bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IS GHANA READY FOR GERIATRICS? MEDICAL STUDENTS’ INTEREST AND INTENTION TOWARD GERIATRIC SPECIALIZATION IN GHANA
Authors: Karikari Grace , Huber Lesa L , Lohrmann David K
Published: November 2019

Aging is a global phenomenon, and the population of elderly persons continues to increase in many communities around the world. Ghana is not an exception. As the demographics are changing, it is vital that health care providers are trained to effectively diagnose, care for, and manage aging-related conditions to improve the quality of life of the elderly. The aim of this study is to explore the underlying reasons for medical students’ interest in geriatrics and their intentions, likelihood of selecting geriatrics as a specialty for future practice. This exploratory study involved (n =12) fourth, fifth and sixth year medical students in a Ghanaian public university. Semi-structured interviews guided by the theory of planned behavior were conducted. The findings show a lack of geriatric education or training for students in this institution and region. Students’ interest and preferences for geriatrics were mainly influenced by the lack of knowledge and exposure to the specialty, as well as what it entailed to be a geriatrician. Although some students expressed interest in working with older patients, none had the intention to pursue geriatrics as a career option. Creating positive exposure to geriatrics through educational and vocational opportunities are necessary. The findings from this study can be instrumental in developing a knowledge-base of aging and caring for the elderly. Findings can also serve as the foundation for a more comprehensive study, leading to effective geriatrics education interventions in Ghana and Africa at large.
NAVIGATING FINANCIAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT STUDENT LOAN DEBT AMONG OLDER BORROWERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
Authors: Brady Samantha , Miller Julie , Balmuth Alexa , D'Ambrosio Lisa , Coughlin and Joseph
Published: November 2019

Currently, approximately 44 million people in the United States carry the weight of over 1.4 trillion dollars of student loan debt. As the cost of education continues to rise, the decision of taking on student loans is increasingly a family decision rather than an individual one. While the majority of research focuses on younger borrowers, little research has been done to understand the experiences of parents and grandparents taking on student loans for a loved one. In order to financially and emotionally manage this burden, borrowers may benefit from support from their social networks, including family and friends. For many, navigating these difficult conversations presents a challenge of its own. This presentation will spotlight an MIT AgeLab mixed methods study about how student loan borrowers between the ages of 51 and 75 experience and manage their student loans within family systems and how these loans may impact family dynamics. Data were collected through focus groups and a national survey. Preliminary findings suggest that older borrowers demonstrate several distinct communication typologies within their families in regards to finances, particularly regarding student loan accrual and repayment. Each of the four primary communication styles regarding loans impact borrowers’ financial and emotional wellbeing throughout the life course, as well as perceived relationship dynamics. Moreover, older borrowers are more likely to report family conflict if student loans are less frequently discussed with family members. Findings also suggest strategies to help parents and grandparents facilitate conversations abound student loans based on their unique family communication styles.
CREATING STRENGTH IN AGE: HARNESSING THE POWER OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES NETWORKS
Authors: Hanna Gay P , Saunders Pamela , Dhokai Niyati
Published: November 2019

Arts and Humanities networks harness social capital in the service of older populations creating strength in age. This symposium will feature presentations in aging, arts, education, health and humanities exemplifying enormous and often underutilized resources readily available to engage older people across the spectrum of aging to combat decline and frailty at cognitive and physiological levels. Presenters will describe innovative partnership projects such as Sound Health, an initiative developed by the National Institutes of Health and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to expand knowledge and understanding of how listening, performing, or creating music could be harnessed for health and well-being; hybrid arts and humanities in health programs based within medical systems such as the Center for Performing Arts in Medicine at Texas Medical Center: Houston Methodist promoting research/evaluation of arts inventions to improve overall quality of patient care; and, MedStar Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program providing a continuum of support for older patients and their caregivers from diagnoses through treatment processes. A Georgetown University case study will be presented on how arts, ethics and humanities are necessary and ideal components of an interdisciplinary master’s degree program in aging studies to ensure understanding a diverse and inter-generational cohort and student’s cultural value systems. The symposium will conclude with a presentation from the National Endowment of the Arts describing program service infrastructures across the country supporting arts engagement of older people, their families and caregivers focusing on lifelong learning; health and well-being; and age friendly design
MEDICAID FINANCING IN ASSISTED LIVING AND CHARACTERISTICS OF MEDICARE DUAL-ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS
Authors: Fabius Chanee D , Cornell Portia Y , Thomas Kali S
Published: November 2019

An increasing number of assisted living (AL) residents rely on Medicaid waivers or state plans to pay for personal care and other supportive services. States may finance services for duals residing in AL through Medicaid waivers and state plans, but the availability of coverage varies – some states offer little to no Medicaid coverage for services in AL, and others offer multiple pathways to receiving assistance. Little is known about duals in AL, including how many have access to AL and the quality of care they receive there. The present study compares the characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries residing in large AL settings, by dual-eligibility status, and investigates the variability in the share of duals in AL among states. We identified 586,397 Medicare beneficiaries residing in AL in 2014. Medicare claims were used to measure health characteristics and health care utilization. Duals represented 16% of AL residents in our cohort. Compared to non-duals, duals were more often older adults of color (24 vs 4%), and more likely to qualify for Medicare due to disability (46 vs 7%). Duals had higher rates of hospitalizations (24 vs 21%) and skilled nursing facility use while in AL (11 vs 10%), and more chronic conditions than non-duals. States varied in the share of AL residents who are duals, ranging from 6% in New Hampshire to 41% in New York. State policies that may contribute to variation in the prevalence of duals in AL and implications of these findings for policy-makers and residents will be discussed.
GENDER DIFFERENCE IN RETIREMENT TIMING
Authors: Kim Hansol , Kang Hyun , Ekerdt David J
Published: November 2019

The aim of this research is to examine the retirement timing of older men and women in the United States and to find what factors impact such timings. This research used the 2014 Health and Retirement Study datasets. A total of 2,401 respondents were included in this research. All of the participants were over 60 years old, half were women, and the majority of participants were full-time workers (81.8%). The dependent variable was expected years until retirement which was measured as a continuous variable, asking when the respondent thinks he/she will stop work or retire. Controlling for age, race, marital status, education, health, full time, and a number of children, the results revealed that males expect to work 1.2 years longer than women. Yet women have reasons for working longer that are not found among men. Older age and poor health predict a sooner retirement for both men and women. Yet women differed from men in wanting longer work lives if they are African American, employed part-time, and have large families. Women are living longer than men, and the labor participation of women is increasing. Older women will have more challenge in preparing for retirement than men due to their greater need to extend work to secure income. Gender differences in expectation for retirement financial security and their effect on retirement timing. Deserves future research, to understand women’s decision making at this life stage.
HOME CARE EXECUTIVES SAY MEDICARE HOME HEALTH PAYMENT SYSTEM ENCOURAGES LESS-IS-BETTER PRACTICE
Authors: Cabin William D
Published: November 2019

There has been an increasing trend for Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to add non-skilled services to coverage under Medicare Advantage and Medicaid inpatient hospital. At the same time there has been a 75% decline in home health aide visits, the only Medicare home health non-skilled service, as a percentage of all Medicare home health visits from 2000-2016. A literature review indicates no studies addressing the potential factors accounting from these seemingly contradictory trends. The present study is based on interviews of five Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), five Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), and eight Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs) from Medicare-certified home health agencies between October 2017-July 2018. Results indicated agreement among interviewees on three themes: the Medicare home health relies on a medical model which focuses on intermittent skilled care; the Medicare home health prospective payment system (PPS) exacerbated the focus on skilled care by rewarding higher reimbursement for skilled care based episodes; and a synergy has evolved of “less is better” regarding utilization of home health aide services and reimbursement. Policymakers are urged to consider adding coverage of non-skilled services under Medicare home health, similar to Medicare Advantage, by funding demonstration projects with appropriate changes in reimbursement.
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION KNOWLEDGE AMONG OLDER ADULTS: PSYCHOMETRICS AND TEST-RETEST RELIABILITY
Authors: Smith Matthew L , Coffey Tammy , Bergeron Caroline D , Shacham Enbal , Goltz Heather H , Boolani Ali
Published: November 2019

Sexually transmitted infections (STI) among older adults have dramatically increased in recent years, especially among those who are widowed and divorced. The purposes of this study were to: (1) identify STI-related knowledge among older adults; (2) report the psychometric properties of a tool commonly used to assess STI-related knowledge among youth and young adults; and (3) determine the test-retest reliability of the tool. Data were analyzed from 43 adults between the ages of 65 and 94 using a 27-item Sexually Transmitted Disease Knowledge Questionnaire (STD-KQ). Participants completed identical instruments on two separate days with approximately two weeks between. After responses were coded for correctness, composite scores were created. Cronbach’s reliability coefficients were calculated to determine response consistency, and Pearson’s r coefficients were used to assess test-retest reliability. Of 27 possible correct answers, participants reported an average of 11.6 (±6.6) correct responses on Day 1 and 11.7 (±7.3) correct responses on Day 2. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the 27-item composite scale were high for both days (0.89 and 0.92, respectively), which indicates strong response consistency. Pearson’s r coefficients were high between responses for the 27-item composite scale on Days 1 and 2 (r=0.88, P<0.01), which indicates strong test-retest reliability. Pearson’s r coefficients were high between responses for all but three of the 27 items when assessed separately. Findings suggest the utility of the STD-KQ to assess STI knowledge among older adults. However, the consistently low knowledge scores highlight the need for educational interventions among this population.
OLDER LESBIAN HEALTH VIA RELATIONSHIP STATUS: HEALTH CONDITIONS AND HEALTH BEHAVIORS
Authors: Yang Jie , Averett Paige
Published: November 2019

Existing research has demonstrated that those in committed relationships are healthier than those who are not. However, very little research on same-sex relationships and particularly older lesbian relationships exists. The current study fills the gap by providing a health profile of lesbians in different relationship status, including partnered, widowed, casual dating, single—not dating, and celibate. The outcomes include diagnosed health conditions (include arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, heart problems, and stroke) and health behaviors (exercise, smoking, and drinking). Data are from an original sample of 456 older lesbians aged 55 and over. Convenience sampling was adopted for this hard-to-reach population. Bivariate analysis results showed that widowed and celibate lesbians are more likely to report depression than other relationship groups. No disparity was found regarding health behaviors among different relationship groups. To further understand the unique group identifying as celibate, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine celibacy’s impact on lesbians’ reported depression after controlling for demographics and reported physical health. Multiple imputations was performed to handle missing values. Results showed that being celibate was associated with higher odds of reporting depression compared with having a partner or casually dating. Being celibate was also associated with lower odds of reporting depression compared with widows and singles who are not dating. To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine in details the health consequence of different relationship status among older American lesbians. Findings have important implication for health promotion among older lesbians.
REJECTION SENSITIVITY AS A MEDIATOR OF PERCEIVED SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE OF LGBTQ OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Brunson Kirenia , Morehouse Sarah Nanami , Stripling Ashely M
Published: November 2019

As the US population becomes older and more diverse, examinations exploring intersections of identity become increasingly important. Specifically, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) adults face unique challenges as they move into late life including issues related to caregiving, social isolation, and access to competent care. As such, understanding the role of moderating psychological factors, such as rejection sensitivity, within this population becomes instrumental to providing appropriate healthcare. Thus the purpose of this review is to (a) increase understanding of role of rejection sensitivity in LGBT older adults (b) understand the effect of treatment setting on this relationship. Source documents for this literature review were identified through PsycInfo, PsyARTCILES and Google Scholar using the following keywords, and combinations: “Older Adult,” “Gerontology,” “LGBTQ,” “gay,” “sexual minority,” “Rejection Sensitivity,” and “Social Acceptance”. Consistent with a thorough analysis, all English-Language abstracts were read, as were the full articles of those texts that appeared relevant to this literature review. After applying relevant exclusion criteria (i.e. young age), 6 texts warranted inclusion including: 2 books and 4 articles. A thorough review of the literature revealed that internalized homonegativity and rejection sensitivity mediate the degree of emotional dysregulation, internalization of symptoms and rejection-based proximal stress across multiple settings. However, the impact of these relationships in long-term care settings remains unknown. Implications of the current presentation include improving awareness of psychological health factors in LGBT older adults and provision of recommendations to reduce barriers to optimal care.
SEXUAL ATTITUDES IN MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER ADULTS: DEVELOPING AN UPDATED AND AGE-RELATIVE MEASUREMENT SCALE
Authors: Graf Allyson S , Johnson Viviane
Published: November 2019

Sexual attitudes in later life contribute to sexual and psychological well-being. Existing scales of sexual attitudes specific to aging adults are narrowly focused on specific settings or population sub-groups and are not inclusive of the diverse range of sex-related activities and sexual identities represented in present and upcoming older cohorts. The aim of this study was to create and validate a multi-dimensional measure of sexual attitudes appropriate for a sexually-diverse aging population. Following focus groups and feedback, 51 survey items were constructed; other measures of sexual attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors were included for the purposes of validation. A sample of participants (N = 291; Mage = 56.69, SD = 8.82, range = 45-99; 63.2% female) was recruited through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk and the local community to complete a survey on sexual attitudes, well-being, and health. Psychometric properties of the measure were assessed using exploratory factor analysis to reduce items and identify existing factor structures; construct validity was confirmed using correlations with existing measures of sexual attitudes; and internal consistency was assessed for each sub-scale. Five factors emerged: core personal values (8-items; α = .99), communication and expression (13-items; α = .92), sources of knowledge (9-items; α = .87), traditional taboos (9-items; α = .89), and consent within established relationships (4-items; α = .94). Results provide a relevant and multi-faceted measurement of sexual attitudes for use with middle-aged and older adult populations. Future studies may benefit from an alternative to dated, restrictive measures. Validation should be ongoing with more diverse samples.
DOES SEXUAL ORIENTATION RELATE TO HEALTH AND WELL-BEING? A PROPENSITY-SCORE MATCHED ANALYSIS
Authors: Nelson Christi L , Andel Ross
Published: November 2019

Around 2.7 million adults over the age of 50 self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) in the United States. Past research suggests that additional stressors caused by being a socially stigmatized minority group can have a negative effect on health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between sexual orientation and self-rated health, memory, and psychological well-being in a 1:3 propensity score-matched subsample from 2016 wave of Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative study of older adults. Each lesbian/gay/bisexual (LGB) participant (n=140) was matched with three straight participants (n=420) on age, sex, and education. The average age was 53.8 years (SD=2.3 years), 54% were men, the average education was 14.3 years (SD=2.4 years). Logistic regression results indicated that LGB participants were almost twice as likely to report ever having depression (OR=1.85, 95% CI=1.23-2.80). Conversely, LGB participants were more likely to report having better health (OR=1.47, 95% CI= 1.04-2.07) than straight participants and the two groups did not differ significantly in memory (OR=1.16, 95% CI= 0.82-1.64) from their straight counterparts. In conclusion, it is possible that the stigma due to sexual orientation plays a role in psychological well-being but may also reflect in better physical health but not cognitive health. It is also possible that the better health in LGB participants reflects self-report bias.
CONSTRUCTED FAMILY SYSTEMS FOR AGING LGBTQ ADULTS PLANNING FOR ELDER CARE
Authors: Hollis-Sawyer Lisa A , Tejada and Laura
Published: November 2019

Examining the intersectionality of sexuality, gender, and age, Fredriksen-Goldsen (2017) argued that the aging LGBTQ community is a marginalized aging group, and the lack of attention to their social and other support needs are creating negative aging trajectories for those who have experienced lifespan issues of disenfranchisement and unfair treatment affecting their health and care planning. The effect of a family can be a complex one and is further determined by social class, race, ethnicity, gender, and region. Allen and Roberto (2016) suggested that the LGBT adults may have three different types of family experiences, ranging from their “family of origin” (biological family) to “family of choice” (created kinship family). Oswald (2002) presented research on resilience in constructed family systems for aging gays and lesbians and identified two underlying processes toward establishing and maintaining family resilience: intentionality relates to the intentional actions of the older adult to establish and maintain the chosen family system while redefinition involves using language and symbols to reinforce their social support network. This idea of “doing family” is critical to comprehend from LGBTQ family members’ perspectives for eldercare planning. Social support needs for changing family dynamics begins in middle adulthood among aging gays and lesbians (Barker et al., 2006). Hypothetical case studies (e.g., sibling dynamics) will be discussed with implications for support and intervention programs to assist in the eldercare decision making of this growing aging subpopulation. Resource tools will also be presented to help achieve positive eldercare outcomes in this process of “doing family.”
GENDER DIFFERENCES IN SOCIAL JUDGEMENTS RELATE TO SOCIAL EXPERIENCE ON THE JOB FOR OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Richards Cassandra , Stanley Jennifer T
Published: November 2019

Older adults (OA) are worse than young adults (YA) at recognizing emotional facial expressions (Ruffman, Henry, Livingstone, & Phillips, 2008). In particular, age differences in anger recognition remain even when other emotions improve via additional context (e.g., Richter, Dietzel, & Kunzmann, 2011; Stanley & Isaacowitz, 2015). We investigated whether job experiences with greater social components would relate to better anger recognition and interpersonal perception in OA. We expected OA who held jobs with more social requirements would be better at anger recognition and interpersonal perception, but that this would differ by gender. OA (N=194) reported their present job and completed an emotion perception task and the Interpersonal Perception Task-15 (IPT-15; Costanzo & Archer, 1989). Ratings from the O*Net database were used to determine the degree of social requirements (0-100) for reported jobs. For older females, more social experience in their present job was related to better anger recognition (r =.45,p=.014). More face-to-face experience in the job held the longest was related to better overall emotion perception in older females (r=.20,p=.047). For older males, more social experience in their present job was related to worse anger recognition (r=-.45, p=.029). More coordination and leadership experience in the job held the longest was related to better interpersonal perception in older males (r =.28, p=.010). These results suggest gender is important when examining the degree to which social experience in the workplace relates to social judgments. Future work should investigate whether gender differences in subordinate vs leadership roles can account for these findings.
AGE MODERATES THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN IMPLICIT AND EXPLICIT NEGATIVE EMOTIONAL REACTIVITY
Authors: Mikkelsen Mai B , Tramm Gitte , Mehlsen Mimi
Published: November 2019

Background: According to the notion of maturational dualism, the link between mind and body weakens with age and this weakening has important consequences for emotional experiences. Specifically, it is hypothesized that age-related decline in interoceptive awareness and physiological reactivity reduce the ability to use bodily states to guide judgments about emotions. If this hypothesis is valid, then age may moderate the association between explicit measures (based on consciously accessible mental representations of affect) and implicit measures (based on unconscious affective processes such physiological activation) of affective reactivity. Purpose: To investigate whether age moderates the association between explicit and implicit measures of negative affective reactivity. Methods: A sample of 275 participants (age range=20-78) viewed 25 pictures validated to induce negative emotions. Participants filled in the PANAS assessing explicit affect and the IPANAT assessing implicit affect before and after viewing the pictures. Emotional reactivity was operationalized as residualized gain scores derived from regressions of baseline affect on affect following picture viewing. Results: Age moderated the association between implicit negative affective reactivity and explicit negative affective reactivity (B=60). Discussion: The results showed a reduced association between explicit and implicit negative affective reactivity with age. This finding is consistent with the notion of maturational dualism and may indicate that older adults use affective processes that are not represented consciously (e.g., physiological activation) less than young adults when judging their emotional state.
THE HIGHWAY OF LIFE: SOCIAL VIRTUAL REALITY AS A REMINISCENCE TOOL
Authors: Baker Steven J , Waycott Jenny , Warburton Jeni , Batchelor Frances
Published: November 2019

A large body of research demonstrates the positive impact that reminiscence activities can have on older adult wellbeing. Within this space, researchers have begun to explore how virtual reality (VR) technology might be used as a reminiscence tool. The immersive characteristics of VR could aid reminiscence by giving the sense of being fully present in a virtual environment that evokes the time being explored in the reminiscence session. However, to date, research into the use of VR as a reminiscence tool has overwhelmingly focussed on static environments that can only be viewed by a single user. This paper reports on a first-of-its-kind research project that used social VR (multiple users co-present in a single virtual environment), and 3D representations of personal artifacts (such as, photographs and recorded anecdotes), to allow a group of older adults to reminisce about their school experiences. Sixteen older adults aged 70-81 participated in a four-month user study, meeting in groups with a facilitator in a social virtual world called the Highway of Life. Results demonstrate how the social experience, tailored environment, and personal artifacts that were features of the social VR environment allowed the older adults to collaboratively reminisce about their school days. We conclude by considering the benefits and challenges associated with using social VR as a reminiscence tool with older adults.
LINKS BETWEEN POSITIVE AFFECT AND DISENGAGEMENT FROM NEGATIVE STIMULI IN YOUNGER AND OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Ossenfort Kathryn L , Isaacowitz Derek M
Published: November 2019

Older adults attend to more positive than negative content compared to younger adults; this “age-related positivity” effect is often thought of as a way older adults may be regulating their moods. However, attentional disengagement abilities decline with age, which may make positive looking more challenging for older adults in some cases. To evaluate links between early attentional processes and affect, 48 younger adult and 49 older adult participants reported levels of positive and negative affect on the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) and completed a spatial cueing task evaluating attentional orienting and disengagement from emotional stimuli. Participants were tasked with responding to the location of a spatial target after seeing a cue (emotional image) that either appeared on the same (orienting) or opposite (disengagement) side of the screen. Multilevel modeling analyses were conducted using age and self-reported affect from the PANAS as predictors at level-2, and trial characteristics as predictors at level-1. Positive affect (PA) was unrelated to task performance for younger adults. Older adults reporting higher PA responded more slowly overall, and higher PA scores predicted similar response times to positive and negative stimuli on both trial types. Older adults reporting lower PA oriented attention more quickly to positive stimuli, but took longer to disengage from negative. These results suggest that there may be a relationship between the ability to flexibly disengage from negative content and PA for older, but not younger adults, and also highlight the importance of teasing apart specific attentional processes when evaluating positivity effects.
REMEMBER AND REMINISCE: CONNECTING OUR SCIENCE TO PEOPLE’S LIVES
Authors: Gaugler Joseph E , Birkeland Robyn , Statz Tamara L , Zmora Rachel , Peterson Colleen M , McCarron Hayley R , Kazlauckas Nancy
Published: November 2019

A driving paradigm of science, including much of the discipline of gerontology, remains post-positivism. However, the post-positivistic emphasis on experimental control, elimination of “bias,” and internal validity may create a chasm between the science and scholarship we conduct and the lives of those who engage with us in such endeavors. The purpose of this presentation (a quilt provided to the authors by an individual who completed one of our studies evaluating the efficacy of a psychosocial support program for family members of relatives living in residential long-term care and with memory loss) is to offer an opportunity for scholars and others to reflect on the connections and partnerships we establish with those who volunteer to engage in our research initiatives. In particular, the aim of this presentation is to stimulate viewers to consider how we grow our relationships with those who volunteer in our research by creating true partnerships that outlast a single project. With the emergence of participatory research methodologies, person-centered care, and social media technologies, the importance of building relationships and partnerships with communities, families, and individuals in a more equitable manner is pressing. The use of the “Remember and Reminisce” quilt as well as other materials donated by individuals to dementia care researchers provide vivid, tactile reminders from those who engage with our science that our obligations to understanding their experiences must assume a broader, longer-term perspective than the boundaries that often dictate the life-cycle of a standard project/study.
THE HISTORY OF BEAUTY AND THE AESTHETICS OF LONGEVITY
Authors: Woodspring Naomi
Published: November 2019

A long standing cultural narrative is aging appearance is neither attractive nor acceptable. This has not always been the case; the aesthetics of older appearance has been appreciated other times in history. Significant numbers of older people in the public sphere, as a result of the longevity revolution, has created a sense of visibility of among older people, particularly women. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore current notions of beauty and age among the postwar generation. A diverse group of thirty-four women and men (born between 1945 -1955) from the US and the UK were interviewed with a focus on their own self-presentation and the acts of seeing and being seen. This paper explores the some of the findings from this study which asked the central question – can old people be beautiful and, if so, how is age and beauty defined? The majority of research participants answered in the affirmative and responded with clearly defined notions of age and beauty. The findings found significant gender differences; not within the central research question but in regard to their own appearance. There were also significant gender differences in terms of a ‘competitive’ or ‘cooperative’ gaze when observing other older people. This small study invites further research and points to a possible shift in the aesthetics of old age, in part, as a result of the longevity revolution. It provides an outline for further exploration of the importance of appearance, meaning, and a sense of self in old age.
GENDER DIFFERENCES IN MEANINGFUL LIVED EXPERIENCES RECALLED BY CENTENARIANS
Authors: Bhatta Jyoti , Bishop Alex J , Firdauysa Nadia , Finchum Tanya
Published: November 2019

The purpose of the investigation was to conduct a retrospective examination of meaningful live experiences reported by centenarians. Data for this study originated from N=111 centenarians (n = 43 men; n = 68 women) who participated in the Oklahoma 100-Year Life Project. Applying a hierarchical convoy mapping technique commonly used in social network evaluations, IBM/SPSS 23.0 was used to conduct a descriptive analysis of N = 654 recalled lived experiences. The Mini-Mental Status Examination-SF (MMSE-SF; M = 12.55; SD = 1.55) was used to screen all participants for cognitive orientation prior to participation to ensure capacity to consent and intact memory recall. Centenarian participants recalled a total of M = 6.90; SD= 2.61 lived experiences. Centenarian men recognized a significantly greater average number of meaningful experiences (F = (1, 653) = 30.53, p < .01) compared to centenarian women (M = 4.06 vs. M = 3.43). A good proportion of centenarians (40.50%) acknowledged meaningful events as occurring during young-adulthood. However, the timing of such events occurred significantly earlier (F = (1, 357) = 7.37, p < .01) on average for men compared to women (M = 27.60 yrs. vs. M = 34.11; 1.53). Further analysis revealed that over half of lived experiences considered meaningful among centenarians proportionally fit into three domain types: Family-oriented (19.5%); Work/employment related (18.7%); and Marriage (13.7%). Results have implications relative to understanding how variation in meaningful lived experiences among centenarians. Further evidence of a gendered life course in human longevity will be highlighted.
HARNESSING ARTS IN MEDICINE FOR STRENGTH IN AGE: CASE STUDY, CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS MEDICINE, HOUSTON METHODIST
Authors: Frazier J Todd
Published: November 2019

In the 1970’s hybrid arts and humanities programs began developing within healthcare systems across the country. Today, the National Organization for Arts in Health (NOAH) represents a network of hundreds of programs with a major focus of serving older people and their caregivers. This presentation will provide an overview of this rapidly developing network along with a multimedia overview of a comprehensive arts and medicine hospital based program in the Texas Medical Center: Houston Methodist Hospital’s System Center for Performing Arts Medicine one of NOAH’s founding members. The Center’s expanding national, regional and community network of artist health, arts integration, creative arts therapy, research, and outreach programs serving older people will be described. Demonstrating how arts in health communicate and elevate value across disciplines through program evaluation (patient satisfaction and employee opinion), clinical research, and financial and outcome data will be explored as a case study.
LONGITUDINAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RESOURCES, MOTIVATION, AND ENGAGEMENT IN COGNITIVELY DEMANDING ACTIVITIES
Authors: Growney Claire , Hess Thomas M
Published: November 2019

Selective Engagement Theory (SET; Hess, 2014) suggests that decreases in personal resources and increases in the costs associated with activity engagement in old age negatively influence the motivation to engage in cognitively demanding activities. Here we explore these ideas longitudinally including a wide range of personal resources (cognitive ability, physical health, emotional health, and sensory functioning), with the expectation that emotional health might be a particularly important resource for older adults given its relative preservation with age. Young (n=125; age 19-42 at Time 1) and older adults (n=183; age 60-85 at Time 1) were tested from two to five times between years 2010 and 2016. Resources, motivation, and self-reported activity engagement (VLS Activity Questionnaire) were assessed at each time point. Using multilevel structural equation modeling, we found that changes in emotional health and sensory functioning predicted changes in motivation to engage in cognitively demanding activities. Additionally, increases in motivation predicted increases in engagement in cognitively demanding activities (e.g., technical, developmental), but decreases in less demanding activities (e.g., TV watching). Lastly, motivation partially mediated the relationships between emotional health and these activities, as well as between sensory functioning and engagement in technical activities. Results provide support for SET, demonstrating associations between changes in resources, motivation, and engagement in activities that are particularly demanding of cognitive resources, with the strength of these relationships being stronger in older than in young adults. Our results suggest that emotional resources may be particularly influential in determining the motivation for activity engagement in later life.
THE INFLUENCE OF EMOTIONAL IQ ON THE LAGGED RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MOMENTARY PAIN AND AFFECT IN OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Condon Shelley E , Cox Brian , Smith Dylan M , Parmelee Patricia A
Published: November 2019

Emotion regulation is influenced by stage of life and time perspective (Carstensen, 1992), with older adults placing greater emphasis on optimizing positive moods and repairing negative ones. Recently, there has been growing interest in emotional intelligence (EI) as a broad indicator of these mood regulation processes. Multiple cross-sectional studies have examined EI, pain and affect in older adults with chronic pain; however, little research has addressed these relationships in temporal context. The current microlongitudinal study addressed this gap by examining (1) lagged relationships between momentary pain and affect, (2) main effects of emotional intelligence (mood attention, clarity and repair) on those relations, and (3) the moderating role of EI on lagged relationships between pain and affect. Three hundred twenty-five older adults (mean age = 63.9) with knee osteoarthritis completed in-person interviews and received four phone calls daily (random within 4-hour blocks) for one week. Multilevel models examined the predictive value of affect from the previous call on current pain, and vice versa, controlling for sociodemographic variables. Across all outcomes (positive affect, negative affect, pain), a significant main effect was found for mood clarity and repair, but not attention. However, EI did not moderate lagged associations between momentary pain and affect. Average pain (across the 28 calls) significantly predicted momentary negative affect, and vice versa. Thus, while emotional intelligence is significantly related to momentary mood states, it does not appear to be related to momentary pain. Implications and ideas for future research are discussed. (R01-AG041655, P. Parmelee & D. Smith, Co-PIs)
MEASURING MINDFULNESS IN OLDER ADULTS: A LITERATURE REVIEW OF EXISTING MEASURES
Authors: Jacobs M Lindsey , Gurevitch Jacqueline , Catlin Casey , Bamonti Patricia M
Published: November 2019

Mindfulness is the process of non-judgmental, present-moment awareness and has increasingly been used in psychotherapy. Self-report measures that assess mindfulness are vital in clinical research and practice in order to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based psychotherapies. Many mindfulness measures have been developed, but it is unclear which measures have been validated with older adults. The purpose of this review was to identify measures that have been validated in adults age 50 and older. PubMed was searched through March 2019. Search terms were “mindfulness” and terms denoting measurement (e.g., “measure,” “measurement”). Review articles, dissertations, and non-English publications were excluded. Articles were independently evaluated by three raters. Studies describing measures that did not exclusively evaluate mindfulness were excluded. Sixty-two articles were included and described 27 mindfulness measures. The most frequently studied measures were the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (n=13) and the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (n=14). Only three psychometric studies had a participant sample with a mean age of 50 and over, with one study having a sample with a mean age of 71. The measures evaluated in these studies were the Five Facet Mindfulness Scale and Langer Mindfulness Scale. Eighteen studies included some older adults, though the numbers were not large enough to yield a mean age over 50. Validation of mindfulness measures in adults age 50 and over has been largely neglected. Additional psychometric research is needed to validate commonly used measures in this population.
THE AGING JOURNEY RAILWAY, ILLICIT DRUG (DE)RAILS, AND CARE: OLDER USERS IN BRAZIL AND PORTUGAL
Authors: Lourenço Maciane , Bueno Talita , Muniz Priscila , Pavão Robson , França Maria Gabriela , Da Silva Jaqueline , Ferreira Emiliane
Published: November 2019

The study object was motivation to sustain self-care of older drug users. Objective: Analyze older drug users′ motivation to sustain self-care practices. Specific objectives: (i) To characterize social-demographic profile, physical and mental health of older illicit drug users. (ii) Describe everyday practices classified as self-care by older drug users; (iii) Discuss what helps and hinders older drug users′ motivation to sustain self-care. Methodology: Qualitative, descriptive, study using Grounded Theory (GT) to guide the process of data collection, analysis and discussion. Sixty individuals 60+ who used or are current users of illicit drugs were contacted through the snowball technique and interviewed in Brazil and Portugal. Data collection instruments were: (i) a semi-structured question guide; (ii) a spreadsheet for quantitative data collection; (iii) field notes; and (iv) memos were filled out throughout the research process, with the purpose to contribute with and enlighten data analysis and discussion. Results: From data submitted to GT analytical processes, 152 codes emerged, were grouped in 10 subcategories and three categories: “Life trajectory”; “Drugs” and “Health tensions and balance practices”. Conclusion: Data results on older drug users′ motivation to sustain self-care practices gave rise to the central category “the aging journey railway, drug (de)rails and care: ways in Brazil and Portugal” revealing self-care as key in the treatment, also highlighting significant individuals and therapeutic modalities as consubstantial influence for such maintenance.
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ANXIETY AND PERSONALITY DISORDER FEATURES IN YOUNGER AND OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Noel Olivia R , Stone Lisa E , Segal Daniel L
Published: November 2019

Introduction: Anxiety is a prevalent problem that has been found to be associated with multiple other mental disorders, functional impairments, and poor quality of life. Specifically, it appears that personality may play a major role in anxiety based on preferred dispositional coping methods and presence of normal and dysfunctional personality traits. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between anxiety and personality disorder (PD) features. It was hypothesized that anxiety would have positive associations with the avoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive, schizotypal, paranoid, and borderline PD scales. Method: Community-dwelling older adults (N = 130) and younger adults (N = 243) completed the Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS) and the Coolidge Axis Two Inventory (CATI) as part of a larger assessment battery. Correlations were computed between the GAS total score and the 14 PD scales from the CATI. Results: Results showed that anxiety was significantly and positively associated with all 14 PD scales. Specifically, as expected, the schizotypal (.52), paranoid (.55), avoidant (.56), obsessive-compulsive (.60), dependent (.62), and borderline (.69) PD scales were all significantly positively associated with anxiety. The remaining 8 PD scales also showed strong, positive correlations with anxiety: sadistic (.27), antisocial (.28), schizoid (.32), histrionic (.42), narcissistic (.44), passive-aggressive (.59), self-defeating (.64), and depressive (.69). Discussion: These results indicate that anxiety and abnormal personality traits are highly associated, showing a strong comorbidity. An implication is that PDs may play a role in the development of anxiety, or vice versa. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify temporal and causative relationships.
PERCEIVED NEIGHBORHOOD SOCIAL DISORDER, FRIENDS’ SUPPORT, AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMATOLOGY OF NON-MARRIED OLDER WOMEN
Authors: Cho Seungjong , Townsend Aloen
Published: November 2019

This study examined whether perceived neighborhood social disorder predicted depressive symptoms among non-married older women (N = 823) drawn from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study. It also tested the stress buffering effect of friends support. A negative binomial regression model showed that higher perceived neighborhood social disorder was associated with higher depressive symptoms. Presence of good friends in the same neighborhood and number of close friends were protective factors, but no stress buffering effect of friends support was identified. This study highlights the adverse effect of negative perceptions of the neighborhood social environment on non-married older women’s depressive symptoms.
MENTAL HEALTH POLICY OUTCOMES: AN EXAMINATION OF OLDER ADULTS’ MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE USE, 2002-2012
Authors: Ford Katy-Lauren , Kim Giyeon
Published: November 2019

Objectives: Though several national-level mental health policies have been enacted and implemented over the past decade, older adults’ rates of mental health service (MHS) utilization remain low. We aimed to examine individual- and community-level factors that have fostered the most successful implementations of national mental health policies in recent years. Methods: We conducted a multilevel growth curve analysis to examine older adults’ MHS use using the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey – Household Component, or MEPS-HC. We considered MHS use in the MEPS-HC for the period of 2002-2012, during which members of MEPS Panels 6-17 provided responses. We identified 8,416 respondents aged 65+ with mental health need, and examined the rates of actual MHS utilization among this sample as it varied by insurance status, rural/urban location, and race/ethnicity. Results: Analyses revealed that rates of older adults’ MHS use did not increase significantly over our examination period, regardless of race/ethnicity or rurality of location. Only insurance status was a significant predictor of change in MHS use rates over the years 2002-2012; t=3.93 (19), p<0.001. Conclusions: Findings suggest that rates of MHS use remained stagnant over the decade examined, revealing problems with implementation of relevant policies for older adults. Additionally, our analyses highlighted that although there were no disparities in rates of MHS use by geographic location or race/ethnicity, there may be significant disparities in identified need for services among older adults. We make suggestions for ensuring greater efficiency and efficacy of efforts to improve older adults’ MHS use in the coming decade.