MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'European Journal of Ageing' source. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:54:23 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5639048&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F05j30101476m4r32%2F This article focuses on the implication of such diverse policies for the provision and combination of formal and informal care resources for older people. Using data from Level of Living surveys (based on interviews with a total of 1,158 individuals aged 67–87 in need of practical help), the article investigates the consequences of the two policy approaches for older people of different needs and socio-economic backgrounds and evaluates how the development corresponds with ideals of universalism in the Nordic welfare model. Our findings show that in both countries tax-funded home care is used across social groups but targeting of resources at the most needy in Sweden creates other inequalities: Older people with shorter education are left with no one to resort to but the family, w... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5639048 Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:05:32 +0100 5639048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5639049&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fl27527363074042j%2F Abstract  In this article, we examine the extent and pattern of country level differences in later life health in Europe and compare five competing explanations for this variation. We used data from 14 European countries, drawn from Northern (Denmark and Sweden), Western (Austria, France, Ireland, Germany Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland), Mediterranean (Spain, Italy and Greece) and Eastern (Poland and Czechia) regions of Europe, N = 33,528. Our results suggest that about a quarter (24%) of the overall variation in later life health in Europe appears to be due to country level differences. The Scandinavian countries along with Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland appear to have the best health, whereas Spain, Italy and Poland had the lowest health score... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5639049 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:32:53 +0100 5639049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5583305&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fu143k614vn8wun91%2F This article studies the role of working conditions and health for elderly female day-care teachers’ decision to enter early retirement. Entry into retirement is analysed in a duration framework that allows for unobserved heterogeneity in the baseline hazard. Data are from a Danish longitudinal data set based on administrative register records for 1997–2006. Working conditions are measured by four indicators. First, work pressure is measured by the child-to-teacher ratio, which varies across municipalities and over time. Second, working conditions are measured by the proportion of children with a problematic social background. Third, the share of trained teachers is considered an indicator of working conditions. And fourth, the size of the institution is assessed as an indicator ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5583305 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:40:24 +0100 5583305 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5583306&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F39489313364k4457%2F This study investigates how far personality can predict the timing and routes of people’s retirement. It uses a large comprehensive Norwegian survey, with larger sample size than earlier related studies, providing estimates of personality based on the five-factor model. The survey data are matched with administrative data, allowing observations of retirement over the 2002–2007 period. The analysis distinguishes between the disability and the non-disability retirements. Retirement is investigated using discrete time, competing risk, logistic regression models amongst individuals aged 50–69. Results indicate that personality predicts disability retirement but not non-disability retirement. Neuroticism increases the risk of disability retirement in women. Agreeableness and extrave... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5583306 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:40:23 +0100 5583306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5572772&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fu27r706574785018%2F Abstract  Utilization rates of non-psychiatric health services are often higher in depressed compared to non-depressed adults. We examine whether these differences can be explained by the increased prevalence or the increased impact of demographic, socioeconomic, geographic, and health-related factors. The sample was taken from The Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (Wave 1 Release 2), a prospective observational study of 31,115 randomly selected people ages 50+ living in Austria, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France, Denmark, Greece, Switzerland, Belgium, and Israel. Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition methods for multivariate linear regression models were used to estimate the influence of prevalence and impact of covariates on utilization among... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5572772 Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:06:36 +0100 5572772 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5538623&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F7551032w3x20150m%2F Abstract  The article examines the relationship between the Internet use and leisure activities amongst Finnish seniors. Traditionally, the young have been the most active users of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICTs). In recent years, however, older age groups have increasingly become more interested in ICT, yet a significant proportion of Finnish seniors rarely log on. Using data from a nationally representative survey (N = 542) conducted in the summer of 2010, we explored the connection between the frequent Internet use and general leisure activity. The basic socio-demographic variables were controlled in the analysis. The findings indicate that the active Internet use in old age has a strong positive correlation with the numb... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5538623 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:44:15 +0100 5538623 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5526169&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fnm4pnv83h413803q%2F Content Type Journal ArticleCategory ErratumPages 1-2DOI 10.1007/s10433-011-0211-7Authors Florence Jusot, Université Paris-Dauphine, LEDA-LEGOS, Place du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 75 775 Paris Cedex 16, FranceZeynep Or, IRDES, Institute for Research and Information on Health Economics, 10 rue Vauvenargues, 75018 Paris, FranceNicolas Sirven, IRDES, Institute for Research and Information on Health Economics, 10 rue Vauvenargues, 75018 Paris, France Journal European Journal of AgeingOnline ISSN 1613-9380Print ISSN 1613-9372 (Source: European Journal of Ageing) European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5526169 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:51:26 +0100 5526169 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5487835&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fd9150858v3155l02%2F Abstract  Nutrition risk screening can help identify community-dwelling older adults who may benefit from nutrition education and interventions to improve food intake. Research has shown, however, that older adults who are found “at risk” through nutrition screening commonly do not see themselves at risk, and many do not follow through with accessing recommended nutrition services. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study was to examine older adults’ experiences of learning they were at risk through nutrition screening and to identify what influenced their perspectives and responses to their screening results. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 22 older adults who had screened at risk (SCREEN II© scores < 54) through a nutrition screening proc... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5487835 Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:54:37 +0100 5487835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5450083&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fd8627l6k764724j1%2F This study analyses the experienced age discrimination of old European citizens and the factors related to this discrimination. Differences in experienced discrimination between old citizens of different European countries are explored. Data from the 2008 ESS survey are used. Old age is defined as being 62 years or older. The survey data come from 28 European countries and 14,364 old-age citizens. Their average age is 72 years. Factor analysis is used to construct the core variable ‘experienced discrimination’. The influence of the independent variables on experienced discrimination is analysed using linear regression analysis. About one-quarter of old European citizens sometimes or frequently experience discrimination because of their age. Gender, education, income and... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5450083 Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:56:43 +0100 5450083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5388630&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F00j0w56722871678%2F Abstract  Demographic trends across Europe involve a decrease in fertility and mortality rates, and an increase in divorce and stepfamily formation. Life courses and living arrangements have become less standardized and the structure of families has changed. In this article, we examine to what extent contemporary family structure and composition resulting from demographic changes affect emotional exchange between children and their parents, both from adult child to parent and from parent to child. Because the general level of well-being has been shown to be lower in Eastern Europe, thereby potentially affecting emotional exchange within families, we focus our research on Eastern Europe. We use the “conservation of resources theory” to derive hypotheses on how family str... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5388630 Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:56:04 +0100 5388630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5388631&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fh580202273616j81%2F Abstract  Within the last 10 years, there has been a growing interest in the importance of social capital and older people. The aims of the study are to advance measurements of aspects of social capital based on bonding, bridging and linking that can be used to study the impact of the local community on community-dwelling older populations and to study the distribution of these three measurements of social capital in 34 municipalities. Data are from a Danish prospective cohort study on preventive home visits among 4,034 old people 75+ in 34 municipalities in Denmark. The measurements of aspects of social capital at community level are based on theory of bonding, bridging and linking social capital. It has been possible to analyse variations in the three measurements of... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5388631 Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:01:48 +0100 5388631 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5362541&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fh487044w33056xn0%2F Abstract  The aim of this longitudinal study was to investigate if social inequality in onset of mobility limitations is present in early midlife, and to examine whether common determinants of disability account for social status differences in onset of mobility limitations in midlife. 3,586 40-and 50-year-old Danish men and women enrolled in The Danish Longitudinal Study on Work, Unemployment and Health constituted the study population. Data were collected by mailed questionnaires in 2000 and 2006. Limitations in running 100 m and in climbing two flights of stairs represented two aspects of mobility limitations. Occupational social class was applied as a measure of socioeconomic position. Among individuals reporting no limitations in 2000 social gradients in onset of ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5362541 Fri, 28 Oct 2011 06:04:22 +0100 5362541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348909&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fw62pt54622401n6u%2F This study examines the variations in utilisation of preventive services by the population aged 50 and over in 14 European countries, pooling data from the two waves of Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe and the British Household Panel Survey. The models used allow for the impact of individual level demand-side characteristics and supply-side health systems features to be separately identified. The analysis shows significant variations in preventive care utilisation both within and across European countries. In all countries, controlling for individual health status and country-level systemic differences, higher educated and higher income groups use more preventive services. At the health system level, high public health expenditures and high GP density is associated wi... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348909 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:53:44 +0100 5348909 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5337175&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fe20wt81j36188412%2F Abstract  Despite world-wide emphasis on falls prevention, falls and their consequences remain a major health issue for older people, and their health care providers. Many systematic reviews have been undertaken to evaluate the impact of intervention programmes on falls reduction, however, relatively little research provides a voice for older people’s own perceptions of such programmes. To readdress this imbalance the current research utilized a purposive sampling method to recruit a hard to reach group of older people who had received a post-fall health and social-care programme to investigate their experiences of the programme. Semi-structured interviews with eight housebound people aged over 65 who had fallen were undertaken, and data analysed using interpretative phen... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5337175 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:45:59 +0100 5337175 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5337176&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fd6227r2g343n5603%2F Abstract  Developed countries throughout the world are challenged with the ageing of their labour force. In these societal contexts, low employment rates and early labour market exits of older employees are at stake, as well as arrangements for retirement, financial household considerations and mutual obligations between generations. Although proactive behaviour has been extensively studied, no research has addressed the proactive behaviour of older employees themselves when facing (re)hiring and retention versus early retirement. For the first time, this study tests the relationships of proactive behaviour with job-related affective well-being and anticipated retirement age in a sample of employees aged 50+ (N = 89) in Belgium. The findings are obtained by using a... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5337176 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 05:57:15 +0100 5337176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5305146&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F3n6930x4t62207u5%2F Abstract  Retirement is often seen as a period dedicated to the enjoyment of one’s own leisure interests after many years of gainful employment. On the other hand, retired people are expected to remain productive by continuing to work, volunteering or by being involved in various caring tasks. When do Finnish working carers plan to retire and how do they envisage the weight of their care commitments related to other activities once they have left full-time work? The 19 female interviewees were born in 1953 or earlier, and they helped their parent(s). They were working full-time or part-time or were semi-retired at the time of the interview. The interviewees were selected from a larger sample of working carers. The future prospects of the interviewees are given in terms of... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5305146 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 06:28:48 +0100 5305146 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5251469&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Ff0q3324402528151%2F The objective of this study was to explore how long-term care systems, and in particular the incorporation of needs-based entitlements to care services or benefits, influence formal and informal care utilisation dynamics. We used the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) wave 1 and 2 data, restricting the sample to persons 65+ from 9 European countries (N = 6,293). The effects of changes in health and household composition on formal and informal care transitions were estimated using logistic regression, allowing these effects to vary across countries. The results indicated that, in all countries, formal and informal care were more often complements than substitutes. The likelihood of becoming a formal or informal care user varied significantly between co... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5251469 Fri, 23 Sep 2011 05:54:37 +0100 5251469 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5163287&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fe7g22w1q26103782%2F This study examines the relations between self-rated health (SRH) at baseline, SRH as a time-dependent covariate (TDC), and mortality by gender and education in a community-dwelling older population in Spain. The data used are from the longitudinal study “Aging in Leganes”, launched in 1993, carried out in a community-dwelling representative sample (n = 1,560) of the older population of Leganes (Spain). Mortality was assessed in 2008. Proportional regression models were fitted to examine the association between mortality and baseline SRH, and SRH as a TDC among subjects aged 65–85 at baseline. The multivariate analyses were stratified by gender and education and adjusted for sociodemographic factors, smoking and physical activity, physical and mental morbidity, and ADL... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5163287 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:56:13 +0100 5163287 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5163288&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fd7782wk02335350j%2F Abstract  The aim of this study is to examine the association of welfare state policies and the gendered organisation of intergenerational support (instrumental help and personal care) to older parents. The study distinguishes between support to older parents provided at least weekly, i.e. time-intensive and often burdening support, and supplemental sporadic support. Three policy instruments were expected to be associated with daughters’ and sons’ support or gender inequality in intergenerational support respectively: (1) professional social services, (2) cash-for-care payments and (3) legal obligations to provide or co-finance care for parents. The analyses based on the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe showed that daughters provided somewhat more sporad... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5163288 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:56:12 +0100 5163288 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5110530&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fk1w3r22026n11260%2F Abstract  Population ageing has paved the way for important and lasting multigenerational bonds, particularly between grandparents and grandchildren. Proximity is a powerful enhancer of relations, and co-residence, by involving continual proximity and long-term commitment, is particularly facilitative of significant linkages between generations. Although co-residence has generally been decreasing in Western societies, in the last decades of the millennium, a trend reversal was identified in the proportion of multigenerational households in the USA. Using data drawn from the European Community Household Panel, 1994–2001, some descriptive insights are provided that were considered to be missing in regard to the socio-demographic composition of extended households with grand... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5110530 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:30:55 +0100 5110530 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5110529&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fu861j81m776402x3%2F This study investigated whether a brief gratitude induction could reduce death anxiety. 83 Chinese older adults (mean age = 62.7, SD = 7.13) were randomly assigned into one of three conditions: gratitude, hassle, and neutral, in which they wrote different types of life events before responding to measures of death anxiety and affect. Participants in the gratitude induction reported lower death anxiety than the hassle and the neutral condition, whereas no difference was observed for the latter two conditions. There was no experimental effect on positive affect, and a significant effect on negative affect but which did not favor the gratitude condition. By reexamining life events with a thankful attitude, people may become less fearful of death due to a sense that l... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5110529 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:30:55 +0100 5110529 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5021659&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fj136716k02r18466%2F Abstract  The aim of this study is to analyse and compare the levels of job satisfaction reported by self-employed and salaried workers (aged 50–64) by disability status across Europe. Particular attention is paid to testing whether the effect of self-employment on job satisfaction is greater for disabled workers as compared to non-disabled ones. Using the first two waves (2004 and 2007) of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) for eleven countries, we estimate job satisfaction equations for older workers with and without disabilities. The results show that self-employed persons are more satisfied with their jobs. However, there is no evidence that the association between self-employment and job satisfaction is different for disabled and non-disabl... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5021659 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 06:31:09 +0100 5021659 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5021660&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fmv8727537728t763%2F Abstract  Social integration and social support are expected to facilitate the adoption and maintenance of physical activity. In the context of a physical activity intervention, we distinguished three partner status groups, serving as an indicator of social integration. It was hypothesized that individuals whose partner also participated in the intervention, as opposed to individuals whose partners did not participate, or individuals without an intimate partner, would benefit more in terms of their physical activity. In a second step, a differential prediction pattern of social support on physical activity for each of the three partner status groups was investigated. The study involved 302 men and women (aged 60–95 years) and included two measurement points in time: ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5021660 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 05:44:59 +0100 5021660 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4971147&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fr6686746w547002l%2F This study aims to examine the relation between self-reported evaluations of function and health and performance-based (PB) measures of functional ability and objective health indicators in a sample of the oldest old. The study is based on data from a sample of 349 individuals aged 80 and older from the OCTO-Twin Study. One member of each twin pair was randomly selected for this study. The result demonstrates that subjective evaluations of functional ability are significantly associated with objective measures of health and PB measures of function although considerable variance remained unexplained. The association of PB measures to the self-report evaluations differed by measure. PB measures had stronger associations with self-reported functioning than objective health indicators s... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4971147 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:35:02 +0100 4971147 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4947016&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fep000477j2778028%2F Abstract  This research used data from a study on daily emotional experience in adulthood to examine the associations between age, emotion complexity, and emotion regulation. Data were drawn from a study of daily stress that included 239 participants ranging in age from 18 to 89 from North Central Florida. Two indicators of emotion complexity were considered: emotion differentiation and the co-occurrence of positive and negative affect. Emotion regulation was assessed in terms of individuals’ likelihood of maintaining adaptive emotion states. There were no age differences in adults’ co-occurrence of positive and negative emotions. In contrast to theories suggesting age would be associated with greater emotion complexity, the findings revealed that older adults had lower... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4947016 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:58:40 +0100 4947016 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4947017&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fx248u024578t2k27%2F This study seeks to explore the sources of strength giving rise to resilience among older people. Twenty-nine in-depth interviews were conducted with older people who receive long-term community care. The interviews were subjected to a thematic content analysis. The findings suggest that the main sources of strength identified among older people were constituted on three domains of analysis; the individual-, interactional and contextual domain. The individual domain refers to the qualities within older people and comprises of three sub-domains, namely beliefs about one’s competence, efforts to exert control and the capacity to analyse and understand ones situation. Within these subdomains a variety of sources of strength were found like pride about ones personality, acceptance and ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4947017 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 05:52:27 +0100 4947017 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4854940&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fv3q6112165621173%2F This article aims to map existing prevalence research on abuse and neglect of older people and to provide a critical overview of existing methodologies, which have been adopted to survey the prevalence rates of abuse against elders. This article is part of the prevalence study of Abuse and Violence against Older Women (AVOW) study, which was conducted in five European countries (Austria, Belgium, Finland, Lithuania, and Portugal). The article provides an overview of the state of the art of prevalence data, survey designs and methods, instruments and results in Europe. Therefore, this draws on an extensive literature search and qualitative content analysis, which was conducted as an early part of the AVOW study. Results indicate that some EU countries have a rich history of prevalence... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4854940 Thu, 19 May 2011 16:32:45 +0100 4854940 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4854941&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fk15647102606288l%2F Abstract  Concern about ensuring old-age support in 4-2-1 families—consisting of four older people (paternal and maternal grandparents), two parents, and only one child—has risen with the increase in the number of families with only one child. In this article, using life table data and probability theory, we examine survival probabilities and coexistence durations for China’s 4-2-1 family structure, as well as urban and rural differences and conduct a sensitivity analysis. We find that once the grandparents have all entered the “old-age” phase (over 60 years old), the probability that all four will survive is only 0.61. The four grandparents are likely to coexist for 16 years after the birth of their grandchild, then one will die and the remaining three ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4854941 Thu, 19 May 2011 16:32:41 +0100 4854941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4768891&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F16360g5125158440%2F Abstract  Substantial growth of the population aged 90 years or over has focused interest on trends in the functioning and disability of the oldest old, but research findings are scarce and they vary. In the Vitality 90+ Study, we evaluated overall, gender-specific, and age-specific trends in disability among total cohorts of people aged 90 years or older in the city of Tampere, Finland, in the years 2001, 2003, and 2007. The size of the target population ranged from 1113 to 1146 and the participation rate from 79 to 86%. The participants were asked whether they were able to get in and out of bed, dress and undress, move about indoors, walk 400 m, and use stairs. Independence was defined as being able to perform an activity without help. The aggregate outcome ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4768891 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:45:42 +0100 4768891 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4726511&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F343657q5784474x5%2F Abstract  The purpose of the present study was to identify health and well-being typologies among a sample of older European adults. Further, we examined various demographic, social, and health behaviour characteristics that were used to discriminate between such groups. The participants were 1,381 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and above (M age = 73.65; SD = 7.77) from six European Union (EU) countries who completed self-reported questionnaires. Hierarchical cluster analysis was initially conducted followed by a k means analysis to confirm cluster membership. Four clusters were identified and validated: ‘good health and moderate functioning’ (38.40%), ‘moderate health and functioning’ (30.84%), ‘obese and depressed’ (20.24%) and ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4726511 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 05:56:19 +0100 4726511 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4694040&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F62n51705648gl504%2F In this study from Spain, support received from outside the household by informal caregivers of people older than 64 years is analysed. The Spanish Time Use Survey (2002–2003) is used to examine: (1) the proportion of co-resident informal caregivers receiving paid and unpaid support by persons from outside the home; (2) the main factors associated with receipt of external paid and unpaid support; and, (3) factors linked to the amount of support received in terms of time. The study sample included 404 caregivers who cohabited with the person receiving care. We used a modified Andersen Behavioural Model as the analytic framework. Significant differences are observed in receipt of support according to predisposing, enabling and need factors. Overall, support (paid and unpaid) is ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4694040 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 06:45:59 +0100 4694040 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4665623&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F725g67421800wt5q%2F Abstract  The purpose of the study was to examine the association between the centrality of the grandparent’s role and psychological well-being in the population of European grandparents, aged 50 and older. The study was a secondary analysis of data gathered in the first wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. The sample included grandparents who looked after their grandchildren without the presence of the parents (n = 3,888). Respondents’ scores on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale were regressed on the frequency of contact with grandchildren, beliefs and attitudes about grandparenting and grandparent-focused role occupancy, and on a composite measure of grandparent role centrality, controlling for age, gender, educ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4665623 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:36:01 +0100 4665623 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4513747&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fn4348h41m66684h7%2F Abstract  An increase in the number of older adults may raise the demand for health and care services, whereas decreasing prevalence of disability and functional limitations among them might counteract this demographic effect. However, the trends in health are inconsistent between studies and countries. In this article, we estimated the trends in mild disability and functional limitations among older Norwegians and analyzed whether they differ between socio-demographic groups. Data were obtained from repeated cross-sectional surveys conducted in 1987, 1991, 1995, 2002, 2005, and 2008, in total 4,036 non-institutionalized persons aged 67 years or older. We analyzed trends using multivariate logistic regression. On average, the age-adjusted trend in functional limitation... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4513747 Sat, 19 Feb 2011 18:24:57 +0100 4513747 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4513746&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fx134337p7rmj6263%2F Content Type Journal ArticlePages 1-2DOI 10.1007/s10433-011-0183-7Authors Hans-Werner Wahl, Heidelberg University, Bergheimer Strasse 20, 69115 Heidelberg, GermanyDorly Deeg, VU University Medical Centre, LASA, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands Journal European Journal of AgeingOnline ISSN 1613-9380Print ISSN 1613-9372 (Source: European Journal of Ageing) European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4513746 Sat, 19 Feb 2011 18:24:57 +0100 4513746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4513748&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F8w061tn031656235%2F Content Type Journal ArticlePages 1-2DOI 10.1007/s10433-011-0182-8 Journal European Journal of AgeingOnline ISSN 1613-9380Print ISSN 1613-9372 (Source: European Journal of Ageing) European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4513748 Sat, 19 Feb 2011 06:58:56 +0100 4513748 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4513749&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fp6775h76v67n265t%2F This study investigates life satisfaction in relation to impending death among the oldest-old using overall disease load, self-rated health, and personality as interacting covariates of level and change. We used data from a sample of 370 healthy individuals who completed the Life Satisfaction Index-Z at four measurement occasions during a 6-year period in the Swedish OCTO-Twin study of individuals aged 80 and older. Growth curve analyses showed a linear decrease in life satisfaction as individuals approached death. The decrease was not related to level or change in self-rated health and disease load. High disease load was, however, related to lower levels of life satisfaction, but, this association was moderated by locus of control, such that those with high disease load and high loc... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4513749 Sat, 19 Feb 2011 06:58:55 +0100 4513749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4496201&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fdh303p013715u730%2F Abstract  To examine the patterns and prevalence of complaints about health services among older clients of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), explore demographic correlates, and compare results with the patterns in the younger population. Primary data were collected from the responses of subjects who participated in two national phone surveys, conducted in Israel over a period of 2 years. The final sample included 372 participants aged 65 and older, and 796 younger persons, who believed they had reasons to complain about their HMO. Of the 372 participants with cause to complain, only 23% had actually complained. Subjects who were 75-years-old and above, with below-average income, had 2.5 times higher probability for not complaining than people under 65. No stati... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4496201 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 07:16:19 +0100 4496201 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4471197&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fl2175074r6q4278u%2F Abstract  Multimorbidity—the co-occurrence of multiple illnesses—is a frequent condition in older adults and poses serious threats to autonomy. In order to identify resources for autonomy despite multimorbidity, our longitudinal study tested main and interaction effects of personal and social resources (self-efficacy and social support) on maintaining autonomy. Three hundred and nine individuals (aged 65–85 years) with multiple illnesses completed measures of self-efficacy beliefs, received instrumental social support and perceptions of autonomy. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Cross-sectionally, individuals with lower perceptions of autonomy received more support from their networks. Longitudinally, the relation of received support with au... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4471197 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 06:55:19 +0100 4471197 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4471198&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F48wq114255g87166%2F This study examined gender differences in the associations between affection- and status-related stressors encountered in the first half of life and physical and mental health problems later on. Based on the theory of Social Production Functions (SPF) two hypotheses have been formulated, which were tested in a representative sample of 446 men and 514 women (aged 40–79). Main outcome measures were number of chronic somatic diseases and level of psychological distress. As expected, regression analyses showed no gender differences in the associations between affection-related stressors and physical and mental health problems later on. In contrast, but as also expected, status-related stressors encountered in the first half of life were associated with later physical and mental health ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4471198 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 06:55:18 +0100 4471198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4442947&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F143652571740l446%2F Abstract  The goal of this research is to test whether often observed correlates of loneliness in older age are related to onset of loneliness longitudinally. Despite the increasing number of longitudinal studies, the investigation of factors that are related to onset of loneliness is still limited. Analyses are based on data of the TamELSA study, which is a population-based prospective study in Tampere, Finland and started in 1979. For the present study 469 older adults aged between 60 and 86 years at baseline, who were not lonely at baseline, were selected and followed-up in 1989, 1999 and 2006. During the 28 years of follow-up approximately one third (N = 178) of the study population developed feelings of loneliness. Logistic regression analyses indica... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4442947 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:48:53 +0100 4442947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4442948&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fg6lr16385872347t%2F Abstract  The factorial structure of the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) was investigated in a sample of 336 older adults (aged 66–81 years). Confirmatory factor analyses showed that a bifactor model of two correlated factors of prospective and retrospective memory problems and two uncorrelated group factors of positively and negatively worded items had the best fit. Such a model can be seen as a multitrait-multi-method model that separates the substantive and methodological components among the items of the PRMQ. Correlations of the four factors with external criteria (affect, neuroticism, prospective, and retrospective memory performance) revealed that the item wording factors mainly correlate with the affect variables, whereas the prospec... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4442948 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 20:59:41 +0100 4442948 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4192719&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fm481521731731348%2F This article discusses challenges of language differences in qualitative research, when participants and the main researcher have the same non-English native language and the non-English data lead to an English publication. Challenges of translation are discussed from the perspective that interpretation of meaning is the core of qualitative research. As translation is also an interpretive act, meaning may get lost in the translation process. Recommendations are suggested, aiming to contribute to the best possible representation and understanding of the interpreted experiences of the participants and thereby to the validity of qualitative research. Content Type Journal ArticleDOI 10.1007/s10433-010-0168-yAuthors Fenna van Nes, Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, EMGO Institute f... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4192719 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 07:34:28 +0100 4192719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4165162&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fh4h610634u76r648%2F In conclusion, the gap in DFLE between men and women is narrowing, thanks to the more rapid drop in mortality rates in men. With respect to disabilities women are disadvantaged, although the difference (in both total disability and different types of disability) has been almost stable in recent years. Content Type Journal ArticleDOI 10.1007/s10433-010-0173-1Authors Luisa Frova, Italian National Institute of Statistics, Viale Liegi 13, Rome, 00198 ItalyAlessandra Burgio, Italian National Institute of Statistics, Viale Liegi 13, Rome, 00198 ItalyAlessandra Battisti, Italian National Institute of Statistics, Viale Liegi 13, Rome, 00198 Italy Journal European Journal of AgeingOnline ISSN 1613-9380Print ISSN 1613-9372 (Source: European Journal of Ageing) European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4165162 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 08:51:54 +0100 4165162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4156348&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F980668920668g508%2F Abstract  Although Hong Kong has one of the best life expectancy (LE) records in the world, second only to Japan for women, we know very little about the changes in the health status of the older adult population. Our article aims to provide a better understanding of trends in both chronic morbidity and disability for older men and women. The authors compute chronic morbidity-free and disability-free life expectancy and the proportion of both in relation to total LE using the Sullivan method to examine whether Hong Kong older adults are experiencing a compression of morbidity and disability and whether there is any gender difference in relation to mortality and morbidity. The results of this study show that Hong Kong women tend to outlive Hong Kong men but are also more lik... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4156348 Tue, 09 Nov 2010 07:51:44 +0100 4156348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4141289&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F01738756848w7369%2F Abstract  Men have higher death rates than women, but women do worse with regard to physical strength, disability, and other health outcomes, the so called male–female health-survival paradox. The paradox is likely to be due to multiple causes that include biological, behavioral, and social differences between the sexes. Despite decades of research on the male–female health-survival paradox, we still do not fully recognize whether behavioral factors explain most of the gender gap or whether biological and social differences contribute more substantially to the explanation of the sex differences in health and mortality. Little work has been done to investigate the magnitude of sex differences in healthy life expectancy and unhealthy life expectancy, as well as to examine... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4141289 Fri, 05 Nov 2010 11:04:42 +0100 4141289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4141290&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fy8g37713060204m7%2F This study compares gender differences in Healthy Life Years (HLY) and unhealthy life years (ULY) between the original (EU15) and new member states (EU10). Based on the number of deaths, population and prevalence of activity limitations from the Statistics of Living and Income Conditions Survey (SILC) survey, we calculated HLY and ULY for the EU10 and EU15 in 2006 with the Sullivan method. We used decomposition analysis to assess the contributions of mortality and disability and age to gender differences in HLY and ULY. HLY at age 15 for women in the EU10 were 3.1 years more than those for men at the same age, whereas HLY did not differ by gender in the EU15. In both populations ULY at age 15 for women exceeded those for men by 5.5 years. Decomposition showed that EU10 wome... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4141290 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 17:05:59 +0100 4141290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4141291&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fw735832222025185%2F Abstract  Women generally live longer than men, but women’s longer lives are not necessarily healthy lives. The aim of this article is to describe the pattern of gender differences in expected years with and without activity limitations across 25 EU countries and to explore the association between gender differences and macro-level factors. We applied to the Eurostat life table’s data from the Statistics of Income and Living Conditions Survey to estimate gender differences in life expectancy with and without activity limitations at age 50 for 2005. We studied the relationship between the gender differences and structural indicators using meta-regression techniques. Differences in years with activity limitations between genders were associated with the life expectancy (L... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4141291 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 07:49:05 +0100 4141291 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4090492&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F3296j81187677r22%2F In this study, we analyze data from the third wave of the European Social Survey, which represents 21,416 working adults from 23 countries in Europe. We used multilevel modeling to focus on the explanatory factors that underlie individual and country-level effects in worry about future retirement income and saving behavior. Findings suggest that once individual-level dimensions are taken into account, country-level predictors explain appreciable variance in worry, but not saving practices. Moreover, we found that retirement income worries are more severe in countries with a strong projected increase in future population aging and a high level of income inequality. Finally, pension age reforms were not found to appreciably affect retirement income worries. Results of the study are dis... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4090492 Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:17:31 +0100 4090492 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4090493&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F115722313727l033%2F In this study, we examine self-reported work disability for men and women using the 1997 through 2007 National Health Interview Surveys. There are small but significant decreases in work disability and fairly significant increases in labor force activity among men and women in their 60s and for women in their 50s over the 11-year period, and relatively little difference between men’s and women’s trends. Changes in the educational composition of the population play a major explanatory role in the decrease of work disability. Without this compositional shift, work disability would have increased. Increased obesity over this period exerted an opposite effect; without this change, the decrease in work disability would have been greater. Content Type Journal ArticleDOI 10.1007/s1... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4090493 Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:13 +0100 4090493 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4033081&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fg1m6858477627805%2F Abstract  Previous research found that the perception of a limited remaining lifetime is related to goal setting, social network composition, attitudes, and behavior. However, to better understand those findings, it is important to know if this subjective perception of being close to death corresponds with the time a person actually survives. The aim of the present study was to examine the predictive and time–dynamic relationship between subjective and objective nearness to death using 16-year longitudinal data from the Berlin Aging Study (Baltes and Mayer 1999; N = 516 older adults between 70 and 104 years). Older adults who felt close to death at the first measurement occasion were more likely to die over the following 16 years than persons who did no... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4033081 Sat, 02 Oct 2010 05:55:33 +0100 4033081 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4002150&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F2m65147136874581%2F This study investigated the relation between personality factors, as measured by the Swedish version of the NEO-FFI questionnaire, and the realism in older adults’ (aged 60–93 years, n = 1,384) probability confidence judgements of their answers to general knowledge questions. The results showed very small effect sizes for the contribution of the personality variables to the fit between the proportion correct answers and the level of one’s confidence judgements. Although personality differed somewhat within the age span studied and between the genders no differences were found in the relation between the dimensions of the NEO-FFI and the degree of realism in the confidence judgements as a function of age or gender. In total, the results show a significant but very ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4002150 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:08:55 +0100 4002150 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3995626&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fw6j830j227446673%2F This article maps out the prevalence of different forms of family and work sandwiching for the Norwegian population, and explores adaptive strategies and psycho-social outcomes. The analyses are based on data from the NorLAG and LOGG studies (n = 15 109, age 18–84). Preliminary findings indicate that 75–80% of the population are located in-between younger and older family generations in mid-life, the great majority are at the same time in paid work, but comparatively few (8–9% aged 35–45) have both children and parents in need at the same time, and fewer still (3%) are then also caregivers to older parents. Although few in proportion of their age group, they add up to a considerable number of persons. Women are more likely to reduce work in response to family needs ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3995626 Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:26:04 +0100 3995626 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3978495&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fj8m7178702101m52%2F Content Type Journal ArticleDOI 10.1007/s10433-010-0162-4Authors S. L. Willis, Seattle Longitudinal Study, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USAM. Martin, Department of Gerontopsychology, University of Zurich, Binzmuehlestr. 14/Box 24, 8050 Zürich, SwitzerlandC. Rocke, Department of Gerontopsychology, University of Zurich, Binzmuehlestr. 14/Box 24, 8050 Zürich, Switzerland Journal European Journal of AgeingOnline ISSN 1613-9380Print ISSN 1613-9372 (Source: European Journal of Ageing) European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3978495 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 06:02:34 +0100 3978495 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3948376&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F55r751804654251h%2F Abstract  The study examines the extent to which resources, coping strategies, and control beliefs predict adaptation to negative critical life events. Specifically, we investigated the effects of basic resources (i.e., sociodemographics, cognition, health, social), coping (i.e., assimilative and accommodative coping), and control beliefs (i.e., internal control) as well as their interplay in the context of multiple negative events. Well-being served as an indicator of adaptation. Four hundred and twenty middle-aged participants of the Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study of Adult Development (ILSE; Schmitt 2006) were assessed at two measurement occasions 4 years apart. Events and coping were assessed via interviews (e.g., assimilative coping: active problem-solving, go... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3948376 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 05:27:05 +0100 3948376 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3912424&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F4p2jr1011v384147%2F We describe theoretical background, development, and piloting of a measure for quality of life in older adults that specifically takes into account the subjective perspective. Although quality of life is usually subjectively assessed, normative thresholds for “the good life” are most often set by a third party. The new tool FLQM asks for respondents to name, rate, and weight those domains in life that are most important for their life-satisfaction solely from their own point of view. Construct validity was pilot-tested in two samples of elders (N 1 = 44; N 2 = 90). Correlations were in the medium range in both studies and support the questionnaire’s validity. There were no age or gender differences on total score. However, in Study 1 as well as in Study 2 o... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3912424 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:17:42 +0100 3912424 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3905086&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fu60623hq6w122305%2F This study examined five aspects of change (or stability) in cognitive abilities in middle adulthood across a 12-year period. Data come from the Interdisciplinary Study on Adult Development. The sample consisted of N = 346 adults (43.8 years on average, 48.6% female). In total, 11 cognitive tests were administered to assess fluid and crystallized intelligence, memory, and processing speed. In a first series of analyses, strong measurement invariance was established. Subsequently, structural stability, differential stability, stability of divergence, absolute stability, and the generality of changes were examined. Factor covariances were shown to be equal across time, implying structural stability. Stability coefficients were around .90 for fluid and crystallized intelli... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3905086 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:10:08 +0100 3905086 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3886962&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fy05554125786l5x7%2F This study examined long-term personality trait development in midlife and explored the impact of psychological turning points on personality change. Self-defined psychological turning points reflect major changes in the ways people think or feel about an important part of their life, such as work, family, and beliefs about themselves and about the world. This study used longitudinal data from the Midlife in the US survey to examine personality trait development in adults aged 40–60 years. The Big Five traits were assessed in 1995 and 2005 by means of self-descriptive adjectives. Seven types of self-identified psychological turning points were obtained in 1995. Results indicated relatively high stability with respect to rank-orders and mean-levels of personality traits, and at... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3886962 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:42:48 +0100 3886962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3866076&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fx555671pv0456842%2F This study addresses the question if the way people in midlife adapt to health problems is or is not improving in the Netherlands. The study is based on the nationally representative 1992–1993 and 2002–2003 cohorts of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (ages 55–64 years), with follow-up cycles in 1995–1996 (n = 811) and 2005–2006 (n = 829), respectively. Mastery is considered as a measure of adaptation, and 3-year change in mastery is compared in subjects without and with health problems at baseline. A rise was observed in the prevalence of diabetes, chronic lung disease, arthritis, subthreshold depression, and disability. Subjects without health problems in the recent cohort had better mastery than their counterparts in the early cohort. Regardl... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3866076 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:42:54 +0100 3866076 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3818633&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F3442508484743w06%2F This study seeks to describe the social interaction that occurs amongst tablemates at mealtime in retirement homes, as well those things that influence resident-to-resident interaction. Fourteen lunch time periods were the basis for qualitative participant observation. Two or three researchers collected data in each period, with each observing two tables, resulting in 63 individual table observations at a retirement living facility dining room in a medium-sized city in Southern Ontario. Residents attending mealtime in the dining room were (~ 100). The type, extent and influences on social interactions amongst tablemates were recorded in detailed field notes. Qualitative thematic analysis, using a constant comparison procedure, was used to summarize and make sense of the data. A ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3818633 Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:56:01 +0100 3818633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3774051&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fg54335k665258446%2F Abstract  The use of community-based social services additionally to regular home help services to support older persons at risk of institutionalization was studied. Structured interviews were held with 292 persons, who specifically pointed out that they prefer to remain independently at home. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were developed to study the association between social service use and personal, health-related and wellbeing characteristics. 195 respondents indicated that they made use of at least one social service (68%). Only three services (individual care, social-cultural activities and restaurant facilities), out of nine, were used regularly. Those who lived in a sheltered environment or were supported by informal caregivers or who visited... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3774051 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:47:15 +0100 3774051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3774052&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F1103507145203102%2F Abstract  Caregiver counselling has proved to be effective in reducing the burden of family caregivers of dementia patients. Nevertheless, little is known about the influencing factors for utilization and quality expectations of family caregivers. In this article, we address the following questions on the theoretical base of the Andersen/Newman model: Which variables of the care situation, the caregivers and their attitudes act as predictors for the utilization of caregiver counselling? What are the views of caregivers about the quality of caregiver counselling? The cross-sectional study was carried out as an anonymous written survey of family caregivers of dementia patients in four regions, both urban and rural, of Germany. Quantitative and qualitative data from 404 family... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3774052 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:26:59 +0100 3774052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3748100&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fp1v7366g571q065x%2F Abstract  Using the first two waves from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) we explore dynamics of participation in two different types of productive activities (voluntary work and care for a person) and test their association with changes in well-being across 11 European countries (N = 10,309) among people aged 50 and older. In order to measure changes in well-being, we use a standardized instrument of quality of life in early old age (CASP-12) and assess relevant decreases and increases between both waves, applying the Edwards–Nunnally method. Main findings demonstrate that older people who maintain or start their productive activity in terms of volunteering between both waves have a lower probability of experiencing a relevant decrea... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3748100 Sun, 11 Jul 2010 12:18:03 +0100 3748100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3748101&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fmu8722088166162v%2F This study focuses on the amount and types of transitions in health and social service system during the last 2 years of life and the places of death and among Finnish people aged 70–79, 80–89 and 90 or older. The data set, derived from multiple national registers, consists of 75,578 people who died between 1998 and 2001. The services included university hospitals, general hospitals, health centres and residential care facilities. The most common place of death was the municipal health centre: half of the whole research population died in a health centre. The place of death varied by age and gender: men and people in younger age groups died more often in general or in university hospital or at home, while dying in health centres or in residential care homes was more common a... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3748101 Sat, 10 Jul 2010 06:50:39 +0100 3748101 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3642503&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fx2m165285x7lg644%2F Abstract  This research uses grounded theory to assess the driving needs of 29 older car drivers using four data collection techniques (two waves of focus groups, an interview and a driver diary). Findings suggest that older drivers view themselves as having better driving skills and attitude towards driving compared to when they were younger and compared to other drivers. In addition, they have a good ability to adapt to their changing physiology. Nevertheless, they report difficulty in assessing their own driving ability and cite they would like help to increase self-awareness about the driving task. In addition, the participants report having increasing difficulty in not having enough time to read, compute and comprehend road signs, maintaining a constant speed at the sp... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3642503 Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:59:01 +0100 3642503 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3642504&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F65nq4331714h172u%2F Abstract  The aim of this study was to picture perceived problems amongst older citizens in the traffic environment. Moreover, answers to the question why measures that are known to be efficient concerning the mobility of senior citizens are often not implemented. Eight EU countries participated in the study, involving both senior citizens and experts (researchers, decision makers and practitioners who deal with all aspects of seniors’ mobility). Focus group interviews and personal interviews involving 487 senior citizens and 225 experts were carried out in order to chart problems. These were followed by quantitative surveys with 3,309 senior citizens and 490 experts that had the scope to measure the distribution of charted problems in the population. Finally, five worksh... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3642504 Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:59:00 +0100 3642504 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3513036&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fd47855176529380m%2F Abstract  Although mortality in older ages generally declined in most countries during the past decades less is known about mortality trends among the most vulnerable subset of the oldest old. The aim of this study was to investigate possible changes between 1992 and 2002 in the relation of complex health problems and mortality in two representative samples of the Swedish population aged 77+ (1992: n = 537; 2002: n = 561). Further, it was examined if trends differed by sex, education, and age. Serious problems in three health domains were identified (diseases/symptoms, mobility, cognition/communication). People with serious problems in two or three domains were considered to have complex health problems. Four-year mortality was analyzed using Cox proporti... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3513036 Tue, 27 Apr 2010 07:02:07 +0100 3513036 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3469473&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F64vku10p37q2hu60%2F Abstract  Loneliness concerns the subjective evaluation of the situation individuals are involved in, characterized either by a number of relationships with friends and colleagues which is smaller than is considered desirable (social loneliness), as well as situations where the intimacy in confidant relationships one wishes for has not been realized (emotional loneliness). To identify people who are lonely direct questions are not sufficient; loneliness scales are preferred. In this article, the quality of the three-item scale for emotional loneliness and the three-item scale for social loneliness has been investigated for use in the following countries participating in the United Nations “Generations and Gender Surveys”: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, Bulgar... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3469473 Thu, 08 Apr 2010 18:02:54 +0100 3469473 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3285447&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fg66t47948u408057%2F Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Acknowledgement to ReviewersDOI 10.1007/s10433-010-0143-7 Journal European Journal of AgeingOnline ISSN 1613-9380Print ISSN 1613-9372 (Source: European Journal of Ageing) European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3285447 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:33:45 +0100 3285447 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3270487&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F342704l314160475%2F Content Type Journal ArticleCategory EditorialDOI 10.1007/s10433-010-0142-8Authors Dorly J. H. Deeg, VU University Medical Centre/Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam Amsterdam The NetherlandsHans-Werner Wahl, University of Heidelberg Department of Psychological Ageing Research, Institute of Psychology Heidelberg Germany Journal European Journal of AgeingOnline ISSN 1613-9380Print ISSN 1613-9372 (Source: European Journal of Ageing) European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3270487 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:39:57 +0100 3270487 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3264313&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F036683122m0327l0%2F Abstract  This narrative review was conducted to provide an overview of the variety of interventions aimed at disability prevention in community-dwelling frail older persons and to summarize promising elements. The search strategy and selection process found 48 papers that met the inclusion criteria. The 49 interventions described in these 48 papers were categorized into ‘comprehensive geriatric assessment’, ‘physical exercise’, ‘nutrition’, ‘technology’, and ‘other interventions’. There is a large diversity within and between the groups of interventions in terms of content, disciplines involved, duration, intensity, and setting. For 18 of the 49 interventions, significant positive effects for disability were reported for the experimental group. Promising... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3264313 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:20:07 +0100 3264313 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3241351&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fx462377114747941%2F This study examined social inequalities in health in the second half of life. Data for empirical analyses came from the second wave of the German Ageing Survey (DEAS), an ongoing population-based, representative study of community dwelling persons living in Germany, aged 40–85 years (N = 2,787). Three different indicators for socioeconomic status (SES; education, income, financial assets as an indicator for wealth) and health (physical, functional and subjective health) were employed. It could be shown that SES was related to health in the second half of life: Less advantaged persons between 40 and 85 years of age had worse health than more advantaged persons. Age gradients varied between status indicators and health dimensions, but in general social inequalities... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3241351 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:00:05 +0100 3241351 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3224058&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fan014651m735w641%2F Abstract  Late-life depression is associated with disabled functioning and a poor quality of life (QOL). The aim of this cross-sectional study was to find out whether the attendance of a day care centre (DC) was associated with QOL in community-dwelling older adults suffering from a depressive disorder without dementia. The study enrolled 149 depressed older adults aged 70 or older, who consecutively underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment from April to July 2008 at the Geriatric Medicine Unit of the Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico in Milan, Italy. QOL was evaluated by means of the European Quality of Life Visual Analogue Scale (EuroQol VAS). DC attendance was quantified as number of days of attendance per week in the past month. Participants attending a DC ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3224058 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:58:34 +0100 3224058 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3224059&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fr5v5w8l77351516h%2F Abstract  Material inheritance constitutes a challenge for families in later life. Yet inheritance decisions, the underlying reasons and motivations and patterns of family interaction have barely been studied. Research suggests that motivations fluctuate on a continuum between unconditional donation (altruism, normative obligation) and conditional donation (strategic exchange, reciprocity). However, the literature emphasises the need for further research into the motivations that constitute this continuum and on the patterns of family interaction attached to them. This exploratory study therefore sets out to examine the motivations and patterns of family interaction in the process of transmitting material inheritances. Using the critical incidents technique (CIT) 55 usable ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3224059 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:58:32 +0100 3224059 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2971521&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fb5t57750045664u5%2F Abstract  With ageing, older people can become frail, and this has been shown to be associated with a decrease in well-being. Observational studies provide evidence of a positive effect of coping resources on well-being. The question is: can coping resources be improved in vulnerable older people? The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) is a target group-specific intervention which aims to promote the self-management of older people who are confronted with deteriorating health. The aim of this study was to review intervention studies focusing on the CDSMP and to draw conclusions on the benefits of the program. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and PsychINFO to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on the CDSMP. Nine RCTs focusing on rel... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2971521 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:58:51 +0100 2971521 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2971522&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F74178t30u4r34528%2F Abstract  More than two decades of research has consistently indicated that feelings of loneliness among older people are more common in southern Europe than in its northern parts, with the lowest rates in Denmark and Sweden. Our analyses based on analysis of 2004–2006 data from 8,787 individuals aged 65 years or older in the SHARE project replicate, update, and extend these findings. We found, similar to previous studies, that the prevalence of feelings of loneliness was more common in the Mediterranean countries than in Northern Europe. Living together with a spouse/partner was consistently associated with the lower prevalence of loneliness across countries. The combination of living alone and having bad health was associated with 10 times higher odds of feeli... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2971522 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:52:55 +0100 2971522 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2971523&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fp7g6726758205j27%2F Abstract  Emotions towards a relationship partner provide relevant and specific information about relationship quality. Based on this assumption the present study was performed to identify different types of emotional relationship quality of middle-aged adult children with their ageing parents. This was done by cluster analytic procedures in a sample of 1,208 middle-aged adult children (482 men, 726 women). Using ratings of positive and negative emotions towards their mother and father as grouping variables, the same four-cluster solution emerged for both the child–mother relationship and the child–father relationship. Clusters were labelled as amicable, disharmonious, detached and ambivalent relationships. Results showed that especially amicable relationships clearly p... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2971523 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:57:57 +0100 2971523 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2906426&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fdl70j6575u8h480j%2F The objective was to investigate definitions of frailty used in studies of multi-component health promotion and disease-preventive (HPDP) intervention programmes for community-dwelling frail elderly persons and to review the content, organisation and effects of HPDP interventions. A systematic review of 19 articles was made, and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) was used as a structural framework for the analysis. The result shows that a consensus was reached on including various aspects of impairments in body functions and structures as an integral part of the frailty concept, with the exception of one subgroup: mental/cognitive functions. Additionally, opinions varied quite consistently regarding aspects of activity limitations and partici... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2906426 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:53:10 +0100 2906426 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2877747&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fe29126271115kk04%2F Abstract  Testing the hypothesis that individuals develop their personal characteristics according to what their cultures emphasize, this cross-sectional study aimed at investigating how dispositional optimism varied with age among Americans and Hong Kong Chinese. The sample included 84 younger adults and 55 older adults that were equally distributed across the two cultures. Results revealed that older Americans displayed a higher level of dispositional optimism than did younger Americans; whereas older Chinese showed a lower level of dispositional optimism than did their younger counterparts. Findings shed light on the mixed findings on age-related dispositional optimism in the literature. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationDOI 10.1007/s10433-009-... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2877747 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:18:33 +0100 2877747 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2848556&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F13khj6558r4873kp%2F Abstract  In the next years and decades, the number of old spousal dyads having to deal with the onset and progression of dementia in one partner will increase significantly. Existing research indicates that caregiving for an ill spouse is related to decreased caregiver well-being and high levels of caregiver stress. In this theoretical paper, we argue that three aspects deserve additional theoretical and empirical attention: (a) Some spousal caregivers seem to exhibit stable pattern of individual well-being, (b) dyads may be able to adapt their ways of supporting each other to maintain a maximum of dyadic autonomy, and (c) the progression of the dementia increasingly compromising the individual autonomy is likely to require different behaviors and skills of the dyad to ach... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2848556 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:05:26 +0100 2848556 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2697520&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Ft440052754833q32%2F Abstract  The positive trend in volunteering among the Dutch young old may in part be due to a relatively favorable disposition to volunteer. Using data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, volunteering rates of 55–64 year olds in 1992 and 2002 were compared and associated with (among others) three types of dispositional factors: religious involvement, age-related engagement norms, and parental socialization. The recent cohort was less religiously involved, but more supportive of social engagement at older age, and more often had parents who volunteered, were religiously involved or higher educated. Multivariate analyses revealed that cohort differences were largely explained by cohort differences in educational level and religious involvement. It is conclude... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2697520 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:55:31 +0100 2697520 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2697521&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fp428051hv06p11n4%2F Abstract  Grip strength (GS) has an age- and gender-dependent decline with advancing age. One study comparing GS among extremely old show a North–South gradient with lowest GS in Italy compared to France (intermediary) and Denmark (highest) even after adjusting for confounders. As GS is associated with higher rates of functional decline and mortality, and thus may be used as a health indicator, it is of interest to examine whether the results on extremely old can be reproduced in a large-scale European survey. GS was measured in a cross-sectional population-based sample of 27,456 individuals aged 50+ in 11 European countries included in the SHARE survey. We made a cross-country comparison of the age trajectory of GS in both genders. Northern-continental European countries... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2697521 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:39:12 +0100 2697521 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2683122&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F94k442661826j202%2F This study sought to identify the principal factors that predict forgone health care due to cost among European and Israeli older adults. The analysis applied the Andersen–Newman model of health service utilization to data from the first wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (n = 28,849). Relinquished health care was regressed on the predisposing characteristics, need factors and economic access attributes of the respondents, in general, and in each of 12 countries, in particular. The results showed that forgone health care due to cost occurs among a substantial minority of older adults. Moreover, relinquished care is associated with younger old age, greater health needs and perceived economic inadequacy. Although statistically significant in certai... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2683122 Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:21:06 +0100 2683122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2683123&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F1v627731021n2381%2F Abstract  Self-rated health (SRH) is a multidimensional measure, predictive of morbidity and mortality. Comparative studies of determinants, however, are rare due to a lack of comparable cross-national data. This paper contributes towards filling in this gap, using data for persons aged 50 or higher in 11 European countries from the SHARE study (2004). The analysis aims at identifying key elements composing SRH using multinomial logistic regression models. In addition, the homogeneity of associations across populations is assessed. The findings indicate that education, depression, chronic conditions, mobility difficulties, somatic symptoms and levels of physical activity constitute important components of SRH; ADLs and obesity, on the other hand, are not significant and IAD... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2683123 Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:20:58 +0100 2683123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2661625&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fj1u42tn035073x29%2F Abstract  We investigate how expected changes in the educational level composition of the older population may affect future prevalence of severe ill-health among older people in Sweden. Previous research has indicated that the number of older people, given educational differentials in mortality and expected changes in educational composition during the next decades, may increase more than expected following official population projections in Sweden. Eight alternative scenario projections for the possible development in the number of people with severe ill-health in Sweden between 2000 and 2035 are presented. Scenario projections, where both morbidity and mortality inequalities by educational level are taken into account, are compared with scenarios in which only age and ge... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2661625 Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:11:54 +0100 2661625 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2661627&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F2p4466n35651u165%2F Abstract  Official Swedish demographic projections have systematically underestimated the number of older people. One explanation behind the underestimation may be found in the fact that the demographic projections are not taking into account socio-economic mortality differentials. We performed alternative demographic scenarios based on assumptions of unchanged and continuing declining mortality, with and without taking into account socio-economic gradients in mortality. According to a scenario based on assumption on declining mortality rates per age group, sex and educational level, the number of older persons (65+) in Sweden will increase by 62% during the period 2000–2035. This can be compared to an increase by 54% in a scenario that does not take into account future s... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2661627 Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:11:52 +0100 2661627 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2661626&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Faq762g53u0422864%2F In conclusion, it is important to study subgroups, not older people as one group, in the analysis of accessibility/usability of outdoor environments. Further, even though those accessibility issues emphasised in current Swedish governmental directives on accessibility are considered as important by older people themselves, especially among the oldest old and among those with functional limitations and mobility devices, the needs will not totally be fulfilled by current directives. For example, winter maintenance, problems with cyclists in pedestrian areas, and the need for benches are neglected. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationDOI 10.1007/s10433-009-0123-yAuthors Hanna Wennberg, Lund University Department of Technology and Society Box 118 221 00 Lund Sw... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2661626 Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:11:52 +0100 2661626 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3098137&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fux351820337qr377%2F Abstract  The aim of this study was to explore how very old people consider and arrive at decisions on relocation, with specific attention to housing and health relationships during the process of ageing. The sample included 13 very old participants of an 11-year longitudinal study of relationships between housing and health. Applying a mixed-methods approach, data from qualitative interviews and quantitative survey data from three data collection waves were utilised. The quantitative data were interwoven with the qualitative findings into a coherent body of text. The core theme “Negotiating and effectuating relocation is a long process” indicates a non-linear process consisting of five phases constituting the main categories of our findings. In the first phase, some in... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3098137 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:29:05 +0100 3098137 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2661628&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fux351820337qr377%2F Abstract  The aim of this study was to explore how very old people consider and arrive at decisions on relocation, with specific attention to housing and health relationships during the process of ageing. The sample included 13 very old participants of an 11-year longitudinal study of relationships between housing and health. Applying a mixed-methods approach, data from qualitative interviews and quantitative survey data from three data collection waves were utilised. The quantitative data were interwoven with the qualitative findings into a coherent body of text. The core theme “Negotiating and effectuating relocation is a long process” indicates a non-linear process consisting of five phases constituting the main categories of our findings. In the first phase, some in... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2661628 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:29:05 +0100 2661628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2490339&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fhq451645133453xl%2F Abstract  The present research explores the effects of contextualized material on age-related working memory performance. Two experiments examining younger and older adults are reported. ANOVA results of the first experiment showed age effects in both a standard operation span and a contextual task of parallel structure (air travel task). The second experiment also revealed a significant age effect in a standard operation span task. However, there was no age difference in a contextual task providing additional visual context (rail travel task), mainly due to older adults being unaffected by task type manipulation and younger adults performing worse in the contextual than in the standard task. The present research suggests that contextual task material may not necessarily le... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2490339 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:04:38 +0100 2490339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2460173&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F136246631201531n%2F Content Type Journal ArticleCategory EditorialDOI 10.1007/s10433-009-0117-9Authors Alan Walker, University of Sheffield Department of Social Policy and Social Gerontology Sheffield UKAriela Lowenstein, The University of Haifa Center for Research and Study of Aging, Department of Masters of Gerontology, Faculty of Welfare and Health Sciences 31950 Haifa Israel Journal European Journal of AgeingOnline ISSN 1613-9380Print ISSN 1613-9372 (Source: European Journal of Ageing) European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2460173 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:50:36 +0100 2460173 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2384088&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F706p712760543412%2F This study investigated age effects in prospective memory performance within older adults. The first aim was to explore this issue by examining event- and time-based prospective memory performance in two age groups: young-old (60–75 years) and old-old adults (76–90 years). Moreover, this study for the first time investigated whether forming implementation intentions could be used to improve prospective memory in young-old and old-old adults. Results showed a general effect of age in prospective memory performance for both task types. In addition, no general effect of implementation intentions in prospective memory performance across both task types and age groups was found. However, testing implementation intention effects separately for both age groups revealed that th... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2384088 Fri, 01 May 2009 06:44:42 +0100 2384088 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343705&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fc700873571248354%2F Abstract  With the present research, we further exploited the potential of the ENABLE-AGE Project, more precisely the Swedish and German data. We hypothesised that the magnitude of accessibility problems (MAP) in the home environment and external housing-related control beliefs (HCB) play a substantial role for a range of outcomes related to quality of life. Our sample at T1 consisted of 847 single-living and community-dwelling individuals aged between 80 and 89 years, from urban regions in Sweden and Germany, 636 of whom were re-assessed 1 year later. MAP was measured with the Housing Enabler instrument, while external HCB assessment was based on a questionnaire proved useful in earlier research. Outcomes were assessed with established measures of ADL independence... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343705 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 06:04:19 +0100 2343705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343707&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F3xgg7jt019586662%2F This study addresses the links between different dimensions of intergenerational family relations (solidarity, conflict, and ambivalence) and subjective well-being (life satisfaction, and positive and negative affects) of older people (aged 75+) using a comparative perspective from a random urban sample in five countries (Norway, England, Germany, Spain, and Israel). Comparative descriptive analyses and multivariate models are presented. Three general conclusions can be drawn. First, the country variables contributed significantly to the explained variance for all three components of well-being, where Israel was most different from the other four countries, except for positive affects, for which Spain and Israel differed from Norway, England, and Germany. However, the countries expla... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343707 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 06:04:18 +0100 2343707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2343706&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F328526432hpt9182%2F This study presents a multi-dimensional model of care-related quality of life (crQoL) and, based on analyses of three Finnish cross-sectional datasets from the years 2004–2007, examines the distinctions between dimensions of QoL by age and gender, with a special focus on older home care clients. Correlation analyses (Pearson) and stepwise linear regression were applied to analyse variation in QoL by age group and the association between QoL and perceived quality of home care. The results suggest that individual QoL and the priorities of (physical, psychical, social, and environmental) dimensions in the assessment of QoL by older persons vary considerably and exhibit distinct profiles in different stages of ageing. In addition, four dimensions for good care corresponding to the crQo... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2343706 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 06:04:18 +0100 2343706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2333902&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fjrp476302235v006%2F Abstract  Demographic transitions are a driver of social change and societal ageing influences the resources and chances in life of different age groups. As a contribution to the debate on (potential) results of the transformation of social security in ageing societies, the impact of social security systems on distributions of quality of life in later life is discussed. Quality of life is introduced as a helpful concept to answer the paper’s research questions: How are levels of quality of life in later life and the variability of objective and subjective quality of life indicators related to welfare state arrangements? What is the relevance of social structure indicators for this variability, how is it related to old age security, and what can be learned for the perspect... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2333902 Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:04:04 +0100 2333902 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2333903&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fqt2m0q2221062g0j%2F Abstract  In this paper, we present empirical results for the very old (75+) concerning transitions between independent living in ordinary home without public support, independent living in ordinary home or special accommodations with home help and home health care, and living in around the clock care. We investigate the role of age and gender, dependency in activities of daily living (ADL) and the informal support from a partner. We also study mortality conditional on the above-mentioned variables and on the mode of old age care. The results show that the propensity to move to a more intensive mode of care is less for males, higher with more limitations in personal ADL and increasing with age. There is also a stabilizing effect of the availability of informal care support,... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2333903 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 05:48:46 +0100 2333903 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2308998&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fc4m8166512315502%2F Abstract  The focus in this paper is on the social domain of quality of life, and more particularly loneliness. The empirical literature on older adult loneliness is reviewed, thereby challenging three often-held assumptions that figure prominently in public debates on loneliness. The first assumption that loneliness is a problem specifically for older people finds only partial support. Loneliness is common only among the very old. The second assumption is that people in individualistic societies are most lonely. Contrary to this belief, findings show that older adults in northern European countries tend to be less lonely than those in the more familialistic southern European countries. The scarce data on Central and Eastern Europe suggest a high prevalence of older adult l... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2308998 Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:08:31 +0100 2308998 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2309000&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F417um73917r43416%2F Discussion is focused on paradoxes faced by siblings given expectations for equity in parent relationships alongside perceived pre-eminence in care and asset decisions. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationDOI 10.1007/s10433-009-0109-9Authors Bonnie Lashewicz, Grant MacEwan College Faculty of Health and Community Studies South Campus, Room 176, 7319, 29 Avenue Edmonton AB T6K 2P1 CanadaNorah Keating, University of Alberta Research on Aging, Policies and Practice, Department of Human Ecology 3-02 Human Ecology Building Edmonton AB T6G 2N1 Canada Journal European Journal of AgeingOnline ISSN 1613-9380Print ISSN 1613-9372 (Source: European Journal of Ageing) European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2309000 Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:08:30 +0100 2309000 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2263669&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fe4672ht752600255%2F Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Acknowledgement to ReviewersDOI 10.1007/s10433-009-0105-0 Journal European Journal of AgeingOnline ISSN 1613-9380Print ISSN 1613-9372 Journal Volume Volume 6 Journal Issue Volume 6, Number 1 / March, 2009 (Source: European Journal of Ageing) European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2263669 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:06:04 +0100 2263669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2226585&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fg8485820547r4kg8%2F Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Critical Positions in Ageing ResearchDOI 10.1007/s10433-009-0108-xAuthors Alfonso J. Cruz-Jentoft, Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal Servicio de Geriatria Madrid SpainAlain Franco, CHU de Grenoble Departement de Medecine Geriatrique et Communautaire Grenoble FrancePascal Sommer, CNRS, Universite Lyon Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Proteines Lyon FranceJean-Pierre Baeyens, AZ Damiaan Hospital Oostende BelgiumEwa Jankowska, Military Hospital Wroclaw PolandAdriana Maggi, University of Milan Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases Milan ItalyPiotr Ponikowski, Military Hospital Wroclaw PolandAndrzej Ryś, Public Health and Risk Assessment at Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection (... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2226585 Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:53:25 +0100 2226585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3098138&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fah848t7g23q21w30%2F The European Journal of Ageing develops successfully: impressions at the start of volume 6 Content Type Journal ArticleCategory EditorialDOI 10.1007/s10433-009-0106-zAuthors Hans-Werner Wahl, University of Heidelberg Department of Psychological Ageing Research, Institute of Psychology Bergheimer Straße 20 69115 Heidelberg GermanyDorly J. H. Deeg, VU University Medical Center Van der Boechorstraat 7 1081 BT Amsterdam The Netherlands Journal European Journal of AgeingOnline ISSN 1613-9380Print ISSN 1613-9372 Journal Volume Volume 6 Journal Issue Volume 6, Number 1 / March, 2009 (Source: European Journal of Ageing) European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3098138 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:33:47 +0100 3098138 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2221485&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fah848t7g23q21w30%2F Content Type Journal ArticleCategory EditorialDOI 10.1007/s10433-009-0106-zAuthors Hans-Werner Wahl, University of Heidelberg Department of Psychological Ageing Research, Institute of Psychology Bergheimer Straße 20 69115 Heidelberg GermanyDorly J. H. Deeg, VU University Medical Center Van der Boechorstraat 7 1081 BT Amsterdam The Netherlands Journal European Journal of AgeingOnline ISSN 1613-9380Print ISSN 1613-9372 (Source: European Journal of Ageing) European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2221485 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:33:47 +0100 2221485 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2215603&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fq261887811617771%2F Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Critical Positions in Ageing ResearchDOI 10.1007/s10433-009-0107-yAuthors Rocio Fernandez-Ballesteros, University of Madrid Department of Biological Psychology and Health, School of Psychology Madrid SpainPeter A. Frensch, Humboldt University Department of Psychology Berlin GermanyScott M. Hofer, Oregon State University Center for Healthy Aging Research Centre Corvallis USADenise C. Park, University of Texas at Dallas Clinical Brain Science Dallas USAMartin Pinquart, Philipps University Department of Psychology Marburg GermanyRainer K. Silbereisen, University of Jena Department of Psychology, Center for Applied Developmental Science (CADS) Jena GermanyUrsula M. Staudinger, Jacobs University Center on Lifelong Learning and Institutional Development B... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2215603 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:49:28 +0100 2215603 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2032429&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F2344k11447r7885w%2F Abstract  In research literature, the question to what extent specific personality traits and health functioning in midlife can predict physical and psychological well-being in old age is still discussed controversially. The present study aims to shed light on this issue by using data from the Basel Longitudinal Study on Ageing. Structural equation modelling was performed in order to test the relation between personality dimensions, namely, self-preoccupation and emotional reactivity, as well as cardiovascular functioning (blood pressure) and medication intake (tranquilizer use) in middle age on psychological and physical well-being and health as assessed in old age 24 years later. Results show that high levels of self-preoccupation in middle age are negatively related... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2032429 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 07:57:02 +0100 2032429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2032428&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fj14m464837734021%2F This article adds to the literature on the ‘supply side’ of informal care, by examining the socio-demographic determinants of co-resident and extra-resident informal caregiving. Results from the population survey “Care in Flanders” (N = 2826), provide evidence for a different relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and informal caregiving, according to the location of care. Women, persons living without children and married (vs. unmarried) persons are more likely to be involved in extra-resident care. Involvement in co-resident care on the other hand, is more common among persons in less good health and sharing a household with someone other than a spouse or child, mostly a parent. The relationship between socio-demographic factors and care intensity i... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2032428 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 07:57:02 +0100 2032428 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2016379&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fkjx415671p105797%2F Abstract  Socioeconomic status differentials in health are well documented. Less is known about the socioeconomic variation in health in older people, and in older women in particular. The aim of the study was to examine the association between socioeconomic status and health in older women in relation to two indicators of socioeconomic status and three measures of health, and further, to investigate whether socioeconomic differences in health increase or decrease with advancing age. Data from a cross-sectional population based health survey inviting all women ≥70 years were analysed; 6,380 women aged 70–103 years participated. Logistic regression was applied to analyse variation in health by socioeconomic status. Disadvantaged socioeconomic status (i.e. lower ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2016379 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:10:10 +0100 2016379 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2004462&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Ftm4773pgm43wg3k1%2F Abstract  With the considerable changes in population age-profiles, the preventive care of older people is becoming more and more important. We analyse the long-term effect of the provision of home care on the recipient’s ability to perform the activities of daily living (ADLs) and upon aspects of their well-being. Using regression analysis on a set of Danish longitudinal data featuring people aged 67–77 we estimate the effect of home care while controlling for initial health, including initial ADL ability and well-being, along with demographic and socioeconomic conditions. We find no effect of home care on ADL ability in women; results for men, however, indicate a negative association. The provision of home care has an insignificant effect on women’s well-being, but ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2004462 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:08:20 +0100 2004462 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1944817&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fyv16155t3l358010%2F Abstract  Lifestyle risk factors are important precursors of old age disease and disability, and the population level impact of these factors likely differs across countries that vary in their economic growth and the attributes of the populations that adopt and abandon unhealthy lifestyles. This paper describes the stage of “lifestyle transition” among older adults in two countries with vastly different trajectories of socio-economic development. A series of hypotheses are proposed on the socioeconomic patterns of health risk factors that would be expected in the two countries, given their economic circumstances and the historical timing of policy interventions that were initiated to mitigate lifestyle risks in these populations. The paper compares the prevalence of smo... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1944817 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:34:36 +0100 1944817 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1929685&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fh784131826707573%2F This study aims to cover different disability dimensions by using data from different French population surveys. We computed ten disability-free life expectancies, based on both specific and generic disability indicators from four population health surveys, in order to describe and compare trends and patterns for France over the 1980s and the 1990s. We used the Sullivan method to combine prevalence of disability and life tables. In 2000, two thirds of total LE at age 65 are years with physical or sensory functional limitations and 10% are years with restrictions in personal care activities. Trends in DFLE over the two last decades seem to have remained stable for moderate levels of disability and to have increased for more severe levels of disability or activity restrictions. We found... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1929685 Sat, 01 Nov 2008 07:00:17 +0100 1929685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1926230&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fx1150p22g0j1100u%2F In conclusion, age and time to death have different effects depending on the type of care studied, and individual-based longitudinal data gives a very different picture of care utilisation among the oldest old compared to cross-sectional data. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationDOI 10.1007/s10433-008-0099-zAuthors Kristina Larsson, Karolinska Institutet/Stockholm University Department of Social Work, Aging Research Center Gävlegatan 16 113 30 Stockholm SwedenIngemar Kåreholt, Karolinska Institutet/Stockholm University Aging Research Center Gävlegatan 16 113 30 Stockholm SwedenMats Thorslund, Karolinska Institutet/Stockholm University Aging Research Center Gävlegatan 16 113 30 Stockholm Sweden Journal European Journal of AgeingOnline ISSN 1613-9380P... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1926230 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 07:21:25 +0100 1926230 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1917598&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F008wm720w9308532%2F Abstract  Record life expectancy does not appear to be approaching its limit—it is still increasing, as is the maximum life span. An important question is whether the longer life is accompanied by an increasing lifetime in good health. The aim of the study was to determine the trends in health expectancy at age 65 in Denmark during the period 1987–2005, including the end of a period of stagnation (until 1995) and the beginning of a new period with increasing life expectancy (after 1994). The study was based on nationwide register data on mortality and data on health status from the Danish Health Interview Surveys carried out in 1987, 1994, 2000, and 2005. Expected lifetime in various health states was estimated with Sullivan’s method. Life expectancy at age 65 increas... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1917598 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 06:15:22 +0100 1917598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1917597&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F8331321215357202%2F This study looks at ages 65–84 (n ≈ 3,000 per year) and presents prevalence rates for functional ability (walking and running ability, vision and hearing, and disability) for different age groups and for men and women. Prevalence rates of functional problems increase with age, for all indicators and for men and women. With the exception of hearing, women have poorer function than men. Different function indicators showed different trends over time. For example, vision (reading text) improved over the studied time period, while hearing (a conversation between two or more people) showed a clear worsening over the time period. Seen over the entire time period 1980–2005, mobility items (running, walking) and disability indicators showed improvement. However, figures sugge... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1917597 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 06:15:22 +0100 1917597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1910990&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F075h231kh0222660%2F Content Type Journal ArticleCategory ReviewDOI 10.1007/s10433-008-0095-3Authors Sandra L. Reynolds, University of South Florida School of Aging Studies 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, MHC 1344 Tampa FL 33620 USA Journal European Journal of AgeingOnline ISSN 1613-9380Print ISSN 1613-9372 (Source: European Journal of Ageing) European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1910990 Sat, 25 Oct 2008 08:35:51 +0100 1910990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1900388&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fmq8837726t055h5t%2F Abstract  Knowledge of the determinants of use of formal home-based services among older people is of particular importance for predicting the need for and cost of care in the future. The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of formal and informal help among community-dwelling older people and to assess the determinants of home-based formal help, with a special emphasis on the frequency of help from spouse, from children and other relatives and friends. We used nationally representative cross-sectional data from 1,166 community-dwelling Finnish persons aged 70–99. Determinants of formal help were assessed with logistic regression models. Receiving formal help was most strongly related to need factors such as age and functional capacity. Adjusted for need factor... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1900388 Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:13:07 +0100 1900388 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1805701&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fyvlh637k73q84208%2F Abstract  The aim of this study was to examine if there are differences in self-rated health (SRH) between older people in St. Petersburg, Russia, and Tampere, Finland. Two SRH measures were examined: a global measure without any frame of reference, and an age-comparative SRH with an explicitly elicited reference of age peers. The Tampere data, consisting of 737 60–89-year-old respondents, came from the Tampere Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TamELSA) in 1989. The St. Petersburg data, consisting of 1,168 people aged 60–89 years, came from the Planning of Medical and Social Services within Elder Care in St. Petersburg project (IPSE) in 2000. In both cities the data were collected by same structured questionnaire. Self-rated health, both global and comparative, was bet... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1805701 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:22:13 +0100 1805701 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1759064&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F1507081w76035l04%2F Abstract  The Disablement Process model proposes a pathway for how chronic diseases in late life can lead to disability, with the variables in the main pathway designated as pathology, impairment, functional limitations, and disability. The model also suggests that psychosocial and contextual variables in the periphery of the model affect disability outcomes. The current study included 149 Swedish adults aged 86, 90, or 94 living in the community or in institutions who answered questions and performed tasks of physical and cognitive ability. A series of regressions were used to test the mediating role of variables within the main pathway of the model, as well as the ability of psychosocial variables to mediate main pathway relationships. Results indicated that physical limi... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1759064 Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:13:07 +0100 1759064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1749658&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fe7611540584k38u7%2F Abstract  By emphasising the involvement of elderly people in a project applying a mixed-method approach, the overriding objective of this study was to identify and prioritise concrete measures aimed at increasing accessibility and safety in the outdoor pedestrian environment within a residential area of a Swedish town. Measures generally given priority were: the separation of pedestrians/cyclists, lower speed limits, better maintenance and specific measures in pedestrian walkways such as wider sidewalks, curb levels and form and more even surfaces on pavements. Definition of these priorities offered knowledge to the highway department concerning the importance of small details in relation to the larger infrastructure. The elderly people in the study district found new ways... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1749658 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 16:27:16 +0100 1749658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1741955&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fv4k0j2k2p25580kx%2F Abstract  According to several theoretical models, crises or demands can result in enhanced cognitive maturity. Two studies examined whether demands on caregivers provide an opportunity to experience increased cognitive maturity (e.g., cognitive complexity, personal growth through caregiving). In Study 1 (126 relatives of dementia patients; cross-sectional design), personal growth through caregiving was associated with two specific caregiving demands: duration of caregiving and lack of social acknowledgment. Cognitive complexity correlated with duration of caregiving and crystallized intelligence. The caregivers in the second study (N = 321) were participants in LEANDER, The Longitudinal Dementia Caregiver Stress Study. Caregivers were examined in four waves over ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1741955 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:50:28 +0100 1741955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1733176&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fg301p196g7684284%2F This study draws on an evolutionary model of exchange in relationships to examine the nature of perceived reciprocity in the context of kin and non-kin relationships among a sample of visually impaired older adults (age 63–99). Further, we examined the direct and moderating impact of functional impairment and adaptation to visual impairment on the nature of perceived reciprocity. Results showed that the greater the degree of genetic relatedness the more imbalanced the exchange. It was also found that degree of adaptation to visual impairment moderated the association between genetic relatedness and perceived exchange, such that the greater the degree of genetic relatedness the more people reported they gave rather than received except at very low levels of adaptation, when people r... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1733176 Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:42:17 +0100 1733176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1729145&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F34545g5770275613%2F Abstract  The aim of the present study was to identify predictors for initial uptake and adherence with the use of hip protectors when offering hip protectors free of charge to nursing-home residents. An 18 months prospective follow up study was carried out in 18 Norwegian nursing homes. One thousand two hundred and thirty-six residents were included in the study of which 604 started to use a hip protector. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify predictors for the initial uptake. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify predictors for adherence. A stepwise backward strategy was used in both the logistic and in the Cox regression. The effect of nursing homes as clusters was adjusted for in the analysis. The uptake rate among all reside... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1729145 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:37:33 +0100 1729145 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1729146&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F40527645144pv788%2F Abstract  A study involving older New Zealanders (aged 65+) explored levels of life satisfaction reported by groups with and without impaired vision as well as factors contributing to and detracting from quality of life (QOL). Those with impaired vision (n = 135) had a visual acuity of 6/24 (i.e., 20/80) or worse in the better eye with corrective lenses, or a field of vision not greater than 20° at its widest diameter and had a mean age of 82.3 (SD = 6.76). Those with no significant impairment of vision (n = 425) were able read newsprint and legally drive and had a mean age of 74 (SD = 6.49). Overall, those with impaired vision reported a significantly lower level of life satisfaction in comparison to their sighted peers. There was a s... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1729146 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:33:06 +0100 1729146 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1722923&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F6194837733jxt478%2F Abstract  The purpose was to analyze whether psychological characteristics and social relations in older men and women were related to accepting and receiving preventive home visits during 3 years, when offered as part of a national scheme. The study was based on secondary data from the Danish Intervention Study on Preventive Home Visits in 34 municipalities. The study population included 3,377 men and women who answered questions about psychological characteristics and social relations at baseline, survived and took part in the three year follow-up study. Number of preventive home visits was registered during 3 years in a specially designed software installed in the municipalities. Psychological characteristics were measured by questions on sadness, aggressi... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1722923 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:03:47 +0100 1722923 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1722924&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fd620km870tw018j8%2F Abstract  Proactive self-management is likely to be part of resource maintenance and well-being in later life, but empirical evidence is scarce. Therefore, we investigated (a) whether self-management ability (SMA) is associated with lower resource deficits, and (b) whether it is related directly and indirectly to life satisfaction (LS), positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). Regression and mediational analyses (N = 439, aged 65 years and older), showed that SMA related to resource deficits, and had direct associations with the three well-being indicators. Indirect associations—via lower resource deficits—were found for LS, whereas the association between SMA and PA was mostly a direct one, being mediated only to a small extent by physical resource ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1722924 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:03:45 +0100 1722924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1670919&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fx71545m6127u568r%2F Abstract  The University of Queensland Quality of Life instrument (UQQoL) was developed to provide a quantitative measure sensitive to the impact of increased exercise on the quality of life (QoL) of older individuals. This paper describes the development and testing of the UQQoL including an exploratory study of focus group interviews with 18 participants aged 65 and over, item development and selection, and instrument piloting with groups of older adults undergoing high-intensity training. The SF-36, another established QoL tool, was also administered at the same time points for comparative purposes. The UQQoL displayed good convergent validity with selected SF-36 domains. A significant change in QoL following training was found, complementing functional improvements. Thi... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1670919 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:14:03 +0100 1670919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1563238&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fgj441626l8101403%2F Abstract  This paper examines the digital divide in Internet use in later life. We hypothesise that the differential diffusion of domestic information and communication technologies between pre- and post-Second World War cohorts is primarily responsible for this divide rather than either age-associated structural inequalities or age-related intrinsic features of mental and/or physical infirmity. Using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing we show that age/cohort differences in Internet use persist after income, education, employment and health status are controlled for. However, when engagement with domestic information and communication technology and cultural activities are taken into account, age/cohort influences on Internet use decline. These contingent �... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1563238 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:56:42 +0100 1563238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1466707&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fu33w18708776130v%2F This article examines neighbourhood influences on loneliness, using multiple classification analysis on comparable empirical data collected in the UK and the Netherlands. UK data arise from a survey of 501 people aged 60+ in deprived neighbourhoods of three English cities. Netherlands data derive from the NESTOR Living Arrangements and Social Network survey, with a sub-sample of 3,508 people aged 60+ drawn from a nationally representative sample of older people, living in 11 municipalities. Both surveys incorporated the 11-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. In addition to neighbourhood characteristics and indicators of health and social embeddedness, a typology of eight groups of persons was developed that accounted for individuals’ age, sex, and partner status. While 13% of p... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1466707 Thu, 22 May 2008 05:53:01 +0100 1466707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1463225&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fe26r762251441980%2F Abstract  The aims of the study were to describe (1) the need for help as well as the use and costs of services of home help and/or home nursing (home care) and (2) to identify the variables associated with the use and costs of health and social care services. A total of 721 Finnish home-care clients were interviewed in 2001. The need for help was assessed by basic and instrumental activities of daily Living (ADL) and in terms of pain and illness, rest and sleep, psychosocial well-being and social and environment variables. The Anderson–Newman model was used to study predictors of use of services, including visits of home-care personnel and visits to the doctor, nurse, physiotherapist, laboratory and hospital. Weekly costs of services were calculated. Data were analyzed u... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1463225 Wed, 21 May 2008 05:51:35 +0100 1463225 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1463226&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fm326140v029jl163%2F The objective is to assess if longer life in Belgium is associated with more healthy years through the evaluation of trends (1997–2004) in health expectancy indicators at ages 65 and 80 covering different health domains: self-perceived health, chronic morbidity, disease clusters, and disability. Information was obtained from Belgian Health Interview Surveys. Health expectancies were calculated using the Sullivan method. Among males at age 65, the increase in years expected to live without chronic morbidity, without a disease cluster or without disability exceeded the increase of the life expectancy (LE). The rise in LE in good self-perceived health was equal to the gain in LE. Among women at age 65 and among men and women at age 80, none of the changes in the expected years of life... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1463226 Tue, 20 May 2008 06:18:23 +0100 1463226 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1460581&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F7361697121777367%2F This study explored whether volunteering is protective of an important adverse health outcome in later life, that of fall-related hip fracture, utilising data from a case control study of 387 participants. The results showed that volunteer activity in older age remained significantly protective of hip fracture risk [OR: 0.61 (0.38–0.99)], independent of social and physical activity, social support and health status, supporting the hypothesis of a relationship between the concepts of productive and healthy ageing. Whilst further studies are clearly needed to establish causality, these results suggest that health benefits of volunteering in later life might be more extensive than previous studies have shown. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationDOI 10.1007/s1... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1460581 Sat, 17 May 2008 06:15:57 +0100 1460581 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1450105&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fd2n476l223w6r584%2F Abstract  The aim of this study was to examine the net balance of transfers between persons aged 50 and older and their family, taking into account both the exchange of money and the exchange of practical assistance (time). Toward this end, a unique net balance outcome measure was computed by costing the value of time transfers into wage equivalents. The study made use of data from the first wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), and focused upon intergenerational exchange in two specific countries: Germany and Israel. The descriptive findings show that—up to an age of about 80 years—the elderly are net providers of help. The outcome variable was next regressed on a set of relevant predictors identified in the literature on intergene... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1450105 Fri, 16 May 2008 06:03:01 +0100 1450105 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1366379&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F3533041938718w2m%2F Abstract  Various studies have pointed to the great importance of subjective health as an indicator for mortality in older age, while less is known about factors that contribute to changes of subjective (self-rated) health over time. Based on a nationwide longitudinal survey (German Ageing Survey, N = 1,286; initial age 40–85), two major findings emerged: first, the incidence of a serious health event caused greater changes in subjective health and life satisfaction in middle compared to older age. This was as expected because serious health events are less common in middle age and are correspondingly experienced more often as an “off-time event”. Secondly, the study extended previous findings on the impact of a positive view of ageing on health by showing th... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1366379 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:49:17 +0100 1366379 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1241340&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F21p6662r68728573%2F Content Type Journal ArticleCategory EditorialDOI 10.1007/s10433-008-0075-7Authors Dorly J. H. Deeg, VU University Medical Center Van der Boechorststraat 7 1081 BT Amsterdam The NetherlandsHans-Werner Wahl, University of Heidelberg Institute of Psychology, Department of Psychological Ageing Research Bergheimer Strasse 20 69115 Heidelberg Germany Journal European Journal of AgeingOnline ISSN 1613-9380Print ISSN 1613-9372 (Source: European Journal of Ageing) European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1241340 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 05:24:40 +0100 1241340 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1241339&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fa138858p32qt2035%2F This article presents the results of projections of older people’s living arrangements in 2030 in nine European countries. It analyses expected changes due to future trends in health and marital status. Future changes in the marital status of the older people will result in a higher proportion living in their own homes: women in each age group will more often grow old living with their partner, and this will also apply, to a lesser extent, to men aged 85 and over. Both men and women will be less likely to live alone, with people other than a partner, or in institutions. But for men aged 74–84 the likelihood of choosing one or another type of living arrangement will remain remarkably stable in the future. Further, an improvement in health will lead to older people living alone sli... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1241339 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 05:24:40 +0100 1241339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1231622&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Ft0t6h11k64354r58%2F Abstract  In this paper we aim to reach beyond the dyadic perspective on intergenerational contact and examine the influence of the sibling network on parent–child contact. We include aggregate sibling network characteristics as well as the adult child’s position in the network vis-à-vis siblings, and use data from the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study (2002–2004 NKPS; N = 4,601 dyads). Regarding aggregate network characteristics results show that having sisters, having stepsiblings, increasing geographical distance between siblings, and decreasing levels of network cohesion are associated with less contact per parent–child dyad. Regarding the position of the adult child vis-à-vis his or her siblings, results show that having geographically or emotionally c... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1231622 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:09:16 +0100 1231622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1231621&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F32xn547028663n15%2F Abstract  The relation between social support and mental health has been thoroughly researched and structural characteristics of the social network have been widely recognised as being an important component of social support. The aim of this paper is to clarify the association between children and depressive mood states of their older parents. Based on international comparative data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe we analysed how the number of children, their proximity and the frequency of contact between older parents and their children are associated with the mental health of older people, using the EURO-D index. Our results indicate a positive association of children and depressive mood since childless men and women report more depressive sympt... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1231621 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:09:16 +0100 1231621 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1231620&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fj01217um26336234%2F Abstract  The aim of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the WHOQOL–BREF, a generic quality of life scale, among older people in Canada and Norway. Very similar data from the Canadian and Norwegian Field Trial data (Canada n = 192; Norway, n = 469) were analyzed and compared. Higher negatively skewed mean scores were found for all WHOQOL–BREF domains in Canada. For both study samples, missing values were highest for the sex item from the social domain. Ceiling effects were found (Canada n = 21; Norway n = 11) primarily among items in the physical and environmental domains. In both study samples, a multitrait multimethod procedure indicated items correlated most strongly with their parent domains; however, equal... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1231620 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:09:16 +0100 1231620 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1224732&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fk8275168727633q7%2F Abstract  Decreases in Swedish home help services have not resulted in increased rates of unmet need. To understand these changes, we identified predictors of home help services and rates of institutional care and how these effects changed over time using longitudinal data (1994–2000) from 286 Swedish municipalities. Outcomes were home help coverage rates, intensity of home help per recipient, and rates of institutional living. Predictors reflected availability and need for services. Services decreased over time, but not uniformly. Coverage rates were higher in municipalities with a greater proportion of population 65 and older and greater proportion of unmarried elders. Decreases in coverage rates were greater in municipalities with a higher proportion of unmarried elder... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1224732 Sun, 10 Feb 2008 03:03:13 +0100 1224732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1224731&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fu61r1655253410kh%2F Abstract  This research determines if the case management for health primary care means changes in: (a) frequency of use of social and health care resources, (b) number of patients visiting a doctor or social worker in the primary care centre, and visits that these professionals receive, (c) number of drugs consumed, (d) urgent hospital admittances which did not need significant intervention and (e) patients’ and caregivers’ satisfaction towards the social and health care resources received. The data were gathered with a questionnaire elaborated by the Administration and supervised by researchers. One hundred and fifty-two older dependent patients receiving home care in 2004, in a health department of the Valencia Region (Spain) collaborated. Results show: (a) Increase ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1224731 Sun, 10 Feb 2008 03:03:13 +0100 1224731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1113776&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fu4tv60226640q225%2F Abstract  Preventive home visits to older home-dwelling people have been part of national policy in Denmark since 1996. The aim was to evaluate whether education of home visitors and GPs was associated with hospital admission rates. In a population-based prospective controlled intervention trial in 34 municipalities, intervention municipality visitors received regular education during 3 years and GPs were introduced to a short assessment programme. Participation totalled 4,034 75- and 80-year-old home-dwelling persons, of which 3,132 (78%) had no mobility disability at baseline. Complete data on hospital services were obtained for all participants. No difference was observed in time to first admission between older people living in the intervention municipalities compa... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1113776 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:08:57 +0100 1113776 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1026713&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F80896n132q728jkq%2F Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Acknowledgement to ReviewersDOI 10.1007/s10433-007-0068-y Journal European Journal of AgeingOnline ISSN 1613-9380Print ISSN 1613-9372 Journal Volume Volume 4 Journal Issue Volume 4, Number 4 / December, 2007 (Source: European Journal of Ageing) European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1026713 Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:12:26 +0100 1026713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1004826&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F522277l352453571%2F Abstract  Due to decreased functional capacity as well as high environmental demands there is a risk of diminishing activity outside home in very old age (age 80+). In order to explore differences according to functional limitations (FL) among very old people with respect to frequency of activity, perceived health, overall perception of neighbourhood environment, and perceived problems in the pedestrian environment, data derived from a postal questionnaire survey to very old people living in an urban area in Sweden were used. This explorative study is based on the sub-sample of people aged 80+ who reported outdoor activities (n = 97). Four groups of respondents with different types of FL were identified: with no FL (n = 23), with only movement-related FL ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1004826 Sat, 03 Nov 2007 14:47:22 +0100 1004826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=991333&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fg0q7578u61n50t1u%2F Abstract  If offline older citizens remain offline they will become increasingly disadvantaged from a socio-ecological point of view, as the Internet’s societal pervasiveness progresses. We study reasons for non-use and the frequency, intensity, and, the socio-demographic correlates of Internet use of older citizens in Europe. Theoretical relationships on the individual and societal level are ascertained. The Eurobarometer of 2003 offers a range of variables to explore the diffusion of Internet technology among 55+ year-old people in Europe. Descriptive statistics and population average models are used to identify the correlates of Internet access. Within the population segment of older citizens, age continues to have a differentiating effect, net of marital, occupational,... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=991333 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 14:34:52 +0100 991333 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=958543&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fc15575t575q11m6h%2F Abstract  Instruments with acceptable measurement properties that support their application to older adults across a range of settings need to be identified. A narrative literature review of empirical studies investigating the conceptualization and measurement of quality of life (QoL) among older adults from 1994 to 2006 was performed. The review focused on evidence provided for conceptual frameworks, QoL definitions, types of measurements utilized and their psychometric properties. Two searches were conducted. The first search conducted in 2004 used Cinahl, Medline, PsycInfo, Embase and Cochrane databases. A supplemental search was conducted in December 2006, which included these bases from 2004 to 2006, and Sociological Abstracts and Anthropological literature base. The r... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=958543 Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:37:17 +0100 958543 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=946675&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F467367447108q873%2F In conclusion, this supports the assumption that inhibitory deficits contribute to age-related working memory performance. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationDOI 10.1007/s10433-007-0066-0Authors Melanie Zeintl, Dresden University of Technology Department of Psychology Zellescher Weg 17 01062 Dresden GermanyMatthias Kliegel, Dresden University of Technology Department of Psychology Zellescher Weg 17 01062 Dresden Germany Journal European Journal of AgeingOnline ISSN 1613-9380Print ISSN 1613-9372 (Source: European Journal of Ageing) European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=946675 Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:20:50 +0100 946675 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=946674&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fu6npx635x3797420%2F Abstract  Family members and friends are important for the psychological well being of older adults. The present study examined the relative contribution of these two sources of support to life satisfaction among Chinese older adults living in Hong Kong. The moderating role of familism, which represents the commitment of family members to the family, was also examined. One hundred and eight Chinese older adults participated in the study. Findings suggest that, in general, family support contributes more to the life satisfaction of older adults than does friend support. While emotional support from family members is beneficial to life satisfaction of older adults regardless of individual differences in familism, instrumental support contributes more to life satisfaction for ... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=946674 Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:20:50 +0100 946674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=827376&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fv776175455x75567%2F This study aims to investigate organisational structures and processes in relation to preventive home visits. As part of a randomised controlled trial investigating whether educational intervention towards municipality health care professionals could enhance active life expectancy, information of municipality leadership, home visit approach, strengths and limitations of communication within the organisation were obtained using individual and focus group interviews. Thirty-four municipalities in four counties participated. Data was systematically condensed using a phenomenological approach upon which general patterns were categorised into a theory-based formal typology of the preventive home visitation management in the municipalities. Three distinct strategies for preventive home vis... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=827376 Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:59:00 +0100 827376 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=827375&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fc8m14ln75421g1v7%2F Abstract  As they approach retirement, Europeans in mid-life display a range of living arrangements and marital patterns. These configurations influence labour force participation for men and women in different ways and these differences are accentuated between countries. Using data from the first Wave (2004) of the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), the paper examines the relationship between living arrangements, marital patterns, family configurations and participation in the labour force for the birth cohort of 1945–1954. The data show that the probability of being in paid employment was higher for respondents living in a couple in northern Europe than in southern Europe. In all countries, men in a couple had significantly higher employment rate... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=827375 Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:52:25 +0100 827375 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=802047&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Ft4w4027703x53286%2F Abstract  A preventive home visitation scheme has been part of Danish legislation since 1996. The aim of this study was to describe functional trajectories of older home-dwelling people, and to identify whether education of the preventive home visitation staff and individual risk factors were related to specific functional decline patterns. The study is a secondary analysis of a population-based prospective controlled cohort study. Participation totalled 3,129 non-disabled 75- and 80-year-old men and women without mobility disability at baseline living in 34 municipalities. Self-reported functional ability was measured at baseline and after 1�, 3 and 4� years follow-up. No functional decline was seen in 58% of the participants. A total of 17% developed catastrophic decl... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=802047 Wed, 15 Aug 2007 06:52:34 +0100 802047 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=802048&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2Fj282486n70q11472%2F The objective was to investigate whether a 3-year educational intervention towards primary health care professionals had effect on change in tiredness in daily activities during a 3-year intervention period in non-disabled older adults. The design was a controlled 3-year intervention study in 34 Danish municipalities with randomization and intervention at municipality level. The 17 intervention municipality visitors received regular education and general practitioners were introduced to a short assessment program. The effect was measured among old non-disabled individuals living in the municipalities by a validated scale on tiredness in daily activities at baseline and at the end of the intervention period. In total 2,515, 75- and 80-year-old men and women participated in all parts o... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=802048 Wed, 15 Aug 2007 06:52:33 +0100 802048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=799853&cid=s_33416_18_f&fid=33416&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springerlink.com%2Fcontent%2F844xm5t52n40701t%2F The objectives were to investigate in older adults (1) whether regular preventive home visits are associated with change or stability in physical activity and (2) whether education of home visitors influences stability and change in physical activity. The design was a prospective controlled randomised follow-up study with randomization at municipality level (17 intervention and 17 control municipalities) and outcomes measured at individual level. Visitors in the intervention-municipalities received regular education during 3 years. The effect of the intervention was measured by a questionnaire survey among 1,913 old persons living in the 34 municipalities at baseline and 4�-year follow-up. Changes in physical activity were measured through self-reported frequencies of vigorous... European Journal of Ageing journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=799853 Tue, 14 Aug 2007 07:29:29 +0100 799853