Perceptions Of Older Adults Research Articles

A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF A DIGITAL FALL PREVENTION EXERCISE PROGRAM FOR OLDER ADULTS WITH INCREASED FALL RISK

Abstract Falls are a significant public health problem; one third of individuals aged 65 years or older fall each year. Strength and balance exercises reduce fall risk, but most older adults are inactive. Individuals at risk of falls need clear guidance to ensure exercises performed at home are safe and provide adequate challenge. The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate the experiences and perceptions of older adults with increased fall risk enrolled in a 3-month digitally delivered home-based fall prevention exercise program (DFP). Semi-structured interviews were conducted by an interview specialist on a sample of 16 participants (81% female, age 77.3±5.8 years). Interviews were transcribed, imported, and coded into Dedoose, a tool for qualitative analysis. Codes were refined with each interview and themes were generated from the final codes. Three themes were identified: adherence to a home-based digitally delivered fall prevention exercise program, impact of fall prevention exercises on activities of daily living (ADL), and benefits of home-balance exercises. Participants attributed adherence to the home exercise program with minimal in-person visits. Participants reported fear of falling increased as they aged; upon completion, participants felt reduced fear of falling in their ADL. Balance exercises were the most appealing due to the level of difficulty and motivation to improve balance. Participants recommended changes to improve the DFP exercise program, with majority wanting to continue the program. This qualitative analysis provides guidance to health professionals about the acceptability and recommended changes for a digitally delivered home fall prevention exercise program.

LOVOT ROBOT AS COMPANIONS FOR OLDER ADULTS IN LONG-TERM CARE

Abstract This exploratory, mixed-methods study explores how older adults living in Canadian Long-Term Care (LTC) homes experience and perceive LOVOT, an AI-driven social robot from Japan. It is an extended arm of a mixed-methods, three-country study conducted in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Canada. Our Canadian sample consists of 20 older adults and 40 interdisciplinary staff, and 10 leadership team members. The participants join four weekly sessions of interaction with LOVOT. In the quantitative portion of the study, questionnaires are administered before and after interaction with LOVOT to assess participants’ experiences of the LOVOT robot. The qualitative portion consists of individual conversational interviews with older adults and focus groups with the LTC staff and leadership. We use thematic analysis to guide our initial conceptual framework, and later use both Chi-square tests and content analysis for our quantitative and qualitative data. This study demonstrates (1) the experiences and perceptions of older adults and their family members regarding their interactions with the LOVOT robot, and (2) the LTC staff and leadership perceptions on having the LOVOT robot in LTC. The study offers insights into the potential role of social robots in LTC homes across eastern and western countries.

NAVIGATING CAREWORKER CURRICULUM REVISION IN SOUTH KOREA: CHARTING COURSES FOR ELEVATING PRACTICE COMPETENCIES

Abstract The purpose of this study is to comprehensively investigate and analyze the process of revising the careworker curriculum in South Korea with a primary focus on augmenting practice competencies. This research involved an analysis of the existing 240-hour curriculum, complemented by a comprehensive literature review. Additionally, Focus Group Interviews were conducted with a cohort of 20 present careworkers to effectively identify the prevailing needs within the practice field. This study expanded the curriculum duration from 240 to 320 hours. Subsequently, pilot courses were executed, incorporating enhanced content related to dementia care, humanity in caregiving, and infectious disease management. These modifications were delivered via webinars to 64 active care workers, a method chosen due to the constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study employed a pre-post design to inquire about the perceptions of older adults and their job skills. Fifty-four female care workers (84.2%) and eleven male care workers (15.8%) participated in the study, with an average age of 52 years, experiencing 3 years and 8 months. Several areas exhibited statistical significance; understanding and managing depression and anxiety (2.175*), supporting leisure activities(2.956**), implementing abuse prevention behaviors (3.187**), creating a safe environment(2.496**), assisting with mobility(2.978**), aiding in illness management(2.805**), transferring responsibilities(2.726**), documenting cases(2.238*), and overseeing caregiver health and safety(2.805*). Based on our findings, we have devised a plan to incorporate the following content within the additional 80 hours. In a broader context, this study contributes to the ongoing discourse on caregiver education and training in South Korea.

THE IMPACT OF A SERVICE-LEARNING COURSE ON UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT ATTITUDES TOWARD OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Undergraduate students often have little contact with older adults, which may result in a lack of interest regarding career options in gerontology or geriatric practice. To combat this problem, the University of Alaska Anchorage’s 300-level Public Health for an Aging Society course introduces students enrolled in the Health Sciences Bachelor’s program to a variety of gerontological concepts. This service-learning course engages public health and pre-clinical students in the community, providing valuable experience working with local senior agencies to provide a product or service. Students work in interdisciplinary teams and have a variety of community-based projects to select from as part of their coursework. Using the Geriatric Attitudes Scale at the start and end of the semester, this presentation reports on improved student perceptions of older adults as a result of this course. With a sample of 22 undergraduates at the beginning of the semester, scores were relatively high in agreement with positive statements about aging (i.e., “it is society’s responsibility to provide care for the elderly”). However, they also report agreement with less positive statements about aging, such as “taking a medical history from elder patients is frequently an ordeal” and “as people grow older, they become less organized and more confused.” At the conclusion of the 15-week course, students report lower agreement with these negative statements about aging as a result of their learning and hands-on experience.

What do you think and feel about getting older?: a grounded theory study on the ageing experiences of South Korean older adults

ABSTRACT Ageing cannot be limited to biological changes over time, but should be understood as a process in which an individual lives within a socio-cultural context. We conducted this study by interviewing 20 South Korean adults aged 65 years or older. The interviews were conducted over a three-month period, and participants were selected by theoretical sampling. We found that in a society where negative perceptions of older adults are prevalent, the participants experienced physical, psychological, and social changes and became aware of their ageing. Older people are sad because they feel shabby and that life is meaningless, but they try to distinguish themselves from the negative images of older adults and live as unique beings. However, age-related changes intensify with time. Based on our findings, we propose policy and practical interventions to help older people cope with the inevitability of ageing.

Effectiveness of a multicomponent activity and horticultural intervention for the hospitalized older adults: A randomized controlled trial: Effectiveness of Intervention for the Hospitalized Older Adults

This study evaluated the effectiveness of different intervention programs in improving function among hospitalized older individuals using the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA). A randomized controlled trial consisted of three groups: routine care, horticulture, and multicomponent activities (n = 32 each). Horticultural and multicomponent activity interventions showed beneficial effects on the CGA in hospitalized older individuals, particularly regarding cognitive function and quality-of-life. Additionally, horticultural activities significantly contributed to the perception of older adults' health status. We recommend to select older patients in geriatric wards with long-term hospitalization and adjust the frequency of activities or choose a single intervention program to provide long-term and effective intervention effects.

The effect of documentary-based assignments on teachers' perceptions of older adults and aging: A case study

This study presents the effect of visual media-based assignments on teachers' perceptions of older adults and aging. These assignments were part of an online Lifelong Learning course developed and followed by research. A qualitative research method was used for analyzing 18 M.Ed. student teachers' writing assignments after watching documentaries about older adults. The findings show that documentaries have diverse effects on teachers' perceptions, from expanding their perspectives on aging and older adults to generating more positive perceptions. These results underscore the need to develop teacher-education courses on aging and to recognize the potential of documentaries as educational tools.

Fear of Falling: Perceptions of Older Adults without a History of Falling in the Daily Lives of the Covid-19 Pandemic

Objective To understand and discuss the perceptions about fear of falling (FOF) in older adults without a history of falls. Method A qualitative study with a convenience sample consisting of 51 older adults. Data collection was out through semi-structured interviews during the Covid-19 pandemic. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Three themes were grouped: FOF and its repercussions; Reactions to FOF in the daily life of the pandemic; and No fear, but aware of aging. The older adults reported a fear of dependence, difficulties and cautious behaviors in activities of daily living and mobility in the community. Conclusion Understanding FOF can contribute for your approach and building multidisciplinary and intersectoral strategies aimed at maintaining independence and strengthening the identity of older adults without a history of falls in the community.

Perceptions of older adults and generativity among older citizens in Japan: a descriptive cross-sectional study.

As the population ages worldwide, including in Japan, there is a growing expectation for older adults to remain active participants in society. The act of sharing one's experiences and knowledge with younger generations through social engagement not only enriches the lives of older individuals, but also holds significant value for our society. In this study, we examined both positive and negative perceptions of older adults and investigated the correlation between these perceptions and generativity among older citizens. Additionally, we evaluated the impact of life satisfaction on these factors. We conducted a survey of 100 older adults in Japan (mean age, 71.68 years) and utilized multiple regression analyses, using positive and negative perceptions of older adults, life satisfaction, and demographic factors as independent variables. The sub-categories of generativity-namely, generative action, concern, and accomplishment-were used as dependent variables. Participants who held a more positive perception of older adults demonstrated a higher level of generative actions and concerns. Additionally, participants who reported higher levels of life satisfaction also exhibited more generative actions, concerns, and accomplishments. Conversely, those who held a more negative perception of older adults were found to have higher levels of generative actions. Enhancing positive perceptions of older adults among them can boost the sub-categories of generativity. This study, which was conducted from an exploratory perspective, has several limitations, including a potential sampling bias. A more comprehensive examination of the relationship between perceptions of older adults and generativity is anticipated in future research.

The age-based digital divide in an increasingly digital world: A focus group investigation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background and objectivesPrevious research has identified numerous benefits of information and communication technology (ICT) on the well-being of older adults. However, it has been increasingly recognized that older adults do not necessarily catch up with the rapidly digitalized society, known as the ‘age-based digital divide’. The progress of digitalization has been accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have widened the digital divide. This study aimed to gain a better understanding of their living experience and concerns about digital exclusion during the pandemic. The perceptions of older adults in Hong Kong, a highly digitalized, metropolitan city, towards the digital age and its impact on their daily living during the COVID-19 pandemic were explored. Research design and methodsWe conducted 12 focus group interviews with 77 community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, applying both organization, reduction, and refinement. ResultsFour themes were identified: 1) Diversified means to access community information; 2) Facilitated daily living through the usage of ICTs; 3) Concerns about age-related decline in function; and 4) Fear of digital exclusion and accelerated digitalization during the pandemic. The results indicate that ICT provided numerous benefits to the daily life of older adults, but our participants also expressed concerns about age-related losses and the fear of digital exclusion due to the ongoing digitalization of society. Discussion and implicationsOur findings indicated that older adults do not necessarily benefit from technological innovations, which are becoming more pervasive during the pandemic. To create age-friendly environments that cater to the needs of all members of society in the digital age, policymakers and service providers should provide diverse choices for older adults, rather than relying solely on one-size-fits-all technological solutions.

How to Draw on Narrative to Mitigate Ageism.

Ageism is so structurally integrated and normalized in US health care that it is generally unnoticed by clinicians, despite its effects on the medical care and lives of older adults. Clinicians often lack time, incentives, and opportunities to pause and fully consider the perspective of older adults, especially those with mental illness. As a result, clinicians might infantilize older adults and pathologize or dismiss their preferences, values, and capacity for growth. This commentary on a case proposes a narrative-based ethical approach to shift clinicians' perception of older adults as suffering from the inevitable and unsolvable problems of aging to experiencing a need for dignity and the possibility of continued personal growth.

Towards Equitable Online Participation: A Case of Older Adult Content Creators' Role Transition on Short-form Video Sharing Platforms

Short-form video sharing platforms (SVSPs) have seen a significant surge in older adult content creators in recent years. This emerging trend adds evidence to challenge the conventional perception of older adults as later technology adopters and passive online recipients. To investigate the reason behind the trend, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 older adult content creators on two of the most popular SVSPs in China, DouYin and KuaiShou. We found that our participants were initially attracted to SVSPs because of perceived ease of participation and the enjoyment they found. However, what kept them engaged was the attention and support they received there. SVSPs offered a low-barrier and equitable platform through their near-automatic use and relatively equal opportunities for recommendations, allowing everyone to reach audiences. Motivated by their passion for performance and the viewers' support, our participants actively acquired new skills for better performance and became more deeply involved on the platforms. Based on the findings, we reflect on how SVSPs' technical affordances support older adults in the transition from lurkers to contributors. We advocate for participation equity and supportive environments to promote more inclusive social media platforms.

18 Early supported discharge for older adults admitted to hospital with medical complaints: a qualitative study exploring the views of stakeholders

Abstract Background Early Supported Discharge (ESD) is well established as a model of health service delivery for people with stroke. Emerging evidence indicates that ESD reduces length of stay for older medical inpatients. There is a dearth of evidence exploring the views of stakeholders on ESD as a model of care for older medical inpatients. The overall aim of this study is to explore the views and perceptions of older adults, family carers and healthcare professionals on the potential role of ESD for older adults admitted to hospital with medical complaints. Methods We conducted a qualitative interview and focus group study at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) from November 2021 to January 2022. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit older adults and family carers for interview. For Healthcare Professionals (HCPs), snowball purposeful sampling was used for focus groups. Braun and Clarke’s approach to thematic analysis was used. Ethical approval was granted by the HSE Mid-Western Area Regional Ethics Committee in November 2021 (REC Ref. 096/2021). Results Fifteen HCPs took part across three focus groups, with six older adults and two family members participating in one-to-one interviews. Three themes were identified: (1) Pre-ESD experiences of providing and receiving older adult inpatient care, (2) Navigating discharge procedures from acute hospital services and (3) A vision for more integrated model of care and a medical ESD team. Conclusion This qualitative study was the first to explore the views and perceptions of older adults and healthcare professionals on the potential role of ESD for older adults admitted to hospital with medical complaints. The current experiences and barriers to efficient and safe discharge home from hospital were highlighted by stakeholders. The potential role for ESD in this population group was discussed, as well as the key factors to be considered in running an ESD service for medical older adults.

Individual differences in seated resting heart rate are associated with multisensory perceptual function in older adults.

There is evidence that cardiovascular function can influence sensory processing and cognition, which are known to change with age. However, whether the precision of unisensory and multisensory temporal perception is influenced by cardiovascular activity in older adults is uncertain. We examined whether seated resting heart rate (RHR) was associated with unimodal visual and auditory temporal discrimination as well as susceptibility to the audio-visual Sound Induced Flash Illusion (SIFI) in a large sample of older adults (N = 3232; mean age = 64.17 years, SD = 7.74, range = 50-93; 56% female) drawn from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). Faster seated RHR was associated with better discretization of two flashes (but not two beeps) and increased SIFI susceptibility when the audio-visual stimuli were presented close together in time but not at longer audio-visual temporal offsets. Our findings suggest a significant relationship between cardiovascular activity and the precision of visual and audio-visual temporal perception in older adults, thereby providing novel evidence for a link between cardiovascular function and perceptual function in aging.

Design Considerations for a Socially Assistive Robots in the Home to Support Older Adults

Older adults are one of the fastest-growing segments of the world population. However, many of the communities in which older adults live lack the infrastructure, resources, and services needed to support their diverse needs. Assistive technologies, such as socially assistive robots, present unique opportunities to support individuals with everyday activities and remain connected to the community. To understand the potential of socially assistive robots, we deployed a mixed methods exploratory study that evaluated perceptions of older adults toward socially assistive robots for home use. Furthermore, we engaged the older adults in a participatory design exercise to explore design considerations for applying socially assistive robots. Our findings provide meaningful insights for the implementation and design of socially assistive robots for home use by older adults.

The effect of motor resource suppression on speech perception in noise in younger and older listeners: An online study.

Speech motor resources may be recruited to assist challenging speech perception in younger normally hearing listeners, but the extent to which this occurs for older adult listeners is unclear. We investigated if speech motor resources are also recruited in older adults during speech perception. Specifically, we investigated if suppression of speech motor resources via sub-vocal rehearsal affects speech perception compared to non-speech motor suppression (jaw movement) and passive listening. Participants identified words in speech-shaped noise at signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) from -16 to +16 dB in three listening conditions during which participants: (1) opened and closed their jaw (non-speech movement); (2) sub-vocally mimed 'the' (articulatory suppression); (3) produced no concurrent movement (passive listening). Data from 46 younger adults (M age = 20.17 years, SD = 1.61, 36 female) and 41 older adults (M age = 69 years, SD = 5.82, 21 female) were analysed. Linear mixed effects modelling investigated the impact of age, listening condition, and self-reported hearing ability on speech perception (d' prime). Results indicated that speech perception ability was significantly worse in older adults relative to younger adults across all listening conditions. A significant interaction between age group and listening condition indicated that younger adults showed poorer performance during articulatory suppression compared to passive listening, but older adults performed equivalently across conditions. This finding suggests that speech motor resources are less available to support speech perception in older adults, providing important insights for auditory-motor integration for speech understanding and communication in ageing.

Medical students’ experiences of the Senior Citizen Partnership Program: Evaluation of a five-year longitudinal program

Purpose This article reports on an evaluation which explored students’ experiences with a Senior Citizen Partnership Program (SCPP). This was implemented in 2017 as part of Curtin Medical School’s curriculum to support students’ learning about healthy ageing. Methods This mixed methods study reports a cross-section of attitudes and content analyses of (i) open-ended responses from 258 students and (ii) transcriptions from seven focus group discussions which allowed 33 students from first, fourth and fifth years to articulate their experiences of the SCPP and its impact on their training. Results Three main themes were identified: (i) challenges to prior perceptions of older adults (with ten subthemes), (ii) positive impacts on their medical education (with eight subthemes) and (iii) on their personal development (with five subthemes). Overall, students viewed the SCPP as a valuable contribution to their learning. Its intentional creation of a designated space and time coincided with students’ transition into adulthood and formation as a doctor. Clinical-year students attributed the SCPP to improved interpersonal communication and care of older patients. Conclusion A longitudinal program which partners students with residential-based older adults may support the emerging identity of a doctor who provides quality care for older persons.

Pension Tension: Retirement Annuity Fosters Ageism Across Countries and Cultures.

Globally aging populations raise worldwide concerns about how an older population will be valued. Cross-culturally, many espouse that Eastern cultures revere their older adults more than Westerners, due to stronger collectivism and filial piety traditions. In contrast, this paper proposes a resource tension hypothesis, whereby rapid population aging causes pragmatic strain across all modernized societies, fostering ageism. Three studies supported this resource tension hypothesis, focusing on the pragmatic role of public pensions-a fundamental resource inherently pitting older versus younger generations-in fostering ageism. Study 1 tested the relationship between nation-level public pension rate and attitudes toward older adults by using World Values Survey and European Social Survey data sets. Study 2 further explored this relationship via priming both the pension-based resource scarcity and the intergenerational competition over the public pension. Study 3 offered an intervention-future-self-thinking via a photo ager-on reducing intergenerational tensions under pension scarcity conditions. Study 1 found a significant link between nation-level public pension rate and negative older adult attitudes across 39,700 World Values Survey, and 29,797 European Social Survey data points. Study 2 further supported the pension-ageism link via experimental methods. Participants who were reminded of the scarcity of pensions and intergenerational competition exhibited more negative attitudes toward older adults. Study 3 confirmed the effect of the future-self intervention on enhancing attitudes toward older adults even despite scarce pension resources. The findings support a resource explanation in driving perceptions of older adults, implicate pensions as a key mechanism driving intergenerational attitudes, and identify future-self thinking as a critical intervention. The present studies open up new research pathways for understanding and accommodating the globally aging population.

Using photovoice to explore attitudes toward and experiences with images of older adults

ABSTRACT This study examined university students’ perceptions of older adults. The study employed the photovoice, analyzing visual data (photographs) and in-depth interviews conducted with five university students to capture more accurate and candid images of older adults. Themes from photographs, interviews, and focus group discussions were organized into three categories: study participants’ negative ‘otherization’ of older adults, a critical awakening of ‘discrimination and exclusion’ in daily life, and the consciousness raising among young people who were used to ‘otherizing’. Young adults who differed from older adults due to their decline in old age noticed various forms and degrees of discrimination and exclusion of older adults in daily life through photovoice experience. Moreover, young adults developed positive perspectives and recognized the strengths of the older adults. This study is unique in providing specific and practical insights into the co-existence of two generations. Our findings suggest that developing and implementing programs and policies that promote positive interaction between young and older generations will contribute to resolving inter-generational conflict and ageism.

The Perception of Older Adults Regarding Socio-Political Issues Disseminated on Social Networks

Research on the relationship between seniors and social networks has focused mainly on the difficulties experienced by this group in accessing the internet. However, it has not examined other aspects such as participation by older adults in socio-political discourse. Although articles have been written on specific topics related to this issue, such studies are not enough. This research aims to analyse the perception of people over 60 years of age regarding the use of social networks as a channel for staying informed and participating in socio-political discourse that takes place on social media. To achieve this objective, four focus groups were conducted in July of 2022. In assessing the results, the transcripts were examined using qualitative-inductive content analysis and reinforced with topic analysis to identify shared perceptions. The co-occurrence evaluation reveals a strong relationship between negative perceptions and concepts such as tension and fake news. Positive perceptions are associated with the ease of interaction with other users and the potential for obtaining information. Differences have also been observed among social networks such as Facebook and WhatsApp, which appear to be the networks of choice for sharing information and opinions on socio-political issues.