bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Decade of Teaching the Course Aging & the Arts: Reflecting on Opportunities and Challenges
Authors: Eaton Jacqueline 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
In 2010, the University of Utah Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program first offered GERON 5240/6240: Aging and the Arts. This course was developed to enrich program curricula by addressing a gap in content specific to the arts and humanities. The purpose of this presentation is to focus on identifying the opportunities and challenges experienced teaching this course over the past decade. Opportunities will highlight competency mapping, internal and external partnerships, the benefits of bridging disciplines, and innovation in teaching and problem-solving. Challenges experienced include addressing various needs (online learning, undergraduate and graduate levels, multiple disciplines), tuition differentials, and varying levels of enrollment. A stand-alone course is one method of increasing humanities, arts, and cultural gerontology within curricula. It has the potential of enhancing student interest in gerontology while also demonstrating how the arts and humanities can improve work across disciplines.
Event Centrality of Positive and Negative Autobiographical Memories in Older Adulthood
Authors: Pociunaite Justina , Wolf Tabea 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Centrality of an event (CE) is a characteristic denoting how important a life experience is to one’s identity. Usually, positive memories are more central than negative ones in the community samples. Nevertheless, there is emerging evidence showing substantial individual differences in how one perceives CE. Especially regarding age, one could expect pronounced differences due to age-related changes in personal goals. In this study, we investigated how older adults differ from young and middle-aged adults. Apart from age, we tested whether personality traits such as neuroticism and openness to experience influence the CE ratings among age groups. The sample comprised of 363 German participants, age ranging from 18 to 89 (M=49.57, SD=17.087), 67.2 % of the sample were women. Using multilevel analysis, we found the CE of positive memories to be higher in all age groups. The CE of positive events significantly differed for older adults compared to younger adults but not to the middle-aged group. With respect to personality, neuroticism had an impact only on the CE of negative memories in younger and middle-aged adults. For older adults, neither neuroticism, nor openness to experience had an impact on CE ratings. This shows that while older adults significantly differ from younger adults in the CE of positive memories, other individual differences characteristics do not have an impact on the way older adults perceive memories as central to their identity.
Internet Use and Cognitive Functioning at the Interaction of Age and Gender Among Older Adults
Authors: Wang Kun , Suntai Zainab , Chen Xiayu 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The positive relationship between internet use and cognition has long been documented in the gerontology literature, and researchers are consistently finding that internet use engages the brain in a way that improves cognitive functions such as multitasking, information processing and executive thinking. While there are numerous studies examining this association, few studies have explored the three-way interaction between age, gender, and internet use on cognition. This study aimed to examine the gendered moderation effect of age on the relationship between internet use and cognition among older adults. The study sample was derived from the 2016 Health and Retirement study, which is a biennial longitudinal panel study of adults aged 50 and older in the United States. Multilinear regression models were used to examine the three-way interaction of age, sex and internet use on cognition while controlling for other covariates. Results showed that women gained a greater increase in cognition as a result of internet use as they became older, while men had the same amount of increase in cognition as a result of internet use regardless of age. This indicates that internet use can be a positive agent in improving cognition among older adults regardless of age and sex, and interventions should focus on increasing internet use among older adults, to ensure equitable access to the benefits of internet use on cognition.
Telephone-Based Word List Recall and Hearing Ability
Authors: Atkinson Taylor , Andel Ross 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Certain consonant sounds called fricatives (e.g, “s” and “f”) are difficult to hear over the telephone; phones exclude high-frequency sounds that affect their intelligibility. This may be problematic for older adults responding to phone-based memory tests. Many older adults have some degree of hearing loss, and older men have it more in the high-frequency range. Hearing loss, in combination with phone bandwidth restrictions, may reduce older adults’ recall of fricative words. Participants (n=3,612, mean age=64.2, 60% women) in the 1998 wave of the Health and Retirement study (HRS) completed a word list immediate recall task over the phone. List 4 recall was examined because it was evenly split (5 each) between words with and without fricative consonant sounds. Subjective ratings of hearing and health, age, depression, and education were also measured. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed participants recalled fewer fricative (M=2.8) than nonfricative (M=3.0) words, Z=-8.47, p&lt;.001. An ordinal regression for fricative word recall indicated a sex by hearing interaction; males with worse hearing were less likely to recall more fricative words, OR=.94, 95% CI [.88, 1.01], p=.076, after controlling for age, education, health, and depression. An ordinal regression for nonfricative word recall did not show a main effect for hearing or a hearing by sex interaction. For both models, age, education, and health were related to recall. Consonant sounds may influence phone-based word recall, particularly for older men. Attention should be paid to word selection when designing phone-based cognitive tests in order to avoid memory impairment overestimation.
Guardianship and self-sovereign identity: implications for persons living with dessmentia
Authors: Neubauer Noelannah , Liu Lili 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Self-sovereign identity (SSI), an identity management system where individuals own and manage their digital identity, can improve access and management of one’s personal data. SSI is becoming feasible for the general public to use for their health and other personal data. Like any data system, when persons living with dementia no longer have capacity to provide informed consent, guardianship over their data is required. The purpose of this study was to examine the concept of guardianship within the context of SSI, specifically its application to persons living with dementia. This study followed a qualitative description approach. Seventeen semi-structured virtual interviews were conducted with persons living with dementia and care partners to elicit their perspectives on existing guardianship practices and guardianship within the context of SSI. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Conventional content analysis guided the analytic process. Participants had mixed impressions of existing guardianship practices. While some were positive, others thought existing practices failed to consider the complexity of caring for someone with dementia (e.g., presence of multiple guardians). Participants suggested that SSI has the potential to improve the security and safety of persons living with dementia who have had guardianship enacted (e.g., reduced risk of financial abuse.) Recommendations included ensuring that SSI guardianship processes are simple and flexible, building a user-friendly system that also considers the heterogeneity of persons living with dementia and their care partners. Overall, guardianship within the context of SSI was well received. Findings will be used to further inform the SSI guardianship processes.
Burnout, Compassion Satisfaction, and Intent to Quit Among Long-Term Care Nursing Assistants in the Time of COVID-19
Authors: Richert Mallory 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly exacerbated the stress and burden of those employed in long-term care (LTC) facilities due to staff shortages, increased risks on the job, and ever-changing COVID-19 protocol requirements. This study examines potential differences in pre-COVID-19 and current COVID-19 LTC facility employed nursing assistants on burnout, compassion satisfaction, job satisfaction, and intent to quit. The sample included 81 nursing assistants employed in LTC facilities across the United States, with data collected prior to (n= 42) and during COVID-19 related shutdowns (n= 39). Participants completed the Professional Quality of Life Scale 5 (ProQOL 5), a single-item self-report measure of job satisfaction, and a two-item self-report measure of intent to quit their current employment. Nursing assistants during COVID-19 reported a higher level of burnout and lower level of compassion satisfaction than nursing assistants Pre-COVID-19. However, there were no differences in job satisfaction or intent to quit. The results suggest there may be additional factors that influence an individual’s decision to remain employed above and beyond the impacts of burnout and compassion satisfaction that may be unique to the caring professions. Future research might investigate factors that influence an individual’s decision to remain employed as a nursing assistant during periods of increased stress and burnout. Additionally, the impact of COVID-19 related stress added to the already high levels of stress and burnout on nursing assistants calls for further attention and research devoted to psychological support of LTC staff during crisis and normal times.
Factors Associated With the Quality of Staff-Resident Interactions in Assisted Living
Authors: Paudel Anju , Galik Elizabeth , Resnick Barbara , Doran Kelly , Boltz Marie , Zhu Shijun 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Care interactions are essential to understand and respond to resident needs in assisted living (AL). The factors that influence care interactions in AL have not been directly examined. In this study, we explored the factors associated with the quality of care interactions in AL. It was hypothesized that resident functional status, agitation, depression, and resistiveness to care as well as facility size and ownership would be significantly associated with the quality of care interactions in AL after controlling for resident demographics (age, gender, marital status), comorbidities, and cognition. To test the hypothesis, we utilized baseline data including 379 residents from the second and third cohorts recruited in a randomized trial titled ‘Dissemination and Implementation of Function Focused Care for Assisted Living Using the Evidence Integration Triangle’. Regression analysis was performed using a stepwise method. The care interactions were mostly positive (mean=6.3; range = 0-7). Resident agitation and facility ownership were significantly associated with care interactions and accounted for 8.2% of the variance. Increased resident agitation was associated with negative or neutral interaction while for-profit ownership was associated with positive interactions. To promote positive care interactions, staff should be educated about strategies to minimize resident agitation (e.g., calm posture and respectful listening) and encouraged to engage with residents using resident-centered care and communication approach. Findings also suggest the need to work towards optimizing care interactions in nonprofit stings. Future research could further explore the impact of facility-level factors (e.g., staffing ratios, staff longevity, and job satisfaction) on care interactions.
Linking Coping Behavior and Mental Well-Being in Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: O'Connor Dugan , Smith Jennifer 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
In addition to being a significant source of stress, the COVID-19 pandemic required older adults to drastically alter their behaviors and routines. People cope with stress in various ways; however, the pandemic was a unique situation that warranted investigation of this topic. This study aimed to identify the ways older adults coped with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the relationship between specific coping behaviors and perceived stress and mental health. Two hundred thirty-one older adults, ages 53 to 90, completed an online survey about coping behaviors used to manage stress during the pandemic, as well as measures of loneliness, depression, perceived stress, and the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their lives. “Talking with friends and family” (83%) and “increased television watching or other screen-time” (68%) were the most common coping behaviors. A series of one-way analyses of covariance (ANCOVA), with race, gender, age, education, and income included as covariates, revealed “eating more often” and “drinking alcohol” were associated with greater loneliness, depression, and stress. “Increased screen time” was also associated with greater depression and stress. “Engaging in more family activities,” was associated with a less negative impact of the pandemic, and “talking with friends and family” was associated with less loneliness. These findings suggest older adults who coped with stress of the COVID-19 pandemic through more eating, drinking, and the second most common behavior—watching TV—were more likely to report poorer well-being, and may benefit from programs to boost virtual social engagement.
Mental Health Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Older Adults With Chronic Conditions
Authors: Polenick Courtney , Kaba Diarratou , Meyers Summer , Zhou Annie , Daniel Nikita , Salwi Shreya , Lee Vanessa 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic may have a negative impact on mental health, especially among older adults with chronic conditions who are more vulnerable to severe illness. This cross-sectional qualitative study evaluated how the pandemic has impacted the ways that adults aged 50 and older with chronic conditions managed their mental health. Participants included a total of 492 adults (M = 64.95 years, SD = 8.91, range = 50 – 94) from Michigan (82.1%) and 33 other U.S. states who reported a diagnosis of at least one chronic condition and completed an anonymous online survey between May 14 and July 9, 2020. Participants provided open-ended responses to a question about the pandemic’s impact on how they were taking care of their mental health. The data were coded to ascertain relevant concepts and were reduced to develop major themes. We determined four main themes. The pandemic impacted how participants took care of their mental health through: (1) pandemic-related barriers to social interaction; (2) pandemic-related routine changes; (3) pandemic-related stress; and (4) pandemic-related changes to mental health care. Taken as a whole, this study indicates that older adults with chronic conditions encountered a variety of challenges to managing their mental health in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also demonstrated considerable resilience. These findings identify potential risk and protective factors to target as part of personalized interventions to preserve their well-being during this pandemic and in future public health crises.
Characterizing Patients and Themes of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Hesitancy in a New York City High-Risk Older Population
Authors: Chow Stephanie , Yamada Yuji , Munoz Lizette , Lavayen Susana , Payne Jodi , Sreevalsan Kavya , Fani Shamsi 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background: Vaccines to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection are deemed one of the most promising measures in controlling the devastating pandemic, yet there is significant vaccine hesitancy in some communities. Historic systemic health, discrimination, and structural inequities in specific racial and ethnic communities contribute to vaccine hesitancy with disproportionately negative impact. It is therefore critical to better understand vaccine hesitancy in this high-risk older population. The ALIGN (Acute Life Interventions, Goals, and Needs) program co-manages a panel of older patients with complex medical and psychosocial needs in an urban academic medical center. Methods: ALIGN enrolled or graduated Patients or designated healthcare proxies were contacted by telephone to discuss SARS-CoV-2 vaccine willingness and hesitancy using a standardized web-based survey. Qualitative data was categorized into themes and subgroups. Demographic data was collected by chart review. Results: Complete results are forthcoming and will include patient reported race and ethnicity baseline, vaccine hesitancy perceptions, with common overarching themes, and clinical team member debriefing. Iterative quality improvement actions taken based on elicited patient themes will also be included and assessed in telephone follow-up for changes in vaccine hesitancy. Conclusions: We are conducting a qualitative and quality improvement study characterizing vaccine perceptions and hesitancy in a high-risk older group with focus on racial and ethnic disparities in this population. This preliminary data informs healthcare providers of potential health literacy, cultural and language, and other potential barriers in order to help further understand how to optimize SARS-CoV-2 vaccine acceptance and delivery in a patient population with elevated risk.
Video Chat Use and Mealtime Behaviors in Older Adults Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Barre Laura , Young Tara , Coupal Sarah 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Video chat allows people to connect when not physically together. Using video chat while sharing a meal (VideoDining) may decrease loneliness and improve older adults' nutritional intake. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey study using Amazon Mechanical Turk in June 2020. The objectives were to learn about eating with others, the use of video chat, and interest in VideoDining in older adults during the pandemic. There were 1331 survey attempts with 167 responses meeting the criteria for age (65 years of age or older), U.S. residency, and quality. Participants were 64% male, 77% white, 65% college-educated, and a median age of 67 years (IQR=2 years). Few participants lived alone (17%), yet 76% reported feeling isolated. Eating with others regularly, defined as several times a week or more, declined in the pandemic (44% vs. 59% pre-pandemic, p=0.0002). The use of video chat and eating when video chatting increased during the pandemic versus pre-pandemic (82% vs. 74%, p=0.003; 47% vs. 37%, p=0.0005). The majority of participants said they would VideoDine (50%) or consider trying it (37%). Interest in VideoDining did not vary by age, race, or gender. Participants who used video chat were more likely to say they would VideoDine than participants who had never used video chat (OR=3.1; 95% CI=1.25, 8.35; p=0.02). This data suggests most adults 65 years of age and older, already using the Internet, are experiencing isolation and decreased mealtime commensality during the pandemic. The vast majority are using video chat and are interested in trying VideoDining.
Viral Culture in Hospitalized Congregate Care Patients With Prolonged SARS-CoV-2 Viral RNA Detection
Authors: Arunachalam Thilaka , Singh Amit , Stellrecht Kathleen , Elmendorf Sarah , Barman Tarani K , Robek Michael , Metzger Dennis W , Waxman Michael 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Prolonged detection of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA has been observed in hospitalized congregate care patients following resolution of clinical symptoms. It is unknown whether patients with persistent PCR positivity pose a risk for COVID-19 transmission. The purpose of this study was to examine the results of serial PCR testing, viral load, and viral culture in patients awaiting discharge prior to a negative PCR test. We sampled 14 patients who were admitted from skilled nursing and/or rehabilitation facilities to a large academic medical center, had clinical signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and had multiple PCR-positive tests separated by at least 14 days. PCR-positive nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from each patient for viral load quantification and viral culture. The mean age of patients was 72.5 years (55 – 92), with a mean peak SOFA score of 5.6 (1 – 11). Patients were hospitalized for a mean of 37.0 days (25 – 60). RNA was detected by PCR for a mean of 32.9 days (19 – 47). Mean viral load for the first PCR-positive nasopharyngeal swab collected at our hospital was 5.81 genomic copies/mL (2.12 – 9.72). Viral load decreased significantly with days from clinical symptom onset (R = -0.69, 95% CI, -0.80 – -0.55). Four out of 28 samples grew active virus via culture, with no active virus isolates after 2 days of symptom onset. Our viral culture data suggests that persistent PCR positivity may not correlate with infectivity, which has important implications for COVID-19 infection control precautions among older congregate care patients.
Quality-of-Life Scores for Nursing Home Residents Are Stable Over Time: Evidence From Minnesota
Authors: Ng Weiwen , Shippee Tetyana , Bowblis John , Akosionu Odichinma , Woodhouse Mark , Duan Yinfei 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Objective: Quality of life (QoL) is a multidimensional construct that assesses the quality of lived experience in nursing homes (NHs). QoL is directly important to NH residents. However, QoL is only publicly reported in a few states, partly because of concerns regarding measure stability. To address these concerns, we tested the stability of Minnesota’s NH QoL measure over one year. Study Design: A pair of two-year cohorts of Minnesota NH residents who responded to the 2012-2013 (N = 4,448) or 2014-2015 (N = 4,644) QoL survey in consecutive years. Stability was measured using the intra-class correlation (ICC) from hierarchical linear models. Models were fit without any covariates, then individual and facility-level characteristics were added. Principal Findings: Overall QoL had ICCs of 0.602 and 0.614 in the earlier and later cohort respectively. Domain-level ICCs were lower, ranging from 0.374 (positive mood) to 0.571 (lack of negative mood) in the 2012-2013 cohort, with similar trends for the later cohort. Adjusting for important covariates reduces the ICCs slightly, but they remained at 0.565 or higher for the summary score. Conclusions: Person-reported summary QoL has adequate stability over a period of one year. Our results provide impetus to assess and report NH QoL on a national level. Consumers can be confident that if an NH’s QoL scores improve from year to year, that represents a real improvement, and not just the scores varying due to which residents were sampled. Some caution, however, is warranted when presenting facility-level domain scores, as these are less stable.