The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences
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J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci · Feb 2021
The Color of COVID-19: Structural Racism and the Pandemic's Disproportionate Impact on Older Racial and Ethnic Minorities.
The aim of this evidence-based theoretically informed article was to provide an overview of how and why the COVID-19 outbreak is particularly detrimental for the health of older Black and Latinx adults. ⋯ While the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented crisis, the racial/ethnic health inequalities among older adults it has exposed are longstanding and deeply rooted in structural racism within American society. This knowledge presents both challenges and opportunities for researchers and policymakers as they seek to address the needs of older adults. It is imperative that federal, state, and local governments collect and release comprehensive data on the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths by race/ethnicity and age to better gauge the impact of the outbreak across minority communities. We conclude with a discussion of incremental steps to be taken to lessen the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 among older Black and Latinx adults, as well as the need for transformative actions that address structural racism in order to achieve population health equity.
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J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci · Feb 2021
The Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 on Older Latino Mortality: The Rapidly Diminishing Latino Paradox.
This brief report aims to highlight stark mortality disparities among older Latinos that result from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. ⋯ Our findings indicate that as a result of the pandemic, the time-tested Latino paradox has rapidly diminished due to higher COVID-19 mortality among older Latino adults compared to non-Latino Whites. Future research should continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 to assess the disparate impact of the pandemic on older non-Latino Black, Latino, and non-Latino White adults as additional data become available.
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J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci · Jan 2021
Insufficient Advance Care Planning? Correlates of Planning Without Personal Conversations.
Advance care planning (ACP) typically comprises formal preparations (i.e., living will and/or durable power of attorney for health care) and informal discussions with family members and health care providers. However, some people complete formal documents without discussing them with others. If they become incapacitated, their appointed decision makers may lack guidance on how to interpret or enact their formal wishes. We document the prevalence and correlates of this partial approach to ACP. ⋯ Socially isolated persons are especially likely to do formal planning only, which is considered less effective than two-pronged ACP. Health care professionals should recognize that older adults with few kin may require additional support and guidance when doing ACP.
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J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci · Jul 2020
It Is Not Just Mortality: A Call From Chile for Comprehensive COVID-19 Policy Responses Among Older People.
Provide a synthesis of the COVID-19 policies targeting older people in Chile, stressing their short- and long-term challenges. ⋯ A wider perspective is needed to include a broader definition of health-considering financial scarcity, access to health services, mental health issues, and long-term care-in the policy responses to COVID-19 targeted to older people in Chile.
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J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci · Apr 2020
Observational StudyThe Association Between Physical Activity, Including Physical Activity Intensity, and Fear of Falling Differs by Fear Severity in Older Adults Living in the Community.
Fear of falling (FoF) is common in older adults. Physical activity decreases as FoF increases. However, this association between physical activity and FoF may vary depending on activity intensity. The current study was performed to explore the associations between FoF and step count, light-intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate/vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) in community-dwelling older adults. ⋯ Physical activity decreased concomitantly with a rise in FoF severity. Moreover, the association between physical activity and FoF differed by physical activity intensity level in community-dwelling older adults. Further studies are needed to investigate the causal relationship between FoF and objective physical activity in this population.