The effect of rehabilitation service use on coping patterns over time among older adults with age-related vision loss

2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 478-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathrin Boerner ◽  
Joann P Reinhardt ◽  
Amy Horowitz
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Rehabilitation Service ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Coping Patterns ◽  
Over Time

Challenges faced by older adults with vision loss: a qualitative study with implications for rehabilitation

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 748-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verena R Cimarolli ◽  
Kathrin Boerner ◽  
Mark Brennan-Ing ◽  
Joann P Reinhardt ◽  
Amy Horowitz
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Functional Domain ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Over Time

Objective: To provide an in-depth assessment of challenges faced by older adults with recent vision loss and to determine changes in the nature of these challenges over time for the purpose of informing the design of vision rehabilitation services. Design: Longitudinal, qualitative study with three time points. Setting: Vision rehabilitation agency. Subjects: Three hundred and sixty-four older adults aged 65 with significant vision impairment due to age-related macular degeneration. Interventions: In-person interviews conducted at baseline, one year and two years and coded using a qualitative analytical approach. Main measures: Open-ended questions assessing challenges faced due to vision loss in functional, social and psychological life domains. Results: Almost all participants reported a wide variety of challenges across all three domains with the most variety in the functional domain. Over a two-year period, functional challenges (e.g. using transportation) increased, social challenges (e.g. recognizing people) remained stable, and psychological challenges (e.g. negative affect) decreased overall. Conclusions: Although functional challenges are predominant, social and psychological challenges are quite common and need to be addressed in vision rehabilitation. Rehabilitation planning should also consider that vision-related challenges can change over time.

Age Differences in the Social Associative Learning of Trust Information

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kendra Leigh Seaman ◽  
Alexander P. Christensen ◽  
Katherine Senn ◽  
Jessica Cooper ◽  
Brittany Shane Cassidy
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Social Cues ◽  
Trust Game ◽  
Time Model ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Cortical Areas ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Social ◽  
Over Time

Trust is a key component of social interaction. Older adults, however, often exhibit excessive trust relative to younger adults. One explanation is that older adults may learn to trust differently than younger adults. Here, we examine how younger (N=33) and older adults (N=30) learn to trust over time. Participants completed a classic iterative trust game with three partners. Younger and older adults shared similar amounts but differed in how they shared money. Compared to younger adults, older adults invested more with untrustworthy partners and less with trustworthy partners. As a group, older adults displayed less learning than younger adults. However, computational modeling shows that this is because older adults are more likely to forget what they have learned over time. Model-based fMRI analyses revealed several age-related differences in neural processing. Younger adults showed prediction error signals in social processing areas while older adults showed over-recruitment of several cortical areas. Collectively, these findings suggest that older adults attend to and learn from social cues differently from younger adults.

scholarly journals Age-Related Differences in Medication Adherence, Symptoms, and Stigma in Poorly Adherent Adults With Bipolar Disorder

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 250-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Smilowitz ◽  
Awais Aftab ◽  
Michelle Aebi ◽  
Jennifer Levin ◽  
Curtis Tatsuoka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Medication Adherence ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Significant Finding ◽  
Internalized Stigma ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Severity Scores ◽  
Over Time

Objective: We present a secondary analysis of data reporting differences in medication adherence, psychiatric symptom severity, and internalized stigma levels in older (age ≥ 55 years) versus younger (age < 55 years) adults with bipolar disorder (BD) and poor medication adherence. Methods: Data used for this analysis came from 184 participants in a National Institute of Mental Health–funded randomized controlled trial, comparing a customized adherence enhancement (CAE) intervention intended to promote BD medication adherence with a BD-specific educational program (EDU). At screen, study participants were ≥20% nonadherent with BD medications as measured by the Tablets Routine Questionnaire (TRQ). Psychiatric symptoms, functional status, and internalized stigma were measured using validated scales. Results: Older adults had significantly lower anxiety disorder comorbidity ( P < .01 for 1 or more anxiety disorders), depressive symptom severity scores ( P = .011), and self-stigma scores ( P = .001) compared to their younger counterparts. In the analyses evaluating change over time in TRQ between older and younger participants by treatment arm (ie, CAE and EDU), there was a significant finding of interaction between time, age-group, and treatment arm ( P = .007). Conclusions: Older adults may be less anxious and depressed, with less self-stigma, compared to younger people with BD and poor adherence. With respect to medication adherence, older individuals in EDU appear to do less well than younger individuals over time.

The benefits and barriers to technology acquisition: Understanding the decision-making processes of older adults with age-related vision loss (ARVL)

2016 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colleen McGrath ◽  
Arlene Astell
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Occupational Engagement ◽  
Technology Acquisition ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
Barriers To Technology

Introduction While research has investigated the factors influencing acquisition and use of technologies/assistive devices by older adults, few studies have addressed the decision-making processes regarding technology adoption of older adults with age-related vision loss. Method This critical ethnography engaged 10 older adults with age-related vision loss in narrative interviews, participant observation sessions, and semi-structured in-depth interviews to understand their decision-making processes related to the acquisition and use of low vision assistive devices to support occupational engagement. Findings Study findings focused on the benefits and barriers to technology acquisition and use. Benefits of technology acquisition included: enhanced occupational engagement; independence; safety; insurance; and validation of the disability, while the barriers to technology acquisition included: cost; training; usability; lack of awareness of low vision rehabilitation services; fear of being taken advantage of; and desire to preserve a preferred self-image. Conclusion Considering the low uptake of vision rehabilitation services, the study findings are important to occupational therapy. A better understanding of the perceived benefits and barriers to technology adoption from the perspective of older adults will help occupational therapists maximize treatment planning designed to enhance the occupational engagement of older adults aging with vision loss.

scholarly journals ADVANCING THE MEASUREMENT OF INTERGENERATIONAL CONTACT: BEYOND ATTITUDES TOWARD AGING

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S626-S626
Author(s):  
Shelbie Turner ◽  
Karen Hooker ◽  
Shannon E Jarrott
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Intergenerational Relationships ◽  
Intergenerational Relationship ◽  
Comprehensive Theory ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Valid Instrument ◽  
Intergenerational Interactions ◽  
Nuanced Understanding ◽  
Over Time

Abstract In our presentation, we will offer insights into our process of creating and validating a comprehensive theory- and evidence- informed measure of intergenerational contact that expands beyond the measurement of age-related attitudes. While attitudinal shifts are an important construct related to intergenerational contact and its impact on ageism, efforts to “Reframe Aging” require a more nuanced understanding of the mechanisms by which intergenerational contact can have positive impacts on individuals, families, and communities. Intergenerational contact is dynamic; it varies both between- and within- people, dyads, and places, as well as over time. Our measure includes quantity and qualities of intergenerational contact, including the extent to which the contact is between family vs. non-family members. Unlike existing measures of intergenerational relationship, ours reflects young persons’ and older adults’ intergenerational relationships. A psychometrically valid instrument of intergenerational contact is an essential first-step for determining how aging can be reframed through intergenerational interactions.

scholarly journals Introducing the Attitudes toward Technology Longitudinal Aging Study (ATLAS): Initial Wave 1 Findings

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 951-952
Author(s):  
Robin Stuart
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Mobile Device ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Attitudes Toward Technology ◽  
Technology Proficiency ◽  
Adoption Of Technology ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Differences between younger and older adults' use and adoption of technology have declined over the past two decades, though the mechanisms behind observed trends are uncertain. Few longitudinal studies have tried to capture detailed changes in technology attitudes, adoption, and usage over time among older adults. This presentation presents newly collected data from the first wave of the Attitudes toward Technology Longitudinal Aging Study (ATLAS), a 5-wave questionnaire-based longitudinal study of older adults' attitudes toward technology and levels of technology use (N = 88; Men = 30; Women = 58; Mage = 69.7 years). We present baseline characteristics of Wave 1 and explore predictors of technology use, adoption, and proficiency. Waves 2 through 5 will assess changes in these domains. Wave 1 results replicated previous findings in that older age was associated with lower computer and mobile device proficiency (computer: r = -.219*, p &lt; .05 , mobile device: r = -.291**, p &lt; .01). However, there was variability among both types of proficiency (McomputerProf = 27.39, SD = 3.57 ; MmobileProf = 31.52, SD = 9.21), indicating room for change over time. Both types of proficiency were correlated with level of technology use (computer: r = -.219*, p &lt; .05 , mobile device: r = -.572***, p &lt; .001). Taken together, these initial relationships suggest the possibility that future waves will see changes in technology use predicted by changes in age-related differences in technology proficiency and attitudes.

scholarly journals Using Participant Observation to Enable Critical Understandings of Disability in Later Life: An Illustration Conducted With Older Adults With Low Vision

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 160940691989129
Author(s):  
Colleen McGrath ◽  
Debbie Laliberte Rudman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Ethnographic Study ◽  
Social Constructions ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Holistic Understanding

Research with older adults aging with vision loss has typically been informed by a biomedical theoretical framework. With a growing focus, however, on critical disability perspectives, which locates disability within the environment, new methods of data collection, such as participant observation, are needed. This article, which reports on the findings from a critical ethnographic study conducted with older adults with age-related vision loss (ARVL), aims to share those insights gained through participant observation and to demonstrate the utility of this method. Three insights were gained including the adaptive strategies tacitly employed to navigate the physical environment, a grounded understanding of social interactions that transpire in everyday contexts, and negating the presence of older adults with ARVL when accompanied by a perceived caregiver. The study findings unpack how participant observation can be used to understand social constructions of disability and gain a holistic understanding of environmental influences on the disability experience of older adults with ARVL.

scholarly journals Age as an Element of Diversity: Intergenerational Discussion to Improve Age-Related Attitudes

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 532-532
Author(s):  
Lisa Wagner ◽  
Tana Luger
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young People ◽  
Older People ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Educational Funding ◽  
Health Funding ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Generational Groups ◽  
Societal Problems ◽  
Over Time

Abstract All generations must work together solving societal problems, yet age-related stereotypes are used to divide generations. Age derogation motivates younger people to vote by creating fear of an older White voting generation (Dear young people, don’t vote; 2018), and to belittle older people (“Okay, Boomer…”). Demonizing older people creates prejudice within families asking that people target loved ones, for example, by pitting educational funding for young against health funding for older adults. Neither group wins when divisiveness occurs. Generation to Generation, an intergenerational course for older and younger adults, promotes intergenerational contact. Students discuss topical issues (e.g., racism) in multi-generational groups. Using pretest-posttest design, all students were invited to complete questionnaires at beginning and end of term. Younger adults reported significant increases in affection, comfort, kinship, engagement and enthusiasm for older adults, whereas older adults showed stability over time. Intergenerational discussion may facilitate improved connections between generations.

scholarly journals Microrobots: 21st century eye surgeons

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 76-80
Author(s):  
Roman Smirnov
Keyword(s):  
Effective Treatment ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Main Tool ◽  
Promising Method ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Human Sense ◽  
Over Time

Vision is perceived to be the most important human sense. For people, this is the main tool for learning because we use it to get 80% of the information we need. However, over time, vision deteriorates or is lost due to age-related, genetic or unpredictable factors such as trauma. Therefore, it is very important for us to have technologies for effective treatment of diseases that lead to vision loss. This article introduces the reader to a new and promising method of treating eye pathologies using microrobots.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document