Browsing by Subject "Older Adults"
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Item Autobiographical Memory Function as a Related Factor to Resilience of Older Adults(2023-05-25) Park, Sangmi; Lee, Chang Dae; Kim, Jung-Ran; Kim, Tae Hui; Park, Ji-HyukPurpose: This study aimed to measure the autobiographical memory function (AMF) of community-dwelling older adults to analyze its association with reminiscence function and with resilience. Methods: A survey was conducted on cognitively and psychologically healthy older adults aged 60 years and older living in the community. The Korean Version of Thinking About Life Experiences, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and Reminiscence Functions Scale for the Elderly were used to measure AMF, resilience, and reminiscence function, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were conducted to examine the associations between variables. Results: The mean age of the participants was 73.14 years (SD = 7.59) (n = 121). The mean score of AMF was 1.99 (SD = 0.72). AMF tended to decrease with age (p = .32). AMFs were positively associated with reminiscence functions (p < .001). After controlling for sociodemographic and health characteristics, AMF was positively associated with resilience (β = 0.229, p < .05). AMF explained 4.2% of the variance in resilience. Conclusion: The study confirmed that AMF is a related factor to the resilience of older adults. Further studies are recommended to measure AMF with various samples, including older adults with depression and cognitive decline, and to analyze it’s association with health-related variables in order to support the advantage of AMF in older adults’ health.Item Comparison Between Dance-Based and Traditional Exercise on Health-Related Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Analysis(2022) Alamilla, Rafael A.; Dent, Shaquitta R.; Soliven Jr., Robert C.; Holt, Tharon; Kaushal, Navin; Keith, NiCole R.Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) includes physical health, cognitive well-being, and the presence of social support. Declines in HRQoL can result in physical impairment, social isolation, and impaired cognition. Regular exercise (EX) participation may lead to better HRQoL among older adults. Dance-oriented group fitness classes (DANCE) can provide participants with structured EX that involves high levels of coordination and social comradery. DANCE EX may be a viable alternative to traditional EX (TRAD) for the maintenance of HRQoL. PURPOSE: To determine whether participation in regular DANCE EX displays higher HRQoL in older adults when compared to those who participate in TRAD EX. METHODS: Twenty-nine older adults (age 69.8 ± 9.6 yrs; 28 females; 93.1% white) enrolled in a cross-sectional study examining those who either participated in DANCE EX or TRAD EX at the time of enrollment. All participants completed the following assessments: the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 subscale for physical functioning (SF-36); the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ); the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE); the Duke Social Support Index (DSSI); and the Senior Fitness Test (SFT). RESULTS: A MANOVA test demonstrated a statistically significant difference in SFT scores between groups (F(2,29) = 3.11 p < 0.02; Wilk's λ = 0.29, partial η2 = 0.17). Univariate ANOVA tests detected a significant different between groups for chair stand (F(2,29) = 18.63, DANCE: 15.38 ± 4.05, TRAD: 9.07 ± 3.69; p < 0.001), 8 ft up-and-go (F(2,29) = 6.57, DANCE: 5.53 ± 1.02, TRAD: 7.87 ± 3.15; p = 0.02), 2 min step test (F(2,29) = 17.09, DANCE: 100.69 ± 19.58, TRAD: 66.47 ± 30.94; p < 0.001), and SF-36 (F(2,29) = 4.14, DANCE: 92.31 ± 5.25, TRAD: 79.31 ± 22.46; p = 0.05). Neither perceived social support nor cognitive function were significantly different between groups (p > 0.05). Weekly MET-mins of moderate (DANCE: 2,487.7 ± 2,226.3, TRAD: 1,752.0 ± 1,734.5) and vigorous (DANCE: 2,870.8 ± 2,829.8, TRAD: 1,920.0 ± 3,301.5) physical activity did not differ between groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: DANCE EX supported higher levels of physical health—and no effect on cognitive well-being and social support—when compared to TRAD EX. DANCE EX may be a viable form of EX to support HRQoL in older adults.Item Depressive Symptoms Mediate Associations between Subjective Memory Complaints, Cognitive Ability, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living(Taylor & Francis, 2023-04-10) Lee, Chang Dae; Foster, Erin R.; Goverover, YaelObjectives: Cognitive ability (CA) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) performance are essential for productive aging. Therefore, it is important to understand if other common issues such as subjective memory complaints (SMCs) and depressive symptoms are related to CA and IADLs, and explore the nature of those relationships. This study aims to explore 1) the associations between SMCs, depressive symptoms, CA, and IADL performance and 2) the role of depressive symptoms in these associations. Method: The study sample included 1,621 community-dwelling oldest-old from the Health and Retirement Study. Results: SMCs were significantly and positively associated with cognitive decline and limitations in IADL performance. Additionally, depressive symptoms mediated the associations between SMCs and cognitive decline and between SMCs and limitations in IADL performance. Conclusion: Depressive symptoms associated with SMCs negatively affect CA and IADL performance. Therefore, healthcare providers should consider and assess SMCs and depressive symptoms in the oldest-old.Item Environmental Adaptations to Enhance Leisure Participation and Mobility for Senior Program(2024-04-23) Hughes, Kelsey; Bednarski, Julie; Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Human Sciences; White, DebraProviding adequate leisure and social engagement opportunities for the older adult population is a key part to healthy aging. Flanner House is a local community center that has a Senior Program, and their goal is to provide the local older adult population with the means to be active within the community. After assessing the current program, the need for environmental modifications to promote leisure and social participation as well as recruit new members was established. This capstone project used occupational therapy-based models to guide the purpose of the research. Then environmental changes made created a safe environment for the seniors to actively engage in leisure and social activities.Item Epilepsy Self-Management in Older Adults: A Qualitative Study(2012-03-19) Miller, Wendy Renee; Buelow, Janice; Bakas, Tamilyn; Habermann, Barbara; Unverzagt, FrederickEpilepsy is the most common chronic neurological condition in the United States, and it is incurable. Those who suffer from it must engage in both collaborative and independent management of their condition for the remainder of their lives. The treatment and care of those with epilepsy must therefore include not only medical interventions, which alone cannot cure the disorder or prevent the disability associated with it, but must also prepare persons for and facilitate their independent management—self-management—of the disorder. Self-management is a process that affects important outcomes including resource utilization, mortality, and quality of life. In the United States, those age 60 years and older have the highest incidence of new-onset epilepsy. Despite the high incidence of epilepsy in this population, coupled with the knowledge that self-management affects important outcomes, a thorough search of the literature suggests that self-management experiences of older adults diagnosed with epilepsy late in life have not been investigated. The purpose of the study was to examine, using a qualitative descriptive design, the self-management experiences of older adults diagnosed with epilepsy at or after age 60. Semi-structured interviews were used to generate data. A total of 20 older adults participated. Major findings indicate that older adults in the sample, and particularly the women, experienced a delay in receiving an epilepsy diagnosis. These older adults experienced multiple problems and life changes since diagnosis—some of which are unique to this population and many of which are amenable to intervention. These older adults devise and execute a variety of management strategies, within a system, that are classified as disease/treatment-focused and problem/life changes-focused. These strategies further are categorized as proactive or reactive, with proactive strategies being pre-planned and effective, and reactive strategies being unplanned and less effective. Knowledge generated from this study reveals the problems experienced by older adults with epilepsy, as well as their management needs. These findings will inform future studies, the aim of which will be to investigate more thoroughly these problems and needs and, ultimately, to inform interventions aimed at resolving this population’s problems and concerns while also improving outcomes.Item Exploring autobiographical memory functions in Korean older adults: Development and application of the Korean version of Thinking About Life Experiences scale (TALE-K)(2021) Park, Sangmi; Lee, Chang Dae; Kim, Tae HuiObjective: The aim of this study was to develop a Korean version of the Thinking About Life Experiences scale (TALE-K) and to analyze the characteristics of autobiographical memory function (AMF) in community-dwelling older adults Methods: To develop TALE-K, a translation and back-translation procedure followed by an understanding test was performed. Then, a survey was conducted to examine the associations of AMF with psychosocial variables using TALE-K, Index of Well-Being (IWB), Meaning in life scale for older adults, Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (RULS), Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). Results: Data from 75 community-dwelling older adults were used for the final analysis. The average scores of all three subscales of TALE-K were below 3 points (less frequent than occasionally). The correlation results showed that TALE-K total score was significantly associated with IWB and the Meaning in life scale for older adults. The multiple linear regression results presented that higher AMF was significantly associated with higher IWB, along with having siblings, higher meaning in life and resilience, and lower loneliness. Conclusion: Including a validation study of TALE-K, studies for understanding the characteristics of AMF in older adults using TALE-K are needed.Item Group Reminiscence Therapy: Improving Quality of Life and Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults in Assisted-Living(2022-04-29) Gordon, Madeline R; DeRolf, Annie; Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Human Sciences; Mize, CallieOlder adults living in residential facilities are at greater risk for decreased quality of life and increased depressive symptoms compared to their community-dwelling counterparts. Research has shown that psychotherapies, such as group reminiscence therapy, can have a positive effect on these domains. This capstone project used survey methods to analyze and assess quality of life and depression in older adults residing in an assisted-living facility before and after participation in a six-week structured group reminiscence therapy program. There were seven people who completed a pre- and post-survey to assess self-reported quality of life and depression preceding and following participation in the group program. Data was analyzed using a paired-samples t-test. There were statistically significant differences in both quality of life and depressive symptoms after participating in a biweekly group program over a period of six weeks. The capstone student developed a group reminiscence therapy binder and provided education to the therapy staff surrounding the use of group reminiscence therapy, how to plan and implement the program, and the results of the project to promote sustainability at the capstone site. The results support the importance placed upon addressing quality of life and depression in residential-living older adults, and emphasize the use of group reminiscence therapy on improving these domains.Item How Older Adult Caregivers Manage Wound Care Procedures, Resources Needed, and Public Policy Implications(2022-10) Swartzell, Kristen Leigh; Fulton, Janet S.; von Gaudecker, Jane R.; Bartlett Ellis, Rebecca J.; Huber, LesaAs healthcare increasingly shifts to home and community-based settings, informal caregiver responsibilities are increasing beyond assistance with activities of daily living to include complex care procedures previously performed by licensed caregivers in clinical settings. With an aging population, increasing numbers of older adults are assuming a caregiving role, a trend that is projected to continue into the foreseeable future. These older caregivers performing complex care procedures such as wound care. The purpose of this dissertation study was to understand how older adult caregivers manage complex wound care procedures. Aims were to 1) develop a theory for how caregivers manage; 2) identify themes related to resources needed, and 3) determine resources available through the existing Medicaid 1915(c) waivers program. Aims 1 and 2 were achieved using qualitative analysis of interviews with 18 older adult caregivers aged 65 and older who were performing wound care in the home for a care recipient. Grounded theory methods were used to develop a theoretical framework describing the process of how the participants managed caregiving. The resultant theory, Pushing Through, consisted of five phases: 1) accepting the role, 2) lacking confidence, 3) creating a system, 4) trusting in self, 5) owning the outcomes. Secondary analysis of the interview data used thematic analysis methods to identify resources used or needed for the caregiver role. The resultant themes were (a) connection to a healthcare professional, (b) written instructions, (c) access to wound care supplies, (d) access to durable medical equipment, (e) financial resources, (f) personal care coverage, and (g) socialization and emotional support. Aim 3 used descriptive analysis of Medicaid 1915(c) home- and community-based services waivers for adults aged 65 and older for all 50 states plus the District of Columbia to identify the frequency and type of waiver services available for supporting caregivers. Results revealed that the number of services offered by state Medicaid waiver programs varied greatly across the country. Respite in varying forms was the most frequently available service. Findings from this dissertation will contribute to the development of evidence-based strategies to sustain older adult caregivers within their caregiving role.Item Improving over-the-counter medication safety for older adults: A study protocol for a demonstration and dissemination study(Elsevier, 2017-09) Chui, Michelle A.; Stone, Jamie A.; Holden, Richard; Medicine, School of MedicineBACKGROUND: Adverse drug events (ADEs) associated with over-the-counter (OTC) medications cause 178,000 hospitalizations each year. Older adults, aged 65 and older, are particularly vulnerable to ADEs. Of the 2.2 million older adults considered at risk for a major ADE, more than 50% are at risk due to concurrent use of an OTC and prescription medication. OBJECTIVES: To refine the intervention and implementation strategy through diagnostic and formative evaluation; to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention for preventing misuse of high-risk OTC medications by older adults; and to evaluate the implementation of the intervention in community pharmacies. METHODS: A system redesign intervention to decrease high-risk OTC medication misuse will be tested to reduce misuse by improving communication between older adults and community pharmacists via the following features: a redesign of the physical environment to sensitize older adults to high-risk OTC medications, and the implementation of a clinical decision tool to support the pharmacist when critically evaluating the older adult's health status. The study will be conducted in three phases: a participatory design phase, a beta phase, and a test phase. The test phase will be conducted in three mass-merchandise stores. A total of 144 older adults will be recruited. A pre (control)/post (intervention) test will determine the effectiveness of the intervention. The primary outcome will be a comparison of proportion of older adults who misuse OTC medication from baseline to post-intervention. The process of implementation in the community pharmacy setting will be evaluated using the taxonomy proposed by Proctor et al. The participatory design phase has been approved by the institution's IRB (2016-0743). PROJECTED IMPACT: It is anticipated that this project, which focuses on achieving systems-based improvement in an underemphasized area of the medication use process, will reduce ADEs associated with inappropriate OTC medication use in older adults.Item Leadership Imperatives to Improve Access for Older Adults to the Meals-on-Wheels Programs in California and Florida, Post-COVID-19(2023-07) Powell, Naci; Stone, Cynthia; Bigatti, Silvia; Czabanowska, KasiaThe United States is witnessing a growing aging population stemming from medical advancements allowing people to live decades longer than the previous generations. The Older Americans Act of 1965 (OAA) was the first federal-level initiative providing comprehensive services for older persons. Title III-C: The Nutrition Service Program of OAA endeavors to “(i) reduce hunger and food insecurity among older individuals, (ii) promote socialization of older individuals, (iii) promote the health and well-being of older individuals, and (iv) delay adverse health conditions for older individuals. Title III-C2: the Home-delivered meals or MOWs program cannot keep up with the demands for their services and have waitlists across the U.S. This descriptive qualitative study used the multiple case study design. Two states with the highest population of older adults, California, and Florida, were examined. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via telephone, and post-reflection memos were created after each interview, along with the completion of a comprehensive document review. Interviews revealed that approximately 499 older adults in California and 22,520 older adults in Florida are waiting for access to MOWs. Kotter’s 8-Step change model was used to formulate a plan for change. This study contributes to the knowledge of the challenges faced by older adults and MOWs programs, and it also highlights how leaders responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.