bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR DIVERSE COMMUNITY OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Abramson Tobi , Sirey Jo Anne , Berman Jacquelin 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Addressing the triple stigma (age, mental health, race) faced by older adults in need of mental health services has necessitated innovations that move the service provision needle. Co-located services within community settings, mental health interventions addressing those with nutritional needs, and victims of elder abuse and elder crime benefit from innovative services. The following session will highlight research outcomes from innovative treatment models: (a) In a sample of 138 diverse individuals participating in PROTECT (a brief behavioral intervention for late-life depression among elder abuse/crime victims) showed 5.15 point reductions in PhQ-9 scores across the sample and found video-delivery was non-inferior to traditional in-person therapy. Those receiving video therapy completed treatment faster, with more rapid rate of symptom reduction. (b) Do More Feel Better (a 9-week peer-led manualized intervention for those with depression and nutritional needs) found 78% experienced clinically significant reduction in depressive symptoms and over two-thirds (66%) reported satisfaction with the program. (c) DGMH (mental health services co-located in older adult centers) data indicate that of the 4,118 clients assessed, 3,373 endorsed at least one mental health need (81.9%), significantly higher than the mental health literature indicates. Over 2,133 clients have been treated in 67,597 sessions since program inception in 2018. Within 3-months of treatment, 60.8% and 52% showed clinically significant improvements in depression and anxiety, respectively. A third reported decreased loneliness and 39.4% indicated feeling less socially isolated. Further data will be presented (demographic, racial, ethnic differences). Data supported efficacy lend support to innovative mental health treatment approaches.
THE STRONGERMEMORY PROGRAM: EXPLORING COGNITIVE BENEFITS AND FOSTERING COMMUNITY
Authors: Tompkins Catherine , Ihara Emily , Keesee Francesca , Lauber Mckenzie , Magee Catherine , Fredericksen Jessica , Liebreich Robert 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Background
StrongerMemory is a brain health program centered on spending 30 minutes per day on handwritten journaling, reading aloud, and arithmetic exercises as a method to enhance cognition in older adults. The StrongerMemory research protocol is a 12-week program that includes a weekly meeting. After 104 participants completed the StrongerMemory research protocol, they were invited to participate in a focus group to share their experiences. Six focus groups were conducted by members of the StrongerMemory research team yielding 30 participants.

Methods
Focus groups were conducted virtually, with a set of pre-determined, open-ended questions centering around participant experiences and attitudes towards the StrongerMemory program. Participants were also asked to reflect on differences in their memory, cognition and well-being before and after StrongerMemory participation. Two researchers independently coded the focus group transcripts, and utilized the grounded theory analysis techniques of memoing and constant comparative analysis to explore the data. Common themes were then discussed.

Results
Five overarching themes emerged: Motivating, appreciating, challenging, committing, and enhancing. Conceptualizations of these themes focused on participants’ experiences and suggestions for strengthening the program. “Fostering community” was an outcome of the program often discussed.

Conclusion
The participant experience in StrongerMemory revealed unique perspectives on their motivation for participation and provided the researchers with new insights into the program such as fostering community within older adult groups. Further research includes exploring cognitive and social benefits of group participation in the StrongerMemory program.
APPLYING A BILL OF RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE UNDER GUARDIANSHIP IN RURAL AREAS
Authors: Teaster Pamela , Shealy E Carlisle 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
In the U.S., 35.2% of people aged 65 and older live with a disability, of which 8.9% have a cognitive disability. For some, cognitive disabilities necessitate the help of a surrogate decision-maker (e.g., a guardian), including adults with serious mental illness, intellectual disability, and traumatic brain injury. Guardians are bound by statutory requirements, case law, and ethical principles to act in the best interests of an adult adjudicated by a court to lack the capacity to make certain decisions. Guardians are charged to act according to the highest standards of care, accountability, trust, honesty, confidentiality, and avoidance of conflict of interest. Powers given to guardians are often immense (e.g., authority to sell a person’s home and personal property, consent to medical treatments). Little is known about the characteristics of people with a guardian. Our study in rural Virginia examined all new guardianships of adults in one jurisdiction across three years (89% Caucasian, 54% male). Their most common disabilities were dementia and intellectual disabilities. No guardian’s report indicated any improvements in the adults’ mental or physical health. The National Guardianship Network, a collaboration of 13 national organizations, drafted a Bill of Rights for Adults with a Guardian, categorizing rights always retained after a guardian is appointed, personal rights that a court may restrict but not delegate to a guardian, and rights a guardian may exercise on behalf of an adult. Characteristics of a population of persons with a guardian living in a rural area are presented alongside considerations of their rights.
SUPPORTING CARE PARTNERS OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA: EXPLORING CHANGES IN POLICY AND PRACTICE
Authors: Dawson Walter , Reed Jenn Hollandsworth , Colon Anaeliz , Prince Devlin , Chapela Sofia , Gelmon Sherril 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Most care and support for people living with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD) is provided unpaid at home or in community settings. To better understand the caregiving-related priorities of people with lived experience as care partners (CP) of people living with ADRD, focus groups were convened with CPs who identify with historically and currently underserved communities that may have difficulty accessing culturally specific services for people living with ADRD in and near Portland, Oregon. In-depth interviews (n=20) were conducted with local, state, and national-level organizational leaders who represent or provide ADRD support services to various underserved communities including Black, Indigenous, Asian, and Latinx Americans to gather additional perspectives on ADRD care and support needs. Care partners across all populations reported a need for additional supports that could help them in carrying out their caregiving responsibilities. While the specific needs and types of supports identified varied across populations, the findings point to multiple unmet needs across all populations in terms of ADRD CP-specific supports. Changes to policy and practice are needed to improve the experience of CPs of people living with ADRD. New policies focused on promoting access to services, education and training, and financing of supports such as respite must be developed and implemented in partnership with community-based organizations and ADRD CPs from underserved communities and communities that may have difficulty accessing culturally-specific services and unique supports. The findings also point to universal needs related to caregiving across all populations that could be addressed through new policy initiatives.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AMONG CLIENTS OF OLDER AMERICANS ACT PROGRAMS
Authors: Campione Joanne , Robinson Kristen 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Older adults who are clients of Older Americans Act (OAA) programs, such as home-delivered meals and transportation services, often have unique needs during an emergency or crisis. Many OAA clients have mobility challenges and/or chronic health conditions, making it difficult to access and respond to emergency directions. For these reasons, in 2022, the Administration for Community Living added to the annual National Survey of Older Americans Act Participants (NSOAAP) a one-time module of questions regarding emergency preparedness. Among 5,136 respondents of the 2022 NSOAAP, 67% said they have ready 3 days’ worth of food and water, 69% have a way to charge their phone without electricity, and 51% have a battery-powered radio. Thirty-seven percent of the clients said their household has a medical device that requires electricity. While 74% said they have a list of list of family, friends, and community organizations, only 37% said their household has a specific plan for a disaster or emergency. Seven percent said they would not evacuate if public authorities announced a mandatory evacuation with the top three reasons for not evacuating being: 1) concern about leaving pets, 2) lack of transportation, and 3) could not be moved due to health problems. In summary, support services that an older adult relies on to live at home, such as help from family caregivers and in-home health care, may be unavailable due to a disaster thus increasing a person’s vulnerability and possibly leading to nursing home care that may have been otherwise avoidable.
EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF COMMUNITY CARE IN KOREA: NAMYANGJU CITY’S FOUR-YEAR EXPERIENCE
Authors: Choi Mi Sun , Cho Sangmi , Park Yoonsei , Woo Misuk , Park Sumin , Cho Youngmin 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
In 2019, the Korean government launched a community care project in response to the rising need for care brought on by the nation’s aging population and state-funded medical expenses. Namyangju, Korea, has implemented community care for the care of older people. However, little is known about how to ensure the sustainability of community care by investigating the impact of community care services. To enhance our knowledge in this domain, we conducted focus group interviews (FGI) with 24 participants, including 18 service providers and six older adult service users, from August to November 2022. In the FGI, service providers and users identified vehicle and meal support services as core needs. They described the beneficial outcomes of these services, such as increased psychological well-being and the desire for independence and decreased depression. On the other hand, users expressed difficulty in accessing information about various services and mentioned restrictions on service usage (period, number of times), while the providers emphasized the difficulty of providing comprehensive services when health and welfare services were separated amid budget constraints. Both groups proposed solutions to these problems through community care services. Individual citizens’ perceptions of universal welfare should be changed, while institutions must actively promote this program and recruit professionals. A partnership between private and public institutions must be established at the regional level, and services must be differentiated to reflect the region’s distinctive features. Finally, national legislation must be enacted to promote care coordinators and ensure that appropriate budgets are allocated for successfully operating the program.
“A FRAIL LITTLE THING, BUT SHE’S WILEY”: POLICE BRUTALITY MEETS DEMENTIA: A NARRATIVE INQUIRY
Authors: Marnfeldt Kelly 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
From 2000 to 2020 overall arrests in the U.S. declined, but arrests of people 65 and older increased by nearly 30 percent. In addition, between 2010 and 2020 approximately 12,000 adults 65 and older were admitted to the emergency room due to injuries sustained during encounters with police or private security. To illuminate the scope of negative consequences that may occur during such encounters, the present study examined the 2020 arrest of a 73-year-old community-dwelling woman living with dementia who walked out of a big-box store with $13.88 worth of merchandise she did not pay for. During her arrest, she sustained multiple injuries at the hands of two officers, including a dislocated shoulder and a broken arm. Despite her injuries, she did not receive medical care for six hours while in custody. The methodological approach to this case draws on elements of interpretative phenomenological analysis, and narrative analysis to explore publicly available archival data sources, including surveillance and police body-worn camera footage. Supporting data sources include police filings at the time of her arrest and legal filings by a civil rights attorney representing the woman’s family. The analysis demonstrated that deeply entrenched ageism, failure to recognize the signs of dementia, and the systemic normalization and defense of police use of force against non-normative behavior when interacting with neuro diverse older adults. This has critical implications for family caregivers and trusted others who struggle to balance the dialectic between safety and independence for people aging in place with dementia
PEER (DYADIC) SUPPORT: A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR OLDER AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN WITH HYPERTENSION
Authors: Groves Angela , Roche-Dean Maria , Bosak Emily 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
African American women have a higher prevalence of hypertension than women of other ethnicities. Interventions have not adequately addressed the higher prevalence of hypertension in this population. Social support networks can be an effective strategy for improving hypertension self-management behaviors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of an 8-week peer (dyadic) support intervention to improve diet adherence and reduce systolic blood pressure among older African American women with hypertension and describe the relationship that occurred during the intervention. This mixed methods study used a convergent parallel design. A total of 26 African American women diagnosed with hypertension, aged 60 and older were paired to form 13 dyads. All participants completed a 3-hour training session consisting of home blood pressure monitoring, DASH diet, and communication. Participants completed pre and post DASH diet surveys, and the Social Support Survey (MOS) post intervention. At the end of the 8-week intervention, participants discussed their experiences in a 60-minute focus group session. Content analysis was used to analyze focus group interviews. Preliminary data analysis will be presented. Emerging themes included, accountability, epiphany, challenges with hypertension management, communication with each other, and receiving support. Preliminary findings suggest that peer (dyadic) support is feasible and can be an effective intervention strategy to improve diet and blood pressure management. Future studies should address specific challenges to hypertension management identified by participants. Lastly, this study used random within site pairing for participants without an identified partner. Future studies should develop criteria for pairing partners.
RECRUITMENT OF PERSONS WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT FROM LONG-TERM CARE SETTINGS
Authors: Davis Rebecca , Sikorskii Alla 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Research that includes persons with cognitive impairment is important to develop evidence-based care to improve outcomes. Long -term care settings have a large proportion of residents with cognitive impairment; but recruitment is known to be difficult. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of recruitment methods for a randomized controlled clinical trial of persons with cognitive impairment in 15 long-term care communities. This study utilized a retrospective, descriptive design. Sites were recruited and site characteristics recorded. Residents were recruited to participate in the study based on combinations of 12 recruitment strategies. Recruitment data was analyzed at the level of site, research staff member, and participant level. Over the study period, 279 older adults were screened and 172 enrolled. The participants were cognitively impaired. Research staff spent 39-89 hours recruiting at each site and utilized an average of four different recruitment methods per site. The most common and efficacious method was introductions of participants by site contacts. Cost of recruiting averaged $1490 per site and was correlated to the number of resident rooms (r=.60, p=0.17). Those sites with a recruiter enrolled more participants (M=14.67, S.D. 4.55) than those without a recruiter (M=9.3, S.D. 2.55), t(13) = -2.92, p=.012. Recruitment of older adults with cognitive impairment from long term care communities requires multiple methods of recruitment; skilled recruitment staff, and trust with the LTC community staff and potential participants.
IMPLEMENTING AND TESTING THE EFFICACY OF A GERIATRIC GOALS OF CARE TOOL IN AN ACUTE HOSPITAL SETTING
Authors: Samudrala Pallavi , Sheehan Brynn , Smith Erin , Galicia-Castillo Marissa 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Goals of care (GOC) discussions, which focus on patient values and preferences, are associated with improved outcomes for older adults, including lower hospital readmission rates, increased adherence to advanced care plans, and improved patient satisfaction. GOC discussions do not occur consistently and a reliable method of documentation has yet to be established. The Geriatrics Goals of Care (GGOC) tool was developed to easily review and document GOC discussions for geriatric patients (65 years and older) in the electronic medical record, focusing on pre-hospital function and hospitalization goals. The study objective was to evaluate the GGOC tool’s impact on 30-day hospital readmission. Using an experimental design, the GGOC tool was implemented in one hospital unit and a second comparative unit served as a control. The GGOC tool was administered to a total of 82 patients and 162 control unit patients received standard care (N= 244). A logistic regression of patient-level data revealed that the odds of having a hospital readmission within 30 days were approximately 65% lower for patients who received the GGOC tool compared to those in the control unit (OR = .344, SE = .40, p = .008, 95% CI [.156, .759]). The readmission rate for the unit utilizing the GGOC tool yielded a cost savings of $185,019.12. Applying the same readmission rate to the control unit, the expected cost savings was $365,625 for the control group. Results suggest that the GGOC tool may be effective for documenting GOC discussions, reducing the burden of readmissions with their associated costs.
REMOTE CONTROL THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS HUMAN HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF FUNCTIONAL AGING
Authors: Tomarevska Olena , Poliakov Oleksandr 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The level of physical activity is modified by the functional age of a person in accordance with his chronological age. Most of the evidence comes from the positive impact of physical activity on the musculoskeletal system and cognitive functions, microcirculation and cardiovascular system in the working population and retirees. In the current study, an online method the investigation of physical activity was tested. Functional age was calculated using appropriate indicators according to age standards: systolic and diastolic pressure, standing on the left leg with closed eyes, maximum breath holding time after a deep inhalation, maximum breath holding time after a deep exhalation. The state of health is extrapolated to the need for specialist supervision in 58.96% of older workers. Thus, the study showed the need to determine the functional age of respondents 50 years and older. Thus, a slowed rate of aging observed in 23.5% of cases, physiological - in 18% of cases, accelerated rate of aging - in 58.5% of cases. In the exams 441 persons, age 50-90 years, reliable associative links were observed rate of functional aging with a decrease in physical activity according to the indicators of individual daily mileage (r=-0.273, p&lt; 0.001) and the variability of physical exercises (r=-0.161, p&lt; 0.001). The pace of functional aging and state of health were reliably correlated (r=-0.364, p&lt; 0.001) in individuals, respectively, with the preservation of individual daily mileage and the performance of daily physical exercises. Thus, aerobic activity is an important in maintaining health in terms of functional indicators.
COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING AMONG GRANDPARENT CAREGIVERS: AN INTERGENERATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Patel Khushbu , Singer Katelyn , Katz Benjamin 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Grandparents have a unique bond with their grandchildren, given their position in the grandchild’s life. They may be a historian, mentor, playmate, caregiver, role model, advocate, and friend. These interactions may offer an opportunity for cognitive engagement, but the level of this engagement may in turn be linked to a grandparent’s cognitive status. For example, memory issues may challenge one’s ability to serve as a historian for a grandchild. To better understand the association of caregiving and engagement in activities with a grandchild on cognition, a secondary analysis was conducted to examine how cognitive functions differ by engagement time. Drawing from approximately 1,200 participants in the Health and Retirement Study who indicated activity engagement with grandchildren and who also completed the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) regression analyses were conducted examining the link between grandparent engagement with grandchildren and cognitive measures including Constructional Praxis Delayed, Backwards Counting, Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices, Brave Man Delayed, and Digit Symbol Modalities. Results from the analyses revealed that Raven’s Matrices (P = 0.007), Backwards Counting (P = 0.041), and Constructional Praxis (P = 0.030), were most closely linked to activity engagement with grandchildren, providing preliminary evidence that working memory is closely linked to caregiving engagement. However, the results also revealed a bimodal distribution, suggesting that too little and too much caregiving were associated with worse cognition. These findings provide preliminary evidence that illustrates how interacting with and caregiving for grandchildren may be both a protective factor and a risk factor for older adults.