Ageing and Society, 31(3), April 2011, pp.371-385.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
This article reviews the historical development and modern state of cross-cultural research in gerontology. Cross-cultural research in gerontology is important because the social processes of ageing vary. It aims to distinguish universal from culturally-specific processes and determine how cultural factors influence individual and population ageing. In doing so, it has to overcome many challenges
This article reviews the historical development and modern state of cross-cultural research in gerontology. Cross-cultural research in gerontology is important because the social processes of ageing vary. It aims to distinguish universal from culturally-specific processes and determine how cultural factors influence individual and population ageing. In doing so, it has to overcome many challenges such as how to design an equivalent and unbiased study, how to access different cultures, and how to ensure that questions are meaningful for different cultures. Appropriate strategies include using an international multicultural research team, becoming familiar with the local culture, maintaining good relationships with community leaders, studying only those aspects of behaviour that are functionally equivalent, using appropriate measures, and encouraging equal partnership and open communication among colleagues. To highlight the complexity of cross-cultural research and lessons learnt from such research experience, this article describes an example study of long-term care that involved researchers from more than 30 countries.
Subject terms:
multicultural approach, older people, research design, research methods, ageing;
Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 17(2), 2005, pp.85-106.
Publisher:
Routledge
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
Over the next three decades, due to a rapidly aging population coupled with the recent economic downturn, Hong Kong society will face severe challenges in establishing a sustainable aged care system. We identify four principles: the encouragement of family care, service integration, a mixed mode of financing, as well as a “small government and large market” approach to guide the development of aged care services. After a brief description of existing Hong Kong long-term care services for the elderly, we evaluate this service according to these principles. We examine how a proposed voucher system could tackle problems in the current system of long-term care. Finally, we propose solutions to alleviate the possible negative consequences of the voucher system and describe the essential preconditions for the full implementation of the system.
Over the next three decades, due to a rapidly aging population coupled with the recent economic downturn, Hong Kong society will face severe challenges in establishing a sustainable aged care system. We identify four principles: the encouragement of family care, service integration, a mixed mode of financing, as well as a “small government and large market” approach to guide the development of aged care services. After a brief description of existing Hong Kong long-term care services for the elderly, we evaluate this service according to these principles. We examine how a proposed voucher system could tackle problems in the current system of long-term care. Finally, we propose solutions to alleviate the possible negative consequences of the voucher system and describe the essential preconditions for the full implementation of the system.
Subject terms:
long term care, planning, ageing, demographics, financing;
Gerontologists have recognised the important influence of leisure activity on the mental and physical health of older adults. To date, however, there have been few studies of the patterns of participation in leisure activity among older adults in Hong Kong. This study examines a large representative sample of Hong Kong older adults and the associations between their socio-economic and health characteristics and their leisure activities. The data are from a cross-sectional survey of 2,180 respondents aged 60 or more years, conducted in 2000 by the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department. There were full records for 2,144 respondents. Among the participation rates in the seven categories of leisure activities, watching television or listening to radio was the highest, while the lowest was for playing mahjong or cards. The characteristics that significantly correlated with the level of participation differed by the activity. Although no consistent pattern emerged, gender, education, employment status, receiving welfare benefits, self-rated health and functional impairment were the strongest correlates for most types of leisure activity. The paper is concluded by comparing the results with previous findings, and by discussing the service implications of the findings, the limitations of the study, and directions for future research.
Gerontologists have recognised the important influence of leisure activity on the mental and physical health of older adults. To date, however, there have been few studies of the patterns of participation in leisure activity among older adults in Hong Kong. This study examines a large representative sample of Hong Kong older adults and the associations between their socio-economic and health characteristics and their leisure activities. The data are from a cross-sectional survey of 2,180 respondents aged 60 or more years, conducted in 2000 by the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department. There were full records for 2,144 respondents. Among the participation rates in the seven categories of leisure activities, watching television or listening to radio was the highest, while the lowest was for playing mahjong or cards. The characteristics that significantly correlated with the level of participation differed by the activity. Although no consistent pattern emerged, gender, education, employment status, receiving welfare benefits, self-rated health and functional impairment were the strongest correlates for most types of leisure activity. The paper is concluded by comparing the results with previous findings, and by discussing the service implications of the findings, the limitations of the study, and directions for future research.
Journal of Interprofessional Care, 15(3), August 2001, pp.223-234.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Consumer satisfaction has been adopted by many service industries as an outcome measure of service quality. This article reports and discusses the construction and validation of a set of quality indicators that have been used to measure the domains of satisfaction among residents of old age homes in Hong Kong. The quality indicators were firstly constructed through residents' focus group discussions in Hong Kong and through reference to theories of social gerontology. A team of multi-disciplinary professionals, including social workers, nurses and social gerontology researchers, then reviewed the indicators. Residents' views and reactions to the indicators were also solicited through face-to-face interviews. The 55-item scale was then validated and modified to 35 items after a pilot study of 98 residents. Finally, the indicators were used in a study of 405 residents selected by stratified random sampling. A 28-item scale presenting nine quality indicators for the residential home service was finally validated. The paper concludes with recommendations on the use of this set of quality indicators to promote service quality in residential care.
Consumer satisfaction has been adopted by many service industries as an outcome measure of service quality. This article reports and discusses the construction and validation of a set of quality indicators that have been used to measure the domains of satisfaction among residents of old age homes in Hong Kong. The quality indicators were firstly constructed through residents' focus group discussions in Hong Kong and through reference to theories of social gerontology. A team of multi-disciplinary professionals, including social workers, nurses and social gerontology researchers, then reviewed the indicators. Residents' views and reactions to the indicators were also solicited through face-to-face interviews. The 55-item scale was then validated and modified to 35 items after a pilot study of 98 residents. Finally, the indicators were used in a study of 405 residents selected by stratified random sampling. A 28-item scale presenting nine quality indicators for the residential home service was finally validated. The paper concludes with recommendations on the use of this set of quality indicators to promote service quality in residential care.
Subject terms:
older people, performance indicators, quality assurance, residential care, user views, ageing, care homes;
Aging and Mental Health, 22(12), 2018, pp.1548-1555.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Objectives: This study sought to identify challenges and protective factors for resilience related to the process of ageing among older Chinese immigrants in the United States.
Methods: This study used qualitative methods and involved 24 in-depth interviews with Chinese immigrants aged 65 or older in Los Angeles. Content analysis was employed to analyze qualitative data. Results: Three major themes emerged regarding challenges older Chinese immigrants encountered in ageing in the United States: language barriers, loneliness and social isolation, and insufficient use of social services. Four themes were identified regarding resilience protective factors: acceptance and optimism; independence and autonomy; informal social support; and use of the formal social welfare system. Conclusion:
(Edited publisher abstract)
Objectives: This study sought to identify challenges and protective factors for resilience related to the process of ageing among older Chinese immigrants in the United States.
Methods: This study used qualitative methods and involved 24 in-depth interviews with Chinese immigrants aged 65 or older in Los Angeles. Content analysis was employed to analyze qualitative data. Results: Three major themes emerged regarding challenges older Chinese immigrants encountered in ageing in the United States: language barriers, loneliness and social isolation, and insufficient use of social services. Four themes were identified regarding resilience protective factors: acceptance and optimism; independence and autonomy; informal social support; and use of the formal social welfare system. Conclusion: This study provides several implications for future human services to build relational and societal resilience and enhance Chinese older immigrants’ personal resilience. Cultural strengths should be taken into consideration by practitioners and policy makers.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
resilience, older people, black and minority ethnic people, stress, coping behaviour, Chinese people, immigrants, ageing, multicultural approach;
This study examined engagement in leisure activities among older adults, specifically focusing on how life transition factors in later life, including retirement and marital status, are associated with leisure activity engagement using a national sample of older American men and women. Method: multiple regression analyses with a sample of 5,405 individuals (2,318 men; 3,087 women) from the Consumption and Activities Mail Survey, a supplementary sample of the Health and Retirement Study. Variables analysed: activity engagement in each of four domains of leisure activities: mental, physical, social and religious. Retirement status was categorised into three groups: working (referent), completely retired and partly retired. Marital status was categorised into four groups: married (referent), divorced or separated, widowed and never married. Findings: there was an overall trend of a positive relationship between retirement and leisure activity engagement, which suggests that retirement provides a chance for older adults to participate in leisure activities after withdrawal from the labour force. The overall trend of a negative relationship between non-married status and leisure activity engagement suggests that the loss or absence of a spouse may serve as a barrier to participate in leisure activities. Nevertheless, variation among retirees and non-married individuals suggests future studies should compare completely and partly retired individuals or those who are widowed, divorced or separated, or never married to elucidate distinguishable leisure activity profiles.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This study examined engagement in leisure activities among older adults, specifically focusing on how life transition factors in later life, including retirement and marital status, are associated with leisure activity engagement using a national sample of older American men and women. Method: multiple regression analyses with a sample of 5,405 individuals (2,318 men; 3,087 women) from the Consumption and Activities Mail Survey, a supplementary sample of the Health and Retirement Study. Variables analysed: activity engagement in each of four domains of leisure activities: mental, physical, social and religious. Retirement status was categorised into three groups: working (referent), completely retired and partly retired. Marital status was categorised into four groups: married (referent), divorced or separated, widowed and never married. Findings: there was an overall trend of a positive relationship between retirement and leisure activity engagement, which suggests that retirement provides a chance for older adults to participate in leisure activities after withdrawal from the labour force. The overall trend of a negative relationship between non-married status and leisure activity engagement suggests that the loss or absence of a spouse may serve as a barrier to participate in leisure activities. Nevertheless, variation among retirees and non-married individuals suggests future studies should compare completely and partly retired individuals or those who are widowed, divorced or separated, or never married to elucidate distinguishable leisure activity profiles.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
life style, older people, surveys, leisure activities, participation, retirement, life events, ageing;
Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 16(4), 2004, pp.79-97.
Publisher:
Routledge
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
Over the next 20 years, Hong Kong will face a rapidly aging population as the number of older adults aged 65 or above increases to approximately 1.4 million by 2021, that is, 17% of the total population. In 2001, there were 1.2 million adults aged 45-59. To assess the differences between these middle-aged adults and the current cohort of older adults, the authors identified the challenges that Hong Kong society will face in meeting the financial needs of older adults in the coming two decades. In this paper, the authors examine the retirement economic status of three groups of older adults: those who are financially independent, those who are financially supported by their adult children or children-in-law, and those who are receiving welfare assistance. We describe the current situations of these groups, prevailing social policy, future trends, and recommend policies for tackling problem areas. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Over the next 20 years, Hong Kong will face a rapidly aging population as the number of older adults aged 65 or above increases to approximately 1.4 million by 2021, that is, 17% of the total population. In 2001, there were 1.2 million adults aged 45-59. To assess the differences between these middle-aged adults and the current cohort of older adults, the authors identified the challenges that Hong Kong society will face in meeting the financial needs of older adults in the coming two decades. In this paper, the authors examine the retirement economic status of three groups of older adults: those who are financially independent, those who are financially supported by their adult children or children-in-law, and those who are receiving welfare assistance. We describe the current situations of these groups, prevailing social policy, future trends, and recommend policies for tackling problem areas. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Subject terms:
informal care, policy, retirement, social policy, ageing, Chinese people, demographics, family relations, financing;
Objectives: Increasing demand for early detection and prevention of dementia has shifted recent attention toward cognitive impairment with no dementia (CIND), which is often considered a possible risk path to dementia. Education and cognitive leisure activities are major predictors featured in dementia studies. However, the definition of cognitive leisure activities often has been inconsistent and diverse. This study explored different domains of these activities and their moderating roles on the relationship between education and cognition.
Method: A sample of 704 participants aged 70 or older was drawn from the national Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to assess two domains from cognitive leisure activities: literacy and visuospatial activities. Multinomial logistic regression tested the main and moderating roles of each domain on cognition categorized as no impairment, CIND, and dementia.
Results: Individuals with greater engagement in both literacy and visuospatial activities were more likely to have no cognitive impairment than CIND. Individuals with greater engagement in literacy activities were less likely to have dementia compared to CIND. Literacy activities and education years had a significant interaction effect. Individuals with higher education seem to benefit more by engaging in literacy activities, as evidenced by decreased odds of having dementia.
Conclusion: Engagement in cognitive leisure activities for both cognitively intact and impaired older adults is suggested, with more focus on literacy activities for cognitively impaired and highly educated older adults.
(Publisher abstract)
Objectives: Increasing demand for early detection and prevention of dementia has shifted recent attention toward cognitive impairment with no dementia (CIND), which is often considered a possible risk path to dementia. Education and cognitive leisure activities are major predictors featured in dementia studies. However, the definition of cognitive leisure activities often has been inconsistent and diverse. This study explored different domains of these activities and their moderating roles on the relationship between education and cognition.
Method: A sample of 704 participants aged 70 or older was drawn from the national Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to assess two domains from cognitive leisure activities: literacy and visuospatial activities. Multinomial logistic regression tested the main and moderating roles of each domain on cognition categorized as no impairment, CIND, and dementia.
Results: Individuals with greater engagement in both literacy and visuospatial activities were more likely to have no cognitive impairment than CIND. Individuals with greater engagement in literacy activities were less likely to have dementia compared to CIND. Literacy activities and education years had a significant interaction effect. Individuals with higher education seem to benefit more by engaging in literacy activities, as evidenced by decreased odds of having dementia.
Conclusion: Engagement in cognitive leisure activities for both cognitively intact and impaired older adults is suggested, with more focus on literacy activities for cognitively impaired and highly educated older adults.
(Publisher abstract)