Healthy Aging in the Circumpolar North Using Concept Mapping

The research question: how do older adults conceptualize healthy aging in Anchorage, and what are the barriers and facilitators to aging well in this urban subarctic environment? This question is being addressed with the following research objectives using Concept Mapping (CM) methodology:

  • Aim 1: Identify the aspects of life that older adults and other stakeholders utilize to define healthy aging.
  • Aim 2: Identify the way stakeholders conceptualize the obstacles and opportunities to aging well in Anchorage.
  • Aim 3: Quantify the relationships between how participants define healthy aging, its barriers, and the facilitators in Anchorage to identify future health programming needs.

Findings

Fifty (N=53) stakeholders living in Anchorage will be asked to participate in one of four different focus groups in February via nonrandom purposive sampling. These stakeholders will include older adults (aged 55+), aging advocates, gerontology researchers, and public health specialists and will be invited to participate via invitation from the researcher, student assistant volunteering at the Anchorage Senior Activities Center, word-of-mouth from other participants, flyers at several retirement communities and housing complexes in Anchorage, The bulletin board at the YMCA, and an ad in the local Senior Voice paper.

Forty two (N=42) stakeholders participated in the card-sorting session (12 responses could not be analyzed), where they grouped 100 idea cards into concepts into 12 different clusters (below). We are currently collecting data in Phase II, asking older adults how important an feasible each of these concepts is to achieve in Anchorage.

Fifty four (N=54) older adults then completed a survey to rank the most important and most feasible components of healthy aging in Anchorage.

A map that depicts elements of healthy aging in the circumpolar north at the center. Surrounding the center are biomedical factors including cognitive health, healthcare resources, and physical health.
A map that depicts elements of healthy aging in the circumpolar north at the center. Surrounding the center are biomedical factors including cognitive health, healthcare resources, and physical health. Physical health contains biological changes, avoiding pain and disability, and abstaining from alcohol and substances. Another element to healthy aging is social components, which is comprised of avoiding loneliness and isolation, generativity, relationships with friends and family, community engagement, and respect for the wisdom of elders. Additionally, relationship to the natural environment is a central component, containing access to healthy foods, physical activity, connection to their traditional culture and history, ties to place “back home,” and spending time in nature. Lastly, psychosocial aspects are important to elements of healthy aging. Specifically, spirituality, mental health, purpose in life, autonomy and independence, and psychosocial resilience. Psychosocial resilience is comprised of optimism, emotional regulation, and living in harmony with others.
A flow chart showing Step 1 as hosting six idea generation group sessions containing 53 participants. Step 2 is the researcher condenses ideas into concept cards. Step 3 is a card-sorting group session containing 30 participants. Step 4 is data analysis and map creation. Step 5 is a map interpretation meeting.
A flow chart showing Step 1 as hosting six idea generation group sessions containing 53 participants. Step 2 is the researcher condenses ideas into concept cards. Step 3 is a card-sorting group session containing 30 participants. Step 4 is data analysis and map creation. Step 5 is a map interpretation meeting.
This is a map listing the following aspects of healthy aging in Anchorage: good affordable medical care, healthy food and physical activity, access to senior support services, positive attitude and good mental health, information pertaining to end-of-life planning, appropriate housing options, lifelong learning, having a purpose in life, physical and financial security, a community that values elders, social relationships, and physical accessibility.
This is a map listing the following aspects of healthy aging in Anchorage: good affordable medical care, healthy food and physical activity, access to senior support services, positive attitude and good mental health, information pertaining to end-of-life planning, appropriate housing options, lifelong learning, having a purpose in life, physical and financial security, a community that values elders, social relationships, and physical accessibility.

 

References