Journal of Gerontological Social Work最新文献

Our study examined the association between social participation and mental illness in middle-aged and older couples, adopting a longitudinal, quantitative approach in a large sample. We analyzed the data of 3,504 middle-aged and older adults. Social participation was used as the dependent variable, and the time-varying variable was whether there was mental illness in the couple. Latent growth modeling was used to examine the association between these variables. Among the participants, 214 (6.11%) were middle-aged and older couples with at least one partner having a mental illness. An association was found between social participation and presence of a mental illness, except in the data for 2018 (estimate range =  -0.078 to - 0.032; p-value range = <.0001 to 0.035). Our findings highlight the imperative of addressing the unique needs of middle-aged and older couples with mental illness. Therefore, the findings suggest the need for interventions that can be integrated to encourage couples to participate in meaningful social activities together.

This study aimed to investigate the determinants of healthcareutilization among individuals 45 years and older based onlongitudinal and national representative, data on community residentsfrom 2015 to 2022 in Thailand. Findings support the importance ofneed factors (poor self-rated physical health, number of chronicconditions, vision and hearing impairment, functional limitations,and health risk behaviours), predisposing factors (decreasing age,transitioning to not married or widowed, and transitioning to notworking) and enabling factors (private health insuance, highereconomic status, religious involvement and higher subjective lifeexpectancy) in healthcare use.

A live discharge from hospice results in disruption of care continuity. Currently, there is no explicit hospice discharge process available for this care transition. This study aimed to garner a deeper understanding of U.S. hospice social worker's preparation for a live discharge and the accompanying challenges. Three key themes arose: the complexities of preparing for a live discharge, the necessary tasks for preparing patients and caregivers, and logistical and emotional challenges associated with preparing for a discharge. Findings demonstrate the intricacies of conducting a live discharge and the need for more research to support a standardized and reimbursable discharge process.

Using data from 1,484 participants in the Chinese Social Survey (CSS), we analyzed the relationships among internet use, social trust, volunteer engagement, and life satisfaction. Our findings indicate that greater internet use correlates with enhanced older adults' life satisfaction. Volunteering positively mediates the relationship between internet use and life satisfaction. Furthermore, social trust moderates the relationship between internet use and volunteering. Internet use and social trust are significant factors affecting volunteering and life satisfaction among older Chinese adults. Policymakers should foster equitable internet access and support initiatives that encourage online engagement and build trust among older adults.

Despite ethical concerns, physical restraint (PR) remains common in aged care. This study examines how "Restraint Zero" practices were developed and sustained in two South Korean facilities through a multiple case study. Using interviews with staff and leadership, we explored organizational strategies enabling PR elimination. Both sites implemented staff training, policy reforms, and cross-departmental collaboration to support personalized care. While workload increased, caregivers expressed pride in PR-Zero care, which upheld the dignity of both older adults and staff. Sustaining such efforts requires broader institutional and policy support to improve long-term care environments.

This study describes how racial/ethnic group differences in self-neglect incidence varied across metropolitan and rural regions of Texas. The data included 134,538 cases of self-neglect validated by adult protective services among people 65+ years old from 2020 to 2023. We aggregated county population figures from US Census Bureau estimates and used negative binomial regression models to estimate the association of race/ethnicity, gender, and region type with self-neglect case counts. Self-neglect incidence among Black older adults was about twice that of White older adults, a difference that persisted across metropolitan regions. Black-White differences were more pronounced in Northwest rural regions but were absent in the El Paso region. Hispanic-White differences varied across both metropolitan and rural regions. In the Arlington region, for example, self-neglect incidence among Hispanic older adults was less than that of White older adults, whereas in San Antonio it was greater. Addressing self-neglect among Black and Hispanic older adults should anticipate that different communities may require distinct approaches. Future studies with more geographic units should build on this descriptive study to explain variation in racial/ethnic group differences in self-neglect incidence.

This scoping review examines elder abuse and mistreatment (EA/EM) among Asian American older adults, focusing on prevalence, perception, experience, and associated factors. A search of journal publications spanning from 1993 to 2024 through 14 databases identified 28 relevant studies. EA/EM prevalence ranged from 6% to 58.3%, averaging 23%. Despite awareness, help-seeking and reporting were low, with variations across subethnic groups. Cultural and immigration-related barriers significantly shaped perceptions and behaviors. Findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive, context-specific interventions to address the unique experiences of Asian American older adults.

Community music care is an innovative social practice that integrates community music therapy and music care to enhance the well-being of older adults. However, existing studies rarely present a comprehensive view of well-being from this perspective. This study explores the impact of community music care on older adults' well-being using a mixed-method approach. The qualitative part involved semi-structured interviews with 10 community-dwelling older adults to understand their experiences and perceptions. The quantitative part surveyed 166 older adults in Penghu County, Taiwan-an area with a high aging population-to examine the correlation between music care and well-being. The results indicate that community music care significantly improves mental health, social interaction, and overall well-being. Interviews also revealed that music care strengthens emotional connections and alleviates loneliness. These findings offer practical insights for communities and long-term care institutions in designing music-based activities and provide a strategic foundation for policymakers to enhance older adults' well-being through long-term care initiatives.

Older adults have higher suicide rates than other age groups worldwide. This study examined whether loneliness (M1) and social isolation (M2) serially mediate the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (X) and suicide cognitions (Y). The sample included 1,119 adults aged 65-90 years (M = 73.48, SD = 7.54) living in Burdur, recruited from the Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Aging Studies Center database. Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation and serial mediation (Model 6). The results showed that the association between adverse childhood experiences and suicide cognitions was fully indirect, operating through loneliness and social isolation (R² = .67), highlighting early life adversity as a key psychosocial pathway.

This study examines how residential space quality affects cognitive impairment in Chinese urban older adults through life quality evaluation mediation, using CLHLS data (2011-2018) and structural equation modeling. Results show the direct effect evolved from marginal (2011) to highly significant (2018), reflecting urbanization policy impacts. Residential space quality primarily influences cognitive function indirectly through enhanced life quality evaluation, requiring objective improvements to transform into cognitive protection via subjective perception. Findings suggest gerontological social workers should implement integrated interventions with dual-assessment protocols, addressing both housing quality and psychosocial support simultaneously.