Center for Gerontology
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- What About Elders Who Have No Informal or Formal Support?Blieszner, Rosemary; Roberto, Karen A. (Virginia Tech, 2001-06-30)Telephone interview data from a representative sample of 2,034 rural elders showed that 26.3% had limitations in abilities to perform daily activities (cooking, walking, cleaning, driving, etc.). Of these, many received informal assistance from family and friends or formal help from community agencies. However, 64 persons who had needs received no routine assistance from anyone. What are the effects of lack of support on their well-being? What coping strategies do they use in relation to their needs for assistance with everyday tasks? These elders did not differ from the others on demographic characteristics or psychological well-being. They demonstrated both resilience in current coping strategies and potential vulnerability in terms of risk to their physical health and psychological well-being in the future. Community service providers must address unexpressed needs in order to prevent exacerbation of problems and must educate elders and their families about the availability of services.
- Well-being and Coping Strategies of Elders Without Informal SupportBlieszner, Rosemary; Roberto, Karen A. (Virginia Tech, 2001-08-25)Telephone interview data from a representative sample of 2,034 rural elders showed that 26.3% had limitations in abilities to perform daily activities (cooking, walking, cleaning, driving, etc.). Of these, many received informal assistance from family and friends or formal help from community agencies. However, 64 persons who had needs received no routine assistance from anyone. What are the effects of lack of support on their well-being? What coping strategies do they use in relation to their needs for assistance with everyday tasks? These elders did not differ from the others on demographic characteristics or psychological well-being. They demonstrated both resilience in current coping strategies and potential vulnerability in terms of risk to their physical health and psychological well-being in the future. Community service providers must address unexpressed needs in order to prevent exacerbation of problems and must educate elders and their families about the availability of services.
- Geriatric Chronic Pain: Issues and Challenges from the Research LiteratureGold, Deborah T.; Roberto, Karen A. (Virginia Tech, 2001-11)Researchers interested in chronic pain in older adults come from multiple disciplines; thus existing information about geriatric pain is widely scattered. To establish a foundation from which to construct future research and interventions for older women and men, we developed a comprehensive, multidisciplinary database of the chronic pain and aging literature published between 1990 and 1998. In this paper, we examined the focus of studies of chronic pain in later life, how chronic pain was assessed and treated, and the influence of chronic pain on older adults’ quality of life. A search of ten electronic databases that index scientific journals yielded 302 articles that focused on chronic pain in later life. Given the disproportionate number of women in many of the study samples, gender comparisons were not always statistically feasible. Because a limited number of studies report gender comparisons in older adults, it is difficult to determine whether older women's experiences with chronic pain are unique and require special attention from health care providers or whether the causes, treatments, and consequences of chronic pain should be considered universal to the older population as a whole.
- Center for Gerontology Newsletter, Fall 2002(Virginia Tech, 2002)The Center for Gerontology newsletter, published twice annually, provides faculty and project updates, along with recognitions received by faculty and students in the area of age-related research and activities.
- Osteoporosis & The Health of Virginia's Older Women: Issues & Consequences Affecting Quality of LifeRoberto, Karen A. (U. S. Department of Agriculture, 2002)
- Older Families in Rural Communities: Personal and Social Influences on Service UseRoberto, Karen A.; Blieszner, Rosemary (U. S. Department of Agriculture, 2002)The overall goal of this research project was to gather data from older adults and their family caregivers living in rural southwest Virginia to learn how health and community-based services programs can win greater acceptability in these rural communities as a suitable complement to or, when necessary, alternative to family caregiving.
- Spending Behaviors of Older Women Living in an Assisted Living FacilityMcClung, Mary E. (Virginia Tech, 2002-03-02)A major demographic trend in the United States is the increasing older adult population. According to the US Census, the number of persons, ages sixty-five and older has increased approximately 4 million in 2000 and will continue to grow. As the baby boom generation reaches retirement, one issue facing older adults is how to assess and manage their housing and living expenses. An option for older adults that need some support, but are not totally dependent on others for their care is assisted living facilities. There is little public awareness about the cost associated with this housing option. The purpose of this study is to examine the monthly expenditures of older adult women living in an assisted living facility located in rural southwest Virginia. Interviews with the women identified spending patterns and the actual living expenses beyond the base rate residents pay each month. The findings highlight the array of expenses for older adult women living in an assisted living facility.
- Elderly & Disabled Waiver Services: What Do We Know About Providers?Glass, Anne; Roberto, Karen A.; Teaster, Pamela B.; Brossoie, Nancy (Virginia Tech, 2003)Little is known about home and community based services (HCBS) and even less about the quality of those services. As part of a “Real Choice Systems Change” grant received by the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech conducted a survey of agencies providing HCBS under the Medicaid Elderly and Disabled (E & D) Waiver. A written survey was sent to 160 providers across the state, based on a sampling plan designed to ensure representation of all planning districts and services mixes. Seventy surveys were returned for a response rate of 44%.
- Nursing Home Employees: Community Ecology and RetentionRoberto, Karen A.; Mancini, Jay A. (National Institutes of Health, 2003)
- Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator Programs: Evaulation of Program Status and Outcomes, Executive SummaryTeaster, Pamela B.; Roberto, Karen A. (Virginia Department for the Aging, 2003)The Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator Programs were established by law in 1997 in § 2.1-373.10 - § 2.1-373.14 of the Virginia Code. The 10 local programs, chosen through a request for proposal (RFP) process, are administered by the Virginia Department for the Aging. A mandated evaluation of the 10 Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator Programs was conducted over a two-year period, 2001-2002. Data were collected at approximately the same time during the fall of 2001 (Year 1) and 2002 (Year 2). Information was gathered from the programs using a password protected, web-based data collection system designed especially for this project. Five unique survey instruments were developed gather information about the administrative structure and functions of the programs, ward characteristics, the interface between the programs and wards. All of the programs participated in the Year 1 data collection; in Year 2, one of the programs chose to submit data in response to only one (i.e., Agency Profile) of the five evaluation tools (i.e., Agency Profile, Ward Assessment, Ward Care Plan, Administrative Time Log, and Ward Time Log).
- Center for Gerontology Newsletter, Spring 2003(Virginia Tech, 2003)The Center for Gerontology newsletter, published twice annually, provides faculty and project updates, along with recognitions received by faculty and students in the area of age-related research and activities.
- Community Connections and Sense of Community among Older AdultsBrossoie, Nancy; Mancini, Jay A.; Roberto, Karen A.; Blieszner, Rosemary (Virginia Tech, 2003)The goal of this exploratory study is to identify what factors predict sense of community in older adult community members.
- Center for Gerontology Newsletter, Fall 2003(Virginia Tech, 2003)The Center for Gerontology newsletter, published twice annually, provides faculty and project updates, along with recognitions received by faculty and students in the area of age-related research and activities.
- Elderly & Disabled Waiver Services: Provider Survey, Executive SummaryGlass, Anne; Roberto, Karen A.; Teaster, Pamela B.; Brossoie, Nancy (Virginia Department for Medical Assistance Services, 2003-03)
- Elderly and Disabled Waiver Services: Important Dimensions From the Client's PerspectiveGlass, Anne; Roberto, Karen A.; Teaster, Pamela B.; Brossoie, Nancy (Virginia Department for Medical Assistance Services, 2003-06)Little is known about home and community based services (HCBS) and even less about the quality of those services. As part of a “Real Choice Systems Change” grant received by the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech conducted an exploratory survey of clients receiving HCBS under the Medicaid Elderly and Disabled (E & D) Waiver. The goal of the survey was to learn about clients’ experiences with HCBS and to identify the most important dimensions of service provision from their perspectives. An initial focus group with 11 caregivers was first held in Big Stone Gap. Twenty-five telephone interviews were then completed (18 clients and 7 caregivers) in five areas of the Commonwealth. Fifteen were in urban areas (Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Chesapeake) and ten in rural or non-metropolitan areas (New River Valley and Planning Districts 13 and 14).
- Predicting Community Connections in the WorkplaceMancini, Jay A.; Roberto, Karen A. (Virginia Tech, 2003-11)This study explores the relationships between interpersonal connections in the workplace and four dimensions of employee retention.
- Leavers And Stayers: An Ecological Analysis Of Determinants Of Employee Retention In Long-Term CareRoberto, Karen A.; Mancini, Jay A. (Virginia Tech, 2003-11)The understanding of issues related to staff retention in long-term care requires a systematic and holistic examination of the care environment. Guided by the joining of two theoretical perspectives, human ecology and community capacity, we compared workers’ responses to a series of questions designed to assess individual, family and community influences on worker retention. Data were gathered from 156 direct care and support services staff members employed at a 120-bed facility. Over an 18-month period, 53% of the employees left the facility. Compared to employees who remained at the facility, those who left were significantly more likely to be younger, have a lower family income, and report feeling less prepared for the responsibilities associated with their job, less of a sense of work community connections, and less collective competence. No significant differences were found in the responses of the leavers by job position. Within positions, nurses who left reported significantly more family worries than those who stayed. CNAs who left were significantly younger than those who stayed. For support staff (i.e., dietary, housekeeping), leavers reported less work community connections, were less prepared for their jobs, and were less commitment to their jobs. Employment intentions for employees who left were explained by job match, job commitment and feeling rewarded. Employment intentions for employees who stayed were explained by family support, community connections, and employment-based outcomes. Findings suggest that multiple contextual and community-oriented factors influence retention of nursing home staff, and ultimately the quality of care of older adults.
- Rural Older Adults’ Previous Help and Support Experiences: Influences on Attitudes about Current and Future AssistanceBlieszner, Rosemary; Roberto, Karen A.; Love-Norris, Denise; Rogers, Sharon; Fruhauf, Christine A. (Virginia Tech, 2003-11)We investigated the extent to which earlier life experiences with informal and formal services might influence older adults’ views of getting assistance in the future. In a short-term longitudinal follow up of telephone interviews with a representative sample of rural, community dwelling elders (N = 532), we conducted face-to-face interviews with a subsample (n = 84) who were originally receiving informal assistance only, formal services only, both forms of support, or no assistance. We examined changes in assistance over 18 months and inquired about previous and current use of community resources (restaurants, hired help, overnight travel), home-based nursing or personal care, and formal services, as well as plans for future care needs. Past and current acceptance of external (nonfamilial) sources of support are associated with willingness to rely on formal services in the future. However, most participants expressed a strong preference for maintaining as independent a lifestyle as possible, even while expecting a need for greater assistance in the future. Whereas a minority have made arrangements for some type of formal care such as long term care insurance or nursing home placement, most intend to rely on family members for help. Few endorse depending on friends, neighbors, or other informal helpers except for occasional assistance. The results of this study have implications for research and public education on family caregiving, as well as for planning and delivery of informal and formal community services in rural areas.
- Center for Gerontology Newsletter, Spring 2004(Virginia Tech, 2004)The Center for Gerontology newsletter, published twice annually, provides faculty and project updates, along with recognitions received by faculty and students in the area of age-related research and activities.
- Rural Older Women’s Experiences with Chronic Health Problems: Daily Challenges and Care PracticesRoberto, Karen A.; Gigliotti, Christina; Husser, Erica; Kemp, Audrey June (Virginia Tech, 2004)Living with chronic diseases and their manifestations affects daily functioning and influences the quality of life of older women. This study, guided by the integration of life-course theory and a trajectory model of chronic illness, examines health care practices and management strategies that women with multiple chronic conditions incorporate into their daily lives. Responses to a telephone interview with 268 community-dwelling rural older adults (M age = 77 yrs., S.D. = 5.40) and qualitative interviews with 58 of the women from the larger sample were analyzed to examine the functional, psychological, and social consequences of their health. The women reported an average of 3.5 chronic conditions; the most common were arthritis (68%), heart disease (57%), osteoporosis (41%), and diabetes (31%). Findings suggest that the women played an active role in shaping the course of their illness within the context of their everyday living situations. One condition typically predominated their lives; however, regardless of the type or severity of their conditions, the importance of maintaining independence and autonomy was strongly emphasized by the women. Pain often contributed to functional limitations associated with their health conditions and frequently precluded or interfered with their completion of daily activities. To compensate for these changes, many older women slowed down the pace and number of activities they performed. Although they appreciated support from members of their social network, they infrequently turned to them for assistance. Consideration of personal and social variables that influence the life experiences of older women managing multiple health problems warrants continued investigation.