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Lowers J, Datcher I, Kavalieratos D, Hepburn K, Perkins MM. Proactive Care-Seeking Strategies Among Adults Aging Solo With Early Dementia: A Qualitative Study. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2024; 79:gbae020. [PMID: 38375541 PMCID: PMC11128765 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbae020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES People living with dementia need increasing care over time, but 1 in 3 adults with cognitive impairment lives alone. The goal of this study was to explore the self-identified strengths and resources for future care needs of adults aging solo with early dementia. METHODS Semistructured interviews with 15 adults not living with a partner and with no children in the same state, who self-identified as having early dementia or mild cognitive impairment; hybrid inductive/deductive reflexive thematic analysis using a successful aging framework. RESULTS Participants placed a high value on maintaining independence and expressed concerns about preserving selfhood and becoming a burden to others. These values influenced how participants appraised financial and social resources available to address future care needs and strategies to preempt or respond to needs such as transportation, help with finances, or activities of daily living. DISCUSSION Adults without close family are heterogeneous and have variable resources available to address care needs associated with dementia progression. Common values of retaining independence and minimizing burden to others may be helpful in motivating adults aging solo to undertake planning and help-seeking early.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Lowers
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ivree Datcher
- School of Public Health, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Dio Kavalieratos
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ken Hepburn
- Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Molly M Perkins
- Department of Geriatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Patterson SE, Margolis R. Family Ties and Older Adult Well-Being: Incorporating Social Networks and Proximity. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2023; 78:2080-2089. [PMID: 37738615 PMCID: PMC10699742 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbad139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This paper examines the family ties of older adults in the United States and how they are associated with mental health and social activity. We compare older adults with 4 types of family ties: adults "close" to family in proximity and social network, "kinless" older adults without a partner or children, "distanced" adults who live far from close kin, and "disconnected" older adults who do not report kin in their social network or do not report a location for some kin. METHODS Using pooled data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study 2015-2019 for older adults aged 70 and older (N = 24,818 person-waves), we examine how family ties are associated with mental health and social activity, and whether lacking family is tied to poor well-being because older adults' needs are not being met. RESULTS Kinless older adults and disconnected older adults have poorer outcomes (lower mental health scores and less social activity), compared to those close to their family. These findings suggest that both the presence and quality of the connection, as measured here via both location and social network, are critical for understanding which older adults are "at risk." Older adults who were not geographically proximate to their close kin (i.e., distanced) were not disadvantaged relative to those close to their families. Unmet needs do not help explain these patterns. DISCUSSION Our results highlight that family ties are important for older adults well-being, not just through their existence but also their quality and strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Patterson
- Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Rachel Margolis
- Department of Sociology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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Kelly BC, Hanson HA, Utz RL, Hollingshaus MS, Meeks H, Tay DL, Ellington L, Stephens CE, Ornstein KA, Smith KR. Disparities and determinants of place of death: Insights from the Utah Population Database. DEATH STUDIES 2023; 48:663-675. [PMID: 37676820 PMCID: PMC11119959 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2023.2255864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
To better understand determinants and potential disparities in end of life, we model decedents' place of death with explanatory variables describing familial, social, and economic resources. A retrospective cohort of 204,041 decedents and their family members are drawn from the Utah Population Database family caregiving dataset. Using multinomial regression, we model place of death, categorized as at home, in a hospital, in another location, or unknown. The model includes family relationship variables, sex, race and ethnicity, and a socioeconomic status score, with control variables for age at death and death year. We identified the effect of a family network of multiple caregivers, with 3+ daughters decreasing odds of a hospital death by 17 percent (OR: 0.83 [0.79, 0.87], p < 0.001). Place of death also varies significantly by race and ethnicity, with most nonwhite groups more likely to die in a hospital. These determinants may contribute to disparities in end of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenna C Kelly
- Department of Geography, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Heidi A Hanson
- Computational Sciences and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
- Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Rebecca L Utz
- Department of Sociology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Mike S Hollingshaus
- Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Huong Meeks
- Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Djin L Tay
- College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Lee Ellington
- College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | | | | | - Ken R Smith
- Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Mair CA, Thygesen LC, Aldridge M, Tay DL, Ornstein KA. End-of-Life Experiences Among "Kinless" Older Adults: A Nationwide Register-Based Study. J Palliat Med 2023; 26:1056-1063. [PMID: 36893217 PMCID: PMC10440640 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2022.0490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The population of older adults who are unpartnered and childless (i.e., "kinless") is increasing across the globe, and may be at risk for lower quality end-of-life (EoL) experiences due to lack of family support, assistance, and advocacy. Yet, little research exists on the EoL experiences of "kinless" older adults. Objectives: To document associations between family structure (i.e., presence or absence of partner or child) and intensity of EoL experiences (i.e., visits to medicalized settings before death). Design: The study design is a cross-sectional population-based register study of the population of Denmark. Subjects: Participants include all adults age 60 years and older who died of natural causes in Denmark from 2009 to 2016 (n = 137,599 decedents). Results: "Kinless" older adults (reference = has partner, has child) were the least likely group to visit the hospital (two or more times; odds ratio [OR] = 0.74, confidence interval [CI] = 0.70-0.77), emergency department (one or more times; OR = 0.90, CI = 0.86-0.93), and intensive care unit (one or more times; OR = 0.71, CI = 0.67-0.75) before death. Conclusions: "Kinless" older adults in Denmark were less likely to experience medically intensive care at the EoL. Further research is needed to understand factors associated with this pattern to ensure that all individuals receive high quality EoL care regardless of their family structure and family tie availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine A. Mair
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Lau C. Thygesen
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Melissa Aldridge
- Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Djin L. Tay
- College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Katherine A. Ornstein
- Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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Kremeike K, Bausewein C, Freytag A, Junghanss C, Marx G, Schnakenberg R, Schneider N, Schulz H, Wedding U, Voltz R. [DNVF Memorandum: Health Services Research in the Last Year of Life]. DAS GESUNDHEITSWESEN 2022. [PMID: 36220106 DOI: 10.1055/a-1889-4705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
This memorandum outlines current issues concerning health services research on seriously ill and dying people in the last year of their lives as well as support available for their relatives. Patients in the last phase of life can belong to different disease groups, they may have special characteristics (e. g., people with cognitive and complex impairments, economic disadvantage or migration background) and be in certain phases of life (e. g., parents of minor children, (old) age). The need for a designated memorandum on health services research in the last year of life results from the special situation of those affected and from the special features of health services in this phase of life. With reference to these special features, this memorandum describes methodological and ethical specifics as well as current issues in health services research and how these can be adequately addressed using quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods. It has been developed by the palliative medicine section of the German Network for Health Services Research (DNVF) according to the guidelines for DNVF memoranda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Kremeike
- Zentrum für Palliativmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Köln, Köln, Deutschland
| | - Claudia Bausewein
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Palliativmedizin, LMU Klinikum München, München, Deutschland
| | - Antje Freytag
- Institut für Allgemeinmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Deutschland
| | - Christian Junghanss
- Hämatologie, Onkologie und Palliativmedizin, Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Rostock, Deutschland
| | - Gabriella Marx
- Institut und Poliklinik Allgemeinmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Deutschland
| | | | - Nils Schneider
- Institut für Allgemeinmedizin und Palliativmedizin, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Deutschland
| | - Holger Schulz
- Institut und Poliklinik für Medizinische Psychologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Deutschland
| | - Ulrich Wedding
- Abteilung Palliativmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Deutschland
| | - Raymond Voltz
- Zentrum für Palliativmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Köln, Köln, Deutschland
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Roofeh R, Clouston SAP, Smith DM. Competing Risk Analysis of Time to Communal Residence for Elder Orphans. J Appl Gerontol 2022; 41:2105-2112. [PMID: 35536107 PMCID: PMC9730897 DOI: 10.1177/07334648221098994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Elder Orphans, socially/physically isolated older adults without caregiving support, are of interest in an aging population. Lack of caregivers for Elder Orphans may influence relocation to residential care facilities, including skilled nursing or assisted living facilities, compared to aging in place. Using the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), Competing Risk Survival Analyses were performed to determine if Elder Orphans or those At Risk for becoming elder orphans had increased risk for residential care relocation over nine NHATS waves (2011-2019). Elder Orphans had significantly higher risk for moving to residential care facilities in unadjusted (SHR = 1.780; p = 0.001) and adjusted (SHR = 1.571; p = 0.043) models. Those At Risk for becoming an elder orphan had significantly decreased risk for residential care residence in unadjusted (SHR = 0.517; p < 0.001) and adjusted (SHR = 0.726; p = 0.037) models. As aging in place becomes prioritized in the US healthcare system, understanding caregiving needs of older adults is vital to their health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina Roofeh
- Program in Public Health, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook, NY
- Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York
| | - Sean A. P. Clouston
- Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Program in Public Health, Stony Brook University Health Sciences Center, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Dylan M. Smith
- Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Program in Public Health, Stony Brook University Health Sciences Center, Stony Brook, NY
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Health Outcomes of Elder Orphans: an Umbrella and Scoping Review of the Literature. JOURNAL OF POPULATION AGEING 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12062-022-09387-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Kervin LM, Chamberlain SA, Wister AV, Cosco TD. (Older) Adults without advocates: Support for alternative terminology to "elder orphan" in research and clinical contexts. J Am Geriatr Soc 2022; 70:3329-3333. [PMID: 35849529 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.17960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lucy M Kervin
- Gerontology Research Center, Department of Gerontology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Stephanie A Chamberlain
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Andrew V Wister
- Gerontology Research Center, Department of Gerontology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Theodore D Cosco
- Gerontology Research Center, Department of Gerontology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada.,Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Tay DL, Ornstein KA, Meeks H, Utz RL, Smith KR, Stephens C, Hashibe M, Ellington L. Evaluation of Family Characteristics and Multiple Hospitalizations at the End of Life: Evidence from the Utah Population Database. J Palliat Med 2022; 25:376-387. [PMID: 34448596 PMCID: PMC8968848 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2021.0071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Scant research has examined the relationship between family characteristics and end-of-life (EOL) outcomes despite the importance of family at the EOL. Objectives: This study examined factors associated with the size and composition of family relationships on multiple EOL hospitalizations. Design: Retrospective analysis of the Utah Population Database, a statewide population database using linked administrative records. Setting/subjects: We identified adults who died of natural causes in Utah, United States (n = 216,913) between 1998 and 2016 and identified adult first-degree family members (n = 743,874; spouses = 13.2%; parents = 3.6%; children = 51.7%; siblings = 31.5%). Measurements: We compared demographic, socioeconomic, and death characteristics of decedents with and without first-degree family. Using logistic regression models adjusting for sex, age, race/ethnicity, marital status, comorbidity, and causes of death, we examined the association of first-degree family size and composition, on multiple hospitalizations in the last six months of life. Results: Among decedents without documented first-degree family members in Utah (16.0%), 57.7% were female and 7 in 10 were older than 70 years. Nonmarried (aOR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.88-0.92) decedents and decedents with children (aOR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.94-0.99) were less likely to have multiple EOL hospitalizations. Family size was not associated with multiple EOL hospitalizations. Conclusions: First-degree family characteristics vary at the EOL. EOL care utilization may be influenced by family characteristics-in particular, presence of a spouse. Future studies should explore how the quality of family networks, as well as extended family, impacts other EOL characteristics such as hospice and palliative care use to better understand the EOL care experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Djin L. Tay
- College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Katherine A. Ornstein
- Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Huong Meeks
- Utah Population Database, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Rebecca L. Utz
- Department of Sociology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Ken R. Smith
- Department of Department of Family and Consumer Studies, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Population Science, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Utah, USA
| | | | - Mia Hashibe
- Department of Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Lee Ellington
- College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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