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The aim of the paper was to study the intellectual profile of 94 gifted elders aged 60–90 years old with an IQ equal to or higher than 130 on at least one of the four primary indexes of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Fourth Edition. Their performances in the 15 subtests, in the Full Scale Intelligence Quotient, in the primary, supplementary and Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory Indexes, were analyzed. This group exhibited a significantly higher level of performance in all subtests and indexes than the control group matched for gender, age, and education. The differences between the two groups appear higher for the Matrix reasoning and Visual puzzle subtests. Additionally, in the gifted group the strengths seem to be represented more by Processing Speed and Perceptual Reasoning Indexes, in the control group are Comprehension Verbal and Working Memory Indexes. Moreover, gifted elders showed lower discrepancies across intellectual domains. These data provide evidence that, as the difference between the gifted group and the control group revealed in the present study is more due to processing speed, this dimension, which normaly is most affected by aging, on the contrary, is maintained/increased as a strength in the gifted elderly group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study of gerontology, fieldwork with older adults is often used to enhance students' understanding of the aging process. While assignments based on interactions with older adults are a common practice in teaching students enrolled in gerontology studies, we know less about the impact of such activities on students from other disciplines. This paper summarizes students' experiences with an assignment offered to a diverse cohort of undergraduate students who took a course in social gerontology. To complete this assignment, students had to interview an older adult, summarize the life story of the participant, apply a theoretical perspective to the older adult's life story, and reflect on the process. Analyzing data derived from 72 assignments and 10 semi-structured interviews with students who were enrolled in the course, this paper examines students' experiences with this assignment. Specifically, we identify what aspects of the assignment students found beneficial, what aspects they found challenging, and in what ways this assignment helped students to enhance their understanding of aging. Our findings suggest that students found it challenging to recruit an older adult for an interview and struggled with the semi-structured nature of the interview process. All students found the actual interview process to be extremely rewarding and beneficial for their learning. In discussion, we provide some recommendations on how to offer this type of assignment to a diverse group of students enrolling in the courses on social gerontology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research emphasizes the importance of well-being in old age and its association with positive mental and physical health at earlier stages of aging during midlife. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has the potential to support positive aging processes. This study examines the feasibility and acceptability of a new unguided eHealth ACT module in a population from 40 years onwards. Data were collected at two measurement points in time (before and after completion of the ACT module). In total, 313 participants (range = 40–75 years; mean(SD) = 54 years (8.3); 76% female) had 8 weeks access to the ACT module and responded to the feasibility questionnaire, upon completion of the module. Logged data (time spent online per session and in total, number of attended sessions) was also analyzed. Of the respondents, 76% reported a completion rate of 75%–100%. On average, 3.5 h (SD = 6.4) per week were spent on the module and practicing the ACT skills. The mean evaluation of the module was 7.4 (SD = 1.2, range = 1–10). Approximately 80% of the participants rated each session as (very) good. Absence of guidance was marked as a limitation. The results indicate good feasibility and acceptance of this unguided eHealth module. This is a promising result as this is, to our knowledge, the first study applying an eHealth ACT module to the general population in the context of positive aging. The effectiveness results will be addressed in a future paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing popularity of unobtrusive research methods vis-à-vis the unprecedented increase of user-generated content (UGC), this investigation purports to populate the knowledge base on the emerging field of gerontalentology introduced by de Guzman, Mesana and Roman in 2020. Specifically, a qualitative sentiment analysis (QSA) was performed on social media expressions (n = 10,056) that were extracted from top-viewed YouTube videos (n = 12) via Data Miner, involving older adults auditioning in Got Talent®. The intensity of emotions or sentiments of online viewers was examined through with-in and cross-case analyses of posted comments. The process of constant comparison of field texts afforded the emergence of distinct and interesting depreciative, inspirative, appreciative, and emulative spaces that typify how older adults and their showcase of talents are individually and collectively viewed by the global audience. Implications of the study to promoting intergenerational contact of younger adults with older adults and the promises of gerontalentogical studies are also discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Silver Academy (NSA) was launched in 2016 as part of the Singapore government's Action Plan for Successful Aging. This paper uses a grounded approach to explore and assess critical geragogical elements that are enabling, empowering and transformative for older learners. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 48 participants who had completed an NSA course. Although three different categories of older learners were identified in this study, most tend to internalize ageism and took courses to counter ageist stereotypes of being frail, dependent and useless. In terms of geragogy, participants articulated four key learning needs at the NSA. These were: (i) relatable, empathetic and engaging instructors; (ii) interactive and versatile methods of teaching with emphasis on real-life applications; (iii) flexible and accessible curriculum and course content appropriate to learners' capabilities and expectations and (iv) inclusive and disability-friendly learning environments catering to a wide spectrum of learners. At the NSA, instructors are crucial to the empowerment of older learners by leading the challenge against ageism, promoting learners' confidence and self-worth as well as enabling safe spaces for personal transcendence and creative expression. This study reinforces the need for more contextualized models of geragogy to dismantle structural and internalized forms of ageism by taking into account older learners' cultural beliefs about aging, access to education, confidence and competences to navigate both formal and informal learning environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the initial findings from Contemporary Visual Art and Identity Construction—Wellbeing Amongst Older People: a two-year research project that aims to understand how the lives of older people can be improved by examining their use of contemporary visual art in the art gallery and museum. It will focus on data relating to lifelong learning for postretirement people. The paper investigates the impact of engaging with contemporary art on a sample of 43 participants aged 64+. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Diversity is what makes a person unique, with the intersection of diversity characteristics potentially a strength or a barrier to accessing healthcare, and thereby affecting health and well-being outcomes. Many older people with diverse needs are not accessing appropriate services to meet their needs, leading to suboptimal health and well-being. Community aged care workers are at the frontline, working with diverse older people with complex needs; yet there is a dearth of training available in this sphere. This paper outlines the development and pilot evaluation of a diversity training workshop for managers and frontline community aged care workers. The aim of the workshop was to empower the workforce to support increased participation of older people with diverse needs in their own care, to ultimately lead to their improved health and well-being. Workshop development was underpinned by sound education principles, a competency framework and research evidence. First iteration of the workshop underwent pilot testing with three groups, two in metropolitan Melbourne (n = 31) and one in regional Victoria (n = 10), Australia. Feedback was gathered via an independent observer (field notes), pre- and post-workshop surveys, and phone interviews with participants 3-month post-workshop. Pilot data and feedback informed changes to workshop content (type of knowledge, application of knowledge and skills), workshop structure and androgogical (adult learning) approach. An evidence-informed diversity training workshop was developed through an iterative process, with the aim of enhancing knowledge, skills and attitudes of community aged care workers. This approach has developed a workshop that aims to better meet the needs of an aged care workforce, so that they may better support older people with diverse needs to increase engagement and participation in their care, optimizing their health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to investigate the association of learning participation with the quality of life (QoL) in older Chinese adults, verifying how the differing types of learning activity participation may influence their QoL. We conducted two studies to gain a better understanding of learning participation and QoL among adults over 55 years of age. In the first study, we conducted five focus groups among 43 older adults about their understanding of learning benefits and their general well-being. In a second study, we assessed the QoL using the EUROHIS-QOL 8-item index, while learning participation was measured through a questionnaire addressing the frequency of involvement in educational activities among 579 Chinese older adults. The results indicate that being engaged in learning activities in old age has the potential to increase the QoL of older adults. Moreover, in contrast to nonformal learning, the results of the hierarchical linear regression model demonstrate that both informal and formal learning have a significant positive influence on QoL. The paper concludes by discussing the implications for research and practice pertaining to the encouragement of learning participation in later life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building on previous self-concept and current physical self-concept (PSC) theories, this paper presents empirical results demonstrating the triad relationship among physical exercise, PSC, and quality of life (QoL) in older adults. Specifically, the results show how PSC mediates the relationship between physical exercise and health-related quality of life (HQoL). A total of 152 older adults participated in this study, completing the Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire, Physical Self-Concept Scale for Older Adults, and 12-Item Short-Form Survey. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to test the mediating effects. Older adults’ physical exercise, PSC, and QoL were all correlated. The components of older adults’ PSC (strength, flexibility, and independent functioning) fully mediated the relationship between physical exercise and the physical as well as mental aspects of HQoL. This study thus suggests that PSC plays an important explanatory role in the effect of older adults’ physical exercise on their QoL. Health-care professionals may use various strategies to enhance older adults’ self-perception during physical exercise in order to promote their global well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to discuss how university-community partnerships can be utilized to provide affordable and accessible health care for the elderly at community health clinics. A review of community health clinics, usage data from 2013 to 2014 by a sample of aging individuals will be described along with faculty perspectives about the usefulness of the university partnership and suggestions for improving future partnerships. Recommendations for future university-community partnerships are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol and substance misuse is an overlooked and under-acknowledged problem among older adults. Hence, a substantial number of older adults go without needed recovery treatment. To meet the need of identifying and addressing alcohol and substance misuse issues in older adults, we created a Geriatric Substance Abuse Recovery Program (GSARP) for post-acute care patients within a skilled nursing facility (SNF). The GSARP integrates medical rehabilitation and substance abuse recovery services. This paper provides a description of the GSARP and reports on the results of the evaluation. Findings showed high program acceptability as demonstrated by an 80% program participation rate of patients who based on screenings for alcohol and substance misuse issues were found eligible to receive recovery services. Minority older adults were significantly less likely to participate when compared to Caucasians. GSARP participants were significantly more likely to return home when compared to those who did not participate and they had lower 30-day-rehospitalization rates. At two follow-up points, at least 60% of program participants reported that they had not relapsed. This pilot demonstrated feasibility of implementing a recovery program within an SNF and produced preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of the program in improving patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the population ages, so does the number of older patients encountered by paramedics. It is vital that paramedics are adequately prepared to meet the unique and growing needs of these patients. Experience and education play key roles in the formation of attitudes that impact behavior, and ultimately patient care. The aim of this study was to determine the level of student paramedic experience with knowledge of, and attitudes toward, older adults and to examine the relationship between these factors. This was a cross-sectional study utilizing three paper-based questionnaires; Experience with Older Adults Questionnaire, Australian Facts on Aging Quiz 2 (FAQ2), and Aging Semantic Differential (ASD). Of the 871 paramedic student participants, 79% had an oldest living grandparent 65 years old or above, and 63% had encountered older adults on clinical placement. The mean (SD) score for the FAQ2 was 12.7 (3.0) out of a possible 25, indicating a low level of knowledge about older people. The mean (SD) score for the ASD was 120.3 (17.77), indicating slightly positive attitudes toward older adults. Knowledge (β = −0.06;p = .058) and experience (β = −0.06;p = .058) had weak associations with attitudes. Student paramedics have some prior experience with older adults, relatively low knowledge and generally positive attitudes. There is some association between these factors; however, the impact on patient care requires further investigation. Paramedic educators should strive to provide students with broad quality experiences and education that increases awareness and understanding of older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) postintentional constructs (maintenance self-efficacy, recovery self-efficacy, action planning, coping planning) and medication adherence among phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR) patients. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 91 phase II CR patients age 50 years and over. All respondents completed paper and pencil questionnaire examining HAPA postintentional constructs (action planning, coping planning, maintenance self-efficacy, recovery self-efficacy), medication adherence, and demographic characteristics. Validity and reliability were confirmed for all scales included in the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to describe respondents’ characteristics. Bivariate statistics (correlation, Mann-Whitney U-test, Kruskal Wallis test) were used to examine associations between medication adherence and each HAPA postintention construct as well as medication adherence and respondent demographic characteristics. Better medication adherence was associated with greater maintenance self-efficacy (r = −.290, p = .006) and better action planning skills (r = −.233,p = .027) and coping planning skills (r = −.277,p = .008) as indicated by higher scores on the maintenance self-efficacy, action planning, and coping planning scales. There was no significant linear relationship between medication adherence and recovery self-efficacy (r = −.103,p = .335) or medication adherence and any of the respondents’ demographic characteristics (p > .05). Only maintenance self-efficacy remained significant in a multivariate model predicting medication adherence. Greater maintenance self-efficacy was associated with increased medication adherence; health professionals working in CR settings might consider opportunities to enhance maintenance self-efficacy for medication adherence. Additional research is needed to identify strategies for promoting maintenance self-efficacy for medication adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Job satisfaction is a frequently studied topic among scholars, but only few have taken into account the job satisfaction of older workers. This study aims to develop a model that describes the mediating effect of happiness on job satisfaction specifically on a select group of aging Filipino workers. This paper utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) for its data analysis to test what impact happiness has on job satisfaction. Three hundred aging Filipino workers, both from public and private organizations in the Philippines, took part in this study by completing a five-part research tool that consists of aRobotfoto(a Dutch term that describes a photo-like picture drawn by police to describe a suspect from a witness's illustration) and adopted questionnaires for physical and mental well-being, employee recognition, happiness, and job satisfaction. The structural equation model revealed that physical and mental well-being and employee recognition significantly affect—and are predictors of—happiness. Moreover, it was found that happiness has an impact on the job satisfaction of older workers. Findings generated in this study cater relevant ideas in developing programs and practices for the aging workforce in the field of Human Resource Management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a sequel to previous theoretical papers (Gamliel, Reichental, & Eyal, 2007a, 2007b) that proposed a Model of Knowledge in Volume 33 of this journal. The study examines the effects of digital education on intergenerational empowerment and social interaction among participants in the Israeli Multigenerational Connection Program (MCP). The program pairs seniors and children in computer-room activities at primary schools and encourages both groups to benefit by learning from each other. Findings from feedback questionnaires, field observations, and semistructured interviews show that the MCP was successful in building an intergenerational bridge. The flexible structuring of the roles of teacher and pupil contributed to participants' satisfaction with the program, and the intergenerational knowledge exchanges empowered both groups and allowed them to reach out to each other. Implications for educators, both in the community and in mainstream schools, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anchored on the key constucts of Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior (1985), this paper seeks to test a model that explores the influence of knowledge, attitude, and caring behavior on nursing students’ behavioral intention toward geriatric care. A five-part survey-questionnaire was administered to 839 third and fourth year nursing students from a comprehensive university in the Philippines. To delineate the underlying dimensions of knowledge, attitude, and caring behavior, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was carried out. The resulting factors were integrated in the proposed model prior to structural equation modeling (SEM). The emerging model shows that while knowledge did not directly influence intent, it had a direct impact in the development of attitudes. Impliedly, by delineating the variables through EFA, new relationships between specific knowledge, attitude, and caring behavior dimensions can be observed. As shown, a nursing student's intent to care for older people can be increased if he/she sees them as powerful and wise. On the other hand, if one sees older people as demanding in nature, he/she is less likely to pursue geriatric nursing in the future. Interestingly, the resulting structural model in this study has successfully and clearly delineated the positive and negative determinants of nursing students’ intent to care for geriatric patients. The researchers hope that the model be used as an assessment tool for various nurse populations in order to effectively plan innovative strategies when introducing geriatric nursing. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

University Programs for Older Adults (Programas Universitarios para Adultos Mayores or PUMAs) have been developed throughout the world as an outcome of two worldwide policies: Life Long Learning (LLL) and Active Aging as a priority direction (UN, 2002). According to these policies, older persons should become full participants in the development process of a society, sharing in its benefits, while policies and actions should promote a positive view of aging. The present paper sets out to report some of the results from the evaluation of four PUMAs offered in 2009–2010 at four Universities: Autónoma University of Madrid (Spain), Autónoma University of Mexico (Mexico), Catholic University (Chile), and La Habana University (Cuba). With this purpose, a study with quasiexperimental design and nonequivalent control group was carried out. In total, 313 students (75% women, age range 50–87) on these four PUMAs and 190 controls (77% female, age range 50–91) participated in this evaluation study. Pre- and postexperimental and control comparisons results yielded significant differences in the expected direction: those people attending PUMAs significantly improved their self-perception of aging and group stereotypes, as well as significantly reduced their negative affect, and improving their emotional balance. At the same time, their perception of cultural age stereotypes became more negative. The results are discussed from the point of view of the II International Plan of Action on Aging objectives: the reduction of negative stereotypes and the promotion of the role of PUMAs in active aging. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of the paper was to evaluate changes in muscle force-velocity parameters (F-v) in elderly women subjected to physical exercise. The examinations encompassed 20 women, aged 62–71, who were students at the University of the Third Age in Wrocław. The evaluation of flexors and extensors of the knee joint, as well as flexors and extensors of the spine within the lumbar part, was performed under isokinetic conditions. The assessment was conducted three times: first, a preliminary evaluation; second, after four months of rehabilitation, which included march training and systemic exercises; third, was performed after another 12 months, during which the patients were subjected to various forms of individually selected physical activity. The examinations of muscles affecting the knee joint revealed that the results achieved in the second measurement, performed with load of 60°/s, revealed higher values than in the first examination and were similar or higher in the third examination. With a load of 180°/s, values achieved in the second measurement were higher than results from the first measurement and were mostly lower than registered in the measurement. The highest values of parameters F-v for flexors and extensors of the lumbar part of the spine were registered in third examination. The results were about 20% higher than achieved within measurements 1 and 2. The increase and maintenance of muscular fitness in elderly women is possible only if a load applied exceeds threshold values and is applied for a long time. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper reports the findings of research on relationships between depression and participation in learning using data from a large sample of older adults. The objective was to establish whether learning can reduce the risk of depression. Data were obtained from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a nationally-representative sample of adults aged 50 and above. The eight-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to measure depressive symptoms. Participation in learning covered the acquisition of qualifications; taking formal training courses, learning at arts, music or evening classes; and participation in gym/exercise classes. Multiple regression analyses were conducted with the change in the measure of depressive symptoms between two waves of the longitudinal survey as the response variable. There was limited evidence that participation in learning reduced the risk of depression in later life. Only learning leading to qualifications was significantly associated with the outcome after controlling other factors. But learning leading to qualifications was undertaken only by a small minority of the sample, mainly the youngest and most highly educated. Other types of learning were not significantly associated with depression. It appears that learning has, at best, a small role to play in addressing the risk of depression in later life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of information and communications technology (ICT) has increased across all regions and age groups. However, little research has examined older adults' use of ICT for different purposes. To address this research gap, the current study investigates the effects of ICT use for four purposes – social, leisure, financial, and medical – on the well-being of older adults. Most importantly, this study explores whether social support from friends may account for the observed positive effects of ICT use for social and leisure purposes. A total of 525 Hong Kong Chinese adults aged 60 and above (Mage = 68.7, SD = 6.27, Range = 60–100 years) completed an interview session to measure their ICT use for various purposes, social support from friends, and well-being indicators, including life satisfaction, positive and negative emotions and cognitive functioning. The results demonstrate that ICT use for all four purposes was associated with more frequent positive emotions and improved cognitive functioning. Moreover, ICT use for leisure and financial purposes was associated with higher levels of life satisfaction and fewer negative emotions. Social support was found to partially account for the effects of ICT use for social and leisure purposes on life satisfaction and positive emotions. These findings suggest that ICT use for all purposes is beneficial to older adults, and that ICT use may improve the emotional well-being of older adults by allowing for greater support from friends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of an integrated health promotion program has been proposed in recent years. However, the traditional program with lectures might decrease the effectiveness of learning. A game-based learning program provides a supportive social environment and further increases the quality of life and positive emotions. The present study evaluates the effectiveness of the proposed game-based health promotion program, KABAN!, to enhance health literacy, positive emotions, and quality of life for older adults. The proposed intervention included physical exercises, nutritional knowledge, social interaction, cognitive training, and oral health care skills. All activities were designed based on the gamification principles and experiential learning theory. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from participants and instructors. A total of 221 older adults were randomly recruited (age: mean = 71.1, SD = 7.1) as participants. To gather feedback on program implementation, 22 experienced instructors were selected based on the criteria of leading five or more sessions. Health literacy, quality of life, and emotional states before and after participation were collected. The instructors were invited to provide constructive feedback through open-ended survey questions. Analyses revealed that health literacy levels, positive emotions, and quality of life significantly increased after participation, while negative emotions remained identical. Further investigation of qualitative data via the constant comparison method showed positive feedback on instructors' perceived changes in participants. This study showed that participation in health promotion programs like KABAN! significantly enhanced older adults' health literacy, quality of life, and positive emotions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to develop and test a comprehensive model that depicts the associations of human environmental well-being (physical, financial, residential, and social satisfaction) on older adults' life satisfaction between two ethnic groups in the US, with a focus on residential satisfaction. Data were collected through an online survey targeting Hispanics and Whites (60+) living in their current homes in the US. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and multi-group SEM were used to analyze the final sample: Hispanics (n = 322) and Whites (n = 328). The proposed model explained 65% of the variance in the life satisfaction of Hispanics and 68% of that in the life satisfaction of Whites. The results indicated that all satisfaction constructs were significantly related to the life satisfaction of Whites. In contrast, no significant association of residential satisfaction with the life satisfaction of Hispanics was observed. Further analyses reported statistical differences in the effect sizes of each construct affecting life satisfaction. This study provides valuable insights into the relative importance of residential satisfaction in shaping life satisfaction across two ethnic groups with a comprehensive theoretical framework. Additional empirical and theoretical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of different writing interventions on late middle-aged and older adults' positive affect (PA) and meaning in life (MIL) and explored the mediating role of MIL in the relationship between PA and physical health. A total of 162 participants from China who were over 55 years old participated in this 3 × 3 mixed experimental design. The between-subjects variable constituted the participant group, including the expressive writing intervention (EWI) group, neutral task writing intervention (NTWI) group, and blank control group. The within-subject variable was time, including pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up. PA, MIL, physical health, and perceived benefits were measured at each time point. We used a mixed linear model from SPSS on the entire sample data to examine the effects of writing interventions. To determine the mediation effect, we conducted structural equation model analysis using the "lavaan" package in R. MIL showed significant interaction with time and group, but PA showed no significant interaction. Compared with the blank control group, EWI buffered the decline of MIL and had no significant intervention effect on PA. NTWI had no significant intervention effect on MIL and PA. Considering the entire sample, MIL mediated the relationship between PA and physical health. This study is the first to demonstrate the effectiveness of EWI on healthy late middle-aged and older adults' MIL. The mediating effect of MIL facilitated a better understanding of the relationship between PA and physical health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To successfully use information and communication technologies (ICT) for aging processes, older adults need to have a variety of skills. This study examined whether volunteering is a critical resource for older adults in dealing with the motives for internet use, higher internet self-efficacy, and lower obsolescence. For this purpose, a distinction was made between older adults who perform voluntary work in the ICT field, voluntary work outside the ICT field, and older non-volunteers. In the study, 331 older adults (mean, 70 years; range, 60–90 years; 39% female) participated in an online questionnaire and were subsequently divided into three groups (ICT volunteers, non-ICT volunteers, and non-volunteers) based on the replies. As expected, ICT volunteers were characterized by more motives for using the internet, higher internet self-efficacy, and lower perceived obsolescence, and significant variance in the components of these constructs were explained by volunteer status. Interactions indicated a buffer effect, according to which ICT volunteering compensates for higher age and educational disadvantages in the context of internet self-efficacy. References to social support, age and cohort effects, and training programs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has begun to pay more attention to intergenerational learning and its advantages, while what is the flow state of students of different generations when they participate in intergenerational learning? This study simultaneously measured the flow state of 16 college students (M = 23.13, SD = 1.82, ranging from 21 to 27 years old; 23.08% male) and 42 older adults (M = 68.61, SD = 9.23, ranging from 55 to 92 years old; 33.33% male) in Taiwan by recruiting them to participate in an intergenerational learning course. The current study measured the flow state of all participants after each class over a six-week period (from May 2021 to June 2021), and used the conditional growth model to analyze the trend of the flow state changed. The study design started with face-to-face classes and then changed to online classes in order to compare which type of class participants were more likely to experience digital distraction. The results of the study found that participants' flow state levels trended downward as the class moved from face-to-face to online. In addition, the growth rate of the flow state (both positive and negative) was significantly greater for young adults than for older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the availability, some residents choose not to participate in wellness offerings at their residential communities. Perceptions of aging can influence engagement in healthy behaviors. The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between perceptions of aging and wellness engagement among Life Plan Community residents. A total of 447 residents (ages 59 to 97; M = 81.82, SD = 6.55) of 10 Life Plan Communities completed surveys that measured their perceptions of aging, self-reported wellness, interest in improving wellness, participation in wellness programs, and barriers to wellness participation. Multiple regression analyses revealed that more positive perceptions of aging were associated with better wellness, higher interest, more frequent participation, and fewer barriers. Follow-up analyses revealed that these effects could be accounted for by specific types of aging attitudes (i.e. psychological growth, psychosocial loss, and physical change). These findings have implications for the development, implementation, and promotion of wellness programs for older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ageism is an ongoing pervasive issue that can be difficult to challenge. The aims of this study were to co-design alternative frames about aging in a workshop and to explore the process participants went through using these to challenge ageism in their communities over a three-month period. Participatory action research combined with co-design were used. Full-day workshops involving 27 participants across urban and regional Australia introduced participants to the concept of ageism, framing, engaging with community, and co-designing alternative frames of aging. An online group allowed participants to support each other and continue exploring ideas as they challenged ageism in their communities. After 3 months, follow-up debrief sessions involving activities and semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data from workshops (activities, recordings), online posts, and debrief sessions were analyzed. Participants found the reframing process useful for challenging aging stereotypes in the community. Over the three months they developed an increased awareness of ageism (in self, others, society) and challenged these in different ways, including changing their internal dialogue, challenging others' views on aging, and actively defying stereotypes. Five alternative frames emerged: diversity and human rights; empowerment and support; value/contributions; lifelong learning; intergenerational. The process of creating alternative frames was important and allowed participants to bring their own values andnarratives to the experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While traditional media portrayals of older people are widely documented, social media representations have not been adequately examined. This is an undesirable oversight considering the prominence of social media in contemporary times. Further, such representations remain markedly unexplored in the Indian context. Given India's burgeoning population aging, the changing nature of Indian society, and the increasing use of social media, particularly YouTube which has the second largest user base among Indians, an analysis of the nature of portrayal of older persons on YouTube was deemed important. Through an inductive content analysis of 65 YouTube videos, we identified six primary categories and five sub-categories. These were – 'A vulnerable population' comprising three sub-categories the perils of old age, India is aging but do we care? and victims of crime and abuse; 'A collective responsibility;' 'The Incredibles: stories of resilience and new beginnings;' 'Toward an elder-sensitive society' encompassing two sub-categories namely gerontechnology and social initiatives and elder-friendly physical environment; 'Healthy aging;' and lastly 'Productivity in old age: respect and economic compulsion.' Broadly, our results revealed a far more differentiated, complex, and mixed portrayal of older people than early studies that found a predominantly negative portrayal. However, we also observed the potential for a greater, more balanced and heterogenous representation of the older Indian population on YouTube. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiential learning and reflection activities are often used to enhance students' understanding of and attitudes toward aging; however, deep reflection is difficult to achieve, and research shows students demonstrate varying abilities to reflect. This study examined the extent to which students in a third-year gerontology course were able to engage in reflection after completing an assignment that included an interview with an older adult. Data included 72 student-written reflections that were classified as descriptive, analytical, or critical based on their depth. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted to understand what students reflected on within their experience and how this varied across levels of reflection. Overall, the assignment fostered a greater understanding of aging and prompted students to think more about what they wanted for their own aging process. Most students, however, reflected at the descriptive (32%) or analytical (50%) level; only 18% engaged in a critical reflection, indicating that critical reflection was not a skill demonstrated by all students. We make recommendations on how to enhance experiential learning activities to encourage critical reflection among students, including more structured and frequent reflection activities, more interactions with an older adult to build a deeper relationship and learn more about their life experiences, and more opportunities to develop qualitative interviewing skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite growing attention to the relationship between social cohesion and health outcomes, very few studies have focused on correlates of social cohesion especially in developing countries. This study sought to identify the factors related to neighborhood social cohesion among the older adults in Tehran, Iran. The sample consisted of 1280 community-dwelling older adults aged 60 and over. Face-to-face interviews were administrated to gather data from residents of selected neighborhoods. Bivariate analyses and hierarchical regression analysis were done to reveal the relations between perceived neighborhood social cohesion and independent variables. The mean age of the participants was 70.90 years (SD = 8.07 years) and more than half of them (57.9%) lived in the mid-advantage areas. The mean social cohesion score was 7.32 (SD = 2.13) and the mean percentage score was 61.08 (SD = 17.75). Results showed that marital status, employment status, independent daily living, and perceived health status, availability of shopping center, cleanness of the neighborhood, security for walking and area-level advantage, significantly related to higher neighborhood social cohesion (F = 10.382, R2 = 14.8). Environmental characteristics included cleanness, security, and advantage of the neighborhood had the greatest effect on the neighborhood social cohesion. The significant change in R Squared showed that the addition of environmental characteristics accounted for an amount of variance in neighborhood social cohesion (∆F = 11.46, ∆R2 = 0.054), after controlling for confounding variables. The study findings underscore the importance of improving environmental aspects of neighborhood to develop older adults' social cohesion. Developing the infrastructures for neighborhood accessibility, cleanliness, and security can lead to higher levels of social cohesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Health Belief Model-based education on determinants of intention to perform influenza prevention behaviors among the older adults. In this experimental controlled randomized study conducted on 100 rural older adults (50 in each group), four education sessions were conducted for the experiment group. Data were collected by a researcher who made the questionnaire, before and 2 months after intervention. The data were analyzed in SPSS 21. The level of significance was set at 0. 05. Two months after the intervention, the mean scores of perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived barriers, and perceived benefits in the intervention group significantly changed (P <.001) but mean scores of cues to action perceived self-efficacy, and intention to perform influenza preventive measures did not change significantly. Only the intention to receive the vaccine and using a mask in the experimental group after intervention showed significant differences (p <.001). The finding suggests that the Health Belief Model can be a proper model to promote influenza prevention behaviors, especially vaccination and using masks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the impact of training on detection and reporting cases of elder abuse and neglect perpetrated by staff in LTC facilities and to compare staff with previous training to those with no training. A quantitative study in which questionnaires were collected from 250 multi- professional participants at a training seminar. Trainees with previous training on elder abuse reported higher perceived self-efficacy, higher intention to take action asking residents direct questions on abuse, to refer and report cases of elder abuse. They identified more cases of elder abuse in comparison to trainees without previous training. Findings indicate a positive relationship between perceived self-efficacy and intention to take action, and between perceived self-efficacy and direct questioning and referral for further inquiry. Training professionals is essential in coping effectively with elder abuse and neglect in LTC facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older adults are at risk for mental health concerns, such as social isolation and suicide. Risk factors to suicide among older adults, such as loneliness and social isolation, may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Gatekeepers in the community are a significant source of identification and referral of older adults at risk of mental and physical health concerns. In this study, we sought to discover whether natural helpers in the Aging Service Network (ASN), including volunteers and providers (n = 93) obtain and utilize suicide-intervention skills with older adults who receive home-delivered meals (HDM) after being trained in a 14-hour evidenced based training. Paired-sample t-tests yielded significant results at pre- and post-test measures of suicide intervention response skill acquisition, and over 19% of trained participants reported using suicide intervention skills over six months. Implications for future training and research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite older adults' developmental process along with its inextricable connection to health and physical activity issues and a unique learning desire in later life, limited evidence exists regarding the nature of learning that occurs when older adults engage in their practice of exercise. As engagement in personally satisfying physical activity becomes more meaningful in older adulthood as a means for healthy aging, understanding their practice of exercise and learning particular exercise-related skills is imperative. Thus, we examined older adults' perceptions of aging and everyday learning experiences in the context of physical activity. Using grounded theory, specifically following the paradigm model, we identified the core category of 'nature of learning in physical activity in later life' and older adult exercisers' learning process including assimilative, accommodative, and social aspects of learning. The findings suggested that physical literacy in older adulthood, self-directed learning about physical activity, reflective practice, and nostalgic learning should be taken into consideration when developing quality exercise programs and conducting future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing older is a natural occurrence experienced by all human beings, but a plurality of perspectives influences how understanding aging deviates in multiple context. Senescence now enthuses a profound substantiation to appreciate harmonious aging. Among the diverse corpora of data, songs are found to be useful in communicating, motivating and healing the aging population and accepting the aging process. This latent content analysis study purports to understand the portrayal of getting and growing older in a select group (n = 27) of songs yesteryears. Guided by Bengtsson's (2016) processes of decontextualization, recontextualization, categorization and compilation, findings of this study revealed three interlocking concepts that typify getting and growing older, namely The Power of Suffering (Aging of the Heart), Power of Hoping (Aging with the Heart) and Power of Loving (Aging from the Heart). These latent messages found in the songs of yesteryears emphasize the immense significance of songs to facilitate communication, transitions and psycho-social connections essential to the aging process. As the aging population face the remaining years of their lives, findings of this study will add significance to the existing gerontological studies and serve as a harmonizing guide in aging education toward a balanced, optimistic and transcending growing older perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, providing support for older adults who continued to live in the affected areas has been a critical issue. We examined the effects of programs to address how challenges of daily living impact individuals' health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This was a 14 session, quasi-experiment trial that included 89 older adults aged 65 years or older who continued to live in the earthquake-affected areas. Participants were assigned to one of two programs: 48 older adults participated in the program "activities and participation", aimed at addressing the challenges of daily living such as loss of habits, meaning to live, social and domestic roles, and leisure; and 44 older adults participated in the program "body functions and structures", aimed at improving their physical functions. Differences between groups were assessed using chi-square tests, t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. The "activities and participation" program was effective in advancing participants' HRQOL (p <.01, effect size = 0.51). Further, it may lead to improved physical functions. This study indicates that, in a post-disaster response, it is effective to focus on challenges of daily living while considering the QOL of affected older adults. The program was useful in helping older adults affected by disasters to rebuild their lives as part of a disaster response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term stress experienced by caregivers is often overlooked, as is their pre-planning for senior life, but helping middle-aged and older caregivers to prepare for senior life is the foundation for active aging. The purpose of this study is to elucidate middle-aged and older caregivers' attitudes toward aging, proactive coping, and the need to learn life safety and to identify the factors influencing their need for life safety instruction. In this study, a questionnaire survey was administered to middle-aged and older caregivers with 1 year of experience or more in caring for older adults. In total, 500 questionnaires were distributed using a snowball sampling method, of which 415 valid questionnaires were recovered. The research tools included a personal information questionnaire, attitude toward aging scale, proactive coping scale, and need for life safety instruction scale. The results of this study were that: 1. Middle-aged and older caregivers had a low psychological evaluation of aging and a weak response to aging. 2. Respondents demonstrated a strong need to learn life safety. 3. Average monthly salary, aging awareness, aging behavior, attitude toward proactive coping, and proactive coping ability were strong predictors of the need to learn life safety. The principal conclusion was that the need for life safety instruction increased concurrently with unemployment, a decrease in aging awareness and behavior, an improvement in attitude toward proactive coping, and a decrease in proactive coping ability. Therefore, life safety education can be provided to the aforementioned group to satisfy their learning needs adequately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covid-19 is a global public health crisis, which in addition to making victims is changing the living habits of the population. The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of social isolation on the physical and mental health of older adults and to learn how they are informing themselves about the pandemic. It is a qualitative study with a phenomenological basis, composed by telephone interviews with 35 older adults (70,5 ± 4,7 years) of both genders, members of a Brazilian University of Third Age, during the period of the pandemic. The testimonies revealed a considerable degree of concern about the possibility of being infected by the virus, increased anxiety due to tragic news, the growing number of deaths, the collapse of the Brazilian economy and the rising unemployment rate. The group reported sleep disorders, joint pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, and reduced functional capacity. Everyone felt sufficiently informed about Covid-19. The main means of gaining information about the pandemic was radio, followed by TV, dialogue with family and friends, and WhatsApp. Only 30% of the participants used WhatsApp, praised because of its multiple functions and the ability to re-read the news. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yoga has been found to provide numerous health benefits to older adults including preventing or slowing physical frailty and subsequent functional limitations. The purpose of this study was to examine pre-frail or frail older adults' beliefs about yoga as well as to identify barriers to participation. We recruited 37 older adults from a Faint, Fall, and Frailty Clinic at a medical center and asked them to complete questionnaires regarding their physical health and beliefs about yoga using the Beliefs About Yoga Scale. Frailty and fall risk were obtained through electronic health records. Participants' had mean age of 72.81 years. Participants were considered to be prefrail (66.7%) or frail (33.3%), and most (78.4%) had fallen at least once in the past year. Over 72% of participants engaged in light physical activity. The BAYS mean score was 59.17 (SD = 12.5; Range 11–77). Higher scores indicted more optimistic beliefs about yoga. Over 90% of participants had not practiced yoga, 97.1% had no intentions to practice, 61.8% did not know locations placed where yoga classes were offered, 82.4% were unsure about the costs associated with yoga, and only 56.3% reported having transportation. The three primary barriers to practicing yoga were perceived difficulty of yoga practice, lack of motivation, and fear of injury. Participants held positive beliefs about yoga, yet had limited experience and little intention to participate indicating a need to provide targeted educational interventions to this population of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elder abuse is a frightening reality among older adults that has repercussions to their health and resilience. The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship of elder abuse to the health and resilience of older adults in an urban community in the Philippines. The aim is to establish health and resilience interventions for the participants. A descriptive correlational design was utilized in the study with several tools. A sociodemographic questionnaire (SDQ) for older adults was used with the Experience of Abuse Suspicion Index (EASI) questionnaire. The PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) questionnaire was availed to know the health status of the participants and resilience was measured using the Connor–Davidson Resilience tool. Descriptive statistics described the information collected from the variables. Chi-square operates to determine the correlation of the variables with the sociodemographic profile of the participants. Results showed that less probability of exposure to elder abuse among older adults implies a strong resiliency score. However, the relationship between resiliency and health is not significant and a negative relationship is seen between the two. This means that as the participants become resilient, the more these older adults do not have physical, anxiety, depression, and fatigue issues. Experience of abuse and health, on the other hand, yield a negative moderate correlation, which means that as exposure to elder abuse decreases, the health of the older adults increases. The study concludes that continuous employment in old age could improve the resilience of older adults despite the experience of elder abuse. Economic freedom is an important factor for older adults to evade verbal abuse from family members and having security in old age is their ticket to better health and becoming more resilient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have dealt with suppression and its long-term effects. However, little is known about the dynamics of suppression among older prisoners in the context of a developing country like the Philippines whose penal conditions are currently in crisis. This grounded theory investigation is an attempt to describe the process of how a select group of older prisoners (n = 25) from the largest penitentiary in the Philippines experiences suppression. Field texts were subjected to thematic analysis involving open, axial and selective coding. Interestingly, the researchers' Yo-yoing model of Suppression emerged to portray stages of their suppression experiences. The model shows four stages: devastating, or the rapid heightening of emotions upon encounter of intrusive situation; contemplating, or the progressive receding of the wallowing emotions given one's gradual realization of the situation; diverting, or the use of various diversionary activities to relieve tension; and iterating, or the unexpected recurrence of the past characterized by "rebounding" a feeling of suffering. The emerged model may become valuable to guide health professionals and gerontological workers in developing appropriate interventions and support mechanisms to improve the overall mental health and well-being of this vulnerable group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed online training modules focused on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) designed to improve best care practices in long-term care settings, such as nursing homes, as a part of a federal grant focused on improving geriatric education for interprofessional (collaboration among different professions providing patient care) team members working in primary care settings. Faculty and clinicians with ADRD-expertise created and implemented an online asynchronous "ADRD Best Care Practices in Long-Term Care" program that includes audio-visual recorded presentations, a threaded case study, and supplemental information. Prior to enrolling in the course, participants complete a demographic survey and a modified 15-item version of the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale. After completing the modules, participants complete a satisfaction survey and the ADKS. A total of 94 participants completed both the pre- and post-surveys. Satisfaction evaluation data showed that the majority of participants reported that the information presented was very clear (74.5%), was useful for their work (88.3%), and would improve the care that they provide to their geriatric patients (93.6%). Out of 15 possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) includes a wide variety of treatments including modalities that are ingestible (e.g., vitamins/minerals), mind/body (e.g., yoga), and physical (e.g., acupuncture). Disclosure of CAM to medical care providers is important for avoiding potential health risks. The aim of the study was to elucidate reasons for CAM nondisclosure to physicians among a population of older adults. A sequential exploratory mixed-methods design utilizing quantitative questionnaires and qualitative interviews was employed. Linear regression was performed to evaluate variables that may contribute to disclosure. Ninety older patients from two primary care clinics – including 12 who completed qualitative interviews were included in this study. Participants were significantly less likely to disclose ingestible types of CAM compared to physical (p <.01) and mind/body modalities (p <.03). Linear regression resulted in a model that explained 25% of the variance in disclosure of ingestible forms of CAM; age, doctor's opinion of CAM, and participants' with less concern of their health were significantly related to disclosing CAM use. Qualitative interviews suggested that individuals over 70 years of age with longer lasting chronic conditions were less likely to disclose CAM as compared with those aged 65–69 who tended to use CAM for episodic and preventative care. Rates of CAM disclosure among older adults may be dependent on the participant's age, their experience with health, and expectations surrounding communication with their physician. Understanding patterns of CAM use can help guide age-appropriate conversations and limit possible adverse outcomes from non-disclosure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

General practitioners (GPs) play a pivotal role in dementia recognition, yet research suggests that dementia often remains undetected in primary care. Lack of knowledge might be a major contributing factor to low recognition rates. Our objective was to address a gap in the scientific literature by exploring GPs' knowledge on dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) for the first time in Hungary by conducting a cross-sectional, questionnaire study among practicing GPs. Recruitment of the participants (n = 402) took place at mandatory postgraduate training courses and at national GP-conferences; the applied questionnaire was self-administered and contained both open-ended and fixed-response questions. Results showed that GPs highlighted vascular and metabolic factors (38.3% of the answer items) and unhealthy lifestyle (29.1% of the answer items) as dementia risk factors. They perceived vascular dementia as the most common dementia form, followed by Alzheimer's disease. Almost half of the respondents (44.9%) were not familiar with MCI. Most GPs identified memory problems (98.4%) and personality change (83.2%) as the leading symptoms of dementia. In summary, GPs demonstrated adequate knowledge on areas more relevant to their practices and scope of duties (risk and preventive factors, main types and symptoms of dementia); however, uncertainties were uncovered regarding epidemiology, MCI, and pharmacological therapy. As only one-fifth (19.4%) of the GPs could participate recently in dementia-focused trainings, continued education might be beneficial to improve dementia detection rates in primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the manuscript is to investigate senior education in Nanjing, China. The results were achieved by (1) collating statistical data from various published documents and government websites; (2) administering an on-site questionnaire to 500 randomly selected senior residents from five urban districts in Nanjing to assess attitudes regarding Nanjing's senior education program; and, (3) analyzing these results in order to formulate suggestions for future sustainable development. The survey findings revealed: (1) senior education in Nanjing has achieved rapid development; (2) the admission rate for senior residents has increased from 2.7% to 7.7% over 20 years; (3) seniors are essentially content with the current status of senior education with a satisfaction rate of 72.7%; and (4) the majority of survey respondents (75.8%) would agree to pay an annual education fee of approximately 500 Yuan (approximately $70 US). The manuscript, therefore, offers a description of senior education in Nanjing that may provide insight into China's senior education program and a blueprint for future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compares older adult learning in Korean and Japanese sample populations, paying special attention to learning after age 70. Surveys with nearly identical questionnaires were conducted in the Bundang Senior Welfare Center in Korea (N = 549, mean age 73.6 years) and at Osaka Prefecture Senior College in Japan (N = 1,491, 787, mean age = 67.4, 69.5 years). The main results are as follows: (a) in terms of learning needs, selected ratios of topics of “life review” and “communication with other seniors” increased as respondents increased in age from their 60s to 70s in both countries; (b) attitudes toward learning and social activities changed from “Novelty” to “Continuity” to “Disengagement” as respondents increased in age in both countries; and (c) the threshold age to old age was identified at around 75 years, not 70 years, particularly in Korean data. These results suggest that old age is a diverse period, and that creating ways to facilitate learning after age 70 is an urgent issue in the field of educational gerontology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community college students were involved in conducting a research project entitled “Life Stories of Chinese American Family Caregivers.” They recruited Chinese American family caregivers and collected their life stories of providing care to family members of old age. Students were asked to provide reflections on their experience with the research project. A grounded theory approach was used to analyze students’ perception of the impact of the life story project on their attitude change toward family caregiving as well as their relationship with family members of old age and career choice. The results revealed students’ gratitude for their family members of old age, desire to develop a plan for caregiving issues in their own families, deeper empathic understanding on family caregivers, and improved self-efficacy for better service provision in their future practice. The results encourage further exploration on the impact of research on undergraduate students’ aging competency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ageism is the negative construction of old age. It has real-life implication at the individual and structural levels. To address ageism in large social surveys, the first step is to identify an easy-to-use item, which measures its incidence. The present study compares the utility of two items, which query about perceived exposure to ageism. The fourth wave of the European Social Survey (ESS) contains data from 29 countries in Europe, including Israel. In the present study, I compare two items as potential indicators of perceived exposure to ageism. As many as 33.7% of the sample reported exposure to ageism based on the ageism module item (which assesses one’s individual perceived exposure), but only 1.1% reported perceived ageism based on the regular ESS item (which queries about identification with a discriminated group). The overall Kappa was.02, indicating that agreement between the two items was no greater than chance. Both items were significant predictors of subjective health, but had somewhat different correlates. This study is important as it raises the need for a more careful consideration of items in the assessment of sensitive social issues, such as perceived ageism in large social studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes a new type of team training that involves undergraduate students of medicine, students from the Aalto University (industrial engineering and management, architecture, information networks, collaborative and industrial design and bioinformation technology) and specialized home care nurses. During the course, the students learned interdisciplinary teamwork and created innovations in the care of older people. The 18 participants formed six microteams (three persons in each team: one specialized nurse, one medical student and one from Aalto University). The course consisted of two seminars and 3 full days of home visits to older people’s homes. Participants were encouraged to make one innovation in each home visit that would improve the older person’s well-being or streamline the processes of home care. During the course, the participants promptly formed tight teams. They valued the know-how of the other team members and learned openly from each other. They also created a number of practical innovations in home care which they presented to executives of older people’s care in a final seminar. The course received very good feedback from the students. This course is an encouraging example of how gerontological interdisciplinary team training may be successfully applied. The article describes both the learning outcomes and the innovations the students produced during their home visits. It also discusses the learning theories behind effective interdisciplinary team learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous elderly learning activities not only empower elderly populations’ knowledge about health but also enhance these populations’ social connections and social abilities, which can enhance their overall quality of life. Geographic accessibility is a determinant factor for elderly participation in social activities. In this study, we proposed six measurement methods and employed the Gini coefficient to discuss the geographic accessibility and geographic inequality of community-based elderly learning resources. This study provides three methodological contributions for future research. First, we propose an origin-destination cost matrix analysis that incorporates a post-pruning technique. Applying this technique allows for the consideration of policy restrictions in relation to resource utilization. This approach also contributes to the ability to obtain a reliable assessment of the accessibility of resources. Second, this study proposes a new, more direct and convenient, method of calculating the Gini coefficient. Third, we find that the different distance-decay index β indicates the impact of distance factors on the efficiency of resource utilization. The distance-decay index β should carefully discern when distance is under 1 km. These results indicate that assessing accessibility does not only consider length and traffic distance but also requires a deliberate and weighted calculating process depending on the distance, elderly demand population, and supply capacities of learning centers. Although our study focuses on Taiwanese cases, our methodologies and results illustrate possibilities for other contributions that assess geographic accessibility and resource-allocation inequality for elderly learning policy planning and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]