ELDER COHOUSING: THE EMBODIMENT OF AGING IN COMMUNITY

Abstract A new alternative living arrangement has emerged in the U.S., in which older adults proactively choose how, where, and with whom they want to live, in a close-knit community where neighbors look out for each other. Adopting the cohousing model originally established in northern Europe, these elder intentional communities are distinctive, as they are run by the residents themselves, and there is a focus on neighbors helping each other. Drawing from over a decade of research incorporating data from six communities, the challenges and benefits of establishing such a community will be addressed and the requirements necessary for mutual support to thrive will be identified. Finally, the model of aging better together intentionally, developed from the senior cohousing experience, will be shared, as well as the implications for how the model can be used for planning and policy in other settings.

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Promising Aging in Community Models in the U.S.: Village, Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC), Cohousing, and University-Based Retirement Community (UBRC)

Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine ◽

10.1177/23337214211015451 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 233372142110154

Author(s):

Su-I Hou ◽

Xian Cao

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Economic Status ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Retirement Community ◽

Pull Factors ◽

Two Phase ◽

Push Factors ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Aging In Community ◽

The U.S

Aging in Community (AIC) is the preferred way to age. This systematic review identified promising AIC models in the U.S. and analyzed model characteristics and push-pull factors from older adults’ perspectives. Push factors are those driving older adults to leave, while pull factors attract them to stay in a community. We conducted a two-phase search strategy using eight databases. Phase I identified promising AIC models and Phase II expanded each specific model identified. Fifty-two of 244 screened articles met the criteria and were analyzed. We identified four promising AIC models with the potential to achieve person-environment (P-E) fit, including village, naturally occurring retirement community (NORC), cohousing, and university-based retirement community (UBRC). Each has a unique way of helping older adults with their aging needs. Similar and unique push-pull factors of each AIC model were discussed. Analyses showed that pull factors were mostly program factors while push factors were often individual circumstances. Continued research is needed to address the challenges of recruiting minority older adults and those of lower socio-economic status, meeting older adults’ diverse and dynamic needs, and conducting comparative studies to share lessons learned across the globe.

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Living Arrangement and Health Behavior Profiles Among Midlife and Older Adults

Korea Gerontological Society ◽

10.31888/jkgs.2020.40.4.691 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 691-706

Author(s):

Bon Kim ◽

Seung-Eun Oh ◽

Joohong Min

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Behavior ◽

Living Arrangement ◽

Behavior Profiles

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Music Interventions for Older Adults in Clinical Trials and Research Studies Across Cultures and Settings

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.3410 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 930-930

Author(s):

Tara Rose ◽

Elyse Manzo ◽

Katherine Erickson ◽

Joshua Valenzuela

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Best Practices ◽

Music Therapy ◽

Psychological Symptoms ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Age Groups ◽

Memory Loss ◽

Music Intervention ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

The U.S

Abstract Music interventions and music therapy have become more common globally as nonpharmacological treatment options for memory loss, pain management, reduction of behavioral and psychological symptoms, and increased quality of life. Knowledge of multiethnic interventions is important when creating evidence-based programs within culturally diverse countries, such as the U.S. The purpose of this systematic review is to analyze music interventions for older adults across the globe to better understand emerging best practices. A review of all trials registered at clinicaltrials.gov and registries in the WHO Registry Network containing the key words “music therapy” were included, regardless of intervention type. Of the 627 studies generated, 449 met the eligibility criteria, with 11% enrolling only older adults and 89% enrolling older adults along with other age groups. Studies were conducted in 6 continents, 48 countries (23% in the U.S.), and in 23 languages. Music interventions for specific medical conditions (64%) or medical procedures (24%) were the primary foci in studies. While studies crossed multiple continents, less than 2% referenced ethnicity or culture in the study details. Detailed data on intervention types, demographics, measures, settings, and methodology will be presented. Results suggest that best practices in music therapy are being developed world-wide for the multitude of health challenges faced by older adults and demonstrate the diversity of music interventions in both medical and community settings. Information from this review can be used to improve the implementation of music intervention programs and may be particularly beneficial in countries with diverse multicultural populations.

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Financial Resources and Later-Year Relocation From the Annuitized Assessment of Income and Assets

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.162 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 50-50

Author(s):

Jun-Hong Chen ◽

Sojung Park

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Living Arrangement ◽

Panel Study ◽

Behavioral Model ◽

Well Being ◽

Economic Factor ◽

Health Condition ◽

Financial Resources ◽

Individual Level ◽

Mortality Table

Abstract Solid evidence has shown financial resources play important roles in housing decisions among older adults. Despite the growing research on the joint assessment of income and assets as valid economic well-being, little attention is paid to its role in relocation in old age. Drawing from the Behavioral Model of Elderly Migration, this study examined to what extent financial resources are associated with the likelihood of moving in later years. The data came from the 2017 Panel Study of Income Dynamic (PSID). A sample of 1354 people, 65 years and older, was used in the analyses. We used the annuitized approach, which is different from conventional approaches that assume people draw down all available assets to satisfy daily needs and leave no assets for use in later years. We (1) assessed annuitized assets based on the 2019 IRS Mortality Table, (2) assessed yearly income using supplementary income (i.e. income plus non-discretionary expense). A final indicator of the summed score was used in a logistic regression to predict the likelihood of moving. A set of covariates known to affect later- year relocation at an individual level (e.g. health condition, living arrangement change), environmental level (e.g. rural, non-metro area) are controlled for. In clear conflict with previous studies, we found annual financial resources did not significantly influence relocation among older adults. The notable absence of the well-known role of the economic factor provides critical initial evidence about the importance of simultaneous assessment of financial resources for the literature on later year relocation.

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Social and Behavioral Factors, Oral Health, and Dental Care Utilization

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2899 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 799-800

Author(s):

Bei Wu ◽

Stephen Shuman ◽

Elisa Ghezzi

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Oral Health ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Dental Care ◽

Care Utilization ◽

Behavioral Factors ◽

Dental Care Utilization ◽

The Impact ◽

The U.S

Abstract Oral health status and dental care utilization is strongly associated with social and behavioral factors and health outcomes. The five papers in this symposium address how several of these factors affect oral health and dental care among diverse groups of older adults. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, the first paper examined the impact of early childhood disadvantages on oral health in later life among adults age 51 and above in the U.S. The second paper used large-scale epidemiological data that addressed the relationship between acculturation and subsequent oral health problems. It also tested the moderating role of neighborhood disorder in such a relationship among older Chinese Americans. The third paper demonstrated the importance of examining different pathways among foreign-born and native-born Chinese older adults with regard to offspring’s support on their oral health outcomes. While increasing evidence shows that cognitive function is associated with oral health, limited studies have been conducted to examine the impact of cognitive impairment, e.g., Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and related dementias (RD), on dental care utilization and costs in older adults. The fourth paper aimed to address this knowledge gap. Results showed that AD and RD had different impacts on different types of dental care utilization and costs. The fifth paper further displayed that individuals with cognitive impairment face a significant challenge in handling dental-related medications. This symposium provides policy and clinical implications on improving oral health and dental care utilization among older adults in the U.S. Oral Health Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.

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Developing an Exergame Intervention to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.3117 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 849-849

Author(s):

Fang Yu ◽

Dereck Salisbury ◽

Tom Plocher

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Older Adults ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Cognitive Training ◽

Exercise Prescription ◽

Subjective Cognitive Decline ◽

Grocery Shopping ◽

Cognitive Effect ◽

Ad Prevention ◽

The U.S

Abstract Delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease by five years could save the U.S. ~$89 billion by 2030. Aerobic exercise and cognitive training are two promising interventions for AD prevention and the two together may have a synergistic cognitive effect than either alone. The purposes of this study were to develop an integrated virtual-reality cognitive training (VRCT) and cycling intervention known as exergame and test its feasibility in older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). The VRCT included grocery shopping from a list, flower shopping from a list, dinnerware sorting, book sorting, and postage estimation. Twelve participants enrolled in the 1-month program (12 sessions) achieved 81.2% session adherence and 81.4% adherence to the exercise prescription. The exergame was well accepted by 75% of the participants and 100% were satisfied with the exergame quality and delivery. To conclude, exergame is a flexible intervention that is feasible for older adults with SCD.

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Late-life depression and cognitive function among older adults in the U.S.: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2014

Journal of Psychiatric Research ◽

10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.01.012 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 111 ◽

pp. 30-35 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Jingkai Wei ◽

Meiling Ying ◽

Liyang Xie ◽

Eeshwar K. Chandrasekar ◽

Haidong Lu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

National Health ◽

Late Life ◽

Nutrition Examination Survey ◽

Late Life Depression ◽

Health And Nutrition ◽

The U.S

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EXAMINING AGEISM IN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS THROUGH DRAWING

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.184 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S47-S48

Author(s):

Katherina N Terhune ◽

Aaron Guest ◽

Tina M Kruger

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Aging Process ◽

Aging Population ◽

Assistive Devices ◽

Loss Of Function ◽

Demographic Shifts ◽

Physical Changes ◽

The U.S

Abstract Substantial demographic shifts in the U.S. will result in the growth of the aging population and the need for qualified professionals entering the field of aging. Yet, these emerging professionals have limited exposure to aging curricula. It is vital that gerontologists recognize the ageism present in how older adults and the aging process are viewed, as this ultimately impacts how they are treated. Data from 1,609 undergraduate surveys from the multi-institution, multi-year Gerontological Literacy Network can assist in our understanding emerging professionals’ perspectives. Results indicate students incorrectly associate aging with loss of function and a reliance on assistive devices (canes 29.3% and glasses 19.6%), physical changes (balding 27.3% and wrinkles 30.3%), and greater likelihood of being male (32.5%). Aging is thought of as time passing (16.1%) and death (14.2%). Findings reveal a need to reframe students’ understanding of aging from that of decline to recognizing the strengths associated with age.

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Alignment or struggle? Exploring socio-demographic correlates of individual modernity in Chinese older people

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x14001020 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 133-159 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

XUE BAI

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older People ◽

Economic Status ◽

Living Arrangement ◽

Industrial Society ◽

Ageing Population ◽

Demographic Correlates ◽

Individual Modernity ◽

Chinese Older People ◽

Socio Demographic Factors

ABSTRACTIt is noteworthy that while modernisation, together with population ageing, has happened in Western countries for a rather long period of time, China must confront the challenges of an ageing population before it really becomes an advanced industrial society. Facing rapid societal changes, citizens may react differently to this process. By conducting questionnaire surveys with 445 elders in Wuhan, China, this study examines Chinese older adults' individual modernity modes and reveals its socio-demographic correlates. The results show that facing rapid changes in societal modernisation, participants have reacted differently to this process, with 23.8 per cent of Chinese older participants using an accommodation mode, 27.0 per cent using a resistance mode, 13.3 per cent using a withdrawal mode and 36.2 per cent using a coping mode. In addition, socio-demographic factors such as urban–rural residence, age, gender, socio-economic status, living arrangement and daily activities have been identified as significant correlates of Chinese older participants' individual modernity modes. It is further suggested that governments at all levels should allow for options and opportunities for older people to align themselves in the modernisation process by removing the barriers that may hinder their integration and empowerment efforts. While it is important to respect older adults' different responses in the face of modernisation, their participation in societies should be encouraged and respected by the wider society in the context of modernisation.

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