Approximately 25% of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience upper-limb intention tremor (ULIT), which limits their ability to participate in daily activities. Little research has been conducted on the effectiveness of available treatments for ULIT. The objectives of this study were to investigate the use of occupational therapy interventions to improve eating and handwriting performance in adults with MS and ULIT and, based on these findings, to provide recommendations for the development of a treatment protocol for ULIT. Six adults with MS and ULIT were recruited from an MS clinic. Participants rated their pre- and post-intervention functional performance using the Multi-Dimensional Assessment of Tremor. Interventions included education about tremor, proximal stabilization, hand-over-hand technique, weighted tool, weighted wrist, and splinting. Participants evaluated the techniques using visual analogue scales (VASs). One month after the intervention, participants were interviewed to assess sustainability of the techniques. Pre- and post-intervention functional scores, VAS scores, and qualitative reports were used to evaluate the success of the techniques in improving participants' abilities in eating and handwriting. Preliminary evidence demonstrates the usefulness and sustainability of the behavioral strategies and the use of multiple techniques simultaneously in the treatment of ULIT. Further investigation is needed to support the use of weights and splints. Recommendations for the further development of a ULIT treatment protocol were provided.

This longitudinal study analyzed data from the 2006–2016 waves of the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Trajectories of depression among older adults ≥ 50 years ( N = 1254) were examined over time to explore patterns of depression among those entering widowhood and the potential impact of religiosity on depressive symptoms during various stages of widowhood. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis was used to examine the association between widowhood and depression and the role of religiosity as a moderator of this association. Older adults experienced a statistically significant increase in depressive symptomology after the onset of widowhood, and depressive symptomology decreased post widowhood, but did not return to pre-widowhood levels. Additionally, high religious service attendance and higher intrinsic religiosity were both associated with lower depressive symptomology. High religious service attendance moderated the relationship between widowhood and depression among widowed older adults living alone.

Widowhood is associated with decreased emotional well-being, particularly increased depression. Religiosity may help improve mental health among widowed individuals. However, longitudinal studies exploring the role of religiosity on emotional well-being among widowed older adults is lacking, as are studies which examine this relationship using different dimensions of religiosity. This study analyzed data from the 2006-2016 waves of the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Trajectories of depression among older adults >50 years (N=5,486) were examined to explore patterns of depression among those entering widowhood and the potential impact of religiosity on depressive symptoms during widowhood. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis was used to examine the association between widowhood and depression as well as the role of religiosity as a moderator of this association. Older adults experienced an increase in depressive symptomology after the onset of widowhood, and although the levels of depressive symptomology decrease post-widowhood, they do not return to their pre-widowhood levels. Additionally, high religious service attendance and higher intrinsic religiosity were both associated with lower depressive symptomology. High religious service attendance moderated the relationship between widowhood and depression. The relationship between high religious service attendance and depression was stronger among widowed older adults living alone. This study highlights the long-term effects of widowhood on depressive symptomology among older adults. The findings also suggest that higher religious service attendance can lessen the effects of widowhood on depressive symptoms, especially for those living alone. These findings may inform intervention development around increased screening and treatment for depression.

Person-centered care has been recognized as an integral part of a high-quality health care system. Utilizing the 2014 to 2018 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, we explore trends in person-centered care among those 50 and older by examining the extent to which they feel their care preferences are being taken into account, that is, that they are being heard by providers. We analyze the impact of not receiving person-centered care on health care utilization, health outcomes, and preventative care utilization. One-third of respondents reported that their care preferences were “sometimes” or “never” considered. Findings show that wealth and racial disparities in person-centered care are worsening over time. From 2014 to 2018, the percentage of non-Hispanic White respondents who reported that their care preferences were never taken into account decreased while the percentage for Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black individuals increased. Similar trends were seen for low-income individuals. Having a usual source of care was associated with a greater likelihood of having care preferences considered as well as significantly better control of chronic condition and greater use of preventive care. When care preferences are not being taken into account, there is less utilization of health care services, less preventive care usage, poorer control of chronic conditions, and increased risk for higher health care costs. These findings highlight the importance of assuring that people feel listened to by health care providers and emphasize a need for strategies to advance person-centered care for people of color and low-income populations.

The need for long-term care workers (LTCW) will grow significantly as the American population ages. Understanding the factors that impact job satisfaction of this workforce has important implications for policy and practice. Previous research has demonstrated the effect of supervisor support on the job satisfaction of these workers; however, much less is known about how this effect differs among different race/ethnicity or immigration groups. This study examined how supervisor support mediates the associations between race/ethnicity, immigration status, and job satisfaction among nursing assistants (NAs). Data of 2,763 NAs were extracted from the National Nursing Assistant Survey (2004). Race/ethnicity groups included White (54%), African American (30%), Asian (2%), Hispanic (10%), and others (4%). Immigration status included U.S.-born citizens (87%), naturalized (7%) and resident/alien (6%). Bivariate analyses showed that Asian NAs perceived higher levels of supervisory support than other races, whereas U.S.-born NAs reported lower levels of supervisory support than naturalized and residents/aliens. Findings from multivariate analyses indicated that non-Hispanic Asians and Resident/Alien workers reported significantly higher levels of job satisfaction than their counterparts, and the associations were fully mediated by NAs’ perceived supervisor support. These findings support prior research that supervisor support is important to improving job satisfaction and contribute to the literature that Asians/Residents/Aliens long-term care workers may be more sensitive to supervisory support and may be more grateful if they received support from supervisors. Managers should be aware of these racial differences and by being supportive they may improve NAs job satisfaction and reduce turnover rates.