Assessing Loss Reactions among Older Adults: Strategies to Evaluate the Impact of September 11, 2001

As a result of the events of September 11, 2001, older adults have experienced a multitude of death-related and non-death losses. Mental health counselors who interact with older adults have a crucial role in identifying individuals who may be at risk for experiencing a subsequent, temporary, upsurge of grief. Following a review of basic concepts and underlying philosophies that can be utilized to inform work with bereaved older adults, interviewing strategies and standardized measures available for use with older adults experiencing trauma and grief are described. Then using Corr's (2003) task-based approach as a framework, strategies for identification of need and intervention are presented.

Download Full-text

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on wellbeing and cognitive functioning of older adults

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-84127-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sarah De Pue ◽

Céline Gillebert ◽

Eva Dierckx ◽

Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt ◽

Rudi De Raedt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

At Risk ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Online Survey ◽

Activity Level ◽

The Impact

AbstractCOVID-19 took a heavy toll on older adults. In Belgium, by the end of August, 93% of deaths due to COVID-19 were aged 65 or older. Similar trends were observed in other countries. As a consequence, older adults were identified as a group at risk, and strict governmental restrictions were imposed on them. This has caused concerns about their mental health. Using an online survey, this study established the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults aged 65 years or older, and which factors moderate this impact. Participants reported a significant decrease in activity level, sleep quality and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Depression was strongly related to reported declines in activity level, sleep quality, wellbeing and cognitive functioning. Our study shows that the COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on the mental health of older adults. This implies that this group at risk requires attention of governments and healthcare.

Download Full-text

PROMOTING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG AT-RISK OLDER ADULTS: THE IMPACT FROM PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igy023.2738 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (suppl_1) ◽

pp. 742-743

Author(s):

M Ory ◽

S Towne ◽

Y Du ◽

S Lee ◽

M Smith

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

At Risk ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on wellbeing and cognitive functioning of older adults

10.1101/2020.08.27.20183129 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah De Pue ◽

Celine Gillebert ◽

Eva Dierckx ◽

Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt ◽

Rudi De Raedt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

At Risk ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Online Survey ◽

Activity Level ◽

The Impact

COVID-19 took a heavy toll on older adults. In Belgium, by the end of August, 93% of deaths due to COVID-19 were aged 65 or older. Similar trends were observed in other countries. As a consequence, older adults were identified as a group at risk, and strict governmental restrictions were imposed on them. This has caused concerns about their mental health. Using an online survey, this study established the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults aged 65 years or older, and which factors moderate this impact. Participants reported a significant decrease in activity level, sleep quality and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Depression was strongly related to reported declines in activity level, sleep quality, wellbeing and cognitive functioning. Our study shows that the COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on the mental health of older adults. This implies that this group at risk requires attention of governments and healthcare.

Download Full-text

The Impact of the Virtual Cognitive Health Program on the Cognition and Mental Health of Older Adults: Pre-Post 12-Month Pilot Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.12031 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Shefali Kumar ◽

Jennifer LA Tran ◽

Heidi Moseson ◽

Caroline Tai ◽

Jordan M Glenn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

At Risk ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Health Program ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Web Based ◽

Cognitive Health ◽

Anxiety Levels ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND Face-to-face multidomain lifestyle interventions have shown to be effective for improving or maintaining cognitive function in older adults at risk for dementia. Remotely delivered interventions could increase access to such solutions but first require evidence to support that these programs can successfully impact health outcomes. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a remotely delivered multidomain lifestyle intervention, the virtual cognitive health (VC Health) program, on the cognitive function and mental health of older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). METHODS A 52-week, prospective, single-arm, pre-post, remote nationwide clinical trial was conducted to measure the change in cognitive function, depression, and anxiety levels for older adults at risk of developing dementia who participated in the VC Health program. A Web-based study platform was used to screen, consent, and enroll participants across the United States. Participants completed the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) test and Web-based assessments (which included the Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] and Generalized Anxiety Disorder [GAD-7] surveys) at baseline and weeks 12, 24, and 52; all data were collected remotely. Changes in RBANS, PHQ-9, and GAD-7 were assessed using 2-tailed paired t tests and nonparametric signed-rank tests. RESULTS Participants (N=82) were, on average, aged 64 years (range 60.0-74.9 years), 74% (61/82) female, 88% (72/82) white, and 67% (55/82) had a college degree or higher. At baseline, participants had a mean and median RBANS Total Index score of 95.9 (SD 11.1) and 95.5 (interquartile range, IQR=13). Participants experienced a mean and median increase of 5.8 (SD 7.4) and 6 (IQR=11) in RBANS Total Index score from baseline to week 52 (P<.001). Participants had a mean and median PHQ-9 score of 8.5 (SD 4.9) and 8 (IQR=6) at baseline and experienced a mean and median decrease of 3.8 (SD 4.1) and 4 (IQR=6) units in PHQ-9 score from baseline to week 52 (P<.001). At baseline, participants had a mean and median GAD-7 score of 6.2 (SD 4.5) and 5.5 (IQR=6) and experienced a mean and median decrease of 2.9 (SD 4.1) and 2 (IQR=5) units in GAD-7 score from baseline to week 52 (P<.001). Participants were engaged and very satisfied with various program components. CONCLUSIONS In this study, older adults with SCD who were at risk for dementia experienced statistically significant improvements in their cognitive function, depression, and anxiety levels. These findings serve as initial evidence for the overall feasibility and effectiveness of the VC Health program to improve or maintain cognitive function in older adults who are experiencing SCD. Further research should be conducted to understand the degree to which the improvements are attributable to specific components of the intervention. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02969460; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02969460 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/73XOph9Qm)

Download Full-text

Food Insecurity in the United States: Identification, Treatment, and Implications

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2791 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 772-773

Author(s):

Rose Ann DiMaria-Ghalili ◽

Connie Bales ◽

Julie Locher

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Older Adults ◽

At Risk ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Health Clinic ◽

High Risk Population ◽

Geriatric Syndrome ◽

The Impact

Abstract Food insecurity is an under-recognized geriatric syndrome that has extensive implications in the overall health and well-being of older adults. Understanding the impact of food insecurity in older adults is a first step in identifying at-risk populations and provides a framework for potential interventions in both hospital and community-based settings. This symposium will provide an overview of current prevalence rates of food insecurity using large population-based datasets. We will present a summary indicator that expands measurement to include the functional and social support limitations (e.g., community disability, social isolation, frailty, and being homebound), which disproportionately impact older adults, and in turn their rate and experience of food insecurity and inadequate food access. We will illustrate using an example of at-risk seniors the association between sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and function, with rates of food security in the United States. The translational aspect of the symposium will then focus on identification of psychosocial and environmental risk factors including food insecurity in older veterans preparing for surgery within the Veterans Affairs Perioperative Optimization of Senior Health clinic. Gaining insights into the importance of food insecurity will lay the foundation for an intervention for food insecurity in the deep south. Our discussant will provide an overview of the implications of these results from a public health standpoint. By highlighting the importance of food insecurity, such data can potentially become a framework to allow policy makers to expand nutritional programs as a line of defense against hunger in this high-risk population.

Download Full-text

Enhancing Behavioral Health Competencies for Senior Center Staff: Lessons Learned From Workforce Training Efforts

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.001 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 1-1

Author(s):

Bronwyn Keefe ◽

Jennifer Tripken

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Behavioral Health ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Organizational Level ◽

Senior Center ◽

Senior Centers ◽

Knowledge And Skills ◽

Center Staff ◽

The Impact

Abstract Increases in the numbers of older adults with mental health and substance use concerns compel us to identify best practices in training to address these issues. Senior Centers are an ideal location for behavioral health education programs as they are the go-to place for many older adults. This session will describe a program funded by The Retirement Research Foundation and offered in collaboration with Center for Aging and Disability Education and Research at Boston University and NCOA to increase senior center staff knowledge and skills. Approximately 250 senior center staff in Illinois, Florida, and Wisconsin completed an online certificate in Behavioral Health and Aging. Results show that 100% of respondents felt that the training was useful for their job; 93% felt that they will be a more effective worker as a result of the training; and 97% felt that the information they learned in the training will make a difference with the people they serve. We held key informant interviews to assess the impact of training and participants stated that their knowledge, skills, and behaviors were influenced by the program. At the organizational level, leaders reported new programming related to behavioral health and revised practices and protocols. This presentation will cover: (1) the extent to which training participants mastered the competencies needed for effective practice; (2) knowledge and skills gained from the training program; (3) Senior Centers’ capacity to identify and refer older adults to mental health services; and (4) organizational changes related to behavioral health programming with older adults.

Download Full-text

The impact of COVID-19 restriction measures on loneliness among older adults in Austria

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa238 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Erwin Stolz ◽

Hannes Mayerl ◽

Wolfgang Freidl

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Positive Association ◽

Health Issues ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Social Contacts ◽

Mental Health Issues ◽

The Impact ◽

Opening Phase

Abstract Background To halt the spread of COVID-19, Austria implemented a 7-week ’lockdown’ in March/April 2020. We assess whether the ensuing reduction in social contacts led to increased loneliness among older adults (60+). Methods Three analyses were conducted: (1) A comparison between pre-pandemic (SHARE: 2013-2017) and pandemic (May 2020) levels of loneliness (UCLA-3 scale), (2) an assessment of the cross-sectional correlation between being affected by COVID-19 restriction measures and loneliness (May 2020), and (3) a longitudinal analysis of weekly changes (March-June 2020) in loneliness (Corona panel). Results We found (1) increased loneliness in 2020 compared with previous years, (2) a moderate positive association between the number of restriction measures older adults were affected from and their loneliness, and (3) that loneliness was higher during ’lockdown’ compared to the subsequent re-opening phase, particularly among those who live alone. Conclusion We provide evidence that COVID-19 restriction measures in Austria have indeed resulted in increased levels of loneliness among older adults. However, these effects seem to be short-lived, and thus no strong negative consequences for older adults’ mental health are expected. Nonetheless, the effects on loneliness, and subsequent mental health issues, might be both more long-lasting and severe if future restriction measures are enacted repeatedly and/or over longer time periods.

Download Full-text

SEPARATED KIN: RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION AND MENTAL HEALTH TRAJECTORIES OF OLDER ADULTS LEFT BEHIND IN RURAL CHINA

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.3223 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S880-S880

Author(s):

Zhiyong Lin

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Rural China ◽

Well Being ◽

Migrant Children ◽

Urban Migration ◽

Left Behind ◽

Rate Of Increase ◽

The Impact

Abstract As the processes of urbanization and globalization have intensified across the world, a burgeoning literature has documented the impact of emigration on the health of family members left behind in emigrant communities. Although the association between children’s migration and parental well-being is well documented, few have examined the health implications of children’s migration in the milieu of multiple children and further differentiated between children’s short-term and long-term migration. Therefore, I argue that it is not the geographic locality of a single child but the composition of all children’s location that matters. I further suggest that the impact of children’s migration on parental wellbeing is conditioned on the duration of children’s migration. Using a six waves longitudinal data (2001-2015) collected in rural China, this paper compares mental health (measured as depressive symptoms) trajectories of old adults (aged 60 and older) across different compositions of local and migrant children over a 14-year span. Results from growth curve models show that parents having more migrant children relative to local children experience a more rapid increase in depressive symptoms. In addition, older adults who have their most children migrate away for three or more waves of data have experienced the steepest rate of increase in depressive symptoms. These findings provide new evidence to support the life course processes of mental health disparities among older adults from the perspective of intergenerational proximity.

Download Full-text