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Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) refers to a self-perceived experience of decreased cognitive function without objective signs of cognitive impairment in neuropsychological tests or daily living activities. Despite the abundance of instruments addressing SCD, there is no consensus on the methods to be used. Our study is founded on 11 questions selected due to their recurrence in most instruments. The objective was to determine which one of these questions could be used as a simple screening tool. 189 participants aged 65 and over selected from Primary Care centers in Santiago de Chile responded to these 11 questions and were evaluated with the MiniMental State Examination (MMSE), the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT), the Pfeffer functional scale, and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). An Item ResponseTheory (IRT) method was performed to assess the contribution of each of the 11 questions to the SCD latent trait and its discrimination ability. Based on the results of the exploratory factor analysis showing very high/low saturation of several questions on the factors, and the high residual correlation between some questions, the IRT methods led to select one question ("Do you feel like your memory has become worse?") which revealed to be the most contributive and discriminant. Participants who answered yes had a higher GDS score. There was no association with MMSE, FCSRT, and Pfeffer scores. The question "Do you feel like your memory has become worse?" may be a good proxy of SCD and could be included in routine medical checkups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Flexible adjustment or accommodation to loss is healthy; however, little is known about how it can be achieved in old age. We sought to identify and characterize effective coping processes for achieving accommodation at this stage of life. Our aim was to foster the activation of the psychological resources of those who must deal with significant losses to which they will inevitably need to adapt. Method: Qualitative study with a sample of men (n = 16) and women (n = 19) aged 60 years and up. Information was collected through observation and content analysis applied to 35 in-depth interviews, using Atlas-Ti (v7). Results: Eighteen coping processes implemented in response to loss were identified and characterized. Although no single process led to full adjustment by itself, the difference between the participants who accommodated and those who lacked accommodation was reflected in the predominance of certain processes. This approach enabled us to identify 13 effective processes, such as the search for meaning and the use of humor, which were generally used by participants who had achieved accommodation. The processes regarded as ineffective, such as avoidance and procrastination, were used more often by those who displayed insufficient accommodation. Conclusion: It was confirmed that accommodation to losses in old age not only results from "the passage of time"; rather, it can be fostered by people's active efforts. Knowledge of these practices can help practitioners orient mental health interventions for older adults who have difficulty coping in healthy ways and preserving their subjective well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to gerontological thought, an important part of senior citizens' disabilities are products of their social exclusion rather than factors associated with their physical or mental health. How these exclusions come about was the purpose of the research reported in this article. The study was conducted among 682 Chilean university students using a semantic differential test. A generalized negative image on old age was observed. The conclusion is that social images of old age affect the well-being of present and future senior citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]