Aging & mental health
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Aging & mental health · Dec 2020
How widowhood status relates to engagement in advance care planning among older adults: does race/ethnicity matter?
This study investigated whether and to what extent widowhood status is related to engagement in advance care planning (ACP), and further whether race/ethnicity moderated the relation. ⋯ We elaborated on these findings and discussed their implications for understanding the moderating effect of race/ethnicity on the relation between late-life widowhood and engagement in ACP. In order to develop programs that enhance engagement in ACP and reduce racial/ethnic disparities, research must incorporate intersectionality theory with attention to motivations and decision-making style among diverse widows/widowers. The findings from this study could help inform policy makers when developing public health programs and health care reimbursement programs that enhance engagement in ACP among widows/widowers.
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Aging & mental health · Jul 2020
Encounters with adversity: A framework for understanding resilience in later life.
Background and objectives: We explore the internal and external resources that older adults use to negotiate adversity and related to later life. We investigated the experiences older adults had with adversity and explored the factors that promote and protect resilience and the how these factors shaped the process of managing adversity related to aging. Research design and methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 64 resilient adults ranging in age from 53 to 94 years of age, with an average of 71. ⋯ Discussion and implications: Findings suggest that dealing with adversity in later life requires the use of substantial internal and external resources in what can characterized as a proactive fashion. The results are presented as an interpretation of the participants' perceptions of their resilience and the role it plays in self-concept, strategic planning, and proactive practices. Implications for helping to put resilience into everyday practice are considered.
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Aging & mental health · Oct 2019
Family caregivers' perspectives on medication adherence challenges in older people with dementia: a qualitative study.
Objectives: To achieve a better understanding of medication non-adherence determinants in older people with dementia from caregivers' perspectives and possible management solutions to improve medication adherence. Method: Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 20 caregivers of older people with dementia living in the community. Data was analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis based on Braun and Clarke's method. ⋯ Caregivers' lack of knowledge reduces their self-efficacy in managing medications and increases their burden of care. The majority of caregivers used technology and welcomed its use to assist them with their role. Conclusion: Caregivers require knowledge and support such as a multifaceted technology based intervention to assist with medication adherence.
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Aging & mental health · Oct 2019
Gender-stratified analyses reveal longitudinal associations between social support and cognitive decline in older men.
Objectives: Research has extensively examined the relationship between social support and health outcomes in older adults. Little is known, however, about the longitudinal associations between distinct dimensions of perceived social support and incident cognitive decline. The current longitudinal study examined whether dimensions of perceived social support were associated with increased risk of cognitive decline, and if the relationship differed by gender. ⋯ Results: Higher perceived support, overall and in specific domains, at baseline was associated with increased risk of incident cognitive impairment. Further gender-stratified analyses revealed that higher perceived support at baseline was associated with increased risk of incident cognitive impairment only among males. Conclusion: Contrary to previous research, results from this longitudinal study suggest that perceived support might be an important risk factor for cognitive decline, notably in males, and should be integrated into multifactorial risk assessment and intervention procedures.
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Aging & mental health · Oct 2019
Combined effects of cognitive impairment and pre-frailty on future frailty and death in older Mexican Americans.
Objectives: Impaired cognition and pre-frailty are associated with poor health outcomes. However, research has not examined the combined impact of cognitive impairment and pre-frailty on future frailty and mortality among older Mexican Americans. Methods: Data for this analysis came from the 2006-2007 and 2010-2011 waves of the Hispanic EPESE. ⋯ Being cognitively intact and pre-frail at baseline was not significantly associated with being frail at follow-up (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 0.83-3.19) or mortality (HR = 1.29, 95% CI = 0.97-1.71). Conclusions: Comorbid cognitive impairment and pre-frailty is associated with future frailty and mortality in older Mexican Americans. Screening for cognitive impairment may be effective for identifying pre-frail Mexican Americans who are at the highest risk of frailty and mortality.