it is especially important to have validated instruments that evaluate the family member’s adaptation to admitting the senior to a nursing home. The study included 139 family members recruited equally in two types of institutions (low-income nursing home (LINH) vs. high-income nursing home (HINH)). A sociodemographic questionnaire with questions to study antecedents and conditions for care and the Questionnaire for Admitting an Older Adult to a Nursing Home (CAFIAR-15) were used. Examining the communalities indicated that four of the five items in factor 3 presented communalities lower than 0.30 and differences in the factorial structure of the CAFIAR-15 were found. There were differences in the antecedents and conditions for care between the relatives of the older adults at LINH and HINH. Cultural differences and differences between LINH and HINH may be the basis for flaws in the conceptual validity of the CAFIAR-15 in the Colombian sample.

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