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Considerable recent research has focused on loneliness and its effects on mental and physical health at all ages. This paper addresses loneliness among people living with dementia and those who love and care for them. By adopting a new culture of congregational care and becoming "dementia friendly", faith communities can help to overcome the dementia stigma that often results in loss of relationships and increases in loneliness. Examples of obstacles to such care are offered along with descriptions of model programs in dementia-friendly faith communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Terror Management Theory as applied to ageism, older adults may be associated with mortality, thereby generating death-thought accessibility, stereotypes, and mixed emotions among younger adults. However, it is unclear how older adults' health conditions, such as dementia, affect ageist attitudes and mortality salience. In the current study, college student participants (N = 240) read descriptions of hypothetical target persons. Target age (29 or 71) and health status (normal, unknown, arthritis, or dementia) were manipulated. Participants then rated targets on stereotype content dimensions of competence and warmth; rated their emotions toward the targets; and completed a measure of death-thought accessibility. Results (p less than 0.05 for all) indicated that, relative to younger targets, older targets triggered lower competence ratings, higher warmth ratings, greater death-thought accessibility, and more empathy and pity. Targets with dementia generated lower competence ratings, higher warmth ratings, greater death-thought accessibility, and more fear, empathy, and pity than targets with normal and/or unknown health. Older targets with dementia (i.e., Alzheimer's disease) received higher pity ratings than all other targets, and participants reported more death-related thoughts for older vs. younger targets with dementia. The current study supports Terror Management Theory as an explanation for ageism, and illustrates how ageism among young adults is affected by health conditions like dementia. (Contains 4 tables and 3 figures.)

Life expectancy has nearly doubled since the beginning of the 20th century In America, the average life expectancy is now about 78 years. (1) Demographers predict that most babies born [...]

One of the most serious challenges inherent in retirement transition is coping with social identity changes. We investigated social identity processes and the role of social engagement during retirement transition by examining the life narratives of recently retired university faculty (14 males and 5 females) from 12 different academic areas. The interviews were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The results revealed one overarching theme—the centrality and importance of academic identity—and 3 identity transition processes with their associated goals: identity continuity, identity change, and identity conservation. Four additional themes captured the manifestations of these identity processes as they play out in the lived experiences of identity transition among these recent academic retirees: awareness of negative aspects in academia and perceived lack of fit between self and academia; social disidentification with academic identity; identity discovery and seeking old and new identities; and embracing old and new identities, including hobby-related and place-anchored activities. Maintaining and transforming parts of their former identities, as opposed to an active search for new connections, was a prevalent strategy among the participants. We discuss implications for designing strategies to better prepare recent academic retirees and academics who are considering retirement to enable a smoother identity transition and improved well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religion's effects upon well-being in later life should be considered separately from other points in the life span because older persons demonstrate the highest levels of religious participation of any age group, religious institutions frequently offer services of various kinds to elders, and religious traditions articulate values about aging that support well-being. Although it has been suggested that religion can sometimes adversely affect the well-being of older people, many empirical studies find a salutary effect of religion on late-life well-being. Findings about religion's positive effects upon older adults' well-being have implications for social service agencies, long-term care facilities, educational institutions, health care services, and congregations.

Background and objectives: Advocates for dementia-friendly communities emphasize the need for the public to know about the dementias and to experience social comfort with people having dementia. This research tested a conceptual model of influences on social comfort, including two types of dementia knowledge and personal dementia fear. Research design and methods: Data were collected from 645 Wisconsin residents through an online platform (Qualtrics®) and community outreach efforts. A hierarchical multiple regression was conducted and its results were mapped onto a figure representing the conceptual model of social comfort. Results: Greater personhood-based knowledge (based on observations of the capabilities and perspectives of persons with dementia) and less personal dementia fear significantly predicted higher levels of social comfort, while biomedical knowledge did not. Although more personhood-based knowledge improved overall comfort regardless of the level of biomedical knowledge, people with higher levels of biomedical knowledge benefitted the most from having personhood-based knowledge. Discussion and implications: These findings suggest that activities that promote personhood-based knowledge may enhance social comfort. These activities may be most effective for individuals who already have a high level of biomedical knowledge about people with dementia. Community members and professionals ought to strike a balance between biomedical knowledge and personhood-based knowledge, as the two together may be associated with higher levels of social comfort. This could benefit the promotion of dementia-friendly community initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Argues recruitment of faculty to provide high-quality undergraduate teaching requires both departmental examination and careful observation of candidates. Provides a conceptual framework describing desirable characteristics. Examines the intellectual, emotional, and moral dimensions of teaching that assist in conducting the faculty search. (Author/NL)