An Assessment of Attendee Experiences With a Workshop to Reframe Aging-Related Communications

Abstract The Centre on Aging at the University of Manitoba adapted the FrameWorks Institute’s Gaining Momentum toolkit into an interactive workshop that was delivered to aging-related stakeholders (e.g., health professionals, educators, researchers, advocates, older persons) across the province of Manitoba, Canada. The purpose of this study was to complete a qualitative assessment of attendee experiences with the workshop and its impact, if any, on their aging-related communication behaviors. Study participants recruited from four communities (two urban, two rural) completed two telephone interviews—one approximately two weeks and one approximately three months post-workshop—about their experiences, motivations for attending, and short and long-term communication goal setting. Through the interviews, most participants expressed positive experiences with the workshop content, as well as an enjoyment of its interactive elements (e.g., self-introduction activity, reframing short and long form aging-related communications, group feedback). Several also shared specific examples of how workshop content was influencing their short/long-term aging communication strategies. Some participants, however, also identified ways that local culture could impact the interpretation of and, thus, potential success of workshop language and/or framing recommendations in specific communities. Overall, the findings from this study suggest that the Gaining Momentum workshop was a valuable experience for attendees that inspired critical assessment of, and changes to, the ways they communicated about aging in their professional and personal lives. Future research is warranted to explore the ways its content could be adapted to better meet the unique communication considerations within the province of Manitoba (e.g., cultural, geographic, and language-related implications).


THE BAND TEST: IMPROVING RELIABILITY AND BALANCE TESTING FOR PEOPLE WITH NEUROCOGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS: A PILOT STUDY
Evelyn Hahn, 1 Melissa Moore, 1 Lindsay Neirman, 1  Stephanie Arcadia, 2 Stacy-Jo Krasa, 1 and Tabassum Majid, 3 1.Functional Pathways, Sykesville, United States, 2. Sykesville, Maryland, United States, 3. University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, United States People with neurocognitive impairments have a higher risk of falls compared to other older adults and require specific cues for evaluation.Additional options for balance testing is necessary to improve reliability and assessment of fall risk.This study established the efficacy of the novel Balance Assessment for Neurocognitive Deficits (BAND) in order to improve measurement of fall risk for people with neurocognitive impairments.The BAND was analyzed for construct validity and reliability through comparison with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS).Older adults with neurocognitive impairments (n=15) in subacute and long-term settings performed BAND and BBS assessments during therapy.Clinicians determined ambulation assistance, fall risk, and time.Calculation of intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change (MDC95) values was completed.Corresponding ICC values were 0.985 (95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.956-0.995)for test-retest reliability and 0.995 (95% CI, 0.985-0.998)for inter-rater reliability.Other values included SEM=0.79 and MDC95=2.18.A linear-regression graph including Pearson's coefficient (r) demonstrated validity through comparing BAND and BBS and showed a strong correlation (r=0.94,95% CI, 0.825-0.98).A Bland-Altman plot was created to assess agreement between clinicians, and the mean difference was 0.2667 with 95% limits of agreement (-0.897 to 1.430).The BAND demonstrated excellent reliability and agreement for clinicians providing the test.Further research is necessary to compare the BAND with additional assessments and to demonstrate the utility in expanded populations including the community.

WITHIN-GUIDELINE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION PROTECTS AGAINST DEMENTIA?: OFFSET EFFECT OF HISTORY OF DRINKING PROBLEMS
Penny Brennan, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States Research on the prospective relationship between older adults' alcohol consumption and their subsequent risk of dementia and cognitive impairment, no dementia (CIND) has been limited by inconsistent definitions of "moderate" drinking, use of short follow-ups, and an exclusive focus on either amounts of alcohol, or history of drinking problems, as predictors.To overcome these limitations we analyzed a longitudinal, 18-year Health and Retirement Study cohort (n=4,421) to determine how older adults' baseline membership in one of six drinking categories (Non-Drinker, Without and With a History of Drinking Problems (HDP); Within-Guideline Drinker, Without and With a HDP; and Outside-Guideline Drinker, Without and With a HDP) predicted dementia and CIND 18 years later.Among participants with No HDP, 12.6% of Non-Drinkers, 5.2% of Within-Guideline Drinkers, and 8.8% of Outside-Guideline Drinkers were classified as having dementia at the 18-year follow-up; among participants With HDP, 14.1% of Non-Drinkers, 8.9 % of Within-Guideline Drinkers, and 6.9% of Outside-Guideline Drinkers were classified with dementia.Being a baseline Within-Guideline Drinker with No HDP reduced the likelihood of dementia 18 years later by 45%, independent of baseline demographic and health characteristics; being a baseline Within-Guideline Drinker With a HDP reduced the likelihood of dementia by only 13% (n.s.).Similar patterns obtained for the effects of baseline drinking group membership on likelihood of CIND at follow-up.These findings suggest that consuming alcohol at levels within validated guidelines for low-risk drinking may protect against dementia and CIND, but only among older adults who have no history of drinking problems.

COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE AN ASSESSMENT OF ATTENDEE EXPERIENCES WITH A WORKSHOP TO REFRAME AGING-RELATED COMMUNICATIONS
Stephanie Chesser, and Michelle Porter, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada In 2018, the Centre on Aging at the University of Manitoba adapted the FrameWorks Institute's Gaining Momentum toolkit into an interactive workshop that was delivered to aging-related stakeholders (e.g., health professionals, educators, researchers, advocates, older persons) across the province of Manitoba, Canada.The purpose of this study was to complete a qualitative assessment of attendee experiences with the workshop and its impact, if any, on their aging-related communication behaviours.Study participants completed two telephone interviews-one approximately two weeks and one approximately three months postworkshop-about their workshop experiences, motivations for attending, and short and long-term communication goal setting.Through the interviews, most participants expressed positive experiences with the workshop content, as well as an enjoyment of its interactive elements (e.g., self-introduction activity, reframing short and long form aging-related communications, group feedback).Several also shared specific examples of how workshop content was influencing their short/long-term aging communication strategies.Some participants, however, also identified ways that local culture could impact the interpretation of and, thus, potential success of workshop language and/or framing recommendations in specific communities.Overall, the findings from this study suggest that the Gaining Momentum workshop was a valuable experience for attendees that inspired critical assessment of, and changes to, the ways they communicated about aging in their professional and personal lives.Future research is warranted to explore the ways its content could be adapted to better meet the unique communication considerations within the province of Manitoba (e.g., cultural, geographic, and language-related implications).

AN ASSESSMENT OF ATTENDEE EXPERIENCES WITH A WORKSHOP TO REFRAME AGING-RELATED COMMUNICATIONS Stephanie Chesser, and Michelle Porter, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
The Centre on Aging at the University of Manitoba adapted the FrameWorks Institute's Gaining Momentum toolkit into an interactive workshop that was delivered to aging-related stakeholders (e.g., health professionals, educators, researchers, advocates, older persons) across the province of Manitoba, Canada.The purpose of this study was to complete a qualitative assessment of attendee experiences with the workshop and its impact, if any, on their aging-related communication behaviors.Study participants recruited from four communities (two urban, two rural) completed two telephone interviews-one approximately two weeks and one approximately three months post-workshop-about their experiences, motivations for attending, and short and long-term communication goal setting.Through the interviews, most participants expressed positive experiences with the workshop content, as well as an enjoyment of its interactive elements (e.g., self-introduction activity, reframing short and long form aging-related communications, group feedback).Several also shared specific examples of how workshop content was influencing their short/long-term aging communication strategies.Some participants, however, also identified ways that local culture could impact the interpretation of and, thus, potential success of workshop language and/or framing recommendations in specific communities.Overall, the findings from this study suggest that the Gaining Momentum workshop was a valuable experience for attendees that inspired critical assessment of, and changes to, the ways they communicated about aging in their professional and personal lives.Future research is warranted to explore the ways its content could be adapted to better meet the unique communication considerations within the province of Manitoba (e.g., cultural, geographic, and language-related implications).

COMMUNICATION IN HOME CARE: THE EXPERIENCES OF FORMAL CAREGIVERS IN COMMUNICATING WITH PERSONS LIVING WITH DEMENTIA
Pabiththa Kamalraj, Marie Savundranayagam, J.B. Orange, and Marita Kloseck, Western University,

London, Ontario, Canada
There is limited literature on formal caregivers' communication with persons living with dementia (PLWD) in home settings.Most research comes from studies of long-term care home settings or informal home care contexts.Yet, there are expected needs and rising demands for formal caregiver support within home care.The aim of this study was to understand better the lived experiences of personal support workers (PSWs) regarding their communication with PLWD in home settings.A hermeneutic phenomenological approach guided this research.Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 PSW participants.Three major themes were identified through thematic analysis: (1) challenged by dementia-related impairments; (2) valuing communication in care; and (3) home is a personal space.PSWs experienced difficulties in their communication with PLWD despite recognizing the importance of communication in providing optimal home care.This suggests that while PSWs possess good intentions, they do not possess the skills necessary to ensure effective interactions.Dementia-specific education and training are recommended to improve PSWs' communication skills and to enhance quality of care.Findings highlight further the uniqueness of the personal home space itself on PSWs experiences with communication.Aspects of the home care environment can enable, but also complicate, successful communication between PSWs and PLWD.Consequently, findings also have implications for family members of PLWD and home care employers regarding optimizing practice and improving care.

THE USE OF TAG QUESTIONS IN PERSON-CENTERED COMMUNICATION
Shalane Basque, 1 Marie Savundranayagam, 1 Maren Kimura, 1 and Kristine Williams 2 1.Western University, London, Ontario, Canada, 2. University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States Tag questions are imperative, declarative, exclamative or interrogative statements that have been modified to include a question (e.g.., It is hot out, isn't it?).Tag questions have been characterized as elderspeak because it suggests an expected response from the person with dementia, thus limiting his/her ability to make a decision independently.However, tag questions serve multiple functions in conversation.There is limited research on the multidimensional nature of tag questions in conversations between formal caregivers and their clients with dementia.Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to investigate the functions of tag questions used by formal caregivers in utterances coded as personcentered.Conversations (N= 87) between formal caregivers and a simulated person with dementia were video-recorded during a 5-minute care interaction involving morning care.Caregivers' utterances were coded for the use of the following types of person-centered communication: recognition, negotiation, facilitation, and validation.During secondary data analysis, the person-centered utterances were analyzed for