Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Leah R. Abrams, Jessica M. Finlay, Lindsay C. Kobayashi
Summary: This study investigated the impact of COVID-19-related job transitions on the mental health of Americans aged at least 55. The results showed that these transitions were detrimental to mental health, highlighting the need for economic and mental health support for aging Americans.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Evelina Sterina, Adriana P. Hermida, Danielle J. Gerberi, Maria I. Lapid
Summary: Older adults generally experience lower levels of stress and negative emotions under quarantine compared to younger adults, but further representative and longitudinal studies are needed to fully understand the impact of quarantine on the mental health of older adults.
CLINICAL GERONTOLOGIST
(2022)
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Kevin F. Boreskie, Jacqueline L. Hay, Patrick E. Boreskie, Rakesh C. Arora, Todd A. Duhamel
Summary: Healthcare systems need to adapt to better serve the aging population. Frailty assessments can identify individuals at increased risk and optimize patient care. This review discusses the barriers, facilitators, and application of frailty assessments in different healthcare settings.
Article
Gerontology
Thomas Hansen, Thomas Sevenius Nilsen, Marit Knapstad, Vegard Skirbekk, Jens Skogen, Oystein Vedaa, Ragnhild Bang Nes
Summary: As the pandemic continues, older Norwegians initially managed without clear psychosocial impacts, but experienced compromised well-being during the second wave of COVID-19 in late 2020. Women and single older individuals were disproportionately affected by the psychosocial impacts. Lessons learned from the distribution of these impacts provide valuable knowledge for intervention design during current and future pandemics.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGEING
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Beatrix Labadi, Nikolett Arato, Timea Budai, Orsolya Inhof, Diana T. Stecina, Attila Sik, Andras N. Zsido
Summary: The study revealed that the current life-changing circumstances, intolerance of uncertainty, loneliness, and social support all play a role in influencing the mental health of elderly individuals. Maladaptive and adaptive emotion regulation strategies were found to mediate these effects, highlighting the importance of coping strategies in maintaining well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.
AGING & MENTAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Conan Brady, Caoimhe Fenton, Orlaith Loughran, Blanaid Hayes, Martina Hennessy, Agnes Higgins, Iracema Leroi, Deirdre Shanagher, Declan M. McLoughlin
Summary: Nursing home staff in the Republic of Ireland reported high levels of post-traumatic stress, mood disturbance, and moral injury during the Covid-19 pandemic. Differences in moral injury degree, wellbeing, and coping styles were found between staff groups, highlighting the need for tailored support for this neglected workforce.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Erwin Stolz, Hannes Mayerl, Wolfgang Freidl, Regina Roller-Wirnsberger, Thomas M. Gill
Summary: The study found that intrinsic capacity (IC) declines progressively in older adults and predicts negative health outcomes. Regular monitoring of IC could work as an early warning system to inform preventive efforts, reducing risks such as impaired activities of daily living, long-term nursing home stay, and mortality.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Emma Poon
Summary: This study systematically reviewed and analyzed the effectiveness of psychological interventions involving people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and their informal caregivers. The results indicated positive effects on anxiety symptoms, quality of life, and caregiver burden. However, the effectiveness of these interventions varied across different areas.
CLINICAL GERONTOLOGIST
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Heather R. Fuller, Andrea Huseth-Zosel
Summary: This study examines the impact of social distancing on loneliness among older adults and finds that loneliness generally increases, but experiences vary. Rural older adults experience a smaller increase in loneliness. These findings emphasize the need to address social isolation and loneliness among older adults.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Theo G. van Tilburg
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased loneliness among older adults in the Netherlands. This study examines whether this increased loneliness persisted in the fall of 2020 and explores differences in emotional, social, and existential loneliness. The presence of well-known risk factors for loneliness and their impact during the pandemic are also examined. The results show that loneliness, particularly emotional loneliness, increased during this period. Having a partner and good physical and psychological well-being before the pandemic provided some protection against loneliness. Therefore, targeted policies should focus not only on traditionally vulnerable groups but also on older adults with social connections.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Elizabeth M. Goldberg, Michelle P. Lin, Laura G. Burke, Frances N. Jimenez, Natalie M. Davoodi, Roland C. Merchant
Summary: This study aimed to understand the experiences of frontline physicians caring for older adults via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings showed that telehealth was considered a flexible, value-based, and patient-centered mode of healthcare delivery. It had benefits such as reducing deferred care, improving efficiency for physicians, and enhancing communication with caregivers and patients. However, challenges of unequal access for rural, older, or cognitively impaired patients were also identified. The study highlighted the importance of enacting policies to address access inequities and reimbursement concerns for the long-term success of telehealth.
Review
Gerontology
Patricia Masterson-Algar, Maria Cheshire Allen, Martin Hyde, Norah Keating, Gill Windle
Summary: This study found that Covid-19 has negatively impacted the care and quality of life of people living with dementia and their carers, leading to a reduction in support from health and social services and a shift towards technology-based support.
DEMENTIA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL RESEARCH AND PRACTICE
(2022)
Review
Gerontology
Sarah Bannon, Mira Reichman, Paula Popok, Juliana Wagner, Melissa Gates, Simrit Uppal, Lisa LeFeber, Bonnie Wong, Bradford C. Dickerson, Ana-Maria Vranceanu
Summary: This meta-synthesis explores the psychosocial stressors and adaptive coping strategies of people with young-onset dementia (PWDs) and their caregivers (CGs). The majority of stressors and coping strategies were found to be common, supporting the use of dyadic frameworks to understand the experience of young-onset dementia. These findings have direct implications for the development of interventions to promote adaptive coping skills in both PWDs and CGs.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Arenn Faye Carlos, Tino Emanuele Poloni, Martina Caridi, Marco Pozzolini, Roberta Vaccaro, Elena Rolandi, Alice Cirrincione, Laura Pettinato, Silvia Francesca Vitali, Livio Tronconi, Mauro Ceroni, Antonio Guaita
Summary: This study investigated the impact of cognitive state on the way of living and well-being of older adults during lockdown. The results showed that as cognitive deficits increased, understanding of the pandemic and compliance with lockdown policies, as well as the ability to adapt to lifestyle changes and maintain remote interactions, decreased. Participants with dementia were more likely to experience depression and cognitive complaints, while normal older adults remained physically and mentally active but reported higher levels of boredom and anxiety.
AGING & MENTAL HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Helio Coelho-Junior, Emanuele Marzetti, Riccardo Calvani, Anna Picca, Hidenori Arai, Marco Uchida
Summary: The present study found that resistance training (RT) has a positive impact on overall cognitive function in older adults with different cognitive statuses. Both cognitively healthy and cognitively impaired older adults showed improved cognitive function after engaging in RT. However, short-term memory was only improved in the cognitively healthy group.
AGING & MENTAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Moyra E. Mortby, Lawrence Adler, Luis Aguera-Ortiz, Daniel R. Bateman, Henry Brodaty, Marc Cantillon, Yonas E. Geda, Zahinoor Ismail, Krista L. Lanctot, Gad A. Marshall, Prasad R. Padala, Antonios Politis, Paul B. Rosenberg, Kostas Siarkos, David L. Sultzer, Christos Theleritis, Istaart Nps Pia
Summary: Apathy is a prevalent and persistent neuropsychiatric symptom in neurocognitive disorders, and recent advances in understanding and intervention highlight its importance. Progress has been made in understanding apathy as a treatment target, but further research is needed in areas such as diagnostic procedures, symptom measurement, biological mechanisms, and treatment strategies. Advancing the understanding of apathy's subdomains and biological mechanisms will promote its role as a treatment target in clinical trials.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Judy Yuen-man Siu, Yuan Cao, David H. K. Shum
Summary: This study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the barriers to, hesitancy toward, and motivations for COVID-19 vaccination among older Chinese adults using the critical medical anthropology framework. The decision to receive a COVID-19 vaccination is a complex consideration for older adults of low socioeconomic status in Hong Kong, reflecting the interaction of factors at different social levels according to the critical medical anthropology framework.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Kristen Tulloch, Trudy McCaul, Theresa L. Scott
Summary: This study investigated the experiences of caregivers of people living with dementia during COVID-19 and found that caregivers reported positive caregiving experiences in all timeframes, focusing more on their own needs and experiences, rather than solely on the needs of the patients.
CLINICAL GERONTOLOGIST
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Raymond T. C. M. Koopmans, Hilde Verbeek, Annemiek Bielderman, Meriam M. Janssen, Anke Persoon, Ivonne Lesman-Leegte, Eefje M. Sizoo, Jan P. H. Hamers, Debby L. Gerritsen
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the impact of the reopening of nursing homes in the Netherlands on the well-being of residents, visitors, and healthcare professionals. The results showed that allowing visitors had a positive impact on the well-being of all stakeholders, although some residents with dementia showed negative effects. The study also found that maintaining social distance and correctly wearing face masks was challenging for care staff. The conclusion highlighted the substantial impact of the reopening on resident well-being and the ongoing challenge of balancing infection control and well-being.
INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOGERIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Gerontology
Markus Wettstein, Sonja Nowossadeck, Claudia Vogel
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic in Germany has led to changes in lifestyle, with a slight increase in life satisfaction among different age groups and an increase in depressive symptoms during the pandemic, especially among the elderly. Additionally, factors such as health status, attitudes towards the pandemic, and subjective standard of living also have an impact on changes in well-being.
PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING
(2022)