scholarly journals Reducing Ageism: Changes in Students’ Attitudes after Participation in an Intergenerational Reverse Mentoring Program

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 6870
Author(s):  
Skye N. Leedahl ◽  
Melanie Sereny Brasher ◽  
Dara L. LoBuono ◽  
Bethany M. Wood ◽  
Erica L. Estus
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Student Attitudes ◽  
Mentoring Program ◽  
Digital Learning ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Learning Program ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Age Stereotypes ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Using Data

Ageism is a societal concern that greatly affects the social, emotional, physical, and mental health of older adults. One way to decrease ageist attitudes and improve the treatment of older adults is to address and improve age stereotypes among young adults. Using data from students participating in an intergenerational digital-learning program, the present study investigated change in students’ stereotypes of older adults and aging. We examined change from pre- and post-scores in student attitudes toward older adults and the type of adjectives used to describe older adults. We also analyzed responses to open-ended questions about changes in perception of older adults and aging and interest in working with older adults. Findings showed that: (1) Students’ attitudes improved following participation in the program; (2) students used fewer negative words to describe older adults following participation; (3) answers to open-ended questions demonstrated that many students improved their perceptions of older adults; and (4) many students showed increased interest in working with older adults in their future careers. Programs that reduce age stereotypes should be promoted in order to reduce young people’s harmful ageist stereotypes, ensure respectful treatment of older adults in all workplace and social situations, and increase interest in aging-related fields.

scholarly journals A Theoretical Framework for the Development of Views of One’s Own Aging

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 6-6
Author(s):  
Sarah Marrs ◽  
Jennifer Inker ◽  
Madeline McIntyre ◽  
Leland Waters ◽  
Tracey Gendron
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Health Professions ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Mentoring Program ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Students Attitudes

Abstract Senior mentoring programs have been established that provide medical students exposure to a community-dwelling older adult mentor. The goal of these programs is to expose students to healthy older adults, increase knowledge of geriatrics, and prepare them to care for an aging population. However, even while participating in a senior mentoring program, health professions students still demonstrate some discriminatory language towards older adults (e.g., Gendron, Inker, & Welleford, 2018). In fact, research suggests ageist practices occur, intentionally or not, among all health professions and within assisted living and long-term care facilities (e.g., Bowling, 1999; Dobbs et al., 2008; Kane & Kane, 2005). There is reason to believe that how we feel about other older adults is a reflection of how we feel about ourselves as aging individuals. As part of an evaluation of a Senior Mentoring program, we found that students’ attitudes towards older adults were not significantly improved (t (92) = .38, p = .70). To further explore this, we collected subsequent qualitative data. Specifically, we asked students to respond to the open-ended prompt before and after completing their senior mentoring program: How do you feel about your own aging? Our findings have revealed just how complex students’ views towards aging and elderhood are, pointing to a need to develop a theoretical framework for how these views are formed. Thus, the results of this qualitative grounded theory study illustrate the stages of development medical students’ progress through as they come to accept themselves as aging humans.

scholarly journals Physical and Mental Health Differences Reported by Three Age Groups of Older Adults With Diabetes

2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 233372142110558
Author(s):  
Jungjoo Lee ◽  
Junhyung Kim ◽  
Richard Holden
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Health Differences ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Univariate Analyses

Most studies have classified older adults with diabetes into one group despite substantial variation in health status across different stages of late adulthood. In this study, we examined difference in self-reported physical and mental health among three age groups of older adults with diabetes. Using data from the 2016 National Social Life, Health and Aging Project, Wave 3, we classified 424 individuals diagnosed with diabetes into three age groups, young-old (YO): 50–64 years; middle-old (MO): 65–74; and oldest old (OO): 75+ years. A one-way multivariate analysis of covariance was used to assess group differences, followed by univariate analyses. The results indicate that the YO group reported significantly lower physical health and higher depression than the MO group and higher levels of loneliness than the MO and OO groups. These findings indicate that physical and mental health may differ among different age groups of older adults with diabetes and suggest that the YO might be more vulnerable to diminished physical and mental health than the other age groups.

The effect of time volunteering and charitable donations in later life on psychological wellbeing

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 590-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
NAMKEE G. CHOI ◽  
JINSEOK KIM
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The United States ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Moderate Amount ◽  
Charitable Donations ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Positive Direct

ABSTRACTAlthough accumulated research findings point to both short- and long-term salutary effects of time volunteering on older adults' physical and mental health, little research has been done on the effect of older adults' making charitable donations on their wellbeing. Guided by activity theory and the theory of volunteering and using data from the first and second waves of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS, 1995–1996 and MIDUS II, 2004–2006), this study examined the question of whether time volunteering and charitable donations nine years earlier had a positive direct effect on psychological wellbeing among individuals age 55 and above. Controlling for time 1 (T1) psychological wellbeing and T1 human, cultural, and social capital resources, a moderate amount (up to ten hours monthly) of T1 time volunteering and any amount of T1 charitable donations had a direct positive effect on time 2 (T2; nine years later) psychological wellbeing. The findings also show a greater effect on psychological wellbeing of any amount of charitable donations than of any amount of time volunteering, although the extent of the effect of both time volunteering and charitable donations was small. With regard to human, cultural, and social capital resources, T1 self-rated health and generative quality were significant predictors of T2 psychological wellbeing, but T1 social capital had no significant effect on T2 psychological wellbeing.

scholarly journals Evaluating Service-Learning with Older Adults on Undergraduate College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 943-944
Author(s):  
Sharon Merkin
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Community Service ◽  
Student Attitudes ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Mean Differences ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction: Students in the Frontiers in Human Aging course at UCLA participate in service-learning (SL) with older adults. In 2020, completion of SL coincided with the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. We evaluated the impact of SL on student attitudes on aging and community service in the context of the pandemic. Methods: Students were assigned to senior residential and daycare programs for 18-20 hours of SL. A retrospective pretest-posttest survey asked about attitudes and interests before and after SL and how the COVID-19 pandemic affected these perceptions; 73 (of 103) students responded. Mean differences before and after SL were tested and differences were assessed within groups reporting COVID-19 effects. Results: SL improved students’ attitudes and ability to engage with older adults, knowledge about aging concepts, interest in future work with older adults, attitudes on community service, social well-being and feelings of usefulness (p<0.001). There was no significant change in overall anxiety about aging (p=0.1), however, students showed increased anxiety about losing independence and finances when older (p<0.05). At least 50% of students reported that the COVID-19 pandemic increased their awareness of needs of older adults (81.9%) and decreased connection to their peers (50.7%); the impact of SL remained unchanged by these effects. Conclusion: Despite the overall benefits of SL, increased anxiety about aspects of aging suggests the need to address these concerns. While the COVID-19 pandemic did not seem to affect the impact of SL, this event did seem to influence perceptions about aging and social integration.

scholarly journals EXPLORING THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL PATHWAYS LINKING SOCIAL STATUS AND HEALTH AMONG OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S818-S818
Author(s):  
Heather R Farmer ◽  
Amy Thierry ◽  
Linda A Wray
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Status ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Using Data

Abstract An abundant literature has documented the social patterning of health, where those with lower social status experience poorer outcomes relative to those with higher status. This symposium examines how social status (e.g., age, race/ethnicity, gender, and SES) impacts various aspects of midlife and older adults’ lives and their psychological and physical health. The research presented in this symposium lend support to utilizing a biopsychosocial framework for understanding mechanisms of health and aging. First, Heather Farmer et al. will explore race and gender differences in elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation linked to poor acute and chronic outcomes, using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Linda Wray and Amy Thierry will use HRS data to test whether race/ethnicity and sex interact to produce unequal outcomes in functional status. Jen Wong et al. will utilize data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) survey to investigate the moderating influences of age, gender, marital status, and social support on caregiving and psychological well-being. Collin Mueller and Heather Farmer will use HRS data to examine how perceptions of unfair treatment are associated with healthcare satisfaction and self-rated health across Black, Latinx, and White subpopulations. Taken together, this work highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to better address physical and mental health disparities over the life course. After attending this session, participants will have a stronger understanding of how social status shapes important outcomes in older adults’ lives and some of the mechanisms responsible for these variations.

scholarly journals AGING IS VERY PERSONAL: INTERPROFESSIONAL GERONTOLOGY COURSE IMPROVING STUDENT ATTITUDES TOWARD OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S151-S151
Author(s):  
Jason T Garbarino
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Student Attitudes ◽  
Health Science ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Student Interest ◽  
Learning Program ◽  
Program Construction

Abstract Educational programs that foster the development of a robust healthcare workforce committed to the provision of exemplary care of older adults is vital. The Aging is Very Personal (AIVP) service learning gerontology course has demonstrated the ability to foster future student interest and improved attitudes towards working with older adults. The AIVP program provides mutual benefit for undergraduate students from a variety of health science majors and older adult resident volunteers at local senior living facilities. For students, AIVP serves as direct insight into the lived experience of aging among community older adults. Students are provided the opportunity to practice communication skills, relationship-building skills, and gain an understanding of the multitude of diverse needs within this population. Older adults who volunteer to participate in the activity are provided with the opportunity to speak to and actively engage with students and feel empowered by the opportunity to provide valuable life guidance. This presentation will provide a curricular overview of the steps required to construct, implement, and evaluate an interprofessional gerontology course. A review of student learning objectives, service-learning program construction, selected course topics, and student assignments will be presented. Attitudes and future interest in working with older adults measured in the initial interprofessional student cohort (n=106) will be presented. A pre-established, validated tool utilized to effectively measure student attitudes and interest pre/post-course participation will be reviewed.

scholarly journals Policy Series: The Impact of Ageism on Health and Efforts to Address It Through Reframing Aging

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 722-722
Author(s):  
Erica Solway
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Research Education ◽  
National Poll ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Ageism can manifest in a variety of ways including in institutional policies and practices, interpersonal interactions, older adults’ internalization of ageist stereotypes, and through the media. While major incidents of age-based discrimination and their negative effects on health are more recognized, older adults also experience less momentous, but still harmful ageism in their day-to-day lives. These types of everyday ageism are also harmful to health. This symposium will highlight recent research from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging on self-reported experiences of everyday ageism among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults age50-80 and its connections to physical and mental health outcomes. Next, another researcher also using data from the National Poll on Healthy Aging will explore the prevalence of positive attributes of aging, its relationships to health, and ways in which it may buffer older adults from the adverse health consequences of ageism. Then speakers will highlight the Reframing Aging initiative and the ways in which GSA and other organizations are leading a national effort to address ageism through education and dissemination of research-based resources. This session will feature research, education, and advocacy efforts and will focus on the policy implications of efforts to better understand the prevalence of and strategies to counter the effects of ageism.

The Impact of TimeSlips on Undergraduate Students in Service Learning With Older Adults

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Sabine Heuer
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Attitude Scale ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Attitudes Toward Older Adults ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Attitude Shift ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Journal Entries

Purpose Future speech-language pathologists are often unprepared in their academic training to serve the communicative and cognitive needs of older adults with dementia. While negative attitudes toward older adults are prevalent among undergraduate students, service learning has been shown to positively affect students' attitudes toward older adults. TimeSlips is an evidence-based approach that has been shown to improve health care students' attitudes toward older adults. The purpose of this study is to explore the change in attitudes in speech-language pathology students toward older adults using TimeSlips in service learning. Method Fifty-one students participated in TimeSlips service learning with older adults and completed the Dementia Attitude Scale (DAS) before and after service learning. In addition, students completed a reflection journal. The DAS data were analyzed using nonparametric statistics, and journal entries were analyzed using a qualitative analysis approach. Results The service learners exhibited a significant increase in positive attitude as indexed on the DAS. The reflective journal entries supported the positive change in attitudes. Conclusions A noticeable attitude shift was indexed in reflective journals and on the DAS. TimeSlips is an evidence-based, patient-centered approach well suited to address challenges in the preparation of Communication Sciences and Disorders students to work with the growing population of older adults.

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