Networks Of Older People Research Articles

Impact of social network composition on cognitive decline: Digital Dementia Registry Bavaria (digiDEM Bayern).

Currently, there is no curative treatment for dementia. The implementation of preventive measures is of great importance. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and address individual and modifiable risk factors. Social isolation, defined through social networks, is a factor that may influence the onset and progression of the disease. The networks of older people are mostly composed of either family or friends. The aim of this study is to examine the influence of social isolation and network composition on cognition over the course of 12 months in people with cognitive impairment. Data basis is the multicentre, prospective, longitudinal register study 'Digital Dementia Registery Bavaria-digiDEM Bayern'. The degree of social isolation was assessed using the Lubben Social Network Scale- Revised (LSNS-R) and the degree of cognitive impairment using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), conducted at baseline and after 12 months. Data were analysed using pre-post ANCOVA, adjusted for baseline MMSE, age, gender, education, living situation and Barthel-Index. 106 subjects (78.9 ± 8.2 years; 66% female) were included in the analysis. The mean MMSE score at baseline was 24.3 (SD = 3.6). Within the friendship subscore, risk for social isolation was highly prevalent (42.5%). Though, there was no difference between individuals with higher/ lower risk of social isolation within the friendship-network after adjusting for common risk factors in cognitive decline over time, F (1,98) = .046, p = .831, partial η2 = .000. The results of this study showed that the risk of social isolation from friends is very high among people with cognitive impairment. However, social isolation does not appear to have a bearing influence on the course of cognition. Nevertheless, it is important for people with cognitive impairment to promote and maintain close social contacts with friends.

Relationships in late life from a personal communities approach: perspectives of older people in Chile

AbstractAlthough the literature on social capital, social support and social networks uses the concept of emotional support, studies rarely recognise nuances of the emotional relationships in late life. Using a personal communities framework, we examine the subjective meaning of family and friendship ties that form the network of emotionally close relationships of a cohort of Chilean people between 60 and 74 years of age. Chile is an interesting case to investigate personal communities, as the country is facing both a rapid process of population ageing and the consequences of abrupt socio-cultural changes triggered by a military government. We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews using personal communities diagrams that enabled study participants to reflect on what and how different types of personal ties were important to them. Data analysis included thematic analysis of interview transcripts and classification of identified personal communities using Pahl and Spencer's typology. The personal communities framework proved useful in capturing the composition of older people's networks of close relationships and in reflecting the diverse ways different ties are relevant in late life. We further developed a complementary typology based on the distinction between ‘clustered’ and ‘hierarchical’ personal communities. This complementary typology adds a cultural dimension to understand better emotional closeness in late life in a context of rapid socio-cultural changes affecting levels of social trust.

PRESIDENTIAL SYMPOSIUM: MUSEUMS AND AGING: NOVEL NETWORK OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT OPTIMAL AGING

Museums represent an evolving and under-recognized network of opportunity for examining aging while supporting optimal aging across the lifespan. Museums bind communities together in a civic body by “…identifying its highest values, its proudest memories, and its truest truths.”(Duncan, 1991). They represent a secular ritual of the modern state in which the spiritual heritage of the nation is offered as a public reinforcement of political values. Art museums are also sites which enable individuals to achieve liminal experience - to move beyond the psychic constraints of mundane existence, step out of time, and attain new, larger perspectives. The interaction and potential synergies between museums and aging have been insufficiently explored in gerontological scholarship, with the existing emphasis largely focussing on facilitating access to older people and those with age-related health conditions. This symposium reflects and magnifies the networking of GSA with a major art museum through an Educational Site Visit during GSA 2019 to the Blanton Art Museum. It proposes to review museums and ageing in a broader context, exploring the context within which aging is represented in the discourse of heritage and museums, museums networking to provide a repository of late-life creativity, networks of older people as a key resource and client group for museums, life-course and inter-generational engagement with museums. Finally, the insights that the ageing of art works provide for curating the longevity dividend through developing scholarly networks between gerontologists and curators.

A MIXED METHODS SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF COMMUNITY-BASED GROUPS FOR SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS IN OLDER PEOPLE

In the UK, many older people from minoritised ethnic groups are vulnerable to social isolation and loneliness. Yet, we know little about which interventions are effective for them. With existing systematic reviews of social isolation and loneliness lacking a theory-based framework of their life-course experiences, we set out to address this gap. This review aims to explore the effectiveness and suitability of community-based group interventions (CBGIs) for social isolation and loneliness in older people. The decision to focus on CBGIs was based on findings from an exploratory study of the friendship networks of older people and narrative interviews with older minoritised people living in the UK. The findings suggested that community groups of shared interests/backgrounds were protective of social isolation and loneliness. To address the objectives, we searched for randomised controlled trials and process evaluations of CBGIs published in English, which included older people living in countries with membership to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. We identified 4791 studies, 36 of which were eligible for inclusion. In this poster, we present the preliminary findings of this mixed-methods systematic review, which seeks to not only assess whether CBGIs are effective but also to understand the underlying processes that make interventions (in)effective. As this review is guided by findings from two exploratory studies with older people from minoritised ethnic groups, it takes into account their life-course experiences. It is the results of reviews such as this that can produce generalisable findings which are directly applicable to policy.

THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND: SOCIAL NETWORK COMPOSITIONS, ANIMAL COMPANIONS, AND HEALTH

Animal companionship has been found to be positively related to health, though less is known about the features of social networks that include animal companions and how these relate to health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between social network composition including animal companionship and health. A mixed methods cross-sectional descriptive, correlation study design was used. Eighty-nine people age sixty-five and older, living in the community, managing multiple chronic conditions, participated in telephone interviews. Animal companionship was common (42.7%) among the sample (66% lived alone) with at least one animal companion (M=1.57, SD=.903) and associated with improved health function (IADL scores) (r=.234, p=.028). Animal companionship correlated positively with health (SF12 General Health Scores) (r=.210, p=.048). Animal companionship is an important feature in social networks of older people that influences health. Social supports maintain these relationships and the animal human bond.

Older People in a Long-term Regeneration Neighbourhood. An Exploratory Panel Study of Ageing in Place in Hoogvliet, Rotterdam

Ageing of the population in European cities creates fundamental challenges with regard to employment, pensions, health care and other age-related services. Many older people want to live independent lives as long as possible. This aspiration is currently strongly supported by many local governments. A precondition for 'ageing in place' is that older people perceive their neighbourhoods as familiar and safe places. In the Netherlands, many neighbourhoods with an ageing population have been subject to urban restructuring policies. An important question is to what extent such policies affect the housing situation, socioeconomic position and social support networks of older people, as these factors strongly assist their ability to 'age in place'. The paper answers this question through an exploratory analysis of a small but unique panel data set from Hoogvliet, a large urban restructuring area in the city of Rotterdam. The partly counter-intuitive results show that restructuring has enabled 'ageing in place'. Compared to stayers, movers within Hoogvliet often report improved housing quality and positive neighbourhood change. The exploratory analyses did not provide evidence of decreased social support or increased loneliness through restructuring-induced disruptions of social ties. Various 'buffer measures' have been effective in preventing negative restructuring impacts on older residents.

Tactics, Spaces, and Networks of Older People in the City: A Spatial-Ethnographic Study

Our societies are ageing to an unprecedented level. This ongoing demographic process presents our cities, architecture, and urban space with new challenges, prompting us to creatively reconsider well-known spatial and urban strategies. While we have made substantial progress in defining frameworks that seek to increase age-friendliness, such as the WHO’s “Global Age-Friendly Cities: A Guide,” which calls for better accessibility and increased embedment and participation of older people within our communities, we have still a fairly limited understanding of how older people actually partake in urban life and how they root themselves within its context, particularly from a spatial point of view. The work presented in this article seeks to bridge this perceived gap in current research by contributing a qualitative spatial ethnographic pilot study from the field of architecture and urbanism that explores the experiential realm of the city and the lived spaces of older people, specifically with regards to the tactics older people use in order to root themselves and partake in the city. The lived context is often far more diverse and complex than quantitative studies might imply, pointing to a need to redefine common assumptions about community, participation, and locality. The aim of the study is neither to verify a hypothesis nor to offer straightforward solutions, but to uncover the often hidden dimensions of older age, in order to generate new questions and ambitions. The wider aim of the research is to exceed the demand for an “accessible city” implemented through various practical measures by uncovering significant themes within the daily lives of older people that have the capacity to provide starting points for new urban and spatial strategies for the future city.

Interpersonal relationships of older adults with an intellectual disability in Ireland.

People with intellectual disability tend to have smaller social networks than other groups, with even those living in community-based residences comparatively worse off. Analysis of data from the Intellectual Disability Supplement to The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA) (n=701) examined measures of interpersonal relationships and interactions. Predictors of family contact and having non-resident friends were also explored. Social networks of older people with intellectual disability differ considerably from the general older population, with a reliance on support staff and co-resident friends in place of their own immediate family structures and wider friendships. Proximity to family most strongly predicted family contact. Residence in independent or family residences was most strongly linked to having non-resident friends. While family proximity and community living are associated with improved social networks and contacts, older people with intellectual disability remain worse off than the general older population.

Social networks of older people in contemporary society

Modern society is a field of information exchange and communication. Therefore, people assume that it is easier nowadays for individuals to maintain their social networks. Internet technologies, mobile phones all we use on a daily basis to keep in touch with our loved ones. However, the situation looks different when we think about elderly people. It is not that easy for them to introduce technology in their lives. That is why the question stays open: is it easy for older people to stay in touch with their families and friends in contemporary world? In this article, we explore the social network of elderly people. We reveal how the opportunities for older people to lead an active social life have been changing throughout past century. The article explores the phenomena of the deliberate social network shrink, which happens when people retire, or starting to have health issues connected with ageing. Article also reveals new opportunities for extending social network of an elder person with non-kin participants.

An exploration of loneliness: Communication and the social networks of older people with cerebral palsy

Background There is a large body of research focusing on the experiences of loneliness of older adults, yet little is known about the loneliness experiences of older adults with lifelong disability. In this paper, the authors present some findings from a larger qualitative study on the loneliness experiences of older people with cerebral palsy.Method Seven older adults with cerebral palsy participated in in‐depth interviews. Analysis of the interviews identified overarching themes and recurrent topics in the data. These topics were coded and then grouped under the overarching themes.Results Six themes were identified. All participants agreed that the themes of communication and social networks are most important when considering loneliness. In this paper, the participants' discussion of these two themes and their related topics are presented.Conclusions The results demonstrate the need to provide support and training in communication to older people with cerebral palsy who experience communication difficulty, as well as to their communication partners. They also indicate the need for policy development to assist older adults with cerebral palsy to develop and maintain their social networks and form relationships that are rewarding and enriching.

Age-segregation in later life: an examination of personal networks

In a rapidly changing society, young adults may play an important role in teaching older adults about social, cultural and technological changes. Thus older people who lack regular contact with younger people are at risk of being excluded from contemporary social developments. But how age-segregated are older people? The level of age-segregation of older people can be studied by examining the age-composition of personal social networks. Using NESTOR-LSN survey data from The Netherlands, we are able to determine the number of younger adults that people aged 55–89 years identify as members of their social networks, and to examine the factors that are associated with segregation or integration. The findings show that there is a large deficit of young adults in the networks of older people, and that few older people have regular contact with younger non-kin. If age were not a factor in the selection of network members, one would expect the age distribution of adult network members to be the same as the age distribution of the entire adult population, but the ratio of actual to expected non-kin network members aged under 35 years for those aged 65–74 years is only 0.10. And only 15 per cent of the population aged 80 or more years has weekly contact with any non-kin aged less than 65 years. The number of children is strongly related to the total number of younger network members, because most younger network members are adult children. Further, participating in organisations (work and volunteer settings) that include people of diverse ages increases the likelihood of an older person having significant cross-age interactions with non-kin.

Bangladeshi immigration to the United Kingdom: Older people's support networks in the sending and receiving countries

The Bangladeshi Migrants Pilot Study establishes the feasibility of applying the methods used in studying the informal support networks of older people in the majority population of Britain, specifically the Wenger support networks typology, to the elders of an immigrant group, and to elders who have remained in the region of origin. The sample consists of Bangladeshis aged 55+ in Tower Hamlets, London, United Kingdom (N=98), and Sylhet in Bangladesh (N=51) (see Table 1). The paper provides an ethnohistory of Bangladeshi immigration to the United Kingdom, a comparison of the support networks of Bangladeshis living in Sylhet and Tower Hamlets, and a comparison of support networks of Bangladeshis with rural and urban dwellers in the United Kingdom. The Practitioners Assessment of Network Typology (PANT) algorithm produces support network types in 99% of cases and demonstrates that the instrument is applicable in different cultures. Results show little difference between the support networks of Bangladeshis in Sylhet compared with London. There are significant differences between support networks of the Bangladeshi samples and the rural and urban United Kingdom samples.

Informal support for older people in post-unification East Germany: stability and change.

German unification led to a substantial out-migration of younger east Germans to the West. This paper discusses possible impacts of this out-migration upon the social support networks of older people in the east German city of Leipzig. Using Wenger's network typology, information was sought about the social support networks of 54 people aged 65+ for 1989 and 1993. The intention was to identify the extent to which support networks were resistant to change and, where changes occurred, whether such changes could directly be attributed to unification. The study's findings indicate only a modest impact of unification upon older people's social support networks in Leipzig. The overwhelming majority of support networks remained the same over the period of analysis, suggesting that informal support for older people is more robust and resistant to social change than might be anticipated.

Support networks of older people: A guide for practitioners

Support networks of older people: A guide for practitioners

A cluster analysis of support networks of older people with severe intellectual impairment

The report describes the results of a demographic survey of people with severe intellectual impairment over 50 years of age living in a single Metropolitan Borough (popn. 220,000) in the U.K. The survey sought to collect comprehensive information on a relatively small group of individuals, rather than covering a larger population in less depth, and which enabled the resulting analysis to elicit the complex patterns of interaction which exist between service/informal support variables and variables describing characteristics of the clients themselves. Using a multivariate technique, it was possible to determine the overall structure of the data set, and to observe the significance of age and measures of functional ability within this overall structure. Apart from a number of variables which appeared to be relatively independent, seven clusters were identified, corresponding to a number of important domains within the lives of these individuals. The clusters related to (a) contact with relatives, (b) commun...