According to Latham & Clarke (2018), the study objective is intended to explore whether physical neighborhood disorder or perceived social cohesion is associated with participation in social activities among older Americans who are aged sixty-five years old and above. The methodology of the study was as follows. Using the first wave of the National Health & Aging Trends Study (NHATS; N = 6,383), a series of logistic regression models were developed to analyze the odds of participation (Latham & Clarke, 2018). The results of the research are outlined below. Low social cohesion was linked with the reduction in the odds of visiting friends and family. The odds ratio [OR] = 0.65 and confidence interval [CI] of 95% = [0.52, 0.82] (Latham & Clarke, 2018). The participation in the organizations (OR = 0.68; 95% CI = [0.53, 0.88]). Presence of the neighborhood disorder was in line with reduced odds of visiting friends and family (OR = 0.62; 95% CI = [0.47, 0.82]), the participation in organizations (OR = 0.66; 95% CI = [0.48, 0.89]), and going out for enjoyment purposes (OR = 0.68; 95% CI = [0.53, 0.86]) (Latham & Clarke, 2018). Physical capacity and activity value moderated the link between neighborhood disorder and attending religious services. Improving neighborhood disorder and social cohesion may raise social participation among older adults (Latham & Clarke, 2018).
According to Kwon & Schafer (2017), the primary objective of research performed was to investigate whether obesity is associated with sexual activity, sexual frequency, and the range of sexual behaviors in heterosexual older adults who are couples. The researchers also determine to what extent associations between obesity and sexuality are explained by physical, psychological, and sexual health, and by relationship quality (Kwon & Schafer, 2017). The methodology of data collection used in the study was described as follows. The researchers used data from 1,698 older adults in 849 partnered dyads in the 2010-2011 wave of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project and conduct couple-level analysis featuring women's and men's features(Kwon & Schafer, 2017). The results of the research are described below. Firstly, women's obesity, precisely at severe levels, is associated with coupled sexual activity in a negative manner, but the linkage is not facilitated by hypothesized mediators (Kwon & Schafer, 2017). From the results of the study, cases of obesity in men did not have any association with their sexual activities. There was no notable distinction between overweight and normal weight adults across all the three sexuality measures (Kwon & Schafer, 2017). An in-depth discussion of the results points out that the growing number of older adults with high levels of body mass index, mostly women, may face specific difficulties in maintaining active sexual lives (Kwon & Schafer, 2017).
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According to Park, Kim & Cho (2017), environmental support is a crucial facilitator for engagement in formal volunteering among vulnerable subgroups of older adults. The research approaches the topic of study by comparing the level of participation in the formal volunteering programs for both the low-income and the high-income older adults who live in the different sizes of houses. The researchers then focus on older low-income individuals who live alone. Drawing on the hypothetical environmental docility, the researchers evaluate the role residing in senior housing has on the likelihood of volunteering. Data were obtained from the 2012 wave of the Health Retirement Study with 1415 studies. Kernel weights obtained from scores of propensity were applied to the process of accounting for observed sociodemographic and health elements linked to both senior housing living and the outcome. Park, Kim & Cho (2017) explain that according to the results of the research, the logistic regression models used to analyze the data collected indicated that living in senior housing favored the engagement in formal volunteering after adjusting for personal and environmental factors. As a flexible and changeable objective of intervention for successful and healthy aging, the findings of the study provide necessary background knowledge for the development and implementation of housing-specific volunteer programs for vulnerable elders (Park, Kim & Cho, 2017).
As explained by Cox (2018), culture and ethnic diversity are one of the most significant characteristics that describe older adults in society. Culture and ethnic diversity are crucial factors in the comprehension of the functions and well-being of grandparent caregivers. Sometimes, the aged are tasked with the duties of watching after their grandchildren or generally other children in the community. Their role in the same is shaped by their culture and ethnic diversity. Increasingly in the modern as well as the traditional societies, Cox (2018) discusses that particular values, beliefs, and traditions continually influence the child-rearing practices and may also be influential in persons' responses to policies and services. The ability of the grandparents to look after their children has therefore been one of the many factors that have been significantly affected by what the older members of the society believe in as far as childcare is concerned(Cox, 2018). Although culture can be a source of support when its positive aspects are made into good use, it can also create stress as persons feel they are not fulfilling expected roles or feel frustrated by demands of more assimilated grandchildren. Strengthening these families requires sensitivity to the cultures and concerns of diverse groups of grandparents at all levels of interventions (Cox, 2018).
Significant gaps, according to Levy-Storms, Chen & Loukaitou-Sideris (2017), exist in the literature regarding the link between open space and physical activity promotion for older adults. The researchers performed a systematic review on older adults, open space, and physical activity to identify their specific needs and preferences in and near parks. The researchers identified 48 peer-reviewed journal articles. All of them were concerned with older adults but not necessarily exclusively. Most studies were descriptive and correlational (Levy-Storms, Chen & Loukaitou-Sideris, 2017). Findings suggest that older adults have specific open space and physical activity needs in and near parks that partly overlap with younger people. Framed by the biopsychosocial framework, open space and physical activity in and near parks can benefit older adults' physical health and psychological well-being to stay socially engaged. Framed within the person-environment and lifespan perspectives, open space, and physical activity in and near parks can facilitate an optimum fit between older adults and their environment as they continue to develop over time (Levy-Storms, Chen & Loukaitou-Sideris, 2017).
According to Moré et al. (2018), research was performed to characterize the goals and approaches of clinicians with experience discussing long ‐ term prognostic information with older adults in the society. The researchers used a semi-structured interview guide consisting of two domains of perceived benefits and strategies to explore why and how clinicians choose to discuss long ‐ term prognosis, defined as life expectancy on the scale of years, with patients. Clinicians from home ‐ based primary care practices, community ‐ based clinics, and academic medical centers across San Francisco were involved in the research. A total of fourteen physicians, including 11 geriatricians and 1 geriatric nurse practitioner, with a mean age of 40 and a mean 9 years in practice (Moré et al., 2018). The clinician responses were analyzed qualitatively using the constant comparisons approach. Perceived benefits of discussing long ‐ term prognosis included establishing realistic expectations for patients, encouraging conversations about future planning, and promoting shared decision ‐ making through an understanding of patient goals of care (Moré et al., 2018). Communication strategies included adapting discussions to individual patient preferences and engaging in multiple conversations over time. Clinicians preferred to communicate prognosis in words and with a visual aid, although most did not know of suitable visual aid (Moré et al., 2018). Conclusively, engaging in customized longitudinal discussions of long ‐ term prognosis aids clinicians in anchoring conversations about future planning and preparing patients for the end of life.
Mace Firebaugh et al. (2018) explores old age in society by considering physical activity, function, and mortality. The relationship between physical activity, function, and mortality is not established in advanced age as it is among the younger members of the community. Physical activity, function, and mortality were followed in a cohort of Māori and non-Māori adults living in advanced age for 6 years (Mace Firebaugh et al., 2018). Generalized linear regression analytical programs were used to determine the association between physical activity and Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living scale, whereas Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between the physical activity and mortality. The hazard ratio for mortality for those in the least active physical activity quartile was 4.1 for Māori and 1.8 for non-Māori compared with the most current physical activity quartile (Mace Firebaugh et al., 2018). There was an inverse relationship between physical activity and mortality, with lower hazard ratios for mortality at all levels of physical activity. More advanced levels of physical activity were associated with lower mortality and higher functional status in advanced-aged adults (Mace Firebaugh et al., 2018). To wrap up the results of the study, physical activity has been viewed as an aspect of the life for the old aged that increases their lifespan by reducing the mortality rate among them.
Neville et al. (2018) look into the issue of the immigration patterns of older people transforming the ethnic composition of Western societies. In 2015, immigrants aged 65 years and over made up 13% of the total number of immigrants worldwide, almost double the percentage of people aged 65 years and over globally (Neville et al., 2018). While immigration in older adulthood can provide new opportunities, evidence indicates migrants of all ages can experience discrimination, difficulty speaking the language and a lack of community support in their host country (Neville et al., 2018). Research on immigration has focused predominantly on younger people, and older immigrants have largely been ignored (Neville et al., 2018). Aging presents an increased risk of chronic illness and loss of function (Neville et al., 2018). Additionally, loss of close relationships, family deaths, and low income can place significant effects on the immigrant persons considered to be the among the aged. Factors that influence social inclusion for older adult immigrants include the ability to understand the local language, providing as well as receiving support, and being involved in activities and communities similar to those from their country of origin (Neville et al., 2018). Results of studies indicate a possible link between being an older immigrant, receiving less social support, and experiencing loneliness and depression (Neville et al., 2018). Including meaningful representation from migrant groups on community and government committees is integral to ensuring social inclusion (Neville et al., 2018).
Henkens et al. (2017) focus on the landscape of retirement concerning the old aged members of society. The current view of retirement is changing exponentially as the populace's aging becomes incrementally visible. This review of pressing retirement problem advocates research on the following parameters. Firstly, the study contributes to the changing meanings of retirement. Retirement is a term that has been mostly wrongly used and its scope inappropriately defined too. Secondly, the impact of technology on old age and retirement as well is focused on in the study. Undeniably, the improvement in the level of technology in the various parts of the world has had a transformation in the retirement of the older adults in society. Henkens et al. (2017) also talk about the role of housing in retirement. In the retirement aspects for the older adults in the society, the provision or the presence of a house for the old aged promotes the comfort levels of the older members of the society as they stay off work. The other aspect is the human resource strategies (Henkens et al., 2017). In the state of the art organizations, the issue of retirement has been treated with consideration as the organizations do their best to support their members of staff who are almost retiring. Various governments across the globe have come up with distinct programs and policies that targeted the retirement benefits. The retiring people have to have an adjustment to changing retirement policies (Henkens et al., 2017).
Mak, Sörensen & Pruchno (2018) describes research, which was performed according to the objective of exploring the connection between humor and purpose in life in people with dementia as topics. Although having a sense of humor is typically associated with positive psychological outcomes, recent evidence suggests that outcomes may vary depending on whether the humor being used is adaptive versus maladaptive (Mak, Sörensen & Pruchno, 2018). The study aimed to assess whether humor styles are predictive of purpose in life in people with dementia. The methodology of the research was described as follows. Questionnaires were verbally administered to people with mild-to-moderate dementia to measure humor styles and purpose in life (Mak, Sörensen & Pruchno, 2018). Adaptive humor styles were associated with a purpose in life whereas maladaptive humor styles were not. Having a sense of humor in dementia may be associated with a stronger sense of purpose in life, but it depends on the type of humor used (Mak, Sörensen, & Pruchno, 2018). Results are discussed in the context of understanding the role of humor in the daily lives of people with dementia and implications for care. (Mak, Sörensen & Pruchno, 2018).
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