Clinical Gerontologist

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate insomnia symptoms and environmental disruptors at admission and discharge in a subacute rehabilitation care setting. METHODS: Veterans (age ≥50) admitted to a Veterans Health Administration (VA) Hospital subacute rehabilitation between March and August 2022 completed baseline ( N  = 46) and follow up ( N  = 33) assessments with the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Sleep Need Questionnaire (SNQ), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and an assessment of environmental sleep disruptors...

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we examine the association between multimorbidity and psychological distress and to what extent elder abuse mediates the association. METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional nationally representative data from the "Building Knowledge Base on Population Ageing in India (BKPAI)." Multivariate logistic regression was used to understand the association between multimorbidity and psychological distress. We used Karlson-Holm- Breen (KHB) method to understand the role of elder abuse in mediating the association between multimorbidity and psychological distress...

OBJECTIVES: The present study investigates the impact of disrupted mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic on depression and anxiety symptoms in long-term care (LTC) residents. METHODS: The study examined clinical data from 5,645 residents who received at least two psychological services in a long-term care (LTC) or assisted living (AL) setting between March 2019 and March 2021. A series of multiple regressions were run to explore the effects of the COVID-19 shutdown on depression and anxiety symptoms while examining the effects of COVID-19-related facility closure and facility telehealth capabilities...

OBJECTIVES: In people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD), non-motor symptoms such as anxiety are common and have negative impacts on their quality of life. There are currently few interventions that address anxiety in PwPD, and access to diagnosis and treatment is often limited for those living in rural areas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a telehealth videoconferencing CBT intervention for anxiety in PwPD. METHODS: A pre- and post-test feasibility study ( N  = 10) was conducted and evaluated utilizing the RE-AIM framework (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance)...

OBJECTIVES: This quality improvement project sought to develop guidance for Home-Based Primary Care (HPBC) Mental Health (MH) clinicians on integrating Measurement-Based Care (MBC) into their practice and gain participating psychologists' feedback on their experience using MBC for treating mental health concerns with HBPC Veterans. METHODS: Based on feedback from the HBPC MH community and in consultation with national leadership, a workgroup of HBPC psychologists developed a guide tailoring MBC to HBPC Veterans...

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No abstract text is available yet for this article.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in a case of co-occurring generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: This case study refers to a male aged 75 years with a diagnosis of Idiopathic Parkinson's disease. It focuses on applying a CBT model to address the psychological difficulties with PD and GAD. RESULTS: This case study reveals key aspects in presentation, diagnosis, and psychological treatment between PD and GAD, and is one of few studies published in this area...

OBJECTIVES: Dementia caregivers (CGs) are at heightened risk for developing problems with anxiety and depression. Much attention has been directed toward developing and deploying interventions designed to protect CG health, but few have been supported by rigorous empirical evidence. Technology-based interventions that are effective, scalable, and do not add greatly to the CG burden are of particular interest. METHODS: We conducted a nine-month randomized controlled trial in 63 homes evaluating People Power Caregiver (PPCg), a system of sensors in the home connected to cloud-based software that alerts CGs about worrisome deviations from normal patterns (e...

OBJECTIVES: Anxiety is common in Parkinson's disease (PD), negatively impacting daily functioning and quality of life in PD patients and their families. This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness of different psychotherapeutic approaches for reducing anxiety in PD and provides recommendations for clinical practise. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, 36 studies were included and risk of bias was evaluated. RESULTS: We identified cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based therapies, acceptance and commitment therapy, and psychodrama psychotherapies...

OBJECTIVES: Use of firearm locking devices may reduce the risk of suicide and injury among older adults. This study describes older adults' preferences when choosing a firearm locking device. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of a nationally representative survey of US adult firearm owners ( N  = 2,152). We compared older adults (≥65y) with relatively younger adults (<65y), stratified by self-reported gender. RESULTS: The top three factors cited as impacting firearm locking device selection included speed (53...

OBJECTIVES: Research indicates adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) were associated with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), with higher ACEs reported by sexual minoritized individuals (i.e. lesbian, gay, and bisexual; LGB). This study aimed to explore the relationships between ACEs and SCD based on sexual orientation in middle-aged and older adults. METHODS: The study included 76,592 participants from the 2019-2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS)...

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a home-based online chair yoga (OCY) program for racially and ethnically diverse rural community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: We randomly assigned participants to OCY or a computer brain game (CBG). After a computer literacy training led by high school students, participants engaged in remotely supervised OCY or CBG in twice-weekly 45-minute sessions for 12 weeks. Outcome data (pain interference, cognitive function, mobility, computer skills) were collected at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up...

OBJECTIVES: The transition into residential aged care (RAC) is often associated with loss, grief, isolation and loneliness. This scoping review aimed to identify quantitative research which focused on reducing the negative effects associated with transition, thereby improving the transition experience. METHODS: A scoping review, which concentrated on quantitative research, was conducted. MEDLINE, CINAHL andPSYCHINFO databases were searched using the initial search terms "olderadults", "residential aged care" and "transition"...

BACKGROUND: Many older adults in Colombia have lived through violent and stressful life events, particularly in areas of poverty. The aim of this qualitative study was to understand the impact of stressful life events on the mental health and wellbeing of older Colombians living in areas of relative poverty. METHODS: Older adults (aged 60+) living in the Turbo region in Colombia were interviewed face-to-face between August and December 2021. Transcripts were coded in Spanish and English by at least two researchers, using inductive thematic analysis...

OBJECTIVES: The great heterogeneity in symptoms and clinical signs of depression in older adults makes the current diagnostic criteria difficult to apply. This scoping review aims to provide an update on the relevance of each of the diagnostic criteria as defined in the DSM-5. METHODS: In order to limit the risk of bias inherent in the study selection process, a priori inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined. Articles meeting these criteria were identified using a combination of search terms entered into PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES and SocINDEX...

OBJECTIVES: Considering that the examination of psychological flexibility measures among older adults is scant, this study explores the psychometric properties of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II) among outpatient geriatrics primary care clinic patients in a university-affiliated medical center in the Deep South. METHODS: On average, patients who consented to participate in research ( N  = 119) were 75.42 ( SD  = 9.14) years old...

OBJECTIVES: This study examines the actor and partner effects of cognition on activity engagement and the potential mediating role of intimate relationship in older couple dyadic context. METHODS: Data for this study were obtained from heterosexual couples who participated in the 2020 wave of the Health and Retirement Study. Constructing a dyadic model of couples' cognitions, activity engagement, and intimacy using structural equation modeling to analyze the relationship between variables and mediating effects...

OBJECTIVES: The Reminiscence Functions Scale (RFS) is a widely used robust instrument. While reminiscence-based intervention is one of the most effective nonpharmacological interventions for older adults. This systematic review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the literature that used RFS with older adults, summarizes the main outcomes, and highlights implications for practice. METHODS: This systematic review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines...

OBJECTIVES: We examined links between marital quality and loneliness among aging veterans and explored whether veterans' PTSD symptom severity moderated these associations. METHODS: Data came from 269 Vietnam-Era combat veterans who had a spouse/partner (M age = 60.50). Utilizing two waves of data spanning six years, we estimated multiple regression models that included positive and negative marital quality, PTSD symptom severity, and loneliness in 2010 as predictors of loneliness in 2016...