This thesis presents a study about the experience of becoming a nursing home resident as it affects the identity and self-esteem of very old persons. / In a qualitative study with six female residents of an English-speaking Centre d'Acceuil in Montreal, themes are explored in the light of theory about the effects of institutionalization. Consideration is given to the dynamics of relationships with family, friends, peers and staff. Loss of autonomy is singled out as the factor having the most impact on the individuals in the study. / As life draws to a close, each of the women interviewed struggles in her own way with conflict between the value of self-determination and the value of acceptance of dependence on others. The author suggests that the attempt to reconcile these two values may be a "life-task" for very old institutionalized persons. Questions are raised at the level of planning for institutional policy and a direction is indicated for the education of social workers planning to work with an elderly clientele.

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The aim of this research was to investigate myogenic (i.e. growth) and proteolytic (i.e. breakdown) gene expression (GE) in skeletal muscle of young and old women. Myogenic (MyoD, MRF4, Myf5, myogenin, myostatin) and proteolytic (Atrogin-1, MuRF-1, FOXO3A) genes were examined in the basal state and after resistance exercise (RE). Six old women (OW: 85 ± 1 y) and eight young women (YW: 23 ± 1) performed 3 x 10 knee extensions at 70% of 1-repetition-maximum. Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis (i.e. thigh) before and 4 hours after RE.In the basal state, OW expressed higher levels (p<0.05) of MyoD, MRF4, myf5, myogenin, myostatin, FOXO3A and MuRF-1 compared to YW. Fiber type specific GE analysis in the OW showed that slow-twitch muscle fibers (MHC I) expressed higher levels (p<0.05) of myogenin and Atrogin-1, compared to fast-twitch (MHC Ila) fibers. In response to RE both YW and OW increased (p<0.05) mRNA levels of MyoD and MRF4, while a decrease (p<0.05) was observed for myostatin. MuRF-1 mRNA increased (p<0.05) in both age groups, while there was an age-specific induction (p<0.05) of Atrogin-1 after RE. Fiber type specific GE after RE in the old women showed that MHC Ila fibers did not induce myogenic GE. Robust increases (p<0.05) in MyoD, MRF4, and myogenin were only observed in the MHC I fibers. Both fiber types decreased (p<0.05) myostatin, and increased Atrogin-1 with RE. MuRF-1 mRNA levels increased specifically in MHC Ila fibers. In summary, skeletal muscle of OW expresses higher levels of mRNA for most selected genes at rest. With RE, aging skeletal muscle retains the ability to induce myogenic GE, although exclusive to MHC I fibers. After RE, proteolytic GE induction is greater in OW and most pronounced in MHC Ila fibers. Collectively, these data suggest that an imbalance exists in the regulation of the myogenic and proteolytic program in aging skeletal muscle. This research also provides the first evidence of intrinsic molecular differences between MHC I and MHC Ila fibers in OW, and may, in part, explain the MHC Ila atrophy apparent in sarcopenic muscle. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

The purpose of this investigation was to comprehensively examine the influence of progressive aerobic exercise training on whole muscle size and function in older women (65-80 yr). Three sedentary, healthy, females (66±1 yrs, 167±2 cm, 70±7 kg) performed 12 weeks of supervised progressive cycle training (42 training sessions 3-4 sessions/week up to 80% HRR). Subjects were tested before and after training for maximum aerobic capacity (VO2max), quadriceps cross sectional area (CSA), whole muscle specific tension, concentric 1-RM, maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), and concentric peak power (wafts). On average, the three subjects improved VO2max (34%), quadriceps CSA (10%), MVC (37%), whole muscle specific tension (25%), and concentric peak power (19%). These positive changes indicate that aerobic exercise may positively influence muscle size and function in the elderly. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

There is an emerging body of literature about older women and play, often focused on social groupings (e.g., Red Hats Society, Raging Grannies). This study aimed to contribute to this body of literature by exploring the meaning, experience, and place of play and playfulness in the day-to-day lives of older women. Interpreting older women’s play as a phenomenologist informed by the feminist gerontology literature, I explored, described, and interpreted play using the voices, words, lived experiences, and artful reflections of four focus groups comprised of nineteen women between the ages of 63 to 95 years. Play emerged to be a wonderful, complex, and paradoxical phenomenon for older women that interconnected in three ways: as a doing, a feeling, and a being. Within and across the women, play was characterized by these paradoxes: time flies by and time slows down, productive and unproductive, social and solitary, and serious and silly. Play was infused into the everyday lives of these older women. Arts-based methods served to invigorate and engage the women and me, and transformed the research environment into a comfortable, open space to play and be playful, and to share, gather, and build knowledge. Thus this research contributes to the growing body of literature about the lives and experiences of older women, from their perspective, adds insight into older women’s play, and grows our knowledge about collecting data through arts-based methods with older women.

Canada's public pension programs have raised seniors' incomes, but have not succeeded in lifting some, especially single women, above the Low Income Cut-Off. Old Age Security (OAS) may need structural reforms, due to its nearly universal nature and its use of an individual income test. Many single women rely on OAS as their main income source, though demographic trends may lead to reductions in the program. Relevant research around these issues is discussed and policy options are suggested. Each option is simulated using the Social Policy Simulation Database and Model and the distributional impacts are analyzed. Removing the income test would increase income inequality and low-income rates. Reducing the income threshold for the test would decrease these rates. Changing to a family income test is also examined. Given the costs involved, it would be difficult to make large improvements for single senior women by reforming OAS alone.

[Truncated abstract] The cost of managing osteoporotic fractures places a significant financial burden on the health-care system. To reduce the fracture burden, early identification of fracture risk is essential to allow early intervention. The limitations associated with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), such as limited sensitivity and specificity, cost, ionising radiation and accessibility, have resulted in the emergence of other technologies for assessing bone fragility. An example is the portable and non-ionising quantitative ultrasound (QUS) technology. The discriminatory power of quantitative ultrasonometry in fracture risk identification, either independently or in combination with other established risk factors, currently remains contentious. It is recommended that fracture risk assessment should not only focus on bone status, but also on the risk of falls. Additionally, it has been noted that disability arising from osteoporotic fractures, even when these fractures are not identified clinically, can translate into psychosocial symptoms and a poorer perception of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The primary aim of the present study was to investigate if a composite model comprising: calcaneal QUS, falls risk and HRQoL assessments, can identify a group of elderly women at high risk of osteoporotic fracture from those at lower risk. One hundred and four community-dwelling women (mean age 71.3 ±5.8 years) were recruited for this study. These women underwent a series of tests that included: DXA bone mineral density (BMD) evaluation of the proximal femur and lumbar spine (L1 L4); calcaneal QUS measurement; spinal radiography; rasterstereographic back surface curvature (BSC) examination; and performance-based assessment of strength, mobility and balance. The women were classified into a `High Risk’group or a `Low Risk’ group using three separate classification criteria: i) low BMD, based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended T-score of < -2.5, and⁄or a history of fragility fracture (Osteoporotic [OP] group versus Non-Osteoporotic [NOP] group); ii) presence of at least one radiographically identified prevalent vertebral fracture (Vertebral Fracture [VF] group versus Non-Vertebral Fracture [NVF] group); or iii) a history of either forearm or wrist fracture (Forearm/Wrist Fracture [WF] group versus Non-Forearm/Wrist Fracture [NWF] group)

Thèse (M.Ed.) -- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, en association avec Universidade do Estado da Bahia, 2004. / Bibliogr.: f. 187-203. Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 1999. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-110). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1992.