This study examined the ways in which individuals over 50 years old solved problems while volunteering in intensive humanitarian and disaster relief service. Thirty-seven men and women in the sample were sponsored by three religious organizations well known for providing humanitarian and disaster relief service. Semistructured interviews yielded data that were analyzed qualitatively, using McCracken's five-step process for analysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Prior research identifies that psychological outcomes among dementia caregivers are associated with their use of coping strategies. Few studies have tested the association of coping and health longitudinally.
Method: This study examined factors associated with the use of coping strategies over time and their associations with physical and mental health outcomes in a population-based sample of 226 dementia caregivers in Cache County, Utah, USA.
Using the concepts in the Fogg Behavioral Model, 37 volunteers aged 50 and older described their preparation for intensive volunteering with faith-based organizations. Their multistage preparation process included decision points where respondents needed to choose whether to drop out or continue preparation. Ability was a stronger determinant of serving than motivation, particularly in terms of health and finances.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Environmental influences on the rate of Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression have received little attention. Our objective was to test hypotheses concerning associations between caregiver personality traits and the rate of AD progression.
Methods: Care receivers (CR) were 161 persons with AD from a population-based dementia progression study; 55 of their caregivers were spouses and 106 were adult children.
Objectives: Few longitudinal studies have studied the influence of the care environment on the clinical progression of dementia. We examined whether caregiver coping strategies predict dementia progression in a population-based sample.
Design: Longitudinal, prospective cohort study.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
November 2013
Objectives: Previous research has consistently reported elevated rates of depressive symptoms in dementia caregivers, but mostly with convenience samples. This study examined rates and correlates of depression at the baseline visit of a population sample of dementia caregivers (N = 256).
Method: Using a modified version of Williams (Williams, I.
Background: Quality of life (QOL) is frequently assessed in persons with dementia (PWD) through self- and/or proxy-report. Determinants of QOL ratings are multidimensional and may differ between patients and caregiver proxies. This study compared self- and proxy-reported QOL ratings in a population-based study of PWD and their caregivers, and examined the extent to which discrepancies in reports were associated with characteristics of the PWD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To identify distinct behavioral patterns of diet, exercise, social interaction, church attendance, alcohol consumption, and smoking and to examine their association with subsequent dementia risk.
Design: Longitudinal, population-based dementia study.
Setting: Rural county in northern Utah, at-home evaluations.
Objectives: Progression of Alzheimer dementia (AD) is highly variable. Most estimates derive from convenience samples from dementia clinics or research centers where there is substantial potential for survival bias and other distortions. In a population-based sample of incident AD cases, we examined progression of impairment in cognition, function, and neuropsychiatric symptoms, and the influence of selected variables on these domains.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To examine the association of engagement in cognitively stimulating activities with cognitive and functional decline in a population-based sample of incident Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Method: After diagnosis, 187 participants (65% females) were followed semiannually for a mean 2.7 (SD = 0.
Purpose Of The Study: We conducted a qualitative study of 38 mid-late life volunteers in intensive humanitarian service to ascertain the challenges, personal changes, and benefits they experienced from their volunteer activities. Intensive volunteering was defined as service done on a 24-hr a day basis at a location away from home.
Design And Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted by phone or in person with each participant.
Objectives: To examine the effects of caring for a spouse with dementia on the caregiver's risk for incident dementia.
Design: Population-based study of incident dementia in spouses of persons with dementia.
Setting: Rural county in northern Utah.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
September 2009
Applying Rusbult's investment model of dyadic relationships, we examined the effect of caregiver-care recipient relationship closeness (RC) on cognitive and functional decline in Alzheimer's disease. After diagnosis, 167 participants completed up to six visits, observed over an average of 20 months. Participants were 64% women, had a mean age of 86 years, and mean dementia duration of 4 years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
November 2007
Objective: The purpose of this research was to describe the characteristics of strong commitment to home-based elder care among intergenerational family caregivers.
Methods: I conducted two qualitative studies using in-depth interviews with primary and secondary intergenerational caregivers. A total of 45 primary caregivers, 10 spouses, and 11 adult grandchildren discussed development of their relative's care, their caregiving experiences, use of paid services, and how caregiving affected their lives.
Six children (5 boys, 1 girl; aged 36-60 months) participated in this qualitative study. Each child was enrolled in a different family child care facility. The authors rated the child care providers in 3 of the facilities as using developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) most of the time and rated the providers in the 3 other facilities as rarely or never using DAP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA qualitative study using McCracken's (1988) multistage process for data analysis examined how women in three traditional cultures express themselves and their age identities in quilting. In semi-structured interviews, 10 Amish, 10 Appalachian, and 10 Latter-day Saint (Mormon) women discussed their quilting-related experiences, rewards that they receive from quilting, and the variety of ways in which quilting assists them in creating positive age identities. Results illustrated how quilting aided personal progress in building quilting-related skills and enlarging personal influence through owning quilting businesses, teaching and mentoring others, gaining respect as skilled artisans, and acting as guardians of family traditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUsing the convoy model of social relations, we explored the contributions of quilting activities to the relationships of middle- and older-aged women in three distinct groups: Amish, Appalachian, and Latter Day Saints. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten women from each group and analyzed qualitatively using McCracken's five-step method for analysis of long interviews. We found that these women had considerable horizontal and vertical connections to others.
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