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Intro -- SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR OLDER ADULTS FEDERAL ROLE -- SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR OLDER ADULTS FEDERAL ROLE -- Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data -- CONTENTS -- PREFACE -- Chapter 1 OLDER ADULTS: FEDERAL STRATEGY NEEDED TO HELP ENSURE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE DELIVERY OF HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES AND SUPPORTS* -- WHY GAO DID THIS STUDY -- WHAT GAO RECOMMENDS -- WHAT GAO FOUND -- ABBREVIATIONS -- BACKGROUND -- SEVERAL FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS FUND HCBS AND RELATED SUPPORTS FOR OLDER ADULTS -- HHS Funds HCBS for Older Adults through the Older Americans Act and Medicaid -- Older Americans Act Programs -- Medicaid HCBS Programs -- USDA Has Taken Some Steps to Simplify Receipt of Food Assistance by Older Adults -- Federal Housing Program for Older Adults No Longer Funds Construction -- Federal Transportation Program for Older Adults Requires Coordinated Transit Planning -- Federal Funding Is Usually Channeled to Local HCBS Systems through State Agencies -- IN SELECTED LOCALITIES, AREA AGENCIES ON AGING AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS PLANNED AND DELIVERED SERVICES TO OLDER ADULTS, USING A MIX OF FUNDING SOURCES -- Community-Based Organizations Collaborated to Plan and Deliver HCBS Funded Through a Mix of Federal, State, and Local Programs -- Information and Referral for HCBS and Related Supports -- In-Home Services -- Nutrition Services -- Housing and Transportation -- The Three Localities Faced Similar Challenges in Meeting the Demand for HCBS and Supports -- AOA HAS COLLABORATED WITH OTHER AGENCIES BUT HAS NOT BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A CROSS-AGENCY FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR HCBS AND SUPPORTS -- AoA Has Reported Collaboration on Certain Projects -- Federal Agencies Support Interagency Collaboration -- Federal Collaboration Could Help Address Local Challenges -- CONCLUSION -- RECOMMENDATION FOR EXECUTIVE ACTION

Intro -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Contents -- 1: Introduction -- 1.1 The Ageing Population -- 1.2 Living Healthy Lives: Successful Ageing -- 1.3 Change with Ageing -- 1.4 The Geriatric Syndrome Frailty -- 1.5 Sexual Activity and Ageing -- 1.6 Health and Sexual Activity in Older Adults -- 1.7 Final Note on the Book -- References -- 2: Levels and Trends of Sexual Activity in Older Adults -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Levels and Trends of Sexual Activity in Older Adults -- 2.2.1 United Kingdom -- 2.2.2 United States of America -- 2.2.3 Finland -- 2.2.4 India -- 2.2.5 Cuba -- 2.2.6 Mexico -- 2.2.7 Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and Portugal -- 2.3 Instruments Used to Measure Sexual Activity in Older Adults -- 2.4 Conclusions -- References -- 3: Sexual Activity and Physical Health Benefits in Older Adults -- 3.1 Effects of Physical Health on Sexual Activity -- 3.2 Effects of Sexual Activity on Physical Health -- 3.3 Conclusion -- References -- 4: Sexual Activity and Mental Health Benefits in Older Adults -- 4.1 The Relationship Between Aging and Sexuality -- 4.2 Mental Health and Social Aspects of Sexuality in Older Adults -- 4.3 Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Its Influence on Mental Health in Older Adulthood -- 4.4 A Professional Approach to Sexuality in Older Adults -- 4.5 Psychotropic Drugs and Their Negative Effects on Sexual Function -- References -- 5: Sexual Activity and Psychosocial Benefits in Older Adults: Challenges and Ways Forward -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Sexual Activity Experienced by Older Adults -- 5.2.1 Perceptions of Sexuality -- 5.2.2 Sexual Desire -- 5.2.3 Forms of Sexual Behaviour in Older Adults -- 5.3 Psychosocial Benefits of Sexual Activity in Older Age -- 5.4 Challenges Affecting Sexuality in Older Adults -- 5.4.1 Reasons for Sexual Inactivity -- 5.4.2 Social and Cultural Contexts.

In the coming decades, about one in five drivers will be aged 65 or more years in many Western nations. Given the increased fatal crash risk of older adults coupled with the continuing need for effective mobility, the issue of older adult safety and mobility is complex. Indeed, researchers have suggested that this issue has two interdependent, underlying goals for research and programs: to help those who are able to drive safely continue to do so and to identify and provide community mobility support to those who are no longer able to drive. This article briefly discusses the issues and research needs related to older adult safety and mobility including population and driving trends, crash risks, skills needed for safe driving, the effects of medical conditions and medicines on driving skills, screening and assessment, strategies for extending safe driving, and driving cessation and the use of alternative transportation options.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to assess the volunteer component of the Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) program, a service program designed to assist community‐residing older adults to remain in their homes and avoid premature institutionalization. The study seeks to examine how meaningful and satisfying the volunteer experience has been for individuals involved with NHN.Design/methodology/approachThis study employed an exploratory cross‐sectional survey format developed specifically for NHN for descriptive purposes. A purposive sample of 26 NHN volunteers completed the survey examining their experiences with the NHN program.FindingsA total of 91 percent (21) volunteers reported being "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with their volunteer experience and 70 percent felt that they had made a difference in their community.Social implicationsPrograms such as NHN may be promising service models to meet the needs of older adults by building communities from the inside‐out.Originality/valueThis study provides new knowledge concerning the satisfaction of volunteers in a unique community‐based program serving older adults.

This book provides a comprehensive overview for those interested in research and promoting sexual health in older people, as well as a "go-to" guide on the topic of sexual behaviour in older adults. Sexual activity is an essential part of intimate relationships, though it tends to decline in frequency as people grow older. Nevertheless, for many older people, sex still remains an important part of their life. Theres a common misconception that as people age, they lose their interest in sex and capacity for sexual behaviour. This is not the case, as a number of national surveys show. The new research presented here indicates that the less sex older people have, the more likely they are to experience mental and physical health problems. Men and women who reported a decrease in the frequency of sexual activities were also more likely to report a deterioration in self-perceived health. Additionally, men with erectile dysfunction were also more likely to be diagnosed with cancer or coronary heart disease. This research has also determined that older adults who experience a decline in sexual activity report poorer well-being than those who maintain their levels of sexual desire, activity and function in later life, and that men who remain sexually active in later life continue to have better cognitive performance compared to those who dont. Despite these health benefits, medical professionals do little to promote sexual activity in older adults, and the literature suggests that there is a lack of knowledge on how to approach the subject and how to promote such activities. This is the first comprehensive book specifically exploring all areas of sexual behaviour and health in older adults, and drawing on the latest research in this area. It offers a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians in various health fields (medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, psychology, public health, etc.), as well as students in undergraduate and graduate programs.

IntroductionThe digital inequality is still present after decades of development and diffusion of digital media. Age is one of the most important factors predicting access, use, skills, and outcomes, which is somewhat paradoxical as information and communication technologies can create opportunities for older adults to sustain independent living. To increase understanding of older adults' online engagement, this study focuses on perceptions of the internet usage and how it can be a useful tool in everyday life.MethodA representative survey (n = 841).ResultsAnalyses point to decreasing support for the internet with increasing age - also within the group of 66 to 85 years old. There are significant correlations between perceptions and internet experience, whereas sociodemographic factors have weak explanatory power. Interestingly, large shares of older adults do not have any opinion of the internet, which could partly explain the persistence of the digital divide and difficulties to increase digital literacy.DiscussionOnline experience and level of anxiety overrule socio-demographics in explanatory power to perceptions. The internet is perceived useful, but also interferes with common habits, the view of digital technology in everyday life and computer anxiety. The findings could affect policy implementation, where it would be useful to implement the idea of the Internet and create an awareness that might precede an intention to advance one's use.

In the United States, there are 10,000 people turning 65 every day and we will soon have the largest percentage of our population over 65 that our country has ever known. This will provide many challenges for our medical community, caregiving networks and government programs. Keeping older adults healthy and able to function independently will reduce the strain on the community and allow us to target our resources where they can make the most impact. I propose an intervention that teaches digital photography, basic photo editing and computer skills to older adults to improve cognitive function, increase overall happiness and improve physical health. Research has shown that learning a new skill can improve brain function and cognitive reserve, enhancing social ties leads to increased levels of happiness, and physical activity improves both cognitive function and happiness levels. Photography incorporates all of these activities and can be modified to suit the interests and abilities of virtually anyone. I propose a test with a quota sample of 8–10 individuals including a balance of genders, races and ethnicities, sexual orientations, and income levels to understand the impact this project could have on people of different statuses. At the conclusion of this intervention, people should be able to send email, share photos on social media and search the web for information. Teaching these skills can help keep them connected with family and friends and give them access to information and social networks that otherwise may not be available.

Driving statistics comparing drivers aged at least 65 years with all drivers are examined for the years 1980 and 1989. In that time older driver fatalities had increased substantially despite a decrease in total driver fatalities. Analyses of size of population, numbers of licensed drivers, estimates of miles driven, and crash rates for these two years imply that the rise in total older driver deaths is related to increasing numbers of older adults who are licensed to drive and an increase in likelihood of fatality following a motor vehicle crash. This latter effect may be associated with a very substantial rise in the numbers of licensed drivers age 70 and older.

Recent years have seen rapid growth in informal science learning. Evidence suggests that participation in such learning delivers benefits, including improved performance in formal science learning and enhanced interest in science. To date, such learning has typically attended to children and families, with little attention paid to older populations. Older adults are, however, keen knowledge consumers with their participation in learning associated with improved well-being and better health. This commentary presents our experience of developing and delivering an informal science learning event for older adults. Its successes, challenges, and audience reception are considered with a small number of recommendations provided.

In an ageing society facing challenges for the sustainable well-being of older adults, there has been an increasing focus on the potential of soft power in recent years. Like economic and structural, social indicators can become integral indicators of older generations' well-being. This study aims to propose a construct of the social embeddedness of older adults and its measurement tool, based on a critical review of the literature and the results of an original empirical study, to fill the knowledge gap in current statistics in the field. A critical review of the literature has disclosed that, despite many studies done, we do not have a methodological tool suitable for revealing patterns of social ties specific to older adults. The results of an empirical study of the population aged 50 and over in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia (N = 2015) showed that the social embeddedness of older people in the Baltics is composed of these domains: socialisation with descendants, nonfamily and outside home – together named as social participation; civic participation and sense of belonging. Future research should look at ways to shorten this scale to adapt it to the needs of practical use.