Therapy provided over the phone lowered symptoms of anxiety and depression among older adults in rural areas with a lack of mental health services, a study shows. The study, by researchers at Wake Forest University, examined 141 people over the age of 60 living in rural counties in North Carolina who were experiencing excessive and […]
Elderly
Association Between Social Integration and Suicide Among Women in the United States
Middle-aged women with a solid social life face a significantly lower risk for suicide than those who live in relative isolation, new research suggests. Moreover, friendships and outside activities were found to offer protection against suicide even for women who struggled with mental health issues, such as depression. “Suicide is one of the leading causes […]
Check-in With You: The Older Adult Hopelessness Screening Program
Check-in With You: The Older Adult Hopelessness Screening Program (OAHS), developed by Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency, assesses levels of hopelessness in older adults and provides early intervention services to reduce suicide risk, improve quality of care, and prevent the onset of serious mental illness. All adults 55+ receiving primary health care services […]
African American Women Aging with HIV and Co-Morbidities
Self-managing HIV/AIDS presents challenges for anyone infected. These challenges may be further complicated for older HIV-infected African American women who acquired the disease at younger ages and now have co-morbidities. Little is known regarding how women’s age identity, social responsibilities, co-morbidities, and romantic relationship status influence their HIV self-management. Five focus groups were conducted in […]
The “¡Caminemos!” Study: Association Between Perceived Neighborhood Walkability Characteristics and Depressive Symptoms in Older Latinos
Senior Hispanic adults who perceive their neighborhoods as safer — and thus, more walkable — are also less likely to experience depressive symptoms, according to a study published online in October in the Journal of Aging and Health. With previous research finding that senior Hispanics face both higher risks for depression as well as greater […]
The Role of Medicare and the Indian Health Service for American Indians and Alaska Natives: Health, Access and Coverage
Relative to the overall U.S. population, American Indians and Alaska Natives face persistent disparities in health status, access to health care, and other socioeconomic disadvantages, including higher rates of poverty. Even with Medicare coverage, American Indians and Alaska Natives who are age 65 and older or who are living with permanent disabilities experience these problems […]