Innovation in Aging

Jolliff, Anna; Hill, Jordan R; Zuraw, Matthew; Elliott, Christian; Werner, Nicole E

doi: 10.1093/geroni/igae096pmid: 39687843

Background and ObjectivesRural caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) face unique caregiving challenges. Current interventions do not address many of the systemic barriers experienced by rural ADRD caregivers, including barriers related to geography, healthcare services access, and financial insecurity. The objective of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of rural ADRD caregivers’ needs, strengths, and strategies in obtaining caregiving support, and to represent these attributes in the form of personas that can be used to design interventions for rural ADRD caregivers.Research Design and MethodsIn this qualitative user-centered design study, we conducted semistructured interviews with self-identified caregivers of people living with ADRD in rural areas. Interview data was copied to a virtual whiteboard, and affinity diagramming was used to confirm a priori attributes and yield inductive attributes relevant to rural ADRD caregivers. Attributes were assigned to personas, which were then validated through team-based discussion, consultation with a study advisory board, and review by rural caregivers and community partners.ResultsAnalyses of N = 19 interviews yielded 7 inductive attributes relevant to rural ADRD caregivers of persons living with ADRD and 5 distinct personas: Capable Christine, Connected Connie, Isolated Irene, Learning Larry, and Discerning Dan. Personas differed on inductive attributes including financial security, subjective rurality, attitudes, connectedness, and information behavior, including preferences for traditional versus technology-based information seeking.Discussion and ImplicationsThe personas identified in the present study can be used as tools to represent and efficiently communicate the intersection and interaction of attributes relevant to designing interventions and technologies to meet the support needs of rural ADRD caregivers.

Albert, Steven M

doi: 10.1093/geroni/igae103pmid: 39664607

Grigorovich, Alisa; Marcotte, Ashley-Ann; Colobong, Romeo; Szabo, Margaret; MacNeill, Carlee; Blais, Daniel; Giffin, Gail; Clahane, Ken; Goldman, Ian P; Harris, Bessie; Clarke Caseley, Abby; Gaunt, Melanie; Vickery, Jessica; Torrealba, Christina; Kirkland, Susan; Kontos, Pia

doi: 10.1093/geroni/igae102

Donat, Marta; Politi, Julieta; Guerras, Juan Miguel; Sordo, Luis; Cea-Soriano, Lucia; Pulido, Jose; Ronda, Elena; Regidor, Enrique; Barrio, Gregorio; Belza, Maria José

doi: 10.1093/geroni/igae097pmid: 39664604

Background and ObjectivesDespite alcohol use being very common in older adults, studies are scarce and suggest alcohol use may be increasing. Furthermore, despite the known relationship between education and alcohol consumption, there is limited evidence of educational differences in older adults. Our objective was to describe trends in alcohol consumption in individuals aged ≥65 by sex and educational level in Spain.Research Design and MethodsIn total, 43,157 participants aged ≥65 years were drawn from Spain’s national health surveys between 2001 and 2020, representing the noninstitutionalized population. The outcomes were various measures of self-reported past-year alcohol intake. Age-standardized rates and negative binomial regression models were used to examine trends and differences in alcohol intake by educational level, sex, and period (2001–2009 vs 2011–2020).ResultsThe average daily alcohol intake and prevalence of heavy average drinking (>20/10 g/day) decreased over time, especially among men, whereas moderate average drinking remained unchanged or even increased. Alcohol intake increased with increasing educational levels. All drinking measures showed educational inequalities, and these were greater in women than men. The mean amount of drinking showed the greatest inequality, with adjusted prevalence ratio of 2.6 in women and 1.1 in men between university relative to primary education level.Discussion and ImplicationsAlcohol intake in older adults decreased over time in Spain for heavy average drinking and average drinking amount, although not for moderate average drinking. Consumption remains highest among the highest educational levels, which may negatively affect health. Programs addressing alcohol consumption among older adults are needed to minimize alcohol-related harm.

Bünning, Mareike; Huxhold, Oliver

doi: 10.1093/geroni/igae101pmid: 39664606

Background and ObjectivesThis study investigates whether the association between supplementary grandchild care and grandparents’ subjective well-being—measured as life satisfaction, perceived stress, and loneliness—is moderated by the contextual environment. We use the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic as an example of contextual differences. Drawing on role theory, we argue that the costs and benefits of grandparenting may have differed between pandemic and prepandemic times. On the one hand, providing grandchild care during the pandemic may have been particularly stressful, prompting more negative effects on well-being. On the other hand, grandchild care may have been particularly relevant for enhancing well-being, as it protected grandparents from social isolation. Moreover, the association between grandparenting and well-being may have differed by gender.Research Design and MethodsUsing unbalanced panel data from the German Ageing Survey (DEAS) 2014 (n = 3,619), 2017 (n = 2,458), and 2020 (n = 2,021), we applied maximum likelihood structural equation modeling (ML-SEM)—a method that combines dynamic panel modeling with fixed-effects analysis—to examine whether there were differences in the relationship between grandchild care and grandparents’ well-being when comparing pandemic and prepandemic times and by grandparents’ gender.ResultsGrandchild care was associated with lower loneliness for both grandmothers and grandfathers. For grandfathers, this association was even stronger during the pandemic. Grandmothers experienced higher life satisfaction when taking care of grandchildren during the pandemic, but there was no evidence that grandchild care increased perceived stress for either grandmothers or grandfathers.Discussion and ImplicationsIn line with role enhancement theory, this study highlights that supplementary grandchild care can be beneficial for grandparents’ well-being. Moreover, the context in which grandchild care takes place shapes the costs and rewards associated with it. Our results suggest that supportive policies and programs facilitating grandchild care can enhance grandparents’ well-being, especially in challenging contexts.