Engagement Of Older Adults Research Articles

Interventions that Facilitate the Occupational Engagement of Older Adults with Age-Related Vision Loss: Findings from a Scoping Review

ABSTRACTAims: This study aimed to identify the most effective interventions that facilitate the occupational engagement of older adults with age-related vision loss (ARVL). Methods: Three researchers completed this scoping review, which followed Arksey and O'Malley's five-step framework. A total of 61 search combinations across five databases was completed, resulting in a final yield of 16 articles. Results: Three categories of interventions were identified including: self-management programs, compensatory interventions (e.g. assistive devices and self-regulating strategies), and relying on social supports (e.g. relying on others, community resources, and peer support). Conclusion: The study results revealed an overwhelming focus on interventions targeted at the level of the individual, with few studies exploring environmental influences on occupational engagement. It is important that future research explores environmental influences as well, in order to optimize occupational therapy treatment for older adults with vision loss.

Activity Engagement and Activity-Related Experiences: The Role of Personality.

The associations of personality with activity participation and well-being have been well studied. However, less is known concerning the relationship between personality and specific aspects of activity engagement in older adults. We conducted a fine-grained examination of the effects of extraversion and conscientiousness on reported activity engagement-which we define as participation, time allocated, and affective experience-during 8 everyday activities. Data were obtained using a day reconstruction measure from a subgroup of participants in the 2012 Health and Retirement Study (HRS: N = 5,484; mean age = 67.98 years). We found mixed support for hypotheses suggesting that specific personality traits would be associated with activity participation, time allocated, and activity-affective experience. For example, extraverts were more likely to socialize and experienced higher socializing-related positive affect, but did not spend more time socializing. Results are discussed in light of the value of including personality in, and its contribution to, studies of activity engagement in later life. In addition, the need to acknowledge the complexity of the concept of activity engagement in future research is highlighted.

Do Sensory Processing Abilities Impact Daily Occupational Engagement Among Older Adults?

Abstract Date Presented 4/7/2016 Sensory processing abilities and specifically greater sensory seeking predict better occupational engagement in older adults. Occupational therapists should refer to this relationship in research and practice to enhance meaningful engagement in real life among older adults. Primary Author and Speaker: Batya Engel-Yeger Additional Author and Speaker: Sara Rosenblum

Positive ageing and gardening: development and testing of a gardening survey measuring benefits of leisure gardening

Successful ageing theories suggest that gardening might be in accord with components proposed to increase quality of life, such as social engagement, productive activity, and exercise. In this study we examined the relationship between gardening activities and positive ageing among older adults. A 42 item Gardening Questionnaire was distributed to a sample of older adult gardeners (N=331). In addition participants were asked to report their demographic details, gardening activities, self-rated health and quality of life, and attitudes to ageing. Results showed that participants derived numerous benefits from their leisure gardening. According to factor analysis a number of latent variables were identified. Time spent gardening was related to greater magnitude of the range of positive benefits experienced. In conclusion, gardening was an important form of activity and engagement for older adults, which they saw as critical to their well-being and to ageing positively.

Multiple impacts of an intergenerational program in Japan: Evidence from the Research on Productivity through Intergenerational Sympathy Project.

Compelling evidence supporting the benefits of social engagement in older adults has been increasingly discussed. However, knowledge regarding an intergenerational program is limited. Herein, we provide a targeted review of intergenerational programs by focusing on our novel interventional program, Research on Productivity through Intergenerational Sympathy. The Research on Productivity through Intergenerational Sympathy program is an intergenerational picture-book reading program launched in 2004. Participants were involved a 3-month intensive weekly training seminar comprising classes about book selection, reading techniques and basic knowledge of children's school life. Subsequently, they participated in group activities that involved playing a hand game, and reading picture books to children at kindergartens, elementary schools and public childcare centers, once every 1-2 weeks. The Research on Productivity through Intergenerational Sympathy program has shown improvement of physical and psychological functioning of older adults and healthy upbringing of children. Similarly, Experience Corps - designed to train and place volunteers in participating elementary schools for an academic year during which time they assist teachers - also showed positive effects for older adults' health status and the psychological/academic success of young children in the USA. Health promotion efforts for older adults must support social policy for the creation of meaningful service programs for older adults on a large social scale. As such, an intergenerational program based on the concept of social capital, defined as "features of social organization, such as trust, norms and networks, that can improve the efficacy of society by facilitating coordinated actions," is an effective and sustainable program for health promotion among older adults.

Does Sleep Change After an Occupation-Based Lifestyle Intervention? A Pilot Study

Abstract Date Presented 4/16/2015 Sleep problems threaten occupational engagement in older adults. This pilot study suggests that occupational therapy may enhance sleep by targeting engagement in occupation. This study provides a structure for future researchers analyzing the role of occupational therapy in older adult sleep behaviors.

Occupational Leadership to Facilitate Occupational Engagement in Older Adults With Visual Impairment

Log in or Register Subscribe to journalSubscribe Get new issue alertsGet alerts Enter your Email address: Wolters Kluwer Health may email you for journal alerts and information, but is committed to maintaining your privacy and will not share your personal information without your express consent. For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy. Subscribe to eTOC Secondary Logo Journal Logo All Articles Images Videos Podcasts Blogs Advanced Search Toggle navigation Subscribe Register Login Articles & Issues Current IssuePrevious IssuesPublished Online First Collections Topical Collections BlogFor Authors Submit a ManuscriptInformation for AuthorsLanguage Editing ServicesAuthor Permissions Press ReleasesJournal Info About the JournalEditorial BoardMeet the EditorsAdvertisingOpen AccessSubscription ServicesReprintsRights and Permissions All Articles Images Videos Podcasts Blogs Advanced Search

Age-Friendly Neighbourhoods as Civic Participation: Implementation of an Active Ageing Policy in Hong Kong

In response to challenges brought by population ageing, Hong Kong has adopted an active ageing policy framework and built age-friendly neighbourhoods to encourage the participation of older people. This article distinguishes between the civic and political participation and emphasizes active involvement in community and neighbourhood activities as a way to encourage the civic engagement of older adults. The promotion of age-friendliness is set at two levels: concerning policy and practical/operational issues, both of which are interrelated with the purpose of offering civic engagement opportunities for older people. The experiences of Hong Kong reflect both top-down and bottom-up approaches, where civic participation is promoted by encouraging life-long learning and developing caring communities, as well as carrying out a variety of neighourhood programmes. It is suggested that different stakeholders, such as older adults, NGOs and other social organizations, shall all be included and play important roles in promoting civic participation of the elderly through creating a conducive environment. The initiatives, whether these are in policy or at operational levels, should be integrated into actions that are aimed to enhance quality of life for all residents and create a more age-friendly neighbourhood.

Engaging older adults in health care decision-making: Key findings and recommendations from the CHOICE knowledge synthesis project

Introduction: Engagement in shared health care decision-making has been recognized as an important, and often lacking, aspect of person-centred care. We aimed to draw on available theory, evidence and experience to develop guidelines for engaging older adults and their families in decisions around their own health care. Aims: To share results from the CHOICE (Choosing Healthcare Options by Involving Canada’s Elderly) knowledge synthesis project. Guidelines for engaging older adults and their families in health care decision-making will be presented. Methods: We conducted a realist synthesis (1-2) of available knowledge on strategies for engagement of older patients and their caregivers in health care decision-making. The search methodology was informed by a framework for realist syntheses (3) as well as Arksey and O'Malley’s (4) design considerations for scoping reviews. Our synthesis encompassed theoretical frameworks and both peer-reviewed and grey literature. Search terms included: health care, decision making, public, health care decision making, engagement, and public engagement. Expert consultation included interviews with academics (n=5), two focus group interviews with seniors and families, and two half-day workshops organized with our partner Patients Canada. Results: The initial search generated over 15,000 articles; of these, 2921 were pertinent to health care decision making and were retained for further review. Theoretical and empirical work identifies a range of strategies and levels of engagement of older patients, but offers most support for approaches in which older patients and families are informed and active partners in decisionmaking and equal members of health care teams. Conclusions: We have developed guidelines and recommendations for creating productive partnerships between older adults, their families, and health care providers. These partnerships can result in more informed clinical decisions, and more effective health care. Limitations: Due to the limited information on engagement of older adults (65+), our search strategy included papers focusing on engagement of patients who were over 18 years of age. We held focus groups with older adults to review and interpret the study findings.

Engaging older adults in health care research and policy: Guidelines from the CHOICE project

Introduction: Engaging the community in health care research and planning has been recognized as an important component of system improvement (1). The input and involvement of older persons is particularly critical, given that older adults are high users of the health care system, but are often excluded from health research studies. Unfortunately, guidelines for how to engage older adults in these initiatives are not readily available in the literature. Aim: Guidelines for engaging older adults and their families in health care research and policy will be presented, based on the CHOICE (Choosing Healthcare Options by Involving Canada’s Elderly) knowledge synthesis project. Methods: In the CHOICE project, we conducted a realist synthesis (2-3) of available knowledge on strategies for engagement of older adults and their families (including other informal caregivers) in health care. The search methodology was informed by a framework for realist syntheses (4) as well as Arksey and O'Malley’s (5) design considerations for scoping reviews. Our synthesis encompassed theoretical frameworks and peer-reviewed and grey literature. Expert consultation included interviews with academics (n=5), two focus group interviews with seniors and families, and two half-day workshops organized with our partner Patients Canada.

International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Core Set for Physical Health of Older Adults

To facilitate a systematic, comprehensive description of functioning and to enable the use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in clinical practice and research, core sets have been developed. The aim of this study was to propose a version of the ICF core set to classify the physical health of older adults. The proposition of the ICF core set was based on the Delphi technique. The panel of experts included 8 Brazilian researchers (physical therapists, medical doctors, nurses, and physical educators). The communication was wholly electronic. In total, there were 5 rounds of interactivity between the participants to arrive at the final version of the construct. The ICF core set presented 30 categories (14 on body functions, 4 on body structures, 9 on activities or participation, and 3 on environmental factors) and had a Cronbach α of 0.964. The presented core set is a secure, fast, and accurate instrument for assessing the physical health and engagement of older adults. It defines points related to functioning and health that are relevant when evaluating this population, as well as when reevaluating it and monitoring changes.

Reading ability and reading engagement in older adults with glaucoma.

We evaluated the impact of glaucoma-related vision loss on reading ability and reading engagement in 10 reading activities. A total of 63 glaucoma patients and 59 glaucoma suspect controls self-rated their level of reading difficulty for 10 reading items, and responses were analyzed using Rasch analysis to determine reading ability. Reading engagement was assessed by asking subjects to report the number of days per week they engaged in each reading activity. Reading restriction was determined as a decrement in engagement. Glaucoma subjects more often described greater reading difficulty than controls for all tasks except puzzles (P < 0.05). The most difficult reading tasks involved puzzles, books, and finances, while the least difficult reading tasks involved notes, bills, and mail. In multivariable weighted least squares regression models of Rasch-estimated person measures of reading ability, less reading ability was found for glaucoma patients compared to controls (β = -1.60 logits, P < 0.001). Among glaucoma patients, less reading ability was associated with more severe visual field (VF) loss (β = -0.68 logits per 5-dB decrement in better-eye VF mean deviation [MD], P < 0.001) and contrast sensitivity (β = -0.76 logits per 0.1-unit lower log CS, P < 0.001). Each 5-dB decrement in the better-eye VF MD was associated with book reading on 18% fewer days (P = 0.003) and newspaper reading on 10% fewer days (P = 0.008). No statistically significant reading restriction was observed for other reading activities (P > 0.05). Glaucoma patients have less reading ability and engage less in a variety of different reading activities, particularly those requiring sustained reading. Future work should evaluate the mechanisms underlying reading disability in glaucoma to determine how patients can maintain reading ability and engagement.

Factors That Influence the Occupational Engagement of Older Adults with Low Vision: A Scoping Review

Introduction: Prior research has provided occupational therapists with an understanding of the negative impact of low vision on self care, leisure and productivity. In order to guide future low-vision rehabilitation services, an understanding of the factors that influence the occupational engagement of older adults with age-related vision loss (ARVL) is also needed. Method: A scoping review of the literature was conducted in order to identify those factors that have been shown to influence the occupational engagement of older adults with ARVL, and to identify future research needs. Findings: As identified in this scoping review, five types of factors were shown to influence occupational engagement for older adults with ARVL including: demographic variables, emotional components, behavioural components, diagnostic components, and environmental aspects. Conclusion: Although findings pertaining to personal factors can inform practice, few studies explored the influence of environmental factors on occupational engagement. Given that occupation is a result of person-environment transactions, it is important that future research more fully explores environmental influences in order to enable occupational therapists to deliver services that optimize the occupational performance of seniors with ARVL.

Mobility, Disability, and Social Engagement in Older Adults

To examine cross sectional associations between mobility with or without disability and social engagement in a community-based sample of older adults. Social engagement of participants (n = 676) was outside the home (participation in organizations and use of senior centers) and in home (talking by phone and use of Internet). Logistic or proportional odds models evaluated the association between social engagement and position in the disablement process (no mobility limitations, mobility limitations/no disability, and mobility limitations/disability). Low mobility was associated with lower level of social engagement of all forms (Odds ratio (OR) = 0.59, confidence intervals (CI): 0.41-0.85 for organizations; OR = 0.67, CI: 0.42-1.06 for senior center; OR = 0.47, CI: 0.32-0.70 for phone; OR = 0.38, CI: 0.23-0.65 for Internet). For social engagement outside the home, odds of engagement were further reduced for individuals with disability. Low mobility is associated with low social engagement even in the absence of disability; associations with disability differed by type of social engagement.

Productive engagement in older adults: A concept analysis

This study aimed to clarify the concept of productive engagement as it applies to older adults. The concept analysis was based on Walker and Avant's eight-step method. A literature review of articles published in English between 1990 and 2011 (n = 37) was conducted, using an electronic search of multiple sources. Results revealed that four defining attributes for productive engagement include continuing to work either paid or unpaid, caring for others, engaging in social activities, and growing spirituality. The antecedents of productive engagement are sociocultural factors as well as individual and institutional capacities. Meanwhile, the consequences are increased feelings of usefulness, improved health and well-being, aged successfully, and enhanced quality of life. Model, borderline, and contrary cases are presented to illustrate the concept's defining attributes. Defining the concept of productive engagement provides a basis for nurses and other health professionals to better understand productive engagement in older adults, thus effective strategic plans or programs for promoting productive roles among older adults can be further developed.

Upregulation of cognitive control networks in older adults’ speech comprehension

Speech comprehension abilities decline with age and with age-related hearing loss, but it is unclear how this decline expresses in terms of central neural mechanisms. The current study examined neural speech processing in a group of older adults (aged 56–77, n = 16, with varying degrees of sensorineural hearing loss), and compared them to a cohort of young adults (aged 22–31, n = 30, self-reported normal hearing). In a functional MRI experiment, listeners heard and repeated back degraded sentences (4-band vocoded, where the temporal envelope of the acoustic signal is preserved, while the spectral information is substantially degraded). Behaviorally, older adults adapted to degraded speech at the same rate as young listeners, although their overall comprehension of degraded speech was lower. Neurally, both older and young adults relied on the left anterior insula for degraded more than clear speech perception. However, anterior insula engagement in older adults was dependent on hearing acuity. Young adults additionally employed the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Interestingly, this age group × degradation interaction was driven by a reduced dynamic range in older adults who displayed elevated levels of ACC activity for both degraded and clear speech, consistent with a persistent upregulation in cognitive control irrespective of task difficulty. For correct speech comprehension, older adults relied on the middle frontal gyrus in addition to a core speech comprehension network recruited by younger adults suggestive of a compensatory mechanism. Taken together, the results indicate that older adults increasingly recruit cognitive control networks, even under optimal listening conditions, at the expense of these systems’ dynamic range.

Integrating Aging and Civic Engagement into the Curriculum

This conceptual paper is based on interdisciplinary work the authors have participated in as part of the renewed push for civic engagement, the various forms it takes, and the multiple constituencies involved in its promotion. We focus on what theoretical and empirical content could be incorporated into courses on aging so that students can be prepared to critically think about, understand, and analyze both practice and policy aspects of civic engagement and aging. We provide three learning cases that can be used as classroom exercises, suggest sample assignments, and examine implications of engagement for older adults. We append a sample syllabus that can be used as a framework to convey this content in an elective course or as a module of a social gerontology course. The call for civic engagement is being heard throughout the United States across sectors and across population groups. In this article, we begin with background information on the renewed push for civic engagement, the various forms it takes, and the multiple constituencies involved in its promotion. Following a brief contextual background, we focus on theoretical and empirical content that could be incorporated into courses on aging so that students can be prepared to understand and critically analyze the implications of civic engagement for older adults. Four units that could constitute a one-credit module or become part of an existing gerontology course are provided, complete with discussion questions, learning cases that can be used in classroom exercises, as well as sample assignments. We conclude with a sample course syllabus around which this module could be constructed in order to convey this content.

Hearing Loss in Older Adults

Hearing Loss in Older Adults

The Dutch Activity Card Sort institutional version was reproducible, but biased against women

Purpose: To examine the reproducibility of the institutional version of the Dutch Activity Card Sort (ACS-NL) and the possible presence of gender bias. Methods: Older rehabilitation inpatients (N = 52) were included. Intra- and inter-rater agreement for the ACS-NL total and subscale scores was examined by intraclass correlations (ICC), and agreement of individual items by the κ coefficient (k). Gender bias was examined by the proportion of men and women selecting an ACS item. Results: ICC for inter-rater agreement of the ACS total score ranged between 0.78 and 0.87, ICC for intra-rater agreement ranged between 0.79 and 0.89. Median inter-rater κ for ACS-NL items was 0.72 (interquartile scores; 0.62–0.80). The inter-rater agreement (k = 0.43) and intra-rater agreement (k = 0.39) for the five most important activities was lower. Twenty ACS activities favoured men and seven activities favoured women. As a result, men scored systematically higher on the ACS-NL than women. Logistic regression analysis correcting for activity engagement level confirmed our findings. Conclusions: The reproducibility of the ACS-NL was high. The ACS-NL institutional version score may be biased in favour of men.Implications for RehabilitationThe ACS is a valuable addition to currently available measurement tools for occupational therapy. The ACS is unique in its ability to assess the level of activity engagement of older adults at the individual level. The potential of the ACS-NL to reliably measure the activity engagement level is supported in this study.The observed gender bias is a shortcoming. However, since the other versions use other scoring categories, a different scoring procedure (percentage change score) and are targeted to people with other health conditions and in other contexts, it cannot be assumed that the gender bias is present in the other versions to the same extent. Therefore, future studies should focus on the presence of gender bias, since all ACS versions are increasingly used for descriptive purposes and correlation-based analysis.

Productive engagement of older Americans

As the US population ages, the capacity of the older population grows as well, with increasing levels of health and education. Older adults are also highly motivated to stay vitally involved in productive activities of working, volunteering, and providing assistance to family members and friends. Too often, older adults face barriers and disincentives to their ongoing participation in productive roles. We argue that the productive engagement of older adults can be maximized by increasing institutional capacity – that is, increasing the abilities of businesses, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and religious organizations to engage older adults. Through changes in policies, programs, and attitudes, we must loosen the connection between chronological age and opportunities for engagement in work and volunteer roles. Only by transforming work, education, and volunteer programs can we take advantage of the experience and human capital of our ageing society.