Providing Care Is Self-Care: Towards Valuing Older People’s Care Provision in Global Economies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samia C Akhter-Khan
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Care Provision ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Diverse Economies ◽  
Main Challenge ◽  
Future Work

Abstract Older people’s care provision is structurally undervalued, posing a threat to social connectedness and healthy aging. Thus, the question arises of how older people’s care provision can be valued in diverse economies. By addressing this question, this article proposes a novel perspective by shedding light on the value of contributions older people provide to society, which in turn promote their own well-being. By highlighting evolutionary and proximal motives for older people to provide care, this article advances the theoretical understanding of the benefits of caregiving in the global aging context, going beyond previous successful aging approaches. These new directions aim to center older people’s needs while accounting for their care provisions to fruitfully inform policymaking. Finally, the main challenge remaining for future work is to create adequate and valuable opportunities for older people to provide care as Homines curans.

scholarly journals Aging Strong: Promoting Resilience Through Optimism, Purpose, and Social Connections

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 182-182
Author(s):  
Ellen Wicker ◽  
James Schaeffer
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Health ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Health And Wellness ◽  
Holistic Model ◽  
Participant Experience ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Resilience is defined as the ability to adapt and cope with circumstances in a way that empowers one to emerge stronger, thrive, and incorporate lessons learned. Resilience as a trait can be learned and modified and have a significant impact on healthy aging. UnitedHealthcare (UHC) and AARP Services, Inc. (ASI) are committed to the health and well-being of participants in UHC’s Medicare Supplement insurance plans, recognizing that health and wellness need to be promoted on a holistic level to ensure successful aging. In this effort, an initiative titled Aging Strong 2020 was developed to promote health, well-being, and increase resilience by focusing on the key individual pillars of enhanced purpose in life, social connectedness, and optimism. To accomplish this goal, a series of eight interventions over three years were created and delivered, with a focus on the key pillars in order to improve clinical and psychological health outcomes and participants’ satisfaction with health care. This symposium will specifically discuss efforts related to the Aging Strong 2020 program. First, we will describe the prevalence and outcomes of the pillars in a large national survey. Next, key challenges and successes in recruitment and retention for the various interventions will be highlighted, followed by overall findings from the eight interventions targeting the pillars. Finally, qualitative findings on participant experience as a result of participation will be discussed. Results from these initiatives demonstrate that interventions designed to improve well-being among older adults contribute to the holistic model of health.

Subjective well-being amongst community-dwelling elders: what determines satisfaction with life? Findings from the Dublin Healthy Aging Study

2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 316-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aine M. Ní Mhaoláin ◽  
Damien Gallagher ◽  
Henry O Connell ◽  
A. V. Chin ◽  
Irene Bruce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Older People ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Older Individuals

ABSTRACTBackground: Life satisfaction is a subjective expression of well-being and successful aging. Subjective well-being is a major determinant of health outcomes in older people. The aim of this study was to determine which factors predicted well-being in older people living in the community as measured by their satisfaction with life.Methods: The relationship between life satisfaction, as measured by the Life Satisfaction Index (LSI-A) and physical, cognitive and demographic variables was examined in 466 older people living in the community using a stepwise regression modelResults: Depression, loneliness, neuroticism, extraversion, recent participation in physical activity, age and self-reported exhaustion, were the independent predictors of life satisfaction in our elderly cohort.Conclusion: Subjective well-being, as measured by the Life Satisfaction Scale, is predicted by depression, loneliness, personality traits, recent participation in physical activity and self-reported exhaustion. The mental and emotional status of older individuals, as well as their engagement in physical activity, are as important as physical functionality when it comes to life satisfaction as a measure of well-being and successful aging. These areas represent key targets for intervention.

scholarly journals The Importance of Age-Friendly City on Older People’s Continuity and Life Satisfaction

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7252
Author(s):  
Siew-Imm Ng ◽  
Xin-Jean Lim ◽  
Hui-Chuan Hsu
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Older People ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Senior Citizen ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
External Resources ◽  
Taipei City

According to continuity theory, successful aging is promoted when older people are able to continue familiar activities as a way to maintain self-identity. The purpose of this study was to examine the importance of both external resources provided by Taipei city and older adults’ internal resources in internal and external continuity and life satisfaction. The data were from the 2019 Taipei City Senior Citizen Condition Survey acquired through face-to-face interviews. Only the community-based sample without disability was included in the analysis (n = 1494). Structural equation modeling was used for the analysis. Both internal and external resources significantly promoted internal continuity (physical activity, Internet use, and lifelong learning) and external continuity (work, social connectedness, and social participation), and the effects of personal resources were larger. External continuity was positively related to life satisfaction. The effects of external resources on continuity and life satisfaction were stronger in older women than in older men. Age-friendly cities may provide support for activity continuity and promote well-being for older people. Policy suggestions are discussed.

scholarly journals Whole Fruits and Fruit Fiber Emerging Health Effects

Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1833 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Dreher
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Seborrheic Dermatitis ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Potential Health

Less than 10% of most Western populations consume adequate levels of whole fruits and dietary fiber with typical intake being about half of the recommended levels. Evidence of the beneficial health effects of consuming adequate levels of whole fruits has been steadily growing, especially regarding their bioactive fiber prebiotic effects and role in improved weight control, wellness and healthy aging. The primary aim of this narrative review article is to examine the increasing number of health benefits which are associated with the adequate intake of whole fruits, especially fruit fiber, throughout the human lifecycle. These potential health benefits include: protecting colonic gastrointestinal health (e.g., constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases, and diverticular disease); promoting long-term weight management; reducing risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome; defending against colorectal and lung cancers; improving odds of successful aging; reducing the severity of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; enhancing psychological well-being and lowering the risk of depression; contributing to higher bone mineral density in children and adults; reducing risk of seborrheic dermatitis; and helping to attenuate autism spectrum disorder severity. Low whole fruit intake represents a potentially more serious global population health threat than previously recognized, especially in light of the emerging research on whole fruit and fruit fiber health benefits.

scholarly journals Spanish Validation of the User Reported Measure of Care Coordination Questionnaire for Older People with Complex, Chronic Conditions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ester Risco ◽  
Gloria Sauch Valmaña ◽  
Anna Albero ◽  
Nihan Acar-Denizli ◽  
Adela Zabalegui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Care Coordination ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Chronic Care ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Urgent Care ◽  
Care Provision ◽  
Complex Chronic Conditions ◽  
Spanish Validation

Introduction Older people with complex, chronic conditions often receive insufficient or inefficient care provision. And few instruments are able to measure their perception on care provision. The "User Reported Measure of Care Coordination" instrument has been satisfactorily used to evaluate chronic care provision and integration. The aim of this study is to validate this instrument into Spanish. Methods The questionnaire was adapted and validate in two phases: translation and cultural adaptation of the questionnaire, and psychometric property measurement. Study population were chronic care conditions patients. Results A total of 332 participants completed test re-test as part of the questionnaire validation process. The final version of the questionnaire had 6 domains: Health and Well-being (D1), Health day to day (D2), Social Services (D3), Planned Care (D4), Urgent Care (D5) and Hospital Care (D6). Cronbach's alpha for the overall questionnaire was 0.86, indicating good internal consistency. When analysing each domain, only Planned Care (D4) and Urgent Care (D5) had Cronbach’s Alphas slightly lower than 0.7, although this could be related to the low number of items in each domain. A good temporal stability was observed for the distinct subscales and items, with intraclass correlation coefficients varying from 0.412 to 0.929 (p < 0.05). Conclusion The adapted version of the “User Reported Measure of Care Coordination” into Spanish proved to be a practical tool for use in our daily practice and an efficient instrument for assessment of care coordination in chronic, complex conditions in older people across services and levels of care.

scholarly journals Universities for Seniority: A New Perspective of Aging

2020 ◽  
pp. 50-54
Author(s):  
Daniela Ponciano ◽  
Fernanda Bogarim Borin Chiacchio ◽  
Gisele Alves Rodrigues ◽  
Daniely de Sousa Prado ◽  
Deusimar Noleto Soares ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Self Knowledge ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Bibliographic Study

Universities for the elderly are places focused on learning, well-being, and quality of life of the elderly which ensures healthier aging. Objective: To describe the contributions of universities of  the elderly to the healthy aging of their participants. Methodology: The work is characterized as bibliographic research. Regarding inclusion criteria, the bibliographic study included national journals on the theme, of the free access databases SCIELO and LILACS from 2008 to 2018. Results: Social experiences in universities promote the elderly a pleasurable old age, with socialization, the maintenance of friendships, self-knowledge, self-esteem, learning, the satisfaction of living. All this helps in coping with crises and losses of this phase and enables successful aging. Final considerations: given what was raised, it is concluded that the participation of the elderly in a university for the elderly contributes positively to a better quality of life in the aging process. This is because these sites offer the elderly the opportunity to live in a pleasurable and healthier way, as well as favors in maintaining biopsychosocial well-being.

Māori Becoming Peer Educators in Later Life: Impacts on Identity, Well-being, and Social Connectedness

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Louisa Simpson ◽  
John Oetzel ◽  
Sophie Nock ◽  
Hine-iti-moana Greensill ◽  
Pare Meha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Peer Educators ◽  
Sense Of Purpose ◽  
Peer Educator ◽  
Peer Intervention

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to examine ways that older Māori (New Zealand’s Indigenous people) enhanced their ability to be peer educators and how this role impacted on their sense of purpose and well-being in later life. Method Kaupapa Māori and community-based participatory research principles guided the peer intervention involving 26 Māori kaumātua (older people 55 years and older) as peer educators (tuakana) for 121 other kaumātua (teina) facing transitions in later life. Each pair held up to 3 conversations; independent coders rated tuakana communication skills. We used mixed methods in a pre- and post-test, clustered staggered design. Participants completed baseline and post-intervention assessments of health and well-being consistent with Māori worldviews. 5 focus groups involving 22 teina and 1 with 5 tuakana were held. Results Tuakana communication skills were rated as high by teina and independent coders. Qualitative analysis supported the importance of Māori communication processes for the role. Further, three measures increased significantly from the baseline to the final period for tuakana accounting for about 15% of the variance in these variables: sense of purpose (p = .07), self-rated health (p = .05), and health-related quality of life (p = .04). The qualitative analysis supported the benefits of the peer educator role for older Māori including enhanced sense of identity, well-being, and social connectedness. Discussion The results demonstrated that kaumātua had strong communication in the peer educator role and that the intervention has positive impacts for them. The study contributes to peer intervention research that may help to improve experiences ofIndigenous and other older people.

scholarly journals Social Contact for Older People with Visual Impairment Through Mastery of Smartphones: Barriers and Suggested Solutions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Skeide Fuglerud ◽  
Siv Tunold ◽  
Kristin Kjæret
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Information Society ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Continued Use ◽  
Future Work

Older people with visual impairment are more prone to feeling lonely than their seeing peers. Research suggests that learning to use smartphones can improve psychological well-being in older adults. We seek to further explore and find solutions to three barriers for increased use and mastery of smartphones by older people with visual impairment, namely how to a) reach and motivate this group to learn to use a smartphone; b) improve the provision of training for this group, and c) organize support after training to increase the possibility for continued use. Data is collected through interviews and meetings with various stakeholders on a national and local level in Norway. Based on the results we provide some recommendations for future work to lower the barriers and to improve inclusion of older people with visual impairment into the information society.

Moral Flourishing in Later Life Through Purpose Beyond the Self

2020 ◽  
pp. 439-458
Author(s):  
Anne Colby ◽  
Matthew Bundick ◽  
Kathleen Remington ◽  
Emily Morton
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Good Health ◽  
National Sample ◽  
The Self ◽  
Missed Opportunities ◽  
Deep Well

This chapter considers several conceptions of successful aging, analyzing the morally relevant aspects of these models and their missed opportunities to illuminate moral flourishing in older adults. The authors review evidence that engagement with self-transcendent goals and contributions enhances deep well-being for older people, as well as contributing to the well-being of others and the common good. They briefly report their own research on purpose beyond the self, which indicates that almost one-third of a US national sample of older people is purposeful and that purpose in later life doesn’t require economic or educational privilege or even good health. The authors suggest that the moral development field should explore ways to expand conceptions of positive aging to take account of moral dimensions of flourishing and extend insights about moral maturity into the later stages of life.

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