Posters (Asynchronous - Online Only): Room 1
Inclusive Aging-in-place Organizations as Capstones for Intergenerational Communities: The Ten-year-old Successful Establishment of At Home In Darien - a 3,500-member Organization in Darien, Connecticut View Digital Media
Poster Session Peter F. Eder
A case history of the development and evolution of At Home In Darien, an inclusive aging in place, not for profit organization. The study lays out the phases and steps that led to a now established ten year old institution. We present the research that underlies and measures the program, the pitfalls to be avoided, what has made it successful and the view of what lies ahead. We also present how the organization is an integral part of the entire community and a vital component of the town's intergenerational commitment and focus. With 250 aging-in-place organizations active at at some stage in he U.S. and the senior population increasing, and that age cohort lengthening, this model becomes increasingly important and more valuable.
Religious Involvement and Substance Use Problems in Northern Chile View Digital Media
Poster Session Alejandra Caqueo-Urízar, Erika Peroza, Carolang Escobar, Jerome Flores, Alfonso Urzúa, Matías Irarrázaval, Karina Raygada, Gustavo Zegarra
The aim of this study is to analyze the existing relational dynamics between religious involvement and substance use in Northern Chile. It has been estimated that religious involvement can be a protective factor against the use of substances in adverse or stressful conditions, especially in children and adolescents, who currently have registered higher levels of consumption. The research design is transectional correlational-causal type, the sample included 2318 primary and secondary school children and adolescents from public and private schools in the city of Arica, at North of Chile. Their age range was between 12 and 19 years old. To assess emotional and behavioral problems, the Child and Adolescent Assessment System (Sistema de Evaluación para Niños y Adolescentes SENA) was used, religious involvement was measured through Universal Age I-E-12 and ethnic identity through the Revised Multigroup Ethnic Identity Scale (MEIM-R). The findings of the study suggest an explanatory model of consumption composed by the intrinsic orientation of religious involvement (ß = -0.048, p<0.014), age (ß = 0.374, p <0.000), sex (ß = 0.039, p < 0.040) and ethnic identity (ß = 0.051, p < 0.008), which explains 15% of the variability of substance use in adolescents. The intrinsic orientation of the religious involvement acts as a protective factor of the use of substances, probably because their practices are oriented towards the discovery, knowledge and understanding of themselves and the search of own senses or meanings in relation to the life favoring the subjective well-being.
Arts-Based Resarch to Explore Students' Attitudes Toward Older Adults Prior to Entering the Workforce View Digital Media
Poster Session Thecla Damianakls
The growing numbers of aging adults in Canada illustrate the need for an increase in the number of professionals providing quality aging-related services and supports. However, current research has barely begun to explore the extent to which ageist views of older adults and social stereotypes are internalized by professionals and may inadvertently go unchallenged in the context of practice. The purpose of this study is to explore the attitudes of students specializing in gerontology and serving older adults in their field placement settings, prior to entering the workforce. We recruited twelve social work and social service worker students, ages 19-56, reflecting diverse race, ethnicity and life experiences for an arts-based research project. We video-recorded the students’ 5-week process developing two 4 x 4 foot mixed media tapestries and conducted two focus groups to document their reflections of their experiences in the project. Data were analyzed using visual coding and thematic analysis. We report on themes captured during the students’ development of the tapestries and showcase their final artistic work. Students shared their professional experiences and reflected on the extent to which older persons experienced ageism and social myths of aging. In spite of students’ initial discomfort in not perceiving themselves as artists, students shared how the art process impacted their ability to see broader themes related to aging and social injustices previously missed, which validated their desire to respect older adults’ life-long competencies, their resiliency, and enhanced their advocacy practices required to promote social change.
Challenges to Providing Relational Care in Long-term Care Homes during COVID-19: Emerging Results from an Online Critical Incident Method Study View Digital Media
Poster Session Sepali Guruge, Lori Schindel Martin, Ernest Leung, Suzanne Fredericks, Joyal Miranda, Linda Liu, Souraya Sidani, Donald Rose, Elaine Santa Mina
Relational care is among best practice expectations in Ontario long-term care homes (LTCHs). However, the COVID-19 pandemic and related policies, such as, physical distancing and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), have constrained healthcare workers’ ability to provide relational care. Our study aimed to understand the challenges faced by healthcare workers in engaging in relational care of older people in LTCHs during the pandemic. This qualitative study employed a critical incident method. The study sample consisted of 51 healthcare providers who worked in LTCHs during waves 1 and/or 2 of the pandemic. They completed an online questionnaire that captured critical incidents involving care situations. Critical incidents were analyzed thematically. Participants identified numerous challenges to providing relational care. Personal-level barriers included fear, anxiety, and stress about COVID-19 transmission risks, the absence of family members who are essential care partners, mitigating the anger and mistrust of residents and their families, and addressing residents’ deteriorating health. Institutional-level barriers included staffing shortages, inadequate PPE, lack of access to communication technology, limited mental health support, and management’s inconsistent responses to healthcare workers’ concerns. However, participants also provided insight into their flexibility and creativity in enacting relational care practices despite these challenges. Maintaining relational care during the COVID-19 pandemic requires additional support and resources, and access to technology and equipment for healthcare workers. Furthermore, organizational leaders must actively collaborate with and listen to healthcare workers’ needs to support their ability to engage in relational care of residents during a pandemic context.
