scholarly journals FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION OF OLDER ADULTS: PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM A PROSPECTIVE LONGITUDINAL STUDY

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S192-S192
Author(s):  
Scott R Beach ◽  
Sara J Czaja ◽  
Richard Schulz ◽  
David Loewenstein ◽  
Peter Lichtenberg

Abstract This paper presents study design and preliminary results from a new study funded by the National Institute on Aging that is examining financial exploitation (FE) among 720 White, African-American and Hispanic adults age 60+ (240 per group; 120 age 60-79; 120 age 80+). A conceptual model linking socio-demographics, physical health, social support / integration, cognitive function, financial skills / supports, and psychosocial factors to FE is being evaluated. Three assessments (baseline, 12; 24 mos.) include: a detailed cognitive battery, web-based banking simulation tasks, scam scenarios, and a standardized battery of self-report measures assessing socio-demographic and psychosocial variables. Preliminary baseline results from ~200 participants show support for the proposed model. Exposure to sales, remote purchasing behavior, and telemarketer receptivity (scam exposure); and scam vulnerability as measured by credibility ratings of “legitimate” and “fake” scam scenarios are positively associated with reports of both stranger-initiated and trusted other FE. Older adults with smaller social networks and less social support were more likely to report both exposure and vulnerability to scams. Higher general cognitive abilities, financial skills, and numeracy; and better performance on online banking tasks correlate with less scam exposure and vulnerability. Preliminary analyses of psychosocial factors also show that more depressed, impulsive, and trusting older adults report more exposure and scam vulnerability. The paper will present updated analyses of ~500 baseline participants. Understanding multiple pathways to FE is important to advance theory and for the development of interventions to minimize risk.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 447-447
Author(s):  
Scott Beach ◽  
Sara Czaja ◽  
Richard Schulz ◽  
David Loewenstein ◽  
Peter Lichtenberg

Abstract This paper presents baseline results from a longitudinal study funded by National Institute on Aging examining financial exploitation (FE) among 720 White, African-American, and Hispanic adults age 60 and older. Our proposed conceptual model links socio-demographics, cognitive function, financial skills, and psychosocial factors to both scam exposure and vulnerability, which increases risk for experienced FE. This paper focuses on correlates of scam vulnerability, using a novel measure in which participants read six randomly ordered “scam” scenarios (investment opportunity; Medicare phishing and prescription drug fraud; health product; sweepstakes; telemarketing) and provide credibility ratings for each (1 = Not at all credible; 10 = Extremely credible). Ratings are coded “0” (credibility rating 1); “1” (ratings 2-4); “2” (ratings 5-10) and summed, with total “vulnerability” scores ranging from 0-12. Preliminary results from ~500 participants (Mean age = 73.6) show support for the proposed model. Older adults with poorer cognitive function in multiple domains (memory; reasoning ability; processing speed; other aspects of executive function; and crystallized intelligence); lower financial literacy; lower numeracy; those reporting difficulty with day-to-day financial management; and those performing worse on web-based banking skills tests were more vulnerable to scams. Scam vulnerability was a also higher among those with lower social integration; higher social isolation and loneliness; higher impulsivity; and higher ratings of depression. Use of “scam scenario” credibility ratings shows promise as a simple assessment approach for FE vulnerability. Understanding multiple pathways to FE is important to advance theory and for development of interventions to minimize risk among older adults.


Author(s):  
Jolien Rijlaarsdam ◽  
Charlotte A. M. Cecil ◽  
J. Marieke Buil ◽  
Pol A. C. van Lier ◽  
Edward D. Barker

AbstractAlthough there is mounting evidence that the experience of being bullied associates with both internalizing and externalizing symptoms, it is not known yet whether the identified associations are specific to these symptoms, or shared between them. The primary focus of this study is to assess the prospective associations of bullying exposure with both general and specific (i.e., internalizing, externalizing) factors of psychopathology. This study included data from 6,210 children participating in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Child bullying was measured by self-report at ages 8 and 10 years. Child psychopathology symptoms were assessed by parent-interview, using the Development and Well-being Assessment (DAWBA) at ages 7 and 13 years. Bullying exposure significantly associated with the general psychopathology factor in early adolescence. In particular, chronically victimized youth exposed to multiple forms of bullying (i.e., both overt and relational) showed higher levels of general psychopathology. Bullying exposure also associated with both internalizing and externalizing factors from the correlated-factors model. However, the effect estimates for these factors decreased considerably in size and dropped to insignificant for the internalizing factor after extracting the shared variance that belongs to the general factor of psychopathology. Using an integrative longitudinal model, we found that higher levels of general psychopathology at age 7 also associated with bullying exposure at age 8 which, in turn, associated with general psychopathology at age 13 through its two-year continuity. Findings suggest that exposure to bullying is a risk factor for a more general vulnerability to psychopathology.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S965-S965
Author(s):  
Jonathan Sober ◽  
John L Woodard ◽  
L Stephen Miller ◽  
Adam Davey ◽  
Peter Martin ◽  
...  

Abstract Adequate assessment of cognitive abilities and functional capacity is essential for a diagnosis of dementia. However, cognition is only moderately related to functional status, and this relationship is poorly understood among centenarians, a group of older adults with high risk for dementia. A bifactor structural equation model can be used to delineate the variance attributed to dementia-specific related cognitive changes (i.e., the latent variable delta) and the variance due to general intelligence (i.e., g’). This study aimed to determine the validity of delta as a marker of cognitive decline among centenarians. It was hypothesized that delta was correlated with cognitive status, functional abilities and, dementia severity. Overall, 244 community dwelling centenarians (Mage = 100.58, 84.8% female) were recruited through the Georgia Centenarian Study, a population-based study of octogenarians and centenarians from northern Georgia. Older adults were administered measures of cognition and a self-report measure of functional abilities. Latent variable scores (i.e., g’ and delta) were modeled and correlated with standard global cognitive screening measures (i.e., MMSE) and measures of dementia severity. Results indicate that delta was significantly correlated with functional ability and cognitive abilities. Consistent with our hypotheses, delta was also significantly related to dementia severity. Overall, estimates of the latent dementia phenotype, delta, were significantly related to cognitive and functional abilities among centenarians, providing validation of delta as a useful index of dementia severity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 11526-11526
Author(s):  
Grant Richard Williams ◽  
Yanjun Chen ◽  
Kelly Kenzik ◽  
Andrew Michael McDonald ◽  
Shlomit S. Shachar ◽  
...  

11526 Background: Progressive loss of muscle mass and strength (sarcopenia) is a well-known phenomenon of aging; however, little is known about the contribution of a cancer diagnosis to sarcopenia and its subsequent impact on disability. Using a prospective cohort of older adults from pre- to post-cancer diagnosis and a similarly-followed non-cancer cohort, we examined the trajectory of sarcopenia measures and their association with overall survival (OS) and major disability among those with cancer. Methods: The Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study is a prospective longitudinal study where 3,075 community-dwelling older adults (70-79y) underwent 6 annual assessments of body composition and were followed for development of sentinel events (cancer, disability, death). Appendicular lean mass (ALM [kg]) was a sum of DXA-based lean tissue of all extremities. Hand grip strength (HGS [kg]) was averaged from 2 trials per hand. Gait speed (GS) was evaluated over a 20m course. We used linear mixed effect models to compare the change in ALM, HGS, and GS between individuals who subsequently developed cancer and those who did not, adjusting for age, race, gender, enrollment site. Among patients with cancer, we used multivariable cox regression for time from cancer diagnosis to mortality and major disability (cane/walker, inability to walk 0.25 mile/climb 10 steps, assistance with activities of daily living) treating sarcopenia measures as time-varying covariates. Results: Mean age at enrollment was 75y; 52% female; 42% black; 515 new cancers (prostate: 23%, colorectal: 15%, lung: 13%, breast: 11%). Compared with non-cancer controls, we found significantly steeper declines in HGS ( p= 0.03) and GS ( p< 0.001), and a trend in ALM ( p= 0.07) prior to cancer diagnosis; and a significantly steeper decline in ALM ( p< 0.001), but no difference in HGS ( p= 0.6) or GS ( p= 0.4) after cancer diagnosis. Slow GS was associated with a 44% increase in mortality ( p= 0.02) and a 70% increase in disability ( p= 0.02), but not ALM or HGS. Conclusions: Accelerated loss in sarcopenia measures both prior to and after a cancer diagnosis, and association with disability and mortality in older adults with cancer, present opportunities for targeted interventions.


2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 990-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott R. Beach ◽  
Richard Schulz ◽  
Rodlescia Sneed

Social support and social networks are important correlates of elder mistreatment. This study tests hypothesized associations between perceived social support, social network size, and financial exploitation (FE). A population-based survey of 903 older adults (60+) in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) found that lower perceived social support and larger social networks were simultaneously associated with higher risk for FE since age 60, controlling for known risk factors. The same associations were found for FE in the last 6 months. Older adults with larger social networks combined with lower perceived social support were most likely to report FE. When it comes to the role of social relationships and risk for FE, “more may not always be better.” Encouragement to widen the social network by “making new friends” should be stressed less than making sure these new network members will truly be supportive of the older adult.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahab Papi ◽  
Maria Cheraghi

Abstract Background: The older adults are a part of society whose population is increasing as science progresses and health conditions improve. Social, psychological and behavioral factors will be influenced on life satisfaction in older adults. We aimed to predictive role of psychosocial factors in life satisfaction older adults. Methods: It was a descriptive-analytical study which has conducted on 679 older adults through convenience sampling from Qom city during 2018. The data were collected using demographic characteristics, life satisfaction, well-being, cognitive status, social support, and daily activities of life. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 22 and independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. Results: The mean and standard deviation of older adults age was 70.43 ± 7.62 years. The mean life satisfaction score was 13.77 ± 3.73. The results showed a significant relationship between job and education with life satisfaction (P <0.001). The results also showed that social support (P= 0.001) and daily activities (P= 0.017) significantly predict the level of life satisfaction, and the dimensions of health (P= 0.001) and cognitive status (P= 0.007) have a larger share in predicting the satisfaction of older adults life. Conclusion: We found that some parts of life changes in older adults can be predicted with the help of social support, health status, cognitive status, and everyday life activities. Therefore, in order to increase the level of satisfaction of older adults life, it is suggested that the field of promotion of social support, health status, and cognitive status be provided.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 709-709
Author(s):  
Victoria Dunsmore ◽  
Shevaun Neupert

Abstract Cognition relates longitudinally and cross-sectionally to physical and psychological health among older adults. The Vascular Hypothesis of Aging (Drewelies & Gerstorf, 2020) suggests that illnesses of a vascular nature (e.g., stroke, hypertension, severe varicose veins) negatively affect cognitive abilities. Awareness of age-related change (AARC) is also related to cognition. What is not known is whether the presence of a vascular illness and daily cognitive abilities interact to predict daily awareness of age-related changes. The purpose of this study is to examine the daily fluctuations of cognition, (i.e., memory failures) and their interaction with vascular illness to predict daily awareness of age-related changes. Data were analyzed from 104 participants (M age = 64.67, 60-90 years) who completed online self-report questionnaires. On Day 1, participants answered baseline questionnaires regarding presence of vascular illness, and on Days 2-9 completed measures regarding AARC losses and memory failures. Multilevel models revealed main effects of daily memory failures on awareness of age-related losses, such that on days with more memory failures, older adults reported more age-related losses. We also found a main effect for vascular illness, such that those with a vascular illness reported higher levels of daily age-related losses. We did not find a significant interaction between vascular illness and daily memory failures on daily reported age-related losses. Our results provide preliminary evidence that the vascular hypothesis of aging may also extend to perceptions of age-related changes. Future research could consider examining daily symptoms of vascular illness as they unfold over time.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 864-864
Author(s):  
Courtney Millar ◽  
Alyssa Dufour ◽  
Marian Hannan ◽  
Shivani Sahni

Abstract Depression affects more than 250 million people worldwide. Although epidemiological studies have linked higher dietary flavonoids with depression prevention in older women, it is unknown if increasing dietary flavonoids could effectively reduce depression. Mixed berries (blueberry, blackberry, and raspberry) are a rich source of flavonoids, particularly anthocyanin, flavanol, and flavan-3-ol subclasses. Our aim was to determine the association of mixed-berry flavonoid intake with change in depressive symptoms over ~8 years in older adults from the Framingham Heart Study. This community-based prospective longitudinal study included 1,278 adults with assessments on diet (food frequency questionnaire) and depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression, CES-D) at baseline (1998-2001) and follow-up (2005-2008). Absolute change in mixed-berry flavonoid intake (defined as sum of anthocyanin, flavanol, and flavon-3-ols, mg/day) and change in CES-D scores were calculated. Linear regression estimated beta and standard error (SE) for change in CES-D scores per 250 mg/day increase in mixed-berry flavonoids (obtained from ~3/4 cup of mixed berries), adjusting for baseline age, sex, energy-intake, current smoking, body mass index, physical activity, cardiovascular disease, and non-melanoma cancer. Mean age was 59±9 years (range: 33-81), 57% female and mean change in mixed-berry flavonoid intake was 15.0±72.8 mg/day over ~8 years. In adjusted models, each 250 mg/day increase in mixed-berry flavonoid intake was associated with a 1-point reduction in depressive symptoms (beta: -1.06, SE: 0.61, p=0.08) over ~8 years, although this was not statistically significant. These data highlight the need for randomized clinical trials of flavonoid-rich berries to target depressive symptoms in older adults.


2006 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-20
Author(s):  
Alice Eriks-Brophy ◽  
Andree Durieux-Smith ◽  
Janet Old ◽  
Elizabeth Fitzpatrick ◽  
Robin Gaines ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 7071-7071
Author(s):  
Shabbir M.H. Alibhai ◽  
Henriette Breunis ◽  
Narhari Timilshina ◽  
Mark D. Minden ◽  
Vikas Gupta ◽  
...  

7071 Background: The treatment of AML with intensive chemotherapy (IC) is associated with significant short-term toxicities. We previously showed similar impairments in QOL and physical function among younger (age 18-59) and older (age 60+) patients with AML at diagnosis, with similar recovery over 3 cycles of IC. We now comprehensively describe QOL and physical function recovery over 1 year from diagnosis. Methods: Younger and older AML patients undergoing IC without stem cell transplant were enrolled in a prospective, longitudinal study. Assessments were done at baseline (pre-IC) and at 7 time points over the next year. At each visit, patients completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the FACT-Fatigue to measure QOL and fatigue, respectively, in addition to 3 physical function tests (grip strength, 2-minute walk test (2MWT), and timed chair stands). Analyses involved multivariable linear regression analyses stratified by age group. Results: 243 patients were recruited (147 younger and 96 older, 56% male). Attrition was greater in older adults due to death or disease progression/relapse. Among patients remaining in remission after IC, global QOL and fatigue improved significantly over time (p<0.001 for both); trends were similar between older and younger patients. All 5 QOL domains improved or remained stable over time; the greatest improvements were seen in social function and role function and were similar in both age groups. Grip strength increased slightly over time (p=0.04) whereas both timed chair stands (p<0.001) and the 2MWT (p<0.001) had moderate to large improvements, with trends toward greater improvement in younger patients (p=0.07 and 0.09, respectively). Results were similar when missing data were imputed. Conclusions: Survivors of AML after successful conventional chemotherapy achieve significant improvements in QOL, fatigue, and physical function over time. The course of recovery is remarkably similar in younger and older AML patients, although significant attrition in older adults is a noteworthy limitation. These data suggest that appropriately selected older patients do well following IC for AML.


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