bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Caregiver Identity in Context: The Consequences of Identity Threat From Siblings
Authors: Rurka Marissa , Suitor J Jill , Gilligan Megan
Published: December 2020

Although siblings represent central members of the networks of caregivers’ and their parents, there has been limited attention to how siblings affect one another’s well-being during caregiving. In this paper, we draw from theories of identity and stress to examine the impact that siblings have on caregivers’ psychological well-being. Specifically, we employ a mixed-methods approach to explore whether caregivers’ perceptions that their siblings are critical of the care they provide their mother are associated with higher depressive symptoms, as well as the mechanisms underlying this association. Using quantitative data collected from 406 caregivers nested within 230 families as part of the Within-Family Differences Study, we conduct mediation analyses to examine whether perceived sibling criticisms affect caregivers’ depressive symptoms (a) directly, and/or (b) indirectly through sibling tension. We then analyze qualitative data collected from the same caregivers to gain insight into the processes underlying statistical associations. Quantitative analyses revealed that there was no direct relationship between perceived sibling criticisms and depressive symptoms; there was, however, an indirect relationship such that perceived sibling criticisms were associated with greater sibling tension, which in turn was associated with higher depressive symptoms. These quantitative findings were corroborated by qualitative analyses, which demonstrated that, in an effort to maintain their identity as a “good caregiver” despite sibling criticisms, caregivers often employed strategies that may have fueled tension in their sibling relationships. These findings highlight the importance of considering how the sibling networks in which caregivers are embedded shape their psychological well-being.
Measurement Indicators of Age-Friendly Communities: Findings From the AARP Age-Friendly Community Survey
Authors: Kim Kyeongmo , Buckley Tommy , Burnette Denise , Cho Sunghwan
Published: December 2020

Cities and counties worldwide have adopted the concept of “age-friendly communities” to promote the well-being of older adults. An age-friendly community is a place that provides a safe and affordable built environment and a social environment that encourages older adults’ participation. A major limitation in this field is the lack of valid and reliable measures of age-friendly communities. This study used data from the AARP 2016 Age-Friendly Community Surveys (N=3,652 adults ages 65 and older). This study included 57 indicators of age-friendliness (e.g., housing, transportation, public space, civic engagement, volunteering, community, and health services); socio-demographic characteristics; and health-related characteristics. We randomly split the sample into two subsamples for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (n=1,682) and structural equation modeling (SEM) (n=1,682). The CFA resulted in a three-factor structure to measure age-friendly communities: built environment, transportation, and social environment. Model fit indices were acceptable (χ²(44)=14204.09; p<.001; RMSEA=.067; CFI=.912; TLI=.909; SRMR=.05). Internal reliability of the three-factor structure was excellent ranging from .93 to .96. The SEM model showed that older adults living in a community with a greater built environment (β=.119; p=.001) and the social environment (β=.199; p<.001) had higher levels of physical health, after adjusting for all other variables. The findings highlight that the measures of age-friendly communities are reliable and valid. Practitioners and policymakers should work on improving both the built and the social environment to promote the well-being of older adults. The findings also suggested that researchers can use the measures as an evaluation tool for an age-friendly community initiative.
Circulating Cell-Free DNA Is Associated With Cognitive Outcomes
Authors: Feger Danielle , Nidadavolu Lolita , Oh Esther , Abadir Peter , Gross Alden
Published: December 2020

Cell death is a mechanism by which aging tissues are able to maintain homeostasis. DNA of nuclear and mitochondrial origin is released into circulation following apoptosis or necroptosis and can be quantified in the blood as circulating cell-free DNA (ccf-DNA). We hypothesized that higher levels of ccf-DNA would be associated with worse cognitive function. Ultra-sensitive digital PCR was used to measure ccf-DNA in participants from the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center Religious Orders Study/Memory and Aging Project. Global cognitive function was derived from a composite of 19 tests on a neuropsychiatric battery. A total of 885 ccf-DNA samples were analyzed from N=624 participants. Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate the cross-sectional association between ccf-DNA and global cognition scores, while latent growth models were used to estimate the longitudinal association between ccf-DNA and global cognition scores. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of having mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia at last study visit relative to normal cognition, based on levels of ccf-DNA. Higher ccf-DNA levels were associated with lower global cognition score (-0.10, [-0.18, -0.02]) cross-sectionally. Each 1-standard deviation increase in ccf-DNA was associated with more rapidly declining global cognitive function over time (-0.11, [-0.19, -0.03]). A dose-response relationship was observed between increasing levels of ccf-DNA and odds of MCI (odds ratio [OR] = 1.08, [0.83, 1.41]) and dementia (OR = 1.29, [1.06, 1.57]). Our results suggest that ccf-DNA may serve as a biomarker of global cognitive decline and dementia risk.
Differences in Longitudinal Fasting Blood Glucose and Mortality Risk Across the Lifespan Between Mice and Humans
Authors: Palliyaguru Dushani , Shiroma Eric , Nam John , Ferrucci Luigi , de Cabo Rafael ,   SLAM Investigators
Published: December 2020

Aging profoundly affects metabolism where trajectories of metabolic indices serve as strong predictors of health, disease and mortality. Mice and non-human primates are widely used to model all aspects of human biology, including metabolism. However, there is limited knowledge on how different species metabolically age during their life course. Here, we compare longitudinal predictors of health and mortality of three major metabolic indices among mice, non-human primates and humans. Longitudinal fasting blood glucose, body weight and body composition over the lifespan were compared across species in mice (Study of Longitudinal Aging in Mice), Rhesus monkeys (NIA and Wisconsin colonies) and humans (Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging). Survival analysis was conducted to calculate the risk of death for subjects with highest and lowest quartiles of fasting blood glucose. We will present data highlighting species-specific mechanisms of glucose homeostasis over the lifespan and its association with mortality.
More Than Just a Room: Results From an Intergenerational Home Sharing Program in Toronto
Authors: Martinez Laura , Mirza Raza , Austen Andrea , McDonald Lynn , Klinger Christopher , Hsieh Jessica , Salomons Tonya
Published: December 2020

Older adults prefer to live in their own homes for as long as possible — to 'age in place' — but for myriad reasons may be unable to do so. To address this, a number of housing alternatives have been explored, including homesharing, or homeshare, an exchange-based shared housing approach with the potential to empower older adults to age in place by enabling them to obtain additional income, companionship, and assistance with completing household tasks in exchange for renting out a room in their home. An intergenerational homesharing pilot program was launched in Toronto, matching older adults (55+) with postsecondary students. With limited research in the area, a mixed methods research study was embedded within the pilot project with the goals of: 1) conducting a scoping review to map and synthesize the literature related to outcomes of homeshare participation for this population, 2) conducting in-depth interviews with homeshare participants (N=22) to learn about their experiences, and 3) conduct a full evaluation and exit survey to better understand the implications of the project. Results were organized around the following themes: (1) benefits and challenges of participating in homeshare for older adults; (2) intergenerational engagement as social exchange; and (3) the key role of agency facilitation as a determinant of the experience of homesharing for older adults. Results spoke to the unique benefits and challenges of participating in homeshare for this population. Findings were used to derive implications for policy and practice, as well as highlight areas for future research.
The Association Between Myocardial Strain and Frailty in the Cardiovascular Health Study
Authors: Tan Annabel , Shah Sanjiv J , Sanders Jason , Psaty Bruce , Newman Anne , Wu Chenkai , Gardin Julius , Odden Michelle
Published: December 2020

Myocardial strain, measured by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), is a novel measure of subclinical cardiovascular disease and may reflect myocardial aging. We aimed to explore the association between myocardial strain and frailty, a clinical syndrome of impaired resilience and lack of physiologic reserve. Frailty was defined in 4,042 participants of the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) as having 3 or more of the following clinical criteria: weakness, slowness, shrinking, exhaustion, and inactivity. We examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of left ventricular (LV) longitudinal strain, LV early diastolic strain rate and left atrial reservoir strain with frailty in participants with no history of cardiovascular disease or heart failure at the time of echocardiography. In cross-sectional analyses, LV longitudinal strain, LV early diastolic strain, left atrial reservoir strain and LV ejection fraction (measured by conventional echocardiography) levels were lower (worse) among frail participants than among those who were not frail and pre-frail (p<0.01). This association of LV longitudinal strain and frailty was robust to adjustment by LV ejection fraction (adjusted OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.20, 2.09). Conversely, LV ejection fraction was not associated with frailty after adjustment for LV longitudinal strain. In longitudinal analyses, LV longitudinal strain and LV early diastolic strain were associated with incident frailty (adjusted OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.08) and 1.65, 95% CI: 1.15, 2.25, respectively). In community-dwelling older adults without prevalent cardiovascular disease, worse LV longitudinal strain, reflective of subclinical myocardial dysfunction, was associated with frailty independent of LV ejection fraction and other risk factors.
Exercise Strategies for Optimizing Aerobic Capacity and Skeletal Muscle Performance in Older Adults
Authors: Tavoian Dallin , Russ David , Clark Brian
Published: December 2020

Most older adults do not exercise regularly. Among those who do, the majority only perform one type of exercise, and— as such— are either not getting the benefits of endurance exercise or resistance exercise. The aim of this pilot study was to determine which standalone exercise strategy has the greatest effect on both cardiorespiratory and lower-extremity muscular function in insufficiently active older adults 60 to 75 years of age (N = 14). Participants were randomly assigned to either resistance training (RT, n=5), moderate intensity continuous training on a stationary bicycle (MICT, n=4), or high-intensity interval training on a stationary bicycle (HIIT, n=5) for supervised exercise sessions three times per week for 12 weeks. Maximal oxygen consumption increased a comparable amount in all groups (11.9±11.2% for HIIT vs. 8.0±14.8% for MICT vs 9.8±5.7% for RT). Leg extensor power did not change in the HIIT group (-0.34±5.2%), but increased by 5.2±9.7% in the MICT group and 14.5±26.1% in the RT group. Leg extensor strength decreased by 1.7±22.1% in the HIIT group and 0.6±6.4% in the MICT group, but increased by 27.3±21.2% in the RT group. These findings demonstrate that RT results in improved lower-extremity strength and power, as well as improvements in maximal aerobic capacity comparable to MICT and HIIT in older adults. Thus, RT should be promoted as an essential exercise strategy for older adults, particularly for individuals who are inactive or that are only performing one type of exercise regularly.
A Geroscience Perspective on COVID-19 – Joint Program from the American Aging Association (AGE) and The Gerontological Society of America
Authors: Anderson Rozalyn
Published: December 2020

Faculty will focus on the biology of aging as a contributor to the vulnerability in COVID-19. Faculty will present the latest concepts and insights that will advance our ability to confront this global outbreak. Our goal for this session is to connect with the concept of Geroscience and how ideas from aging biology research can be incorporated to improve outcomes and informed practice. Although the emphasis is on biology, the goal is to provide insight in a manner that is readily accessible to researchers across the aging spectrum that they might translate these ideas in the face of a very real-world challenge.
Age-Friendly Online Training Programs for Long-Term Services and Supports Staff to Improve Care for Older Adults
Authors: Edelman Linda , Dassel Kara
Published: December 2020

The purpose of our Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program is to provide geriatric and primary care education and training to long-term care (LTC) providers and staff, health professions students and community members. Our LTC partners and the communities we serve are often very rural and travel to urban areas for training can be difficult. Therefore, we have developed four online training that are offered free to our partners and rural communities statewide. These programs are designed to integrate the aims of the Age-Friendly 4M’s model (i.e., What Matters, Mobility, Medication, Mentation). The LTC nurse residency program provides gerontological nursing and inter-professional leadership training (all 4M’s), in a synchronous online environment. The asynchronous Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias training modules educate LTC staff and family caregivers about types, diagnosis and care of older adults with dementia (Mentation and Medication). The asynchronous Opioid Use in LTC modules were developed with partners to deliver live at LTC staff trainings about opioid stewardship (Medication). The LTC Learning Communities are monthly tele-health sessions for inter-professional LTC teams to discuss current issues and propose solutions (all 4M’s). We have successfully leveraged different synchronous and asynchronous online modalities to increase educational opportunities for formal and informal caregivers, including those in rural areas whose educational opportunities are geographically limited. To date our programs have reached over 500 individuals across our state, increasing knowledge about geriatric concepts, communication and team leadership. Moving forward, we will continue to develop and refine educational programs that promote the Age-Friendly geriatric-focused health care.
Age-Friendly University Assessments: Approach by the UMass Dartmouth Campus
Authors: Revell Andrew , Ayotte Brian , Viveiros Jennifer
Published: December 2020

Representatives from The Ora M. DeJesus Gerontology Center at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth began participating on the Age-Friendly University (AFU) panel at The Gerontological Society of America conference in November 2018. The recommendations and knowledge provided a foundation to begin informally surveying faculty and gerontology affiliates on age-friendly practices. In the fall of 2019, formal discussions began with our partners at other campuses, and in Spring 2020, the AFU Climate Survey was disseminated by email announcements to all students and employees on our campus, soon followed by the Inventory reporting tool to campus office administrators. Results of these assessments will be presented on the utility of these approaches and suggestions for refinement and broader dissemination.
Reducing Social Isolation and Improving Nutrition Through Intergenerational Experiential Learning
Authors: Naar Jill
Published: December 2020

This presentation will focus on two projects that aim to inform and educate communities through community based intergenerational programs. An additional link is collaborating with community partner staff on the potential to improve health outcomes with the integration of generations in programming. Through inter-professional collaborations, these projects focus on two areas: reducing social isolation and loneliness among rural older adults through an intergenerational technology program with university students and modifying the implementation of an evidence-based preschool nutrition program for an intergenerational setting. This presentation will focus on the benefits of using community based intergenerational programs and experiential learning opportunities. Aims of this presentation are to highlight how issues related to social isolation and loneliness can be mitigated by incorporating experiential opportunities for university students while simultaneously supporting university students’ preparation for engaging in an intergenerational workforce.
Facing the Journey Together: Using Digital Media to Support Dementia Care Among Asian Americans
Authors: Yeh Angelica , Mayen-Cho Marie
Published: December 2020

Asians and Pacific Islanders (APIs) in the United States have limited access to dementia care information that is linguistically and culturally appropriate. Alzheimer’s Los Angeles created “Faces of Caregiving”, a video project available with English/Japanese subtitles, documenting in-depth interviews with 7 Japanese/Japanese-American familial care partners of individuals living with dementia. It touched on the personal yet universal aspects of each journey embedded in a particular family context. The 5 video profiles were subsequently shown at 3 community sites to attendees comprised of mostly older-adult APIs. Among 85 attendee responses, approximately 90% stated they were more likely to seek out information on and support for Alzheimer’s disease, felt more open to talking about the disease, and were more likely to advocate and raise awareness for the disease. This program could be replicated for other API communities, allowing individuals to learn more effectively from a peer-to-peer experience in a culturally familiar setting. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Aging Among Asians Interest Group.
GWEP Partnerships With Community-Based Organizations to Advance Age-Friendly Health Systems
Authors: Waters Leland , Tumosa Nina
Published: December 2020

From the onset of the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP), project initiatives have been developed to collaborate with Area Agencies on Aging and other community-based organizations (CBOs) serving the older adult community to improve health outcomes. The current GWEP funding cycle includes an initiative to further the principles of Age-Friendly Health Systems. Having built relationships within the aging services community, GWEPs are well positioned to deliver educational interventions framed around the 4M pillars of age-friendly healthcare. Three GWEPs are working with CBOs to implement and test interventions that address the interactive 4Ms. One GWEP has created an Age Friendly Community Education series in conjunction with their CBO partners in a low-income urban setting. Another GWEP has secured age friendly designation for its teams and worked with a coalition of CBOs to obtain both age and dementia-friendly designations for its home city of Springfield, MA. A third GWEP is implementing age-friendly practice workflows in programs that connect primary care and community-based organizations to address specific needs of an underserved older population. By integrating CBOs within the age-friendly health system framework, we can better create sustainable partnerships with health systems to improve health outcomes for our elders.
Age-Friendly Teaching and Learning: New Roles for Older Adults Across the Curriculum
Authors: Farah Kimberly , Montepare Joann
Published: December 2020

The pioneering Age-Friendly University (AFU) framework, with its set of ten guiding principles, advocates for enabling older adults to participate fully in educational activities that promote positive and healthy aging. In addition, the AFU principles call attention to bringing younger and older learners together around educational goals, and engaging learners in collaborative classroom experiences that facilitate the reciprocal sharing of expertise between learners of all ages. Implied, but not articulated, in these principles is the idea that older adults’ expertise, skills, and talents can also be tapped to support classroom learning goals and extend teaching strategies. This presentation will show how older adults can serve as valuable educational allies in classrooms across the curriculum with examples of crime scenario developers in a forensics class, conversation partners in an international oral communication class, and professional interviewers in an internship skills class. Evidence will argue that these roles enhance student learning.
Reflections and Prospects of the Gerontological Training and Education
Authors: Lee Kathy , Hamler Tyrone , Wallace Cara
Published: December 2020

The demand for professional training, mentorship, and research in the field of aging is expected to increase remarkably. Recent statistics indicate less than 8% of social work students nationwide specialize in gerontology; however, a significant amount of social work graduates, regardless of their specialization at school, serve older adults in various social and health care settings. As a panel, former fellows present experiences as participants of the AGESW Pre-Dissertation Fellows Program. The program helps students comprehend basic principles of doctoral education and develop strong professional networks with other gerontology-focused colleagues and mentors across the country. Doctoral students are also trained to be competent working with older adults through research, teaching, and professional development. Many fellows move into faculty positions and their accomplishments are varied and impressive. It is difficult to separate these from the education, connections, mentorship, and support received from the AGESW network and through participation in this program.
Policy Series: The Role of a Stakeholder Member Group in Shaping Geriatric Policy: The National Association for Geriatric Education
Authors: Waters Leland , Lindberg Brian
Published: December 2020

The National Association for Geriatric Education (NAGE) is a non-profit membership organization representing Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Programs (GWEPs), Geriatric Academic Career Awardees (GACAs) and other programs that provide education and training to health professionals in the areas of geriatrics and gerontology. Our work includes faculty training and fellowships, continuing education, and hands on experiences in the clinical setting. One of our priorities is to educate policy makers and the public about the need for health care professionals to receive geriatrics education so they will better serve the expanding older population. One of our goals is to provide a mechanism for policy development and dissemination to external audiences regarding the mission, goals and impact of geriatric education programs. Our policy objectives include providing guidance to the United States Public Health Service and other organizations in the development of programs to enhance the education of health care practitioners and others. Another objective is to educate Congress about necessary priorities in geriatric education. We serve as a voice for the goals and interests of the nation’s GWEPs, GACAs, and other groups providing education in geriatrics and gerontology. This symposium will first describe how geriatric educators inform policy. Then a historical perspective of how NAGE has influenced aging policy is provided. Recent efforts to increase funding for geriatric education will be shared, followed by future directions in policymaking.
Acceptance of Transportation Technologies by Aging Adults
Authors: Charness Neil , Souders Dustin , Best Ryan , Roque Nelson , Yoon JongSung , Stothart Cary
Published: December 2020

Older adults are at greater risk of death and serious injury in transportation crashes which have been increasing in older adult cohorts relative to younger cohorts. Can technology provide a safer road environment? Even if technology can mitigate crash risk, is it acceptable to older road users? We outline the results from several studies that tested 1) whether advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) can improve older adult driving performance, 2) older adults’ acceptance of ADAS and Autonomous Vehicle (AV) systems, and 3) perceptions of value for ADAS systems, particularly for blind-spot detection systems. We found that collision avoidance warning systems improved older adult simulator driving performance, but not lane departure warning systems. In a young to middle-aged sample the factor “concern with AV” showed age effects with older drivers less favorable. Older drivers, however, valued an active blind spot detection system more than younger drivers.
Aging Experiences Around the World: Local Findings and Global Insights From Population Surveys of Aging
Authors: Ailshire Jennifer , Lee Jinkook
Published: December 2020

International comparisons of the aging experience offer a unique opportunity to understand how much the aging process varies according to differences in social environments. Despite the potential knowledge gained from global comparisons of health and aging, conducting cross-national comparisons can be challenging. The HRS-family of surveys, which have been harmonized within the Gateway to Global Aging, provides remarkable opportunities for cross-national comparative analysis. The papers in this session use harmonized data to compare the aging experience across different social dimensions in multiple countries from around the world, including examinations of: 1) the role of social engagement among married couples in cognitive function in Mexico and the United States; 2) the importance of work histories and macro-economic policies on later life health in England and Europe; 3) gender differences in the receipt of informal care in the U.S., Korea, and China; 4) the association between sensory impairment and disability-free life expectancy in England and the U.S.; and 5) end-of-life care arrangements and health care utilization in the context of different health systems across multiple countries.
Trust and Language as Predictors of Service Use
Authors: Ring Lauren , Glicksman Allen , Liebman Michael , Rodriguez Misha
Published: December 2020

Research on older migrants often starts with a set of assumptions- including the importance of language as a barrier to care. A comparative approach allows us to examine these assumptions as they impact access to services for older migrants. Our study compared two groups of older migrants – Mandarin speaking Chinese and Spanish speakers from Puerto Rico. Through a series of focus groups we learned that although language can be a barrier to service access, the more important element in reducing disparities for older migrants is the level of trust between older adult and provider. For the older Chinese participants, the presence of a native speaker whom they trust is contrasted with a lack of trusted native Spanish speakers available to Puerto Rican elders, who must often rely on translators from various providers. We will use this example to help explain the differences in service use by these two communities. Part of a symposium sponsored by the International Aging and Migration Interest Group.
The Importance of Cultural Traits in Children’s Willingness to Provide Informal Care to a Parent
Authors: Diederich Freya , König Hans-Helmut , Brettschneider Christian
Published: December 2020

The likelihood that a child will provide informal care to a parent varies across countries and between social groups within countries. We highlight the importance of cultural traits in children’s value of informal care and their willingness to provide informal care to a parent. We initially construct a cultural measure of the strength of family ties at the country level using data from the World Values Survey. Then, we use a sample of second-generation immigrants from the German Family Panel (N=1,041) and regress their value of informal care on the strength of family ties that prevails in their parents’ country of origin. Immigrants who have origins in countries with strong family ties are significantly more likely to report a high value of informal care. Finally, we show that children who report a high value of informal care are significantly more likely to provide informal care to a parent in need. Part of a symposium sponsored by the International Aging and Migration Interest Group.
The Holistic Impact of Using Arts-Based Intervention for Elderly With Dementia
Authors: Ho Rainbow Tin Hun
Published: December 2020

The use of creative arts on supporting elderly with dementia has been becoming popular due to its safe and engaging process. This non-pharmacological approach can complement with other treatment methods to support elderly with dementia on various aspects, including physical, cognitive and social functioning. In our randomized controlled trial on dance movement therapy (DMT) for 204 community dwelling elders with mild dementia, we found DMT could significantly reduce the level of depression, loneliness and negative mood (β=0.33-0.42, p<.01), and also the diurnal cortisol slope (β =0.30, p<.01); while in another trial on 73 elderly with moderate dementia, we found music and movement could help reduce the behavioral and psychological symptoms such as agitation (β = -0.41, p<.01), aberrant motor behavior (β=-1.02, p<.01), and dysphonia (β=-0.61, p<.05). The present presentation aims to share with the audience our practical experiences, the research procedures as well as the findings of the projects.
The Art of Body Movement: Health Impact on Older Adults With Disability and Dementia
Authors: Chen Kuei-Min
Published: December 2020

Body-movement is an art form of self-expression and health promotion. This presentation will provide an overview of studies that employ the use of “movement activities” or “exercise” as non-pharmacological modalities to improve activities of daily living and functional fitness (e.g., cardiopulmonary function, body flexibility, range of joint motion, and muscle strength and endurance) of older adults with disability. These studies have also been shown to decrease depression state and behavior symptoms of older adults with dementia in long-term care facilities. Moreover, the Wheelchair-bound Senior Elastic Band (WSEB) exercise program will be described that are of relevance to the older adults with disability and dementia.
The Links Between Ageism and the Age-Based Double Standard
Authors: Li Changrui , Barber Sarah , Brewer Gene
Published: December 2020

There is an age-based double standard in how we evaluate memory failures by younger and older adults. Whereas younger adults’ forgetfulness is attributed to lack of effort or attention, older adults’ forgetfulness is attributed to lack of ability. Our goal was to replicate this phenomenon, and evaluate its links to benevolent and hostile ageism. To do so, we used a vignette paradigm in which younger and older participants read about a target person (who was a younger or older woman) who left a store without paying for a ring (which varied in price). Results showed that participants were more likely to attribute this to poor memory abilities when the target was an older adult. They were also more lenient in their ascribed punishments for the older adult targets. In addition, reading about an older adult target’s mistake was associated with subsequently higher endorsement of benevolent, but not hostile, ageist attitudes.
Dementia Caregiving: The Association Between Family Caregiving Strain and Receipt of Paid Care
Authors: Reckrey Jennifer , Bollens-Lund Evan , Tsui Emma , Boerner Kathrin , Ornstein Katherine
Published: December 2020

family caregivers. Using data from three waves (2011, 2015, 2017) of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) linked to the National Study of Caregiving (NSOC), we identified family caregivers of those with advanced dementia and compared caregiving strain among those with zero, <20, and 20+ hours/week paid care. Family caregivers of those who received 20+ hours (26% of the sample) reported less caregiver strain (mean score 3.27 vs 4.15, p=0.04) and less frequently reported having more to do than they could handle (46.1% vs 67.9%, p=0.01) or not having enough time for themselves (46.8% vs 72.2%, p<0.01). The association persisted in a multivariable model. These results support the conceptualization of dynamic and potentially multidirectional relationships between paid and family caregivers and suggest that paid caregivers impact both those receiving care and their families.
Prevalence of Diagnosed Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in Medicare Advantage
Authors: Jutkowitz Eric , Bynum Julie , Mitchell Susan , Cocoros Noelle , Shapira Oren , Platt Richard , McCarthy Ellen
Published: December 2020

A third of Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA); however, little is known about MA beneficiaries diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD). MA plans have incentives that may influence the type of beneficiaries who enroll/disenroll from plans and the documentation of diagnoses. We calculated the prevalence of diagnosed AD/ADRD in 2014 and 2016 in three MA plans representing ~30% of the MA market. We identified beneficiaries ≥65 years of age enrolled in the MA plans in 2014 and 2016. Among eligible beneficiaries, we identified individuals with AD/ADRD using ICD-9 (2014) and ICD-10 (2016) codes included in the Medicare Chronic Conditions Warehouse algorithms for AD/ADRD. We determined the age and sex of beneficiaries diagnosed with AD/ADRD, and whether they disenrolled from the MA plan for any reason (e.g., death, enrollment in a different MA plan, enrollment in traditional Medicare or discontinuation of a plan) within 364 days from the date they were first identified has having AD/ADRD (i.e., index date). In 2014 and 2016 the prevalence of AD/ADRD diagnoses was 5.7% and 6.5%, respectively. In 2016, AD/ADRD beneficiaries were on average 82.4 (SD=7.3) years of age, 61.8% female, and had multiple comorbidities. By 364 days post-index, 32% of beneficiaries with diagnosed AD/ADRD had disenrolled from their plan. The characteristics of 2014 beneficiaries with diagnosed AD/ADRD were similar to their 2016 counterparts. In conclusion, MA beneficiaries with AD/ADRD are predominately female, have multimorbidity, and the age-stratified prevalence of AD/ADRD diagnoses is lower than rates reported in traditional Medicare.
Sleep Disturbance and Dementia Risk: Findings From 8 Years of Prospective Data
Authors: Wong Roger
Published: December 2020

Recent evidence indicates sleep disturbances increase dementia risk. Despite extensive support for this finding, numerous studies are based on cross-sectional data and no research has examined this relationship using a national sample. The purpose of this study was to analyze how sleep disturbances are associated with dementia risk. This study used eight annual waves (2011-2018) of prospective data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, a large nationally representative U.S. sample of older adults. At each wave, sleep disturbances were measured as: 1) trouble falling asleep in 30 minutes, 2) trouble falling asleep after waking up early, and 3) taking medication to help sleep. The dependent variable was number of years to a new dementia diagnosis. Multivariate analyses were conducted using the Cox proportional hazards model with survey sampling weights applied for a national sample of 6,800 community-dwelling older adults dementia-free at baseline. After controlling for sociodemographics (age, sex, race, education, etc.) and health (mental health, physical health, chronic disease, etc.), trouble falling asleep in 30 minutes was not associated with dementia risk, (Hazard Ratio [HR]=1.01, p=.98), however, trouble falling asleep after waking up significantly decreased risk (HR=0.40, p<.01), and taking sleep medications significantly increased risk (HR=1.72, p<.01). Our findings suggest mixed evidence on how sleep disturbances are associated with dementia risk, but needing sleep medications may be predictive of elevated dementia risk. Future research should explore pathways or behaviors that may decrease dementia risk among individuals who wake up at night, but have trouble falling back to sleep.
Marital Quality and Mental Health Among Caregiving Dyads
Authors: Proulx Christine , Skoblow Hanamori , Han Sae Hwang
Published: December 2020

We examined whether the associations between marital quality and mental health were equally strong among dyads in which one spouse was providing care to a spouse (n = 155), parent (n = 61), or another adult (n = 176). Using Wave 2 of the NSHAP and actor-partner interdependence (APIM) models, we found significant differences (p=.004) among groups. Marital quality was negatively associated with one’s own depressive symptoms (b=-1.29) for husbands in the spousal caregiver group, whereas marital quality was negatively associated with one’s own depressive symptoms for wives in both the parental (b=-1.27) and other adult (b=-1.96) caregiver groups. The only partner effect was the negative association between wives’ marital quality and husbands’ depressive symptoms (b=-2.59) among dyads in which one spouse was a parental caregiver. These results point to the importance of understanding the context of caregiving when examining the protective effect of spouses’ marital quality on mental health.
A Challenge From Longevity: Study on the Care Provider of the Chinese Oldest-Old at the End of Life
Authors: Zhang Wenjuan
Published: December 2020

The study aimed to investigate the changing pattern of care for the oldest-old at the end of life in China. Data were used from the Chinese Longitudinal Longevity survey from 1998 to2018. The results indicate significant changes in the care providers of older adults at the end of life from 1998 to 2018: grandchildren played an increasing important role in providing care to the oldest-old in China. The study highlights an important role of grandchildren who replace children as main caregivers. Longevity changes the traditional pattern of end-of-life care, and increase the diversity in the pattern of care for the Oldest-old, due to different life course of families compared with general aging families, and the limited role of formal social support system in providing end-of-life care for the oldest-old. We discuss implications in the context of increasing population of the oldest-old, and its challenges to formal social support system.
Improving Hand-Grip Strength and Blood Pressure in Adults: Results From an AgingPLUS Pilot Study
Authors: Nehrkorn-Bailey Abigail , Forsyth Garrett , Braun Barry , Burke Kimberly , Diehl Manfred
Published: December 2020

Based on adult inactivity, a new intervention named AgingPLUS was created, targeting motivational barriers to physical activity. Data come from a pilot study (N = 116), with 56 participants randomized to the AgingPLUS group (Mage = 63.52 years, SD = 7.89 years), and 60 randomized to the active control group (Mage = 63.06 years, SD = 8.30 years). Multi-group linear growth curve analyses examined improvements in hand-grip strength and blood pressure from pretest (Week 0) to immediate (Week 4) and delayed posttest (Week 8). Findings showed that only participants in the AgingPLUS group had significant improvements in hand-grip strength for the right (B = 1.34, p < .001) and left hand (B = 1.73, p < .001), as well as significant reductions in systolic (B = -3.28, p < .05) and diastolic blood pressure (B = -1.92, p < .01). These findings provide support for the efficacy of AgingPLUS.
Examining the Interplay of Generalized and Personal Views on Aging on Physical and Mental Health Across 2.5 Years
Authors: Brothers Allyson , Kornadt Anna , Nehrkorn-Bailey Abigail , Wahl Hans-Werner , Diehl Manfred
Published: December 2020

It remains unknown how distinct types of views on aging (VoA) are related to one another, and to aging outcomes. We used a latent-variable structural equation model to test the hypothesis that generalized views on aging (assessed as Age Stereotypes (AS)) would influence personal views on aging (assessed as Self-Perceptions of Aging (SPA)), which in-turn would influence later physical and mental health. Data came from a longitudinal survey on VoA (N= 537, MageT1 = 64.13, age rangeT1 = 40-98). As expected, SPA mediated the effect of AS on physical (loss-SPA: β = .23, p< .001; gain-SPA: β = .06, p< .001; R2 = .62) and mental health (loss-SPA: β = .13, p< .001; gain-SPA: β = .03, p< .01, ; R2 = .31). Congruent with theoretical assumptions, our findings provide empirical support for a directional pathway by which generalized views on aging affect health outcomes via personal views of aging.
A Multiple Stakeholder Perspective for Evaluating Community-Based Dementia Care
Authors: Suen Johan
Published: December 2020

For holistic interventions and research on dementia, it is fundamental to understand care experiences from the perspectives of carers, care recipients, and care professionals. While research on care dyads and triads have highlighted the effects of communication and interactional aspects on care relationships, there is a lack of knowledge on how individual-contextual and relational factors shape the provision and receipt of care in terms of decision-making processes, resource allocation, and expectations of care outcomes. Thus, this paper sheds light on (i) how carers negotiate care provision with other important life domains such as employment, household/family roles and conflicts, as well as their own health problems, life goals, values, and aspirations for ageing; (ii) how older adults with dementia perceive support and those who provide it; (iii) the structural constraints faced by care professionals in delivering a team-based mode of dementia care; and, taken together, (iv) how community-based dementia care is impeded by barriers at the individual, relational, and institutional levels. Findings were derived from semi-structured interviews and observational data from fieldwork conducted with 20 persons with dementia (median age = 82), 20 of their carers (median age = 60), and 4 professional care providers. All respondents were clients and staff of a multidisciplinary and community-based dementia care system in Singapore. Our analysis indicates the impact of dementia care is strongly mediated by the interplay between institutional/familial contexts of care provision and the various ‘orientations’ to cognitive impairment and seeking support, which we characterised as ‘denial/acceptance’, ‘obligated’, ‘overprotective’, and ‘precariously vulnerable’.
The Role of Subjective Age Views for 9-Year Change in Self-Reported Problems With Vision and Hearing
Authors: Wettstein Markus , Wahl Hans-Werner , Spuling Svenja
Published: December 2020

We examined the role of subjective age views (subjective age; attitudes toward own aging [ATOA]; aging-related cognitions, comprising continuous growth, social loss, and physical decline) for changes in self-reported problems with vision and hearing over up to 9 years. A subsample of the German Ageing Survey (2,499 adults aged 60-85 years at baseline) was investigated. Controlling for gender, age, education, self-rated health, and region of residence (West vs. East Germany), a younger subjective age at baseline predicted less steep increase in vision problems among individuals who were chronologically older at baseline. More favorable ATOA scores were associated with less increase in hearing problems. Higher scores on continuous growth went along with less increase in hearing problems, whereas higher social loss scores were associated with a steeper increase in vision problems. Several associations increased with advancing age. Our findings suggest that subjective age views indeed predict late-life changes in sensory problems.
Adaptive Reuse of Distressed Malls for Dementia-Friendly City Centers: Outcomes From Community Focus Groups
Authors: Roberts Emily
Published: December 2020

It is estimated that 5.4 million Americans have some form of dementia and these numbers are expected to rise in the coming decades, leading to an unprecedented demand for memory care housing and services. In searching for innovative options to create more autonomy and better quality of life in dementia care settings, repurposing existing structures, in particular vacant urban malls, may be one option for the large sites needed for the European model of dementia villages. These settings may become sustainable Dementia Friendly City Centers (DFCC), because in the case of enclosed mall construction, the internal infrastructure is in place for lighting, HVAC, with varied spatial configuration of public spaces. This presentation describes the community engagement research being conducted by a research team at a Midwestern university, laying groundwork for the DFCC model for centralized dementia programs, services and attached housing. Focus group outcomes from four disciplines (caregiver, physician, designer, community development) detailed four principle themes including : community revitalization, building sustainability, urban regreening and the nurturing of innovation to further a culture of dementia care which is inclusive, progressive and convergent with the needs of an aging. The DFCC model can be seen as one opportunity to make life better not only for those with needs associated with dementia now, but also for ourselves in the future, therefore educating and updating future stakeholders about the value of this model of care will be critical in transforming current hurdles into future opportunities.
Need for Cognition Partially Mediates the Relationship Between Cognition and Subjective Well-Being
Authors: Yazdani Neshat , Siedlecki Karen
Published: December 2020

Aspects of cognitive functioning have been linked to measures of subjective well-being both cross-sectionally (Jones et al., 2003) and over time (Enkvist et al., 2013) but the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. One potential mechanism may be individuals’ need for cognition, or the dispositional tendency to enjoy and engage in effortful cognitive activities (Cacioppo & Petty, 1982). Analyses were conducted to examine need for cognition as a mediator of the relationship between five domains of cognition (episodic memory, processing speed, reasoning, spatial visualization, and vocabulary) and four dimensions of subjective well-being (life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect, and depressive symptomatology) cross-sectionally in a large sample of healthy adults between the ages of 18-99. Results indicate that need for cognition partially mediates the relationship between all five domains of cognition and life satisfaction, negative affect, and depressive symptomatology, but does not mediate the relationship between cognition and positive affect.