Pet Ownership and Longitudinal Change in Physical Function: Evidence From the BLSA

Abstract Successful aging depends on avoiding disease and disability, maintaining high physical and cognitive function, and psychological adaptation. Research examining the relationship of pet ownership (PO) or human-animal interaction (HAI) to human health supports contributions to these successful ag-ing-related outcomes at some point in the life-cycle, mostly in populations with diseases or disabili-ties. We examine the contributions of PO to maintaining physical capacity among generally healthy community-dwelling older participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA). Partici-pants’ [N=637, mean age=68.3 years (SD=9.6), pet owners N=149] completed a standardized physi-cal function test battery (among other measures) every 1-4 years and a ten-year PO history. Linear mixed, or generalized linear mixed, models with time varying PO were used to examine change in successful aging-related outcomes over up to 13 years [mean=7.5, (SD=3.6)] according to PO. Physi-cal function declined across all domains examined, but was observed to be less severe with PO in overall physical performance (p<0.001), rapid gait speed (p=0.041), 400-meter walk time (p<0.001), and reported physical wellbeing (p=0.032). No differences were observed for grip strength (p=0.56), usual gait speed (p=0.07), and leisure time physical activity (p=0.26) after con-trolling for age. This study provides the first longitudinal evidence that PO may promote successful aging among community-dwelling healthy older adults by moderating age-related declines in physical functional status in late-life.

perceptions of SA and to develop a multidimensional instrument for assessing SA.Study 1 was a qualitative study and 27 community-dwelling older adults (Mage=68.07years, SD=7.10, range=60-83; 56.3% females) were interviewed.Interview transcripts were analyzed, and seven themes were emerged.An initial item pool for the Successful Aging Scale (SAS) was then established based on these themes as well as those in the SA literature, such as acceptance and independence.Study 2 was a survey study which was conducted among 414 community-dwelling older adults (Mage=64.50years, SD=4.01, range=60-82; 55.3% females) to identify optimal items for constitution of the SAS.Exploratory factor analysis revealed a 12-factor solution, accounting for 62% of the variance.The 12 factors are adequate health, perceived constraints, flexible attitudes toward life, acceptance of age-related change, life embracement, active engagement, harmonious family, supportive friendship, civic awareness, social contribution, living independently, and adaptive coping strategies.The 12 factors exhibit similar strength of associations with most of the well-being measures, but certain factors show stronger correlation with depressive symptoms and social relationship, suggesting the uniqueness of each factor.Overall, the SAS demonstrates promising psychometric properties.These findings disclose that the older adults' perceptions of SA could cover broader dimensions than those in Rowe and Kahn's model (1997).Our previous quantitative research found high prevalence of self-rated successful aging (SA) among older (age ≥50) women living with HIV (OWLH) enrolled in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS).However, little is known about how OWLH define SA.Most studies have examined SA among predominantly white men living with HIV.Therefore, the purpose of our qualitative study was to examine subjective understandings of SA among OWLH and, as a comparison group, older HIV-seronegative women at risk of HIV.Four focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted among 23 participants (12 OWLH, 11 HIVseronegative).These women were recruited from WIHS participants previously enrolled in our quantitative study of SA, "From Surviving to Thriving" (FROST), at two WIHS sites -Atlanta and Brooklyn.At each site, we conducted two FGD -one with OWLH and one with older HIV-seronegative women in February-March of 2019.Participants were, on average, 56 years old (range, 51-70), 78% Black, and 60% with annual income ≤ $12,000.A team of coders conducted thematic coding of fully transcribed FGD using MAXQDA software.Several themes emerged.Both OWLH and older HIV-seronegative women defined SA as "aging gracefully," i.e. accepting and celebrating aging after having survived hardships of earlier life (e.g., HIV diagnosis, drug use).They also emphasized taking care of themselves (e.g., taking their meds) and spirituality in their definitions of SA.In contrast to HIV-seronegative participants, who prioritized sobriety as taking good care of themselves, OWLH emphasized taking care of their HIV (e.g., "staying on top of your numbers").

LINKAGES BETWEEN INDIGENOUS CULTURAL GENERATIVITY AND SOBRIETY TO PROMOTE SUCCESSFUL AGING AMONG ALASKA NATIVES Jordan Lewis, Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team/ University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth campus, Duluth, Minnesota, United States
This article builds on the People Awakening Project, which explored an AlaskaNative understanding of the recovery process from alcohol use disorder and sobriety.The presentation will explore motivating and maintenance factors for sobriety among older AN adult participants (age 50+) from across Alaska.Ten life history narratives of Alaska Native older adults, representing Alutiiq, Athabascan, Tlingit, Yup'ik/Cup'ik Eskimos, from the PA sample were explored using thematic analysis.AN older adults are motivated to abstain from, or to quit drinking alcohol through spirituality, family influence, role socialization and others' role modeling, and a desire to engage in indigenous cultural generative activities with their family and community.A desire to pass on their accumulated wisdom to a younger generation through engagement and sharing of culturally grounded activities and values, or indigenous cultural generativity, is a central unifying motivational and maintenance factor for sobriety.The implications of this research indicates that family, role expectations and socialization, desire for community and culture engagement, and spirituality are central features to both Alaska Native Elders' understanding of sobriety, and more broadly, to their successful aging.Sobriety can put older Alaska Native adults on a pathway to successful aging, in positions to serve as role models for their family and community, where they are provided opportunities to engage in meaningful indigenous cultural generative acts.Successful aging depends on avoiding disease and disability, maintaining high physical and cognitive function, and psychological adaptation.Research examining the relationship of pet ownership (PO) or human-animal interaction (HAI) to human health supports contributions to these successful ag-ing-related outcomes at some point in the lifecycle, mostly in populations with diseases or disabili-ties.We examine the contributions of PO to maintaining physical capacity among generally healthy community-dwelling older participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA).Partici-pants' [N=637, mean age=68.3years (SD=9.6),pet owners N=149] completed a standardized physi-cal function test battery (among other measures) every 1-4 years and a ten-year PO history.Linear mixed, or generalized linear mixed, models with time varying PO were used to examine change in successful aging-related outcomes over up to 13 years [mean=7.5, (SD=3.6)]according to PO. Physi-cal function declined across all domains examined, but was observed to be less severe with PO in overall physical performance (p<0.001),rapid gait speed (p=0.041),400meter walk time (p<0.001),and reported physical wellbeing (p=0.032).No differences were observed for grip strength (p=0.56),usual gait speed (p=0.07), and leisure time physical activity (p=0.26) after con-trolling for age.This study provides the first longitudinal evidence that PO may promote successful aging among community-dwelling healthy older adults by moderating age-related declines in physical functional status in late-life.

THE USE OF CONCEPT-MAPPING TO STRUCTURE THE CULTURAL ADAPTATION OF EDUCATIONAL CURRICULA FOR LATINO OLDER ADULTS
Lissette Piedra, 1 Melissa Howe, 2 Yadira Montoya, 2 and Molly Hofer, 3 1.University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States, 2. NORC at the University of Chicago,Chicago,Illinois,United States,3

. University of Illinois Extension, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Culture, embedded in language and reflected in colloquial expressions, influences behaviors and cognitive constructs that affect health.To reach Latino older adults, health promotion efforts should include congruent cultural aspectssuch as relevant metaphors, values, and proverbs-that will resonate with their cognitive constructs.However, this content should also be situated within a broader social context.For community-dwelling Latino older adults, this means considering their care systems and the multiple stakeholders within.In this paper presentation, we describe an innovative, interdisciplinary collaboration to culturally and linguistically adapt existing Illinois Extension curricula to meet the needs of Latino older adults and their families living in Cook County, which includes Chicago and its neighboring suburbs.We will demonstrate how concept-mapping (CM) studies can be used to structure the cultural adaptation of educational curriculum to a Latino audience.Specifically, we describe these CM studies, which asked how multiple stakeholders and Latino older adults living in the Chicagoland area defined positive aging provided empirically-grounded direction for our 11-member steering committee, composed of investigators, service leaders, and Latino older adults.We also will describe how the current project deepens relationships in the community that facilitate dissemination efforts to Latino older adults.

UNCOVERING PET ISSUES: A SURVEY OF PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH OLDER ADULTS AND CARE PARTNERS
Jessica Bibbo, 1 Justin Johnson, 1 Jennifer Drost, 2 and Margaret Sanders, 3 1.Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging,Cleveland,Ohio,United States,2. Summa Health System,Akron,Ohio,United States,3. Northeast Ohio Medical University,ROOTSTOWN,Ohio,United States Pets can play an important role in older adults' health behaviors and decisions.However, the degree to which these issues are encountered or addressed by professionals working with this population remains unknown.An interdisciplinary (e.g., healthcare, social services) sample of professionals (N=72, 93.05% female, Mage=48.82,SDage=12.57)completed an online survey focused on the pet ownership issues they have encountered while working with older adults, persons with dementia, and care partners.The professionals (n=66) estimated 42.86% of their clients had been pet owners, and 45.58% regularly asked their clients about pets.Issues raised to the professionals varied by type of client.Older adults most often brought up exercising the pet, routine veterinary care, and the financial aspect of ownership (all 37.50%).Persons with dementia most often discussed accessing pet care items (12.50%), exercising the pet (9.72%), and basic pet care (8.33%).Care partners brought up basic pet care (33.33%), planning for the pet due to their care recipients' housing transition (26.38%), and exercising the pet (25.00%).Professionals reported talking to clients about planning for the pet due to housing transition, concerns about falling, and concerns about the pet's behavior (all 31.94%).The professionals (n=69) were very favorable toward pet ownership in general (M=4.43,SD=0.78) (1=extremely unfavorable, 5=extremely favorable), less favorable about older adult pet ownership (M=4.15,SD=0.72, p=.002), and even less favorable about persons with dementia owning pets (M=3.51,SD=0.93, p<.001).The results provide evidence that pet ownership issues are likely encountered in geriatric service settings and may shape healthy aging.

SUPPORT FROM A DISTANCE: HOW HOME CARE AGENCIES INFLUENCE PAID CAREGIVING IN THE HOME
Chair: Emily Franzosa Discussant: Robyn Stone Paid caregivers (e.g., home health aides, personal care attendants, and other direct care workers) who care for functionally impaired older adults in the home frequently report that while rewarding, their work is logistically, physically, and emotionally demanding.Unlike direct care workers in institutional settings, paid caregivers work with care recipients one-on-one in private settings and often have limited contact with or support from their employers.These factors contribute to high workforce turnover and may impact the quality of patient care.In this symposium, we explore ways that home care agency policies and practices influence the experience of giving and receiving care in the home.
First, Bryant et al. describe the range of agency-based models and the impact of workplace design in creating supportive working environments.Next, Fabius et al. explore characteristics Erika Friedmann, 1 Nancy Gee, 2 Eleanor Simonsick, 3 Erik Barr, 4 Barbara Resnick, 5 Emily Werthman, 6 and