Scott D. Wright

Exploring the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI): Further Evidence for a Multidimensional View of Burden.

The purpose of this study was to examine the multidimensional nature of caregiver burden by specifically analyzing the patterns of association between five dimensions of burden as measured by the Caregiver Burden Inventory [1] and selected demographic, health, functioning, and well-being indicators. Subscales measuring each dimension were internally consistent and relatively independent in a sample of 160 caregivers. Time dependence burden was most influenced by patient impairment and caregiving involvement, whereas emotional burden was largely a function of caregiving satisfaction. Most of the variance in developmental burden was explained by depression and caregiving satisfaction. Contrary to expectations, physical health measures explained little variance in physical burden, of which most was explained by depression. Less than 10 percent of the variance in social burden was explained by depression and caregiver days sick. The findings lend support to a multidimensional view of burden and with minor modifications, the CBI appears to be a promising instrument with which to measure the construct.

Gray and green?: Stewardship and sustainability in an aging society

Abstract The natural environment has been a missing part of the context in public policy forums and educational programs when discussing the implications of an aging society. We believe that stewardship and the sustainability of natural resources should be considered in addition to economics and health care when addressing the themes of well-being and quality of life for future generations. This article presents on overview of the usage of the concept environment in aging studies and presents critically important concepts such as sustainability, stewardship, natural capital, carrying capacity, and ecological footprint in recognizing the relevancy of including the natural environment in discussions about our aging society. Also we propose directions for future research and discuss advocacy and organizational activities related to ecology and aging studies.

Older Adults' Attitudes, Concerns, and Support for Environmental Issues in the “New West”

The natural environment has been a missing topic from education and public policy forums concerning an aging society. This study examines demographic trends and several socio-demographic influences on attitudes, concerns, and active support for environmental issues among older adults in a retirement “hot spot” in the New West. A sample of 394 older adults in southwestern Utah was obtained from questionnaires mailed to those randomly selected from a larger dataset, and through hand-distributed questionnaires at selected RV parks. We found a high degree of variability among respondents in regard to environmental attitudes and concerns. Despite a personal attitudinal desire to protect the environment, most older adults did not want to become involved in protective actions for the environment. We found that residency status and religious affiliation emerged as the strongest relationships with measures of attitudes and concerns, and willingness to support the environment. The most influential factors associated with willingness to take action in support of the environment were having higher levels of active/social concerns, and higher levels of awareness of environmental consequences. The New West is one of the fastest-growing areas for demographic aging, and the opinions and actions of older adults will play a significant role in the stewardship and sustainability of natural resources, particularly in retirement hot spots.

Examining What Caregivers Do During Respite Time to Make Respite More Effective

Research on respite services for caregivers has been extensive over the past 25 years; however, findings regarding the effectiveness for improving their well-being have shown only moderate or mixed support. Missing from this research has been an examination of what caregivers do during their respite time. We studied 52 family caregivers who used adult day services and examined the consistency between their desired and actual respite activities and its relation to well-being outcomes. We concluded that (a) caregivers pursued a wide range of respite activities; (b) 46% were only somewhat or not very satisfied with how they spent their time; (c) those who were inconsistent in their desired versus actual respite activities and also dissatisfied with their use of time were more depressed, more negative in dimensions of burden, and less satisfied with caregiving; and (d) facilitators should be used to work individually with caregivers to identify activities and goals for respite time that are most likely to improve their well-being.

Assessing Visual-Spatial Creativity in Youth on the Autism Spectrum

The goal of this study was to develop a measure of creativity that builds on the strengths of youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The assessment of creativity focused on the visual-spatial abilities of these youth using 3D modeling software. One of the objectives of the research was to develop a measure of creativity in an authentic learning environment that built on the interests and creative talents of youth with ASD. Traditional creativity tests may underestimate the creativity of youth with ASD because of the tests’ constrained nature, such as having a time limit, being limited to paper and pencil, testing in an over- or understimulating environment, and overlooking visual-spatial ability. A random selection of 27 student 3D design projects (out of approximately 100 projects) was assessed using dimensions of fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration. The validity of this assessment was examined by comparing the creativity scores of the 27 projects to the creativity scores given by a team of Google experts (3D designers and software engineers). Results indicated that the scores were significantly correlated for three of the four dimensions of the creativity assessment. There was high inter-rater reliability among coders (M = .82) using intra-class correlation (ICC). Results suggest that this assessment process could be used as a visual-spatial creativity measure for youth with ASD, as well as a creativity measure used by employers to determine real-world creative potential in their employees, particularly those with neurodiversity.

Tapping into Technical Talent: Using Technology to Facilitate Personal, Social, and Vocational Skills in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Although participation in out-of-school activities is related to higher school functioning and psychosocial development for neurotypical youth, parents of youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often report that their children often have difficulty in these activities. To address this need, we have developed a technology-based summer and after-school program that teaches youth with ASD software skills for creating 3-dimensional designs. The program involves peers with ASD who have interests in technology, family members, and supportive mentoring adults. Our preliminary results indicated that by focusing on the strengths and interests of youth with ASD, rather than on remediating deficits, we made a difference in 3 domains: increased self-esteem and confidence for youth, enhanced social engagement with peers and family members, and the acquisition of computer skills for future vocations.

Philosophical Antecedents for Post Ageing

We propose that a significant part of post ageing is therefore revolutionary and heterodoxy and iconoclastic if taken from the stance of the established domain and received view of gerontology. We further propose that there is need for the renaissance of an active philosophical examination of the emergence of post ageing scholarship activities. Whether or not one side can convince the other or win the hearts and minds of the general public, the post ageing inflection point has indeed occurred and there is the need to utilize the full range of philosophical tools at hand (e.g., epistemology, ontology, ethics) to understand the underpinnings of how it came to be, and where it is leading us.

The Promise and Challenges of Post Ageing

We are not convinced that the inflection point of optimal ageing is the ultimate culmination and apogee of all that we have done—and will do—in the domain of gerontology and geriatrics. We are most certain that a burgeoning inflection point has arrived and made an impact by challenging our received views within the “ageing enterprise.” We submit that the GRIN technologies will disrupt and flip on its head each and every previous inflection point and its attendant prevailing view. In the past, ageing has been the optic by which we reflect on decline and mortality, problem-solve the symptoms of senescence, enact policies to buffer the demographic transitions, and promote lifestyles, attitudes, diets, and outlooks that will reframe the later years into civic engagement, wisdom, and legacy. But that was then, and this is now, when we will have to make room for this new perspective of “post ageing”, even the radical versions, in our classrooms, conferences, and publications. Despite the heated rhetoric and polemics that have been associated with “anti-ageing medicine” and human life extension, the intersection of technology and ageing is substantial and significant.

[5.0] Post Ageing

To reinterpret the developments and shifts in gerontology from an historical perspective (in hindsight) by using inflection points is one thing, but to offer a prospective prevailing theme (such as [5.0]) before any critical mass has taken place to verify and corroborate the theme actually exists is bound to be a risky venture, a conjecture, even an adventure. But such is the purpose of this book: to tread carefully, but with courage and integrity, so as to look ahead and create the profile for what we think is the next inflection point in gerontological research, teaching, and application.

Viable Criticisms for the Radical Version of Post Ageing [5.5 and >]

The radical version of the “post ageing” inflection point (and its exemplars) is simply not satisfied with scientific advancements to merely compress morbidity, know about the causes of the how and why of ageing, optimize ageing, or to manipulate and modify only the external environments that surround the ageing individual (e.g., assistive technology)—no, the goals are more monumental with dramatic consequences for just about every sphere of human existence. In our opinion, at the very core of the motivation and operations of SENS, and SENSE, and the possibility of a technological singularity (see Goertzel 2007; Kurzweil 2005) is to move beyond ageing so that the modus operandi in the radical version is to modify, rejuvenate, and transcend (see Harris 2010). The goal is not to simply make the best of what we have, rather it is to make more—and better—than what we have (Garreau 2005). The radical version of post ageing will only be satisfied when scientific advancements and the use of technologies can fully intervene with the internal environment of the human body and address the ultimate “limits” of human finitude and uniqueness (the epitome of intelligence). Indeed, it is the specter of mortality, the presence of death as a natural outcome of human existence that is to be reckoned with assertively, and most decisively through SENS, SENSE, and Singularity.