Journal of Gerontological Social Work最新文献

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences and perceptions of successful aging through in-depth interviews with older adults. The study identified four themes: (1) interpersonal bonds encompassing family interaction, friendships, and community participation;(2) autonomy, including both physical and economic autonomy;(3)residential continuity involving a sense of belonging and in-home care needs; and (4)spiritual well-being. Policies and care practices should prioritize strengthening social networks, supporting independent living, promoting residential continuity , and integrating spiritual well-being into care modalities. A holistic approach that integrates personal, social, and spiritual aspects of successful aging is essential for fostering well-being in later life.

This qualitative study examines older adults' alcohol and other drug addiction and service effectiveness from the perspectives of 30 social workers grounded in intersectionality. Findings indicate that while loneliness and social environment contribute to addiction, common outcomes include bio-psycho-social, economic, and familial impacts. Intersectional factors, including gender, class, education, marital status, parenthood, social capital, and criminal involvement, differentiate these experiences. Women experience greater stigma and reduced access to services, while class and education influence substance use patterns and weakening socio-economic capital increases criminal involvement. Marital status, parenthood, and social capital influence service access, while institutional scarcity and stigma hinder engagement.

Civic participation has emerged as a way to promote healthy aging, but studies on this topic have understudied the experiences of older migrants. This paper addresses this gap by examining the life course experiences of older Latine immigrants residing in Spain and the U.S. We conducted a narrative analysis guided by an intersectional life course perspective among four older Latine immigrants. Data were drawn from two qualitative life course studies on civic participation among older adults using in-depth interviewing and elicitation techniques. Their stories revealed two structural and systemic conditions influencing experiences of civic participation in later life: (1) the impact of family dynamics and gender on participation before and after immigration, and (2) the cultural and sociopolitical influences on civic participation across geographies. The analysis highlights how structural and systemic forces shape civic experiences across the life course and across borders. This is the first study to examine civic participation across migration trajectories of older Latine adults. Results underscore the need for policies and programs that specifically support older migrants' participation.

The Silver Saplings Adventures Programme (SSAP), run by Wild Things! charity in Scotland, enhances older adults' wellbeing through nature-based activities, lifelong learning, and social cohesion. This study evaluates SSAP's 2023 impact using remote interviews with 17 participants, revealing its role in fostering physical, social, and mental wellbeing. A key finding is SSAP's effectiveness in strengthening social capital, helping mitigate aging-related social decline. Participants reported forming friendships and stronger community ties. The study highlights SSAP's value in promoting healthy aging and resilience, advocating for further support and expansion of nature programmes to enrich older populations in Scotland and beyond.

This pilot study investigates how Vietnamese college students' perceptions of dementia change over times, including before, right after, and a week after watching a video about how a person with dementia (PWD) sees the world; and what the students perceive as their lessons learned and own changes in perceptions of dementia and PWD. A total of 109 students completed the open-ended questions about their own depictions of dementia and their changes between before, right after, and a week after watching the video. The conventional content analysis results provide important evidence for educational strategies to reduce dementia stigma.

Despite calls for promoting equity and recognizing diversity within age-friendly community (AFC) efforts, there has been little research on how leaders attend to such considerations in practice. We iteratively coded data from qualitative interviews with leaders of eight AFC initiatives in New Jersey (United States [U.S.]) conducted across multiple years. Five themes were identified regarding areas in which considerations of aging equity and diversity emerged: communications to the public; outreach and advocacy; engagement structures; events and programming; and direct services. We discuss implications for cross-disciplinary research, policy, and practice to advance AFC initiatives in the U.S. and other similar contexts.

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals are living longer but facing increased barriers to access to care. To understand this discrepancy, we conducted a multi-phase needs assessment on the needs of LGBTQ older adults. Six hundred seventy-two individuals participated in the survey, which included six open-ended questions. Using thematic analysis, our findings point to critical challenges in healthcare access, including locating affirming and affordable providers, accessing social support, the availability of housing, and accessing legal services. Addressing these challenges requires gerontologists to engage in activities to remove barriers to care and generate innovative solutions to reduce health disparities.

In the context of normalized forms of elder abuse and neglect in Canada, it is important to examine how constructions of family caregivers in the public sphere (re)produce potentially harmful assumptions. In this paper, we examine mainstream media construction of the "caregiver" identity in advocacy-related coverage over a 6-year time period (2016-2021). Relying on abductive formal analysis, we explore how care for older adults is presented as largely burdensome and linked to what are labeled the "complex care needs" of a growing aging population that is erroneously presented as largely incapacitated or incompetent. In particular, the emphasis and confusion generated around the indiscriminate use of the disease label of "dementia" functions to emphasize burden, particularly for women and women's liberation more broadly while simultaneously dehumanizing older persons and ignoring various well-documented and socially generated causes of cognitive impairment. Our analysis suggests that reliance on the caregiver identity contributes to the marginalization of older adults and perpetuates ageism while obscuring multiple system failures that harm older persons and strain families' ability to be responsive to elders' needs.

With an aging population, ensuring older adults' well-being is crucial. This study examined actual and desired Quality of Life (QoL) among institutionalized older Indians in care homes and recreational centers. Using a mixed-method approach, it analyzed key QoL dimensions, forming a QoL index. Surveys (293 participants) and qualitative data revealed significant gaps between actual and desired QoL, highlighting diverse needs across institutional contexts. Findings underscore the need for continuous QoL advancements in policies and programs. Targeted interventions can enhance QoL, offering valuable insights for social work practice and policy development to better support older adults' evolving needs.

This study aimed to understand the experiences of older adults who participated in a interorganizational and intergenerational initiative, the Senior to Senior Dinner Dance. Responses to open-ended survey questions from 69 older adult participants were analyzed using a thematic analysis, which elucidated three themes: (a) remaining active; (b) instigating social interactions; and, (c) adjusting to new social roles. Findings suggest opportunities for social workers to partner with others in community-based organizations to facilitate meaningful intergenerational activities for older adults who wish to remain physically and socially active in later life.