68th Annual Scientific Meeting
historical experiences to the social/health history and incorporate lifespan development to the model.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF ALASKA: RECLAIMING
THE ROLE OF ELDERS
R.M. Rosich, Psychology/AKGEC, University of Alaska
Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska
Alaska has the highest percentage of indigenous Americans
of any state; one in six residents self-identifies as Alaska
Native. It encompasses 586, 400 square miles, or one-fifth
the area of the continental Unites States and its’ one-quarter
of the land mass is above the Arctic Circle, where permafrost
locks about two-thirds of the Arctic lands in perpetual ice. It
is necessary to understand the geography or context in which
its indigenous peoples reside and as well as understanding
the history behind the people. This presentation will provide
an overview of the Alaska context and the specific historical
factors, through utilization of the cohort historical analysis
methodology setting apart Alaska Native Elders (ANE’s)
from other ethnic groups with respect to their health/behavioral health beliefs. It will culminate with a discussion of the
role that Elders are playing today with more contemporary
behavioral health issues confronting the current cohort of
Alaska Natives.
EFFECTIVE RESEARCH METHODS WITH ALASKA
NATIVE ELDERS: LESSONS LEARNED, CHALLENGES,
AND BENEFITS
J.P. Lewis, School of Social Work, University of Washington,
Seattle, Washington
This session will focus on methodology and the nuanced
effect of research impacted by the social and cultural background of Alaska Native (AN) participants who share their
cultural knowledge and belief systems. This presentation
will discuss mixed methods approaches and lessons and
challenges when working with this population. Examples
will be presented from a study on successful aging among
Alaska Native Elders using Kleinman’s explanatory model
and a Needs Assessment project using mixed methods study
consisted of individual interviews (face-to-face) plus survey
questionnaires (conducted in-person assisted by researchers).
The benefits of bi-directional learning to the research process
for both the researcher and participants during engagement
of community-based, Elder-centered research methods will
be discussed. Suggestions will be offered for developing culturally relevant questions, designing meaningful qualitative
instruments and keeping the research methods Elder-centered
to preserve the indigenous characteristics and narratives of
this generation of AN older adult population.
ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLES AND DEMENTIA: BELIEF
MODELS AND EXPECTATIONS
M. C. Crouch, Psychology, University of Alaska Anchorage,
Wasilla, Alaska
Alaska Native (AN) Peoples are underrepresented in
data pertaining to Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Little
is known about prevalence rates and cultural conceptualizations. However, AN Peoples experience disease at
disproportionately higher rates than the dominant population. Preliminary collaboration with cultural advisors/
Alaska Native Elders concerning indigenous perspectives
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on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia resulted in perceptions
rooted in cultural beliefs systems and holistic understandings
of disease. The proposed study will consist of interviewing
AN Elders (n = 15). Participants will receive the Orthogonal
Cultural Identification Scale-Adult and a 23-item, semistructured interview exploring the following domains related
Alzheimer’s and dementia: conceptualization, prevalence,
assessment and management, caregiving, and cohort experience. This grounded theory approach is aimed at understanding Alzheimer’s disease and dementia as it relates to AN
practices, forms of healing, the lifecycle, and cultural knowledge. Future research with AN populations could benefit
from Elder-centered, community based participatory action
research (CBPR) methodologies.
SESSION 1590 (PAPER)
INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN ASSISTED
LIVING AND CULTURE CHANGE
PERSON ENVIRONMENT FIT IN ASSISTED LIVING
FACILITIES
J.S. Elkins, C. Hawes, C. Phillips, Texas A&M University,
College Station, Texas
Powell Lawton developed the theory of environmental press in assisted living facilities (ALFs) beginning in the
1980’s. His work focused on achieving a balance in the
“press” of the environment so that residents would neither
feel too stressed nor too bored. During this time period about
25% of residents had a diagnosis of dementia. Facilities built
and operated using this theory with constructs of stimulation, maintenance, and support may no longer be appropriate because of the rise in dementia rates. While the 2010
National Survey of Residential Care Facilities (NSRCF)
does reflect a newer population-based percentage of just
over 40% many in the industry believe this number is significantly higher. These residents may have require different
services and supports to avoid “negative press”. Using the
2010 NSRCF we conducted a second order confirmatory factor analysis to re-examine the Lawton model and an exploratory factor analysis followed by a second order confirmatory
factor analysis to conceptualize a new model for assisted living facilities. The Lawton model differs in latent constructs
from the EFA/CFA model. Some variables remain constant
between the models but the new model has three different
latent constructs: health services, facility characteristics, and
access. These differ in focus than Lawton’s model of stimulation, maintenance and support. Differences between the two
models have implications in the operation and management
of assisted living facilities.. This analysis should assist policy
makers and researchers to improve quality of life and quality
of care for assisted living residents.
IMPACT OF BRIEF SOCIAL COGNITION GROUPS ON
STUDENTS AND OLDER ADULT PARTICIPANTS
J. Salapska-Gelleri, S. Anstadt, Florida Gulf Coast
University, Fort Myers, Florida
Gerontology education is typically not part of the standard
curriculum at the majority of college-level programs in Social
Work. The current study describes a pilot program in which