Becoming and being an older adult: A mixed methods study of the lived experience of aging

'Ageing with an alcohol problem is not what I envision': reclaiming agency in shaping personal ageing trajectory and recovery from alcohol problems

BACKGROUND

Eliciting and understanding older persons' descriptions of their resources for healthy ageing and the interaction of these resources with alcohol use and alcohol problems can facilitate health promotion. It can also inform clinicians when identifying areas of recovery capital that present risks and strength for older people seeking alcohol treatment. The objective of this study was to illuminate the experiences and perspectives of older persons on ageing, alcohol use, treatment, and recovery from alcohol problems, as well as their understanding of healthy ageing.

METHODS

Eight men and two women, aged 61 to 73 years, with moderate drinking as a treatment goal and treated at an outpatient alcohol clinic in Sweden, participated in semi-structured audio-recorded virtual interviews. A qualitative content analysis examined the transcribed interviews.

RESULTS

Three themes were identified: "Tipping the balance", "Staying behind a veil" and "Lifting the vail". First, participants understood healthy ageing as a personal and multidimensional process that involved actively expanding, maintaining or adjusting to the resources needed to lead an active and meaningful life while preserving autonomy, dignity and independence for as long as possible. Second, most participants viewed moderate alcohol use as a contributor to healthy ageing. They sought treatment when their drinking became unsustainable and an immediate threat to their healthy ageing resources. Stigma, ambivalence and a lack of treatment options, however, contributed to delayed treatment. Third, the participants responded to treatment approaches that elicited their concern, incorporated their expertise and treatment and life goals, appreciated their autonomy and agency, and considered them partners in goal setting and decision making. Reduced drinking helped participants regain their agency and improved their healthy ageing capital which in turn catalyzed continuing recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

Older persons in non-abstinent recovery perceive healthy ageing and alcohol recovery as personal and interacting multidimensional processes involving their agency to improve biopsychosocial functioning. Treatment approaches that recognize older persons' desire for healthy ageing, incorporate their treatment goals and respect their autonomy are likely to be acceptable and effective.

A Qualitative Study to Explore the Life Experiences of Older Adults in Oman

BACKGROUND

Reminiscence studies and life reviews have a number of proven advantages. Future generations gain by learning from elders' life experiences, as do older adults themselves who share their memories. Despite Oman's sizable geriatric population, research on older individuals' life experiences is scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the life experiences of older Omani individuals across their many life stages, from childhood to the present.

METHODS

This was a qualitative study design. Convenience sampling was employed and conducted from December 2021 to October 2022. A total of 13 Omani older adults (9 females and 4 males), with an average age of 68 years, were recruited for this study (response rate = 34%). Socio-demographic and life review information was gathered according to a set of semi-structured guiding questions. The responses were then captured on audio recordings, which underwent transcription and translation. Thematic analysis techniques were applied to the extracted data.

RESULTS

Three main themes were evident in this study's findings: childhood memories, friendships, and relationships, as well as the elders' past. Additionally, older adults passed on a number of gems of wisdom to be shared with the younger generations.

CONCLUSIONS

This study aided in revealing the resiliency, social connections, and life reflections of Omani older adults. These themes can guide the creation of age-inclusive laws, social support initiatives, and healthcare services specifically designed to satisfy the special requirements and ambitions of the elderly population. Based on these themes, this study recommended that the local community or society build a more sympathetic and compassionate atmosphere that honors and respects the accomplishments of this essential group by recognizing and comprehending the complex experiences of older adults. In addition, future studies could explore particular aspects of these older experiences and pinpoint solutions to improve their quality of life and wellbeing.

Character Strengths and Resilience in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the pandemic, older adults were perceived as a vulnerable group without considering their various strengths. This study explored the associations between character strengths and resilience, and verified if some of these could predict resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 92 participants (women = 79.1%), ≥ 70 years of age (mean = 75.6 years), completed an online version of the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths - Positively keyed (VIA-IS-P) to assess 24 character strengths (grouped under six virtues) and the Connor and Davidson Resilience Scale. Results showed that 20 of the 24 strengths correlated positively and significantly with resilience. A multiple regression analysis revealed that the virtues of courage and transcendence, as well as attitudes toward aging, uniquely predicted the level of resilience. Interventions should be developed to improve certain strengths (e.g., creativity, zest, hope, humor, and curiosity), while reducing ageism, in order to promote resilience.

Impacts of biophilic design on the development of gerotranscendence and the Profile of Mood States during the COVID-19 pandemic

To live in a good mood is not only a key consideration for future age-friendly communities, but also a critical necessity for positive ageing. Despite growing evidence of correlations between contact with nature and stress reduction, little is known about the effect of nature integration in indoor environments. Thus, this study aimed to answer the following research questions: (a) How do biophilic characteristics of home environments correlate with older adults’ experience of the multiple levels of the theory of gerotranscendence? and (b) What is the relationship between these experiences and the mood states of these older adults? The study was based on a comparative analysis to scrutinise the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these questions. The data were gathered through questionnaires with 450 older adults aged between 65 and 95 years, and stratified by the biophilic characteristics of their living environments: indoor biophilic, outdoor biophilic and non-biophilic. Two sets of data were collected with the same participants, respectively, before the COVID-19 pandemic (June to October 2018) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (June to October 2020). It found that the biophilic characteristics of home environments are correlated dynamically with older adults’ ageing experience and mood states. The study indicates that outdoor biophilic features facilitate the recovery of tension mood effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas indoor biophilic features facilitate recovery from depression and anger.