Improving the Validity of Activity of Daily Living Dependency Risk Assessment
Conclusion:
Two relatively brief models, one that requires an in-person assessment and one that does not, had excellent validity for predicting incident ADL dependency but did not significantly improve the predictive validity of the best fitting interview-based models. (Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology)
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 12, 2015 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Clark, D. O., Stump, T. E., Tu, W., Miller, D. K. Tags: Original Manuscripts Source Type: research
Screening for Alzheimer's Disease: Inspiration and Ideas From Breast Cancer Strategies
Screening rates for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and memory impairment are low. There is misinformation, fear, and stigma associated with memory loss and aging. Physicians are slow or reluctant to screen for memory impairment in older adults. The challenges to effective screening for AD are not unique. Thirty years ago, screening for breast cancer also suffered from low participation, fear, stigma, and misinformation. Targeted public health strategies increased disease awareness and early detection for breast cancer, and today, breast cancer screening is generally accepted by health care providers and the public. Strateg...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 12, 2015 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Lundquist, T. S., Ready, R. E. Tags: Original Manuscripts Source Type: research
Clarifying the Positive Association Between Education and Prostate Cancer: A Monte Carlo Simulation Approach
Using the 1993-2011 data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (N = 5,218), we examine prostate cancer screening, mortality after the diagnosis, and health behaviors as potential mechanisms explaining the paradoxical association between men’s higher education and higher prostate cancer risk. Our study combines within-cohort longitudinal hazard models predicting a prostate cancer diagnosis with Monte Carlo simulations estimating the joint effects of socioeconomic differences in prostate cancer screening and mortality after the diagnosis. Our findings strongly suggest that higher utilization of prostate cancer screenin...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 12, 2015 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Pudrovska, T., Anishkin, A. Tags: Original Manuscripts Source Type: research
Impact of Race and Diagnostic Label on Older Adults' Emotions, Illness Beliefs, and Willingness to Help a Family Member With Osteoarthritis
Discussion:
The diagnostic label of OA had little effect on these older adults, but racial differences indicate that cultural values regarding family caregiving are important in arthritis care. (Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology)
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 12, 2015 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Mingo, C. A., McIlvane, J. M., Haley, W. E., Luong, M.-L. N. Tags: Original Manuscripts Source Type: research
Chronic Disease and Aging: Screening and Management Applications
(Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology)
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 12, 2015 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Gaugler, J. E. Tags: Editor ' s Introduction Source Type: research
Mental Representation for Action in the Elderly: Implications for Movement Efficiency and Injury Risk
Recent research findings indicate that with older adulthood, there are functional decrements in spatial cognition and more specially, in the ability to mentally represent and effectively plan motor actions. A typical finding is a significant over- or underestimation of one’s actual physical abilities with movement planning—planning that has implications for movement efficiency and physical safety. A practical, daily life example is estimation of reachability—a situation that for the elderly may be linked with fall incidence. A strategy used to mentally represent action is the use of motor imagery—an...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 12, 2015 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Gabbard, C. Tags: Brief Reports (E-Only) Source Type: research
A Pilot Study Using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Devices and Surveys to Ascertain Older Adults' Travel Patterns
Some studies indicate that older adults lead active lives and travel to many destinations including those not in their immediate residential neighborhoods. We used global positioning system (GPS) devices to track the travel patterns of 40 older adults (mean age: 69) in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Study participants wore the GPS devices for 7 days in fall 2010 and winter 2011. We collected survey responses concurrently about travel patterns. GPS data showed a mean of four trips/day, and a mean trip distance of 7.6 km. Survey data indicated that older adults commonly made trips for four activities (e.g., volunteering, wor...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 12, 2015 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Yen, I. H., Leung, C. W., Lan, M., Sarrafzadeh, M., Kayekjian, K. C., Duru, O. K. Tags: Brief Reports (E-Only) Source Type: research
Gaming for Health: A Systematic Review of the Physical and Cognitive Effects of Interactive Computer Games in Older Adults
This systematic review examined the physical and cognitive effects of physically based interactive computer games (ICGs) in older adults. Literature searching was carried out from January 2000 to June 2011. Eligible studies were trials involving older adults (>65 years) describing the effects of ICGs with a physical component (aerobic, strength, balance, flexibility) on physical or cognitive outcomes. Secondary outcomes included adverse effects, compliance, and enjoyment. Twelve trials met the inclusion criteria. ICG interventions varied in terms of software, game type, and nature of the computer interaction. Although t...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 12, 2015 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Bleakley, C. M., Charles, D., Porter-Armstrong, A., McNeill, M. D. J., McDonough, S. M., McCormack, B. Tags: Original Articles (E-Only) Source Type: research
Aerobic Versus Resistance Training Effects on Health-Related Quality of Life, Body Composition, and Function of Older Adults
This study aimed to investigate the effects of training on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), body composition, and function in older adults. Fifty participants were randomized into aerobic training (AT—70%-80% HRreserve), resistance training (RT—80% 1RM), or controls. They had HRQoL, body composition, and function assessed before and after 8 months. Training groups reduced body fat, increased performance in the stair ascent, 8-ft up-and-go and sit-to-stand five-times tests, and improved their physical component score (PCS; p ≤ .03). AT increased performance in the 6MWT test, and improved general and me...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 12, 2015 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Wanderley, F. A. C., Oliveira, N. L., Marques, E., Moreira, P., Oliveira, J., Carvalho, J. Tags: Original Articles (E-Only) Source Type: research
The Effects of EnhanceFitness (EF) Training on Dual-Task Walking in Older Adults
The objective of this study is to determine whether 18 hr of participation in EnhanceFitness (EF), an evidence-based group exercise program, improves dual-task walking performance among community-dwelling older adults. Twenty-eight healthy, community-dwelling older adults were evaluated before participating in EF and after 18 hr of participation. Gait speed was evaluated under single task and dual tasks using the TUG (Timed Up and Go) and 1-min walk tests. Dual-task costs (DTC), the relative cost of dual-task performance compared to single-task performance, were calculated for both cognitive and motor tasks. Postural contr...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 12, 2015 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Agmon, M., Kelly, V. E., Logsdon, R. G., Nguyen, H., Belza, B. Tags: Original Articles (E-Only) Source Type: research
Health Care Provision for Older Persons: The Interplay Between Ageism and Elder Neglect
The aim of this study was to explore the link between neglect and ageism in health care provision for older persons. Semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with 30 registered nurses with at least 2 years’ experience in 10 long-term care facilities in Israel. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis was performed according to the qualitative method. Three main themes emerged: ageism and neglect as the everyday routine (neglect is built into institution life on the platform of ageism); how the institutional system promotes neglect—between institutional and personal age...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 12, 2015 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Band-Winterstein, T. Tags: Original Articles (E-Only) Source Type: research
The Impact of Age on the Reservation Wage: The Role of Employment Efficacy and Work Intention: A Study in the Belgian context
This study explores the relationship between age and reservation wage. The authors investigate whether individuals’ attitudes toward employment, that is, their "employment efficacy" and "work intention," mediate this relationship. The authors examine this in the Belgian labor market, where substantial differences exist between blue-collar workers, white-collar workers, and civil servants regarding payment systems, employment protection, and pension benefits. Path analysis on a sample of 22,796 Belgian workers aged 18 to 60 years reveals a reverse U-shaped relationship between age and the reservation wage via employme...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 12, 2015 Category: Geriatrics Authors: De Coen, A., Forrier, A., Sels, L. Tags: Original Articles (E-Only) Source Type: research
Older Drivers' Reasons for Reducing the Overall Amount of Their Driving and for Avoiding Selected Driving Situations
Structured telephone interviews were conducted with 840 older drivers to explore their reasons for self-regulating their driving. The main reason for reduced driving was having fewer activities to drive to, and for avoidance of driving situations, reasons also included not liking or feeling insecure about driving in the situation. The lower-functioning participants, but still only a minority, were more likely to indicate decline in vision and reaction time as reasons for avoidance. Women were more likely to indicate lack of confidence as a reason for avoidance. The results suggest that the reduction in driving and avoidanc...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 12, 2015 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Meng, A., Siren, A. Tags: Original Articles (E-Only) Source Type: research
Older Adults' Use of Care Strategies in Response to General and Upper Respiratory Symptoms
This study examined the use of complementary and medical treatments, both individually and in combination, to address common general and upper respiratory symptoms. Data for the analysis were collected from a series of 18 daily diary questionnaires administered to community-living older African American and white adults living in rural counties in North Carolina. Participants reported symptoms experienced on each diary day and the treatment strategies they used each day in response to the particular symptom(s). Older adults used diverse categories of strategies to treat symptoms; treatment strategies were used inconsistent...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 12, 2015 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Sandberg, J. C., Grzywacz, J. G., Suerken, C. K., Altizer, K. P., Quandt, S. A., Nguyen, H. T., Bell, R. A., Lang, W., Arcury, T. A. Tags: Original Articles (E-Only) Source Type: research
Measuring Functional Recovery in Older Patients Discharged From Intensive Care Units: Is Advanced Technology an Option?
The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine if older patients discharged from intensive care units (ICU) would be willing to use mobile phone and sensor technology (aka "mobile monitoring") to measure their functional recovery in the posthospitalization period. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 22 older ICU patients and/or their surrogates 24 to 48 hr prior to hospital discharge. While 11 respondents reported they would agree to participate in a future study involving mobile monitoring, an equal number reported they would not participate. Numerous contextual factors were found to affect older adults&...
Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology - March 12, 2015 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Balas, M. C., Bonasera, S. J., Cohen, M. Z., Hertzog, M., Sisson, J. H., Potter, J. F., Fitch, A., Burke, W. J. Tags: Original Articles (E-Only) Source Type: research
