Journal of Gerontological Social Work最新文献

This paper examined the prevalence of and risk factors associated with unmet needs for activities of daily living (ADL) for older adults dying with dementia. We focused on a sample of 632 older adults in the National Health and Aging Trends Study. Employing Andersen's behavioral model of health, we investigated the association of predisposing, enabling, and need factors and found that older age, using hospice, receiving residential care, and severity of ADL disability were associated with fewer unmet care needs. This study emphasizes the timing of end-of-life care preferences and the quality of care services for older adults with dementia.

This longitudinal cluster-randomized trial investigated older volunteers' changes following a 3-month training program. A total of 156 older Taiwanese volunteers in the community care centers participated in this study (n _training = 80, n _control = 76).   Older volunteers' skills/competency and psychosocial variables were assessed at baseline, one and three months. Results showed that trained volunteers significantly improved skills, motivation, self-efficacy, and work satisfaction, while untrained volunteers showed no improvements in self-efficacy or work satisfaction and experienced a decline in motivation . The results hightlighted that training is crucial for maximazing the positive impact of volunteering on older adults.

The COVID-19 significantly impacted older adults, worsening their physical health and social connectedness. This study examined whether social support mediates the correlation between COVID-19 concerns and self-rated physical health (SRPH) using data from 2672 participants (aged 50-99) in the NSHAP COVID-19 sub-study (2019-20). Mediation analysis revealed that COVID-19 concerns significantly predicted lower perceived social support (b = -0.0397, p < .001) and worse SRPH (b = -0.0536, p < .001). The indirect effect through perceived social support was significant and negative (b = -0.0045, p = .006).

This study examined the longitudinal associations of productive aging activities (education, employment, and formal volunteering) with cognitive functioning among Hispanics in the United States. Methods included mixed-effect growth curve models with Health and Retirement Study data (2006-2020, N = 2,437), controlling for risk and protective factors associated with cognitive functioning. Education, employment, and formal volunteering were positively associated with cognitive health. Post-hoc analyses examined ages at which respondents met the threshold for cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND) status. The magnitude of cognitive health benefits varied by educational attainment and formal volunteering. Among Hispanics with less than a high school education, high-intensity volunteering was positively associated with cognitive functioning at baseline and overtime. Among highly educated Hispanics, any volunteering (low and high intensity) resulted in slower cognitive health declines over time. Post-hoc analyses suggest Hispanic older adults with low educational attainment benefited the most from high intensity volunteering. College completion, employment, and formal volunteering are promising public policy interventions to promote cognitive health, including Hispanic older adults. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed.

Social capital is recognized as a key mechanism for alleviating poverty among older adults, yet its long-term sustainability remains underexplored. This study analyzes 62 semi-structured interviews with elderly individuals at a welfare center in Seoul, selecting 15 representative cases for in-depth thematic analysis. While social participation fosters initial trust, exclusion, institutional constraints, and unequal exchanges hinder the transition from generalized trust, weakening the sustainability of social capital. Extending Putnam's theoretical framework, this study proposes a model for sustainable social capital development, offering insights into trust dynamics and practical strategies for low-cost governance in rapidly aging societies.

This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizes evidence on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) prevalence among older U.S. residents of publicly subsidized housing. Databases searched included PsychInfo, PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL. Ten observational studies were analyzed. The pooled prevalence was 25.5% (95% CI: [22.0-29.1]) for MCI with low heterogeneity, and 13.5% (95% CI: [10.6-16.4]) for ADRD with significant heterogeneity (I² = 85.6%, p < .001). Findings highlight the need for more accurate screening methods to facilitate timely identification of cognitive impairments among this population.

This study explores cultural care strategies in long-term care (LTC) for indigenous older adults, focusing on implications for social work practice. Employing qualitative methods, it examines Taiwan's Ten-Year Long-Term Care Plan 2.0. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 13 LTC personnel from the L'olu and Tbulan Tribes. Findings highlight key strategies, including employing culturally aligned care workers, integrating traditional practices, fostering empathy, and training LTC personnel in cultural humility. Regarding social work implications, the study emphasizes the importance of cultural competence, advocates for interdisciplinary collaboration, and reimagines the role of social work in culturally diverse LTC contexts.

The prevalence of elder abuse and suicide in the geriatric population has increased worldwide, making it a major global public health issue. This narrative review aims to map the existing literature on psychosocial correlates of elder abuse and suicide. It attempts to develop a conceptual framework for understanding the relationship between psychosocial correlates of elder abuse and suicide, to understand gaps, and to shed light on the areas for future research. Findings of this review emphasize the need to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions that address the complex interplay of factors contributing to both elder abuse and suicidal behavior.

Elder abuse is a significant global issue, with health and social care professionals playing a crucial role in its detection and management. This cross-sectional study quantitatively surveyed 291 community care professionals in Singapore, recruited through convenience sampling. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing their capabilities (knowledge, attitudes, and confidence) and the barriers and enablers influencing their ability to address elder abuse. Findings revealed significant gaps: 27.7% felt knowledgeable about elder abuse, 25.4% reported positive attitudes, and 57.7% expressed confidence in managing such cases. Over half of respondents reported no prior training and a lack of workplace guidelines. Key barriers included victims' or families' denial or reluctance to seek help. Univariate analyses identified significant associations (p < .05) between professionals' capabilities and factors such as occupation, education, training, guidelines, citizenship, ethnicity, and work experience. Multivariable logistic regression highlighted occupation, education, prior training, and the presence of guidelines as significant predictors (p < .05) of enhanced capabilities. Respondents emphasized the need for comprehensive training, clear protocols, shared community responsibility, targeted interventions for service users, and increased systemic support. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions for service users, interventions to strengthen professionals' ability to address elder abuse effectively.