scholarly journals THE MEANINGS OF TRUST IN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH PARTICIPATION IN DEMENTIA RESEARCH

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S421-S421
Author(s):  
Elena Portacolone ◽  
Peter Lichtenberg ◽  
Sahru Keiser ◽  
Leah Vest ◽  
Marsha Maloof ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Total N ◽  
Dementia Research ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
African American Older Adults

Abstract African American /Black American older adults’ low participation in research reduces the generalizability of research findings and hinders understanding of dementia mechanisms, further widening health disparities. Both the Alzheimer’s Association and the National Institutes of Health have identified recruitment of African Americans with cognitive impairment into dementia research as an area of high priority. Distrust of research and medical institutions is often cited as a barrier to participation of African Americans in dementia research. Therefore, the goal of this study is to better understand African American community members’ expectations associated with trust. We used focus groups and semi-structured interviews to examine the expectations associated with overall trust. We conducted 6 focus groups: 4 with African American older adults and 2 with caregivers of African American older adults with cognitive impairment. We also interviewed 5 African American older adults with cognitive impairment (total n=59). Data were analyzed with content analysis. Five themes emerged: 1) Importance of providing truthful help/information leading to trust; 2) Long relationships leading to trust; 3) Acting efficiently and consistently (e.g., “not fooling around”) leading to trust; 4) Transference of trust (e.g., I can likely trust someone trusted by a trusted person); 5) Difficult to trust because of a harsh social environment. To conclude, trust is a complex belief associated with multiple expectations and relationships. It is critical that researchers understand these expectations related to trust in order to increase recruitment of African American older adults into dementia research.

scholarly journals Earning the Trust of African American Communities to Increase Representation in Dementia Research

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Suppl) ◽  
pp. 719-734
Author(s):  
Elena Portacolone ◽  
Nynikka R. Palmer ◽  
Peter Lichtenberg ◽  
Catherine M. Waters ◽  
Carl V. Hill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Community Advisory Board ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Major Barrier ◽  
Black African ◽  
Dementia Research ◽  
African American Communities ◽  
African American Older Adults

Black/African American populations are un­derrepresented as participants in dementia research. A major barrier to participation of African American older adults in dementia research is a tendency to distrust research institutions owing to both historical and contemporary racism. Building on the Ford framework, the objective of our study was to examine factors that influence participa­tion in dementia research among African American older adults and caregivers, with an emphasis on understanding factors related to trust. Data were collected during January 2019 and March 2020 from 10 focus groups with African American older adults (n=91), 5 focus groups with caregiv­ers (n=44), and interviews with adminis­trators of community-based organizations (n=11), and meetings with our Community Advisory Board. Inductive/deductive con­tent analysis was used to identify themes. The results identified an overall tension be­tween distrust of researchers and a compel­ling desire to engage in dementia research. This overarching theme was supported by six themes that provided insights about the multiple layers of distrust, as well as expectations about the appropriate conduct of researchers and academic institutions. Strong commitment to the community was identified as a priority. The findings suggest that a paradigm shift is needed to increase the representation of African Americans in dementia research. In this new paradigm, earning the trust of African American com­munities becomes a systemic endeavor, with academic, state, and national institutions deeply committed to earning the trust of African American communities and guiding researchers in this endeavor. The findings also generated actionable recommendations to help improve representation of African American older adults in dementia research.Ethn Dis. 2020;30(Suppl 2):719-734; doi:10.18865/ed.30.S2.719

scholarly journals Earning the Trust of African American Communities to Increase Representation in Dementia Research

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 878-878
Author(s):  
Elena Portacolone ◽  
Nynikka Palmer ◽  
Peter Lichtenberg ◽  
Catherine Waters ◽  
Carl Hill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Community Advisory Board ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Major Barrier ◽  
Black African ◽  
Dementia Research ◽  
African American Communities ◽  
African American Older Adults

Abstract Black/African American populations are underrepresented as participants in dementia research. A major barrier to participation of African American older adults in dementia research is a tendency to distrust research institutions owing to a legacy of racism. Building on the Ford framework, the objective of our study was to examine factors that influence participation in dementia research among African American older adults and caregivers, with an emphasis on understanding factors related to trust. Data were collected from 10 focus groups with African American older adults (n=91), 5 focus groups with caregivers (n=44), and interviews with administrators of community-based organizations (n=11), and meetings with our Community Advisory Board. Inductive/deductive content analysis was used to identify themes. The results identified an overall tension between distrust of researchers and a compelling desire to engage in dementia research. This overarching theme was supported by six themes that provided insights about the multiple layers of distrust, as well as expectations about the appropriate conduct of researchers and academic institutions. Strong commitment to the community was identified as a priority. The findings suggest that a paradigm shift is needed to increase the representation of African Americans in dementia research. In this new paradigm, earning the trust of African American communities becomes a systemic endeavor, with academic, state and national institutions deeply committed to earning the trust of African American communities and guiding researchers in this endeavor. The findings also generated actionable recommendations to help improve representation of African American older adults in dementia research.

scholarly journals The Health and Well-Being of African-American Older Adults With a History of Incarceration

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 506-506
Author(s):  
Rodlescia Sneed
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Formerly Incarcerated ◽  
Older Prisoners ◽  
Health Related ◽  
History Of ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
African American Older Adults

Abstract African-Americans are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. Longer prison stays and release programs for older prisoners may result in an increased number of community-dwelling older adults with a history of incarceration. In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in research on health-related outcomes for currently incarcerated older adults; however, there has been little inquiry into outcomes for formerly incarcerated African-American older adults following community re-entry. In this study, we used secondary data from the Health and Retirement Study to describe employment, economic, and health-related outcomes in this population. Twelve percent of the 2238 African-Americans in our sample had been previously incarcerated. Those who had been previously incarcerated had higher rates of lung disease, arthritis, back problems, mobility problems, and mental health issues than their counterparts. They also had higher rates of hospitalization and lower use of dental health services. Further, while they did not experience lower employment rates than those with no criminal history, those who had been incarcerated had more physically demanding jobs and reported greater economic strain. Given the disproportionate incarceration rates among African-Americans, the aging of the prison population, and the increase in community re-entry for older prisoners, research that explores factors that impact the health and well-being of formerly incarcerated individuals has broad impact. Future work should focus on addressing the needs of this vulnerable population of African-American older adults.

scholarly journals Binge Drinking among Economically Disadvantaged African American Older Adults with Diabetes

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
James L. Smith ◽  
Mohammed Saqib ◽  
Mohsen Bazargan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Binge Drinking ◽  
Economically Disadvantaged ◽  
Living Arrangement ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Health Determinants ◽  
African American Older Adults

Purpose. This study investigated the effect of demographic, socioeconomic, and psychological factors as well as the role of health determinants on alcohol consumption and binge drinking among economically disadvantaged African American older adults with type 2 diabetes mellites (T2DM). Methods. This survey recruited 231 African Americans who were older adults (age 65+ years) and had T2DM. Participants were selected from economically disadvantaged areas of South Los Angeles. A structured face-to-face interview was conducted to collect data on demographic factors, objective and subjective socioeconomic status (SES) including education and financial difficulty, living arrangement, marital status, health, and drinking behaviors (drinking and binge drinking). Results. Age, gender, living alone, pain, comorbid conditions, and smoking were associated with drinking/binge drinking. Male gender, pain, and being a smoker were associated with higher odds of drinking/binge drinking, while individuals with more comorbid medical conditions had lower odds of binge drinking. Conclusion. In economically constrained urban environments, gender, pain, and smoking but not age, SES, depression, and health may predict binge drinking for African American older adults with T2DM. African Americans older adult men with T2DM with comorbid pain should be screened for binge drinking.

scholarly journals Spirituality and the Illness Experience: Perspectives of African American Older Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 104990912098828
Author(s):  
Shaunna Siler ◽  
Kelly Arora ◽  
Katherine Doyon ◽  
Stacy M. Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
Chronic Illness ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Illness Experience ◽  
Spiritual Coping ◽  
Illness Experiences ◽  
African American Older Adults

Background: Disparities in hospice and palliative care (PC) for African Americans have been linked to mistrust toward the healthcare system, racial inequalities, and cultural preferences. Spirituality has been identified as important to African Americans in general. Less is known about the influence of spirituality on African American illness experiences. Objective: The goal of this study was to understand older African Americans’ perspectives on how spirituality influences chronic illness experiences to inform the development of a culturally tailored PC intervention. Methods: In partnership with 5 churches in the Denver metropolitan area, we conducted focus groups with African American older adults (n = 50) with chronic health conditions and their family caregivers. Transcripts were analyzed using a deductive approach. The theoretical framework for this study draws on psychology of religion research. Results: Themes referenced participants’ spiritual orienting systems, spiritual coping strategies, and spiritual coping styles. Psycho-spiritual struggles, social struggles, and sources of social support were also identified. Findings suggest African Americans’ spirituality influences chronic illness experiences. Participants relied on their spirituality and church community to help them cope with illness. In addition, social struggles impacted the illness experience. Social struggles included mistrust toward the healthcare system and not being connected to adequate resources. Participants expressed a need to advocate for themselves and family members to receive better healthcare. Churches were referred to as a trusted space for health resources, as well as spiritual and social support.

scholarly journals Attachment to Home and Community in Older Rural African Americans in Mississippi

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 328-328
Author(s):  
Carolyn Adams-Price ◽  
Muhammed Riaz ◽  
Margaret Ralston ◽  
Antonio Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
Family History ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Original Text ◽  
Deep South ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sense Of Ownership ◽  
Attachment To Place

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine qualitatively attachment to home and community in older rural African Americans in the Deep South. Sixty adults aged 52-79 (mean age 64.7, 24 males and 36 females) were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Participants lived in two micropolitan counties in Mississippi, with most living in one of two mostly African American communities with fewer than 1000 residents. Interviewees were asked about their attachment to their house, the land the house is on, and the community in which they live. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, and transcriptions were analyzed for themes by two qualitative researchers using phenomenological analysis. The two researchers uncovered similar themes; discrepancies were discussed and integrated, and checked for consistency with the original text. The most prominent themes for attachment to home were sense of ownership/having built or made home their own, legacy/generational/historical attachment, sense of peace and safety, solitude and privacy, and attachment to specific features. Interviewees felt that their homes were a part of who they are and a part of their personal and family history; they also reported that their homes were safe and comfortable havens. When participants were asked about their attachment to their community, four themes emerged: socialization/friendly visiting, family and close ties, religious/spiritual, and solitude/quiet community. These results will be discussed in the context of Wahl’s 2012 model, which asserts that older adults’ attachment to place is a function of agency and belonging; belonging was a more prominent theme in this group.

scholarly journals Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Health Status Among African Americans Living in Low-Income Housing

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 577-578
Author(s):  
Adrienne Aiken-Morgan ◽  
Dextiny McCain ◽  
Karon Phillips ◽  
Keith Whitfield
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
Health Status ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Socioeconomic Disadvantage ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
African American Older Adults

Abstract Research has shown the importance of social determinants of health in explaining racial/ethnic disparities in many health outcomes; however, less attention has been given to within-group differences in social determinants of health among low-income African American older adults. The Physical and Cognitive Health Pilot Study (n=50) was utilized to examine associations between level of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and self-reported health in African American older adults living in public housing in Durham, NC and Annapolis, MD. Results from ANOVA showed that Durham participants living in more disadvantaged neighborhoods had statistically significantly worse cardiovascular health, higher depression symptoms, worse sleep quality, and higher alcohol use (p=.05) than Annapolis participants living in a more resource-rich neighborhood. These findings suggest that among low-income African American elders, greater neighborhood/state socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with worse health status. Future research should consider neighborhood context as an essential variable when assessing health status among aging African Americans.

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