scholarly journals GIVING BACK: THE ROLE OF GENERATIVITY IN SUCCESSFUL AGING AMONG HIV-POSITIVE OLDER ADULTS

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (Suppl_3) ◽  
pp. 646-646
2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles A. Emlet ◽  
Lesley Harris

Objectives: Successful aging has been identified as an important emphasis for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Little is known about how this population conceptualizes aging successfully and how this relates to generativity. This qualitative study examined the importance of generativity among 30 HIV-positive older adults to determine the role of generativity in successful aging. Method: Participants aged 50+ years were recruited in Ontario, Canada, through acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) service organizations, clinics, and community agencies. Qualitative interviews were analyzed to explore strategies participants employed to engage in successful aging within their own personal context. Results: Participants saw themselves as pioneers and mentors, helping others to navigate the landscape of aging with HIV. Four themes were identified through consensus including (a) reciprocity, (b) mentoring, (c) pioneerism, and (d) connecting through volunteerism. Discussion: Interventions that promote intergenerational connections, community involvement, and generative acts within the HIV community can facilitate successful aging among older adults living with HIV/AIDS.


2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 474-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quinten S Bernhold ◽  
Howard Giles

Abstract Using the Communicative Ecology Model of Successful Aging (CEMSA), this study examined how one’s own age-related communication and memorable message characteristics indirectly predict successful aging, via aging efficacy. Older adults with higher dispositional hope recalled memorable messages as (a) higher in positivity, (b) higher in efficacy, and (c) more likely to contain a theme of aging not being important or being a subjective state that can be overcome with the right mindset. Older adults were classified as engaged, bantering, or disengaged agers, based on their own age-related communication. Uniquely for CEMSA’s development and the blended role of hope theory within it, memorable message efficacy indirectly predicted greater successful aging, via heightened aging efficacy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-46
Author(s):  
Lindsey B Anderson

The aging population has created implications for many industries, especially in terms of establishing legitimacy among stakeholders. One industry that has been affected by the shifting demographics is homebuilding. Older adults must consider future housing needs that allow for successful aging. However, the current inventory of houses and neighborhoods are not necessarily built to suit this population. Pulte Homes, a national homebuilding company, has a line of active adult communities under the name Del Webb. To understand how Pulte communicates legitimacy for this housing product, I completed a qualitative content analysis of the Del Webb section of the organizational website that integrates the tenets of the Communication Ecology Model of Successful Aging (CEMSA) with five discursive strategies for establishing legitimacy. In doing so, I found that Pulte constructed an idealized portrayal of age/aging by emphasizing the need to (1) plan for future needs, (2) express optimism about aging, (3) resist age-based stereotypes, and (4) minimize the role of communication technology. Based on these findings, Pulte’s discourse ultimately positions Del Webb as a utopia for older adults/space that facilitates ‘successful’ aging and raises questions about the transparency of this organizational discourse.


Angiology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanos Tyrovolas ◽  
Evangelos Polychronopoulos ◽  
Anargiros Mariolis ◽  
Suzanne Piscopo ◽  
Giuseppe Valacchi ◽  
...  

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of parental longevity and parental cardiovascular disease (CVD) history in CVD risk and successful aging of a random sample of older adults living in the Mediterranean basin and who participated in the MEDiterranean Islands (MEDIS) study. During 2005 to 2011, 2663 elders were voluntarily enrolled. A multidimensional successful aging index consisting of 10 components was used. Paternal and maternal longevity was defined as those older participants of whom both parents lived above the age of 90. The burden of CVD-related factors (CVD-RFs) was calculated as the total score of 4 major CVD-RFs (range 0-4). After adjustment, parental longevity was inversely associated with the burden of CVD-RFs ( P = .04). Moreover, parental longevity was positively associated with the older adults’ successful aging score (β-coefficient [95% confidence interval]: .38 [0.06-0.71]). Parent’s long living was revealed as an important factor for successful aging and for reduced CVD risk, suggesting that further research is needed in the genetic predisposition of longevity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 655-655
Author(s):  
Walter Boot

Abstract The Gerontological Society of America is celebrating its75th anniversary and in those75 years the world has undergone an amazing technological revolution. During this period, computers transformed from systems that once filled entire rooms to much more powerful devices that fit in our pockets. We have seen the introduction of wireless technologies, augmented and virtual reality, smart home devices, autonomous vehicles, and much more. This session focuses on a new technological advance that has the potential to support the health, wellbeing, and independence of older adults and caregivers: artificial intelligence (AI). This session will present applications of AI, Machine Learning (ML), and other novel analytic methods and how they have the potential to impact the lives of older adults in a variety of context. As AI is increasingly being involved in workplace hiring, the first talk focuses on older adults’ attitudes toward the role of AI in this decision making process. Next, novel ML approaches applied to social media are discussed in terms of understanding the needs of Alzheimer’s caregivers. Next, ML techniques are discussed in terms of developing biomarkers that can be applied in diagnosis and assessment of therapeutic responses by detecting mood, which may have important implications for older adults living with dementia. Then, the potential role of AI is discussed in terms of developing reminder systems to promote older adults’ adherence to technology-based health activities. Finally, novel analytic approaches are discussed in terms of harnessing digital metrics to detect the risk of cognitive decline.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S736-S737
Author(s):  
Steffany Sloan ◽  
Jacquelyn Benson

Abstract Successful aging is a construct regularly addressed in the gerontological literature, most typically referred to as living in the best physical and cognitive health possible, experiencing the least amount of disease, and engaging actively within one’s social environment. There are, however, conceptually distinct aspects of aging for older adults who identify as transgender, particularly given lifelong experiences of marginalization and stigma. In order to identify factors transgender older adults consider most relevant to successful aging, a Theory-Generating Qualitative Meta-synthesis was conducted. The study utilized systematic methods and thematic analysis with qualitative data from empirical studies focusing on transgender aging experiences, particularly drawing upon data that amplified the transgender older adult point of view. Findings of this study indicate that although trans older adults do not minimize unique challenges inherent to aging as a gender minority, successful aging rests on the relief and resilience offered by authentic gender expression. As such, data from this study informed the development of a model of successful aging that centralizes the importance of gender expression. Understanding the central role of gender expression in later life can be especially impactful for social and health service providers, as it emphasizes gender affirming experiences as highly salient to one’s own assessment of quality aging. Furthermore, conceptualizing aging for transgender elders in a way that prioritizes the importance of identity can aid in preventing an unnecessarily deficits-based perspective for service providers, and supports the necessity of amplifying a culturally specific understanding of successful aging.


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