Background: Quality of Life (QOL) has been developing in the field of intellectual development disability since the early 1980s, and ever since there have been research, models, and theoretical constructs along with many recommendations. Ignored in its early development, QOL is now seen as important for support and intervention. Down syndrome is the most common occurring chromosomal condition-one in 700 babies in the USA is born with it. Limited research has been conducted to study quality of life of adults with DS. The present study aims to describe the quality of life of adults with DS in Virginia. Method:Qualitative approach was used to capture the "lived experience" from the perspective of those who live it and create meaning from it. This qualitative study investigated experts' and parents' thoughts and experiences of the adequacy of social service programs in Virginia which included health, rehabilitation, education, employment, and nutrition. Individual face-to-face or telephone interviews were conducted with five experts and five mothers of adult, aged 23 or older with DS. The interviews were analysed using content analysis.Results: Indicated that from a service program perspective (health, rehabilitation, education, employment, nutrition), there is a discrepancy between presented services and unmet needs, namely shelter housing, recreation programs and limitations of City-University Energy-saver (CUE) buses. Conclusion: Adults with DS are considered to have a low quality of life. This study illuminates four new insights yet there remain many challenges into acceptance, marriage, end of life and the present law concerning individuals with DS. The emerging question is: Does quality of life of adults with DS in Virginia depend on their acceptance into society, marriage, solving employment problems or the law on guardianship? Jou rn a l o f D own S y n d r o m e & Ch ro m o s o m e Abn o rm a li ti es RehabilitationAll adults had received service programs like speech or physical or occupational therapies, or infant stimulation program when they were young, and participants found these programs very useful. During Citation: Allahyari T, Wolf-Branigin M (2018) Quality of Life of Adults with Down syndrome in Virginia. J Down Syndr Chr Abnorm 4: 128.
Objectives In recent decades, it has become important to approach aging issues from the point of view that can ensure older adults' Quality of Life (QoL). As a result, countries have adopted a positive perspective with regard to aging, including active aging. The fact is that indigenous understanding of active aging is an unavoidable necessity for every society. Thus, the current study's aim was to understand active aging strategies based on older adults' experience. Methods & Materials This qualitative study, conducted during 2014-2016, used the Grounded theory method. It was initiated with the help of purposeful sampling and continued by way of applying theoretical sampling. The study field was cultural centers, artistic-cultural associations, and parks of Tehran. Data saturation was achieved through semi-structured interviews carried out among 35 elders. Data were analyzed and coded through coding suggested by the Strauss and Corbin method. Reliability of data was fulfilled in accordance with the Schwandt, Lincoln and Guba criteria. Results Based on the experience of elders, active aging strategies consisted of 41 concepts, 7 subcategories, and 5 main categories. The categories and subcategories included primary strategies of isolation avoidance (not staying at home and interactionism), social participation (including continuity of career roles, volunteerism and institutional participation), strategies of active attitude and learning, physical activity and management of home's time and daily life Conclusion Active aging requires applying strategies in 3 areas: elders' attitude, home environment, and society. For active aging in the country, practitioners and social planners need to strictly consider these 3 areas.
ObjectivesThis study aimed at developing and determining psychometric properties of Active Aging Measurement Instrument (AAIM) as per the Iranian aging society. Methods & Materials This study was performed in two phases by applying the steps identified by Ingersoll-Dayton in 2015-2016. In the first phase, according to prior studies, a preliminary AAMI was developed through three steps. In the second phase through two steps, the psychometric properties of the AAMI were examined. A total of 350 older adults belonging to health-related educational centers in Tehran municipality were included in the psychometrics study using the three-phase cluster sampling method. Statistical tests such as item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach's α coefficient, and Pearson correlation coefficient were performed by using SPSS 16. Results The finding of the first phase was a preliminary 6-item measurement instrument with 5 point responses (none to very much). In the second phase, the result of examining the face and content validity was elimination of 6 items, which led to a 55-item AAMI. The result of psychometric tests after item analysis and factor analysis was the final 40-item AAMI consisting of six factors: 1. social-institutional participation; 2. active mind maintenance; 3. social contacts; 4. agent attitude; 5. productive engagement; and 6. physical-functional activity which explained 56% of the total variance. Reliability of AAMI based on examining Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.88, and also its test-retest reliability was 0.95 (P<0.01). Conclusion The 40-item AAMI consisting of six factors in the present study not only was shown to be reliable, valid and appropriate for Iranian older adults but was also confirmed to have both subjective and objective dimensions. A B S T R A C T Objectivesollowing the paradigm shift in the conception of aging experience, i.e. from the concept of "being alive" in the twentieth century to "ensuring the qual-F ity of life of elderly people" in the twenty-first century, active aging as a positive approach to aging has drawn the attention of policymakers and gerontologists [1].Understanding of active aging, which is influenced by the culture and conditions of each community, has been largely based on Western studies, not applicable to the culturally-diverse communities in Asian coun- tries [3]. Therefore, due to inappropriate measures of active aging in Iran, the present study aimed to design and determine the psychometric characteristics of active aging measures according to the cultural criteria of the Iranian aging society. Methods & MaterialsThe present study was a methodological research and is a part of a larger study entitled "Understanding active aging and constructing its measure" carried out by a combined research method in two stages using the steps proposed by Ingramsal-Dayton [4]. In the first step of the first stage, the study was based on the grounded theory of qualitative research aimed at achieving the native theoretical model of active aging [5]. The data were sa...
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