Suburban community vignette

2021 ◽  
pp. 109-114
Author(s):  
Candace Skrapek ◽  
Elliot Paus Jenssen
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Community Services ◽  
Educational Opportunities ◽  
Active Living ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
South Saskatchewan River ◽  
Transit Services ◽  
Housing Options

This chapter highlights Saskatoon, the largest city in the province of Saskatchewan that is nestled on the meandering South Saskatchewan River and is considered to have many natural features that make it an attractive place to call home. The chapter describes warm, long summer days, green, clean spaces, and a variety of social and cultural events that contribute to active living, social engagement, and community participation. It also talks about the safe and friendly neighbourhoods of Saskatoon that offers a variety of housing options, excellent educational opportunities, public and accessible transit services, accessible buildings and services, and a range of health and community services. The chapter elaborates that winter poses challenges for all residents, especially older adults who face safety issues related to icy and cold conditions that result in reduced opportunities for social connectedness. It looks at the 2016 Canadian Census that lists the population of 295,095 residents, of which 10.9 percent are indigenous people.

scholarly journals Social Environment and Mental and Behavioral Health Outcomes in Older Adults: A Critical Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 467-467
Author(s):  
Atami Sagna De Main ◽  
Bo Xie
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Behavioral Health ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Social Contribution ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract Social environments are complex and critical to older adults’ health. Older adults are vulnerable to lack of social connectedness, social engagement and social contribution. 10-43% of community-dwelling older adults suffer from social isolation and loneliness in the United States. Despite the growing evidence on the impact of social environment on older adults’ health, it remains that the information about older adults’ social environment and its relationships to mental/behavioral health is fragmented. The purpose of this study is to determine the state of the science on social environment components (social connectedness, social engagement, social contribution) and mental/behavioral health (depressive symptoms, anxiety, psychological well-being, substance use, mental healthcare utilization) among community-dwelling older adults (65+ years). Five databases - CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, SocINDEX - were systematically searched using PRISMA guidelines to identify relevant articles from 1990 to 2019. Eleven articles are included in this review, illustrating relationships between social environment and mental/behavioral health. The studies found that poor social connectedness, social engagement, and social contribution were significantly associated with older age, poor perceived health, depression and anxiety symptoms, poor psychological well-being, hopelessness, having multiple chronic conditions, and functional limitations. Low social connectedness was significantly related to poor utilization of mental health services. No significant association was found between social environment and substance use in older adults. The findings of this review add to the literature related to social environment being relevant to older adults’ mental/behavioral health and highlight the need to further our understanding of their dynamic relationships and changes over time.

scholarly journals Technologies and the Effects On Social Engagement In Long-Term Care Facilities During COVID-19: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 886-886
Author(s):  
Timothy Wood ◽  
Shannon Freeman ◽  
Alanna Koopmans
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Policy Decisions ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities

Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, the sense of loneliness and social isolation felt by older adults in long-term care facilities has been exacerbated. Although there has been an increase in the number of digital solutions to mitigate social isolation during COVID-19, facilities in northern British Columbia do not have sufficient information regarding the technologies to support social connectedness. To support evidence-based policy decisions, a scoping review was conducted to identify existing virtual technology solutions, apps, and platforms that promote social connectedness among older adults residing in long-term care. A combination of keywords and subject headings were used to identify relevant literature within PubMed, CINAHL EBSCO, PsychINFO EBSCO, Embase OVIDSP, and Web of Science ISI databases. DistillerSR was used to screen and summarize the article selection process. Twenty-three articles were identified for full-text analysis. A variety of technologies are described which can be used to mitigate the impacts of social isolation felt by long-term care residents. However, many of these digital solutions require stable highspeed internet. This remains a challenge for facilities in northern areas as many have limited access to reliable internet. Metrics used to evaluate social engagement in the context of long-term care are also outlined. This research provides the preliminary groundwork necessary to better inform policy decisions about which technologies are available and, of these, which are effective at enhancing social connectedness for older adults in long-term care.

scholarly journals Examining Nostalgia in Old Life: Antecedence and Outcome

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 457-458
Author(s):  
Linming Zhou ◽  
Minjie Lu ◽  
Chaobin Zhang ◽  
Helene Fung
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Social Threat ◽  
Social Activities ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Salutary Effect ◽  
Psychological Sense ◽  
Regulatory Model

Abstract Nostalgia is a self-conscious, bittersweet but predominantly positive and fundamentally social emotion. The regulatory model of nostalgia suggests that experiencing nostalgia can buffer against social threat (e.g. social exclusion) by providing individuals with sense of social connectedness (Sedikides, et al., 2015). In the current research, we propose that this salutary effect of nostalgia may be stronger among older adults compared to younger adults because older adults value social meaningfulness to a greater extent. Fifty-nine younger adults (Mage = 20.15, SD = 0.215) and 56 older adults (Mage = 71.02, SD = 0.679) completed daily questionnaires three times a day for ten consecutive days, and reported their emotional experience and social activities. Results showed that perceiving social threat was positively correlated with nostalgia experience reported at the subsequent time point, and this association was stronger among older adults. In addition, nostalgia positively correlated with subsequent social activities among the older participants but not among the younger participants. These findings highlight that nostalgia brings beneficial psychological (sense of social connectedness) and behavioral (social engagement) outcomes to older adults.

scholarly journals Loneliness During COVID-19 and Modes of Social Contact Use Among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 744-744
Author(s):  
Usha Dhakal ◽  
Athena Koumoutzis
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Medicare Beneficiaries ◽  
Multinomial Regression ◽  
Social Network Size ◽  
Use Of Technology

Abstract Due to social distancing and isolation recommendations, COVID-19 resulted in older adults’ greater reliance on technology to contact friends and families. While the mental health of older adults during COVID-19 has been well explored, less is known about how changes in modes and frequency of social contact is associated with loneliness. Using the National Health and Aging Trends Study COVID-19 data, this study assessed how the frequency of varying modes of contact (e.g., phone/email/text, in-person visits, videocalls) during the pandemic was associated with feelings of loneliness during COVID-19 among community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries (n = 2149). Participants were asked if they felt lonely “more often,” “less often,” or “about the same” compared to before the outbreak started. Multinomial regression analyses indicated that, compared to those who reported daily in-person visits, the odds of having more feelings of loneliness as compared to about the same as pre-COVID-19 was significantly higher among those who reported having in-person visits a few times (OR=2.17,CI=1.08-4.36), at least once (OR=2.37,CI=1.11-5.04), and never/less than once a week (OR=3.37, CI=1.59-7.16) while controlling for demographics, household, and social network size. Compared to daily use, use of phone/email/text at least once (OR=0.44, CI=0.201-0.965) or a few times (OR=0.76,CI=0.58-0.99) a week was associated with lower odds of reporting more feelings of loneliness versus about the same. Results suggest that greater use of technology that promote social engagement improves social connectedness and decreases COVID-19 related loneliness among older adults, and highlights the importance of older adults’ access to technology, including reliable internet.

Perceived Voice Disorders in Older Adults and Impact on Social Interactions

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Connie K. Porcaro ◽  
Clare Singer ◽  
Boris Djokic ◽  
Ali A. Danesh ◽  
Ruth Tappen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Voice Disorders ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Vocal Performance ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Cross Sectional

Purpose Many aging individuals, even those who are healthy, report voice changes that can impact their ability to communicate as they once did. While this is commonly reported, most do not seek evaluation or management for this issue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and differences in voice disorders in older adults, along with the effect of fatigue on their social interactions. Method This is a cross-sectional investigation of a community-dwelling sample of individuals aged 60 years or older. Participants completed the Questionnaire on Vocal Performance, the Social Engagement Index subset “Engagement in Social or Leisure Activities,” and the Fatigue Severity Scale. Results Results indicated 32.5% of the 332 participants reported symptoms of voice problems with no difference found between male and female respondents. A slight increase in report of voice problems was noted with each year of age. Participants who self-reported voice problems indicated less interaction in social activities involving communication than those who did not. Finally, as severity of self-reported voice problems increased, an increase was reported by the same individuals for signs of fatigue. Conclusions Voice problems and resulting decreased social interaction are commonly experienced by older individuals. Voice symptoms in older adults have been found to benefit from evidence-based treatment strategies. It is critical to provide education to encourage older individuals to seek appropriate evaluation and management for voice issues through a speech-language pathologist or medical professional.

Investigation of the Associations Between Social Connectedness and Internet Usage for Older Adults

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edd D. Easton-Hogg ◽  
Nicholas K. Lim ◽  
Tomas Bergandi ◽  
Kevin Borders
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Internet Usage

Sandra O'Brien Cousins and Tammy Horne (Eds.). Active Living Among Older Adults: Health Benefits and Outcomes. Philadelphia, PA: Brunner/Mazel, 1999.

2000 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 430-433
Author(s):  
Anita M. Myers
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Personnes Âgées ◽  
Active Living

RÉSUMÉCe livre regroupe et critique des données empiriques sur toute une étendue d'avantages de l'exercice physique sur la santé des personnes âgées. Il se fonde sur une revue de quelque 1 500 études publiées depuis 1994. Il constitue un survol exhaustif du sujet présenté en sections bien divisées et répertoriées et une base importante d'interprétation des nombreuses études qui se font dans ce domaine en expansion rapide.

scholarly journals Brain Health: Attitudes towards Technology Adoption in Older Adults

Healthcare ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Nadir G. Abdelrahman ◽  
Raza Haque ◽  
Molly E. Polverento ◽  
Andrea Wendling ◽  
Courtney M. Goetz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Handheld Devices ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Health Related

(1) Background: There is increasing scholarly support for the notion that properly implemented and used, technology can be of substantial benefit for older adults. Use of technology has been associated with improved self-rating of health and fewer chronic conditions. Use of technology such as handheld devices by older adults has the potential to improve engagement and promote cognitive and physical health. However, although, literature suggests some willingness by older adults to use technology, simultaneously there are reports of a more cautious attitude to its adoption. Our objective was to determine the opinions towards information technologies, with special reference to brain health, in healthy older adults either fully retired or still working in some capacity including older adult workers and retired adults living in an independent elderly living community. We were especially interested in further our understanding of factors that may play a role in technology adoption and its relevance to addressing health related issues in this population; (2) Methods: Two focus groups were conducted in an inner-city community. Participants were older adults with an interest in their general health and prevention of cognitive decline. They were asked to discuss their perceptions of and preferences for the use of technology. Transcripts were coded for thematic analysis; (3) Results: Seven common themes emerged from the focus group interviews: physical health, cognitive health, social engagement, organizing information, desire to learn new technology, advancing technology, and privacy/security; and (4) Conclusions: This study suggests that in order to promote the use of technology in older adults, one needs to consider wider contextual issues, not only device design per se, but the older adult’s rationale for using technology and their socio-ecological context.

scholarly journals Social Engagement and Episodic Memory in Non-Hispanic Black and White Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 343-343
Author(s):  
Abbey Hamlin ◽  
A Zarina Kraal ◽  
Laura Zahodne
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Activities ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Social engagement may confer cognitive benefits in older adulthood, but studies have typically been restricted to largely non-Hispanic White (NHW) samples. Levels of social engagement vary across race such that NHW report larger social networks, more frequent participation in social activities, and greater social support than non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB). Associations between social engagement and cognition may also vary by race, but research is sparse. The current cross-sectional study examined associations between different aspects of social engagement and episodic memory performance, as well as interactions between social engagement and race among NHB and NHW participants in the Michigan Cognitive Aging Project (N = 247; 48.4% NHB; age = 64.19 ± 2.92). Social engagement (network size, activities, support) was self-reported. Episodic memory was a z-score composite of immediate, delayed, and recognition trials of a list-learning task. Separate hierarchical linear regression models quantified interactions between race and each of the three social engagement variables on episodic memory, controlling for sociodemographics, depressive symptoms, and health conditions. Results showed a main effect of more frequent social activity on better episodic memory, as well as an interaction between race and social support indicating a significant positive association in NHB but not NHW. These preliminary findings suggest that participating in social activities may be equally beneficial for episodic memory across NHB and NHW older adults and that social support may be particularly beneficial for NHB. Future research is needed to determine the potential applications of these results in reducing cognitive inequalities through the development of culturally-relevant interventions.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document