Enhancing Collaborations between our Age-Friendly Community and University Initiatives

Community involvement and synergistic partnerships are key to fostering a holistic approach to programming and outreach that assess and meet the needs of the older adults in our communities. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has created an Age-Friendly network to facilitate these partnerships featuring our designation of Age-Friendly City and Age-Friendly University as well as partnerships with our state and local governments, community aging services providers, and continuing care retirement communities. Through these partnerships, we have identified the landscape of the community, assessed the unique needs older adults, and identified novel solutions. We will discuss our plans for activities that will empower older adults in our community and at our university by promotion connection, collaboration, and inclusion.

Malnutrition-Sarcopenia Syndrome and its Associated Factors Among Older Adults

Malnutrition and sarcopenia are present in parallel in older adults and characterized by a combination of inadequate nutrient intake and decreased muscle mass, strength, and/or function. The presence of both conditions has been termed Malnutrition-Sarcopenia Syndrome (MSS) and is associated with negative health outcomes. The objective of this correlational study was to identify the prevalence and factors associated with the malnutrition-sarcopenia syndrome among older adults living in continuing care retirement communities. A convenience sample of 104 older adults living in CCRCs participated in this study. Muscle mass, strength, and function were measured using bioimpedance analysis, Jamar digital hand dynamometer, and the Short Physical Performance Battery test, respectively. Physical activity, sedentary time, and nutritional status were measured using ActiGraph GT3X and Mini Nutritional Assessment, respectively. Questionnaires were used to measure self-efficacy for exercise and goal congruence for physical activity and protein intake. Of the 104 participants, 37 (35.2%) had sarcopenia, 19 (18.1%) had malnutrition, and 14 (13.5 %) had MSS. Compared with those without MSS, older adults with MSS were more than two times more likely to have a sedentary lifestyle (Odd ratio, 2.028; 95% confidence interval, 2.012–2.044). Findings showed that sarcopenia, malnutrition, and MSS are prevalent in older adults living in continuing care retirement communities. Older adults should be screened and assessed for both malnutrition and sarcopenia. The results also suggest that decreasing the sedentary time could help in preventing MSS among older adults living in continuing care retirement communities.

‘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

Background and objectives during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Israel, people residing in continuing care retirement communities (CCRC) found themselves under strict instructions to self-isolate, imposed by the CCRC managements before, during and after the nationwide lockdown. The present study explored the personal experiences of CCRC residents during the lockdown. Research design and methods in-depth interviews were conducted with 24 CCRC residents from 13 different CCRCs. Authors performed a thematic analysis of interview transcripts, using constant comparisons and contrasts. Results three major themes were identified: (i) ‘Us vs. them: Others are worse off’. Older residents engaged in constant attempts to compare their situation to that of others. The overall message behind these downward comparisons was that the situation is not so bad, as others are in a worse predicament; (ii) ‘Us vs. them: Power imbalance’. This comparison emphasised the unbalanced power-relations between older adults and the staff and management in the setting and (iii) ‘We have become prisoners of our own age’. Interviewees described strong emotions of despair, depression and anger, which were intensified when the rest of society returned back to a new routine, whilst they were still under lockdown. Discussion and implications the measures imposed on residents by managements of CCRCs during the lockdown, and the emotional responses of distress among some of the residents, revealed that CCRCs have components of total institutions, not normally evident. This underscores the hidden emotional costs of the lockdown among those whose autonomy was compromised.

Perceived barriers and contributors to sense of purpose in life in retirement community residents

Despite the growing use of retirement communities and ageing care facilities, little is known about how residing in retirement residences may impact aspects of older adult wellbeing. Living in these communities may hold particular influence on residents’ sense of purpose, if they feel limited in their opportunities for individual action, or could serve to promote purposefulness depending on the social connections available. The current study sought to explore contributing factors as well as barriers to purpose in older adults living in three continuing care retirement communities. Using brief semi-structured interviews, 18 older adults were asked to describe their purpose in life, community-related activities and any perceived challenges limiting their ability to pursue this purpose. Thematic analysis was used to examine themes common across interviews. Interviews presented a mixed picture of the nature of purposefulness in retirement facilities. Residents espoused several benefits of community living such as social and leisure opportunities, while also noting several obstacles to their purpose, including health concerns and the belief that purpose in life was not relevant for older adults. These findings provide insight into how older adults can derive a sense of purpose from activities within their retirement community and how facilities can better tailor programmes to promote purposefulness and support personally valued roles for residents.

Envy and Jealousy of Living-Apart-Together Relationships in Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Moving to a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) and living apart together (LAT) as a repartnering form, represent new late-life beginnings. A larger qualitative study on LAT relationships constructed in the CCRC identified envy and jealousy yet they were not examined in-depth. Envy is wanting something we lack whereas jealousy is fear of losing something that is ours to another. These emotions are rarely explored in the context of older adults’ relationships. Our aim is to examine experiences of envy and jealousy from perspectives of residents aged 79 to 96 and staff, heuristically using Goffman’s framework on (semi)-totalitarian institutions. 30 semi structured qualitative interviews were conducted in three CCRCs in Israel with 10 LAT residents, 10 residents not LAT, and 10 CCRC staff members including social workers. Analysis was conducted based on principles of thematic analysis and triangulation. Findings refer to kinds of envy, ignoring envy, and the development and consequences of jealousy and/or envy related to LAT in the CCRC. Conclusions address how semi-totalitarian CCRC features influence envy and jealousy experiences including implications for assisting social workers, older adults and their family members to adjust to life in the CCRC and assist CCRC management and staff to address possible consequences of envy and jealousy.