bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fostering Continuity of Care for Massachusetts Long-Term Care Residents on Medication for Opioid Use Disorder
Authors: Bertrand Rosanna , Moore Chiara , Fillo Katherine , Saunders Katherine , Baker Stephanie , Berninger Amy , Mota Teresa , Keane Nicole
Published: December 2020

In 2016, the CDC estimated that 2.1 million Americans had Opioid Use Disorder (OUD); about 1.8 million related to prescribed painkillers. Older adults are especially susceptible; SAMHSA estimates that 2.7 million older adults will misuse prescription drugs by 2020. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) issued a 2016 Circular Letter advising long-term care facility (LTCF) administrators that, if otherwise eligible for admission, facilities are expected to admit individuals diagnosed with OUD, and provide medication for OUD (MOUD) as prescribed. Yet, many facilities express concern for admitting residents with OUD. The MDPH and their partners are conducting a multi-faceted training/technical support (TS) program to foster best practices across the continuum of care, targeting LTCF. The 15-month program consists of in-person learning sessions, a comprehensive toolkit, on-site TS, weekly contact, and a peer-to-peer webinar. Pre-training data indicated that 24 of 42 recruited LTCFs had not admitted residents with OUD. Although licensed LTCF practitioners can obtain a waiver to prescribe certain MOUD, only 4 of the 28 LTCF medical directors interviewed had done so. Subject matter experts led topic-specific discussions in the first learning session to educate on OUD/MOUD, dispel myths, make community connections, and provide resources. Almost all participants agreed that the session met the objectives of understanding OUD as a chronic disease, recognizing the stigma of OUD, gaining knowledge of MOUD treatments, and obtaining strategies to enhance best practices across the continuum of care. All items on the pre/post-session assessments indicated a significant increase in understanding (37% versus 60%, respectively).
Assessing Age-Friendliness in Higher Education: Introducing the Inventory and Campus Climate Surveys
Authors: Silverstein Nina , Morrow-Howell Nancy
Published: December 2020

The establishment of the Age-Friendly University (AFU) network and adoption of the 10 principles by institutions of higher education, was a major advance in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of promoting healthy and active aging through opportunities for intergenerational communities. AGHE endorsed the principles in 2016, since then over 60 institutions have joined the global network. Tools are needed to identify benchmarks that institutions can use to assess progress toward realizing the AFU principles on their own campuses. This symposium shares work done at the University of Massachusetts Boston, to develop and refine the AFU Inventory and Campus Climate Surveys (ICCS), a survey-based assessment instrument (developed from a prior pilot study in 2018) based on the premise that it is necessary to assess both the institution’s actual age-friendly practices and its perceived age-friendliness or campus climate. In August, 2019, the University of Massachusetts President’s office endorsed the 10 principles for the entire UMass system of 5 campuses, presenting an opportunity to assess a multi-campus system. To date, we have surveyed UMass Boston, UMass Lowell, UMass Dartmouth and UMass Medical (n=2,704). Testing and refinement of the AFU ICCS will contribute to both short- and long-term recommendations to assist in strategic planning by higher education institutions. Whitbourne will present the Inventory reporting tool. Bowen will present the Climate Survey. Gautam and Revell will describe the AFU work at UMass Lowell and UMass Dartmouth respectively and the use of the assessment tools on their campuses; Morrow-Howell will serve as Discussant.
The AFU Campus Inventory Tool for Assessing Age Friendliness in the Objective Environment
Authors: Whitbourne Susan , Silverstein Nina , Bowen Lauren , Jansen Taylor
Published: December 2020

The AFU principles establish a framework that universities can use to set aspirational goals. As AFU principles become more widely adopted, there will be a need for institutions of higher education to evaluate their progress toward achieving these goals. In part, the AFU goals represent structural elements of the campus, or the “objective” environment. The AFU Campus Inventory provides an efficient, form-based, reporting tool for use by relevant campus departments to provide information on age-friendly practices, such as the prevalence of older people on campus as faculty, staff, and students; the provision of courses on aging, advising for older community members, and such amenities as reduced prices for various services. In this session, the Inventory will be demonstrated utilizing preliminary data from campuses in Massachusetts to illustrate its feasibility. Participants will be shown how to use the Inventory for adaptation at their own institutions.
Age-Friendly University Inventory: Process and Outcome from UMass Lowell Campus
Authors: Gautam Ramraj , Melillo Karen Devereaux , Hostetler Andrew
Published: December 2020

The UMass Lowell Center for Gerontology Research and Partnerships (CGRP) has been on the Age-Friendly University (AFU) trajectory since April 2018. In April 2019, at the CGRP-sponsored 5th Annual Healthy Aging Living Well Forum, qualitative analysis of table-top discussions identified themes related to the AFU Principles: Accessibility, care, communication community education, flexibility, finances/money, recreation, inclusive society, technology and transportation. In September 2019, in collaboration with the UMass President’s Office and UMass Boston’s Gerontology Institute, we launched the AFU Climate Survey to faculty, staff, and students on the UML campus. This was followed by the AFU Inventory assessments of 12 key campus leaders and offices. Three CGRP members solicited input via email, follow-up telephone communication and information from the University website. The results presented will focus on how other educational institutions might consider proceeding with this process and how to adapt the Inventory to meet other unique campus characteristics.
Developing and Refining an End-of-Life Care Manual for Chinese Immigrant Caregivers
Authors: Liu Mandong , Chi Iris
Published: December 2020

Planning for end-of-life (EOL) care in advance can enhance one’s quality of life at EOL and decrease caregiver stress and anxiety. Culturally sensitive educational programs are needed to educate the public and encourage advance planning. This paper describes the team’s efforts to develop and evaluate an EOL manual designed for Chinese immigrant caregivers. In 2019, one-on-one interviews were conducted with six Chinese caregivers and five Chinese geriatric social workers in Los Angeles County to obtain their feedback on manual improvement. Detailed suggestions included adding more content in the introduction to decrease fear for discussing death-related topics, such as using the concept of “life in four seasons”; having more case examples as how to initiate advance planning conversation with the older adult under different circumstances; adding content on how advance care planning and its documentation is legally protected, etc. Culturally sensitive advance planning community education is feasible among immigrant populations.
Strategies to Generate Endorsement on Campus: Aligning AFU Principles With University Strategic Plans and Goals
Authors: Barragan Cassandra , Walsh Sarah , Zakrajsek Andrea
Published: December 2020

Over the course of two semesters, Aging Studies Program faculty affiliates at Eastern Michigan University generated interest and support in the pursuit of applying for the AFU designation. During this time, we learned that when the AFU principles were aligned with university strategic plans and goals of various academic units, we were overwhelmingly endorsed at all levels of the university. By using the AFU principles as foundation for our efforts, we approached stakeholders with a value-added perspective. This approach ensured that when we did receive endorsement, we also maintained the integrity of the AFU principles while also speaking to administrative and departmental concerns, such as enrollment, intergenerational programs, and community engagement. We will discuss strategies to build interest at all levels of the university when pursuing or building your AFU designation and provide ways to identify relevant stakeholders to build capacity while seeking endorsement for joining the AFU global network.
Medically Assisted Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder Among Elderly and Non-Elderly Medicare Beneficiaries
Authors: Miles Jennifer , Crystal Stephen , Treitler Peter , Hermida Richard
Published: December 2020

Although medication for addiction treatment (MAT) is known to be the most effective treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), these medications are widely underutilized, especially among older adults and racial/ethnic minorities. Of the three main MAT modalities, Medicare covered buprenorphine and naltrexone in 2017; methadone was not covered until 2020. We examined MAT prescribing among elderly compared with non-elderly Medicare beneficiaries. Our sample was drawn from a ~40% random sample of 2017 Medicare beneficiaries with Part D coverage and was comprised of elderly beneficiaries (age 65+) with OUD (N=112,314) or who experienced opioid poisoning (N=9,657), and non-elderly Medicare beneficiaries (the Medicare disability population, age 0-64) with OUD (N=161,423) or opioid poisoning (N=13,591). MAT was underutilized in both Medicare populations, but especially in the elderly population. Of elderly beneficiaries with OUD, 5.1% and 0.8% were prescribed buprenorphine and naltrexone, respectively, compared to 15.5% and 2.3% among non-elderly. Among elderly beneficiaries with opioid poisoning, 3.1% and 0.8% were prescribed buprenorphine and naltrexone, respectively, compared to 10.1% and 3.2% in the non-elderly population. Sharp racial/ethnic disparities were identified within each age group. These findings highlight the need to expand access to MAT for Medicare beneficiaries, particularly older adults among whom underutilization is pronounced. Several recent Medicare policy changes have sought to address this issue, but continuing efforts and close monitoring are warranted in an effort to dramatically increase rates of treatment for elderly with opioid use disorder.
How GWEPs Are Impacting Age Friendly and Dementia-Friendly Communities: Baystate Health
Authors: Brennan Maura
Published: December 2020

Baystate has collaborated with Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to secure designation for Springfield, MA as both age and dementia friendly. We worked together so our city could be recognized as the first in the nation which was age and dementia friendly and also had an age-friendly health system within it. Baystate joined a Springfield coalition of CBOs; with the assistance of the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Coalition, AARP, State and local Elder Affairs, the Massachusetts Councils on Aging and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, we secured and celebrated all three recognitions at a public forum in June 2019. The event was attended by the Mayor, Baystate Health and local Elder Affairs leaders, the press and other stakeholders as well as older adults from the community. Along with ongoing efforts to improve transportation and housing, access to age-friendly health care is now also an additional area of focus for the coalition.
Age-Friendly University Initiative Applied to Health Professions Education Programs
Authors: Gugliucci Marilyn
Published: December 2020

Opportunities for health professions (HP) education programs to make a mark in the Age Friendly University (AFU) initiative abound. Key approaches are introduced, and insights for mounting these efforts are discussed, for HP education programs based on the AFU global network initiative and the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE). Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that offer HP education, have various options to establish and enhance gerontology/geriatrics competence and confidence for their students. AFU guiding principles applicable to HP education allow health gerontology faculty to be catalysts to promote and integrate the AFU guiding principles within their program’s existing curriculum. This can contribute to their institution’s readiness to apply for the AFU designation, advance the institution’s age friendliness, and/or set up the program to apply for the AGHE Program of Merit (POM) for Health Professions Programs. All prepare future HP professions providers to improve older adult health care. Part of a symposium sponsored by Directors of Aging Centers Interest Group.
Older Adults as Covert Operatives in a First-Year Undergraduate Course on Aging
Authors: Carpenter Brian , McDarby Meghan , Galucia Natalie , Morrow-Howell Nancy
Published: December 2020

Age-friendly university programs are increasing in number, yet little research has evaluated how older adults shape classroom experiences. This pilot study tested one method for analyzing intergenerational classroom dynamics. Two small-group discussion sections for an introductory class on aging included older adults (n = 3 per section) and undergraduates (n = 15 per section). Class sessions on four topics (health, sexuality, housing, relationships) were video recorded. Overall, older adults spoke proportionally more during class discussions than would have been expected by chance alone. They participated most during the session about sexuality and least in the section that addressed relationships. Specific contributions from older adults included reflections on class activities, topic-specific personal anecdotes, and reactions to younger students. Research methods to investigate intergenerational learning are emerging, and this study provides one preliminary approach. We discuss additional ideas to bring empirical rigor to this emerging field of study.
Older Adults’ Willingness to Adopt Technologies
Authors: Sharit Joseph , Czaja Sara , Moxley Jerad
Published: December 2020

Willingness to adopt technology is an important precursor to technology adoption. This talk will present findings from a study which examined 187 older adults’ willingness to adopt a variety of mobile technologies supporting domains such as transportation, health/wellness, and lifelong learning. Participants aged 65 years and older, including 144 females, were presented with Power Point slides describing each of five technologies, and subsequently rated each technology on their willingness to adopt it as well as on the technology’s perceived value, the perceived mental effort required to learn it, confidence in one’s ability to learn it, the degree of help available from family/friends for help learning it, and privacy concerns. Other measures, including self-assessment of skills, technology readiness, technology skills, and cognitive abilities, were also collected. Interrelationships among these and other study variables will be presented as a basis for a model for predicting older adults’ willingness to adopt these technologies.
Social Associative Learning and Trust Formation Across Adulthood
Authors: Seaman Kendra , Christensen Alexander , Senn Katherine , Cooper Jessica , Cassidy Brittany
Published: December 2020

Trust is a key component of social interaction. Older adults, however, often exhibit excessive trust relative to younger adults. One explanation is that older adults may learn to trust differently than younger adults. Here, we report a study examining how younger (N=36) and older adults (N=37) learn to trust over time. Participants completed a classic iterative trust game with three partners (15 trials each). Younger and older adults shared similar amounts but there were differences in how they shared that money. Compared to younger adults, older adults invested more with untrustworthy partners and less with trustworthy partners. As a group, older adults displayed less learning than younger adults and computational modeling suggests that older adults used different learning strategies. These findings suggest that older adults attend to and learn from social cues differently from younger adults. Neuroimaging results focused on reward processing will also be discussed.
Edward R. Roybal Centers for Translational Research in the Behavioral and Social Sciences of Aging
Authors: Onken Lisa
Published: December 2020

The goal of the Roybal Center program is the translation and integration of basic behavioral and social research findings into interventions to improve older people ‘s lives and the capacity of institutions to adapt to societal aging. Roybal Centers are structured within the conceptual framework of the multidirectional, translational NIH Stage Model to produce potent and implementable principle-driven behavioral interventions. The NIA’s Division of Behavioral and Social Research currently supports thirteen Roybal Centers, five of which have a primary focus on issues related to dementia care and caregiving support. Each Dementia Care Center has a unique focus that addresses issues such as social isolation, caregiving mastery, community-based resources and racial/ethnic minority health promotion. Additionally, a focus on the utilization of data science and behavioral economics related to palliative care, as well as a focus on the application of technology to improve assessments and interventions complete the scope of research endeavors.
Not Just Sitting By: Family Caregivers’ Perspectives on Triadic Communication
Authors: Washington Karla
Published: December 2020

Most studies of communication in gerontology and palliative care focus on dyadic communication. In reality, encounters in palliative oncology very often involve three or more people: a healthcare professional, a patient, and a family caregiver. This triadic communication differs in important ways from communication involving only two parties. In this secondary analysis of qualitative data collected during a randomized controlled trial of a psychosocial intervention for family caregivers receiving palliative oncology services, researchers explored family caregivers’ (n = 63) perspectives on triadic communication encounters involving themselves, the patient and one or more clinicians. Family caregivers tended to appreciate clinicians’ efforts to involve them in communication, rather than regarding them as “just sitting by” the patient. Many perceived that their own wishes regarding information provision were often ignored and reported that their own coping and wellbeing were not often assessed outside of encounters with the specialist palliative care team.
Use of Home Care Services Reduces Caregiving-Related Strain in Long-Distance Caregivers
Authors: Falzarano Francesca , Cimarolli Verena , Boerner Kathrin , Horowitz Amy , Siedlecki Karen
Published: December 2020

Long-distance caregivers (LDCs) comprise a growing yet relatively understudied segment of the caregiving population. The current study (N=166) investigated the mediating role of home care hours on the association between primary caregiving stressors (care recipient [CR] levels of cognitive and functional impairment) and LDCs’ perceived strain (perceived interference of caregiving with other family responsibilities and work). Results from path analyses showed that home care hours fully mediated the negative effect of CRs’ functional impairment on family interference and the negative effect of CRs’ cognitive impairment on work interference. Further, the negative effect of CRs’ cognitive impairment on family interference was partially mediated by home care hours. Thus, a mediating role of home care service hours in the associations between objective stressors and LDC strain was established for both family and work domains. Findings highlight the potential of home care services in alleviating strain in LDCs of community-dwelling CRs.
Formal and Informal Caregiving: Implications for Paid Family Caregivers Under the Consumer-Directed Model
Authors: Gallopyn Naomi , Boerner Kathrin , Iezzoni Lisa
Published: December 2020

The case of paid family caregiving under the consumer-directed model introduces unique complexities to patient care, especially in the presence of other formal caregiving. The purpose of this study was to address the interface of paid and family caregiving by exploring scenarios where the two types of caregiving overlap or are merged into one role. Participants were 20 formal caregivers and 21 persons with significant disability, recruited with a purposive sampling approach. In-depth, qualitative interviews were conducted with caregivers and patients to triangulate information from different perspectives. Thematic analysis uncovered pathways into formal caregiving that involved a history of family caregiving, transitions from informal family caregiving to formal family caregiving under the consumer-directed model, and challenges that emerged when formal and informal caregivers co-exist in the same environment. Implications for patient and caregiver experiences in care contexts where the boundaries between paid and unpaid care are blurred are discussed.
Challenges and Insights: Psychosocial Stressors, Physiology, and Health Disparities
Authors: Allen Julie Ober , Mezuk Briana
Published: December 2020

The persistence of health disparities demonstrates the need for more comprehensive research to better understand key methodological approaches and intervention leverage points among the complex relationships between psychosocial, environmental, and biological factors influencing patterns of health among older adults. Growing empirical evidence implicates differential exposure to chronic stressors that are rooted in the social environment and related social inequities in premature aging and development of chronic diseases among socially marginalized groups. This, in turn, leads to health disparities within the older adult population. Mechanisms linking stressors and health, however, remain poorly understood. This symposium assembles research examining challenges associated with measuring exposure to stressors, relationships between stressors and health outcomes, and the insight provided by stress-based frameworks for understanding mechanisms of health disparities. Allen and colleagues use comprehensive measures of exposure to stressors to identify stressor characteristics most closely associated with diurnal cortisol dysregulation and Black-White disparities, which are risk factors for adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes. Kalesnikava and colleagues will introduce methods for exploring relationships between self-reported stress and another cortisol stress biomarker—cortisol reactivity to an acute stress event. Byrd and colleagues round out the symposium with a presentation on the directionality of relationships between perceived stress and depressive symptoms contributing to health disparities among Blacks. Discussant Jackson will explore implications of these studies for more nuanced research related to mechanisms of health disparities and for more targeted approaches to the prevention of health disparities among older adults.
Leisure Barriers Among Older Adults in Low-Income Housing: Demographic, Health, and Contextual Correlates
Authors: Sardina Angela , Tan Shyuan Ching , Gamaldo Alyssa
Published: December 2020

Despite increased research pertaining to the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial benefits of leisure engagement, few studies have explored leisure barriers experienced by older adults residing in subsidized housing, and how these barriers relate to sociodemographic, health, and psychosocial characteristics. Thirty-nine Black and White residents (M=68.01, SD=10.26) from two subsidized housing communities (Wilmington, NC and State College, PA) were surveyed as part of the Tailoring Environments for Active Life Engagement study. Findings indicated that lack of available activities and low awareness of activities, limited social connections, and transportation were the most common barriers identified. Additionally, individuals with lesser years of education and poorer quality of education, worse mental and physical health, poorer cognitive function, as well as those experiencing loneliness and social isolation reported significantly more leisure barriers (ps <.05). More research is needed that examines micro-, meso-, and macro-level factors associated with leisure participation for older low-income housing residents.
East Meets West: Developing Support Systems to Meet the Diverse Needs of Older Adults in the United States and in China
Authors: Wu Bei , Lu Jiehua
Published: December 2020

With the rapid growth of the aging population around the world, developing support systems for older adults has become increasingly important. It is crucial for researchers， educators, policy makers to share their experience and knowledge to initiate innovative and supportive programs and services that will meet the challenges of the aging population. The East meets West Forum is a platform that researchers from the Gerontological Society of America and the Chinese Association for Gerontology and Geriatrics established in 2017. Previously, the East meets West Forum focused on the issues of the long-term care (LTC) workforce, LTC services, and programs for older adults in the U.S and in China. In this session, we include four presentations (two from the U.S. and two from China) that focus on a broader area of support systems, beyond LTC, that would meet the diverse needs of older adults from housing, wellness visits, family caregiving system, to end of life care. More specially, it includes: 1) expand housing services for low-income older adults; 2) strengthen family support systems and promote intergenerational support; 3) develop a comprehensive program for early detection and treatment of dementia at primary care settings; and 4) examine diversity in the family care patterns for the oldest old. This session provides opportunities for aging researchers/educators from two countries to share their knowledge and experience on developing supportive systems for older adults and their families. It also provides policy discussions on improving health and family caregiver support services in these two countries.
Exploring Longitudinal Links and Mechanisms Connecting Views on Aging With Health in Later Life
Authors: Brothers Allyson , Wurm Susanne , Ayalon Liat
Published: December 2020

A robust body of evidence points to the importance of views on aging (VoA) in influencing developmental outcomes in later life. Now that this connection has been well-established, research has turned to examine mechanisms, processes, and pathways by which VoA and health are interconnected throughout adult development. The presentations in this symposium use longitudinal datasets to address the pressing question of how VoA and health are associated over time. Timescales range from 6-months post-hospital stay, to 9 year longitudinal follow-up. Presentations will provide evidence concerning both physical and mental health conditions and symptoms (e.g., Brothers et al; Schönstein et al.). Furthermore, the studies focus on various aging outcomes, ranging from functional ability (Brothers et al.) to recovery from hospital stays (Blawert et al.), to sensory loss (Wettstein et al.), to specific medical conditions including depression, back pain, rheumatism (Schönstein et al.). Three of the talks provide evidence for the effects of VoA on health, and one presents evidence of specific health conditions as longitudinal predictors of later VoA. Thus, an important question that this cohesive set of talks will raise is the issue of bi-directionality, by which VoA affect health, and vice versa. Concluding the symposium, the discussant will share insights about how these presentations contribute to the current understanding of mechanisms of the associations between VoA and health, and the role of VoA for ageism. She will additionally provide an overview of new areas for future research that can help to advance the understanding of these complex interactions.
Desire for Spiritual Growth: A Neglected Outcome Variable
Authors: Patrick Julie Hicks , Ebert Alexandria , Carney Amy Knepple
Published: December 2020

Social support facilitates reaching health-related goals, but has rarely been examined in relation to achieving religious/spiritual (R/S) goals. Using data from 300+ adults (M age = 40.3, range 18 to 87 yrs) , we examine the prevalence of R/S goals and the influence of age and social interactions on reaching these goals. Multinomial logistic regressions showed that adults who did not have a goal to be more religious/spiritual reported fewer positive interactions, fewer negative interactions, and were younger than those who continued to work toward their R/S goals. Those who had the intention to become more R/S but were not working toward it were younger than those who persisted. The importance of R/S goals are discussed within the context of other self-improvement goals. Unique aspects of these goals and the ways in which social interactions support achieving these goals are highlighted.
Geropsychology Training Innovations: Understanding Ageism and Adultism in Students and New Training Initiatives
Authors: King Katherine , Graham Kirsten
Published: December 2020

In order to address the geropsychology workforce shortage, educators are trying to better understand the attitudes, interests, and needs of prospective students as well as expand educational opportunities and specialty competence. This symposium reports on several recent and ongoing research projects and educational initiatives which can together inform future efforts to recruit students into the field. King et al. discuss how concerns about adultist oppression might keep young adults from entering the field. This study describes a new adultism measure which positively correlates with ageism and negatively correlates with both experience and interest in working with older adults. Together with Strong and Graham’s study looking at ageism among North American and non-North American students, these studies remind us of the continued effort needed to better understand and combat age-related oppression of individuals at both ends of the lifespan. Two studies share specific educational initiatives addressing areas of essential but undervalues areas of training for geropsychologists. O’Malley and Graham report on the integration of health policy training into undergraduate education, while Jacobs et al. describing a new performance-based evaluation tool for training in the assessment of decision-making capacity. Postgraduate specialization continues to be crucial in establishing and growing the discipline of geropsychology. Mlinac and Smith report on the development of a mentorship program for professionals on the path to board certification.
The Hidden Cost of Age Oppression: Adultism, Ageism, and Interest in Serving Older Adults
Authors: King Katherine , Graham Kirsten , Reid Briana , Church Molly , Rosario Juan
Published: December 2020

Adultism is an underappreciated influence on young adults’ career choices and a hidden contributing factor to the geropsychology workforce shortage. This study reports on the development of an Adultist Concerns scale and its correlations with several factors relevant to careers in aging. Clinical psychology doctoral students (n = 109) completed the new scale along with measures of ageism, training interests, and experience working with older adults. The Adultist Concerns scale had strong internal consistency (α = .952) and factor loadings .853 and .929. Females scored significantly higher than males (p = .003). There were significant positive correlations between Adultist Concerns and both overall ageist behaviors (p = .002) and negative ageist behaviors specifically (p = .002). Adultist concerns were significantly negatively correlated with age (p = .000), interest in working with older adults (p = .003), and experience with this population (p = .043).
Integrating Health Policy Education Into an Undergraduate Adult Development and Aging Psychology Course
Authors: Malley Kelly O , Graham Kirsten
Published: December 2020

Active engagement in health policy by psychologists is vital to the well-being of the aging population; however, few feel prepared to engage in policy making or know how to get involved. A novel policy curriculum was developed and integrated into an undergraduate psychology course. N = 34 students completed assessments of policy knowledge and assignments designed to increase their skills, knowledge, and critical thinking about health policy. Students reported strong beliefs that psychological research can impact health policies and a desire to understand how to use research to inform policy; however, they reported less understanding of how policy is made. Preliminary evidence suggests students are interested in applying psychological research to policy processes; however, they do not know how to get involved. Policy education was easily integrated into the course, and further study is needed to determine students’ future engagement in health policy and change health policy skills.
Innovative Approaches to Inclusive Design for Technology to Support Aging With Disability: Examples From TechSAge
Authors: Mitzner Tracy , Ordway Anne
Published: December 2020

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.
Using Inclusive Design to Develop a Tele–Tai Chi Intervention for Older Adults With Long-Term Mobility Disability
Authors: Mitzner Tracy , Remillard Elena , Cohen Kara , Chen Jordan
Published: December 2020

Tele-technologies may be able to increase access to evidence-based exercise interventions for adults aging with long-term mobility disabilities. This population experiences substantial barriers in attending such programs in person, including lack of transportation to classes, inaccessible buildings where classes are held, and lack of appropriate modifications offered for this population of older adults. It is critical to overcome such barriers to ensure this population has an opportunity to receive the benefits of evidence-based programs. In this study we are translating an in-person evidence-based tai chi intervention, Tai Chi for Arthritis, to an online platform using videoconferencing software for those aging with long-term mobility disabilities. We will describe our approach of including users from the target population and industry representatives (videoconferencing software developer, Tai Chi for Arthritis program developer as well as local master trainer) in the adaptation of the intervention and present the key findings from doing so.
Loneliness and Trust: An East-West Comparison in Europe
Authors: Aartsen Marja , Rapolienė Gražina
Published: December 2020

Loneliness in later life is two times more prevalent in Eastern and Southern European countries than in Northern and Western European countries. One explanation that is put forth is the difference in expectations about social relations. We examine a not often evaluated role of trust in society as factor contributing to the country differences in loneliness. We adopt the trust-as-antecedent model of social integration, and assume that social integration is associated with loneliness. We use data of respondents aged 65 and over participating in the European Social Survey and conduct a latent factors path analysis to examine the effect of trust in the system and trust in people on social capital and loneliness. Loneliness is two times more prevalent in Eastern Europe than the rest of Europe (26% vs 10%), levels of trust are substantially lower in Eastern European countries, which in turn is associated with higher levels of loneliness.
Meaning in Life and Meaningful Engagement in the Moment: Lives of Prosocial Leaders and Volunteers
Authors: Nakamura Jeanne , Mann Ajit
Published: December 2020

Recent years have seen growing interest in older adults’ sense of meaning in life, a core dimension of eudaimonic well-being throughout adulthood that has been associated in later life with reduced morbidity and mortality. Currently, the relations between this global sense of meaning in life and the experience of meaningful engagement in the moment remain largely unexplored, particularly in later lives that are distinguished by high levels of meaning. Multilevel analysis of ESM data from prosocial leaders and volunteers indicated that feelings of meaningful engagement fluctuated in daily life for both groups, even while questionnaire data showed that global sense of meaning in life was high. Examining basic sources of fulfillment (e.g., sense of relatedness) revealed type of involvement (leadership vs. volunteerism) affected the source(s) of fulfillment that connected meaning at the global and momentary levels. Implications for theory, research, and applied work on meaning and prosocial commitment are discussed.
Sensory Health and Social Well-Being
Authors: Tanner Corinna , Yorgason Jeremy , Ehrlich Joshua
Published: December 2020

Scientific inquiry into the psychological and social issues surrounding age-related sensory impairments has focused on ways in which the conditions are a catalyst for negative outcomes. However, investigating the patterns associated with negative life events can offer guidance on ways to circumvent or mitigate negative outcomes, and even to foster and facilitate the positive outcomes of growth and thriving. This symposium will present findings from individual studies that describe how social well-being among older adults with sensory impairments can be protected, by assessing social isolation as a point of intervention to maintain cognitive function and to promote post-traumatic growth, and by understanding the unique social considerations relevant to Hispanic older adults, and to improve the physical safety of older drivers with sensory and cognitive impairment by reducing exposure-adjusted motor vehicle crash risk. Authors will present both cross sectional and longitudinal, population based data, and will explore patterns and relationships between known variables associated with sensory impairments including depression, cognitive processing, cognitive functioning, social network, social isolation, driving patterns, and posttraumatic growth. Findings from the Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (LongROAD) study, the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), and data from a mixed methods study, underscore the reality that the negative outcomes associated with age related sensory impairments are not necessarily imminent and that there may be multiple intervention points to optimize the social well-being of older adults with sensory impairments.
Cohort Differences in Social Participation in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project
Authors: Waite Linda , Duvoisin Rebeccah , Kotwal Ashwin
Published: December 2020

Has American society become more socially disconnected as Robert Putnam argues in Bowling Alone? Claude Fischer disputes this contention with evidence that Americans remain about as connected to friends and family as in the past. We address this debate with data for older adults from the National Social Life, Health and Aging Study, collected in 2005, 2010, and 2015. We compare social participation as reported at ages 57 to 68 for members of the Silent Generation cohort vs the Baby Boom cohort. We find that the gender gap in social participation evident for the Silent Generation does not exist at all for younger Baby Boomers, only appearing after age 62. These same cohort differences appear for participation in religious services and organized groups. This suggest that the gendered separation of social roles that characterized older generations is becoming less pronounced, with implications for social support and social isolation.
Social Decision Making and Suicidal Behavior in Late-Life Depression
Authors: Szanto Katalin
Published: December 2020

Social motivations to engage in suicide in late life frequently include interpersonal problems and escape from perceived defeat. To describe decision making patterns that may contribute to the catastrophic decision to take one’s life, we used behavioral experiments and assessed cognitive abilities and personality traits. We found that neuroticism, low extraversion, and low conscientiousness characterize older adults who contemplate suicide and those with low-lethality suicide attempts. Employing a novel version of the Ultimatum Game, we measured empathy’s moderating response to social conflict. We found that older suicide attempters were less influenced by empathy scenarios, indicating that a failure to integrate others’ emotions into decisions may undermine social deterrents to suicide. To simulate social status loss, we used a newly developed, competitive task (rigged toward primarily losing outcomes) paired with performance ranking. We found that suicide attempters, especially those with narcissistic traits, engaged in more excessive compensatory behaviors than older non-attempters.
Psychological Distress Among Older LGBT and Non-LGBT Asian Americans: The Influence of Minority Stress
Authors: Li Chien-Ching , Matthews Alicia , Dong XinQi
Published: December 2020

Emerging data from epidemiological studies have confirmed elevated prevalence rates for mental health conditions among the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations. An estimated 2.8% of Asian Americans identify as LGBT and 26% of Asian LGBT are 40 years or older. This study analyzed the California Health Interview Survey to examine differences in psychological distress between LGBT and non-LGBT older Asian Americans, and further evaluated the role of discrimination in medical care and intimate violence on psychological distress. Regression results showed older LGBT Asians had a higher psychological distress score compared to non-LGBT Asians. After adjusting for discrimination or violence, this association no longer existed. Experiencing discrimination in medical care and intimate violence were associated with higher levels of psychological stress. This study increases our knowledge of mental health among older Asian LGBT, enhancing our ability to design culturally-targeted and trauma-informed psychosocial interventions to improve outcomes in this population.
Scaling an Evidence-Based Program: The Case of the Tailored Activity Program
Authors: Koeuth Sokha , Marx Katherine , Gitlin Laura , Piersol Catherine
Published: December 2020

The Tailored Activity Program (TAP) is a proven program delivered primarily by occupational therapists addressing dementia-related clinical symptoms including caregiver well-being. Although used in 9 countries including the United States, scaling and widespread dissemination is challenging. We discuss key revisions to TAP to facilitate dissemination including matching assessments to those used in different practice settings, translation of materials into different languages, providing worksheets to help trainees adapt TAP to local contexts and a training/certification online experience using story board, an interactive media integrated onto the Blackboard learn management system, to provide on-demand training modules. The learning platform allows learners to engage with others, preview modules and share experiences. Revisions enable greater flexibility for program adaptation yet adherence to its core principles. With over 150 trainees, we use REAIM to evaluate effectiveness of modifications and to understand implications for its reach. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Behavioral Interventions for Older Adults Interest Group.
Health Personality, Resilience, and Activation
Authors: Kim Joseph
Published: December 2020

The purpose of this study was to identify associations among health personality, resilience, and health activation. Participants included 3907 older adults, 65 and older. Latent variable structural equation modeling with bootstrap sampling estimation was conducted. Significant direct paths were observed between health personality factors and resilience, and in turn, resilience to health activation. The results indicate that older adults who were more health conscientious, more extraverted, and less neurotic about their health were also more resilient. Also, older adults who were more resilient were more health activated. Lastly, older adults who were more health conscientious and more agreeable about their health were more health activated. Resilience had a negative indirect effect on health activation through health neuroticism and health extraversion, and a positive indirect effect through health conscientiousness. Healthcare practitioners should target older adults based on health personality and resilience levels and develop interventions to increase health activation.
The Effect of Older Adults’ Relational Stress, Environmental Stress, and Coping on Well-Being
Authors: Kim Meeryoung
Published: December 2020

This study used the stress process model for analyzing older adults’ stressors and coping resources, which compares relational and environmental stressors (Pearlin et al., 1990). Additionally, the effect of coping abilities and social support on well-being was compared. This study used the 5th wave data of KReIS (Korean Retirement and Income Studies) that were collected in 2014. The sample included 4,072 older Korean adults aged 60 and older. Relational and environmental stressors were used as the independent variables. Social support and coping were used as coping resources. For the dependent variable, life satisfaction and perceived health were used. Since the stress model is a process model, hierarchical multiple regression was used. Environmental stressors had a significant effect on reducing life satisfaction. Relational and environmental stressors had significant negative effects on perceived health. Both coping and social support had a significant effect on both life satisfaction and perceived health.