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Using Massage to Reduce Use of Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs With Older Adults A Brief Report From a Pilot StudyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Despite known adverse effects, sedative-hypnotic drugs (SHDs) are widely used in institutional settings serving the elderly. Using a 2 (Intervention, Control) x 3 (Baseline, Intervention, Withdrawal) mixed design with random assignment to the intervention (n = 15) or control (n = 13) group, the authors sought to determine if a nonpharmacological sleep intervention (massage at bedtime) could reduce "as-needed" SHD (PRN-SHD) usage. Each phase of this pilot lasted 7 days and PRN-SHD usage was monitored via chart review. Results, indicating a 13% greater reduction in requests for PRN-SHD for the intervention group when it rece...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - November 14, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Nelson, R., Coyle, C. Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Working Memory, Cues, and Wayfinding in Older WomenEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study examines how working memory ability in older women is related to wayfinding performance in the presence of salient (distinctive, prominent) or nonsalient cues. The degree of salient cue complexity is also examined, thus leading to the hypothesis that salient, complex cues are important in wayfinding and that working memory capacity is related to wayfinding performance. The virtual computer-generated arena is used to test this hypothesis in 20 healthy older women in three different environmental cue conditions varying in salience and complexity. Data analyses indicate that older women perform best in salient cue ...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - November 14, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Davis, R. L., Therrien, B. A., West, B. T. Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

How Do Charge Nurses View Their Roles in Long-Term Care?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article explores how registered nurses (RNs) in long-term care (LTC) understand their role as charge nurses. Data are derived from 16 charge nurses employed in 8 facilities in Ontario, Canada. Qualitative methods are used to analyze audiotapings of interviews. The findings reveal a range of dimensions and subdimensions. Charge nurses experience their work as highly complex and unpredictable. Themes that captured the following dimensions of the supervisor role in LTC include (a) against all odds, getting through the day; (b) stepping in work; and (c) leading and supporting unregulated care workers. In addition, analysi...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - November 14, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: McGilton, K. S., Bowers, B., McKenzie-Green, B., Boscart, V., Brown, M. Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Reconsidering Successful Aging: A Call for Renewed and Expanded Academic Critiques and ConceptualizationsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study fleshes out a more thorough critique of the sociopolitical contexts surrounding the successful aging paradigm so that it can help renew and expand existing critiques. The authors conclude that researchers need to be wary of adopting successful aging terminology without considering and expanding their understanding of the political motivations and results that accompanies it. New, expanded conceptualizations of successful aging are needed so that socially minded researchers and practitioners of gerontology do not contribute to ageism and discrimination against older adults. (Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology)
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - November 14, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Dillaway, H. E., Byrnes, M. Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

A Response to Castle, McDaniel, and SvihulaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology)
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - November 14, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Powell, J. L. Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Gerontological Theory: A Commentary on Powell's Foucauldian ToolkitEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology)
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - November 14, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Svihula, J. Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Challenging Gerontology's Empirical Molehills: A Commentary on Powell's Foucauldian ToolkitEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Gerontology and theory have long been intellectually separate, with empirical studies dominant. Marrying Foucauldian theory, as Powell proposes, with gerontology is clever, timely and potentially fruitful for policy, practice and research. Although Foucault had little to say about age, his insights on power and on bodies are profoundly relevant to the process of ageing. Powell’s proposed application of a Foucauldian toolkit to caring for older people, enables the opening of insights into both the cared for and the carers, the latter of whom are differentially disadvantaged as well by gender, ethnicity, class and ofte...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - November 14, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: McDaniel, S. A. Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Practice Implications: A Commentary on Powell's Foucauldian ToolkitEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology)
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - November 14, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Castle, N. Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Social Theory, Aging, and Health and Welfare Professionals: A Foucauldian "Toolkit"Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Health and welfare have emerged as pivotal drivers used to position the identities that older people adopt in contemporary Western societies. Both contain continually changing technologies that function to mediate relations between older people and care professionals. However, they also represent an increase in professional control that can be exerted on lifestyles in old age, and thus, the wider social meanings associated with that part of the life course. The article presents a theoretical analysis of gerontology based on a critical reading of the work of Michel Foucault. It identifies the interrelationship between manag...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - November 14, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Powell, J. L. Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Theory as a Necessary Part of Applied GerontologyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology)
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - November 14, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Cutchin, M. P. Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Alcohol Use Risk Levels Among Older Patients Screened in Emergency Departments in Southern CaliforniaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study described the alcohol use risk levels of a large convenience sample of patients 65 years and older visiting two large California hospital emergency departments (EDs). A personal interview, administered in the ED by a trained health educator, collected sociodemographic information and alcohol use using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test instrument. A total of 476 older patients provided complete interviews. This group equally comprised of men and women. Fifty-four percent were White non-Hispanic, 28% were Hispanic, 11% were African American, and 6% Other/Unknown. About 14% were at risk or above for alc...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - September 9, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Woodruff, S. I., Clapp, J. D., Sisneros, D., Clapp, E., McCabe, C., DiCiccio, R. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Television Viewing and People With Dementia Living in Long-Term Care: A Pilot StudyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Although televisions are commonplace in many long-term care facilities for people with dementia, little research has been done on the possible effects of television viewing on residents’ behaviors. The authors’ study aims were to document observable behaviors and activities of residents before, during, and after viewing television programs and to determine whether programs had an observable effect on behaviors. The authors enrolled 22 residents in a residential dementia care facility (4 to 5 people in each of the five residential wings). Two raters completed systematic observations for 5 consecutive days at bas...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - September 9, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: de Medeiros, K., Beall, E., Vozzella, S., Brandt, J. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Looking Back, Looking Forward: Reflections on Using a Life History Review Tool With Older PeopleEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The aim of this article is to examine the use of the Self-Discovery Tapestry (SDT) tool, a life history review instrument, and its application to an Australian qualitative study of community-dwelling older people aged 80 years and more. The researchers set out to engage with older people through an innovative research approach that acknowledged their experiences and recognized their skills and capacities across the course of their lives. The article reports and assesses this research instrument as a tool for gathering data in narrative studies involving older people. It proposes that the instrument, with some modifications...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - September 9, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Feldman, S., Howie, L. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

One Story at a Time: Narrative Therapy, Older Adults, and AddictionsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Various factors including social isolation and financial worries put older adults at risk for addictions. Indeed, older adults are the largest consumers of medication, and alcohol consumption is rising. Yet interventions are limited and problems often go unreported. Unearthing "problem" stories in people’s lives (i.e., "the addiction story") and retelling them in more empowering ways, narrative therapy offers a viable therapeutic alternative, and research on narrative therapy has proven encouraging. However, little is known about narrative therapy with older adults and with addictions. Seeking to address these gaps, ...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - September 9, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Gardner, P. J., Poole, J. M. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Identity Processes and Memory Controllability in Middle and Later AdulthoodEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Memory is a salient area of functioning in adulthood known to be influenced by beliefs about performance. To date, individual variations in memory beliefs have not been systematically examined. The present study used hierarchical linear regressions to examine the relationship between Memory Controllability Index (MCI) subscales and identity processes in 250 adults (M = 58.01, 40 to 91 years), controlling for age, gender, and self-rated health. The ability to integrate age-related changes into identity was positively related to MCI scales measuring assessment of ability, potential to improve memory, and belief in the value ...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - September 9, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Jones, K. M., Krauss Whitbourne, S., Whitbourne, S. B., Skultety, K. M. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Does Cognitive Ability Explain Inaccuracy in Older Adults' Self-Reported Medication Adherence?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study examines the accuracy of younger-old and older-old adults’ self-reported adherence over a 3-month period and the potential interactive relationship between self-report accuracy and cognitive abilities. For 3 months, 71 younger-old (M = 68.10, range = 57 to 74) and 62 older-old (M = 80.31, range = 75 to 89) adults had their actual and self-reported adherence monitored. Cognitive tests assessing episodic and prospective memory were given at the beginning of the study. Multilevel models indicate that 32% of the variability in objective adherence was from between-person differences whereas 68% was from within-...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - September 9, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: McDonald-Miszczak, L., Neupert, S. D., Gutman, G. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Inspection Visits in Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly: The Effects of a Policy Change in CaliforniaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study investigated the effects of a policy change in California that decreased annual state inspections of residential care facilities for the elderly to once every 5 years. Data collection involved a 5-year retrospective review of public facility files. Files were obtained from a probability sample of 340 licensed facilities, stratified by facility size and district office. Generalized estimating equations were used for multivariate analyses of size, office, and period effects of types of visits made and citations relative to quality of care. Routine survey visits were replaced with increases in the number of complai...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - September 9, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Flores, C., Bostrom, A., Newcomer, R. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Late-Life Volunteering and Trajectories of Physical HealthEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal relationship between volunteering engagement and trajectories of physical health. Using three-wave panel data from the Americans' Changing Lives survey, the author tested the association between volunteering engagement and physical health after controlling for health variables from previous waves. Volunteering engagement was measured through volunteer status and hours. Physical health was measured through self-rated health, functional dependency, and chronic conditions. Findings indicated that volunteering engagement was associated with improved self-rated health an...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - July 13, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Tang, F. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Demographic Determinants of Necessary Dissaving Among Older PersonsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Because of population aging, many governments are placing greater responsibility on older persons to fund their retirement. Within this context, older persons' financial self-sufficiency during times of stress is important to understand. Using data from the 2002 Australian General Social Survey, this article reports on the prevalence of older persons drawing on financial resources to meet the cost of everyday living expenses when current income is insufficient, identifies the kinds of resources older persons draw on to meet the costs of everyday necessities, and estimates the effects of demographic factors on different nec...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - July 13, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Temple, J. B., Brandon, P. D. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Understanding and Improving the Burden and Unmet Needs of Informal Caregivers of Homebound Patients Enrolled in a Home-Based Primary Care ProgramEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study describes informal caregivers of the homebound who remain caregivers at a 9-month follow-up and examines the impact of a home-based primary care (HBPC) program on caregiver burden and unmet needs using a prospective design with a pre—post intervention assessment. Informal caregivers of the urban homebound are similar to caregivers of other populations and have a broad range of unmet needs. The intervention described is the regular provision of multidisciplinary HBPC. Hundred fourteen caregivers of newly admitted patients complete a baseline interview. For the 56 caregivers who complete a 9-month follow-up ...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - July 13, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Ornstein, K., Smith, K. L., Boal, J. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

The Relationship of Social Engagement to Psychological Well-Being of Older Adults in Assisted Living FacilitiesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The purpose of this study is to explore social engagement and its relationship to the psychological well-being of older adults residing in assisted living facilities (ALFs). Drawing on activity theory, the study focuses on the salience of social relationships on residents' life satisfaction and depressive symptoms. A total of 82 residents were interviewed face-to-face in eight ALFs in a southern state of the United States. The data were analyzed using hierarchical regression models in that demographic and health variables, site characteristics, and social engagement variables were entered into the model in successive steps...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - July 13, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Park, N. S. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Barriers to Outpatient Care in Community-Dwelling Elderly with Dementia: The Role of Caregiver Life SatisfactionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between informal caregiver life satisfaction and receipt of outpatient medical care in persons with dementia. We obtained data from the National Longitudinal Caregiver Survey (NLCS), a survey of 1,269 veterans with dementia and their primary informal caregivers. NLCS data were merged with 12 months of Veteran Administration outpatient claims. Outpatient visits were classified as (a) primary, (b) specialty, or (c) mental health care. Greater levels of caregiver-reported life dissatisfaction were associated with decreased likelihood of care-recipient outpatient visits...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - July 13, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Thorpe, J. M., Van Houtven, C. H., Sleath, B. L. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Evaluation of an Education and Support Program for Early-Stage Alzheimer's DiseaseEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study evaluated an existing education and support program specifically designed for early stage Alzheimer's disease (AD). The "Taking Control of Alzheimer's Disease" series is an Alzheimer's Association-sponsored, four-session program that combines didactic and interactive activities for both persons with early-stage dementia and their care-partners. Seventy-four participants across nine series (37 persons with dementia, 37 care-partners) provided data. Participants expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the program (e.g., 71% gave it a letter grade of "A," 99% found it helpful). No significant changes from base...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - July 13, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Roberts, J. S., Silverio, E. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Mobility in Old Age: Beyond the Transportation PerspectiveEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
For the elderly mobility is a constitutive and essential element of their quality of life. Due to their aging population modern societies intend to intervene and enhance the mobility of the elderly on the basis of research findings. Indeed, numerous research projects pointed out existing barriers to mobility in old age: personal barriers (e.g., achievement deficits, diseases or handicaps), and environmental barriers (e.g., physical obstacles, technical complications). Simply overcoming these barriers does not guarantee mobility without problems and an increase of the quality of life. Beyond a "transportation perspective" o...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - July 13, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Kaiser, H. J. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

An Insight Into the Delivery of a Palliative Approach in Residential Aged Care: The General Practitioner PerspectiveEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study aimed to investigate GPs' perceptions and understanding of a palliative approach. A convenience sample of rural GPs (n = 13) participated in a series of three focus groups undertaken in August, 2005. These focus groups were all audio-taped, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Four key themes emerged: uncertainty about a palliative approach, a need to reorientate providers, the challenges of managing third parties, and making it work and moving forward. These preliminary findings suggest that integrating a palliative approach in aged care requires GPs to have a greater awareness of this par...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - April 28, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Phillips, J., Davidson, P. M., Willcock, S. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Exercise and Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Community-Dwelling Adults: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled TrialsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The authors used the meta-analytic approach to examine the effects of physical activity on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older community-dwelling adults. A random-effects model was used for all primary analyses. Of the 257 studies screened, 11 randomized controlled trials representing 13 groups and 617 men and women (324 physical activity, 293 control), all older than 50, were included. Overall, a significant (small to moderate) standardized effect size improvement was found for physical function as a result of physical activity (Hedges's g = 0.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.19, 0.64, p < .001). This w...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - April 28, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Kelley, G. A., Kelley, K. S., Hootman, J. M., Jones, D. L. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Lay Appraisal of Cognitive Impairment Symptoms and Related Prevention Beliefs in a Community-Dwelling Sample of Midlife and Older AdultsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study explores how age and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) may be related to the identification and appraisal of cognitive impairment symptoms as well as associated prevention beliefs. Participants were 140 community-dwelling adults ranging in age from 49 to 90 years who completed a survey containing a vignette about an adult with cognitive impairment symptoms and questions about the illness symptoms, prevention beliefs, and HRQoL. Identification of symptoms as Alzheimer's disease or dementia was reported by 83% of respondents. Correlational analyses suggested age and education to be associated with perceived s...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - April 28, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: VonDras, D. D. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Older Women and Poverty Transition: Consequences of Income Source Changes From WidowhoodEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Older single women are disproportionately vulnerable to poverty. Using data from the 2002 and 2004 waves of the Health and Retirement Study of 5,799 women age 65 or older, this study investigated the effect of change in income sources by recent spousal loss on poverty transition. The focus is on (a) the effect of widowhood on income source change and (b) how such change affects poverty transition of recently widowed older women. Findings indicate that widowhood greatly decreases income from every source. Specifically, a $10 increase in social security benefits decreased the probability of poverty transition for recently wi...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - April 28, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Gillen, M., Kim, H. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

A Response to Neufeld, Kane, and WhittingtonEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology)
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - April 28, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Haber, D. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Boomer Rumors: A Commentary on Haber's Empowerment ParadigmEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology)
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - April 28, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Whittington, F. J. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Empowerment? For Boomers?: A Commentary on Haber's Empowerment ParadigmEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology)
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - April 28, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Neufeld, S. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Empowerment of Seniors and Paradigm Change: A Commentary on Haber's Empowerment ParadigmEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology)
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - April 28, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Kane, R. A. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Gerontology: Adding an Empowerment ParadigmEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article describes the boomer cohort, provides a brief summary of an empowerment paradigm, offers six examples of movements that are beginning to empower boomers, and ends with a call to action. According to the author, there is a need to educate our colleagues and the general public about the innovations that are emerging, evaluate them in a broader and more coordinated way, and help promote them by partnering with the coming cohort of gerontology boomers. (Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology)
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - April 28, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Haber, D. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Perfecting Patient Care: Integrating Principles of Process Redesign in Nursing HomesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The authors describe the principles of Perfecting Patient Care (PPC) and provide case examples of work redesign and measurable outcomes at one nursing home. The impact of PPC was evaluated by examining employee, family, and resident satisfaction scores. PPC helped with process redesign to eliminate linen shortages and to decrease the resident fall rate. For the employee job satisfaction survey, improved scores resulted for nine questions; six scores were similar to baseline; and four scores were lower than at baseline. For the family satisfaction survey improved scores resulted for 17 questions; five scores were similar to...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 10, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Castle, N. G., Bost, F. S. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Drug and Alcohol Use Among Homeless Older Adults: Predictors of Reported Current and Lifetime Substance Misuse Problems in a National SampleEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Using data from the National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients (NSHAPC), predictors of current alcohol and drug misuse problems among homeless, previously homeless, and marginally housed older adults are identified. Childhood sexual assault, victimization, and neglect, being male, being younger, being homeless or previously homeless, being a minority, and having income below US$499 per month increased the odds of reporting a drug problem. Being male, being younger, being homeless, having mental illness increased the odds of reporting an alcohol problem. Reporting any type of substance use problem increase...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 10, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Dietz, T. L. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

A Community-Based Participatory Critique of Social Isolation Intervention Research for Community-Dwelling Older AdultsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study demonstrates that the Research-to-Practice Consensus Workshop model can be used successfully to identify priority areas for research that have implications for community practice, construct an evidence base more relevant for community application, strengthen existing community—researcher partnerships, and build agency and practitioner capacity to take part in community-based participatory research. (Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology)
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 10, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Sabir, M., Wethington, E., Breckman, R., Meador, R., Reid, M.C., Pillemer, K. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

The Impact of Social Embarrassment on Caregiving Distress in a Multicultural Sample of CaregiversEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The purpose of this study was to gauge the impact of social embarrassment on caregivers of Alzheimer's patients. Two hypotheses were tested: First, social embarrassment adds a unique component of distress to caregivers of Alzheimer's patients, controlling for other factors known to cause depression; second, the negativity of the embarrassment varies according to the caregiver's race/ethnicity. Using data from the Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration Grants to States program ( N = 1,183), the caregiver's perceived depression was regressed on culturally situated variables and a set of covariates that included characteristics of...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 10, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Montoro-Rodriguez, J., Kosloski, K., Kercher, K., Montgomery, R. J. V. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Effects of a Telephone-Based Exercise Intervention for Dementia Caregiving Wives: A Randomized Controlled TrialEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study reports outcomes of a telephone-based exercise intervention designed for women caring for a spouse with dementia. Caregivers (N = 137) were randomized to intervention or control conditions. Participants with at- or below-median exercise scores at baseline had a significantly greater increase in exercise at 6-month follow-up compared with their control counterparts. At 6 months, participants had greater reductions in perceived stress relative to controls. Participants also reported significantly greater increases in exercise self-efficacy than caregivers in the control group at both follow-up points. Results indi...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 10, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Connell, C. M, Janevic, M. R. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Research on Rural Caregiving: A Literature ReviewEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The goals of this article are to present a systematic review of rural caregiving research and provide suggestions for future research efforts. The review, conducted through a search of databases, was limited to original research articles published between 1990 and 2007. The articles focused on informal caregiving of dependent older adults in rural settings. Thirty-one articles met the inclusion criteria, with 11 being rural/urban comparative studies and 20 being rural only studies. The majority of the studies were quantitative and cross-sectional. Areas for improvement in future research include incorporating theory, defin...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 10, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Goins, R. T., Spencer, S. M., Byrd, J. C. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

AcknowledgementsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology)
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - January 12, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Examining What Caregivers Do During Respite Time to Make Respite More EffectiveEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Research on respite services for caregivers has been extensive over the past 25 years; however, findings regarding the effectiveness for improving their well-being have shown only moderate or mixed support. Missing from this research has been an examination of what caregivers do during their respite time. We studied 52 family caregivers who used adult day services and examined the consistency between their desired and actual respite activities and its relation to well-being outcomes. We concluded that (a) caregivers pursued a wide range of respite activities; (b) 46% were only somewhat or not very satisfied with how they s...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - January 12, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Lund, D. A., Utz, R., Caserta, M. S., Wright, S. D. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Pathways to Assisted Living: The Influence of Race and ClassEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article examines how race and class influence decisions to move to assisted living facilities. Qualitative methods were used to study moving decisions of residents in 10 assisted living facilities varying in size and location, as well as race and socioeconomic status of residents. Data were derived from in-depth interviews with 60 residents, 43 family members and friends, and 12 administrators. Grounded theory analysis identified three types of residents based on their decision-making control: proactive, compliant, and passive/resistant. Only proactive residents (less than a quarter of residents) had primary control. ...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - January 12, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Ball, M. M., Perkins, M. M., Hollingsworth, C., Whittington, F. J., King, S. V. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Toward a Screening Tool for Housing Accessibility Problems: A Reduced Version of the Housing EnablerEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
To present a reduced version of the Housing Enabler, useful as a screening tool in practice contexts and in research, this study identifies the core items of the environmental component of the instrument, that is, the items most important in terms of the instrument's overall validity to measure accessibility problems. Utilizing cross-national data and interdisciplinary knowledge through an iterative process, a set of core items was identified. The environmental component of the reduced version comprises 61 items, compared to 188 in the original instrument. The rank correlation between the accessibility scores generated by ...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - January 12, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carlsson, G., Schilling, O., Slaug, B., Fange, A., Stahl, A., Nygren, C., Iwarsson, S. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Health Information Technology in Nursing HomesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study describes nursing homes' use of Minimum Data Set (MDS) software and identifies features that are available in the most commonly used software packages. Data came from the On-line Survey, Certification and Reporting system and a national survey of nursing home administrators (N = 2,899) conducted in 2005. Results show that 2,397 (82.7%) of nursing homes used third-party MDS software, and more than 85% of those facilities purchased the software from one of five vendors. Advanced features in the software were available to most (87% to 98%) of the facilities; however, most features were not being used all the time. ...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - January 12, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Liu, D., Castle, N. G. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Technology Studies to Meet the Needs of People With Dementia and Their Caregivers: A Literature ReviewEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The aim of this article is to present the findings of a review of studies that focused on technology supporting people with dementia and their caregivers. A literature search was carried out in eight scientific literature databases covering literature published between January 1992 and February 2007. A total of 46 studies providing original data and one review were included in this review. Analyses covered the aims of the studies, the technology used, study design, methods, outcome variables, and results. Most studies were carried out in residential care and focused on the needs of formal caregivers. Only a few studies inv...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - January 12, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Topo, P. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Where Are We, and What Should We Do Now?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology)
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - January 12, 2009 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Cutchin, M. P. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

A New Look at Episodes of Mistaken Identity: Opportunities for Preserving PersonhoodEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study presents vignettes in which facility caregivers played roles from the resident's past, briefly and without rehearsal or deliberation. During these episodes, residents were able to experience a continuity of identity, a sense of belonging, and a recognition for past accomplishment. This article argues that these brief episodes of mistaken identity were spontaneous opportunities to preserve the personhood of persons with dementia. (Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology)
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - October 8, 2008 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Dran, D. S. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Aging in Brazil: Physical Activity, Socioeconomic Conditions, and Diseases Among Older Adults in Southern BrazilEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This report describes the outcomes of an epidemiological study that examined the association among physical activity participation, household income, and the prevalence of chronic diseases among 875 older persons living in southern Brazil. At least one disease or chronic condition was reported by 71.1% of the older adults. The survey identified 59.3% of the older adults as more active. Physical activity levels were found to be independent predictors of disease status. Less active seniors were more than twice as likely to report the presence of disease than were their more active counterparts. In addition, socioeconomic sta...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - October 8, 2008 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Bertoldo Benedetti, T. R., Goncalves, L. H., Petroski, E., Nassar, S. M., Schwingel, A., Chodzko-Zajko, W. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

State Differences and Facility Differences in Nursing Home Staff TurnoverEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The author uses data from 8,023 nursing homes to examine state differences in turnover and vacancy rates and organizational characteristics associated with turnover rates. The analyses focus on nurse aides, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses as caregivers. Findings show that the 2004 turnover and vacancy rates for these caregivers were high and that there were differences across states for turnover and vacancy rates. The author shows that staffing levels of caregivers, quality of care, and top management turnover are associated with caregiver turnover. (Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology)
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - October 8, 2008 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Castle, N. G. Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Men Planning for Retirement: Changing Meanings of Preretirement PlanningEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Using data from 69 in-depth interviews, the authors examine how men define financial planning and preretirement planning. The analyses show that younger men are less likely than older men to actively plan for retirement, and a clearer distinction is made between financial planning and preretirement planning. The results also show that the meanings of the two phrases overlap as one ages and that financial habits change over the life course. Understanding the changes over the life course would ensure that successful programs aim at securing financial security at older ages. (Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology)
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - October 8, 2008 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Phua, V., McNally, J. W. Tags: Article Source Type: journals