Research on Aging: An International Bimonthly Journal

Oliver, Debra Parker

doi: 10.1177/0164027512469182pmid: N/A

Burr, Jeffrey A.

doi: 10.1177/0164027512469181pmid: N/A

Basu, Rashmita

doi: 10.1177/0164027511434086pmid: N/A

This study examined importance of education on dementia risk among older adults. It explored to what extent this relationship represents an independent effect of education on dementia risk. A cross-sectional sample of adults age 70 years or older was selected from the Aging Demographics and Memory Study, a supplement to the Health and Retirement Study, to examine the association between education and dementia risk and to mitigate the possibility of self-selection bias (unobserved variable bias) in explaining this correlation. An identification strategy using parental and sibling characteristics as instrumental variables for education was used to remove bias from the estimate of education parameter’s effect on dementia risk. The association between education and dementia risk was observed after accounting for self-selection bias. Results from the two-stage ordered logit model suggest that the impact of education on dementia risk is not an artifact but rather the observed association between education and dementia incidence has a causal component.

Bowes, Alison; McColgan, Gillian

doi: 10.1177/0164027511427546pmid: N/A

Drawing on interviews with 76 older people (aged 60 years and older) receiving telecare services at home and in housing with care and 16 family caregivers in West Lothian, Scotland, the authors consider how far telecare can support older people’s citizenship goals of independence, participation, and identity. They conclude that although these goals are to some extent supported by telecare, they are also supported by the model of care being applied and limited by aspects of the wider environment, such as ageism. The authors argue that in every case, contextual factors beyond the intrinsic capacities of a technological system and beyond the models of care developed and promoted by a service delivery organization must be explored if the impact of telecare is to be fully understood. Thus, the human use of technology and its moral context are critical to its success or limitation.

Coe, Norma B.; Boyle, Melissa A.

doi: 10.1177/0164027511434331pmid: N/A

The authors use existing, nationally representative surveys to assess the economic characteristics of individuals in three categories of seniors housing and care facilities: independent living communities (ILCs), assisted living residences (ALRs), and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). The findings highlight the strengths and weaknesses of using the Health and Retirement Study, National Long-Term Care Survey, and Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey to describe this segment of the population. The results suggest that residents in ILCs and ALRs have lower average incomes than the average costs of these care communities. Conversely, CCRC residents have higher incomes and more assets than those living in private homes, suggesting that CCRCs attract the wealthiest seniors. However, longitudinal analysis is prohibited by the small sample sizes.

Funk, Laura M.; Chappell, Neena L.; Liu, Guiping

doi: 10.1177/0164027511422450pmid: N/A

A sense of filial responsibility, particularly where it is a strong cultural norm, may be beneficial for caregiver self-rated health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between filial responsibility attitudes and both self-rated health and well-being within three cultural groups: Caucasian Canadian (n = 100), Chinese Canadian (n = 90), and Hong Kong Chinese (n = 125). Respondents were interviewed in person using a structured questionnaire. Multivariate analyses for the entire sample indicated associations between filial responsibility attitudes and both self-rated health status and overall well-being. Analyses performed within each cultural subgroup indicated that filial responsibility is associated with worse self-rated health in the Caucasian Canadian group. The results suggest caution in assuming that filial responsibility attitudes will be beneficial for caregiver outcomes; there may also be cultural variation.

Gordon, Judith R.; Rouse, Elizabeth D.

doi: 10.1177/0164027511424293pmid: N/A

This article examines the relationship between job and elder caregiving involvement, bi-directional work-caregiving conflict (work interfering with caregiving [WIC] and caregiving interfering with work [CIW]), and work costs (job interruptions and job changes). Specifically, we consider the effects of both behavioral and psychological involvement and external and internal work caregiving conflict in a sample of 583 women between the ages of 50 and 64 who work full-time and have significant elder caregiving responsibilities. A telephone survey was administered using random-digit-dial procedures. Structural equation model analyses confirmed that behavioral job involvement was associated with external CIW, psychological job involvement was associated with internal WIC and internal CIW, behavioral caregiving involvement was associated with external CIW and work costs, and psychological caregiving involvement was associated with internal CIW. Internal WIC, external CIW, and internal CIW were associated with job costs. Some mediation, particularly through external and internal CIW, occurred.