Gerontological Society Of America Research Articles

Mentorship in the Field of Aging: Purposes, Pivots, and Priorities

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is a multi-disciplinary organization dedicated to advancing the field of aging and improving the lives of older adults. With a long-standing commitment to mentorship and career development, this article focuses on GSA’s Mentoring Consultancies and Career Conversations events and their pivot to meet the needs and demands of current and future gerontologists amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This article provides a description of these events in the context of planning, content, and member engagement. Recommendations are provided to other organizations seeking to enrich their membership through mentorship and career development activities.

Financial interventions for family caregivers of individuals with chronic illness: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionThere are 53 million caregivers in the USA providing informal care for individuals with chronic illnesses. These caregivers contribute significantly to the healthcare system, yet they may experience adverse consequences...

Do Staff in Your Facility Have a Job or a Role?

Do Staff in Your Facility Have a Job or a Role?

A Systems-Wide Approach for Early Detection and Management of Dementia in Primary Care

Dementia is frequently unrecognized and under-reported by health care providers. The needs of an aging population increase the burden on an already over-worked primary care system that is often without the appropriate training, resources, and reimbursement to address the growing number of people with cognitive decline in the US. In this symposium we present a systems-wide approach within University of Washington (UW) Primary Care to increase awareness of early signs and symptoms, detection of cognitive impairment, and support of providers, patients and caregivers that will ultimately improve outcomes of care. This quality improvement (QI) program integrates stakeholder-selected components of the GSA KAER (Kickstart-Assess-Evaluate and Refer) Model and Toolkit (2020 Edition), developed by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), into primary care practice. We describe content and logistics of a continuing education intervention for primary care providers and clinical staff to increase skills for evaluation and management of dementia. Working with UW clinic managers and information technology (IT), we have developed a pragmatic system for streamlining operations and documenting care utilizing newly developed interdisciplinary workflows and electronic health record order sets. Using input from our Community Advisory Board, we explain development of a web-based resource directory to be used in-clinic and at home to support providers, staff, patients, families, and caregivers across cognitive changes. Strategies presented here are aimed to help other health care systems initiate steps to integrate KAER and other tools into a practical QI program for improving detection and management of dementia through support of primary care.

Presidential Symposium: From Global to Local: An Age-Inclusive and Rights-Based Approach to Gerontological Education

In June 2020, the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) joined in solidarity in the movement to condemn the entrenched racism undermining American society and build upon a gero-rich international historical base of supporting human rights. However, as gerontological educators, we need to expand on the conversation of racism to the broader global discussion of inclusivity and elimination of discrimination. A global focus on human rights of older persons, which began in 1982 at the World Assembly on Aging and has led to the current discussion of the proposed UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons. The Academy of Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) is GSA's education group of colleges and universities that offers education, training, curricular innovations, and research programs in the field of aging. The work of this group is grounded in an age-inclusive and rights-based perspective, and members are committed to an international view demonstrated through AGHE’s tagline Global Leaders in Advancing Education on Aging; This symposium explores the role of age-inclusivity and a rights-based perspective in gerontology and geriatrics education and offers both challenges and best practices for moving forward. The first presentation explores the meaning of age-inclusivity in aging education in a global context and asks how do we build upon our international roots? Our second presenter shares a proposed framework for a rights-based approach to gerontology education. The third presentation explores an example of a rights-based training program. We conclude with a lively discussion focusing on how to take action through education.

Policy Series: Ageism: Outcomes, Interventions, Future Directions

Ageism is stereotyping and discrimination against individuals or groups based on their age. Ageism toward older adults is ubiquitous in American society and takes many forms including prejudicial practices and institutional policies that lead to unfair treatment of older adults. Ageism negatively impacts older adults in numerous domains such as health care and the workplace. Older adults themselves often internalize ageist views with detrimental effects on physical and mental health including increased risk for suicidal ideation and worse memory performance. This symposium addresses ageism from multiple perspectives and describes strategies for detecting and combatting ageism. The first speaker is Patricia D’Antonio, Vice President of Policy and Professional Affairs of The Gerontological Society of America (GSA). Ms. D’Antonio will describe GSA’s Reframing Aging Initiative which aims to improve the public’s understanding of the meaning of aging in order to counter ageism and support policies and programs that benefit older adults. The second speaker, Dr. Fredriksen Goldsen will use an Age Equity Framework to present her research on the relationship between ageism and mental and physical health and quality of life in LGBTQ older adults. The third speaker, Dr. Gendron will describe a content analysis of an anti-ageism resource that evaluates ageism interventions using an ecological framework. The fourth speaker, Dr. Hinrichsen will discuss ways psychotherapists can help older adults identify and move beyond internalized ageist beliefs. Finally, Dr. Levy, an internationally recognized expert in ageism will discuss themes across speakers and comment on the future of work in this area.

Older Adults' Perceptions of College Campus Accessibility

The emerging Age-Friendly University Global Network encourages universities to engage older adults in university activities (Gerontological Society of America, 2019). As such, attention should be devoted to the accessibility of campus facilities to older adults as a potential mechanism to increase age diversity. Intergenerational interactions, which may take place on college campuses, promote better perceptions of other generations (Bertram et al., 2017), making campus accessibility for all age groups a priority. The present study sought to uncover older adults’ perceptions of campus accessibility via an online survey. Participants were recruited through local newsletters, word of mouth, and included 81 community members (Age mean=71.58 years; 79% female; 89% White; 43% traveled to campus every few months). Descriptive analyses were conducted for closed-ended responses and two members of the research team used a constant comparative method (Corbin & Strauss, 2015) to code open-ended responses. Participants felt that campus was somewhat accessible (M = 2.72;1(very inaccessible) to 5(very accessible)), moderately easy to walk around (M=3.79;1(extremely difficult) to 7(extremely easy)), and felt somewhat welcome on campus (M=3.27; 1(strongly disagree) to 7(strongly agree). The following general themes emerged in the open-ended responses: 1)inaccessibility on campus was due to parking, drop-off locations, and topography (e.g., due to stairs, distance, hills) constraints; 2)feeling welcome on campus was due to people being helpful; and 3)difficulty in attending events was due to parking and lack of knowledge about events. Implications for campus initiatives that aim to attract older adults, especially for campuses that have topography constraints, will be discussed.

Kent and Kleemeier Award Lecture and Presentations

The Donald P. Kent Award lecture will feature an address by the 2020 Kent Award recipient, David Ekerdt, PhD, FGSA, of the University of Kansas. The Kent Award is given annually to a member of The Gerontological Society of America who best exemplifies the highest standards of professional leadership in gerontology through teaching, service, and interpretation of gerontology to the larger society. The Robert W. Kleemeier Award lecture will feature an address by the 2020 Kleemeier Award recipient, Matt Kaeberlein, PhD, FGSA, of the University of Washington. The Kleemeier Award is given annually to a member of The Gerontological Society of America in recognition for outstanding research in the field of gerontology.

Chasing Methuselah: Theology, the Body, and Slowing Human Aging

Chasing Methuselah: Theology, the Body, and Slowing Human Aging

Evaluating a system to promote timely detection of cognitive impairment in primary care practice

AbstractBackgroundDementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are underdiagnosed with evidence indicating that clinical diagnoses frequently occur late in the process of cognitive decline. Increasing evidence that dementia may be preventable or delayed has led to an international focus on earlier evaluation, diagnosis and intervention.MethodUsing the impetus of “Memory Brain Wellness” as a priority growth program at University of Washington (UW) Medicine, we are developing synergistic strategies to improve timely detection of cognitive impairment across primary care in 15 neighborhood clinics in the Pacific Northwest. This presentation will describe current quality‐improvement efforts to promote engagement across multiple stakeholders including health‐care system leadership, practice care management, primary care providers (PCPs) and clinic staff. This lifespan approach is based on the KAER (Kickstart‐Assess‐Evaluate and Refer) Model and Toolkit (2020 Edition) developed by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA).ResultsProgram activities to be described include 1) results of interviews with the primary care team to determine acceptability and support needed to implement timely cognitive evaluation; 2) implementation of a training intervention to initiate discussions, conduct cognitive assessment, and manage care; and 3) identification of support services and resources to be used in provider consultation. Input from a Technical Advisory Committee and local Community Advisory Board were incorporated into the training and resource inventory for patient/caregiver support. Topics in the training include normalizing the conversation, team approach, moving toward evaluation, assessment tools, alternate diagnoses/modifiable risk factors, multi‐disciplinary and community referrals, patient counseling, long‐term management, and advance care planning. Changes in practice patterns of PCPs will be reviewed using extracted data from the electronic health record (EHR). Details of each strategy will be provided to explain system‐wide decisions, pragmatic applications, results of trainings held to‐date and feed‐back from the primary care team.ConclusionThis is the first study to refine and utilize the GSA KAER toolkit addressing change in practice patterns in a large multi‐clinic primary care system. Results of this program will be used to extend efforts beyond the Seattle region to address timely cognitive evaluation across the 5‐state WWAMI region (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska. Montana and Idaho) served by UW Medicine.

Using Technology to Measure Older Adults' Social Networks for Health and Well-Being: A Scoping Review.

Background and ObjectivesSocial networks impact the health and well-being of older adults. Advancements in technology (e.g., digital devices and mHealth) enrich our ability to collect social networks and health data. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify and map the use of technology in measuring older adults' social networks for health and social care.Research Design and MethodsJoanna Briggs Institute methodology was followed. PubMed (MEDLINE), Sociological s, SocINDEX, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched for relevant articles. Conference abstracts and proceedings were searched via Conference Papers Index, the American Sociological Society, and The Gerontological Society of America. Studies published in English from January 2004 to March 2020 that aimed to improve health or social care for older adults and used technology to measure social networks were included. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers using an a priori extraction tool.ResultsThe majority of the 18 reviewed studies were pilot or simulation research conducted in Europe that focused on older adults living in the community. The various types of technologies used can be categorized as environment-based, person-based, and data-based.Discussion and ImplicationsTechnology facilitates objective and longitudinal data collection on the social interactions and activities of older adults. The use of technology to measure older adults' social networks, however, is primarily in an exploratory phase. Multidisciplinary collaborations are needed to overcome operational, analytical, and implementation challenges. Future studies should leverage technologies for addressing social isolation and care for older adults, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Geroscience Perspective on COVID-19 – Joint Program from the American Aging Association (AGE) and The Gerontological Society of America

Faculty will focus on the biology of aging as a contributor to the vulnerability in COVID-19. Faculty will present the latest concepts and insights that will advance our ability to confront this global outbreak. Our goal for this session is to connect with the concept of Geroscience and how ideas from aging biology research can be incorporated to improve outcomes and informed practice. Although the emphasis is on biology, the goal is to provide insight in a manner that is readily accessible to researchers across the aging spectrum that they might translate these ideas in the face of a very real-world challenge.

East Meets West: Developing Support Systems to Meet the Diverse Needs of Older Adults in the United States and in China

With the rapid growth of the aging population around the world, developing support systems for older adults has become increasingly important. It is crucial for researchers， educators, policy makers to share their experience and knowledge to initiate innovative and supportive programs and services that will meet the challenges of the aging population. The East meets West Forum is a platform that researchers from the Gerontological Society of America and the Chinese Association for Gerontology and Geriatrics established in 2017. Previously, the East meets West Forum focused on the issues of the long-term care (LTC) workforce, LTC services, and programs for older adults in the U.S and in China. In this session, we include four presentations (two from the U.S. and two from China) that focus on a broader area of support systems, beyond LTC, that would meet the diverse needs of older adults from housing, wellness visits, family caregiving system, to end of life care. More specially, it includes: 1) expand housing services for low-income older adults; 2) strengthen family support systems and promote intergenerational support; 3) develop a comprehensive program for early detection and treatment of dementia at primary care settings; and 4) examine diversity in the family care patterns for the oldest old. This session provides opportunities for aging researchers/educators from two countries to share their knowledge and experience on developing supportive systems for older adults and their families. It also provides policy discussions on improving health and family caregiver support services in these two countries.

Policy Series: Building Momentum for a New Future in Politics and Aging: Examining Economics, Values, Language, and Care

Coinciding with the 2020 presidential election, the 75th anniversary of the Gerontological Society of America arrives amid the contentious creation of a new future for politics and aging. Increasing inequality, spreading disinformation, and mounting despotism are escalating threats to constitutional democracy, but at the same time other social changes are promoting the development of a more thoroughly caring, intergenerationally just, and robustly democratic society. At the crux of this societal transformation, relentless political inertia on core aging issues, like the role of government in the care and support of older adults, continues to inhibit meaningful change in federal policy, dampening the potential for older Americans to achieve desired future states, like living well despite advanced age or disability. This session examines major contemporary trends at the intersection of politics and aging in the United States. Papers address the economics and demographics of aging, drawing attention to increasing federal spending on older adults, decreasing availability of caregivers, and geographic clustering of older people; changes in the age of the electorate, intergenerational political values, and the growing politically polarization of American society; the tendency for federal initiatives to fail to support caregivers, for reasons of policy history, policy traits, and mass public features, like the political isolation of informal caregivers; and the role of linguistic and metaphorical practices in shaping our experiences and views of aging. Discussion addresses opportunities for the country to become more age-friendly while also sustaining democratic institutions and national unity.

From Ad Hoc to Association to Academy: Developmental Milestones Over 48 Years for AGHE

The Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education began as the Ad Hoc Committee on the Development of Gerontology Resources in 1972. The next year the name Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) was selected. In 1974 AGHE held a general meeting of its membership in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America in Portland Oregon. The first annual meeting was held in 1975 in Madison, Wisconsin. The relationship with GSA has evolved over the last four decades leading to the present Academy. The first presentation will focus on the issues of gerontology and higher education that emerged in the early years and continue to be a challenge today. The second presentation will look at the future of AGHE in its new relationship with GSA. The third presentation will focus on the Academy in the present discussing current challenges facing academic gerontology in today’s world including the development of AGHE’s basic-competency guidelines and the emergence of measuring student learning outcomes and their role in program review and evaluation. The fourth presentation will examine the evolving discussion of standards in evaluating gerontological and geriatric programming. Geriatric Education Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.

How to Successfully Choose a Journal

Article submissions to The Gerontological Society of America’s high impact scientific journals continue to increase each year which has led to editors becoming more selective about which articles are accepted for publication. The purpose of this session is to describe how to efficiently and successfully navigate the process of determining which journal is the best fit for your manuscript. Objectives of the workshop include guidance in: (1) understanding the differences in scope and features of each journal; (2) determining which journal is most appropriate for the topic and methods of your manuscript; (3) appreciating how to use journals’ Instructions to Authors to your benefit, and (3) conveying the scientific contribution of your article to the journal.

The Potential of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Novel Analytic Methods to Promote Successful Aging

The Gerontological Society of America is celebrating its75th anniversary and in those75 years the world has undergone an amazing technological revolution. During this period, computers transformed from systems that once filled entire rooms to much more powerful devices that fit in our pockets. We have seen the introduction of wireless technologies, augmented and virtual reality, smart home devices, autonomous vehicles, and much more. This session focuses on a new technological advance that has the potential to support the health, wellbeing, and independence of older adults and caregivers: artificial intelligence (AI). This session will present applications of AI, Machine Learning (ML), and other novel analytic methods and how they have the potential to impact the lives of older adults in a variety of context. As AI is increasingly being involved in workplace hiring, the first talk focuses on older adults’ attitudes toward the role of AI in this decision making process. Next, novel ML approaches applied to social media are discussed in terms of understanding the needs of Alzheimer’s caregivers. Next, ML techniques are discussed in terms of developing biomarkers that can be applied in diagnosis and assessment of therapeutic responses by detecting mood, which may have important implications for older adults living with dementia. Then, the potential role of AI is discussed in terms of developing reminder systems to promote older adults’ adherence to technology-based health activities. Finally, novel analytic approaches are discussed in terms of harnessing digital metrics to detect the risk of cognitive decline.

Kent and Kleemeier Award Lecture and Presentations

The Donald P. Kent Award lecture will feature an address by the 2019 Kent Award recipient, Terry Fulmer, PhD, of The John A. Hartford Foundation. The Kent Award is given annually to a member of The Gerontological Society of America who best exemplifies the highest standards of professional leadership in gerontology through teaching, service, and interpretation of gerontology to the larger society. The Robert W. Kleemeier Award lecture will feature an address by the 2019 Kleemeier Award recipient, Steven Zarit of Pennsylvania State University. The Kleemeier Award is given annually to a member of The Gerontological Society of America in recognition for outstanding research in the field of gerontology

Reflections from the editors on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Gerontological Society of America

This special section features the voices of gerontology and geriatrics scholars at all stages of their careers reflecting on why age matters to them and how they have been shaped by mentors through...

Missing the Mark: The Complexity of African American Dementia Family Caregiving.

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRDs) have a significant impact on families. Family nurses are in an ideal position to address the needs of families affected by ADRD. However, to be most effective, family nurses and researchers need culturally appropriate theories to guide practice and research. On November 17, 2018, five nurse researchers presented findings of their research with African American families at the Gerontological Society of America's annual meeting. The results reported and the lively discussion that ensued suggested that the current paradigms framing research and practice with African American families affected by ADRD may not be adequate. There is a need to consider culturally congruent, family-centered theories to guide research and practice with this population of families.