bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PRESIDENTIAL SYMPOSIUM: EMBRACING ENGAGED TEACHING, RESEARCH, SERVICE, AND POLICY TO STRENGTHEN GERONTOLOGICAL EDUCATION
Authors: Fruhauf Christine , Newsham Tina
Published: January 2025

It takes fortitude for GSA members to embrace engagement in their academic roles. Engagement is the opportunity for informing and enhancing research, teaching, and service, and policy by actively participating in activities that connect students with external partners and the community. In this AGHE Presidential Symposium, leading scholars whose grit and determination to embrace engagement will address the important role engagement has in uplifting gerontology and geriatrics education. Elinor Schoenfeld and colleagues will provide insights into their innovative, multidisciplinary approach to teaching students about community engagement, technology, and data security as it relates to supporting older adults living in their homes. Taylor Jansen will discuss incorporating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Mapping into gerontology research and teaching both undergraduate and graduate students, as she works closely with community partners in several states across the U.S. to uplift their programming and policy work. José Carrión-Baralt will describe the process he and his colleagues embraced as they coordinated efforts across several universities and health professions to support older adults after hurricanes Irma and Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017, through the development of a team called Brigadas Salubristas (Public Health Brigades). Shannon Jarrott will highlight ways to engage students in local, state, and federal aging policy through decades of engaged work addressing intergenerational programming. AGHE Chair Tina Newsham will serve as discussant, sharing how AGHE will continue to embrace fortitude and support educational efforts and opportunities through engaged teaching, research, service, and policy.
PREDICTION OF FINANCIAL FRAUD RISKS AMONG OLDER ADULTS: THE APPLICATION OF GA-XGBOOST MODEL
Authors: Zhao Jin , Li Yuanyuan , Jin Hao , Zhang Xuemin
Published: January 2025

The importance of crime prevention can be more profound than correction efforts after crime occurs, highlighting the necessity to develop an early risk warning model that can accurately identify financial fraud risks among older adults. Utilizing data from the fourth Urban and Rural Survey on the Living Conditions of Older Adults conducted in 2015 in China, this study leverages a genetic algorithm (GA) to optimize the parameters of the XGBoost model, resulting in the creation of a GA-XGBoost-based financial fraud risk prediction model tailored for older adults. The efficiency of this novel model is evaluated against established machine learning algorithms, including LightGBM, Random Forest, Decision Tree, and SVM. Furthermore, SHAP values are employed for a detailed visual analysis of the factors most influential in predicting and understanding financial fraud risks among this demographic. We found that variables such as lower education level, older age, and loneliness increased risks for financial fraud. In contrast, increased awareness of rights protection and better sleep quality appear to have protective effects. A comparative assessment at both domestic and international levels, with references to the United States, Germany, and South Korea, highlights psychological vulnerability, cognitive functioning, age, and loneliness as financial fraud risks among older adults. This study offers recommendations for mitigating financial fraud risks from three angles: enhancing public awareness and education; implementing effective regulatory frameworks; and strengthening intergenerational connections. These suggestions will help lay the groundwork for more robust protective measures against financial fraud targeting older adults.
RISK FACTORS FOR FINANCIAL FRAUD AMONG OLDER CHINESE: AN ANALYSIS BASED ON CHARLS DATA
Authors: Li Yuanyuan , Cao Yunqi , Wu Yuxia , Mi Hong
Published: January 2025

Financial fraud targeting older adults in China is a growing concern, resulting in both financial losses and adverse effects on their physical and mental health. Despite its prevalence, there remains a scarcity of research focused on the victims of these frauds. Leveraging the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) database and applying structural equation modeling (SEM), this study delves into the factors that place older adults in China at risk of financial fraud, examining the issue through the lens of the victims themselves. The frameworks typically used in Western contexts like the United States and Britain only focused on individual level factors, such as age and living arrangement, physical functioning, and individual capital (i.e., levels of education, cognition, and social activities). This study integrates unique social models, including factors related to family relationships, to reflect the Chinese cultural setting. It offers a comprehensive view of the elements that heighten the risk of financial fraud among older Chinese. The analysis uncovered that factors such as age and living arrangement, physical functioning, family relationship, and individual capital play a direct role in increasing the vulnerability of older adults to financial scams. Furthermore, psychological vulnerability and material wealth were identified as mediators among physical functioning, family relationships, and fraud risks. Based upon these findings, the study proposes targeted strategies to mitigate the risk of financial fraud to include promoting healthier living habits, enhancing individual capital, and reinforcing family connections.
WHO EXPERIENCES MASS MARKETING FRAUD IN AMERICA? A SURVEY OF KNOWN VICTIMS
Authors: DeLiema Marguerite , Gao Siyu , Brannock M Daniel , Langton Lynn
Published: January 2025

Significant research has attempted to understand the characteristics of older adult fraud victims, yet most surveys rely on participants’ self-reports of victimization. This approach can lead to biased estimates because older victims are less likely to disclose victimization experiences relative to younger victims. We avoid underreporting bias by surveying a population of victims identified by the US Postal Inspection Service. All respondents mailed money in response to fraudulent solicitations between 2022 and 2023 (range = 1 to 168 victimization incidents). Victims’ payment envelopes were detained by Postal Inspectors as part of the agency’s law enforcement efforts. Victim addresses were securely shared with the research team. The survey response rate was 23% (N=934); 84% of participants responded by mail and 16% responded online. Average age was 74 (standard deviation = 13.2; range= 20 to 98). Mass marketing mail fraud victims were racially and economically diverse: 22% of victims were Black, 10% were Latino/a, and 6% were Asian or Pacific Islander. A quarter reported an annual household income of less than $20,000; 27% reported a household income between $20,000 and $50,000. Rates of widowhood and divorce were high—31% and 20%, respectively. Nearly half of fraud victims reported that they live alone. These results suggest that diverse, lower income and isolated older adults are targeted by mass marketing fraud. Given the relatively robust response rate, consumer fraud education materials should be mailed to victim households and include information on how to identify fake solicitations and report scams.
FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION PREVENTION AMONG OLDER ADULTS WITH DEMENTIA IN RURAL MICHIGAN: A PILOT RANDOM CONTROL TRIAL
Authors: Sun Fei , Guo Yu , Zhang Zhenmei , Wang Xia , Kim Haneul , Tucker Brittany , Smith Eleanor
Published: January 2025

Dementia increases the susceptibility of older adults to financial exploitation, including abuse by relatives or acquaintances and fraud by strangers. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a novel community-based financial exploitation prevention model for older adults with dementia residing in rural Michigan. Drawing from the routine activity theory, the study focused on mitigating financial exploitation risks linked to family caregivers. While family caregivers might potentially engage in such exploitation, they also play a crucial role in detecting and preventing fraudulent activities. Employing a randomized control design, 32 family caregivers in intervention groups and 23 in control groups received an education session on dementia, financial exploitation, and community resources. In addition, intervention groups received 6 sessions of case management service tailored to mitigate identified risk factors for financial exploitation. Linear mixed modeling (LMM) was applied to assess changes before and post intervention and between groups on the following outcomes: attitude towards financial exploitation, competence in addressing financial exploitation, caregiver stress, and dementia knowledge and stigma. No significant differences were found on dementia knowledge and attitude towards financial exploitation. However, caregivers in the intervention groups exhibited significantly greater confidence in addressing financial exploitation and reported lower levels of dementia-related stigma (p <.05) compared to the control group. Both groups reported a decrease in caregiver stress, but no group difference was observed. The study highlights the integral role of family caregivers as a protective shield against financial exploitation, and the need for policy and practice efforts to educate and support family caregivers.
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AMONG US OLDER IMMIGRANTS: WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
Authors: Machinga-Asaolu Rujeko , Park Yanghyun , Showalter Kathryn
Published: January 2025

Background

Intimate partner violence (IPV), a subtype of domestic violence, is a pervasive global problem with life-long impacts. Among U.S. older adults, the prevalence of psychological IPV (PAIPV) is 2.1%, and physical IPV (PVIPV) is 0.8%. Sadly, underrepresented individuals, including immigrants, have less access to resources that can serve as IPV protective factors. Due to the growing immigrant and older population in the U.S., it is essential to identify their unique IPV characteristics. Objective and Method: This study used and analyzed the latest publicly available cross-sectional data from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey 2016/17 (n=10,957) of a selected national sample of English and Spanish-speaking immigrants (n=1,121) to identify their odds of experiencing PAIPV or PVIPV-based on identified demographic characteristics, including age. Additionally, of interest and identified was the prevalence of PAIPV and PVIPV among older immigrants 65+ years (n=124).

Results

Contrary to the literature, among older immigrants aged 65+ years, PVIPV (10.7%) was more prevalent than PAIPV (9.1%). In an adjusted regression model for PAIPV at 95% CI, Spanish and/or English-speaking immigrants aged 65+ years were 3.147 [1.065, 9.299] significantly more likely to experience PAIPV than younger immigrants. However, age was not significantly associated with PVIPV. To conclude, IPV presents itself in unique etiologies among older immigrants. This study is an initial step toward using national data to understand IPV better for a combined male and female sample of older immigrants in the U.S. Further discussed will be the distinct differences in the study findings.
SHARING INSIGHTS: INTRODUCING BRAIN HEALTH RESEARCH TO LA COMUNIDAD LATINA IN NORTH CAROLINA
Authors: Chanti-Ketterl Marianne , Welsh-Bohmer Kathleen , Royo Sofia , Plassman Brenda
Published: January 2025

Alzheimer’s disease disproportionally impacts the Hispanic/Latino(a)x (hereafter Latino) community. Ensuring Latino representation in brain health research is essential for understanding how brain disorders affect this diverse population. However, recruiting Latinos into research studies presents multifaceted challenges, including structural inequities, cultural beliefs, values (i.e. faith and family beliefs), and immigration status. Within the North Carolina Registry for Brain Health (NC Registry), we have achieved a twofold increase in Latino enrollment within a year by effectively utilizing existing resources and targeting upstream factors, such as diversifying staffing and collaborators. Increasing the diversity of the NC Registry offers research opportunities to a broader group and supports researchers’ efforts to enroll a diverse sample. During this symposium, we will present strategies employed to effectively involve Latinos in the NC Registry, educational initiatives focusing on brain health, and various forms of community engagement. Additionally, we will delineate the pathway from NC Registry participation to enrollment in research studies and elucidate the participant tracking methodology employed. This methodology is key to ensuring that individuals are contacted for the appropriate studies and are not overburdened with multiple requests in a short period of time. Furthermore, we will discuss how this foundational work contributes to fostering community trust and increasing interest in engaging in research studies supported by the Duke-UNC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. We will conclude by offering recommendations for recruiting and retaining Latinos in brain health research.
SELF-MONITORING VIA WEARABLE SENSOR AND DAILY STEPS AMONG PEOPLE WITH MCI AND CARE PARTNER DYADS
Authors: Hoffman Rashelle , Murphy Blake , Phatak Vaishali , Ehlers Diane , Monin Joan
Published: January 2025

Physical inactivity is a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) that can be remediated using remotely delivered interventions. The 12-week telerehabilitation physical activity behavioral (TPAB) intervention includes receipt of a wearable sensor and weekly discussions about physical activity self-monitoring, goal setting, facilitators, and barriers. TPAB has been shown to be feasible and efficacious in increasing daily steps in older adults. However, evidence is lacking for TPAB’s use for people with MCI and using a dyadic approach (i.e., with their care partners). Results from the first phase of our study include descriptive information from two dyads about (1) dyad member interaction with the wearable sensor (i.e., how knowing the current daily step count impacted activity), (2) how dyad members helped each other overcome individual or shared barriers to daily stepping and (3) how dyad members planned activities together to achieve high daily average stepping. This project quantitatively identified (1) the highest stepping day each week was the same for both dyad members 46% of the time (2) the frequency of both dyad members meeting individual weekly stepping goals was 81% compared to just one dyad member or no dyad member reaching the weekly step goal. This project revealed barriers using wearable sensor technology (i.e., not looking at or wearing the wearable sensor). Our discussion will focus on how to enhance meaningful interaction with technology in dyads to track daily stepping that can be applied to improve behavioral change in people with MCI and care partners.
EVALUATING IN-HOME ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Authors: Chen Kuan-Hua , Scheffer Julian , Yee Claire , Merrilees Jennifer , Moss David , Hinderberger Brian , Wang Gene , Levenson Robert
Published: January 2025

Dementia caregivers are at heightened risk for developing mental and physical health problems. Interventions designed to protect caregiver health often create additional demands on time and energy (e.g., exercise programs). Technology-based interventions (e.g., remote monitoring) can be effective, scalable, and do not add greatly to caregiver burden. Through a collaboration with a local technology company, Care Daily, we conducted two randomized controlled trials to evaluate People Power Caregiver (PPCg), a system of sensors in the home connected to cloud-based AI that alerts caregivers about worrisome deviations from normal patterns (e.g., care-recipient’s falls, wandering). Across two studies (study 1: 9-month duration with professional installation of PPCg; study 2: 6-month duration with caregiver self-installing the PPCg using remote tech support), 284 caregivers were recruited; 261 completed initial study deployment (e.g., system installation); and 235 completed the entire study protocol. Use of PPCg was associated with (a) reduced caregiver anxiety in study 1; (b) greater protection from declines in sleep efficiency in studies 1 and 2. These findings underscore the promise of technology-based intervention to mitigate health problems in dementia caregivers. However, challenges and complexities in recruitment (e.g., remote consenting both caregivers and care recipients), retention (e.g., due to changes in home environment or caregiving status), system installation (e.g., working with caregivers with less experience using technology), data quality assurance (e.g., invalid sensor data) as well as our efforts to overcome these challenges have been instructive. Lessons learned from these studies can provide useful guidance for future large-scale, technology-based interventions for dementia caregivers.
WORKING LIFE EXPECTANCY OF OLDER ADULTS: FINDINGS FROM ASIA AND THE AMERICAS
Authors: Malhotra Rahul , Visaria Abhijit
Published: January 2025

With a growing focus on productive ageing, including engagement in work, it is important to assess its extent across key demographic sub-groups within a country, and if feasible, across countries. This will help identify disadvantaged sub-groups in the context of productive ageing. Working life expectancy (WLE; years of remaining life one can expect to work at a given age), a population-level indicator of productive ageing, allows one to capture variation in the duration of working life due to societal, legislative, and economic considerations. The four presentations in this symposium provide empirical findings on WLE from nationally representative longitudinal studies of middle-aged and/or older adults from countries in Asia or the Americas. The first, from Japan, projects WLE till 2050 and highlights the role of policy interventions in increasing it. The second, from Mexico, observes strong sex disparity in WLE, underscoring the need for policies to promote women’s work participation. The third from Chile, where mandatory retirement age is lower for women, finds disparity in WLE at retirement age not by sex but by working status, highlighting mandatory retirement age’s influence on WLE. The fourth from Singapore, using data from two longitudinal cohorts, observes maintenance of sex disparity (disfavoring women) but reversal of education disparity (disfavoring those with lower education) in WLE over time. Collectively, they highlight variability in WLE at older ages within and across countries, in terms of absolute or relative (to life expectancy) WLE, disparities in in WLE, and potential options for policy focus for increasing WLE.
PROJECTING WORKING LIFE EXPECTANCY TO 2050 AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN JAPAN
Authors: Visaria Abhijit , Saito Yasuhiko
Published: January 2025

With sustained low fertility rate and continued population ageing, the prospect of a shrinking labor force is a key challenge facing Japan. It is of interest to compare two possible scenarios which may result in an increase in the expected years of life spent working (working life expectancy, “WLE”) at older ages: a natural impact of further reductions in mortality, or the impact of extending the mandatory retirement age from 65 to 70 years, as currently being considered by the government. We first estimated WLE among older adults aged 65 years and older using data from five waves of a representative longitudinal survey (1999-2009), applying multistate life table methods. Then, we projected WLE to 2050 by assuming a constant transition schedule between working states (working/not working) but improving age-specific mortality rates (as projected by the UN Population Division). We then simulated the impact of an increase in the mandatory retirement age to 70 years. WLE at age 65 years, based on the longitudinal data, was 4.6 years for men and 3.5 years for women. Improvements in mortality yielded an estimated WLE at the age of 65 in year 2050 of 4.9 years for men and 3.7 years for women. Increasing the retirement age to 70 years increased WLE at age 65 by about 1.5 years for men and 1.6 years for women, by 2050. Our results indicate the value of increasing mandatory retirement age to 70 years as a policy intervention to increase WLE among older adults in Japan.
INCORPORATING SDOH INTO TRANSITIONAL CARE OF OLDER ADULTS: A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Osokpo Onome , Hirschman Karen , Shaid Elizabeth , McCauley Kathleen , Naylor Mary
Published: January 2025

There is solid evidence that Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) contribute to poor patient health outcomes after hospitalization and that transitional care can prevent these adverse outcomes. However, using a standardized strategy for transitional care intervention will result in missed opportunities to enhance positive outcomes for older individuals with chronic illnesses, particularly minority older adults who are greatly affected by adverse SDoH (e.g., food insecurity). Hence, for any transitional care intervention to be effective, it must be adaptable to identify and tackle SDoH issues. In this paper, using the lens of the five domains of the Health People 2023 SDoH framework (Economic Stability, Education Access and Quality, Health Care Access and Quality, Neighborhood and Built Environment, and Social and Community Context), we demonstrate how SDoH can be integrated into an evidence-based transitional care intervention to prevent adverse events such as avoidable emergency room visits and rehospitalization and enhance positive outcomes for patients as they transition from hospital to home or other health care settings. Specifically, we highlight opportunities for the transitional care intervention teams and the health care systems to identify and mitigate SDoH factors using the Transitional Care Model intervention (TCM), a practical and adaptable transitional care intervention, to reduce adverse events and reduce health disparities and health inequities.
ADAPTING A CAREGIVER TRAINING PROGRAM TO SUPPORT EQUITABLE IMPLEMENTATION DURING CARE TRANSITIONS
Authors: Nguyen An , Roberts Pamela , Davidson Leslie
Published: January 2025

Transitions in care (TOC) interventions can improve transitional care processes and reduce hospital readmissions in the general older adult population. People living with dementia (PLWD) are often excluded from TOC intervention studies due to the potential for cognitive impairments to interfere with the intervention’s theorized mechanisms of change. Given that PLWD experience worse health outcomes following hospitalization and more frequent, costly transitions in care, there is an urgent need to develop targeted TOC interventions specifically tailored to meet the needs of this population. To address this gap, we propose to adapt, implement, and evaluate the Home Environmental Skill-Building Program (ESP) to address the needs of PLWD and their care partners during hospital-to-home transitions. Developed and tested in prior NIH-funded randomized controlled clinical trials (grant numbers: R01AG10947 and U01AG013265), ESP is a caregiver skills training program delivered by an occupational therapist for at-home management of self-care deficits and behavioral problems due to dementia. A health equity-centered approach will be used to adapt the ESP intervention protocol to address the needs of care partners whose primary language is not English, a group at greater risk of receiving poorer quality transitional care. Strategies will be shared through which intervention adaptations may address language and cultural barriers, as social determinants of health, towards ameliorating health disparities during care transitions experienced by PLWD and care partners for whom English is not their primary language.
OPTIMIZING CARE TRANSITIONS FOR OLDER ADULTS: A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH THROUGH INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
Authors: Dews Denise
Published: January 2025

Optimizing care transitions for older adults is a critical aspect of healthcare delivery, particularly given the complex needs and potential social vulnerabilities of this population. Transitioning between different healthcare settings, such as hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and home care, can be challenging and increase the risk of adverse events for older adults. Interprofessional Education (IPE) offers a collaborative approach to addressing these challenges and improving care transitions for older adults. IPE involves bringing together students and professionals from multiple healthcare disciplines to learn with, from, and about each other to improve collaboration and the quality of patient care. By fostering teamwork, communication, and mutual respect among healthcare providers, IPE can enhance the coordination and continuity of care for older adults during transitions between different care settings. Key strategies for optimizing care transitions for older adults through a collaborative approach with IPE include a team-based approach, comprehensive assessment, care coordination, communication and information sharing, patient and caregiver education, and follow-up and support. By adopting a collaborative approach through IPE, healthcare providers can enhance the quality, safety, and effectiveness of care transitions for older adults, ultimately improving health outcomes and quality of life for this vulnerable population. This presentation will offer strategies for adopting a collaborative approach through Interprofessional Education, thus promoting quality, safety, and effectiveness of care transitions for older adults, ultimately improving health outcomes and quality of life for this vulnerable population.
RESILIENCE AND PERCEIVED ORAL HEALTH AMONG OLDER CHINESE AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT
Authors: Jiang Nan , Zhang Wei , Wu Bei
Published: January 2025

Improving the oral health of older immigrants is a critical public health priority in the United States. However, the role of children’s support in this context has received limited attention. This study aims to investigate the relationship between support from adult children and perceived oral health among both foreign-born and U.S.-born Chinese Americans. Additionally, we explore the mediating role of resilience. We analyzed data from a sample of 377 Chinese American older adults aged 55 or older in Honolulu, Hawai’i. Utilizing structural equation models, we compared self-rated oral health and oral health problems between foreign-born and U.S.-born Chinese Americans. For foreign-born participants, greater emotional support from children was directly associated with better perceived oral health. Furthermore, this emotional support was indirectly linked to perceived oral health through resilience. In contrast, for U.S.–born Chinese Americans, financial support from children was directly related to worse perceived oral health. This study provides evidence for resilience pathways that connect social support from children to older immigrants’ oral health. Encouraging adult children in Chinese immigrant families to educate their older relatives about oral diseases and dental care can enhance the oral health-related quality of life for older Chinese immigrants.
MEASURING ORAL HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY-OF-LIFE MEASURES IN ADULTS: DIRECTIONS FOR FUTURE APPLICATIONS
Authors: Zhu Zheng , Wang Jing , Wu Bei
Published: January 2025

Background

To identify the construct of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in published measures for adults and assess the psychometric properties of these measures.

Methods

Nine databases were searched from inception of each database up to July 1st, 2023. Methodological quality was assessed by using the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) Risk of Bias Checklist. Thematic analysis was used to summarize all detected instruments, items domains and questions with regard to their wording, scales and the domains of OHRQoL. We used the COSMIN criteria to summarize and assess the psychometric properties of each PROM.

Results

A total of 50 PROMs were identified. Six relevant domains that represent construct of OHRQoL: (1) pain/discomfort; (2) oral diseases and disorders; (3) functional limitation; (4) oral hygiene; (5) oral hygiene behavior; and (6) psychosocial impact. All studies were considered to have adequate methodological quality in terms of content validity, construct validity, and internal consistency. Limited information was retrieved on cross-cultural validity, criterion validity, reliability, hypothesis testing, and responsiveness. High-quality evidence on psychometric properties was provided for the oral health impact profile (OHIP), Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI), and Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (OIDP).

Discussion

We encourage the use of the identified six domains to enhance the development and adaptation of instruments for different health systems. OHIP, GOHAI, and OIDP are recommended for evaluating OHRQoL in adults, both in research and clinical practice, based on the specific aims of assessments and the response burden for participants.
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE AGE INCLUSIVITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION: AN INNOVATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM EXAMPLE
Authors: Porter Michelle
Published: January 2025

The Centre on Aging at the University of Manitoba (UM) leads the UM Age-friendly University (AFU) Committee and has taken on many initiatives to enhance the age inclusivity of the University, since 2016. In 2021, the Centre held a competition called the Age-friendly University Initiative Fund, which was open to all academic and non-academic units at UM. Funded projects related to campus wayfinding (Architectural & Engineering Services and the Office of Sustainability), inter-generational arts presentations/workshops (School of Art Gallery), technology training (Alumni Relations), and the development of a micro-certificate on Facilitating Older Adult Learning (FOAL; Faculty of Extended Education). This presentation will provide an overview of the Age-friendly University Initiative Fund and its collaborative process of working with funded projects, as well as provide specific details on the development and implementation of the micro-certificate. The FOAL micro-certificate provides a professional development opportunity to take three modules online: older adult development, universal design for learning, and using technology for teaching and learning with older adults. In total there are 36 contact hours for this credential that can be completed in a flexible fashion. The goal of the micro-certificate is to enable individuals to work more effectively with older adults to support their learning, across a broad range of learning environments (e.g., lifelong learning programs, senior centers, health care and therapy settings). Cross-unit collaboration is critical for the effective development and implementation of initiatives to improve age inclusivity across multiple domains such as those described in this presentation.
STUDENT SERVICES ON CAMPUS: SUPPORTING OLDER STUDENTS
Authors: Galucia Natalie
Published: January 2025

Universities are experiencing shifts in age distributions of students and have an increasing need to embrace age-diversity on their campuses. Two recent studies explore this shift in demographics as they focused on staff members in student services and collected data on their perspectives regarding age-diversity and inclusion on campus. The first study involved focus groups with staff in admissions and career services to explore the challenges, opportunities and strategies related to serving an age-diverse student body. Themes regarded both the benefits of age-diversity but also the challenges they face in attracting and supporting older students. A second study involved staff from Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offices at universities across the country. These DEI officers acknowledged age as an identity relevant to the student experience but they did not elevate age bias or discrimination as a priority for their work. In both studies, affinity groups for non-traditionally aged students were suggested as a strategy. Discussion will be included around the experiences with starting a student group, called Next Move, focused on providing resources and support for older students at the Brown School at WashU. Opportunities and challenges for creating support groups for these students will be discussed.
FEASIBILITY OF TRAINING CAREGIVERS ONLINE TO DELIVER LIFE REVIEW DEPRESSION INTERVENTION AT HOME
Authors: Miyawaki Christina , McClellan Angela , Bouldin Erin
Published: January 2025

Due to the high prevalence of depressive symptoms and dementia in older Americans (≥65 years), we developed a six-week depression intervention, Caregiver-Provided Life Review (C-PLR) for care recipients (CRs) with early-stage dementia and mild depression and taught their family caregivers (CGs) life review skills online. The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of training caregivers via an online video course and the impact of delivering the intervention at home (N=20 dyads). A mixed-methods design (surveys and interviews) was used for this study. We collected pre- and post-measures of CRs’ depression (primary outcome) and life satisfaction, CGs’ burden, rewards of caregiving, and dyads’ relationship quality (secondary outcomes) and compared them using paired t-tests. We took fidelity scores to measure CGs’ feasibility to deliver life reviews adhering to the intervention protocol. CGs were on average 64 years old, White (65%), married (65%), college-educated (70%), working or retired (40% each), and female (90%) in good/excellent health (100%). Their CRs were 80 years old (mean), White (70%), female (50%) in poor/fair health (50%). CGs’ average fidelity check-in score was 15.9±0.27 (out of 16), indicating excellent adherence. The C-PLR intervention significantly reduced CRs’ depressive symptoms (p=0.034) and increased CGs’ rewards of caregiving (p=0.019). Caregivers’ post-intervention qualitative interviews supported the quantitative results that online-trained caregivers could deliver the intervention by protocol without adding caregiver burden. This study demonstrated that the C-PLR, an innovative, cost-effective intervention with a flexible delivery schedule could make a positive impact on both caregivers’ and care recipients’ mental health.
RE-EVALUATING FORTITUDE, VULNERABILITY, AND FRAILTY IN CARE HOME STORIES
Authors: Kriebernegg Ulla
Published: January 2025

This paper analyzes how concepts of fortitude, vulnerability, frailty, and care are linked from the perspective of literary gerontology. Discussing the newly emerging genre of the care home novel, the paper shows how a close reading can challenge traditional assumptions about bodies on the margins of life and death as merely existing in the “black hole” of the fourth age (Gilleard and Higgs 2010). Examples are drawn from stories that are set in long-term care facilities that resemble “total institutions” (Goffman 1961), such as May Sarton’s As We Are Now (1973) or Oscar Casares’s Amigoland (2009), where aging into old age is often narrated as a creative process that allows for agency and involves the renegotiation of one’s identity despite extreme vulnerability. The humanities lens here examines such novels as “Reifungsromane” (novels of ripening, Waxman 1990) or “Vollendungsromane” (novels of completion, Rooke 1992), where vulnerability is represented as a meaningful condition that facilitates resistance in the face of loss and precarity. As such, these are striking individual narratives of fortitude and self-determination that are less about “successful aging,” than about “successful frailty,” which Wendy Lustbader describes as “turning the ‘nothing’ of empty time into the ‘something’ of good days” (1991: 14). Conclusions reiterate how vulnerability is a shared ontological condition, and why a humanities perspective is important to highlight vulnerability as a current socio-political issue in connection with care ethics and social justice.
BIDIRECTIONAL ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND AFFECT: AN ECOLOGICAL MOMENTARY ASSESSMENT STUDY
Authors: Liang Peichao
Published: January 2025

Despite extensive evidence demonstrating the beneficial effects of physical activity on health outcomes, many older adults remain physically inactive. A growing body of research examines affective states as both determinants and consequences of physical activity. However, the nuanced and dynamic relationships between physical activity and affect among older adults remain understudied. We used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to investigate the bidirectional relationships between physical activity and affect in daily life among older adults in Hong Kong. 168 older adults aged 65 to 84 received seven EMA prompts per day for fifteen consecutive days and completed a total number of 17,345 momentary assessments of affective states, mobility, and activities. We used multilevel models to test the bidirectional associations between physical activity and positive affect, negative affect, and energetic arousal, nested within individuals. Preliminary results reveal concurrent associations between physical activity and positive affect (b=0.042, SE=0.008, p<.001) and energetic arousal (b=0.107, SE=0.027, p<.001). When older adults engaged in physical activity before the prompt, they reported a higher level of positive affect (b=0.038, SE=0.008, p<.001). However, physical activity did not significantly improve energetic arousal levels later (b=0.046, SE=0.027, p=0.089). Additionally, individuals were more likely to engage in physical activity after they reported a higher level of positive affect (OR=1.321, 95% CI=1.234-1.413, p<.001) and feeling energetic (OR=1.078, 95% CI=1.044-1.112, p<.001). No associations between physical activity and negative affect were identified. The implications of these findings for developing context-specific interventions to promote physical activity among older adults will be discussed.
HAPPINESS IN CONVENTIONAL VERSUS RETIREMENT HOMES: IMPORTANCE OF THRIVING AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION
Authors: Levasseur Melanie , Naud Daniel , Lagacé Martine , Bédard Marie-Ève , Hebblethwaite Shannon
Published: January 2025

Since aging sometimes implies a change in living environment, it is important to better understand happiness and associated factors such as thriving, social participation, community integration and ageism according to residential settings. This study aimed to compare the happiness of older women and men living in a conventional dwelling (CD) and in an independent living facility (ILF), and examined its associations with thriving, social participation, community integration and ageism (self-directed and discrimination). A cross-sectional survey was carried out on a random sample of 509 adults aged 75 and older living in DC and 470 in ILF. Regressions stratified by residential setting and gender examined associations between happiness, thriving and social participation, testing for the moderating effect of ageism and community integration. Participants were 81.3+/-5.3 on average, and two-thirds were women. Controlling for age, living situation and health, the happiness of older adults living in CD and ILF was similar (69.7+/-14.0 vs 68.8+/-18.4; p=0.262). Superior thriving was strongly associated with greater happiness, regardless of residential setting or gender. Higher social participation was associated with greater happiness among women in ILF. For both settings, self-directed ageism was associated with lesser happiness, but discrimination was associated with lesser happiness only in women living in ILF. Higher community integration was associated with greater happiness in both settings, except for men in ILF. According to these results, future studies should evaluate interventions aimed at facilitating thriving and reducing ageism may improve happiness of older adults.
HEMATOPOIETIC LOSS OF THE Y CHROMOSOME AND AGING PHENOTYPES
Authors: Chavkin Nick
Published: January 2025

Life expectancy of men is six years less than women in developed countries. Recent epidemiological studies suggest that a significant portion of this discrepancy can be attributed to an age-related phenomenon in blood. As men age, a portion of their blood cells will lose the Y chromosome. This phenotype, termed Mosaic Loss of the Y Chromosome (mLOY), is the most common post-zygotic mutation in humans and is present in almost half of men by age 70. mLOY has been correlated with increased mortality and many age-related diseases. Recently, we have found that men with higher mLOY are more susceptible to non-ischemic heart failure. Using a mouse model of mLOY, we showed causal effects of mLOY on diminished lifespan, increased progression of age-associated cardiomyopathy, and increased progression of cardiac fibrosis after injury. Further analysis revealed that mLOY macrophages showed both an increased propensity towards pro-fibrotic macrophage polarization and increased expression of pro-fibrotic ligands. Genetic analysis of the Y chromosome identified the gene UTY as a potential causal locus for mLOY-mediated effects on cardiac fibrosis. Finally, analysis of published single cell RNA sequencing datasets from human male heart, lung, and kidney tissue suggests a broad correlation between mLOY and fibrotic pathology with potential direct effects of mLOY macrophages on tissue-resident fibroblasts. These mechanistic findings help explain the correlation between mLOY and cardiac fibrosis, and further suggest general effects of mLOY on age-related phenotypes.
PATHOGENIC PRE-LEUKEMIC MUTATIONS: RARE IN CLONAL HEMATOPOIESIS BUT ENRICHED IN MYELOID DISEASES
Authors: Zhang Jing
Published: January 2025

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) refers to the expansion of peripheral blood cells derived from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with at least one somatic driver mutation in healthy elderly individuals. CHIP is strongly linked to aging and confers an increased risk for blood cancers, non-hematological diseases (e.g. cardiovascular disease), and all-cause mortality. In blood cancers, CHIP mutations are associated with initiation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and other myeloid diseases and thus considered as pre-leukemic mutations. However, some pathogenic pre-leukemic mutations are rarely found in CHIP patients. We will talk about two of such mutations. The first one is the hot spot G646WfsX12 mutation in the epigenetic regulator ASXL1. This mutation occurs in ~18% of patients with myeloid diseases but almost never found in CHIP patients. Using a knockin animal model (Atm/+), we show that Atm/+ HSCs were only expanded in aged mice but not in young mice. We are investigating if the mutant HSC expansion is caused by reduced immunosurveillance of aged immune cells and/or aged pro-inflammatory stromal cells. The second one is oncogenic NRASG12D mutation, which serves as an initiation or progression mutation in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. It is shown that one copy of NRASG12D mutation confers bi-modal regulation of HSCs in which it enhances self-renewal in one subset of HSCs but promotes proliferation and exhaustion in another subset of HSCs. We hypothesize that ASXL1G646WfsX12 and NRASG12D mutations belong to the pathogenic pre-leukemic mutations, which easily incorporate additional mutations in leukemogenesis rather than remain stable in CHIP.
CROSS-CULTURE ADAPTATION AND VALIDATION OF THE CHINESE VERSION OF MANCHESTER COPD FATIGUE SCALE (MCFS)
Authors: Zhang Haihong , Huang Chongmei , Liu Minhui
Published: January 2025

Fatigue is an aching, complex, and multifaceted sensation that is the second most prominent and disabling symptom of COPD, approximately 50% of COPD patients suffer from severe fatigue. Various scales or questionnaires has been developed to measure fatigue in COPD patients. The Manchester COPD fatigue scale (MCFS) has been proved to be a robust, simple, reliable, and valid scale in the American population with COPD. As a disease-specific measurement, MCFS can precisely identify the features of fatigue among COPD patients in the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial domains. The Brislin’s translation model was used to for cross-cultural adaptation. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, constructive validity, convergent validity, and criterion validity were used to test the reliability and validity of MCFS. Diagnostic accuracy was used to determine the optimal cut-off point. Overall, a convenience sampling of 371 patients completed the fatigue scale. The results showed that the scale has acceptable constructive validity (CFI = 0.877, IFI = 0.878, SRMR = 0.027), excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.97) and test-retest reliability (Cronbach’s alpha=0.93). MCFS presented good convergent validity. Using the BFI fatigue scale as a reference criterion, the areas under the curve were 0.941 and 0.900, respectively. The optimal cut-off points for mild, moderate, and severe fatigue were ≤16, >16 and ≤29.5, and >29.5 (sensitivity: 94.7% and 82.6%; specificity: 80.8% and 86.0%, respectively). The Chinese version of MCFS could be used to measure fatigue among Chinese patients with COPD.
DO NOT DRAG THE CHILDREN DOWN: MUTUAL SUPPORT AMONG COMORBID COUPLES WITH STROKE SURVIVORS IN HOSPITAL
Authors: Mei Yongxia , Zhang Zhenxiang , Zhang Qingqing , Liu Zhiwei , Fan Baoyu , Liu Yating , Zhang Sixun
Published: January 2025

The phenomenon of mutual support among co-morbid couples of recurrent older stroke survivors during hospitalization is gaining attention. Despite their crucial role, little is understood about how they support each other. The study aimed to explore the experiences of co-morbid couples of older stroke survivors with recurrent stroke supporting each other during hospitalization. Conducted as a descriptive phenomenology study, data collection occurred in neurology departments of five tertiary-level hospitals from July to September 2023. Twenty-one couples aged between 61 and 72 were purposively sampled. Interview recordings were transcribed and analyzed by two independent coders using Colaizzi’s framework in NVivo 12, revealing 9 subthemes across 3 macrothemes. “Do not drag the children down” is a strong thread, which is linked to three macrothemes: (1) maintaining the couple’s relationship through mutual support, (2) mutual support to avoid burdening the children, and (3) providing support while struggling between ideals and reality. Healthcare professionals should give more consideration to co-morbid couples of older stroke survivors with recurrent stroke who adhere to the idea of not burdening their children when supporting each other, and should take into account the cultural characteristics of the conflicts and differences that may arise between couples of stroke survivors in the process of mutual support. It is crucial to provide them with individualized and tailored support and interventions that can help these couples achieve a more optimal balance in their mutual support.