Search

Enhancing the voluntary supportive actions of older adults towards other community-dwelling citizens is an important measure for a healthy community. Volunteering action in adulthood is related to the volunteering actions of older adults' parents, which they remember from their youth. In this study, the association between parents' former voluntary supportive actions and the current voluntary supportive actions of older adults is explored. Questionnaires were distributed to community-dwelling citizens aged 65 years and above, in Tokamachi city, Niigata Prefecture, Japan (response rate: 81.7%). Participants self-reported their current voluntary supportive actions and reported on their parents' former voluntary actions during their youth. The results indicated that the current voluntary supportive actions of the study participants were related to the former voluntary actions of their parents (OR: 2.28, 95% CI: 1.62-3.20). Moreover, the participants were more likely to extend support in contexts which are more closely related to one's private life, only when their parents provided support in those private contexts. The study provides implications for the importance of considering life experiences when facilitating voluntary supportive actions and renders information on how unique strategies should to be implemented to involve individuals who are unfamiliar with volunteering actions.

Introduction A regional community space in Japan, Chiiki-Katsudokan, was founded to facilitate the social interactions of older adults through activities. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic occasionally forced this space to close or limited the volume of its participants. In this research, the operation of the space was reviewed by monitoring the changes in the social interactions of the attendees, and by investigating the anticipated function from the attendees' needs. Method: A semi-structured interview targeting the attendees of Chiiki-Katsudokan was conducted in December 2021 (N=19, main age:80s). The level of social interaction before and during the pandemic and the newly anticipated function of the space were examined. Results First, deep and light interactions were observed. Those with deep interactions initially had wide social connections and used Chiiki-Katsudokan to interact with friends. Meanwhile, those with light interactions only talked to other attendees while attending the space. During the quarantine, those with deep interactions stayed connected with others and met privately, while those with light interactions faced a higher risk of social isolation. Second, the most popular newly anticipated functions of the space were "Place to gather with friends (n=14)" and "Interaction with younger generation (n=14)." "Opportunity to learn about the new pandemic-lifestyle (n=11)" was also rated high, while need for "online events" was rated the lowest (n=7). Conclusion The pandemic re-emphasized older adults' need for direct interaction. Low interest in technology-based countermeasures suggested that community spaces should expand their operation method while considering offline methods (e.g., pen-pal system) that could enhance social interaction.

Social participation promotes and maintains the health of older adults. Working is a type of social participation; however, the effect of employment in old age on health outcomes has not been established. This study aimed to review the relationship between employment in old age (≥60 years) and all-cause mortality. For this systematic review, a computerized search was performed using PubMed, CINAHL and PsycINFO for prospective studies published through June 2020. The observational studies were extracted according to the study participants, indicators, follow-up period, statistical approach and main results. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Of the 37 832 records identified, 14 studies were included in the systematic review based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eight studies were derived from Asian countries (four from Japan, two from Taiwan and one from Thailand and South Korea), three were from the United States, two were from Israel and one was from Brazil. The baseline data of 13 studies were collected before 2000. Thirteen of the 14 studies reported any association between employment in later life and a lower risk of mortality. Four studies examined the sex-related differences in the effect of later-life employment on all-cause mortality, but the association was controversial. Overall, we revealed that working in old age would lower mortality risk. Although more findings based on recent data are required, this study indicates that working later in life is beneficial for promoting and maintaining health. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 705-714.

Introduction Designing community space for social participation of older adults is essential for healthy aging. The behavioral characteristics of the attendees have much to offer as they relate to social settings designed in the space. This study aims to elucidate the basic typology of the attendees considering their motivation for attendance and state of social connection. Methods Semi-structured interviews targeting attendees of Chiiki-Katsudokan, a space designed for social participation in a larger aging estate in Japan, were conducted in December 2021 (N=16, 16% male). Attendees were asked about their reasons for attending events at Chiiki-Katsudokan, interaction levels with other attendees, and levels of social participation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results Based on the interviews, attendees were classified into three types: Seeker, Hobbyist, and Socializer. First, Seekers (n=3) used Chiiki-Katsudokan as the primary means of preventing social isolation. Amongst the three types, the social interaction level of Seekers was the lightest, and the opportunity decreased when Chiiki-Katsudokan closed during the quarantine. Second, the main motivation for Hobbyists (n=5) was the event contents which matched their interests. Hobbyists were also likely to engage in hobby networks, which continued privately during the pandemic. Finally, Socializers (n=8) attended Chiiki-Katsudokan to communicate with friends. Many were initially socially active and engaged in social interaction outside Chiiki-Katsudokan, e.g., teatime with friends, during the quarantine. Conclusion This study suggested that designing community space for social participation requires defining the varying levels of engagement and expecting relationships outside the space based on the behavioral characteristics of the attendees.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, informal caregivers’ mental health was more deteriorated than non-caregivers. The objective of this study was to examine the association between increased caregiver burden and severe psychological distress (SPD) during the pandemic. We used cross-sectional data from a nationwide internet survey conducted between August and September 2020 in Japan. Of 25,482 participants aged 15–79 years, 1,920 informal caregivers were analyzed (mean age, 52.3 ± 15.9 years; men, 48.8%). SPD was defined as the Kessler 6 Scale (K6) ≥ 13. The self-rated change in caregiver burden was measured with the single question item. A binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between SPD and increased caregiver burden, adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, health, and caregiving variables. To examine the differential association between increased caregiver burden and SPD, interaction terms were added and binary logistic regression was separately conducted in all variables. Of total caregivers, 56.7% reported the increased caregiver burden and 19.3% were SPD. Increased caregiver burden was significantly associated with SPD, with an adjusted odds ratio 1.90 (95% confidence interval 1.37–2.66). The association between increased caregiver burden and SPD was stronger among married caregivers, with disease treatment, and with their care-receiver’s care need level 1–2 (Japanese long term care service levels). This study demonstrated that increased caregiver burden was associated with SPD during the pandemic. Therefore, measures against mental health for the caregivers with increased caregiver burden need to be implemented immediately.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, informal caregivers' mental health deteriorated more than that of non-caregivers. We examined the association between increased caregiver burden during the pandemic and severe psychological distress (SPD).We used cross-sectional data from a nationwide internet survey conducted between August and September 2020 in Japan. Of 25,482 participants aged 15-79 years, 1,920 informal caregivers were included. SPD was defined as Kessler 6 Scale (K6) score ≥ 13. Self-rated change in caregiver burden was measured retrospectively with a single question item. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between SPD and increased caregiver burden during the pandemic, adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, health, and caregiving variables. To examine the differential association between increased caregiver burden and SPD, interaction terms were added and binary logistic regression was separately conducted for all variables.Participants' mean age was 52.3 years (standard deviation 15.9), 48.8% of participants were male, 56.7% reported increased caregiver burden, and 19.3% exhibited SPD. Increased caregiver burden was significantly associated with SPD (adjusted odds ratio: 1.90; 95% confidence interval: 1.37-2.66). The association between increased caregiver burden and SPD was stronger among caregivers who were married, those undergoing disease treatment, and those with a care-receiver with a care need level of 1-2.The results revealed that more than half of caregivers reported increased caregiver burden, and increased caregiver burden was associated with SPD during the pandemic. Measures supporting mental health for caregivers with increased caregiver burden should be implemented immediately.

Maintaining personal connections in geriatric years is important to sustain the functional capacity of older adults. In this study, we define the term functional capacity as the ability to perform tasks and activities necessary for one’s independent life. Meanwhile, the type of personal connection and its effect on functional capacity remain unclear. We classified personal connections into connections with family or friends and examined their association with the functional capacity of independently living Japanese older adults. A two-year longitudinal study (2016 and 2018) was conducted using data from the Kashiwa Cohort Study. The amount of personal connections was determined using the Lubben Social Network Scale. The Japan Science and Technology Agency Index of Competence was used to assess participants’ functional capacity. The change in functional capacity was analyzed by binomial logistic regression analysis (N=638, reference: group with high family and friend connection). The results showed a decline in the functional capacity of the group with low friend and family connections (odds ratio (OR): 0.48, 95%CI: 0.29–0.82). This trend was also seen for the group with a high family connection but low friend connection (OR: 0.43, 95%CI: 0.24–0.78). Meanwhile, there was no significant difference between the reference group and the group with low family but high friend connection (OR: 0.85, 95%CI: 0.47–1.56). The results imply the importance of having a friend for sustainable functional capacity in old age. Interventions that facilitate friend-to-friend interactions or promote new friendships among older adults can be considered as support strategies.