Gerontologist最新文献

Background and objectives: Sleep quality is a critical component of health and recovery for hospitalized older adults, yet current monitoring practices often lack the precision and detail required for effective intervention. This qualitative study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptance of implementing the artificial intelligence-powered Sleepsense bed sensor for sleep monitoring in a geriatric inpatient hospital setting.

Research design and methods: This qualitative study involved interviews with 22 patients and focus groups with 33 interdisciplinary staff members. Data were analyzed using an interpretive description approach, guided by the technology acceptance model and unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, to explore the feasibility and acceptance of Sleepsense bed sensors in a geriatric inpatient setting.

Results: Key findings from thematic analysis emerged in three main themes representing the feasibility and acceptance of Sleepsense bed sensors among hospitalized older adults: user acceptance, integration with somnolog into clinical practice, and implementation barriers and practical challenges. Staff reported high acceptance of Sleepsense technology due to its nonintrusiveness and ability to reduce disruptive nighttime checks. However, challenges such as the need for consent, data interpretation, and occasional inaccuracies were also identified. Integrating Sleepsense with existing care practices was recommended to enhance patient care while maintaining staff confidence.

Discussion and implications: This study underscores the potential of advanced sleep monitoring technologies in subacute care settings and highlights the importance of addressing implementation barriers for effective adoption.

Background and objectives: This study examined whether transitions in living arrangements (ie, changes in cohabitation status or household composition are associated with life satisfaction in later life and whether these relationships differ by race/ethnicity.

Research design and methods: Data from the 2014-2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; N = 8,389) were analyzed. The 2014 baseline was chosen to ensure harmonization of the study variables across waves, specifically accounting for changes in psychosocial indicators. Linear regression models assessed associations between living arrangement types, living arrangement transitions and changes in life satisfaction, using a two-wave before/after design.

Results: Older adults who lived alone at baseline experienced lower life satisfaction during the observation period. Additionally, older adults who lived alone at both time points, transitioned to living alone, or transitioned to living with others, experienced declines in life satisfaction. Non-Hispanic Black older adults experienced greater declines to life satisfaction than non-Hispanic White older adults experiencing the same transitions, including living with others at both time points, transitioning to living with others, or transitioning to living alone.

Discussion and implications: Findings from this study demonstrated a negative association between living alone and life satisfaction, irrespective of whether we focused on baseline living arrangement status or transition to living alone. The moderating role of race/ethnicity reflects both cultural norms, such as stronger family support among non-Hispanic Black older adults, and structural inequalities affecting living arrangement choices. These findings underscore the importance of generating policies and programs that promote social connection, financial stability, and culturally responsive support for older adults living alone.

Artificial intelligence (AI) models and applications are proliferating rapidly throughout gerontological research and education. Machine learning has catapulted gerontological research in diagnosing and treating age-related health conditions. Students and educators have new tools for customized learning and innovation. Yet many of these developments come with persistent challenges, including bias, inaccuracy, and data security. As in other fields, engagement with AI models in gerontology is often siloed within disciplines. Exploring common opportunities and challenges in this space requires collaboration and conversations across disciplines. To fill this gap, the Gerontological Society of America (GSA)'s Public Policy Advisory Panel convened a multidisciplinary panel discussion of experts from the six GSA member groups and three advisory panels in November 2024 to discuss how AI is shaping various disciplines, and what ethical issues exist within or across disciplines. Several common themes emerged across disciplines: (1) human interaction remains critical to offset AI limitations in human experience, abstract reasoning, creativity, and bias; (2) AI provides opportunities for customized support across disciplines for older adults, care partners, practitioners, researchers, and students; (3) ongoing training is essential to navigate this rapidly evolving landscape; and (4) cross-disciplinary collaboration is needed to address overlapping challenges, limitations, and risks concerning AI.

Background and objectives: Older African American women have excess rates of stress-associated chronic diseases. Yet, limited research exists that explores within-group differences in their stress exposures and coping responses. Specifically, limited research has investigated stress and coping among college-educated African American women in later life, and this study sought to fill this gap in the literature.

Research design and methods: Constructivist grounded theory methods informed this study. Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with older (aged 65+ years) African American women holding a bachelor's degree or higher. Purposive and snowball sampling was used to reach population of interest, including posting flyers in areas that might serve older African American women (local libraries, parks). Interviews focused on questions that elicited the women's perceived stressors and identified coping strategies used to buffer stress and protect well-being. Data analysis procedures involved open and focused coding, analytical memo writing, and the constant comparative approach. Several strategies, including member-check interviews, were used to achieve rigor and minimize threats to trustworthiness.

Results: A spirit of survival emerged as the core category that underpins how women experience and respond to stress. Four primary stressors were reported, which included gendered racism, losing independence, romantic relationships, and financial strain. Women described diverse coping strategies, including friendships, religion and spirituality, community care, self-care, and self-numbing strategies.

Discussion and implications: Findings provide evidence that can support the development of holistic stress-reduction interventions that integrate and center the unique stressors impacting well-educated older African American women and the coping strategies they use.

Background and objectives: Few doctoral psychology trainees choose to specialize in geropsychology, despite the rising need for trained professionals in this area. Guided by the theory of planned behavior, we aimed to identify modifiable factors that relate to trainees having stronger intentions to work with older adult clients.

Research design and methods: A sample of 188 doctoral trainees in clinical and counseling psychology programs in the United States completed survey measures online. Structural equation modeling was used to test hypothesized relations of ageist attitudes, aging-specific preparation, perceived competence, social approval, and attitudes about work with older adults, and intention to work with older adult clients.

Results: Perceiving greater social approval for working with older adults directly related to a stronger intention to do this work. Ageist attitudes indirectly influenced intention through perceived competence for and attitudes about work with older adults. Receiving more training in aging also indirectly related to intention through greater perceived competence for work with older adult clients.

Discussion and implications: These findings supported the theory of planned behavior as a conceptual framework for understanding psychology trainees' intentions to work with older adults and suggested ageist attitudes and aging-specific training as modifiable factors that influence trainees' interest in clinical work with older adults. Doctoral psychology training programs could encourage additional interest in clinical work with older adults by making an explicit statement of support for this work, by working to reduce their trainees' ageist biases, and by providing more aging-specific training and education.

Background and objectives: This scoping review explored caregiving experiences and relationships among migrant home care workers, older adult care recipients and employer families, with the aim of analyzing the nature and extent of these relationships and understanding the factors that influence caregiving dynamics.

Research design and methods: The review was conducted in accordance with Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review framework. We searched WoS Core Collection, Scopus, Pubmed, EBSCOhost: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, EBSCOhost: PsycArticles, EBSCOhost: PsycInfo databases, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria were (a) articles reporting a research study; (b) articles focusing on triadic or dyadic caregiving relationships and experiences involving the migrant home care worker and/or the older care recipient and/or the employer family; (c) articles focusing on transnational migrant care workers; (d) articles published since 2013; and (e) articles written in English or Spanish. We screened a total of 637 records, and 38 articles met the inclusion criteria.

Results: These studies represented a number of countries and used various quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method study designs. The findings revealed that caregiving dynamics among the three parties are strongly influenced by cultural, structural, and interpersonal factors. Positive relationships improve the well-being of all parties involved; however, challenges such as abuse, exploitation, and poor working conditions persist, especially for live-in care workers.

Discussion and implications: Strengthening triadic caregiving relationships through cultural training, improved legal and institutional protections and psychosocial and language support are critical for enhancing quality of care and the well-being of all those involved in the caregiving process.

Background and objectives: Circumstances more common with aging may challenge the ability for older adults to maintain appropriate housing. The objective of this scoping review was to identify the risk factors and conditions associated with homelessness in older adults.

Research design and methods: We searched OVID, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, and Social Works Abstracts from inception to February 2023. We included studies of older adults (defined as 50 years of age or older) or completed subgroup analyses accounting for older adults. We mapped the risk factors and conditions using an ecological framework (individual, relational, and structural/societal components).

Results: Sixty-five studies were included. Individual factors included identifying membership in a racialized group, and experiencing psychiatric illnesses or substance use disorders. Relational factors included being unmarried, relationship breakdown, and adverse childhood events. Structural factors included the lack of affordable housing or income supports, and systemic discrimination. Those experiencing first-onset late life homelessness were more likely to be female, had relative lifelong socioeconomic stability, but experienced sudden relational or economic changes. Those experiencing chronic homelessness were more likely to be male, often facing persistent structural vulnerabilities with comorbid substance use or psychiatric disorders. Important research gaps include measures of social support, and age and sex disaggregated analyses.

Discussion and implications: Key individual, relational, and structural factors are associated with homelessness in older adults. Adverse experiences and structural factors such as social losses and isolation have important implications towards the risk of homelessness at different stages in life. sFurther research evaluating age-appropriate interventions is paramount.

Background and objectives: Participatory arts have been identified as having health and well-being benefits. While there are many forms of arts participation being studied, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore what it is like for older women to tap dance.

Research design and methods: A purposive, convenience sample of fourteen (14) dancers aged 48-79 years of age participated in the study. Data were collected from individual interviews, class observations, and a focus group.

Results: Physical, cognitive, and social-emotional benefits, meaning and purpose, as well as opportunities for self-expression and creativity were noteworthy benefits of tap dancing for these women. The safe, relatable environment created by their 'older' teacher was significant for this cohort as well.

Discussion and implications: This study adds to existing knowledge of the value of arts engagement for older adults as it explicates the intrinsic value of tap dancing as well how the environment created at the studio where the study took place positively influenced participants' experiences. As arts engagement gains traction and healthcare professionals proactively refer clients to community-based programs and services that promote creative, expressive art forms, tap dancing, with its multidimensional sensory-motor and social benefits, has the potential to uniquely and positively influence wellbeing.

Background and objectives: Sexual health is essential to older adults' quality of life, yet it remains understudied due to ageism. This review aims to explore how different forms of ageism influence the sexual health of older adults.

Research design and methods: Whittemore and Knafl's five-step integrative review method served as guideline of this review. A systematic search was performed across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost published before January 2025. The search combined keywords related to ageism, sexual health, and older adult. A reference list search of all included publications was conducted to identify additional studies. Quality appraisal of the included studies was evaluated using Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool while Gough's weight of evidence framework was used to assess the level of evidence. Data extraction was organized in spreadsheets, and research themes were synthesized using the constant comparison method.

Results: Out of 634 records identified, 29 studies were included in the review. Evidence suggests that both societal and internalized ageism negatively impacts sexual health in older adults, including: 1) stigmatizing sexuality in aging population; 2) neglecting intimate and private environments for older adults; 3) decreased experience of sexual pleasure among older adults; 4) overlooked sexual health concerns in later life; 5) underestimation of sexual violence against older adults.

Discussion and implications: This review indicates that ageism negatively impacts various aspects of sexual health in older adults. Sexual health awareness of older adults should be enhanced by mitigating ageism towards older adults.

Background and objectives: Compared with people in any other age group, older adults worldwide have more suicidal ideation; however, their suicidal ideation is easily overlooked. Social support is currently one of the most widely researched social resources for preventing suicide. Currently, the impact of social support on suicidal ideation in this population is still uncertain. This study aimed to explore the impact of social support on suicidal ideation in older adults.

Research design and methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including the Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and Scopus databases. Two independent researchers selected the studies, extracted the data and evaluated their quality. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 18.0.

Results: This review identified 23 studies, and 14 eligible studies were included in the meta-analyses. High social support was significantly associated with a low risk of suicidal ideation (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.84; I  2 = 93.1%; P < 0.001). Social support is more effective in reducing the risk of SI in women than in men. Social support from families is most effective at reducing suicidal ideation in older adults, and social support can also influence suicidal ideation through mediating factors.

Discussion and implications: Social support is significantly correlated with suicidal ideation in older adults. Medical staff or researchers can prioritise social support from families and develop targeted interventions to more effectively reduce the risk of suicidal ideation in older adults.