Loneliness and Anxiety About Aging in Adult Day Care Centers and Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Overview

Journal Innov Aging

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2018 Nov 28

PMID 30480141

Citations 7

Authors

Liat Ayalon

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background And Objectives: The present study compares how 2 settings: adult day care centers (ADCCs) and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) fare with regard to loneliness and anxiety about aging. Loneliness is a highly prevalent and distressing subjective experience of inadequate social relations, which has negative effects on health and well-being. Anxiety about aging is defined as worries brought up by imagining the negative consequences and losses associated with old age. The study also examines whether anxiety about aging accounts for differences in loneliness between the 2 settings. This study took place in Israel, where ADCCs are funded by the National Insurance Institute of Israel and CCRCs tend to be funded by private income and wealth. Despite notable differences between the settings, a common goal of both is to reduce loneliness among older adults.

Research Design And Methods: A cross-sectional design of 4 ADCCs and 4 CCRCs ( = 456).

Results: Compared with CCRC residents, older adults in ADCCs reported higher levels of loneliness (Mean [] = 1.46 [0.60], Mean [] = 1.78 [0.80], respectively, [df]= -5.10 [448], < .001) and higher levels of anxiety about aging (Mean [] = 2.96 [0.88], Mean [] = 3.27 [0.99], respectively, [df] = -3.42 [440], < .001). Anxiety about aging partially accounted for the differences between the 2 settings in levels of loneliness ( = 0.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.0037-0.0651).

Discussion And Implications: Although it is not possible to determine causality from this cross-sectional design, it is possible that CCRCs provide a better social outlet for older adults than ADCCs.

Citing Articles

Effects of workplace ageism on negative perception of aging and subjective well-being of older adults according to gender and employment status.

Takeuhi M, Katagiri K Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2024; 24 Suppl 1:259-265.

PMID: 38357840 PMC: 11503551. DOI: 10.1111/ggi.14819.

Investigating the emotional content of older adults engaging in a fall prevention exercise program integrated with dance movement therapy: a preliminary study.

Pitluk Barash M, Elboim-Gabyzon M, Shuper Engelhard E Front Psychol. 2023; 14:1260299.

PMID: 37790228 PMC: 10543662. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1260299.

'We have become prisoners of our own age': from a continuing care retirement community to a total institution in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Ayalon L, Avidor S Age Ageing. 2021; 50(3):664-667.

PMID: 33951154 PMC: 7929415. DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afab013.

Playback theatre in adult day centers: A creative group intervention for community-dwelling older adults.

Keisari S, Gesser-Edelsburg A, Yaniv D, Palgi Y PLoS One. 2020; 15(10):e0239812.

PMID: 33002024 PMC: 7529427. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239812.

Younger and Older Adults' Mood and Expectations Regarding Aging During COVID-19.

Whatley M, Siegel A, Schwartz S, Silaj K, Castel A Gerontol Geriatr Med. 2020; 6:2333721420960259.

PMID: 32984443 PMC: 7498965. DOI: 10.1177/2333721420960259.

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