Can online activities substitute in-person activities for older persons during Covid-19? (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Background: Group activities are a strategy to address social isolation and loneliness among older adults. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic most of these activities had to be cancelled and online activities have been offered as an alternative by some organizations. Yet, the effectiveness of online group activities for older adults has scarcely been researched. OBJECTIVE We aimed to understand the extent to which online activities for older adults provide an adequate substitute for in-person activities. METHODS In this telephone survey, we interviewed 105 older adults in Israel who were offered the opportunity to participate in online activities after routine activities closed due to Covid-19. We inquired about background characteristics, satisfaction with activities, and reasons for participation or nonparticipation in the activities. RESULTS Those who participated in the online activities tended to be highly satisfied with at least some of them. They rated enjoyment from the content of the activity as the most important motivator, followed by maintaining a routine, enjoying the activity, and the presence of others. Over 50% wished to continue with the exercise program after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, and 40% with online lectures. The most common reasons cited by those who did not participate were not being aware of the online program (43%), lack of interest in the content (32%), and technical issues (23%), such as not owning or being able to fully utilize a computer. Both participants and nonparticipants were interested in a wide range of topics, with many being very particular about the topics they wished to access, and about half expressing willingness to pay for access. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest a need for online activities for countering boredom and a sense of isolation. The main challenges in substituting in-person services are: promoting social relationships, which are currently not incorporated into most online programs, accommodating a wider range of topics, and making current programs accessible to the population who needs them. Such approaches are needed to help homebound older persons during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Dividing the Grey Divide: Deconstructing Myths About Older Adults’ Online Activities, Skills, and Attitudes

American Behavioral Scientist ◽

10.1177/0002764218777572 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 62 (9) ◽

pp. 1207-1228 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Anabel Quan-Haase ◽

Carly Williams ◽

Maria Kicevski ◽

Isioma Elueze ◽

Barry Wellman

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Digital Media ◽

Media Use ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Skill Levels ◽

Online Engagement ◽

Wide Range ◽

Online Activities ◽

Depth Interviews ◽

Negative Sense

Although research has demonstrated a grey divide where older adults are less involved and skilled with digital media than younger adults, by treating them as a homogenous group, it has overlooked differences in their digital skills and media use. Based on 41 in-depth interviews with older adults (aged 65+ years) in East York, Toronto, we developed a typology that moves beyond seeing older adults as Non-Users to include Reluctants, Apprehensives, Basic Users, Go-Getters, and Savvy Users. We find a nonlinear association between older adults’ skill levels and online engagement, as many East York older adults are not letting their skill levels dictate their online involvement. They engage in a wide range of online activities despite having limited skills, and some are eager to learn as they go. Older adults often compared their digital media use with their peers and to more tech-adept younger generations, and these comparisons influenced their attitudes toward digital media. Their narratives of mastery included both a positive sense that they can stay connected and learn new skills and a negative sense that digital media might overwhelm them or waste their time. We draw conclusions for public policy based on our findings on how digital media intersect with the lives of East York older adults.

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DSM-5 alcohol use disorder features among treatment-seeking older adults

SUCHT - Zeitschrift für Wissenschaft und Praxis / Journal of Addiction Research and Practice ◽

10.1024/0939-5911/a000550 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 64 (4) ◽

pp. 185-196 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Silke Behrendt ◽

Barbara Braun ◽

Randi Bilberg ◽

Gerhard Bühringer ◽

Michael Bogenschutz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Alcohol Use Disorder ◽

The Elderly ◽

Treatment Seeking ◽

Controlled Clinical Trial ◽

Dsm 5 ◽

Wide Range ◽

And Gender ◽

International Multicenter

Abstract. Background: The number of older adults with alcohol use disorder (AUD) is expected to rise. Adapted treatments for this group are lacking and information on AUD features in treatment seeking older adults is scarce. The international multicenter randomized-controlled clinical trial “ELDERLY-Study” with few exclusion criteria was conducted to investigate two outpatient AUD-treatments for adults aged 60+ with DSM-5 AUD. Aims: To add to 1) basic methodological information on the ELDERLY-Study by providing information on AUD features in ELDERLY-participants taking into account country and gender, and 2) knowledge on AUD features in older adults seeking outpatient treatment. Methods: baseline data from the German and Danish ELDERLY-sites (n=544) were used. AUD diagnoses were obtained with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, alcohol use information with Form 90. Results: Lost control, desired control, mental/physical problem, and craving were the most prevalent (> 70 %) AUD-symptoms. 54.9 % reported severe DSM-5 AUD (moderate: 28.2 %, mild: 16.9 %). Mean daily alcohol use was 6.3 drinks at 12 grams ethanol each. 93.9 % reported binging. More intense alcohol use was associated with greater AUD-severity and male gender. Country effects showed for alcohol use and AUD-severity. Conclusion: European ELDERLY-participants presented typical dependence symptoms, a wide range of severity, and intense alcohol use. This may underline the clinical significance of AUD in treatment-seeking seniors.

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The Case of Thematic Tests Adapted to Older Adults

Rorschachiana Journal of the International Society for the Rorschach ◽

10.1027/1192-5604/a000015 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 46-71 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Benoît Verdon

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older Persons ◽

Older Men ◽

Elderly Persons ◽

Mental Processes ◽

Men And Women ◽

Projective Tests ◽

New Material ◽

Older Men And Women ◽

Latent Content

Since the 1950s, the growing interest of clinicians in using projective tests to study normal or pathological aging processes has led to the creation of several thematic tests for older adults. This development reflects their authors’ belief that the TAT is not suitable to the concerns and anxieties of elderly persons. The new material thus refers explicitly to situations related to age; it aims to enable older persons to express needs they cannot verbalize during consultations. The psychodynamic approach to thematic testing is based on the differentiation between the pictures’ manifest and latent content, eliciting responses linked to mental processes and issues the respondent is unaware of. The cards do not necessarily have to show aging characters to elicit identification: The situations shown in the pictures are linked to loss, rivalry, helplessness, and renunciation, all issues elderly respondents can identify with and that lead them to express their mental fragilities and resources. The article first explains the principles underlying four of these thematic tests, then develops several examples of stories told for card 3BM of the TAT, thus showing the effectiveness of this tool for the understanding and differentiation of loss-related issues facing older men and women.

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The Development And Evaluation Of An Exercise Program To Increase Well-Being Of Older Adults

10.2986/tren.088-0135 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

Malissa L. KRAFT

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Well Being

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Innovative Approaches to Inclusive Design for Technology to Support Aging With Disability: Examples From TechSAge

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2017 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 599-599

Author(s):

Tracy Mitzner ◽

Anne Ordway

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Research And Development ◽

Health Management ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Target Population ◽

Interview Study ◽

Inclusive Design ◽

Adults With Disabilities ◽

Engineering Research ◽

Expert Interview

Abstract Technology research and development often exclude older adults with disabilities from participating in the design process. As a result, technologies may not be useful or usable by older adults with diverse abilities. This symposium, featuring projects at the TechSAge Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center, highlights ongoing efforts toward inclusive design, representing unique approaches to engage older adults with disabilities and their stakeholders in the research and development of technology supports. First, Mitzner et al., will describe the development of an online, group Tai Chi intervention, and the integral involvement of older adults with mobility disabilities, the exercise program developers, and technology partner in all steps of the process. Exploring the potential of voice-activated assistants, like Amazon Alexa, to support health management activities of older adults with mobility disabilities, Kadlyak et al. will present findings from a needs assessment of the target population and user testing in the lab and home environments. Koon et al. will present findings from a subject matter expert interview study with caregivers and medical professionals designed to identify the scope of activity challenges among people aging with long-term mobility and sensory disabilities that should be explored in more depth through our future interview study with the target population. Sanford et al., will describe a student design competition and hackathon that incorporates immersive experiences with people aging with disabilities to inspire innovative design concepts that respond to the needs of real people. NIDILRR Project Officer, Anne Ordway, will serve as the discussant.

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Nurse Practitioner’s Clinical Triggers for Referral to Other 3D Team Members

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2680 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 745-745

Author(s):

Shawn Ladda

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Community Health ◽

Nurse Practitioners ◽

Physical Therapists ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Health Educator ◽

Problem Solving Therapy ◽

Team Members ◽

Resource Information ◽

Registered Dietician

Abstract This presentation features how 3D Team nurse practitioners (NP) use results of clinical assessments to determine whether older adults and caregivers enrolled in the study are referred to other Team members; these assessment results are called “clinical triggers”. Other team members who receive referrals based on NP-generated clinical triggers include: Licensed Clinical Social Workers, who deliver Problem Solving Therapy to older adults with significant depressive symptoms; Occupational Therapists, who deliver an evidence-based dementia care intervention; Physical Therapists, who deliver an adapted Otago exercise program; Registered Dietician, who provides nutrition and dietary instruction; and Community Health Educator, who provides community resource information to address social determinants of health. All clinical triggers will be detailed in this presentation, along with a description of each intervention delivered by other team members except the Community Health Educator. Case studies will be presented to illustrate how study participants receive multiple interventions from the 3D Team.

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Effects of Dance Therapy on Balance and Risk of Falls in Older Persons

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.756 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 234-235

Author(s):

Esha Chakravarty ◽

Indrani Chakravarty ◽

Ipsito Chakravarty ◽

Prasenjit Bhattacharjee

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Activities Of Daily Living ◽

Day Care ◽

Dance Therapy ◽

Daily Living ◽

Older Persons ◽

Healthy Ageing ◽

Risk Of Falls ◽

Day Care Centres ◽

Therapy Sessions

Abstract Loss of balance and risk of falls is a major problem in older persons. Literature shows increasing use of yoga practices and dance therapy across Indian oldage homes and day care centres to improve balance and reduce risk of falls in older persons. Aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of dance therapy with focus on therapeutic movements derived from Indian classical dances on balance and risk of falls in older adults of Day Care Centres in Calcutta Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India. Total of 24 older adults across 2 day care centres participated in the study attending dance therapy sessions for 3 months. All of them self reported problems of balance and repeated falls alongwith difficulties in performing Activities of Daily Living. Twenty one of them were females and 3 males. The mean age of the participants was 75.5 years. Limits of Stabililty (LOS) was used to measure balance and pre tests and post tests were performed. Results showed that the Limits of Stability were significantly higher (17.5%) in older persons after participating in the dance therapy sessions. This study supports that dance therapy using movements derived from Indian classical dance forms can support older persons to function with reduced risk of falls, improved balance, safely carry out mobility tasks and perform better Activities of Daily Living . Further studies can show how dance therapy can facilitate healthy ageing and influence State policies on healthy ageing.

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REAPing the benefits: development and use of a structured evaluation framework to codify learning resources for Global Health professionals

BMC Medical Education ◽

10.1186/s12909-021-02805-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Meike Schleiff ◽

Elizabeth Hahn ◽

Caroline Dolive ◽

Lillian James ◽

Anant Mishra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Global Health ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Learning Opportunities ◽

Evaluation Framework ◽

Course Quality ◽

Health Leadership ◽

Wide Range ◽

Meaningful Engagement ◽

Online Activities ◽

Competency Domains

Abstract Background The learning opportunities for global health professionals have expanded rapidly in recent years. The diverse array of learners and wide range in course quality underscore the need for an improved course vetting process to better match learners with appropriate learning opportunities. Methods We developed a framework to assess overall course quality by determining performance across four defined domains Relevance, Engagement, Access, and Pedagogy (REAP). We applied this framework across a learning catalogue developed for participants enrolled in the Sustaining Technical and Analytic Resources (STAR) project, a global health leadership training program. Results The STAR learning activities database included a total of 382 courses, workshops, and web-based resources which fulfilled 531 competencies across three levels: core, content, and skill. Relevance: The majority of activities were at an understanding or practicing level across all competency domains (486/531, 91.5%). Engagement: Many activities lacked any peer engagement (202/531, 38.0%) and had limited to no faculty engagement (260/531, 49.0%). Access: The plurality of courses across competencies were offered on demand (227/531, 42.7%) and were highly flexible in pace (240/531, 45.2%). Pedagogy: Of the activities that included an assessment, most matched activity learning objectives (217/531, 40.9%). Conclusions Through applying REAP to the STAR project learning catalogue, we found many online activities lacked meaningful engagement with faculty and peers. Further development of structured online activities providing learners with flexibility in access, a range of levels of advancement for content, and opportunities to engage and apply learning are needed for the field of global health.

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