Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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The relationship between longevity and healthy life expectancy
- Authors:
- ROBINE Jean-Marie, SAITO Yasuhiko, JAGGER Carol
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing, 10(2), June 2009, pp.5-14.
- Publisher:
- Pier Professional
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
The authors discuss the relationship between longevity and health at an individual, national and global level. The authors draw on evidence to discuss whether centenarians are healthy people; whether nationally, the increase in healthy life expectancy is slower or faster than the increase in total life expectancy; and globally, whether countries with the highest life expectancies also have the highest healthy life expectancies.
The carer's cosmetic handbook: simple health and beauty tips for older persons
- Author:
- TAY Sharon
- Publisher:
- Jessica Kingsley
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 159p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This practical handbook is designed to assist carers in looking after their clients' appearances as well as their health, covering cosmetics, nails, herbal remedies and essential oils, hair removal methods for women, nutrition and health, the skin and skin care and makeup.
An empirical typology of lifetime and current gambling behaviors: association with health status of older adults
- Authors:
- HONG Song-Lee, SACCO Paul, CUNNINGHAM-WILLIAMS Renee M.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 13(2), March 2009, pp.265-273.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Despite the low prevalence of gambling problems, older adults experience poorer health status given certain vulnerabilities associated with aging. This study aimed to classify lifetime (LPG) and current (CPG) problem gambling patterns, identify determinants of gambling patterns, and examine their association with current health status. Using older adult gamblers (n = 489) in the Gambling Impact and Behavior Study, Latent Class Analysis classified LPG and CPG subgroups based on 10 DSM-IV criteria: preoccupation, tolerance, withdrawal, loss of control, escape, chasing losses, lying, illegal acts, relationship impairment and financial bailout. A two-class solution was the best fitting for LPG and CPG groups. Except for illegal acts, the remaining criteria endorsed the distinguishing patterns. It was observed that 10.8% LPGs, 8.4% CPGs and 2.2% with both. Participation in religious services was protective of both groups. Gambling for excitement and to win money were related to CPG. Further, CPG was significantly related to worse self-rated health. Although problem gambling is strongly characterized by number and type of diagnostic criteria, findings support a focus to include targeted assessment of additional clinically meaningful gambling correlates. Research on the moderator of participation in faith-based communities on problem gambling is also warranted.
A pilot study on perceived stress and PTSD symptomatology in relation to four dimensions of older women’s physical health
- Authors:
- LAGANA Luciana, REGER Stacy L.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 13(6), November 2009, pp.885-893.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study examines the impact of posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology and stress of a non-traumatic nature on the physical well-being of older women. The subjects, 53 community living ethnically diverse women aged 65-105, were interviewed using various instruments including the Medical Outcome Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey, the Brief Posttraumatic Stress Screening Scale, and the Older Women’s Perceived Stress beyond Health Status Scale. The results indicated that perceived stress was a significant predictor of lower levels of general health but not of role limitations or physical functioning. Posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology predicted more limitations in role fulfilment and to a lesser extent impaired physical functioning, but not lower levels of general health. The authors conclude that posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology and perceived stress might alter older women’s physical health dimensions differentially, and that further research is required.
Perceived income adequacy among older adults in 12 countries: findings from the survey of health, ageing, and retirement in Europe
- Authors:
- LITWIN Howard, SAPIR Eliyahu V.
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 49(3), June 2009, pp.397-406.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study aimed to validate a survey research measure of subjective income, as measured by perceived income adequacy, in an international context. The study population comprised persons aged 50 years and older in 12 countries from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (n = 28,939). Perceived difficulty in making ends meet was regressed on sociodemographic variables, economic indicators, health status measures, and expectations regarding one's financial future. Country differences were also controlled. The findings confirm a multidimensional explanation of perceived income adequacy but also point to the primacy of objective economic indicators in predicting household financial distress. Respondents aged 80 years and older report less financial difficulty. Poor health status and pessimistic financial expectations also predict greater household financial distress but to a lesser degree. Self-rated economic status is a robust indicator of financial capacity in older age and can be used by practitioners to gain meaningful information. However, practitioners should keep in mind that the oldest-old may underestimate financial difficulties.
Elderly volunteering and well-being: a cross-European comparison based on SHARE data
- Author:
- HASKI-LEVENTHAL Debbie
- Journal article citation:
- Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 20(4), December 2009, pp.388-404.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
This paper, based on Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) data, analyzes the relation between volunteering and well-being among 30,023 Europeans aged 50 and above in 12 countries. There is an overall positive correlation between volunteering and perceived health, life satisfaction, and self-life expectancy and a negative correlation to depression. However, in some countries the correlation is much stronger than in others.
Perceptions of the impact of intergenerational programming on the physical well-being of participants in adult day services
- Authors:
- WEINTRAUB Aaron P. C., KILLIAN Timothy S.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 7(4), 2009, pp.355-370.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia
Intergenerational programming is designed to connect older and younger generations for mutual benefit, and has been seen as a potential solution to issues such as social isolation. This study used a qualitative analysis to examine perceptions held by 13 participants, aged 65 to 90 years, of adult day services in the United States about the impact of intergenerational programming on their physical well-being. Findings indicated that two major domains existed – contact and engaged. Those who had minimal interaction with children were placed into the contact group – with some adults reporting it was good to just have the children around. Those in the engaged group reported a strong interaction with children, including regular reading. The authors concluded that the members of these two groups perceive the effects of intergenerational programming on their physical well-being differently.
Policies for healthy ageing: an overview
- Author:
- ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
- Publisher:
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 32p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Paris
As life expectancy of older people has progressively increased and this trend is expected to continue, this paper reviews policy in the area of healthy ageing, which means maintaining older people in good health and keeping them autonomous and independent over a longer period of their remaining years. It looks at policy options including improved integration in the economy and into society, better lifestyles, adapting health systems to the needs of the elderly, and attacking underlying social and environmental factors affecting healthy ageing. It assesses whether policies and programmes in these areas have a positive effect on health outcomes and whether they are cost effective. The findings suggest that improvements to the health and welfare of older people may be possible from a combination of delaying retirement, increased community activities, improved lifestyles, and health care systems that are better adapted to the needs of the elderly, particularly where they are combined with emphasis on cost effective prevention. The paper also finds that it remains unclear as to which policies are the most cost-effective and that more research is needed in this area if policy choices are to be more evidence-based.
Gender differences in views about cognitive health and healthy lifestyle behaviors among rural older adults
- Authors:
- WU Bie, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 49(S1), June 2009, pp.S72-S78.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Gender differences in views about cognitive health and behaviours are examined, focusing on older adults living in rural areas. Six focus groups in rural West Virginia were conducted. Participants included 37 women and 30 men, aged 55 years and older. Men and women held similar views of cognitive decline, as well as largely similar views about causes of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, women were more concerned about developing AD than were men. Gender differences were also noted with respect to healthy lifestyle beliefs, including diet, leisure-time physical activity, and strategies to maintain cognitive health. Findings illustrate the importance of considering gender with respect to health beliefs, health behaviours, and health promotion, and emphasize the need to develop interventions designed for specific populations.
The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)
- Author:
- BREEZE Elizabeth
- Journal article citation:
- Generations Review, 19(4), October 2009, Online only
- Publisher:
- British Society of Gerontology
The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) follows cohorts of older people with biennial interviews. It covers key elements of quality of life, with design assumed that there are connections between our health and functioning, our social networks, our economic position, and our perceptions of wellbeing. This paper briefly looks at the aims of the ELSA and looks at how the data have been used in the area of health inequalities and timing retirement.