Giving Back Is Receiving: The Role of Generativity in Successful Aging Among HIV-Positive Older Adults

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles A. Emlet ◽  
Lesley Harris
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Community Involvement ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Community Agencies ◽  
Personal Context ◽  
Immunodeficiency Syndrome ◽  
Living With Hiv

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.

“The Journey I Have Been Through”: The Role of Religion and Spirituality in Aging Well Among HIV-Positive Older Adults

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles A. Emlet ◽  
Lesley Harris ◽  
Christina M. Pierpaoli ◽  
Charles Furlotte
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Service Organizations ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Spiritual Journey ◽  
Religion And Spirituality ◽  
Community Agencies ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Role Of Religion

The National Institutes of Health human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Aging Working Group identified spirituality as a research emphasis. This qualitative study examines the importance of religion and spirituality among 30 HIV-positive older adults. Using modified grounded theory, adults 50+ were recruited in Ontario, Canada, through AIDS service organizations, clinics, and community agencies. Descriptions of religion and spirituality encapsulated the idea of a journey, which had two components: the long-term HIV survivor profile combined with the experience of aging itself. A final category of HIV as a spiritual journey was finalized through consensus and included the properties of (1) being rejected by as well as rejection of formalized religion, (2) differentiating spirituality from religion, (3) having a connection, (4) feeling grateful, and (5) mindfulness and learning new skills. Interventions fostering resilience and strengths in HIV-positive older adults using spirituality should be considered, including the promotion of person-centered spirituality and interventions that include mindfulness and skill building.

Older Adults’ Recalled Memorable Messages about Aging and Their Associations with Successful Aging

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 474-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quinten S Bernhold ◽  
Howard Giles
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Hope Theory ◽  
Memorable Messages ◽  
Subjective State ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Dispositional Hope ◽  
The Right ◽  
Memorable Message

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.

scholarly journals Trajectories of Episodic Disability in People Aging with HIV: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 232595821875921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Solomon ◽  
Kelly Kathleen O’Brien ◽  
Stephanie Nixon ◽  
Lori Letts ◽  
Larry Baxter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Longitudinal Analyses ◽  
Episodic Nature ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Over Time

People living with HIV may experience disability which is episodic in nature, characterized by periods of wellness and illness. The purpose of this longitudinal qualitative study was to understand how the episodic nature of HIV and the associated uncertainty shape the disability experience of older adults living with HIV over time. Fourteen men and 10 women who were HIV positive and over 50 years (mean age: 57 years; range: 50-73) participated in 4 interviews over 20 months. Longitudinal analyses of the transcribed interviews identified 4 phenotypes of episodic disability over time: decreasing, increasing, stable, or significant fluctuations. Although all participants experienced uncertainty, acceptance and optimism were hallmarks of those whose phenotypes were stable or improved over time. Understanding a person’s episodic trajectory may help to tailor interventions to promote stability, mitigate an upward trajectory of increasing disability, and increase the time between episodes of illness.

Older Adults' Perspectives on Successful Aging: Qualitative Interviews

2010 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 567-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Reichstadt ◽  
Geetika Sengupta ◽  
Colin A. Depp ◽  
Lawrence A. Palinkas ◽  
Dilip V. Jeste
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Qualitative Interviews

The Crucial Role of Cultural Probes in Participatory Design for and with Older Adults

i-com ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Maaß ◽  
Sandra Buchmüller
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Early Retirement ◽  
Participatory Design ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Software Systems ◽  
Participatory Techniques ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Design Ideas ◽  
Common Understanding

AbstractSoftware systems meant to support older adults often are not well accepted as they do not meet the expectations and requirements of the target group. An involvement of older adults in system design seems imperative. The project ParTec investigated and evaluated techniques for participatory software development with regard to their suitability for communication and equal cooperation with older adults. With a group of 15 retirees we developed concepts for an online neighbourhood platform. Using various participatory techniques researchers and participants developed a deep common understanding of everyday life in early retirement, determined requirements and co-created design ideas and concepts. We will show that the use of cultural probes with subsequent qualitative interviews forms an ideal starting point and a strong fundament for a participatory design process with older adults.

scholarly journals Discussing parenthood with gay men diagnosed with HIV: a qualitative study of patient and healthcare practitioner perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Pralat ◽  
Jane Anderson ◽  
Fiona Burns ◽  
Elizabeth Yarrow ◽  
Tristan J. Barber
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Healthcare Practitioner ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Living With Hiv

Abstract Background Research on HIV and reproduction has focused largely on women and heterosexual men. This article examines whether it is relevant to address parenthood in HIV care with gay men and what ways of doing so are most appropriate. Methods Qualitative interviews were conducted at four London clinics with 25 men living with HIV, aged 20–45, who did not have children, and 16 HIV clinicians. A thematic analysis identified potential reasons why parenthood was rarely discussed with gay men in HIV care. Results Two sets of ideas contributed to a lack of conversations about parenthood: clinicians’ ideas about what matters to gay men and men’s ideas about what it means to be HIV-positive. Both sets of ideas largely excluded having children, with patients and practitioners similarly unlikely to raise the topic of parenthood in the clinic. Contrary to what clinician commonly assumed, many men expressed interest in receiving more information, highlighting the importance of reassuring people upon diagnosis that it is possible to become parents while living with HIV. Conclusions Parenting desires and intentions were rarely discussed with men in HIV care. Our findings illuminate the potentially beneficial effects of emphasising that having children is a possibility at diagnosis, regardless of patients’ gender or sexuality. Conveying this information seems meaningful, not only to men who want to become parents in the future but also to others, as it appears to alleviate fears about mortality and ill health.

THE NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS OF STAFF AND STUDENTS LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS IN A SOUTH AFRICA RURAL-BASED UNIVERSITY

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 30-43
Author(s):  
Azwihangwisi Mavhandu-Mudzusi
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Central Research ◽  
Immunodeficiency Syndrome ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Hiv Aids

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are making an impact in institutions of higher education. Studies have revealed that though few students and staff have been recorded to be suffering from HIV/AIDS, more have become ill and some have died in ways that signal the impact of HIV/AIDS. Universities can contribute to addressing the needs and expectations of staff and students living with HIV and AIDS. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the preparedness of a South African rural-based university in addressing the needs and expectations of staff and students living with HIV and AIDS. A qualitative study design was followed, with one South African rural-based university as the case setting. Qualitative interviews were conducted stemming from the central research question, “How is the university addressing the needs and expectations of staff and students living with HIV and AIDS?” Following an open coding method of data analysis, three themes emerged relating to how the needs and expectations of staff and students living with HIV and AIDS are addressed: persistence stigma and discrimination, limited assurance to confidentiality and, inadequate treatment, care and support. Recommendations were made for improvement of service delivery to address the needs and expectations of staff and students living with HIV and AIDS and further research should be conducted on large scale to determine other needs and expectations of SSLWHA other South African rural-based universities and how they are addressed.

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