Ageing is a diverse and multifaceted experience that is unique to each person. The process of ageing is lived differently according to each individual’s socio-cultural, historical, religious, and ...political context, among other factors. However, the stereotype of homogeneity is still one of the strongest aspects related to later life. This Special Issue covers manuscripts of original research that critically explore the experience of old age and the process of growing older from the social sciences and humanities perspectives. It also explores the topics pertaining to social gerontology, cultural and literary gerontology, environmental gerontology, gerotechnological studies, social anthropology, gender studies, body politics, sexuality, active and healthy ageing, space and place, age-friendly politics and other themes. The published articles collect arguments that show the variables and uniqueness of later life, and expand on the current theoretical frameworks in the field of age studies and beyond. The overall aim of this Special Issue was to broaden the gerontological scholarship and develop critical thought of old age and the life course beyond the merely biological processes of growing older and their sociocultural constructs. This Special Issue can be of interest to scholars, practitioners, stakeholders, care workers and individuals who are concerned with the dynamics of ageing as well as current and future dialogues on the unique experiences of ageing.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the digitalisation of services that poses the risk of digital exclusion, especially among older adults. We examined the predictors of Internet use for ...services and its increase or decrease among a longitudinal population-based sample of 1426 older adults from Finland aged between 70 and 100 years, gathered in 2017 and 2020. High education and high income positively predicted the use of the Internet for services, and age, deteriorated health and deteriorated memory negatively. High age, low education and a change to living alone predicted a decrease in use. High education predicted the increased Internet use due to COVID-19. Thus, it seems that those older adults who have low education level are very old, whose health or memory has deteriorated and those who have changed to living alone are particularly in danger of digital exclusion. Actions targeted to these people are needed.
This study aims to evaluate the temporal trends of mortality among frail versus non-frail older adult trauma patients during index hospitalization.
We performed a 3-year (2017-2019) analysis of ...ACS-TQIP. We included all older adult (age ≥65 years) trauma patients. Patients were stratified into two groups (Frail vs. Non-Frail). Outcomes were acute (<24 h), early (24-72 h), intermediate (72 hours-1 week), and late (>1 week) mortality.
A total of 1,022,925 older adult trauma patients were identified, of which 19.7 % were frail. The mean(SD) age was 77(8) years and 57.4 % were female. MedianIQR ISS was 94-10 and both groups had comparable injury severity (p = 0.362). On multivariable analysis, frailty was not associated with acute (aOR 1.034; p = 0.518) and early (aOR 1.190; p = 0.392) mortality, while frail patients had independently higher odds of intermediate (aOR 1.269; p = 0.042) and late (aOR 1.835; p < 0.001) mortality. On sub-analysis, our results remained consistent in mild, moderate, and severely injured patients.
Frailty is an independent predictor of mortality in older adult trauma patients who survive the initial 3 days of admission, regardless of injury severity.
New technologies provide opportunities for the delivery of broad, flexible interventions with older adults. Focus groups were conducted to: (1) understand older adults' familiarity with, and barriers ...to, interacting with new technologies and tablets; and (2) utilize user-engagement in refining an intervention protocol.
Eighteen older adults (65-76 years old; 83.3% female) who were novice tablet users participated in discussions about their perceptions of and barriers to interacting with tablets. We conducted three separate focus groups and used a generic qualitative design applying thematic analysis to analyse the data. The focus groups explored attitudes toward tablets and technology in general. We also explored the perceived advantages and disadvantages of using tablets, familiarity with, and barriers to interacting with tablets. In two of the focus groups, participants had previous computing experience (e.g., desktop), while in the other, participants had no previous computing experience. None of the participants had any previous experience with tablet computers.
The themes that emerged were related to barriers (i.e., lack of instructions and guidance, lack of knowledge and confidence, health-related barriers, cost); disadvantages and concerns (i.e., too much and too complex technology, feelings of inadequacy, and comparison with younger generations, lack of social interaction and communication, negative features of tablets); advantages (i.e., positive features of tablets, accessing information, willingness to adopt technology); and skepticism about using tablets and technology in general. After brief exposure to tablets, participants emphasized the likelihood of using a tablet in the future.
Our findings suggest that most of our participants were eager to adopt new technology and willing to learn using a tablet. However, they voiced apprehension about lack of, or lack of clarity in, instructions and support. Understanding older adults' perceptions of technology is important to assist with introducing it to this population and maximize the potential of technology to facilitate independent living.
Elder financial abuse is a growing problem, with significant consequences for society. It is unclear if differences exist in the clinical and legal approach to financial abuse across Canada, thus the ...purpose of this review. Five databases were searched during the primary literature search. Secondary literature search involved searching grey literature and handpicking references from selected articles. Only articles in English were included. From 10,260 articles initially screened, 30 were included in the review. No literature was identified describing differences in the clinical approach to financial abuse, and no single definition or legislation on financial abuse was identified. Mandatory reporting is required for individuals in a hospital or care facility by only five provinces. This review has identified several important knowledge gaps on the differences in the clinical management of financial abuse, and a lack of definition, legislation and overall mandatory reporting across Canada, which requires further research.
To assess the bidirectional association between chronic pain and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults from two prospective cohort studies.
We used prospective data (12y of ...follow-up) from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (n = 9149, 5018 women, 65.0 ± 10.2y) and the Health and Retirement Study (n = 16,883, 9810 women, 66.9 ± 10.3y), including data from seven waves of each cohort between 2006 and 2018/2019. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Centre of Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, while chronic pain was estimated using questions about the frequency of being troubled with pain. We used random-intercept cross-lagged panel models to assess the bidirectional association between pain and depressive symptoms, adjusting for potential confounders.
There was a cross-lagged effect of chronic pain on depressive symptoms (ELSA: β: 0.038; 95%CI: 0.011–0.066. Standardized coefficient (B): 0.021. SHARE: β: 0.044; 95%CI: 0.023–0.065. B: 0.023–0.024) as well as depressive symptoms on pain (ELSA: β: 0.010; 95%CI: 0.002–0.018. B: 0.017–0.019. SHARE: 0.011; 95%CI: 0.005–0.017. B: 0.020–0.021). Moreover, there were auto-regressive effects of both chronic pain (ELSA: β: 0.149; 95%CI: 0.128–0.171. SHARE: β: 0.129; 95%CI: 0.112–0.145) and depressive symptoms (ELSA: β: 0.149; 95%CI: 0.130–0.168. SHARE: β: 0.169; 95%CI: 0.154–0.184).
We identified a modest bidirectional association between depressive symptoms and chronic pain, using two large prospective ageing cohorts.
•The stable trait variances of both chronic pain and depressive symptoms were correlated in both cohorts.•There is a relatively low bidirectional relationship between chronic pain and depressive symptoms.•Strategies to address both conditions are needed in middle-aged and older adults.
ABSTRACT Objective to understand the meaning of care from the perspective of resident older adults, family members and professionals from Long-Term Care Institutions for Older Adults. Method a ...descriptive and exploratory study with a qualitative approach, developed with 14 resident older adults, 35 family members and 41 professionals from Long Term Care Institutions for Older Adults, located in the city of Florianópolis, Brazil. The data were collected between May 2017 and January 2018, being organized through the Atlas.ti software for the analysis of qualitative data and analyzed according to the content analysis method proposed by Bardin, in the light of the Theory of Social Representations. Results for the older adults, care was linked to three main dimensions: technical care related to the institution, family care, and self-care. The meaning of care from the perspective of family members was related to the moment experienced with the institutionalization of the aged family member, mainly characterized by the dimensions of affective care, when providing comfort and technical care. For the professionals, technical care was related to the affective character. Conclusion care could be understood in different ways, from different perspectives, but it also made it possible to identify points of synchrony among the participants.
RESUMEN Objetivo comprender el significado del cuidado desde la perspectiva de los adultos mayores residentes, familiares y profesionales de las Instituciones de Atención de Larga Estadía para el Adulto Mayor. Método estudio descriptivo y exploratorio, con abordaje cualitativo, desarrollado con 14 adultos mayores residentes, 35 familiares y 41 profesionales de Instituciones de Atención de Larga Estadía para Adultos Mayores, ubicadas en la ciudad de Florianópolis, Brasil. Los datos fueron recolectados entre mayo de 2017 y enero de 2018, la organización de los mismos se llevó a cabo a través del software de análisis de datos cualitativos Atlas.ti y el análisis mediante el método de análisis de contenido propuesto por Bardin, a la luz de la Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales. Resultados para el adulto mayor, la atención se vinculó a tres dimensiones principales: atención técnica relacionada con la institución, atención familiar y autocuidado. El significado del cuidado desde la perspectiva de los familiares se relacionó con el momento vivido a partir de la institucionalización del familiar anciano, caracterizado principalmente por las dimensiones del cuidado afectivo, al brindar confort y cuidado técnico. Para los profesionales, el cuidado técnico estaba vinculado con el carácter afectivo. Conclusión el cuidado pudo entenderse de diferentes formas, desde diferentes perspectivas, sin embargo, fue posible identificar puntos de sincronía entre los participantes.
RESUMO Objetivo compreender o significado do cuidado na perspectiva de idosos residentes, familiares e profissionais de Instituições de Longa Permanência para Idosos. Método estudo do tipo descritivo e exploratório, com abordagem qualitativa, desenvolvido com 14 idosos residentes, 35 familiares e 41 profissionais de Instituições de Longa Permanência para Idosos, localizadas na cidade de Florianópolis, Brasil. Os dados foram coletados entre maio de 2017 e janeiro de 2018, sendo organizados através do software para análise de dados qualitativos Atlas.ti e analisados segundo o método de análise de conteúdo proposto por Bardin, à luz da Teoria das Representações Sociais. Resultados para os idosos, o cuidado esteve vinculado a três dimensões principais: o cuidado técnico relacionado à instituição, o cuidado familiar e o cuidado de si. O significado de cuidado na perspectiva de familiares esteve relacionado ao momento vivido com a institucionalização do familiar idoso, caracterizado principalmente pelas dimensões do cuidado afetivo, ao prover conforto e cuidado técnico. Para os profissionais, o cuidado técnico esteve relacionado ao caráter afetivo. Conclusão o cuidado pôde ser compreendido de formas distintas, sob ópticas diferentes, mas que também possibilitou a identificação de pontos de sincronia entre os participantes.
As the world population ages and older adults comprise a growing proportion of current and potential Internet users, understanding the state of Internet use among older adults as well as the ways ...their use has evolved may clarify how best to support digital media use within this population. This article synthesizes the quantitative literature on Internet use among older adults, including trends in access, skills, and types of use, while exploring social inequalities in relation to each domain. We also review work on the relationship between health and Internet use, particularly relevant for older adults. We close with specific recommendations for future work, including a call for studies better representing the diversity of older adulthood and greater standardization of question design.
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