SP0014 Healthy Work Life Expectancy in Older Adults with Arthritis: How Long Can People with Arthritis Work for and what Maintains Work Participation Till Old Age

2013 ◽  
Vol 72 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A4.5-A5
Author(s):  
R. Wilkie
2019 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Arun Balachandran ◽  
K. S. James

Abstract A continuous rise of female life expectancy above that of males among older adults in India and China may give the impression that the relative gender gap in health in these countries is decreasing. However, given the systemic gender bias against older females in these countries across multiple dimensions of health, a fuller understanding of the gender gap in health calls for a multi-dimensional perspective. We estimate a multi-dimensional old-age threshold (MOAT) that specifies different old-age thresholds for female and male populations which accommodates multiple dimensions related to physical, intellectual and general health. We use the MOAT to evaluate the multi-dimensional gender gap in India and China by differencing the MOAT for females with that of males. Females in both countries have a lower MOAT than their male counterparts, indicating an earlier advent of ‘old age’ for females. The multi-dimensional estimates of the gender gap are also higher than the estimates based on only one dimension of health. A considerable level of variation is also observed in the gender gap across provinces. The study illustrates the need to understand the gender gap in health in India and China from a multi-dimensional perspective and provides an innovative way to quantify such a gap. Province-specific as well as health dimension-specific interventions are vital in reducing the gender gap among older adults in these countries.


2018 ◽  
pp. 9-15
Author(s):  
Snizhana Holyk

The article addresses the issues of representation of old age and the ageing individual in the discourse of sociology. The topicality of such works is quite obvious, since with the increase in life expectancy, many academic studies have focused on old age and its new meanings in societies from different perspectives. This predetermines the need for the interdisciplinary analysis of old age and the ageing self. Also, this study closely examines vocabulary units that are used to designate an older person in English. The material for the analysis has been selected from present-day lexicographical sources. We conducted a qualitative study using the analysis of dictionary definitions and defined attitudes and perceptions of ageing and older adults as encoded in language units. The research highlights that as a socio-cultural product, language is influenced by two views on ageing: successful ageing, ignoring the physical dimensions, and that of decline, creating negative stereotypes of ageing, associated with weakening, diseases and dependence of the person. The paper addresses the above questions from the perspective of linguistic ageism, manifested in vocabulary units describing older people as silly, incompetent, eccentric, with outmoded fixed ideas, attitudes or tastes. Viewed in a positive light, ageing individuals are represented in language as experienced people, with wisdom and respect, when old age means transformation and continued self-fulfilment, rather than decline. The findings of the analysis provide implications or further studies of old age in different discourses that will contribute to a deeper understanding of the notion old age in its social and cultural contexts, as well as the concept OLD AGE in general.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 870-871
Author(s):  
Arun Balachandran ◽  
Feinian Chen

Abstract A continuous rise in the life expectancy of females above that of the males among older adults in India and China may give an impression that the gender gap in health is decreasing. However, given the systemic bias against females in these countries across multiple facets, and the diversity across provinces, a fuller understanding of gender gap calls for (a) understanding the gender gap in multiple dimensions of health, and (b) understanding the variations across provinces. We estimate a multi-dimensional old-age threshold (MOAT) across provinces in India and China, that specifies different old-age thresholds for female and male populations after simultaneously accommodating for multiple dimensions related to their health. These aspects of health include remaining life expectancy, intellectual and functional health. We estimate the gender gap across provinces in these countries by differencing the MOAT of males against that of females. In addition, we also illustrate the gender gap across individual dimensions of health. Our results show that females in almost all the provinces of India and China have a lower MOAT than their male counterparts, showing an earlier advent of ‘old-age’ among females compared to males. The estimates based on remaining life expectancy shows gender gap in favor of females, but the estimates of multi-dimensional gender gap are higher and biased against females. A huge variation is seen across provinces, with Karnataka and Hubei showing lower levels of gender gap and Rajasthan and Yunnan showing higher gender gaps in India in China respectively.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Anne Skevik Grødem ◽  
Ragni Hege Kitterød

Abstract Images of what retirement is and ought to be are changing. Older workers are being encouraged to work for longer, at the same time, older adults increasingly voice expectations of a ‘third age’ of active engagement and new life prospects. In this article, we draw on the literature on older workers’ work patterns and retirement transitions (noting push/pull/stay/stuck/jump factors), and on scholarship on the changing social meaning of old age, most importantly the notions of a ‘third’ and ‘fourth’ age. The analysis is based on qualitative interviews with 28 employees in the private sector in Norway, aged between 55 and 66 years. Based on the interviews, we propose three ideal-typical approaches to the work–retirement transition: ‘the logic of deadline’, ‘the logic of negotiation’ and ‘the logic of averting retirement’. The ideal-types are defined by the degree to which informants assume agency in the workplace, their orientation towards work versus retirement and the degree to which they expect to exercise agency in retirement. We emphasise how retirement decisions are informed by notions of the meaning of ageing, while also embedded in relationships with employers and partners.


2021 ◽  
pp. 135910532110023
Author(s):  
Heather Herriot ◽  
Carsten Wrosch

This study examined whether self-compassion could benefit daily physical symptoms and chronic illness in early and advanced old age. The hypotheses were evaluated in a 4-year longitudinal study of 264 older adults. Results showed that self-compassion predicted lower levels of daily physical symptoms across the study period in advanced, but not early, old age ( T-ratio = −1.93, p = 0.05). In addition, self-compassion was associated with fewer increases in chronic illness in advanced, but not early, old age ( T-ratio = − 2.45, p < 0.02). The results of this study suggest that self-compassion may be particularly adaptive towards the end of life.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
L de Albuquerque Araújo ◽  
N Bello Escamilla ◽  
V Sabando Franulic

Abstract Chile has improved survival however this process occurs under a framework of socioeconomic and gender inequalities, which results in an impact of mental health, especially in vulnerable groups. The objective was to determine the association between depression and social integration in Chilean older adults. Cross-sectional study from the National Study of Dependence in Old Person 2010. The risk of depression was amount with Geriatric Depression Scale (&gt;5). The social integration were quantity as frequency of meeting with close relatives (child, partner, daughter/ son-in-law, grandchildren); with other relatives (brother, brothers-in-law, nephews or other relatives) and with friends and neighbors in the last 12 months in 5 categories (never visit; less frequently; 1-2 times a month; 1-2 times a week; every day or almost). Logistic regression models considered the sampling design of the survey to identify association with odd ratio (OR) (never as reference category), adjustment for sex, age, ethnicity, household income, education, housing arrangement and chronic diseases (p ≤ 0,5). Total of 4179 older adults 25,3% reported risk of depression, the significative association with close relatives was in daily or almost frequency OR:0.42 (95%CI 0.27-0.67), 1-2 times a week OR: 0,57 (95%CI 0,33-0,99), 1-2 times/month OR: 0,56 (95%CI 0,99); other relatives were lower frequency OR: 0.54 (95%CI 0.38-0.78); 1-2 times/month OR; 0.50 (95%CI 0.31-0.81); 1-2 times/week OR:0.35 (95%CI 0.22-0.55); daily or almost OR:0.27 (95%CI 0.18-0.42). And meeting with friends and neighbors in the same frequency order were OR: 0.66 (95%CI 0.44-0.99); OR:0.43 (95%CI 0.26-0.73); OR:0.4 (95%CI 0.25-0.62); OR: 0.32 (95%CI 0.21-0.47). There is a negative gradient between depression and the frequency of meeting with friends, neighbors and family, independent of sociodemographic and health characteristics. Social integration must be promoted as a protective factor of mental health in elderly. Key messages Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in old age and we found a negative gradient between the frequency of meeting friends, neighbors and family and the possibility of depression. It seems essential for public health to have strategies that address social life in old age to strengthen quality of live and mental health.


Author(s):  
Elena Caroline Weitzel ◽  
Margrit Löbner ◽  
Susanne Röhr ◽  
Alexander Pabst ◽  
Ulrich Reininghaus ◽  
...  

Little is known about resilience in old age and its manifestation during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of high resilience in the German old age population. We further examine the socio-demographic correlates and whether high resilience reflects on older adults’ perception of the threat posed by COVID-19. The data were derived from a representative telephone survey of n = 1005 older adults (≥65 years) during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Assessments included socio-demographic variables, the perceived threat of COVID-19, and high resilience (Brief Resilience Scale; cutoff: ≥4.31). The association between high resilience and threat from COVID-19 was analyzed using ordinal logistic regression. The study sample had a mean age (SD) of 75.5 (7.1) years, and n = 566 (56.3%) were female. The estimated prevalence of high resilience was 18.7% (95% CI = [16.3; 21.2]). High resilience was more prevalent in the younger age group and participants with higher education levels. High resilience was significantly associated with a lower perception of threat from COVID-19. The results of the representative survey in the German old age population showed that one out of five adults aged 65 years and older had high resilience. Older adults with high resilience tended to feel less threatened by COVID-19. Further research on resilience in old age is needed to support vulnerable groups in the context of care.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 505-505
Author(s):  
Matthew Farina ◽  
Phillip Cantu ◽  
Mark Hayward

Abstract Recent research has documented increasing education inequality in life expectancy among U.S. adults; however, much is unknown about other health status changes. The objective of study is to assess how healthy and unhealthy life expectancies, as classified by common chronic diseases, has changed for older adults across education groups. Data come from the Health and Retirement Study and National Vital Statistics. We created prevalence-based life tables using the Sullivan method to assess sex-specific life expectancies for stroke, heart disease, cancer, and arthritis by education group. In general, unhealthy life expectancy increased with each condition across education groups. However, the increases in unhealthy life expectancy varied greatly. While stroke increased by half a year across education groups, life expectancy with diabetes increased by 3 to 4 years. In contrast, the evidence for healthy life expectancy provides mixed results. Across chronic diseases, healthy life expectancy decreased by 1 to 3 years for respondents without a 4-year degree. Conversely, healthy life expectancy increased for the college educated by .5 to 3 years. While previous research shows increases in life expectancy for the most educated, trends in life expectancy with chronic conditions is less positive: not all additional years are in lived in good health. In addition to documenting life expectancy changes across education groups, research assessing health of older adults should consider the changing inequality across a variety of health conditions, which will have broad implications for population aging and policy intervention.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 652-655
Author(s):  
Carlos Laranjeira

The COVID-19 pandemic compelled states to limit free movement, in order to protect at-risk and more vulnerable groups, particularly older adults. Due to old age or debilitating chronic diseases, this group is also more vulnerable to loneliness (perceived discrepancy between actual and desired social relationships) and social isolation (feeling that one does not belong to society). This forced isolation has negative consequences for the health of older people, particularly their mental health. This is an especially challenging time for gerontological nursing, but it is also an opportunity for professionals to combat age stereotypes reinforced with COVID-19, to urge the measurement of loneliness and social isolation, and to rethink how to further adjust interventions in times of crisis, such as considering technology-mediated interventions in these uncertain times.


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