Poster Session
The Role of Multimorbidity in Dementia among Elderly People Aged 60 Years and Above in Community View Digital Media
Poster Session Tingting Zhu, Yuhong Niu
Many studies have shown multimorbidities might be one of the key risk factors for accelerating cognitive decline in the elderly. The evidence of the impact of multimorbidity on dementia among elderly people in China is scarce in detail. This study was performed to examine the association between the prevalence of dementia and multimorbidity, as well as pattern of multimorbidity among the elderly in Shanghai. This was a cross-sectional study, with 5040 elderly individuals from 21 communities enrolled. The prevalence of dementia was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The diagnosed chronic diseases including hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and coronary heart disease (CHD) were investigated such that multimorbidity was defined as individuals suffering from two or more chronic diseases at the same time. Data of 4945 older adults were analyzed. The overall prevalence of dementia and multimorbidity were 15.73% and 35.98%. Multivariate analysis showed multimorbidity was significantly negatively associated with dementia, and the risk of dementia in elderly individuals with 2, 3 or more chronic diseases was 1.283 and 2.034 times greater, respectively, than those who with no multimorbidity. Notably, elderly individuals with both diabetes and hyperlipidemia had the highest risk of dementia. In conclusion, Multimorbidity played a negative role in dementia among elderly people, dementia risk increases with the number of comorbidities, and the combination of diabetes and hyperlipidemia accentuates dementia risk at a greater level.
Developing Targeted Interventions by Prioritizing the Needs of Families Supporting Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury View Digital Media
Poster Session Pascale Simard, Marie-Ève Lamontagne, Melanie Levasseur
Individuals living with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) often rely daily on family support for their activities. When suddenly assumed by family members, caregiving roles can significantly disrupt family dynamics. Such responsibilities can extend over many years, and challenges may increase as both the caregiver and the individual with TBI age. Although implementing interventions to support caregivers of individuals with TBI (TBI caregivers) is essential, little is known about the specific needs of TBI caregivers. This study documents and prioritizes the needs of TBI caregivers. Based on the results from a mixed systematic review on the needs of caregivers of adults living with a TBI, the Technique for Research of Information by Animation of a Groupe of Experts (TRIAGE) method was used in two focus groups conducted with community workers (n=4) and TBI caregivers (n=5). TRIAGE combines both individual and group phases, aiming to reach a consensus on most priority needs. Participants were recruited among community workers and TBI caregivers from organizations that provide services to this population. Both groups identified needs for peer support, information on healthcare and administrative procedures, mental health support, and a guide to navigate the healthcare system and access resources as a priority. TBI caregivers also emphasized the need to prepare for transferring caregiving responsibilities, adapt housing, and continuous follow-up as additional priorities. Building on the prioritized needs, this study will guide the development of interventions tailored to the challenges faced by TBI caregivers.
Fostering Intergenerational Connections for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Qualitative Exploratory Study View Digital Media
Poster Session Megan Veilleux, Samuel Turcotte, Ronen Ore, Angéline Labbé, Valérie Poulin, Emilie Raymond, Marie-Ève Lamontagne, Pascale Simard, Ann-Frédérique Giguère, Mia Lapointe, Manh Hung Nguyen
Individuals living with traumatic brain injury (TBI) now have increased longevity due to advancements in healthcare and rehabilitation services. However, they may face dual stigmatization—ageism and ableism—which can restrict their social participation. Intergenerational initiatives have been shown to improve the health of older adults, support social participation, and foster more positive attitudes toward aging. This study supports the development of intergenerational initiatives addressing the unique needs of the TBI population by exploring: (1) the relevance of intergenerational initiatives for individuals aging with TBI; (2) the facilitators and barriers to planning and implementing such initiatives. Using a qualitative exploratory approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted: individuals living with TBI (n=4), intergenerational connection experts (n=3), community workers (n=3), and managers from TBI-focused organizations (n=2) in Quebec, Canada. The interview guide was co-developed and pre-tested with an action-research steering committee. Data analysis employed a mixed-methods approach based on the Framework Method, with the deductive portion relying on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Results reveal that intergenerational activities can be relevant for breaking social isolation and combating ableism. It revealed an agreement on barriers such as functional issues influencing intergenerational pairing and facilitators such as adapted instructions for the activity and personalized support from community workers to enable a satisfying and rewarding experience for individuals living with TBI. This research contributes valuable insights into fostering intergenerational initiatives for the TBI population, offering practical guidance to support the development of more inclusive environments and meaningful connections across generations.
Aging at the Breakthrough of Modernity: The Lifeworlds of Old People in the Late 19th and Early 20th Century View Digital Media
Poster Session Anne Kluger
Modernity is often described in historical research as an era in which people not only experienced profound changes but also perceived their time as something novel and distinct. This was, in part, reflected in negative views of older people and "aging." But what did it mean to be "old" in this period? The proposed research project aims to reconstruct the lifeworlds of "old" individuals during the breakthrough of modernity (between 1850 and 1930) in Germany and Austria, with a particular focus on their experiences and (self-)interpretations. The project primarily uses ego documents (diaries, letters, autobiographical records) created by "old" people themselves. The study thus also challenges the historical perception in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a criterion for modernity of a previously overlooked societal group and, in turn, refines our understanding of the concept of modernity itself. In addition, it provides insights into which contemporary phenomena related to aging and the perspectives of older individuals may have already begun at the transition from the 19th to the 20th century.
Health Consequences of Extended Precarious Employment for Older Women: A Latent Class Approach View Digital Media
Poster Session Elif Seyban
This study examines how various aspects of precarious employment impact the mental and physical health of older women as working lives extend. The rapid increase in employment and evolving retirement patterns of older women may significantly affect how they live and their retirement experiences. Precarity, forced employment, in-work poverty, and low-quality jobs are becoming increasingly common among older women. We conceptualize precarity as a multidimensional condition, encompassing both objective and subjective aspects. This framework accounts for social embeddedness (e.g., family and social network support) and life-course career developments, including accumulating disadvantage, a history of insecurity, and future time perspective. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) is used to develop a novel measure of precarious work, utilizing data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). This method identifies latent patterns in precarious work by integrating objective (e.g., employment contract), subjective (e.g., job insecurity, control at work), and social situation (e.g., household income) dimensions. Health outcomes—both mental and physical—are analyzed with a focus on gender-specific effects among older workers. Preliminary analyses indicate that precarious work is a multidimensional construct linked to adverse health outcomes. Gender differences are anticipated, with older women likely experiencing more severe negative effects due to intersecting vulnerabilities such as lower job security, caregiving roles, and limited access to resources shaped by gender norms. This study offers a comprehensive conceptualization of precarious work in later life and introduces a latent-based approach to its measurement, providing insights for improving employment conditions and mitigating health risks for older women.
The Experiences of Older Adults and Relevant Decision-makers in Care Transitions: A Qualitative Study View Digital Media
Poster Session Lucy Halamova
Older adults are often excluded from decisions about admission to care homes, with family and professionals frequently assuming this role during a crisis; this can negatively impact older adults beyond the time of transition. Understanding these dynamics is essential for developing solutions that better support older adults and their families. This study explores (1) older adults’ experiences in making decisions about care transitions, (2) the roles that other key decision-makers, such as family members and professionals, play in the process, and (3) the support available to decision-makers, including the potential usefulness of a new decision aid informed by study findings. A qualitative study was conducted with 27 participants from three groups: older adults, family members, and professionals involved in care transitions. Semi-structured interviews are analysed through thematic analysis using a contextualist interpretative approach. Preliminary analysis suggests older adults focus more on life before and after transitions than decision-making, often taking a different role than others expect or wish from the older adults. Family members report significant emotional burden and often rationalise decisions made under systemic constraints. Professionals acknowledge these challenges, balancing empathy with appreciation for proactive decision-making. Most participants saw a decision aid as useful, and many shared insights on its content. Findings will support a decision aid to help older adults and families prepare for care transitions, easing stress during crises and improving decision-making. It should also assist professionals in better supporting older adults and families through the process.
How People Begin to Live Positively with Dementia: Findings from an Interview Survey View Digital Media
Poster Session Ayaka Yamanaka, Mana Sasagawa, Hisashi Matsukawa, Asuka Ono, Shunichi Seko
People living with dementia often have negative outlooks, but some come to have positive outlooks. However, the factors behind this change in outlook are not clear. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to clarify these factors in people living with dementia. We believe that this study can help people living with dementia live in society more hopefully. In addition, as a first step, this study may lead to devising approaches for positive changes for people living with dementia. A semi-structured interview was conducted with eight people living with dementia. Five were engaged in activities to promote and raise awareness of dementia (positive outlook) and three were not (negative outlook). Survey items included changes in cognition and experiences unique to dementia patients and relationships with family members and people supporting them. The first author used “Steps for Coding and Theorisation” to analyse the verbatim transcripts. We then categorised the causes of changes to investigate them and compared the two groups. Results revealed that those in the positive outlook group were greatly influenced by their social environment and were also divided into two types: those whose behaviour changed first and those whose inner self changed first. In addition, those in the negative outlook group suggested that they were prepared to live with dementia but had hidden negative emotions such as resistance to dementia and sadness due to lack of understanding. To consider future approaches, it is necessary to consider how to interact with people living with dementia in social environments.
A Preliminary Investigation into Older Adults’ Reactions to Community-Based Psychoeducational Seminars View Digital Media
Poster Session Yi Feng Lu
In Taiwan, psychologists frequently conduct psychoeducational seminars in community settings aimed at older adults. However, limited research has examined how older adults perceive and respond to such seminars. This study therefore explores older adults’ reactions to community-based psychoeducational seminars through both quantitative and qualitative analyses. The study recruited older adults who attended community-based psychoeducational seminars between 2018 and 2021. Participants completed a four-item scale comprising the first three items of the Outcome Rating Scale (ORS) and the fourth item of the Session Rating Scale (SRS), assessing their well-being in terms of "individual," "interpersonal," and "social" functioning, as well as their overall perception of the seminar. A total of 1,870 questionnaires were collected. The average age of participants was 74 years. ORS scores were 9.20, 9.25, and 9.26 for the respective dimensions, and the overall satisfaction score for the seminar was 9.34. Qualitative feedback indicated that participants appreciated the "accessible explanation of complex mental health topics," felt the content was "highly relevant to their own psychological experiences," and recognized "the psychologist’s genuine care and dedication." Community-based psychoeducational seminars remain a viable and meaningful approach for promoting mental health awareness and providing psychological support to older adults.
Transnational Healthcare Practices among Refugee Older Adults: Practice and Policy Implications
Poster Session Sepali Guruge, Jordana Salma, Kateryna Metersky, Cristina Catallo, Areej Al Hamad, Zhixi Zhuang, Lu Wang, Yasin Yasin, Hasina Amanzai, Lixia Yang
Aging and migration are two trends that shape healthcare access and use in many countries. Older adults in post-migration contexts face many challenges in accessing healthcare services. Emerging literature indicates that they exercise agency via engaging in transnational healthcare practices (THP) to meet their health needs. This study focuses on the nature and scope of THP among refugee older adults. Methods: As part of a larger project that aims to understand THP among refugee older adults, three literature reviews were undertaken: a concept analysis (n= 37 articles) of transnational healthcare; a scoping review (n= 34 articles) on healthcare practices among refugee older adults; and a scoping review (n= 5 articles) on the use of technology for healthcare access among immigrant and refugee older adults.Taken together, these reviews demonstrate that refugee older adults face multiple barriers to accessing and utilizing healthcare services in the post-migration and (re)settlement contexts. These barriers drive them to engage in both travel and non-travel-based THP. Their reliance on THP is shaped by timeliness, linguistic accessibility, cultural competence, affordability, and disparities in individual, family, and community networks between host and home countries. Barriers to access to and use of digital technology play a huge role in their engagement in THP. Implications: Future research is urgently needed to examine THP among refugee older adults from low-middle-income countries. There is also a critical need to examine policy implications of THP in order to better support the health and well-being of diverse populations in a globalised world.
Communication, Social Appropriateness and Cognitive Vulnerability in Subclinical Aging: Can Multimodal Pragmatic Difficulty Reflect Emerging Cognitive Changes? View Digital Media
Poster Session Giorgia Vegna, Andrea Marini, Riccardo Conterio, Ilaria Gabbatore
Communication undergoes age-related decline across linguistic, extralinguistic, and paralinguistic domains, affecting pragmatic ability - the use of language in social contexts. Such difficulty is well documented in neurocognitive disorders yet scarcely explored in subclinical populations. We investigated pragmatic functioning in individuals with Cognitive Impairment based on MoCA (CIbM; cut off≤19.5) and hypothesized that multimodal pragmatic deficits may signal emerging cognitive vulnerability. Nineteen CIbM individuals were matched for age and education with 19 healthy controls (CNTR). All were native Italian speakers, with no history of neurological or psychiatric disorders. Pragmatic ability was assessed through version A of the Assessment Battery for Communication (ABaCo), which evaluates linguistic, extralinguistic, paralinguistic, and contextual phenomena in comprehension and production. An ANOVA on global ABaCo scores showed a significant group effect, with CIbM performing worse than controls (F(1,36)=24.05, p<.001, η²p=.40). A MANOVA across the four scales confirmed a multivariate group effect (F(4,33)=5.93, p=.001, η²p=.42). Follow-up analyses revealed significant group differences for linguistic (F(1,36)=12.35, p=.001, η²p=.26) and context (F(1,36)=10.08, p=.003, η²p=.22) scales but not for extralinguistic (F(1, 36)=2.91, p=.097, η²p=.08) and paralinguistic (F(1, 36)=3.97, p=.054, η²p=.10) scales. These results indicate selective pragmatic deficits in subclinical cognitive impairment, particularly in linguistic and contextual domains. Pragmatic vulnerability may precede overt cognitive decline and thus serve as a sensitive marker of early cognitive change. Because social appropriateness and pragmatic competence underpin effective interaction, early identification can inform interventions that preserve social participation, autonomy and well-being, and support intergenerational engagement through inclusion and mutual understanding.
Rethinking Ageing: Conceptualization, Measurement, and Policy Implications
Poster Session Jekaterina Navicke, Zeimante Straseviciute
The paper examines the links between the way ageing is theorized, conceptualized, measured and treated in the modern western societies, EU in particular. We look into alternative concepts of ageing that move beyond the narrow emphasis on economic activity promoted by the mainstream notion of active ageing. I.e., such as positive, optimal, successful, healthy, dignified ageing, and other frameworks that are used to normatively shape ageing through prioritizing meaningful life experiences, dignity, health, community, mental and subjective well-being in older age, as well as the right to adequate social protection, autonomy, and personal fulfilment, while respecting diverse ageing trajectories. We explore the theoretical lining behind these normative concepts and the way it interacts with the way we measure ageing. We then look into the policy implications and possibilities to further develop inclusive, context-sensitive policy frameworks and indicators that acknowledge diverse pathways of ageing and promote well-being, security, and meaning in later life beyond the constraints of the active ageing model.
Challanges of Digitalisation: How Do Older Adults in Poland Navigate Technology in Everyday Life View Digital Media
Poster Session Katarzyna Goncikowska, Joanna Witowska
The digital transformation of recent decades has presented unique challenges for those who spent much of their lives without digital technology (DT) and then had to adapt to it later in life. It is crucial to identify challenges, but also the benefits of DT among older population. Hence, this study explores how older adults in Poland (N = 15, age 60-81, M = 70.27), approach, experience and integrate DT into their daily lives. Drawing on semi-structured interviews, we examine experiences of digitalisation, focusing on both the barriers and the opportunities. Data analysis addresses main research questions referring to the adjustment to digital transformation; experiences with DT usage and its challenges; purposes of DT usage and its influence on social life, wellbeing and previous work. We describe skills, attitudes and the emotional implications of digital engagement. We also consider how participants' experiences relate to wider discussions about lifelong learning. Participants often highlighted efforts to adapt to DT and described disorientation while incorporating digital tools. They also shared worries about young people’ DT usage finding it difficult to understand and considering as addiction. At the same time participants find DT beneficial in everyday life, particularly for maintaining social ties and accessing essential services. The study highlights lived experience of older people that are crucial to create friendly environments to adapt to rapid digital changes. By highlighting these experiences, the study contributes to critical discussions on inclusion, resilience, and the cultural dimensions of aging in a digital society.
Discursive Positioning in the Co-creation of Care: How Professionals Navigate the Ethical Challenges of Shared Agency in Residential Elder Care
Poster Session Diana Stenvall Hotti
This study examines power relations in residential elder care. The aim is to explore how professionals position themselves and older adults in encounters, navigating individual, professional and organizational aspects of care. By conceptualizing care as a co-created process between the professional and the older adult, the research adopts a social psychological and a qualitative approach to daily care practices. Grounded in critical discursive psychology, the study uses positioning analysis to explore how professionals negotiate meanings of individual needs, ethical guidelines and care technology in practices of daily care. The data comprises 20 semi-structured interviews with care professionals conducted 2019 at a Finnish care home that provides round-the-clock services for older adults. Preliminary findings highlight the significance of cooperation for professionals’ job satisfaction but also point out that resistance to care is often normalized by positionings overlooking situational aspects or organizational practices that may impede this cooperation. Although these results are not representative of care organizations in general, they shed light on intricate social processes in daily care practices with implications for the wellbeing and security of both professionals and older adults. This emphasizes a need for further research to inform the development of sustainable care practices in ageing societies.
The Influence of Social Support and Working Conditions on Work Ability : An Age-comparative Analysis Based on the BAuA Working Time Survey
Poster Session Lara Wittek
Prior research on age comparisons and work ability analysis shows that, in the absence of targeted support measures, average work ability tends to decline with age (Wilke et al., 2019). At the same time, younger and older employees experience different resources and working conditions, presenting both challenges and opportunities (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, 2024; Prümper & Richenhagen, 2011). Social support from colleagues and supervisors is particularly important, as it can buffer the negative effects of high work demands (Van der Doef & Maes, 1999). The present analyses draw on longitudinal data and apply fixed-effects regression models within the framework of the Job Demands-Control-Support (JDCS) model. The aim is to examine how working conditions and social support influence employees’ work ability in Germany, and whether these effects differ by age. The results show that physical and psychological job demands significantly reduce work ability, while autonomy and social support have a positive effect. Interaction effects with age were largely insignificant. Instead, work ability declines with age when considered as a single predictor, while the beneficial effects of resources such as social support and autonomy appear relatively stable across age groups. These findings emphasise the importance of workplace resources in maintaining work ability throughout life and suggest that further research should examine how broader contextual factors, such as unequal access to remote working for parents and carers, interact with ageing and caring responsibilities to influence career paths.
