Meredith Troutman-Jordan

Successful Aging among Assisted Living Community Older Adults

PURPOSE This study investigated the suitability of using the Successful Aging Inventory (SAI) in an effort to describe successful aging among older adults currently living in assisted living communities (ALCs) and to further assess some of the characteristics of successful aging in this group. DESIGN This study used a cross-sectional descriptive quantitative research design. Recruitment garnered 200 participants 65 years of age or older from eight ALCs in North Carolina. METHODS Screening was done using the Mini-Cog; instrumentation was composed of the SAI, Purpose in Life Test, Life Satisfaction Inventory-A, and Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. FINDINGS Among the differences were those influenced by gender, with females tending to score higher on successful aging (p < .004). CONCLUSIONS This research demonstrated that successful aging does exist in ALC residents. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The size of the older adult population will proliferate dramatically during the next two decades. Many of these individuals will find themselves living in ALCs; therefore, it is important to continue to strive to understand what successful aging looks like in these individuals in order to adopt meaningful practices and interventions aimed at eliciting successful aging responses in those living in these communities.

Mentoring Nurse Scientists to Meet Nursing Faculty Workforce Needs

Research indicates that mentoring has been highly effective in promoting faculty success. Strong mentors in the area of scholarship are extremely valuable for junior faculty, not only because of their research and academic expertise but also for their role modeling behaviors. This paper highlights key components of research mentoring used by a senior nursing faculty member. The senior faculty mentor and junior faculty mentee developed a common vision, relating to research interests in health promotion for vulnerable populations. Impact at the individual, school, university, and society level is discussed, and benefits of mentoring to meet nursing faculty workforce needs are emphasized.

Successful aging from the viewpoint of older adults.

The purpose of this study was to investigate older adults’ perceptions of successful aging within the context of the theory of successful aging to validate and further inform this theory. This research was a secondary, qualitative analysis of data from two earlier studies in which participants were asked to provide a response to the open-ended question, “What does successful aging mean to you?” Content analysis using multiple coding was independently conducted by the investigators. Eight broad themes emerged: active independence, relationships with people, relationship with God, comfort resources, health, beneficial contribution, positive perspective/coping, and freedom. Differences and similarities of themes by study subgroups were also explored. The coping processes, functional performance mechanisms, and intrapsychic factors from the theory of successful aging were well represented in the findings of this study. The coping process of spirituality was less frequently represented, whereas that of gerotranscendence was slightly more often described. Interventions that enhance these factors associated with successful aging have the potential to improve quality of life and provide appealing, meaningful activities for older adults.

Social Support and Successful Aging in Assisted Living Residents

Successful aging has been associated with adequate social support. However, impaired functionality, increased dependence, multiple comorbidities, and reduced social interactions place older assisted living community (ALC) residents at risk for poorer social support and less successful aging. This cross-sectional descriptive study used the revised Lubben Social Network Scale and the Successful Aging Inventory to investigate the relationship of social support to successful aging among older ALC residents. The findings indicated that these older adult ALC residents were receiving inadequate social support. Support from friends was more significant than that from family members. A modest correlation between social support and successful aging was observed.

Physical activity preferences for low-income sedentary urban African American older adults.

The objective of this study was to determine (a) activity preferences for low-income sedentary urban African American older adults and (b) information needed to deliver a lay physical activity intervention in the community for this population. This descriptive qualitative study used six focus groups. Participants were African American, 55 and older, had low incomes, and had sedentary behavior. Physical activity themes included excitement/emotion for physical activity, group physical activity, and location of physical activity. Themes regarding aspects of being a lay community health worker included beneficial service, uncertainty, logistics concerns, and delivery method preferences. The findings from this study will provide the basis for an intervention for low-income sedentary African American older adults. Preferences for physical activity, concerns about and supports needed for individuals to serve as lay community health workers, various types of training materials, and preferred technology for physical activity participation are identified and discussed.

Construction, Deconstruction, and Reconstruction The Roots of Successful Aging Theories

The authors’ goals are to examine the evolution of the concept of successful aging and its relevance to nursing science and practice. First, the history of positivist construction of aging in light of disengagement and activity theories is presented. Second, an analysis of the postmodern deconstruction of aging is illustrated with the development of the ageism phenomenon. Third, the beginning of the reconstruction of aging is presented and exemplified by Troutman’s middle-range nursing theory of successful aging, as connected to Roy’s model. Finally, ways in which these theories can be made applicable to nursing practice and research are proposed.

Medical home and emergency department utilization among children with special health care needs: an analysis of the 2005-2006 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs.

The purpose of this article was to determine whether medical home associated with reduction in emergency department utilization by children with special health care needs. The study comprised 40 723 children participating in the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs. For whole sample, presence of medical home was not associated with a decrease in emergency department (ED) utilization. However, children aged 0 to 5 years and those with severe functional limitations derived the most benefit from a medical home. Presence of medical home for severely limited children was associated with fewer ED visits (odds ratio, 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.50-0.70). Additional studies are warranted to explore specific components of a medical home and ED use.

Presence of Medical Home and School Attendance: An Analysis of the 2005-2006 National Survey of Children With Special Healthcare Needs

BACKGROUND Children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) tend to miss more school because of illness. Medical homes are a model of primary health care that coordinate services to better meet the needs of the child. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between presence of medical home and missed school days among CSHCN. METHODS A secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the 2005 National Survey of Children With Special Healthcare Needs (NS-CSHCN) was conducted. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression was done to analyze the relationship between presence of a medical home and number of missed school days. RESULTS The presence of a medical home among CSHCN was associated with being in the highest category of missed school days. The adjusted odds ratios for the number of missed school days, after adjustment for poverty, metropolitan statistical area status, education in the household, age, race and ethnicity, demonstrated that access to a medical home does not decrease school absences. CONCLUSION Although the data did not support the hypothesis that CSHCN with a medical home would have fewer missed school days due to illness, this study does evoke future research questions, such as what is the relationship between parental perception of child health status with number of missed school days and how adequate is the communication between families and healthcare providers in the medical home.

The Impact of Health Education and Health Promotion on Management of Chronic Health Conditions in Older Adults: Opportunities for Innovation

ABSTRACT This article provides an overview and describes major health issues affecting older adults, coupled with potential education and health promotion interventions that the nurse practicing in a community setting might implement. Emphasis is placed on partnering with older adults and better equipping them to be actively involved in their own health care. Easily accessible, free screening, assessment, and educational resources are identified. By enhancing older adults’ knowledge and sharing acceptable, desirable, and realistic intervention options with them, nurses can help empower older adults to have greater confidence in their ability to manage their health.

Back to Basics: Health and Wellness Benefits of Gardening in Older Adults

Older adults are particularly vulnerable to disease and health decline. Gardening is an effective intervention that can be used to improve health and wellness in seniors. In addition to meeting the six Institute of Medicine aims for improvement, this economically sound, nonpharmacologic intervention can be used to treat health conditions common to elders, decrease the incidence of obesity and sedentary lifestyle, and improve successful aging all while decreasing the cost of health care.