Дисертації з теми "Older adult mental health"

The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) is a twenty-five-year longitudinal study that studies populations over the age of fifty. There is a lack of studies that examine depression and social isolation as comorbid conditions. The purpose of this study was to examine secondary data from the 2014 wave of the HRS regarding associations between depression, social isolation and demographic characteristics, including age (50–104 years), gender, and marital status. Self-reported data from 18,289 participants (10,703 females and 7,586 males) suggested a positive association between depression and social isolation ( r = .365, p < .001) in that as levels of depression increase so do feelings of social isolation. Significantly more females than males reported having depression. Those who were married reported less depression and social isolation. Younger ages experienced depression and older ages social isolation. Further research should explore solutions to decreasing depression and social isolation among older adults in the United States.

The purpose of this project was to locate a potential funding source and write a grant to provide home-based mental health services to Latino older adults for Beach Cities Health District, in Redondo Beach, California, the host agency for this program. An extensive literature review was conducted to investigate the best way to provide non-traditional therapeutic services to older adults. The Archstone Foundation was chosen as the most appropriate funding source.

The population of Latino older adults is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. Many in this population suffer from depression but fail to access services due to language barriers and other obstacles. This program was developed to improve knowledge of depression and improve coping skills, as well as reduce symptoms of depression.

If funded, this program could provide social workers an opportunity to bridge the gap the need for and the receipt of mental health services among older Latinos. Submission of the grant was not a requirement for the thesis project.

This dissertation investigated the impact of maternal emotional maltreatment on older adult men with respect to mental, physical, substance abuse, and employment outcomes. The goal of this study was to explore and explain how the role of protective factors across the life span of older adult men who experienced psychological maltreatment from their maternal figures impacted their mental and physical health. Specifically, a secondary data analysis was conducted on the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) dataset to explore the overall aim of the study. This dissertation also investigated the intersection of demographics of advantaged and disadvantaged older adult men and these same outcomes.

The presence of poorer mental and physical health outcomes, along with an increase in alcohol-related problems among these men was noted only when examining those who were more disadvantaged in terms of family configuration and financial wellbeing in early childhood. Results also found significant differences in individuals who attrited from the study on outcomes measures. Future research should explore way to combat attrition in populations who have experience trauma. Policy and practice approaches should utilize a trauma-informed approach to ensure a gender informed approach to prevent men from being re-traumatized. Furthermore, utilization of a public health model for prevention strategies as well as to identify and serve those at-risk is of utmost importance as emotional abuse is challenging social workers to identify.

This study examined sociocultural predictors of mental health treatment utilization among a combined clinical and community sample of Black older adults experiencing depression, anxiety and/ or traumatic events. A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study that investigated the prevalence of depression and the factors associated with it among African Americans, and Caribbean Blacks over the age of 55 living in New York City using binominal logistic regression analyses. The current study investigated how the sociocultural factors of ethnicity, mental health beliefs, ethnic identity, spirituality, and religiosity predicted utilization of formal and informal mental health treatment services. The findings highlight the significance of ethnicity, depression, mental health beliefs and spirituality as predictors of utilization of mental health services. Caribbean Black older adults underutilized mental health treatment services of any type. The current study suggests that attitudes and beliefs about mental illness and health practices is a factor that should been taken into account by clinicians when assessing, diagnosing, treating and trying to maintain adherence to services of older Black adults.

The purpose of this study was to explore how caregivers of patients with dementia are physically and mentally affected by their increase in responsibilities. The purpose of this project was to locate a potential funding source and write a grant to obtain funding for a caregiver support group for the Calabasas, CA community and its surrounding areas.

Caregiver intervention programs have been identified as a critical area of research by the Alzheimer's Association. Silverado Senior Living is a national organization that serves patients with dementia. The program consists of two support groups offering structure and flexibility through cognitive behavioral practices and a continuous feedback.

If funded and implemented, this program would add value to the body of research that exists for caregivers and drive awareness and change to current policy. In addition, Silverado would better serve its community and act as a model program for other Silverado locations.

The actual submission and/or funding of this grant was not a requirement for the successful completion of the project.

There are many variables that influence how successfully someone can move through the aging process while maintaining high levels of health, physical and psychological. In the present study, we examined how self-perceptions of aging—or the way in which someone might view their own aging process in a more positive or negative manner—influenced such healthy aging outcomes. More specifically, it was hypothesized that if we could get people to hold a more positive view of the aging process, it would make them more likely to work towards maintaining or improving their own levels of psychological well-being. In order to test this idea, older adult participants were recruited and placed into treatment or control groups. The treatment groups received a brief, psychoeducational intervention in the form of a presentation, discussing healthy aging, the importance of holding a positive view of aging, and ways to improve mental health in old age. The findings of this study indicated that the intervention did not significantly help to improve positive perceptions of aging compared to the control group, nor to increase their levels of engagement in psychologically healthy behaviors. However, there were many limitations to this study that may have been confounding, many of which would be easily changeable if the study were to be replicated in the future. Therefore, further research is merited on these topics, as they may provide much needed information about how to help senior citizens stay psychologically healthy.

Depression is a prevalent problem within the elderly population and the problem is expected to increase with the projected growth of this population. Depression is often caused by inevitable losses related to aging including retirement, moving out of the family home, loss of a spouse or other loved one, and loss of mobility. Depression that is left untreated can put an older adult at risk for suicide and a higher mortality risk due to physical illness. Social support and social contact are important factors in quality of life and mental health outcomes for older adults. Lack of reliable transportation and loss of driving privileges can lead to social isolation and can be a barrier to attending social events and maintaining contact with friends and family members. The purpose of this project was to create a transportation program intended to decrease depression in older adults by reducing social isolation and connecting them to community activities. A search of funding agencies was conducted using the Internet and personal contacts. Archstone Foundation was chosen as the most suitable funding source based on the project goals. Actual submission and/or funding of this grant were not required for successful completion of this project.

The importance of investigating relationships between depression and mineral intake is necessary due to concerns over the mental health and nutrition status of the growing older adult population in America. Due to lack of research in this area, the development of nutrition therapies for depressed older adults with special consideration for minerals is hindered. This study explored whether mean depression scores significantly differed between quartile intake groups of selenium, magnesium, zinc, and copper in a nationally representative sample of older adults (n = 901) from the 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). For all four minerals, those within the highest quartile of intake had significantly lower depression scores than those within the lowest quartile. Nutrition and mental health care professionals should be aware of a possible association between mineral intake and depression and emphasize healthy eating patterns and nutrient-dense diets to maintain optimal mental and physical functioning.

Behavioral complications, such as Inappropriate Sexual Behavior (ISB), are developed in many cases of dementia. Sex, even for those with dementia, is a primary need, but supporting this need in an appropriate manner may overwhelm caregivers. The purpose of this project was to create a curriculum for Dementia Friendly Community (DFC) residential caregivers on the topic of sexual expression among older adults with dementia. By offering training on sexuality and dementia it is expected that caregivers can increase the DFC's provision of quality of life. This project presented an assessment tool and plan on how to manage ISB, activities relevant to the discussed topics, and curriculum evaluation forms. Expert reviewers offered recommendations to further improve the curriculum's quality.

Quality of life in mentally ill older adults is an important area to target in psychiatric rehabilitation. Additionally, the ability for these individuals to live a more independent lifestyle and/or to feel fulfilled is a major contributor to their happiness. Therefore, mental health practitioners must have an understanding of how to help older adults diagnosed with a serious mental illness reach their optimal potential as enrollment continues to increase in mental health day programs. The intent of this study was to better understand mental health day program caregiver’s experience in working with this population and to provide a description of what a mental health day program was like for the mentally ill residents under their care. The first task was facilitated by semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Secondly, a set of more survey-based questions were added to the interview design in an attempt to set the contextual stage of the described experience. It was believed that combined data would provide a more in depth perspective and set the stage to better explore the caregiver experience. Moreover, this approach is consistent with the generic qualitative method, which allows survey data to be integrated with interview data; in this case to help produce the work context of the caregiver. The combined data would then include attitudes, values, opinions and perspective on what works, what does not work and what could work better in relation to their work with this population. Using a data-driven, inductive coding model advocated by Boyatzis (1998) for conducting thematic analysis, three stages were developed: Stage 1. Sampling and design; Stage 2. Developing themes and codes; and Stage 3. Validating the use of the code. The results of this analysis yielded a total of 33 codes and 299 coded segments (participant comments coded). As a result, three themes were derived from the 12 patterns: 1) Caregivers’ Attitude towards Mental Health Day Programming, 2) Value that Caregivers Found within Mental Health Day Programs and 3) Caregivers’ Thoughts, Opinions and Feelings of Necessary Programmatic Model and Services. The original intent of his study was to determine 1.) how residential caregivers perceive specific characteristics or services as being an essential part of a mental health day program based upon their experience in working with older adult residents who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness, 2.) whether identified services describe a particular mental health day program model or approach (Clubhouse, Psychosocial Rehabilitation or Rehabilitation Skills Training, or Peer/Consumer-Run) that would be the best program fit for older adults diagnosed with a serious mental illness, and 3.) the personal care home caregivers’ perception of how these services are expected to: provide stimulation and a desire for older adults to learn or grow; create an opportunity for older adults to be a part of the program; and promote older adults in taking part or engaging program activities are addressed. However, it was soon apparent that this type of evaluative research was well beyond the scope of the dissertation. Consequently, a less evaluative and more general descriptive qualitative approach was undertaken wherein the focus was changed with the attempt to 1.) better understand mental health day program caregiver’s experience in working with this population, 2.) provide a description of what mental health day programming was like for the mentally ill residents under their care, and 3.) set the contextual stage of the described experience. To the extent that this objective was met was left to the eye of the beholder, but it was hoped that the results would set the stage and lay the groundwork for the next step of the more evaluative approach abandoned for the generic qualitative descriptive study that follows. Thus the original intent was included here given the adage that the best evaluation is always description (Patton, 2008).

Health literacy is described as the ability to process and understand basic health-related information in order to make appropriate health care decisions. It has been shown that many older Latinos have low health literacy resulting in poor health outcomes. Research has also identified that some older Latinos with low health literacy often also have symptoms of depression. The purpose of this project was to write a grant to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to fund a program entitled Tu Vida, Tu Salud, a two-fold program to help older Latinos residing in La Habra, California. The goals are to (1) increase their health literacy through work with a Promotora and (2) decrease their depressive symptomatology through a cognitive-behavioral intervention program. The Institute for Healthcare Advancement and the Family Resource Center in La Habra are the host agencies for this grant. The actual submission and/or funding of this grant was not required for the successful completion of the project.

Abstract The increased prevalence of cognitive deterioration has increased the challenges of caring for older adults. This study?s project site offers a psychiatric program for older adults with customized care for complex geriatric mental health patients. Clinical assessment and care management are often overlooked in geriatric mental health patients diagnosed with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). The purpose of this project was to deliver an education program developed from the Staff Training in Assisted Living Residences-Veterans Administration, P.I.E.C.E.S ? model and the Castle framework to 42 nursing and allied health staff of the project site. The project question explored whether an education program on care of patients with BPSD increased staff members? perceived knowledge and competence in providing care to these patients. This education program focused on comprehensive assessment, individualized care planning, and individualized nonpharmacological interventions to manage older adults with dementia. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze performance outcomes data before and after staff education. In addition, care plans of patients were reviewed. Results included a 100% increase in recognition of core concepts of the education program; a 48% to 86% increase in staff willingness to use interdisciplinary care plans; and a 6.6% to 95% increase in documentation of key interventions in care plans for 6 behaviors of dementia. The results of this project might bring about social change by improving the skills and competence of nursing staff in managing the patients with dementia, thus positively impacting the quality of life of patients with BPSD by benefiting from nonpharmacological interventions.

The purpose of this study was to locate a potential funding source and write a grant to fund a program designed for older adults who suffer from serious mental illness. In this program, the older adults would be using computerized activities to enhance memory. Another portion ofthe program would be dedicated to the prevention of falls through the use of rhythmic steps in music. The program would be held by the host agency, Life Sharing Health Care in the city ofNorwalk, California, once the Archstone Foundation approved and funded the grant proposal. Since memory loss and falls are prevalent in the older adult population, it is essential to create programs whose mission is to prevent these problems from occurring or at least reduce the impairment and frequency. The actual submission and/or funding of this grant was not a requirement for the successful completion of the project.

Mental health professionals are increasing in the United States; however, research has shown that they continue to lack the tools to deliver age-appropriate services to older adults who suffer from substance use disorders. The proposed project is a short-term training program for mental health professionals employed by Pacific Clinics. The project aims to improve their overall direct service expertise by training clinicians on evidence-based treatments that include motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, Brief Intervention and Treatment for Elders (BRITE), and Prevention BINGO. This proposed training will be hosted at the Pacific Clinics Training Institute in Pasadena, California. This agency provides strength-based perspective to deliver quality, evidence-based behavioral and mental health care services to the community. The actual submission and/or funding of the grant was not required to successfully complete this project.

By 2030, older adults will comprise more than 20% of the population and include 80 million adults age 65 and older (U.S. Census, 2010). A corresponding increase is predicted in the number of older adults in need of mental health counseling (American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2010). According to the Institute of Medicine, in 2012, nearly one in five older adults had one or more mental health and/or substance abuse conditions. There is an emerging demand for counselors who specialize in gerontological counseling to meet the mental health and substance abuse needs of older adults. Despite the anticipated demand to increase the workforce with counselors who specialize in gerocounseling, research has shown that students in the human service professions are not interested or prepared to work with older adults (Institute of Medicine, 2012). This lack of interest and preparedness does not bode well for meeting the future needs of this population. If there is a genuine lack of interest in counseling older adults among counseling students, particularly the youngest to enter the profession, then it is important to explore their perspectives to understand them and design training strategies to prepare them for meeting the mental health needs of older adults.

This exploratory study used qualitative description to capture the perspectives of eight millennial counselors-in-training (CITs). Data and findings were organized to construct analysis of the themes that emerged. The framework of critical gerontology was used to examine findings. Participants identified primarily with their own aging family members to describe their age-related perspectives. Findings suggest that CITs struggled with their own privileged status as younger adults as they described their perception of how older adults were devalued by society. Evidence revealed a tension as they realized that they will likely counsel older adults regardless of their area of specialization. Students wanted age-related foundational knowledge to help their own aging family members, to work with clients being raised by grandparents, and to assist families in accommodating their aging family members but experienced systemic and structural obstacles that might prevent them from acquiring this knowledge. This research has critical implications for the field of counselor education.