Envisioning Aging (Asynchronous - Online Only)
Featured Young Adults' Perceptions of Aging Who Had Close Contacts with Their Grandparent: A Qualitative Study View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Cherrie Park
People have different perceptions of aging. With well-established study outcomes maintaining that negative perceptions of aging can adversely affect one's life satisfaction in later life, a question remain as to what forms people’s perceptions of aging. To answer this question, quantitative measurement on the perceptions of aging has been frequently used in previous studies. However, perceptions generally have complex dimensions, and therefore might not be captured sufficiently by quantitative approach only. In order to fill the gap, the present study explores the perceptions of aging with a qualitative approach. It specifically considers young adults’ perceptions of aging who had a close contact with a grandparent, based on the contact theory. Fifteen young adults aged 18 to 44 participated in the study. Authors conducted semi-structured interviews for data collection and analyzed the data, using consensual qualitative research method. Results indicate that young adults have critical moments of thinking about their own aging, retaining quite positive attitudes towards it. They also demonstrated specific ideas of how to age happily. Familial intergenerational contacts they had with older persons, their grandparents, were found to have significant impact on their current perceptions of aging. Continued exploration of how people perceive aging and what helps them develop positive attitude towards aging is recommended.
Estonian Educated Men Over 50 Exhibit Better Online Health Information Seeking Behavior and Health Behaviour Than Women View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Marianne Paimre
Earlier studies have indicated that compared to women, men take less interest in their personal health as well as in seeking health information, yet they are keener on health-related digital applications. This study focuses on adoption of digital health solutions, patterns in online health information seeking behaviour (OHISB) and health behavioural choices of older adults aged 50+ in Estonia, a digitally advanced Eastern European country. A survey of 500 older adults was conducted in the summer of 2020. The outcomes indicate that female Internet users search for more health information than their male counterparts. However, men, especially those with higher qualifications, expressed much more interest in various digital health gadgets and services e.g. electronic sleep trackers and aids, blood pressure, pulse monitors and robot communication. Men were also more willing to get vaccinated against Covid-19 (61%). This trend was evident in all age groups, but especially among the retirees. Males with higher education working in senior positions stood out from the rest in this respect. Thus, it would be incorrect to claim that Estonian men in general appear to be more indifferent to their health and disease prevention. The growing interest among older men in digital health devices gives us reason to hope that digital information sources have every potential of improving their overall health behaviour in the future. Nevertheless, the digital skills of the less educated and the unemployed, both older men and women alike, call for further enhancement.
Featured Functional Limitations in Old Age: Experiences Of Elderly and Their Care Givers View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Chinari Mathur
Given the dramatic increase in the number of individuals above sixty years of age in relation to the entire population and attempts towards ensuring healthy and quality lives for the elderly, it becomes important to focus on the experiences of elderly, particularly with a focus on the heterogeneous nature of the population. In this study, the focus has been on the presence of Functional Limitations (physical in nature) that elderly face. The research has been centered on the experiences of elderly and their immediate adult care givers in the family space; to understand how the elderly and their care givers perceive the functional limitations that the elderly face, the challenges faced by them as they overcome the same and reorient, the support systems available along with associated challenged, and how the particular experience influences the family dynamics. An exploratory qualitative research with a constructivist-interpretivist paradigm was best suited and the participants were grouped in a pair of elderly-his/her care giver, hence being treated as a dyad. The researcher has been able to discuss the same in detail and bring out policy-based, program-based, and research-based recommendations.
Covid-19, Older Adults, and the Media: The Case of Philippines View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Reggy Figer
The Covid-19 pandemic is affecting different age groups in various ways. It is creating more serious harm and potential morbidity to those people with underlying conditions and to those who belong to the older population. Inevitably, this has led to stricter health protocols and a substantial coverage of older people in the agenda setting of news reportage. In this study, the author seeks to examine the representations of elderly people of an online national daily in the Philippines. The Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) is one of the most reputable newspapers in the country. Its news coverage has a potential to influence the behavior and perception of its readers. The Philippines is considered by critics as one of the countries with the longest lockdowns. It is also one of the countries that is unable to manage the pandemic well. With this scenario at hand, how are the older adults now represented in these trying times by the PDI? Based on the content analysis, preliminary findings revealed that older people were represented in an unflattering manner. They were allied to words such as deaths, vulnerable, weak, and care. Some news, however, covered survival and resilience among the senior citizens during this ongoing global pandemic. In view of these initial results, it is important that media take cognizant of these representations and discourses so as to avoid prejudiced actions and attitudes towards the older population who are amongst the at risk in this health crisis.
Creative Connections through Music-making with the Soundbeam View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Richard Barham, Graylen Howard, Andrea Creech, Aaron Liu Rosenbaum
Although there is strong evidence that musicking offers multiple benefits for older adults, little attention has been paid to the potential for a digital technologies to support creative connection among frail elders. Therefore, this paper explores the ways in which musicking with digital motion sensor technology fostered connection and creativity amongst later-life participants living in residential care. Research in this area has significance for the development of best practices in supporting creative later life, and in contributing to our understanding of how barriers to music-making can be mitigated by the use of digital technologies. Positioned within the interdisciplinary field of music education, music therapy, and gerontechnology, a participatory action research approach was undertaken in two case study sites. Participants were facilitated in small groups in a series of 8 weekly 45-minute workshops, with the aim of creating and improvising using the Soundbeam. The workshop protocol focused on relationship building, placing the needs and capacities of the participants at the centre of the practice, defining creative goals, and developing a sense of mastery and autonomy. Data were collected via detailed field notes, participant feedback, and video observations. Overall, we found multiple instances of deep personal connection among participants, as well as micro-moments of ‘mini-c’ creativity mediated by the Soundbeam. This research contributes to a growing body of knowledge concerned with how the benefits of later-life musicking may be maximised, making a particularly innovative contribution with its focus on the Fourth Age.
The Quality of Life found among Latin Americans in New Zealand View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Alfredo Lopez
The purpose of this study is to investigate the quality of life of Latin American refugees and immigrants in New Zealand. The study of the academic literature shows a significant gap in this type of research in New Zealand. For example, no research has been conducted to show what the quality of life is like for Latin American refugees and immigrants in New Zealand. For this reason, this study seeks to fill that gap in the literature. The methodology used in this research was ethnography and autography. Semi-structured interviews and digital observation through Facebook were also used as qualitative data collection methods. Twenty Latin Americans living in New Zealand (11 immigrants and 9 refugees) were interviewed and observed. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data produced by this research. The findings of this study show that Latin Americans in New Zealand face several challenges that impact their quality of life in this country. However, despite these challenges they face, participants report that they enjoy a quality of life in New Zealand. The aspects that they consider to have contributed to their quality of life in New Zealand is enjoying peace, security, a home, a car, comfort at home, and above all being surrounded by friends and family.
The Model for Collaborative Evaluations as a Tool for Universal Health Coverage among Elderly Populations View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Marlene Joannie Bewa, Liliana Rodriguez-Campos
The model for Collaborative Evaluations is a comprehensive framework that guides collaborative evaluations in a precise, realistic, and useful manner. The six interactive components of the model are: (a) identify the situation; (b) clarify the expectations; (c) establish a shared commitment; (d) ensure open communication; (e) encourage best practices; (f) follow specific guidelines. Teaching by example is a subcomponent of “encourage best practices.” Universal health coverage (UHC) is defined as having access to health care without facing financial barriers in order to achieve better health, development outcome, and quality of life. This study helps identify areas of improvement for UHC focused programs for the elderly populations, as well as offering feedback and insight. It also provides lessons that can be practical for the development of other UHC and health improvement programs.
