Gerontologist最新文献

This conceptual article advances a feminist gerontological perspective on the intellectual and emotional labor of older adults-particularly women. Building on theories of invisible labor, care ethics, and adult learning, this article argues that unpaid, informal knowledge work (e.g., caregiving, mentoring, volunteering, community education) constitutes a form of cognitive labor that is persistently under-acknowledged in aging and education discourse. The analysis highlights the gendered dimensions of later-life learning, contending that older women act as vital yet unrecognized intellectual actors in family and community life. Through a critical synthesis of literature across gerontology, feminist theory, and adult education, this article proposes a new framework for recognizing and valuing intellectual contributions of older learners beyond formal institutions. By documenting this perspective, this article challenges deficit narratives of aging, stimulates dialog about the ethical and political stakes of recognizing cognitive labor, and identifies directions for future research and policy to advance gerontological scholarship.

Presentations at academic conferences are an important avenue for discussing scientific problems and disseminating discoveries. Despite efforts to modernize conference session formats in gerontology and other health research fields, session content is critiqued as being overly technical and sometimes disconnected from real-world problems and solutions. In this forum article, the researchers assert that partnering with people with lived experience can help gerontological researchers develop and share conference presentations that are enriched, accessible, and better aligned with important aging-related issues. This article provides guidelines for this type of partnership. The researchers review participatory research approaches and describe the current landscape of engagement in partnership with people with lived experiences to disseminate gerontological research at conferences. They then describe their own recent partnership with a person with lived experience when presenting a symposium at a Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting. This experience is presented as a case study that helped us to develop the PARTNER Model for symposium development and delivery. An overview of this model is provided, connecting each tenet to the researchers' experiences in their recent partnership. The article concludes with recommendations for improvements that can support researchers to thoughtfully engage in these types of partnership for future conference presentations.

Background and objectives: While participatory arts are thought to benefit older adults' well-being, evidence has focused on dementia. This umbrella review synthesizes evidence from systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MAs) on the impacts of participatory arts for older adults without dementia, and conceptually organizes findings using the proposed "Aesthetic-Engagement-Creativity" (AEC) framework.

Research design and methods: Following PRIOR guidelines, we searched MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, The Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews and gray literature to September 2023, with an update in June 2025. Study characteristics and well-being outcomes were extracted. We used the AEC framework for conceptual categorization, assessed primary study overlap using the corrected covered area (CCA) and the methodological quality with the AMSTAR 2.

Results: Eighteen reviews were included, with minimal study overlap (CCA = 1.96%). However, the evidence base was weak; 12 reviews were of low or critically low quality. A synthesis of the six moderate-to-high quality reviews revealed that dance was the most studied modality, associated with improved physical well-being. The benefits for other well-being domains and art modalities were mixed, and significant heterogeneity in study designs and measures complicated comparisons. Our retrospective application of the AEC framework suggests that considering participants' aesthetic preferences and optimizing engagement and creativity levels may be important, but this link is speculative.

Discussion and implications: Participatory arts show potential for promoting well-being of older adults, but robust conclusions are constrained by the poor quality, underrepresented art modalities, and heterogeneity of the existing evidence. The AEC framework is offered as a conceptual tool requiring future empirical validation.

Background and objectives: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is undergoing a paradigm shift in its application to healthcare, particularly in the context of ageing-related care, with significant implications for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The integration of advanced machine learning, deep neural networks, and natural language processing has enabled AI to analyze datasets with remarkable accuracy, surpassing the performance of traditional methods. AI-driven approaches have the potential to facilitate early disease detection, predict progression, and personalize treatments, optimizing healthcare resources. Furthermore, AI is contributing to the development of new treatments and supporting public health strategies. The objective is to assess the effectiveness of AI-based interventions for loneliness.

Research design and methods: This article presents a systematic review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses methodology. Databases searched were PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and PsycInfo. A total of 19 articles were identified fulfilling the inclusion criteria, and using validated tools to assess loneliness. Studies were summarized indicating: country, sample, design of the study, measures of loneliness, the AI-based technology main findings and implications.

Results: Findings highlight AI's potential to enhance social well-being among older adults. From a policy perspective, AI-driven analytics enable targeted interventions by identifying trends in age-related health and social issues from the psychology of social intervention. The adoption of AI in ageing policies promotes efficient, inclusive frameworks that support healthy ageing and reduce pressure on traditional healthcare systems.

Discussion and implications: This study contributes to the growing evidence supporting AI's role in addressing loneliness and improving overall quality of life in ageing populations.

Background and objectives: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) older adults are more likely to use long-term care (LTC) than their cisgender, heterosexual counterparts. However, LTC settings may lack SGM-affirming policies necessary for inclusive care. This study analyzed the prevalence of SGM-affirming policies in nursing homes (NH) and assisted living facilities (ALF) in Minnesota and examined differences across facility characteristics.

Research design and methods: A survey was conducted across 165 NH and 266 ALF in Minnesota. Facilities were assessed by their explicit inclusion of 28 SGM-affirmative policies, like nondiscrimination and training policies, with a mean index score calculated to determine the overall prevalence of affirming policies. Differences by facility type (NH vs ALF), location (rural vs. urban), ownership (non-profit vs. for-profit), and religious affiliation (religious vs. secular) were assessed in multinomial logistic regression. Latent class analysis compared lower (n = 244) and higher (n = 153) performers across facility characteristics.

Results: Across LTC facilities, there was an average of 11.30 SGM-affirming policies out of 28 policies assessed. Lower performing facilities reported fewer SGM-affirming policies (mean = 7.34) than higher performing facilities (mean = 17.24). No significant differences in policy prevalence were found between NH and ALF; between rural and urban facilities or by ownership status. However, striving facilities were more likely to be secular than religious.

Discussion and implications: The prevalence of SGM-affirming policies was distributed binomially, suggesting facilities fall within two categories (lower performers and high performers). Efforts should focus on adopting SGM-affirmative policies across all LTC facilities to ensure equitable and inclusive care for SGM older adults.

Background and objectives: Falls are a leading cause of injury and death among older adults (65+). The CDC's STEADI initiative aims to reduce falls by screening to find at-risk individuals, evaluation, and then addressing modifiable risk factors. This study evaluated the effectiveness of implementing a STEADI-based multi-component fall prevention approach via telemedicine in primary care.

Research design and methods: A randomized controlled quality improvement trial (STEADI Options) was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (07/2020-12/2021). Primary care professionals (PCPs) were randomized to either standard-of-care (SOC) or intervention. The intervention included a fall risk assessment by a research nurse, who shared STEADI-based recommendations with PCPs. Recommended interventions were administered at the discretion of PCPs. Outcomes included self-reported falls (primary), medically treated falls, fall-related service utilization (physical therapy, occupational therapy, eye care, podiatry), and medication changes, assessed over one year. Analyses followed an intent-to-treat approach.

Results: Among 660 participants (353 SOC; 307 intervention), the cohort was predominantly female (67.7%), aged 65-79 (73.6%), and non-Hispanic White (56.1%). Intervention participants had higher average Stay Independent Screener (SIS) scores (6.3 vs. 5.2; p < 0.001). Overall, 5.5% reported a fall in the past 12 months. No significant differences were observed between groups in fall-related outcomes (e.g., medically treated falls odds ratio (adjusted for SIS): 0.741; 95% CI: 0.411-1.336).

Discussion and implications: Although no significant differences were found, limited recruitment, low baseline fall rates, and unmeasured adherence may have impacted results. Further research is needed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of telemedicine-based STEADI interventions in primary care.

In 2005, congressional support led to the creation of the Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) and the collaboration between the Alzheimer's Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prioritize brain health in public health practice. Over 20 years, the HBI has developed and implemented the HBI Road Map Series to increase the capacity of health departments to integrate dementia into health departments nationwide, aligning frameworks like the Essential Public Health Services and focusing on health equity across the life course. A growing number of HBI partners now work together to implement public health strategies that promote brain health, address dementia, and support people living with dementia and caregivers. Recognizing opportunities to influence the trajectory of public health action, the HBI prioritizes growing the availability and use of dementia-related public health data and equipping the public health workforce with the knowledge and confidence to make change. This article documents the history and evolution of the HBI, including a description of current efforts and the broader public health context to which it has contributed; efforts of the HBI and partners in national, state, local, territorial, and tribal public health agencies have led to transformative change.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure's Public Health Center of Excellence on Dementia Caregiving (PHCOE-DC) is one of three national centers designed to help public health departments strengthen and grow their Alzheimer's disease and related dementia initiatives. The PHCOE-DC specializes in disseminating tools and resources to help public health agencies develop programming and partnerships that support family caregivers of individuals with dementia. Through its reach and dissemination efforts, the PHCOE-DC has helped to elevate dementia caregiving as a priority for public health departments. Since 2020, the PHCOE-DC has increased visibility for the role of public health in strengthening the support infrastructure for family caregivers of individuals with dementia and has established a network of national leaders in dementia caregiving. This article summarizes PHCOE-DC's past work and potential future activities as the Center continues to elevate dementia caregiving as a priority for public health.