Policy Implications of a Literature Review of Bariatric Surgery in Older Adults

Abstract This study aimed to examine the trajectory of depressive symptoms among Chinese older adults with disabilities and the role of adult children’s support in predicting trajectory classes of depressive symptoms. Data were drawn from three waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011-2015). The sample included 1420 disabled older adults age 60+ at the baseline and completed all three waves of the data. Growth mixture model shows two-class depressive symptoms trajectories: the higher risk group (25.49%) and the lower risk group (74.51%). Logistic regression results showed that respondents who received a longer term of adult children’s instrumental support were more likely to be classified in a higher risk group after controlling the covariates (OR=1.184, p<0.05), while financial support and the frequency of contacts were not associated with the increased level of depressive symptoms. The policy implications were also discussed in this study.

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Digital Storytelling in Older Adults With Typical Aging, and With Mild Cognitive Impairment or Dementia: A Systematic Literature Review

Journal of Applied Gerontology ◽

10.1177/07334648211015456 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 073346482110154

Author(s):

Adriana Maria Rios Rincon ◽

Antonio Miguel Cruz ◽

Christine Daum ◽

Noelannah Neubauer ◽

Aidan Comeau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Literature Review ◽

Systematic Literature Review ◽

Digital Storytelling ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Form Of Life ◽

Self Confidence ◽

Care Partners

The rates of dementia are on the rise as populations age. Storytelling is commonly used in therapies for persons living with dementia and can be in the form of life review, and reminiscence therapy. A systematic literature review was conducted to examine the range and extent of the use of digital technologies for facilitating storytelling in older adults and their care partners, and to identify the processes and methods, the technologies used and their readiness levels, the evidence, and the associated outcomes. Eight electronic databases were searched: Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Abstracts in Social Gerontology, ERIC, Web of Science, and Scopus. We included 34 studies. Mild cognitive impairment or dementia represented over half of medical conditions reported in the studies. Overall, our findings indicate that the most common use of digital storytelling was to support older adults’ memory, reminiscence, identity, and self-confidence; however, the level of evidence of its effectiveness was low.

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They Do Their Best, but Their Best Isn’t Good Enough: How Social Housing Can Support Older Tenants Aging in Place

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.075 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 23-23

Author(s):

Christine Sheppard ◽

Andrea Austen ◽

Sander Hitzig

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Housing ◽

Service Providers ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Service Model ◽

Building Trust ◽

Age In Place ◽

Access To Health ◽

The City

Abstract Toronto Community Housing (TCH) is the second largest social housing landlord in North America, and is home to over 27,000 older adults, half of whom live in 83 “seniors-designated” buildings. There is inadequate and inconsistent delivery of services in these buildings, negatively impacting tenants’ ability to age in place. We conducted two half-day consultations with service providers (n=74) and tenants (n=100) to identify strategies to improve unit condition, promote stable tenancies (i.e., prevent evictions) and enhance access to health and support services for older adults living in TCH. Through facilitated discussion, participants identified their top two recommendations for each priority area and reflected on the strategies that were hardest and easiest to implement, as well as the ones that would have the most and least impact on quality of life for older tenants. Participants recognized the need for more education as a way to empower older tenants and reduce stigma associated with unit condition issues (e.g., pest problems) and arrears. More frequent touch points with tenants was also recommended as a way to identify older adults at-risk of eviction and work proactively (instead of reactively) to support them. Service providers and tenants believed that system navigators working directly in the buildings would be a key facilitator to building trust and helping older tenants access needed services. Outcomes of the have several program and policy implications for TCH, as they partner with the City of Toronto to design a new integrated service model for the seniors-designated buildings.

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