Knowledge Of Older Adults Research Articles

Satisfaction With Outdoor Activities Over Time Among Long-Term Services and Supports Recipients

Approximately 85% of older adults have at least one chronic health condition. The onset of chronic health conditions and mobility issues can constrain activities, including outdoor recreation. There is limited knowledge of older adults receiving long-term services and supports (LTSS) and their satisfaction with outdoor activities over time after enrolling in services. This study examined predictors of change in ratings of satisfaction with outdoor activities. A secondary analysis was conducted of data involving structured interviews with older adults (N=470) over the first two years of receiving LTSS (Health-Related Quality of Life: Elders in Long-Term Care; R01AG025524). Participants lived in assisted living communities, nursing homes, or their home. A single item on satisfaction with outdoor activities (assessed using a 5-point Likert scale: not at all to extremely satisfied) was the primary outcome. Mixed effects linear regression modeling using a backward elimination process was used for building a final multivariable model. In the final model, older age (p<0.001) and higher overall quality of life ratings (p<0.001) at baseline were associated with slower rates of increase in outdoor satisfaction over time. Higher education level (p=0.035) at baseline was associated with a faster rate of increase in outdoor satisfaction over time. Additionally, those who moved into an assisted living community (p=0.024) or nursing home (p=0.016) at baseline were associated with faster rates of increase in outdoor satisfaction over time compared to those in the home. Knowledge of factors influencing satisfaction with outdoor activities can assist interdisciplinary teams implement interventions for individual or organizational changes.

Increased world knowledge in older adults does not prevent decline in world knowledge comprehension: An ERP study

A meaningful sentence might not be sensible according to world knowledge. In aging, world knowledge continues to increase, but semantic processing declines. An intriguing question is whether increased world knowledge aids world knowledge comprehension, even in the face of declining semantic processing. The present study collected EEG data from 43 older and 43 younger adults as they read correct sentences, sentences with a semantic violation, and sentences with a world knowledge violation. Compared to younger adults, older adults had a significantly greater reduction in amplitude and delayed peak/onset latency of N400 for both semantic and world knowledge integration. A significant Group by Condition by Region interaction revealed that, although the N400 amplitude under the semantic violation condition was comparable to that under the world knowledge violation condition in younger adults, the N400 amplitude in the posterior brain region was significantly smaller under the world knowledge violation condition than under the semantic violation condition in older adults. The N400 difference between world knowledge and semantic violation conditions was negatively correlated only with vocabulary scores. In conclusion, age-related increases in world knowledge do not help older adults to comprehend world knowledge more effectively.

Are age-related deficits in route learning related to control of visual attention?

Typically aged adults show reduced ability to learn a route compared to younger adults. In this experiment, we investigate the role of visual attention through eye-tracking and engagement of attentional resources in age-related route learning deficits. Participants were shown a route through a realistic virtual environment before being tested on their route knowledge. Younger and older adults were compared on their gaze behaviour during route learning and on their reaction time to a secondary probe task as a measure of attentional engagement. Behavioural results show a performance deficit in route knowledge for older adults compared to younger adults, which is consistent with previous research. We replicated previous findings showing that reaction times to the secondary probe task were longer at decision points than non-decision points, indicating stronger attentional engagement at navigationally relevant locations. However, we found no differences in attentional engagement and no differences for a range of gaze measures between age groups. We conclude that age-related changes in route learning ability are not reflected in changes in control of visual attention or regulation of attentional engagement.

A survey of video game preferences in adults: Building better games for older adults

As the average North American gets older, there is an increasing need to develop better rehabilitation and wellness software for the aging. Although the use of computerized entertainment is becoming more prevalent with older adults, knowledge of their preferences and usage habits is still limited. In order to understand how preferences might change over a lifespan, we conducted a survey of older and younger adults (N=426). The goal of this analysis was to determine in what ways the electronic preferences and activities of older adults differed from younger cohorts. Our results showed that older adult respondents generally indicated a preference for games that were easy to learn and play, but also challenging, with puzzle & strategy games being the most popular. Older adults also indicated that they played games alone rather than with friends. Finally, although younger adults used a wider variety of electronic devices, most older adults reported regularly using at least one device capable of accessing video games such as a desktop computer. These results broaden our knowledge of older adults’ preferences and usage patterns for computerized entertainment, as compared to a younger cohort. These survey results can serve as a resource for game designers.

Beliefs and attitudes of older adults and carers about deprescribing of medications: a qualitative focus group study.

Deprescribing describes the complex process that is required for the safe and effective cessation of medications that are likely to cause more harm than benefit. Knowledgeof older adults' and carers' attitudes towards deprescribing will enhance shared decision making in medication optimisation. To explore the views, beliefs, and attitudes of older adults and carers on deprescribing. Qualitative focus group study in New South Wales, Australia. Four focus groups with 14 older adults and 14 carers were conducted. Results were analysed using a previously developed framework (directed content analysis) with additional conventional content analysis. The willingness of both older adults and carers to have one or more medications deprescribed was influenced by the following main themes: their perception of the appropriateness of that medication; fear of outcomes of withdrawal; dislike of taking medications; and the availability of a process for withdrawal (including a discussion with a healthcare professional and knowing that the medication could be restarted if necessary). A patient's regular GP was identified as a strong influence both for and against medication withdrawal. The identified themes supported the previously developed framework. An additional theme unique to the carers was the complexity involved in making decisions about medications for their care recipients. This study highlights that discussions between the healthcare professional and the olderadult or carer about withdrawing medications should address reasons for deprescribing. GPs should be aware of their major influence on patients and regularly discuss appropriateness of current medication use with older adults and their carers.

When does prior knowledge disproportionately benefit older adults’ memory?

ABSTRACTMaterial consistent with knowledge/experience is generally more memorable than material inconsistent with knowledge/experience – an effect that can be more extreme in older adults. Four experiments investigated knowledge effects on memory with young and older adults. Memory for familiar and unfamiliar proverbs (Experiment 1) and for common and uncommon scenes (Experiment 2) showed similar knowledge effects across age groups. Memory for person-consistent and person-neutral actions (Experiment 3) showed a greater benefit of prior knowledge in older adults. For cued recall of related and unrelated word pairs (Experiment 4), older adults benefited more from prior knowledge only when it provided uniquely useful additional information beyond the episodic association itself. The current data and literature suggest that prior knowledge has the age-dissociable mnemonic properties of (1) improving memory for the episodes themselves (age invariant), and (2) providing conceptual information about the tasks/stimuli extrinsically to the actual episodic memory (particularly aiding older adults).

Use of Song as an Effective Teaching Strategy for Nutrition Education in Older Adults

The objective of this study was to explore whether singing an educational song would be effective in improving older adults' knowledge about nutrition. We used a randomized controlled design to determine whether singing an educational song would result in increased nutrition knowledge in a low-income population of older adults compared to a control group of similar adults who did not sing the song. Eighteen congregate nutrition sites were randomly assigned to the treatment or control group. Analysis via independent samples t-test showed the knowledge gain mean scores for the treatment group were significantly (P < 0.05) greater than those of the control group. This study supports a unique new approach to increasing nutrition knowledge of older adults by using music.

Older Adults' Functional Performance and Health Knowledge After a Combination Exercise, Health Education, and Bingo Game.

Combining exercise, health education, and the game of bingo may help older adults remain independent. The objective was to determine whether a 10-week health promotion program (Bingocize®) improves functional performance and health knowledge in older adults. Participants were assigned to experimental (n = 13) or control (n = 14) groups. The intervention was administered twice per week at two independent living facilities. Pre and postfunctional performance and health knowledge were measured. Mixed between–within subject ANOVA was used to detect differences between groups (p < .05). Improvements were found in all dependent variables except lower body flexibility, systolic blood pressure, and health knowledge. Adherence was 97.31% ± 2.59%. Bingocize® has the potential to help older adults remain independent by improving functional performance. Statistical improvements in health knowledge were not found, but future researchers may explore modifying the health education component or using a different measure of health knowledge to detect changes.

Attitudes Towards Older Australian Workers

Many employers in Australia are experiencing ageing workforces. Yet ageist attitudes and discrimination can impede effective management of older workers. Here we explore the attitudes of a mixed sample of university undergraduates and community members towards older workers. A total of 64 males and 89 females completed questionnaires assessing attitudes towards older workers and general knowledge of older adults. The association between these factors and respondents’ age, gender, education, employment status and hours worked per week was examined. As predicted, the sample's attitudes towards older workers were generally positive among those who were working, but hypotheses relating to associations between knowledge of ageing, age, education and hours worked per week were largely not supported. The failure of variables hypothesised to be related to attitudes is discussed.

Beliefs and Concerns about Dairy Products in the Swiss Older Adult Population

Various studies have shown that the public is aware of the importance of milk and milk products in human nutrition. Even so, older adults still do not consume the recommended amount of dairy products. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of older adults (50-81 years) about the nutritional value of dairy products as well as their beliefs about these products. The most common concerns about milk and dairy products were added sugar (60%), cheese substitute (55%), and artificial aroma (55%). A majority of respondents rated milk as a good supplier of calcium, believed that consumption of dairy products improves bone health in older age, and also believed that it is better to drink milk than to consume calcium supplements. On the other hand, iron, vitamin C, and vitamin D content were often overestimated. The majority of older adults also stated that milk contains a lot of fat and believed that consumption of full-fat dairy products increases body weight and adversely affects cholesterol level.

Development of a questionnaire to assess health profession students’ knowledge of older adults

ObjectiveThe objectives of this study were twofold: to develop and psychometrically test a questionnaire to measure health profession students’ knowledge of aging in older adults and to assess comparative professional geriatric knowledge in pharmacy, nursing, and physician assistant (PA) students. DesignAn interdisciplinary team of faculty with clinical geriatric expertise and experience in item scale development designed a scale, termed the Geriatric Knowledge Assessment Scale (GKAS), to measure health profession students’ geriatric knowledge in the areas of aging disease, physical activity, drug therapy, and nutrition. Upon development of the scale, the psychometric properties of the GKAS were analyzed. The tool was administered to pharmacy, nursing, and PA students in the final semester of their professional education programs. ResultsA total of 412 students participated in the test and 408 completed the questionnaire with health profession responses as follows: pharmacy students (n = 159), nursing students (n = 162), and PA students (n = 87). PA students scored at a significantly higher level on the GKAS than both pharmacy and nursing students (p < 0.001), and pharmacy students scored significantly higher than nursing students (p = 0.05). Overall, 65% of students agreed or strongly agreed on a five-point Likert scale that the gerontological content in their professional education adequately prepared them to address the health care needs of older adults. ConclusionFurther research and utilization of the GKAS in geriatric health care education is required. Our findings also support ongoing evaluation of geriatrics education and training within all health professions.

Making judgments about other people: impression formation and attributional processing in older adults

Older adults face changing relationships with family members and friends with aging. Social cognition researchers investigate how individuals think about these social situations. The results of this research suggest that older adults are effective at accurately judging social partners when they are motivated to do so and can apply their accumulated knowledge to the situation. However, when cognitive resources are required in social situations, older adults may not perform as well as young adults. We review evidence supporting the importance of cognition, motivation, and knowledge for older adults’ impression formation and attributional reasoning. This research is important because it can lead to interventions to help older adults avoid scams and improve their interpersonal relationships.

Promoting the use of enduring powers of attorney in older adults: A literature review

This review aims to identify factors that facilitate the establishment of enduring powers of attorney (EPOAs), and those that create a barrier to their establishment. The primary aim was to provide guidance about how to encourage future planning while people are cognitively able to make such important decisions. A detailed search of the literature was conducted to identify research looking at the motivating factors behind putting future-planning strategies in place. The literature highlighted a number of broad areas motivating the establishment of EPOAs, including: demographic factors; intrapersonal and personality factors; health and psychological factors; cognitive factors; and socio-emotional factors. While a number of factors play a role in determining whether or not a person establishes an EPOA, the factor most malleable to change is the awareness and knowledge of older adults and their families regarding the utility of EPOAs.

Social Work Faculty Interest in Aging: Impact of Education, Knowledge, Comfort, and Experience

As the need for gerontological social workers increases, it is important to assess faculty interest in strengthening and bolstering this area in the classroom and curriculum. This study sought to compare training and experience of social work faculty that identified aging as a teaching or research interest with faculty who did not, and to identify predictors of aging interest among faculty. A national sample of social work faculty members was recruited, and a total of 609 individuals participated in the study. The findings reveal that faculty with an interest in aging differed from nonaging faculty in the areas of knowledge of older adults, personal and paid experience, and graduate and continuing education. In addition, predictors of interest in aging included taking a graduate course, continuing education units, having paid and volunteer experience, level of knowledge of older adults, and comfort level of covering content on aging in the classroom. The connection between social work faculty and student interest in aging are discussed as implications for further social work research and education.

A cohort study of osteoporosis health knowledge and medication use in older adults with minimal trauma fracture

We measured osteoporosis knowledge in an older adult population with minimal trauma fracture. At follow-up, health literacy and osteoporosis knowledge had not changed significantly from baseline, and 14 (23 %) patients reported not taking any osteoporosis medication. Current osteoporosis care does not result in increased patient knowledge about their disease. We aimed to measure health literacy and osteoporosis knowledge in an older adult population with minimal trauma fracture (MTF). A cohort study with 3-month follow-up in Australia was conducted. Participants were hospital admissions with an MTF confirmed by X-ray. Main outcomes were the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) and Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT) scores. Supplementary data about osteoporosis knowledge, medication use and family practitioner visits regarding osteoporosis were obtained. Complete data are available in 60 participants. On admission, 97 % participants had high REALM scores [mean (range) 64.7 (46.66)] and low OKAT scores [8.83 (2.16)]. At follow-up, three (5 %) participants had a further fracture. REALM and OKAT scores had not changed significantly from baseline. There was no association between OKAT score at follow-up and current treatment for osteoporosis, beliefs relating to treatment or bone health, and discussion with health care worker since discharge after adjusting for Mini Mental State Examination score. Health literacy or reading ability was not related to OKAT score. Osteoporosis knowledge assessed by the OKAT did not improve in the 3months after MTF in this cohort of literate older adults, although there was some evidence of improvements in health beliefs. Current care in osteoporosis does not increase patient knowledge about their disease adequately which may impair patient effectiveness in obtaining appropriate treatment.

Body mass index knowledge of older adults and motivation to change

Worldwide, 1.6 billion adults are overweight and 400 million are obese. For older adults, being in these categories exacerbates multiple chronic diseases and leads to frailty. The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge of older adults in Ireland and the USA about their body mass index (BMI) category and motivation to change. A quantitative descriptive research design was used in the study. Two convenience samples of community-dwelling older adults, one in Ireland (n=70) and one in the USA (n=70) participated in the study. Data was collected in the form of questionnaires and BMI was calculated. This study found that fewer Irish participants knew their BMI category. In both groups, measured BMI differed greatly from self-perceived BMI. These findings suggest that older adults are unaware of their weight status and therefore do not know that they are in a BMI category with multiple health consequences.

Determining Knowledge and Behaviour Change: After Nutrition Screening Among Older Adults

Two education interventions involving personalized messages after nutrition screening in older adults were compared to determine changes in nutrition knowledge and risk behaviour. Of 150 older adults randomly selected from a local seniors' centre, 61 completed baseline screening and a demographic and nutrition knowledge questionnaire and were randomized to one of two groups. Group A received personalized letters plus an educational booklet, and Group B received personalized letters only. All materials were sent through the mail. Forty-four participants completed post-test questionnaires to determine change in knowledge and risk behaviour. Both groups had reduced nutrition risk scores and increased knowledge scores at post-test. After the intervention, a significant difference was observed in knowledge change by treatment group. Group A participants experienced greater gains in knowledge, with a mean gain of 5.43 points, than did those in Group B, who had a mean gain of 1.36 points (p=0.018). Screening and education with print materials have the potential to change risk behaviour and nutrition knowledge in older adults. A specially designed booklet on older adults' nutrition risk factors plus a personalized letter provide an effective education strategy for older adults after screening.

Implementing a Gerontological Clinical Nursing Practice With an Interdisciplinary Focus: Lessons Learned

A gerontological clinical nursing practice with an interdisciplinary focus was developed to provide opportunities for student nurses to expand their knowledge about aging, hone assessment skills, and critically examine beliefs about older adults. The practice included theory about older adults and a rotation through a variety of clinical settings where students had practice opportunities with older adults. Based on the written and verbal feedback the authors gathered from students and clinical staff, the authors not only learned that was there improvement in students' knowledge, skills, and interactions with older adults, but they also gained greater understanding of the working of an interdisciplinary team and were able to provide a leadership role to the team through their geriatric assessments and knowledge of older adults.

A Comparison of Rural and Urban Older Adults in Iowa on Specific Markers of Successful Aging

This study examines the differences between rural and urban older adults on level of life satisfaction and depressive symptoms, focusing on the effect of social support. Data were collected through structured interviews at senior centers and senior meal sites in eastern and southeastern Iowa. The Duke Social Support Index (DSSI), the Life Satisfaction Index-Z (LSI-Z), and the Geriatric Depression Scale 15 (GDS15) were used. Correlations (Pearson's r), independent sample t-tests, and multiple regression were computed. Findings indicated that urban residents reported more depressive symptoms, as compared to rural residents. Subjective level of social support was a stronger predictor of life satisfaction and was more negatively related to depressive symptoms among rural than among urban older adults. Results suggest that social workers who work with aging people need to be aware of rural–urban differences in mental health. Furthermore, social workers need to have knowledge of older adults' social networks and work to ensure greater opportunity for social interaction.

Outcomes of a Comentoring Project: Inspiration and Admiration

A comentoring project paired students in a lifespan developmental psychology course with older adults to conduct a life review. The intergenerational paring was designed to increase students' knowledge of older adults, the aging process, and development across the lifespan. Students developed a paper that included their partner's life history, a developmental analysis, and a personal reflection. The results of an exploratory qualitative analysis of students' personal reflections revealed salient themes, such as introspection, and themes not previously reported in the literature including inspiration, admiration, and role modeling by the older adults.