scholarly journals Unhealthy, Unwealthy and Left Behind – Workforce Participation and Inequality Among Older Australians

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huong Dinh ◽  
Lyndall Strazdins ◽  
Tinh Doan ◽  
Thuy Do ◽  
Amelia Yazidjoglou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Likelihood Estimation ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Health Expectancy ◽  
Workforce Participation ◽  
Health Trends ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
The Past

Abstract BackgroundAustralians born in 2012 can expect to live about 33 years longer than those born 100 years earlier. However, only seven of these additional years are spent in the workforce. Longer life expectancy has driven policies to extend working life and increase retirement age, the current Australian policy, which has increased the eligibility for the pension from 65 to 67 by 2023, assumes that an improvement in longevity corresponds with an improvement in health expectancy. However, there is mixed evidence of health trends in Australia over the past two decades. Although some health outcomes are improving among older age groups, many are either stable or deteriorating. This raises the question of how health trends intersect with policy for older Australians aged from 50-70. This paper considers the interplay between older workers’ health and workforce participation rates over the past 15 years when extended workforce participation has been actively encouraged. MethodsWe compared health and economic outcomes of the older people in following years with the base year (start of the study period), adjusting for some key socio-economic characteristics such as age, sex, ethnicity, education and equivalized household income by applying the Random effects estimator with maximum likelihood estimation technique.Results We find that regardless of increasing longevity, the health of older adults aged between 50-70 has slightly deteriorated. In addition, health gaps between those who were working into their older age and those who were not have widened over the 15-year period. Finally, we find that widening health gaps linked to workforce participation are also accompanied by rising economic inequality in incomes, financial assets and superannuation. With the exception of a small group of healthy and very wealthy retirees, the majority of the older Australians who were not working had low incomes, assets, superannuation, and poor health.ConclusionsThe widening economic and health gap within older population over time indicates a clear and urgent need to add policy actions on income and health, to those that seek to increase workforce participation among older adults.

scholarly journals Aging Reduces EEG Markers of Recognition Despite Intact Performance: Implications for Forensic Memory Detection

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Hellerstedt ◽  
Arianna Moccia ◽  
Chloe M. Brunskill ◽  
Howard Bowman ◽  
Zara M. Bergström
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Temporal Variability ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Behavioural Performance ◽  
Older Populations

AbstractERP-based forensic memory detection is based on the logic that guilty suspects will hold incriminating knowledge about crimes they have committed, and therefore should show parietal ERP positivities related to recognition when presented with reminders of their crimes. We predicted that such forensic memory detection might however be inaccurate in older adults, because of changes to recognition-related brain activity that occurs with aging. We measured both ERPs and EEG oscillations associated with episodic old/new recognition and forensic memory detection in 30 younger (age < 30) and 30 older (age > 65) adults. EEG oscillations were included as a complementary measure which is less sensitive to temporal variability and component overlap than ERPs. In line with predictions, recognition-related parietal ERP positivities were significantly reduced in the older compared to younger group in both tasks, despite highly similar behavioural performance. We also observed ageing-related reductions in oscillatory markers of recognition in the forensic memory detection test, while the oscillatory effects associated with episodic recognition were similar across age groups. This pattern of results suggests that while both forensic memory detection and episodic recognition are accompanied by ageing-induced reductions in parietal ERP positivities, these reductions may be caused by non-overlapping mechanisms across the two tasks. Our findings suggest that EEG-based forensic memory detection tests are invalid in older populations, limiting their practical applications.

Design of Telephone Answering Machines for Older Adults

1997 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 1367-1367
Author(s):  
Chin Chin Lee ◽  
Jessica D'Agostini ◽  
Sara J. Czaja ◽  
Joseph Sharit
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Task Analysis ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Hearing Impairments ◽  
Usage Patterns ◽  
Automatic Teller Machines

Older adults frequently have difficulty when attempting to use various forms of technology such as computers or automatic teller machines. This study evaluated the usability of telephone answering machines for older adults. Initially, a task analysis of four commonly used answering machines was performed to identify the subtasks involved in using an answering machine. A questionnaire was then developed which assessed usage patterns and usability issues associated with answering machines. This questionnaire was administered to a sample of 68 people aged 65+ yrs. and 50 people aged 20 — 30 yrs. The data indicated that most older people own answering machines and perceive them as useful. There were, however, some age differences in aspects of usability. The older adults were more likely to have difficulty understanding messages than the younger people and to perceive the messages as distorted. Further, the older people reported that they have difficulty replaying messages and accessing messages remotely. The results also indicated that older people with hearing impairments were more likely to have problems with message distortion than those without hearing impairments. Overall, the data suggest features of answering machines which affect the usability of this technology for older age groups. Data is currently being collected regarding the ability of a sample of older people to perform a common set of tasks using two different answering machines. The results from the research are being used to develop recommendations for improving the design of telephone answering machines for people of all age groups.

Still Feeling Better? Trends in Self-Rated Health of Older Adults in the U.S

2020 ◽  
pp. 016402752096365
Author(s):  
Esther O. Lamidi
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Health Trends ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Middle Aged Adults ◽  
Over Time

Previous analyses showed an overall pattern of improvement in self-rated health of U.S. older adults in the 1980s and the 1990s, but it was uncertain if the declining shares of elderly persons reporting fair or poor health would continue over the next decades. Using the 2000–2018 pooled data from the National Health Interview Survey, this study examined recent trends in self-rated health of adults aged 45 and older. The results showed important variations in self-rated health trends across age groups. Between 2000 and 2018, the shares of adults aged 60 and above reporting fair or poor health declined significantly while self-rated health trends for middle-aged adults worsened over time. Educational and racial/ethnic differentials in self-rated health persisted over time but there were important group variations. To further improve the health of the elderly population, it is important to consider changing health disparities in later life.

scholarly journals Comparing age and sex trends of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, hepatitis and syphilis infections in Samoa in 2012 and 2017

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Robert Carney ◽  
Michaela Howells ◽  
Aaone Tanumafili ◽  
Athena Matalavea ◽  
Judith Gafa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Chlamydia Infection ◽  
Prevention Programming ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
The Past ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Older Populations

In Samoa, the seroprevalence rates of sexually transmitted infections other than HIV have been endemically high over the past decade, despite years of prevention programming. Odds ratio and χ2 tests were conducted to compare the rates of positivity of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis across age groups from 2012 and 2017 surveillance data in Samoa. Young people aged 15–19 years were significantly more likely to have a chlamydia infection compared to all other age groups in both 2012 and 2017. Hepatitis B infections were more common in males and those aged 30 and above in both 2012 and 2017. Hepatitis C had no significant differences in age, but it was more common in males in 2012 and more common in females in 2017. Older age groups (aged 45 and above) were more likely to have a positive syphilis test in both 2014 and 2017 when compared to those aged 15–24 years. The results of this analysis confirm previously observed trends in Samoa for younger age groups’ prevalence of chlamydia and gonorrhoea, and for older age groups’ prevalence of hepatitis B and C. But the analysis also unexpectedly found that older age groups (aged 45 and above) are more likely to test positive for syphilis (for years 2014 and 2017). Further studies are needed to assess behavioural risk factors associated with older populations in order to explain the increase in risk and to design interventions suited to this demographic.

scholarly journals Staying streetwise: Accurate judgments of approaching aggression in older age

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liam Paul Satchell ◽  
Lucy Akehurst ◽  
Paul Hayden Morris ◽  
Claire Nee
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Young Group ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Detection Accuracy ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Trait Aggression ◽  
Aggression Questionnaire ◽  
The Life Course

The extant literature has generally demonstrated that young adults can detect the trait aggression of another person with limited information. However, there is little research that investigates the life course persistence of aggression detection accuracy. Here, we aimed to explore the accuracy of older adults at detecting potential aggressors. Thirty-nine older adults (M = 71.49, SD = 7.59) and eighty-seven young adults (M = 20.24, SD = 1.74) made intimidation judgments, via video recordings, for nine people (targets). ‘Aggression detection accuracy’ was shown in the relationship between the intimidation judgments made by participants and the targets’ responses to the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Both age groups were highly accurate in their recognition of trait aggression and accuracy was maintained into older age, with no difference in accuracy between the older and young adults. There was, however, more variability in the ratings given by the older adults compared to the young adults, suggesting less consensus in judgment for the older compared to the young group. Overall, the participants in this study were highly accurate at detecting trait aggression. There was no difference in average aggression detection between older and young adults but there was in sample agreement. These results are discussed in the context of age effects on intimidation, as well as research in accurate aggression detection.

scholarly journals LATENT PROFILE ANALYSIS OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, ANGER, AND ADHD IN OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S165-S165
Author(s):  
Sarah M Israel ◽  
Erica Szkody ◽  
Michael R Nadorff ◽  
Daniel L Segal
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Latent Profile Analysis ◽  
Profile Analysis ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
Latent Profile

Abstract Older adults are generally happier, less likely to have depression or anxiety, and have better emotion regulation abilities than earlier in life. While older age predicts more hostile beliefs about others, older adults report less hostile behavior and no difference in covert hostility, compared to other age groups. However, brain regions associated with executive function and emotion regulation are impacted by even normal aging. Using latent profile analysis (LPA) we aimed to better understand what factors contribute to a dysregulated profile in older adults and how age altered the dysregulation profile. The current archival study includes data from 518 older adults between the ages of 60 and 95 years (M = 70.73, SD = 7.34). Participants completed the Coolidge Axis II Inventory (CATI) database. The CATI is a 250-item psychopathology and neuropsychological inventory that assesses over 40 clinical and neuropsychological disorders utilizing official DSM-5 criteria. A Dysregulated Profile was identified using an LPA of diagnosis subscales (i.e., Anxiety, Depression, Anger, and ADHD) that have been previously associated with dysregulation in children and young adults. Results demonstrated that female participants reported more ADHD symptoms (more impairment in executive function) than men. Furthermore, the dysregulated profile (high on all subscales) and age interacted such that, as age increased, scores on the Depression and Anger subscales decreased. No significant differences were found for any other interactions. Our findings are consistent with existing literature. Even in the dysregulated profile, participants reported less anger and depression with older age.

scholarly journals PET OWNERSHIP HISTORY AND SUCCESSFUL AGING OUTCOMES IN COMMUNITY-LIVING OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S52-S53
Author(s):  
Erika Friedmann ◽  
Nancy R Gee ◽  
Eleanor M Simonsick ◽  
Stephanie Studenski ◽  
Erik Barr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Function ◽  
Physical Functioning ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
Community Living ◽  
Pet Ownership ◽  
The Past

Abstract Diminishing cognitive and physical function, worsening psychological symptoms and increased mortality risk and morbidity typically accompany aging. Health needs of the aging population will continue to increase as the proportion of the population aged 50 years and older increases. Pet ownership (PO) has been linked to better health outcomes in older adults, particularly those with chronic health conditions. However, much of the evidence is weak with little known about the contribution of PO to successful aging in community living older adults. This study examines associations between PO and cognitive performance, physical functioning, and psychological status in community living older adults. Participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (&gt;50 years old, N=378) completed physical functioning, cognitive and psychological testing, and a ten-year PO history. Most participants (89%) had owned pets at some point and 24% currently have pets. Fourteen percent have 1-4 dogs, 12% have 1-4 cats, and 3% have others. PO was lower with older age (p&lt;.001). In regression analysis controlling for age decade, pet ownership within the past 10 years (PO10) independently predicted cognitive function [total verbal learning (p=.04), and short (p=.015) and long (p=.031) delay free recall, ] but not physical function or psychological status. PO was lower in older age groups as was cognitive, physical functional, and psychological status, while PO within the past 10 years was associated with better verbal learning and memory independent of age. Longitudinal analysis is required to disentangle the sequential associations between PO and change in health status over time..

scholarly journals Prescription Pain Reliever Use and Misuse Among Marijuana Users Age 50+ Years

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 54-55
Author(s):  
Namkee Choi ◽  
Diana DiNitto
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Medical Marijuana ◽  
Marijuana Use ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Pain Reliever ◽  
The Past ◽  
Drug Use Disorders

Abstract Marijuana use among individuals aged 50+ has steadily increased over the past decade, with 8% reporting past-year use in 2018. National epidemiologic data also showed a 36% rate of past-year prescription pain reliever (PPNR) use in the 50+ age group in 2018, a decrease from 40% in 2015, but still significantly higher than for younger age groups. Little research has, however, focused on older adults’ dual recreational and/or medical marijuana and PPNR use. This study, based on the 2015-2018 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, examined rates and correlates of dual marijuana and PPNR use and misuse among those aged 50+ who reported past-year marijuana use (N=2,632). Our findings showed that 43.6% of past-year marijuana users did not use any PPNR, 47.1% used PPNR but did not misuse, and 9.4% misused PPNR in the past year, showing that one in six dual marijuana and PPNR users reported misusing PPNR. The risks of PPNR use/no misuse and PPNR misuse were higher among those who had more chronic medical conditions and major depressive episode. Additionally, the risk of PPNR use/no misuse was associated with high frequency and medical marijuana use; and the risk of PPNR misuse was associated with younger marijuana initiation age and marijuana and other illicit drug use disorders. Thus, correlates of dual marijuana and PPNR use/misuse among older adults are poor physical and mental health problems and problematic marijuana use. Older adults with marijuana and PPNR misuse need access to evidence-based treatments for pain management and substance misuse.

scholarly journals Trends in Mortality from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Alberta: Back to the Future?

1995 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-103
Author(s):  
Tee L Guidotti
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Health Related Behaviour

Trends in mortality from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Alberta over 60 years, from 1927 to 1987, for ages 15 and above or both sexes, were examined. There was a striking decline in mortality among older adults in the 1930s and 1940s. a nadir that lasted almost 10 years in the 1950s, and a striking increase thereafter. By 1970, most age groups had returned to levels of the 1930s. This overall trend was observed in both the younger age groups (aged 15 to 50) and older adults, although mortality from COPD in the former disproportionately reflected asthma-related deaths. Subsequently, mortality climbed still higher in older age groups, but not in the younger age groups. The sustained rise in mortality in older age groups after the Second World War is presumably related to smoking habits. Historical trends in Alberta were then compared with Canada as a whole for both sexes over 50 years of age. Although Alberta had a much lower mortality from COPD than Canada as a whole, this difference disappeared by 1980. There is no obvious explanation that would explain all of the observed trends, but they appear more likely to be a consequence of social and environmental conditions, including changes in health-related behaviour, than of major changes in medical management at the time.

Contribution of stressful life events to gambling activity in older age

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Roser Granero ◽  
Susana Jiménez-Murcia ◽  
Fernando Fernández-Aranda ◽  
Amparo del Pino-Gutiérrez ◽  
Teresa Mena-Moreno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Stressful Life ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Violent Behaviour ◽  
Clinical Criteria

Abstract Older subjects are susceptible to develop gambling problems, and researchers have attempted to assess the mechanisms underlying the gambling profile in later life. The objective of this study was to identify the main stressful life events (SLE) across the lifespan which have discriminative capacity for detecting the presence of gambling disorder (GD) in older adults. Data from two independent samples of individuals aged 50+ were analysed: N = 47 patients seeking treatment at a Pathological Gambling Outpatient Unit and N = 361 participants recruited from the general population. Sexual problems (p < 0.001), exposure to domestic violent behaviour (p < 0.001), severe financial problems (p = 0.002), alcohol or drug-related problems (p = 0.004) and extramarital sex (p < 0.001) were related to a higher risk of GD, while getting married (p = 0.005), moving to a new home (p = 0.003) and moving to a new city (p = 0.006) decreased the likelihood of disordered gambling. The accumulated number of SLE was not a predictor of the presence of GD (p = 0.732), but patients who met clinical criteria for GD reported higher concurrence of SLE in time than control individuals (p < 0.001). Empirical research highlights the need to include older age groups in evidence-based policies for gambling prevention, because these individuals are at high risk of onset and/or progression of behavioural addiction-related problems such as GD. The results of this study may be useful for developing reliable screening/diagnostic tools and for planning effective early intervention programmes aimed to reduce the harm related to the onset and evolution of problem gambling in older adults.

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