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Availability of activity-related resources in senior apartments: does it differ by neighbourhood socio-economic status?
- Authors:
- MENEC Verena, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 29(3), April 2009, pp.397-411.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Research has shown that the level of activity of the residents of a city's neighbourhood is related to the availability of activity-related resources. This study aimed to characterise the housing environment in which many older adults live by exploring what activity-related resources were available in senior apartment buildings in one Canadian city, Winnipeg. Of 195 senior apartment buildings in the city, 190 were surveyed to examine whether variation in the buildings' activity resources was related to neighbourhood characteristics, particularly socio-economic status. Resources were classified as those for physical activities (e.g. exercise classes), social activities (e.g. card games), and services (e.g. a grocery-store shuttle). The neighbourhood characteristics were taken from census data and included socio-economic and socio-demographic measures. The apartment buildings varied considerably in the resources available, and a positive relationship was found between neighbourhood income and physical and social activity programmes and services. Lower residential stability and a higher percentage of residents living alone were also related to the buildings' resource-richness, and senior apartment buildings with limited activity-related resources clustered in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. How senior apartments are resourced should be examined in relation to the neighbourhood in which they are located.
Measuring processes of integrated care for hospital to home transitions
- Authors:
- BROWN Cara L., MENEC Verena
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Integrated Care, 21(2), 2021, p.12. Online only
- Publisher:
- International Foundation for Integrated Care
Background: Integrated care is a promising approach to improve transitions from hospital for older adults. Measures of integrated care tend to be survey-based or outcomes focused. This study determined the feasibility of using hospital chart data to measure integrated processes of care. Methods: This paper reports on two objectives: 1) the development of an integrated care transition framework and associated features of care; 2) a pilot study to test if the features could be applied to 214 hospital patient charts. Results: Twenty-four features were tested, and fifteen features could be reliably measured using chart review. Of these, the percent of patients classified as receiving integrated care varied widely across the items, from 0.05% to 84.1%. Discussion: The framework presented in this paper can guide measurement of system and clinical delivery of integrated care transitions. In combination with other tools, chart review can provide perspective on day-to-day care delivery not otherwise accessible, and highlight areas requiring practice change. Conclusion: Multiple measurement perspectives are needed to improve our understanding of how integrated care is being implemented. While chart review cannot address the full breadth of integrated care, it can help understand how processes of care are being implemented in routine daily care. (Edited publisher abstract)
Older adults' perceptions of age-friendly communities in Canada: a photovoice study
- Authors:
- NOVEK Sheila, MENEC Verena H.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Community Practice, 21(4), 2013, pp.1052-1072.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philapelphia, USA
Despite the growth of the age-friendly communities movement, few studies have examined age-friendly characteristics within different community contexts. This study uses a participatory methodology to explore older adults’ perceptions of age-friendliness. The study employed the photovoice technique with 30 community-based older adults in one urban community and three rural communities in the province of Manitoba, Canada. Participants were provided with cameras and took photographs to illustrate the relative age-friendliness of their communities and to generate discussion in interviews and focus groups. Themes from photographs, interviews and focus groups were organised into three broad categories: age-friendly features, contextual factors and cross-cutting themes. The age-friendly features the authors identified in this study generally correspond to the World Health Organization domains of age-friendliness. In addition, the authors identified three contextual factors that impact the experiences of older adults within their community environment: community history and identity, ageing in urban, rural and remote communities, and environmental conditions. Finally, independence, affordability and accessibility were identified as cross-cutting themes that intersect with various community features and contextual factors. (Edited publisher abstract)
A comparison of different definitions of social isolation using Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) data
- Authors:
- NEWALL Nancy E. G., MENEC Verena H.
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 40(12), 2020, pp.2671-2694.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
There are many definitions of social isolation which draw on structural indicators (e.g. living alone), functional indicators (e.g. social support) or both. This makes comparing prevalence rates across studies difficult and provides little guidance for practitioners and service providers to identify and target socially isolated clients. The purpose of the present study was to compare, within one large population-based data-set of Canadians aged 45–85, single-item and composite indicators of social isolation, by total sample and by socio-demographics (age, sex) and health. Data were from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) which assessed features of social network, social support and social participation. Two composite scales were created to compare prevalence rates based on structural only or both structural and functional indicators. Results indicated overall low prevalence rates of social isolation, regardless of the measure used. A composite scale using only structural features identified 5.8 per cent socially isolated adults aged 45–85. This compared with a structural and functional scale that identified 9.8 per cent socially isolated adults. The composite measures showed less variation across socio-demographics than single-item measures. Results shed light on different ways in which social isolation can be defined and how single-item and composite definitions impact our understanding of identifying socially isolated adults in a given population. Results add to discussion of measures that can be used by researchers, services providers and practitioners. (Edited publisher abstract)
Using photovoice with older adults: some methodological strengths and issues
- Authors:
- NOVEK Sheila, MORRIS-OSWALD Toni, MENEC Verena
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 32(3), April 2012, pp.451-470.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Photovoice is a qualitative research technique in which participants record and reflect on their community through photography, and is gaining popularity as a participatory research methodology. This paper examines the application of photovoice in a study with older adults looking at age-friendly community characteristics in one city and three rural communities in Manitoba, Canada. The study recruited 30 participants over 50 years of age, who were provided with cameras and took photographs to illustrate their perceptions of the extent to which communities were age-friendly. Participants recorded information about the photographs and why they were taken, and all participants were interviewed and took part in discussion groups which included photos and commentary from each group member. The article discusses the strengths of photovoice, for example in capturing physical and social environments and as a participatory process, and issues encountered, including use of cameras, ethics and safety, and participant characteristics. The authors conclude that photovoice is an effective tool for eliciting older people's perceptions of and concerns about their communities and identifying priorities for change, noting that the methodology can be adapted to accommodate the needs of older people but that there are challenges to be overcome.
Does life satisfaction predict five-year mortality in community-living older adults?
- Authors:
- ST. JOHN Philip D., MACKENZIE Corey, MENEC Verena
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 19(4), 2015, pp.363-370.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Depression and depressive symptoms predict death, but it is less clear if more general measures of life satisfaction (LS) predict death. This study aimed to determine: (1) if LS predicts mortality over a five-year period in community-living older adults; and (2) which aspects of LS predict death. Method: 1751 adults over the age of 65 who were living in the community were sampled from a representative population sampling frame in 1991/1992 and followed five years later. Age, gender, and education were self-reported. An index of multimorbidity and the Older American Resource Survey measured health and functional status, and the Terrible–Delightful Scale assessed overall LS as well as satisfaction with: health, finances, family, friends, housing, recreation, self-esteem, religion, and transportation. Cox proportional hazards models examined the influence of LS on time to death. Results: 417 participants died during the five-year study period. Overall LS and all aspects of LS except finances, religion, and self-esteem predicted death in unadjusted analyses. In fully adjusted analyses, LS with health, housing, and recreation predicted death. Other aspects of LS did not predict death after accounting for functional status and multimorbidity. Conclusion: LS predicted death, but certain aspects of LS are more strongly associated with death. The effect of LS is complex and may be mediated or confounded by health and functional status. It is important to consider different domains of LS when considering the impact of this important emotional indicator on mortality among older adults. (Edited publisher abstract)
Body image and body work among older women: a review
- Authors:
- MARSHALL Catherine E., LENGYEL Christina O., MENEC Verena H.
- Journal article citation:
- Ethnicity and Inequalities in Health and Social Care, 7(4), 2014, pp.198-210.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on body image and aging among older women. Using existing qualitative research, this paper explores how aging affects body image and how women respond to body image issues as they age. Design/methodology/approach: Multiple databases were used to locate original and review articles on the topics of body image and aging, with a target population of women ages 60 years and older. The findings of the literature search were compiled, summarised and sorted to create themes. Findings: Women struggle with body image issues throughout their lives. Women tend to perceive age-related changes in appearance negatively, as a threat to their identity and social value. This is due, in part, to the sociocultural environment, which pressures women to “fight” ageing and maintain an ideal (young and thin) image at all costs. Some women do come to terms with their ageing body and report increased self-acceptance with age. However, others turn to various forms of body work (e.g. dieting, hair dye, makeup) in order to maintain their value in an appearance-based society. Practical implications: Poor body image can affect older women's emotional, psychological and physical health and overall well-being. Health care professionals, community workers and policy makers need to be made aware of these issues so that they can respond appropriately. Originality/value: There has been limited research exploring body image among older women. This paper identifies gaps in the literature and suggests avenues for future research in this area. (Edited publisher abstract)
Mobility in older adults: a comprehensive framework
- Authors:
- WEBBER Sandra C., PORTER Michelle M., MENEC Verena H.
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 50(4), August 2010, pp.443-450.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Mobility of older people is linked to health status and quality of life. Although there is widespread acceptance regarding the importance of mobility in older adults, research has to a large extent been discipline specific. This paper presents a new theoretical framework for mobility with the aim of raising awareness of the complexity of factors that influence mobility. The concept of mobility is portrayed through five fundamental categories of determinants: cognitive; psychosocial; physical; environmental; and financial. Each category consists of an increasing number of factors, demonstrating greater complexity, as the mobility environment expands farther from the home. The framework shows how mobility impairments can lead to limitations in accessing different life-spaces, and highlights the associations among determinants that influence mobility. The authors conclude that the model implies research needs to be more interdisciplinary, and current mobility findings should be interpreted more comprehensively, and new more complex strategies should be developed to address mobility concerns.