Relationship Between Severity of Comorbidities and Self-Perceptions of Aging

Abstract An older adult with negative self-perceptions of aging (SPA) can lead to lower self-rated health and a higher risk of mortality. To stay a positive SPA, keep a healthier status is very important. However, evidence also proved that health conditions, like a physical limitation, could predict the level of SPA. Older adults usually have a higher prevalence rate of chronic diseases than the younger population, which can adversely impact them. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between the severity of comorbidities and the change of SPA during a time. I examined data in 7,034 people from the 2012 wave Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and followed the respondents who have answer the SPA scale in the leave-behind questionnaire in 2016. The generalized estimating equation was used to analyze the relationship between the severity of comorbidities and SPA in different waves. To measure the severity of comorbidities, a reduced index of the comorbidities severity scale (CmSS) was created to collect the health condition from HRS. Results statistical model shows that an individual with more severity of comorbidities may have a more negative SPA. However, the relationship does not follow through with the times. These findings enhance the previous study that there are relationships between severity of comorbidities and SPA. The benefit of this study is to use a different measurement to identify the severity of comorbidities and extend to more in-depth research.

States, 5. University of MIchigan, University of Michigan,Michigan,United States,6

. University of Michigan, University of Michigan, Michigan, United States
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a vascular condition disproportionately affecting adults > 60 and the leading cause of disability for adults > 50.Because PAD is marked by severe leg pain and sometimes lower extremity amputation, quality of life (QOL) and wellbeing may be compromised however, we understand little about these constructs in this population.Furthermore, surgical care providers lack a comprehensive understanding of how individuals think about wellbeing and what is important to individuals during surgical care.We conducted a qualitative photographic elicitation study (n = 60) in one academic multidisciplinary PAD clinic to understand specific aspects of QOL of older individuals with PAD.Guided by interpretive description, a methodology pioneered in nursing, we analyzed data within and across five clinical symptom severity categories to examine for QOL constructs, impact on everyday life, understanding of disease, and desired treatment.Results demonstrate that individuals do not fully understand PAD diagnosis or its implications (e.g., "[I] have never heard of it.Do I have that?").Disease-specific knowledge was prevalent among patients experiencing lower extremity amputation but those suffering from wounds or gangrene had limited understanding.Furthermore, patients' descriptions of QOL conflicted with the conceptualization of QOL in clinical practice and research.That is, many participants describe QOL based on activities they are capable of performing despite limitations.Results demonstrate the need for integrating gerontological knowledge into clinical care to improve quality of care for older adults.

REALITY OR A DREAM: BARRIERS AND FACILITATORS FOR NURSING ASSISTANTS PURSUING A NURSING CAREER Stephanie Trotter, and Leah Richardson, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) serve a critical role in the care of older adults.However, CNAs often experience significant professional and personal burdens related to caregiving work.Professionally, CNAs experience exorbitant workplace stress (e.g., physical injury, burnout, emotional exhaustion, staffing shortages, turnover).Personally, CNAs may have only a high school education, are subjected to low-paying jobs, and little opportunity for career advancement.Further, CNAs are disproportionately of minority race.Clearly, CNAs are negatively impacted by many social determinants of health.Ultimately, these burdens negatively impact older adults' care provision and quality of life.Transitioning to a nursing career may alleviate some of these complex problems, but this has scantly been explored.A qualitative descriptive study was designed to 1) identify interest in a nursing career, and 2) explore perceived barriers and facilitators of transitioning into a nursing profession.CNAs from nursing facilities participated in private, semi-structured interviews.Recorded interviews (n = 6) were transcribed verbatim.Preliminary thematic analyses yielded two overarching themes: The Dream and The Reality.Rich subthemes began emerging from both overarching themes.
Example subthemes from The Dream were: family legacy in healthcare, and finding purpose.Example subthemes from The Reality were: versus (CNAs vs. nurses; nurses vs. nursing care), and work-life balance.These preliminary findings suggest that CNAs express desire in becoming a nurse, although a range of personal and professional barriers and facilitators exist.Making the nursing dream become reality may improve CNAs' social determinants, workplace outcomes, and resident outcomes, but further exploration is warranted.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SEVERITY OF COMORBIDITIES AND SELF-PERCEPTIONS OF AGING
DaJung Chang, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, United States An older adult with negative self-perceptions of aging (SPA) can lead to lower self-rated health and a higher risk of mortality.To stay a positive SPA, keep a healthier status is very important.However, evidence also proved that health conditions, like a physical limitation, could predict the level of SPA.Older adults usually have a higher prevalence rate of chronic diseases than the younger population, which can adversely impact them.The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between the severity of comorbidities and the change of SPA during a time.I examined data in 7,034 people from the 2012 wave Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and followed the respondents who have answer the SPA scale in the leave-behind questionnaire in 2016.The generalized estimating equation was used to analyze the relationship between the severity of comorbidities and SPA in different waves.To measure the severity of comorbidities, a reduced index of the comorbidities severity scale (CmSS) was created to collect the health condition from HRS. Results statistical model shows that an individual with more severity of comorbidities may have a more negative SPA.However, the relationship does not follow through with the times.These findings enhance the previous study that there are relationships between severity of comorbidities and SPA.The benefit of this study is to use a different measurement to identify the severity of comorbidities and extend to more in-depth research.

REPRESENTATION OF OLDER ADULTS IN COVID-RELATED NEWSPAPER COVERAGE
Mijin Jeong, 1 Sarah Jen, 2 Hyun Kang, 1 Michael Riquino, 1 and Jaime Goldberg, 3 1.University of Kansas, LAWRENCE, Kansas, United States, 2. University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States, 3. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States Based on clinical and epidemiological evidence, COVID-19 infection can occur in people of all ages; however, the media typically focuses its attention on the vulnerability of older adults and individuals with chronic illnesses.This study aims to explore the representation of older adults during the first month of the pandemic in the U.S. by comparing the narratives of older adults and younger adults in national media sources.A systematic search identified 115 articles published in four major newspapers in the U.S. included USA Today, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post between March 11 and April 10, 2020 in which older adults and younger adults were quoted on topics related to the intersection of COVID-19 and aging.Quotes