Subjective Aging and Basic Activities of Daily Living: Moderation by Health Care Access and Mediation by Health Care Resources.

Subjective aging in older adults is associated with a decline in basic activities of daily living (bADL), although this is less well studied with increasing age cohorts by their healthcare resources (HCR) and healthcare access (HCA) controlling for sociodemographics. We aimed to address this gap in knowledge by analyzing the National Health and Aging Trends round 11 data set on 3303 older adults aged 70 to above 90, comprising 42% male and 58% female by age cohort (middle-old -70-79, n = 1409; older-old -80-89, n = 1432, oldest-old- 90 plus, n = 462). Results of mediation-moderation analysis show the subjective aging whole model comprising subjective cognitive decline, HCR, HCA, and sociodemographic to predict a decline in bADL with increasing age to be higher among the older-old age (80-89) compared to the middle-old age (70-79) or oldest-old (90 years +) cohorts. These findings suggest a "doughnut" effect by which the older-old age cohort of 80-89 may be coping less well with their bADL, while the oldest-old may have adapted to functional loss in their everyday living and/or comprises adults who may have passed a mortality selection despite a more significant burden of comorbidity.

Social networking older adults with mild cognitive impairment: Systematic review protocol on their use of information and communication technology.

This systematic review will identify and synthesize the emerging evidence on older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) utilizing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to maintain, restore, or augment social networks. The systematic review will consider the evidence on contextual and personal factors of older adults with MCI and their ICT use for social connectedness. The evidence searches will be implemented in PsycINFO, Academic Search Complete, Medline, PubMed, and manual searches. We shall review articles that were published between January 2010 and October 2023 in English and on Information and Communication Technology utility in social networking among older adults with MCI. The process of article selection will be conducted through title screening, abstract screening; and full article screening, following the Population, Intervention, Control, Outcomes (PICO) criteria. Given that all the studies included in this review are publicly accessible and have already obtained ethical approval from their respective institutions, there is no obligation for us to seek additional ethical clearance for our systematic review. We plan to share the outcomes of the systematic review through online presentations and dissemination within the research community. The findings from this review will identify the extent of empirical evidence on older adults with MCI utilizing ICTs to maintain, restore or augment their social networks. This review will provide evidence for contextual and personal factors in older adults with MCI for the social networks with ICT use. This review will propose practical implications for the effective utilization of ICT by older adults with MCI.

Nursing Home Residents' COVID-19 Infections in the United States: A Systematic Review of Personal and Contextual Factors.

Background: This mixed methods systemic review synthesizes the evidence about nursing home risks for COVID-19 infections. Methods: Four electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Sage Journals Online) were searched between January 2020 and October 2022. Inclusion criteria were studies reported on nursing home COVID-19 infection risks by geography, demography, type of nursing home, staffing and resident's health, and COVID-19 vaccination status. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used to assess the levels of evidence for quality, and a narrative synthesis for reporting the findings by theme. Results: Of 579 initial articles, 48 were included in the review. Findings suggest that highly populated counties and urban locations had a higher likelihood of COVID-19 infections. Larger nursing homes with a low percentage of fully vaccinated residents also had increased risks for COVID-19 infections than smaller nursing homes. Residents with advanced age, of racial minority, and those with chronic illnesses were at higher risk for COVID-19 infections. Discussion and implications: Findings suggest that along with known risk factors for COVID-19 infections, geographic and resident demographics are also important preventive care considerations. Access to COVID-19 vaccinations for vulnerable residents should be a priority.

Social Connectedness Resource Preferences of Older Adults in Assisted Living: A Scoping Review Based on the WHO-ICF Framework.

The current scoping review identified emerging evidence on social connectedness resource preferences of older adults in assisted living facilities (ALFs) and the community. A literature search was performed using several databases. We included review articles published between January 2000 and September 2022 in English and related to social connectedness resources in ALFs and the community. Of 134 titles and abstracts, eight studies were included. Study participants comprised 2,482 older adults from 233 ALFs in the United States. Themes were framed using the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. For social activities, older adults preferred facility-based recreation and leisure resources. For community social connectedness, residents preferred participation in civic life activities. Participants of older age preferred facility resources, whereas those of younger age preferred more demanding physical activities. Those from larger enrollment facilities preferred facility-based resources compared to community resources. For moderately and less active residents, participation was limited to less demanding activities. Older adults' preferences varied based on age, physical limitations, and size and location of the facility. Findings suggest opportunities for further research on developing ALF- and community-based resources for older adults' social well-being and quality of life. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 49(9), 35-42.].

Subjective Aging Difficulties among Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline.

In older adults, subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may progress to an early stage of dementia. Yet, its association with subjective daily functional difficulties in aging is less well studied by experiences of mentally unhealthy days (MUDs). Employing a cross-sectional design approach, we analyzed the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System dataset on 7429 older adults with SCD (aged 65 to >80, 45% males, 55% females) to explore SCD in instrumental daily activities of living (SCD-IADLs) and healthcare access mediation by MUDs and moderated mediation by age cohort, controlling gender and education. The bias-corrected percentile bootstrap with 5000 samplings revealed that MUDs partially mediate the relationship between SCD-IADLs and healthcare access, with a 28.2% mediating effect. Age cohort moderated the relationship between healthcare access and MUDs, MUDs and SCD-IADLs. Specifically, the predictive effects from healthcare access to MUDs and MUDs to SCD-IADLs were more profound in the 70-74 age cohort.

Validation of the Chinese version of the resident satisfaction in long-term care facilities.

BACKGROUND: Accurate measurements of resident satisfaction in long-term care settings can provide administrators with valuable information to improve the quality of care. However, such assessment has been insufficient in long-term care facilities of China due to limited validated measuring instruments. We aim to translate and validate a Chinese version of the resident satisfaction assessment based upon the Ohio Long-term Care Resident Satisfaction Survey (OLCRSS). METHOD: An external specialist team assessed the translated items of OLCRSS and provided content validation scores (CVI). Criterion-related validity was determined by measuring the correlation between the Chinese version OLCRSS, a global satisfaction, a quality-of-life questionnaire, and a depression measurement. The reliability was assessed by Cronbach alpha and intra-class correlation coefficients. We conducted an exploratory factor analysis to examine the structure of the Chinese version OLCRSS. A total of 172 older adults recruited from Shanghai, China, participated in this study. RESULTS: The Chinese version OLCRSS demonstrated excellent validity, with the CVI = 1.0, ICC = .96, p < .001, and a Cronbach alpha = .96. The Chinese version OLCRSS was significantly correlated with quality of life (r=.267 p < 0.01), with the global satisfaction (r=.309, p < 0.01), and had negative correlation with depressive symptoms (r = -.044, P = .498). The exploratory factor analysis implied a slightly different structural relationship between items. Possible explanations were discussed in the discussion section. CONCLUSIONS: The Chinese version OLCRSS is a valid and potentially useful instrument for assessing resident satisfaction in long-term care facilities among the older Chinese population and Chinese contexts.

Nursing assistants and resident satisfaction in long-term care: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The number of nursing assistants (NAs) in the long-term care industry is on the rise, helping to service the needs of an increasingly aging population. Understanding influences on NAs service qualities and resident satisfaction is important to sustainable long-term care services. To date, the research evidence about NAs factors and resident satisfaction has not been synthesized. We aimed to address this gap in the evidence. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Utilizing a mixed-methods systematic review, we searched PubMed, PsycINFO, AgeLine, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases for journal articles with primary data published from database inception to March 2021. Both qualitative and quantitative literature were considered and a narrative summary provided. Study reporting quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists and Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Checklist. RESULTS: A total of 25 articles, spanning 9 countries and regions, were included in the review. Study reporting quality was good. A positive relationship between aged-care resident satisfaction and NAs job satisfaction (n = 8) was identified. Resident satisfaction was enhanced through NA training programs (n = 7), quality of daily interaction with NAs (n = 6), and the overall contribution of NAs in promoting residents` experiences (n = 4) DISCUSSION: The current findings highlight the important role of NAs in improving resident care in long-term care settings. Nursing home administrators need to better understand the value of NAs and to provide supports for growth and development in their work. Continuing the professional development of NAs can not only improve their skills but also benefit resident satisfaction and organizational sustainability.

Older Adults' Mental Health Through Leisure Activities During COVID-19: A Scoping Review.

Older adults are at high risk for mental health distress due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. This scoping review aimed to map emerging evidence on the types of leisure and recreation activities (LRA) adults, 60 years and older, are engaged in for their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. We identified 10 studies on LRA for mental health by older adults with COVID-19 mitigation from a search of the following databases: Medline/PubMed, Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE), Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, JBI Evidence Synthesis, and Epistemonicos. A narrative synthesis of the data revealed age cohorts of young-old (60-69 years) and middle-old (70-79 years) engaging mainly in online LRA for mental health compared to the older-old adults (80 years and older). The middle-old (70-79 years) and older-old adults (80-89 years) engaged in more physical LRA for mental health compared to the younger-old adults. Across age cohorts, the older adults engaged in social connectedness LRA for mental health wellbeing. COVID-19-safe LRA mental health support interventions for older adults should be tailored to their age cohort predispositions for optimal benefit.

Perception and Challenges of Preventive Measures of COVID-19 Among Nepalese Frontline Health Professionals: An Unexplored Realism.

Background: A new coronavirus causes COVID-19, a developing respiratory illness. Unfortunately, there is little information assessing healthcare workers' understanding of technology and preventative strategies during the Nepalese epidemic. Researchers from other subspecialties uncovered some mythical thoughts. As a result, we decided to put it to the test with healthcare personnel on the front lines. The research also looked at the problems experienced by frontline health care personnel (HCP) because of the COVID-19 strategic shift in work policy. Methods: Nepalese healthcare workers participated in web-based cross-sectional research. A pre-tested, structured questionnaire utilizing a Google form was used to get self-informed, digitally typed consent, and examine critical perspectives and problems with current technology and COVID-19 prevention efforts. Results: In total, 243 participants with mean age of 29.66 ± 7.61 years agreed to participate and were doctors (n = 27), health assistants (n = 2), medical intern doctors (n = 1), paramedical (n = 139), pharmacy (n = 1), and paramedical interns (n = 73) in this study. The calculated mean percentage score of knowledge on instruments and tools was 73.64 (SD ± 10.43) %, and perception on COVID-19 transmission and control was 70.06 (SD ± 18.30) %. At various levels, frontline health workers faced significant challenges, including the adoption of digital health technology. Conclusion: Frontline HCPs are anticipated to have updated knowledge from what the study has outlined. It is recommended to follow national guidelines. Policies should be put in place so that every frontline worker can demonstrate high standards in prevention, control, and equipment use that do not create misinformation among HCPs. Throughout, support for digital health materials and disease control methods for HCPs is essential.

Eldercare in the transnational setting: insights from Bangladeshi transnational families in the United States.

Little is known about the emotional impact of caregiving for elderly parents on migrant child in the transnational setting. To address this gap in the literature, this study examines the stressors, mediators, and outcomes of eldercare in the transnational context. Data were collected from 21 Bangladeshi immigrant men and women living in the United States who had living parents in Bangladesh over 60 years old. Despite the geographic distance, the migrants provide care to their parents such as emotional support, financial assistance, and arranging for care. While the health status of the care recipients contributed to primary objective stressors, none of the transnational caregivers' narratives reflected the presence of any subjective stressors such as role overload, role captivity, and relational deprivation. Distance and depending on others for hands-on caregiving resulted in feelings of loss of control over the caregiving process. Caregivers experienced a range of emotions from guilt, excessive worrying, and distress over the unpredictability and uncertainty of their circumstances. Kin networks, communicative technologies, and a cultural norm of filial piety contributed to mediating stress. The findings underscore the importance of supportive institutional policies such as visa and travel policies, employment leave, and counseling services for caregivers who provide care for their elderly parents transnationally.