bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Home Based Primary Care Providers in New York: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Gorbenko Ksenia , Franzosa Emily , Masse Sybil , Brody Abraham , Ripp Jonathan , Ornstein Katherine , Federman Alex
Published: December 2021

Research on professional burnout during the pandemic has focused on hospital-based health care workers. This study examined the psychological impact of the pandemic on home-based primary care (HBPC) providers. We interviewed 13 participants from six HBPC practices in the New York including medical/clinical directors, program managers, nurse practitioners, and social workers and analyzed the transcripts using inductive qualitative analysis approach. HBPC providers experienced emotional exhaustion and a sense of reduced personal accomplishment. They reported experiencing grief of losing many patients at once and pressure to adapt to changing circumstances quickly. They also reported feeling guilty for failing to protect their patients and reduced confidence in their professional expertise. Strategies to combat burnout included shorter on-call, regular condolence meetings to acknowledge patient deaths, and peer support calls. Our study identifies potential resources to improve the well-being and reduce the risk of burnout among HBPC providers.
Advancing Age Inclusivity in a Pandemic: Age-Friendly University (AFU) Campuses Take Action
Authors: Montepare Joann , Farah Kimberly
Published: December 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic presented extraordinary challenges for professionals in the aging field across campuses and communities, calling for rethinking and redesigning how their work was structured, their programs were delivered, and their connections were sustained. The pandemic also made clear the value of being an age-friendly institution of higher education, especially as we experience historic changes in age demographics. This symposium features campus leaders representing institutional partners of the Age-Friendly University (AFU) global initiative (endorsed by GSA’s Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education) who will discuss how their age-friendly programs were adapted during the pandemic to continue to advance age inclusivity. These diverse responses exemplify the vast potential of age-friendly opportunities. June and Andreoletti (Central Connecticut State University) will discuss how the Scholars for Life! program supported the engagement of older learners in the neighboring community through the engagement of faculty. Elfenbein (University of North Georgia) will describe how learning experiences for older learners and intergenerational exchange were created beyond the classroom through the Personal Enrichment, Action and Knowledge (PEAK) program. Terhune (Northern Kentucky University) will describe how student support practices and services were adapted to provide working adult students with guidance for navigating their educational needs during the pandemic. Kheirbek (University of Maryland, Baltimore) will describe how age-friendly collaborations with the institution’s medical school leveraged intergenerational connections and technology to foster social connection for hospitalized older adults. Gautam and Melillo (UMass Lowell) discuss how a campus partnership with the Learning in Retirement Association (LIRA) adapted efforts around healthy aging.
Social Work Graduates Entering the Field of Gerontology During COVID-19: Exploring Perceived Readiness and Needs
Authors: Beltran Susanny , Miller Vivian
Published: December 2021

Gerontological social workers (GSW) are on the frontlines supporting the biopsychosocial needs of older adults in hospitals, communities, and long-term care settings. However, it is unclear whether social workers (SW) are trained to meet the emerging needs of older adults during COVID-19. This study describes training received, perceived readiness, and training needs of GSWs new to the field during 2020. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with recent graduates from U.S. SW programs. Survey questions explored training received and ongoing needs, perceived self-efficacy (adapted from the Geriatric Social Work Competency Scale), demographics, and confidence in ability to work with populations 55+. A total of 15 recent SW graduates specializing in gerontology completed the survey. Fifty-three percent of the sample held MSWs and over half (53.3%) were licensed social workers or registered interns. Nearly all participants (73.3%) reported taking an introductory aging course, and almost half (46.7%) completed coursework in aging and diversity, aging policy, and end-of-life care/bereavement; 80% completed fieldwork in aging. Participants report moderate skill in assessing issues related to losses or transitions (46.7%), and physical functioning (53.3%), and advanced skill in assessing cognitive functioning (60.0%), and caregiver stress/needs (53.3%). Nearly half of respondents who rated their training as good-excellent indicate being very-extremely confident (42.8%) in their ability to practice with older adults. Training needs among participants include disaster preparedness, telehealth, and coordination of scarce resources. Curriculum development and continuing education are necessary to support emerging gerontological social workers in their practice during COVID-19 and other emergencies.
Training Savvy Caregiver Program Group Leaders Through an Online Course
Authors: Hepburn Kenneth , Sherman Carey , Hobday John , Reed Lai
Published: December 2021

A significant factor limiting organizations’ implementation of the Savvy Caregiver program, a widely disseminated dementia caregiver psychoeducation course, is the need to provide training to program leaders to ensure their understanding of Savvy core principles and strengthen their teaching and coaching skills. Such training has typically been provided through in-person group sessions led by the Savvy developers. To facilitate broader availability, we have embarked on an NIA-supported program to develop a fully online self-paced Savvy train-the-trainer course. The course, delivered individually on a widely used teaching platform, is in seven sections: the first introduces Savvy principles and the trainer role; the next six cover the content and teaching strategies of each of Savvy’s six sessions. In the first development phase, 33 individuals from 13 organizations across the country took part in training (average age 49.5; almost all college level or professional women). Qualitative interviews with 11 trainees and debriefing sessions with others yielded consistently positive responses: the training enhanced their own appreciation for caregiving; they endorsed the self-paced learning and; and it established expectations for positive benefits of Savvy for caregivers. Trainees’ feedback has led to several improvements, including resolving reported technical glitches (e.g., navigating the course). New videos illustrating group delivery methods have been added. Fidelity monitoring strategies are supported as organizations have been encouraged to augment the online training by convening meetings of trainees while in training to enable role playing, and greater personalization is achieved via post-training Zoom meetings with trainees and the Savvy training team staff.
Does Religiosity in the Transition to Adulthood Predict Filial Norms in Midlife?
Authors: Kim Jeung Hyun , Hwang Woosang , Brown Maria , Silverstein Merril
Published: December 2021

Objective: This study aims to identify multiple dimensions of religiosity among young adults at the beginning and end of the transition to adulthood, and describe how transition patterns of religiosity in early adulthood are associated with filial elder-care norms in midlife. Background: There is a broad consensus that religiosity is multidimensional in nature, but less is known regarding transitions in multiple dimensions of religiosity from early to middle adulthood and predicted filial eldercare norms as a function of those religiosity transitions. Methods: The sample consisted of 368 young adults participating in the Longitudinal Study of Generations in 2000 (mean age = 23 years) and 2016 waves. We conducted a latent class and latent transition analyses to address our aims. Results: We identified three religious latent classes among young adults in both 2000 and 2016 waves: strongly religious, weakly religious, and doctrinally religious. Staying strongly religious young adults between 2000 to 2016 waves reported higher filial elder-care norms in the 2016 Wave than those who were in staying weakly religious, staying doctrinally religious, and decreasing religiosity transition patterns between 2000 to 2016 waves. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that religiosity is still an important value for young adults shaping their intergenerational relationships with their aging parents. Keywords: religiosity, filial eldercare norms, young adults, transition to adulthood
Ethical and Methodological Considerations Interviewing Dementia Caregivers
Authors: Cotton Quinton , Block Laura , Benson Clark , Friz Amanda , Chelgren Britta , Stroik Brady , Ploch Emily , Bykovskyi Andrea Gilmore
Published: December 2021

Greater inclusion of people living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers in research is a global research priority and an expressed priority of dementia advocacy organizations. Absent inclusion of PLWD and caregivers, our understanding of dementia-related experiences and optimization of care and caregiving interventions is stymied. Qualitative interviewing techniques constitutes a primary method for obtaining PLWD and caregivers’ perspectives. Yet, there is little guidance on use of qualitative interviewing techniques among PLWD and caregivers or discussion of potential challenges encountered, despite unique vulnerabilities faced throughout the research process, which may be further heightened among historically excluded groups. Meaningful progress toward inclusion of PLWD and their caregivers in dementia research necessitates broader examination of associated methodological and ethical considerations that arise in the conduct of interviews. Drawing from a large multi-site qualitative study of dementia caregivers with exposure to high levels of social disadvantage, we used a multiple-triangulation qualitative approach across interview transcripts, memos, and interviewer discussions to identify methodological and ethical challenges that arose during the interviewing process. Challenges were identified across all phases of research, and included relational concerns with PLWD and family members due to disclosure of sensitive information, risk of re-traumatization in discussing past experiences, multiple roles of caregivers with conflicting perspectives, variable recall capacity, limited prior appraisal of caregiving, and request of interviewers for medical advice or selecting services . We outline events evidencing these challenges and proposed strategies (i.e. use of research consults, interview debriefing) to strengthen research capacity to anticipate and respond to them.
Discrimination, Church Support, Personal Mastery, and Psychological Distress Among Black People in the United States
Authors: Muruthi James , Muruthi Bertranna , Cañas Reid Thompson , Romero Lindsey , Taiwo Abiola , Ehlinger Peter
Published: December 2021

Objective: This study used the stress process model to test the mediating effects of personal mastery and moderating effects of church-based social support on the relationship between everyday discrimination and psychological distress across three age groups of African American and Afro-Caribbean adults. Methods: Using a national sample of 5008 African Americans and Afro-Caribbean adults from the National Survey of American Life Study, this study employs structural equation modeling to investigate the relationships between everyday discrimination, personal mastery, church-based social support, and psychological disorders. Results: Everyday discrimination was an independent predictor of psychiatric disorders across all groups. Group- and age-specific comparisons revealed significant differences in the experience of everyday discrimination and psychiatric disorders. Mastery was a partial mediator of the relationship between discimination and psychiatric disorder among Afro-Caribbeans while church support was a significant moderator only among the young and older African Americans. Implications: Together, our study findings provide useful first steps towards developing interventions to reduce the adverse psychological impacts of everyday discrimination on African Americans and Afro-Caribbeans. Intervention efforts such as individual psychotherapy aimed to improve Afro-Caribbean individuals’ sense of mastery would be a partial solution to alleviating the adverse effects of discrimination on their psychological health.
Looking Beyond Family for Support and Intimacy: How Older Single and Widowed Black Women Cope With Loneliness
Authors: Salisu Margaret
Published: December 2021

Older adults are at risk of depression and higher rates of suicide due to loneliness. Loneliness is even more pronounced for single and bereaved older adults. Although loneliness is one of the benchmarks for measuring well-being, little is known about how older Black women understand and cope with loneliness. The aim of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore how older Black women understand and cope with loneliness. Fourteen older single and/or widowed Black women in New York City participated in this study. The application of the Black feminist standpoint theory helped to understand the loneliness of the participants in the context of their Blackness. Three themes emerged from the study: loneliness increasing with age, looking beyond the family for intimacy, and balance. All the participants expressed feeling some degree of loneliness, regardless of whether they lived alone or with family. Although they had robust social circles, they experienced loneliness, feelings of isolation, and a loss of emotional connection and intimacy. However, these losses went unexpressed, as the participants struggled to balance their position as Black matriarchs—which they considered an important familial role due to their identity as older Black women—with their emotional needs. These two roles did not converge for the women, as the role of Black matriarch posed an expectation they would not experience emotional loss in old age. The implications of this study for policy and practice pertain to the intersection of race, age, gender, and sexuality in assessing the risk of loneliness.
Innovations in Workforce Education for Family Caregiving
Authors: Sexson Kathryn , Mongoven Jennifer , Badovinac Lisa , Harvath Theresa
Published: December 2021

The number of adults providing care to a family member in the US is estimated at more than 50 million, with nearly half of those individuals providing complex care. National organizations, such as AARP, and federal programs, such as the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program, have identified the family caregiver as an integral member of the health care team, yet there is a paucity of clinical workforce education programs for how best to partner and support family caregivers. A virtual summit was held in September 2020 to highlight existing educational programs designed to prepare undergraduate and graduate health professional students or practicing clinicians in their efforts to support family caregivers. The meeting consisted of a keynote, 6 podium presentations and 12 poster presentations. Primary themes emerged around target learners, curricula topics, and outcomes. Programs targeted learners from across the workforce, from undergraduate students to continuing professional education programs, with the majority targeting graduate (masters and doctoral) learners. Several programs were interprofessional in development, delivery and target learner. Curricula topics varied across programs and included caregiver assessments, multicultural considerations, communication, care plan development and risk screening. Education outcomes primarily focused on assessment of participants’ confidence and knowledge. The summit highlighted that the topic of family caregiving is included in clinical education inconsistently, if at all. The summit helped identify gaps in education, curriculum development, and the need for common learning outcomes to strengthen a clinician’s ability to support family caregivers as part of the care team.
Intergenerational Service-Learning During COVID-19
Authors: Shovali Tamar
Published: December 2021

Mentor Up is a technology training program designed to reduce loneliness through technology training and intergenerational relationships. The program, which has similarities to Cyber Seniors, has been held at Eckerd College for four years and has traditionally been held in-person at a local Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). During the pandemic we partnered with AARP to re-think the program and offer a modified version of Mentor Up on Zoom. Five one-hour one-on-one virtual technology training sessions led by 16 students were scheduled. Participants joined to ask questions about how to use features on their smartphones or how to navigate the Zoom virtual platform more effectively. The remote nature of programming allows for expanded 2021 participation, including AARP members across Florida and all three Westminster Communities of Florida in the area (CCRC, ALF, SNF). Participation rates, strategies to implement intergenerational programs on a virtual platform, and lessons learned will be highlighted.
Voice Your Values, Tailored Advance Care Planning in Persons Living With Mild Dementia: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Vellani Shirin , Puts Martine , McGilton Katherine , Iaboni Andrea
Published: December 2021

Older adults diagnosed with mild dementia can identify their wishes, values and goals of care with a high degree of accuracy and reliability. However, there is a paucity of research to guide best practices on how to incorporate Advance Care Planning (ACP) in the care of older adults living with mild dementia. Thus, only a minority of them participate in any ACP discussions. We developed an intervention called Voice Your Values (VYV) that healthcare professionals can implement to identify and document values of older adults. This single group pretest and posttest design aimed to determine the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of the intervention. A convenience sample of 20 dyads of older adults and their trusted individuals were recruited from 4 geriatric clinics. Tailored VYV intervention was delivered to dyads on a one-on-one basis over two sessions using videoconferencing. Feasibility was determined through recruitment and retention rates, and intervention fidelity. Acceptability was assessed using modified Treatment Evaluation Inventory. Primary outcome was the Surrogate Decision-Making Confidence Scale. Secondary outcomes included an ACP engagement survey to assess older adults’ engagement in ACP; Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool for trusted individuals; and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale for all participants. The recruitment rate was 45%, retention rate was 100% and 92% participants rated VYV as highly acceptable. Trusted individuals showed statistically significant improvement in decision-making confidence (p=.02) and psychological distress (p=.02); but no improvement in dementia knowledge (p=.47). Older adults demonstrated statistically significant improvement in ACP engagement (p=<.01). Initial feasibility of VYV was demonstrated.
A Cross-Sectional Study Comparing Younger and Older Nursing Home Residents in Western Canada
Authors: Shieu Bianca , Schwartz Todd , Beeber Anna , Hoben Matthias , Toles Mark , Anderson Ruth
Published: December 2021

Specialized care for younger nursing home (NH) residents may be necessary to meet their unique health and quality of life needs; however, key attributes of younger NH residents are poorly understood and limit the development of effective, tailored interventions. This study described differences in clinical and nonclinical characteristics of younger vs. older nursing NH residents. In a retrospective cohort study, we used SPSS and analyzed comprehensive Resident Assessment Instrument – Minimum Data Set (RAI-MDS 2.0) data from NHs in Western Canada, for the period from January 2016 to December 2017. We included all assessments (full and abbreviated) performed quarterly. These findings indicated that younger (age 18-64) vs. older (age >=65) NH residents differed considerably: younger residents were predominately male, single, more obese, more depressed, had higher prevalence of depression, cerebral vascular accident, and hemi- or quadriplegia, and required more assistance in activities of daily living than older residents. The findings will contribute a better comprehension of the characteristics of the younger NH population and how they differ from other residents. The study provides useful information to policymakers, providers, and researchers to guide them in developing tailored policies, programs, and interventions. Also, findings may guide consumers as they plan for long-term care needs of loved ones. Finally, the findings provide a baseline estimate as researchers continue to track the growth of and changes in, the populations served in nursing homes.
Post-Retirement Paid Work and Inequalities at Older Ages
Authors: Shaw Benjamin , Cahill Kevin , Giandrea Michael
Published: December 2021

Participation in paid work frequently extends beyond pensionable age, with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development observing, in “Pensions at a Glance” (2017, pp. 126–7), that effective retirement ages in high-income countries exceed normal full-pension-eligibility ages by 10 months for men and two months for women. While working after pensionable age is becoming ever more common, not all workers on the cusp of retirement are able to continue in their current position or find a new job. Remarkably, little is known about the implications of unequal access to post-retirement work for social and income inequalities in later life, nor how job quality might change as people work into the years normally set aside for retirement. The four papers in this symposium address the following questions: 1) do bridge employment transitions exacerbate or mitigate income inequality later in life? 2) how does job quality (job satisfaction, physical and psychosocial working conditions) compare before and after pensionable age? 3) which processes lead to changes in working conditions in the late career? and 4) might empirical and theoretical gains be made by considering post-pensionable-age paid work as a specific career stage? The presenters use longitudinal data from the United States (the Health and Retirement Study, HRS), Sweden (Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health, SLOSH), and Japan (Japanese Study of Aging and Retirement, JSTAR) complemented by interviews with older workers in Sweden. This symposium will provide insights into the nature and consequences of working after pensionable age in contrasting institutional settings.
Job Quality in the Late Career in Sweden, Japan, and the United States
Authors: Westerlund Hugo , Platts Loretta , Sacco Lawrence , Hiyoshi Ayako , Cahill Kevin , König Stefanie
Published: December 2021

This paper examines job satisfaction and psychosocial and physical job quality over the late career in three contrasting national settings: Sweden, Japan and the United States. The data come from an ex-post harmonized dataset of individuals aged 50 to 75 years constructed from the biennial Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH, 2006–2018, n=13936 to 15520), Japanese Study of Ageing and Retirement (JSTAR, 2006–2013, n=3704) and the United States Health and Retirement Study (HRS, 2006–2016, n=6239 and 8002). The job quality outcomes were physical labour, psychosocial working conditions (time pressure, discretion, pay satisfaction, job security) and job satisfaction. Random effects modelling was performed with age modelled with spline functions in which two knots were placed at ages indicating eligibility for pensions claiming or mandatory retirement. Interestingly, in each country, post-pensionable-age jobs were generally less stressful, freer, and more satisfying than jobs held by younger workers.
Refining the Content of the AGEC Accreditation Handbook
Authors: Schafer Donna , Weinreich Donna
Published: December 2021

The AGEC Accreditation Handbook and Self-Evaluation Guide has been revised several times since the first drafts were produced in 2016 and 2017. The Handbook contains information for accreditation applicants, AGEC reviewers, and members of the Board of Governors responsible for administering AGEC policies and procedures. It includes the accreditation standards, eligibility for accreditation, timelines, and self-study and site visit guidelines. It is the central document for the AGEC accreditation process. Handbook revisions, drawn from the experience of accrediting programs, have been for the purposes of clarifying expectations and simplifying the application process. This presentation highlights modifications included in the 2020 Handbook, which simplify the self-study outline and site visit guidelines, and the 2021 modifications, which clarify the “Mapping Course Matrix” (displaying AGHE competencies covered in program courses) and add an “Assessment Matrix” for measuring acquisition of the competencies and improving the program as needed.
Black, Proud, Silent, and Loud: Experiences of a Junior Faculty Member in 2020
Authors: Brown Candace
Published: December 2021

Several social injustice issues, well known within the Black community, were brought to light to other ethnic/racial groups in 2020 and could no longer be ignored within the academic community. This led to personal, departmental, and institutional initiatives meant to increase racism awareness and apply change in thought and action. These initiatives often came at a cost of personal time and resources to Black and Indigenous People of Color academics, expected to contribute to these initiatives, redefine classroom syllabi, uphold research agendas, and continue with mentoring activities amidst their home environment (due to COVID-19) while monitoring their own feelings of pride, hurt, anger, anxiousness, and often- fatigue. This presentation will present the perceived triumphs and failed experiences of a junior faculty member, how they navigated this process, and explain the continued importance of institutions’ forward movement of initiatives meant to change the social and racial academic atmosphere.
Integration of Physical Activity in Reablement for Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Scoping Review
Authors: Mjøsund Hanne Leirbekk , Moe Cathrine , Burton Elissa , Uhrenfeldt Lisbeth
Published: December 2021

The aim of this study was to map evidence of how physical activity (PA) strategies are integrated and explored in research of interdisciplinary, time-limited reablement for community dwelling older adults and to identify knowledge gaps. Following an apriori protocol, we searched eight databases for eligible studies, in addition to citation and reference searches. Study selection and data-extraction was made independently by two reviewers. Fifty-one studies were included, showing that exercises and practice of daily activities were included in the majority of intervention studies, but in most cases little information about exercise components or strategies for increasing PA were provided. There was insufficient evidence for any synthesis of how reablement affects older adults’ PA levels, their physical fitness or how PA is experienced in reablement. There is a need to further investigate how the promotion of PA can be adequately implemented in reablement and how it may affect older adults’ function.
Rural Resilience Through COVID-19
Authors: Freeman Shannon , Weaver Raven , Freeman Shannon
Published: December 2021

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been felt globally affecting everyone, but have disproportionately harmed some of the most vulnerable and marginalized including individuals residing in rural and remote areas. The geographic isolation initially thought to protect rural and remote communities from the pandemic soon became a disadvantage, requiring individuals to navigate long-standing systemic barriers (e.g., lack of transportation issues, limited access to healthcare resources, and fragmented accessibility to vaccines), alongside the new challenges posed by COVID-19 restrictions to mitigate the spread of disease. The purpose of this symposium is to showcase examples of rural resiliency in the face of significant struggle. Taking a strength-based approach, the papers discuss efforts to identify healthy coping and positive aspects of physical distancing (Paper 1; Weaver), explore social support and psychological mindset (Paper 2; Fuller), inform successful strategies to pivot programming to remote coalition engagement for obesity prevention (Paper 3; Buys), implement a peer mentoring program to spur development of new strategies to build community resilience (Paper 4; Oh), and review elements of rurality that empower or exclude older people and the implications for a post-COVID world (Paper 5; Curreri). As we continue to uncover and learn about the short and long-term implications of living through the pandemic, these papers describe ways in which rural communities demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity. Our presenters will showcase a range of US and international perspectives and offer policy and program recommendations for building resilience in the longer term.
Experiences With Physical Distancing: Coping Strategies and Positive Experiences
Authors: Weaver Raven
Published: December 2021

A representative U.S. sample of adults completed an online survey (N=360) about perceived changes in social health and wellbeing since the implementation of physical distancing restrictions in April. Analyses are conducted on a subsample of adults aged 60+ (n=93; m=65.7 years; SD=4.7). Baseline bivariate descriptive analyses showed no geographic-based differences in self-rated health, resilience, perceived financial wellbeing, or family/friend support measures. Content analysis of rural residents’ (n=20) responses about coping strategies and positive experiences across three time points (April/July/November) revealed aspects of resilience. Individuals coped via acceptance and planning; engaging in activities; and keeping with routines. Positive experiences were relatively stable over time, with individuals describing improved health habits and enhanced social connectedness with family/neighbors. Individuals identified societal betterment and saving money as unintended benefits of the efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. When faced with adversity, identifying positive experiences may help individuals cope with challenges in the long-term
Social Determinants of Men’s Health Across the Life Course
Authors: Thorpe Roland , Whitfield Keith
Published: December 2021

There is a paucity of research focusing on the complex interaction between social, behavioral, biological, and psychosocial factors, and health outcomes among men. This symposium contains a collection of papers that discuss some key social determinants of health (SDOH) that can provide insights to advance our understanding of men’s health and aging across the life course. Dawn will discuss the Stroke Counseling for Risk Reduction (SCORRE) intervention designed to increase awareness, risk perceptions, and health behaviors to reduce stroke risk in African Americans. Findings suggest tailoring the intervention to the needs and preferences of young African American men. Archibald and colleagues seek to determine if race differences in allostatic load (AL) among adult men vary by age. Black men 45-64 had a higher AL score (PR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.02, 1.28) than White men. Skipper and colleagues used a grounded theory approach to examine the negative interactions of 35 religious middle and old age Black men. Analyses reveal that church-related negative interactions broadly fall within the following themes: (1) ageism within intergenerational churches, (2) people are messy, and (3) issues with leadership. Bruce and colleagues examine the association between religious service attendance and mortality among Black men. Participants who attended at least once per week were 18% less likely to die than their peers who did not attend a religious service at all (HR 0.82; 95% CI 0.68-0.99). These presentations collectively will bolster our knowledge on key SDOH among men across the life course.
Technology Solutions for Everyday Barriers Among Deaf Older Adults
Authors: Bayles Megan , Koon Lyndsie , Shende Shraddha , Rogers Wendy , Singleton Jenny
Published: December 2021

American Sign Language (ASL) is the primary form of communication for approximately 250,000 people in the U.S. (Mitchell et al., 2006). As these individuals age, they may experience challenges in their everyday activities. For example, ASL users rely on visual cues, but have age-related change in vision. Moreover, ASL users may need to utilize technology to communicate with non-ASL users, but the technology may not be suitable/usable for older adults. We explored these issues in the Aging Concerns, Challenges, and Everyday Solution Strategies (ACCESS) study, wherein we interviewed Deaf older adults (N=60) in ASL, who provided insights into unique, everyday challenges they encounter. We will focus on the technology solution strategies they incorporate to address and overcome challenges with daily activities. Understanding how participants think about, adapt, and utilize different technologies can inform future technology design to successfully support diverse, aging populations.
Technology to Support Social, Health, and Well-Being Outcomes Among Older Adults
Authors: Boot Walter
Published: December 2021

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, information and communication technologies (ICTs) are primarily how many people communicate, socialize, and receive healthcare. In a recent Pew report, experts in the role of technology in society believe that post-COVID-19 pandemic, society will continue to be far more technology-driven than pre-pandemic. That is, technology will play an even greater role in our lives in the “new normal.” However, compared to younger adults, many older adults are less likely to adopt the technologies needed to perform these everyday tasks. Differences in technology proficiency, acceptance, and adoption between groups is often referred to as the “digital divide,” and older adults are more likely to be on the disadvantaged side of this digital divide. This session explores the potential of technology to support social, health, and wellbeing outcomes among older adults, and the challenges involved. This session will start with a talk by A. Lothary on the success and challenges of using a simple video chat platform to address loneliness and social isolation. S. Shende will present a video-technology intervention for older adults with and without cognitive impairment, and how this intervention was designed to facilitate engagement. This will be followed by a presentation by X. Lin on the relationship between social media usage and well-being across the lifespan, and mediators of this relationship. The session will conclude with a presentation by W. Qin on predictors of older adults’ use of telehealth technology to support health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Video Chat Technology to Support Home and Community-Based Organizations
Authors: Khamzina Madina , Ross Brielle , Lothary Allura , Myer Dillon , Mudar Raksha , Rogers Wendy
Published: December 2021

Concerns about loneliness and social isolation for older adults were already evident but have been exacerbated during the pandemic. Home and Community Based Organizations (HCBOs) provide support for their older clients in the community and need to support their staff, who may be working remotely. We are exploring the potential of video chat technology to connect older adults with their friends, families, and other support. We review the technologies available to older adults in the community and staff working with older adults to promote social engagement. We are collaborating with OneClick.chat to identify the needs of the HCBOs through a literature review and qualitative interviews of staff members from different senior living environments. Their challenges and successes of engaging older adults through video chat technologies will provide guidance for design of an HCBO dashboard for OneClick.chat that will support diverse needs.
Adoption of Telehealth Among Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Qin Weidi
Published: December 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted older adults’ in-person healthcare services. Many individuals rely on remote communication with their healthcare providers for non-urgent health or mental health issues. The present study investigated the effects of technology learning and depressive symptoms on new adoption of telehealth (e.g. online messaging, video call) to communicate with healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 1,500 Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 or older was selected from the National Health and Aging Trend Study. A series of logistic regressions were performed. Results showed that older adults who learned a new online technology during the COVID-19 outbreak were more likely to adopt telehealth. Also, older adults with a higher level of depressive symptoms were more likely to start using telehealth. The findings highlight the importance of technology training to help older adults go online. Telehealth can be an important coping tool for depressive symptoms during the pandemic.
Traumatic Events and Cognitive Function: Does Time When Traumatic Events Happen Matter?
Authors: Dong Gabriella
Published: December 2021

People at different life stage may respond differently to traumatic events and result in different cognitive health. This study aims to examine the relationship between life stage at which one experiences traumatic events and cognitive function. The data were drawn from the 2017-2019 PINE study (N = 3,125). The time of life events happened was evaluated by childhood (<20), adulthood (20-59), and old age (60 and above). Cognition was measured through global cognition, episodic memory, working memory, processing speed, and MMSE. Linear regression was used. Individuals with the latest exposure to traumatic events at adulthood or old age have higher cognitive function than those without traumatic events over the life course. Exposure to traumatic events in middle or later life stimulates cognition, while trauma exposure in earlier life stage does not. Future research to understand the impact of traumatic events on health could consider the time when traumatic events happen
Age-Related Change in the Extent Physical Activity Attenuates Negative Affect Reactivity to Stressors in Daily Life
Authors: Benson Lizbeth , Ram Nilam , Conroy David , Oravecz Zita , Brick Timothy , Almeida David
Published: December 2021

Theories suggest that with increasing age, adults more effectively regulate their emotions and seek to limit high physiological arousal. Prior research indicates physical activity attenuates negative affect reactivity to stress, but also increases physiological arousal. The present study extends prior work by examining age-related differences and changes over time in the extent of attenuation. Participants (n=3,484; MedianAge=53.42 years, SD=13.3; 56% female), from the National Study of Daily Experiences completed 8 end-of-day assessments of their negative emotions, stress, and physical activity across 3 measurement bursts spaced approximately 10 years apart. Results from three-level multilevel models suggest that when full random effects are specified, physical activity does not attenuate negative affect reactivity to stress. Additionally, extent of attenuation did not differ with age or change over time. Discussion pertains to how these findings advance theoretical understanding of socioemotional development and to methodological nuances of random effects and non-normally distributed data.
Policy Series: Ageism: Outcomes, Interventions, Future Directions
Authors: Trevino Kelly , Levy Becca
Published: December 2021

Ageism is stereotyping and discrimination against individuals or groups based on their age. Ageism toward older adults is ubiquitous in American society and takes many forms including prejudicial practices and institutional policies that lead to unfair treatment of older adults. Ageism negatively impacts older adults in numerous domains such as health care and the workplace. Older adults themselves often internalize ageist views with detrimental effects on physical and mental health including increased risk for suicidal ideation and worse memory performance. This symposium addresses ageism from multiple perspectives and describes strategies for detecting and combatting ageism. The first speaker is Patricia D’Antonio, Vice President of Policy and Professional Affairs of The Gerontological Society of America (GSA). Ms. D’Antonio will describe GSA’s Reframing Aging Initiative which aims to improve the public’s understanding of the meaning of aging in order to counter ageism and support policies and programs that benefit older adults. The second speaker, Dr. Fredriksen Goldsen will use an Age Equity Framework to present her research on the relationship between ageism and mental and physical health and quality of life in LGBTQ older adults. The third speaker, Dr. Gendron will describe a content analysis of an anti-ageism resource that evaluates ageism interventions using an ecological framework. The fourth speaker, Dr. Hinrichsen will discuss ways psychotherapists can help older adults identify and move beyond internalized ageist beliefs. Finally, Dr. Levy, an internationally recognized expert in ageism will discuss themes across speakers and comment on the future of work in this area.
Ageism on the Therapeutic Couch: Aging Attitudes and Late-Life Psychotherapy
Authors: Hinrichsen Gregory
Published: December 2021

Ageist stereotypes characterize older adults as depressed, demented, and dependent. A large body of research has documented the adverse physical and emotional impact of ageism on older adults. Mental health professionals, however, often see the minority of older adults who, in fact, are depressed, have cognitive impairments, and/or are increasingly dependent on others. To what degree do pre-existing attitudes about aging come into play in psychotherapy with older people? With all age groups, psychotherapists often help clients better understand and challenge longstanding negative assumptions about self and world (sometimes called “the unconscious” or “underlying schemas”). These assumptions often impede the individual’s ability to successfully contend with life problems. This presentation will discuss ways in which psychotherapists can assist older clients in clarifying their underlying (and often self-limiting) negative assumptions about aging, moving beyond them to better contend with late life stressors, and improving emotional well-being.
Prevalence of Concurrent Functional Vision and Hearing Impairment and Its Association with Dementia
Authors: Deal Jennifer , Kuo Pei-Lun , Huang Alison , Ehrlich Joshua , Kasper Judith , Reed Nicholas , Lin Frank , Swenor Bonnielin
Published: December 2021

Vision and hearing impairment are common and independently linked to dementia risk. Adults with concurrent vision and hearing impairment (dual sensory impairment, DSI) may be particularly at-risk. Data were from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) (2011–2018, N=7,562). Functional sensory impairments were self-reported (no impairment, vision only, hearing only, and DSI). We calculated age-specific prevalence of sensory impairments. Discrete time proportional hazards model with a complementary log-log link were used to assess 7-year dementia risk. Of 7,562 participants, overall prevalence of functional vision, hearing and DSI was 5.4%, 18.9% and 3.1%, respectively. DSI prevalence increased with age, impacting 1 in 7 adults ≥90 years. DSI was associated with a 50% increased 7-year dementia risk (adjusted hazard ratio 1.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.12–2.02) compared to no impairment. Sensory rehabilitative interventions for multiple impairments may be an avenue for consideration in efforts to reduce dementia risk.
Chronobiological Factors Related to Sleep and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Persons Living With Dementia
Authors: Hodgson Nancy , Dong Fanghong
Published: December 2021

Circadian rhythm disturbances (CRD) are commonly seen in people living with dementia. A clear understanding of the role of CRD in dementia etiology will be beneficial by exploring the exogenous factors (externally influence the duration of sleep hours, such as light/dark cycles) and endogenous factors (internal biological rhythm, such as diurnal cortisol pattern). This symposium will apply a chronobiological approach to study exogenous and endogenous factors that influence circadian rhythm and their effects on sleep and neuropsychiatric symptoms in persons living with dementia (PLWD). Four paper presentations will use secondary data analysis of data from the Healthy Patterns Clinical Trial (NCT03682185), a randomized controlled trial of a home-based activity intervention designed to improve circadian rhythm disorders in PLWD. We will first describe the circadian rhythm pattern reflected by endogenous factors (salivary cortisol), then examine salivary cortisol (endogenous) and white light intensity (exogenous) and on subjective sleep and neuropsychiatric symptoms (including depression) in PLWD, respectively. In session 1, we will present cortisol diurnal rhythm pattern in PLWD using a cross-sectional design. In session 2, we will discuss the relationship between salivary cortisol indicators and depressive symptoms. In session 3, we focus on the association between diurnal cortisol slope and neuropsychiatric symptoms using the baseline data. In session 4, we describe the association between evening white light exposure and subjective sleep. The discussant will describe how these findings build on our understanding the nature of circadian rhythm disturbance in dementia and inform future research and treatment approaches.
Bedtime Salivary Cortisol and Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults Living With Dementia
Authors: Dong Fanghong , McPhillips Miranda , Petrovsky Darina , Huang Liming , Adriana Adriana , Hodgson Nancy
Published: December 2021

The dysregulation of cortisol has been associated with depressive symptoms in older adults. To date, no prospective longitudinal studies have examined whether salivary cortisol is a risk factor for depressive symptoms in persons living with dementia (PLWD). With a sample of 123 PLWD, baseline salivary cortisol was collected at awaking, 30 minutes after awaking, and bedtime. Depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline and the four-week follow-up. Cortisol indicator were centered. Baseline bedtime cortisol level was significantly associated with depressive symptoms in a curvature style while controlling age, gender, and baseline depressive symptoms (β=3.76 for linear term and β=-1.57 for quadratic term, both ps<0.04). No other baseline cortisol measures were significant prospective predictors. Our results suggest the bedtime cortisol was a significant risk factor for depressive symptoms in PLWD. These findings suggest that bedtime cortisol may play a role in the etiology of depressive symptoms in PLWD.