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- Defining “success”. In exceptional longevityPublication . Ribeiro, Oscar; Araújo, LiaThis chapter focuses on the conceptualizations of successful in exceptional longevity, and provides a scope review on how the concept has been approached in centenarian studies. Using “successful ageing” AND “centenarians” in a search across PUBMED and ISI Web of Knowledge 125 articles were identified. This analysis focused on 12 studies that have explicitly presented a successful ageing definition or appointed its potential components, highlighting the breadth of definitions and operationalization that have been considered. Main findings demonstrate an emergent interest in understanding successful adaptations to extreme longevity within both well-established conceptual frameworks (e.g., Rowe and Kahn’s model) and through the development of comprehensive alternative models (e.g., Developmental Adaptation Model; Multidimensional models). Several studies, on the other hand, have tried to explore characteristics and factors associated with successful ageing that are not based in any defined model but rather in wide-ranging psychological constructs as resilience. Regardless of the used approach for defining and/or assessing “success” in centenarians, findings highlight its incontrovertible subjectivity (rather than reaching the age of 100 as per se, like it is often appointed in several studies) and the need for more constructs that recognise the role of psychological aspects of adaptation to extreme longevity.
- Survival after 100 years of age in Portuguese centenariansPublication . da Costa Teixeira, Laetitia; Araújo, Lia; Paul, Constança; Ribeiro, OscarThe group of individuals aged 80 and over is growing faster than other segment of the population, and within this group the number of centenarians has risen exponentially worldwide. This phenomena lead to an increasing number of centenarian studies, improving the knowledge about this population, validating the idea of heterogeneity that char- acterizes this group. However, the factors influencing their aging survival remains understudied. The present study aims to identify factors associated with survival after 100 years old in a sample of Portuguese centenarians. After being included in a population-based study on centenarians (PT100–Oporto Centenarian Study), each participant was assessed by a tel- ephone interview every 6 months in order to assess his/her health condition. Follow-up was considered as the time (in months) between 100th birthday and death or the last tel- ephone contact. Survival analysis was performed to iden- tify factors associated with survival after 100 years old. Sociological and medical factors were considered. 140 cen- tenarians were assessed and 115 (82.1%) died. The median survival time after 100 years old was 38 months. Survival after age 100 was associated with acute disease (last month), self-perception of physical condition and drinking status. This study intends do identify factors that predict longevity in long-lived individuals. Findings recognize the importance of factors related with health status, self-perception of physi- cal condition and life style (no alcohol consume) for survival. Further studies should explore the predictive value of these factors, as well as psychosocial aspects, considering living longer but also the quality of time beyond one hundred.
- Animação para o bem-estar aos 100 anos de VidaPublication . Araújo, Lia; Ribeiro, OscarChegar aos 100 anos de idade é um patamar possível a um crescente número de pessoas. Apesar do interesse mediático sobre como lá chegar, pouca atenção tem sido dada ao modo como se vive esta fase e dias de vida. O objetivo deste estudo é analisar a associação entre as atividades ocupacionais (presentes e passadas) e a valoração de vida em centenários Portugueses. Os dados surgem no âmbito do PT100 – Estudo de Centenários do Porto e incluem 89 idosos com 100+ anos com capacidade cognitiva para responder a questões de autoperceção. A comparação entre as atividades do passado e do presente demonstra uma diminuição geral de execução de todas as atividades, sobretudo nas que decorrem fora do contexto domiciliar. As atividades religiosas surgem como as mais frequentes e importantes para o bem-estar. O seu significado foi analisado através de testemunhos dos próprios centenários, que revelam a importância destas atividades pelo propósito de vida que lhe está associado. Os resultados são interpretados à luz dos modelos de envelhecimento positivo, que enfatizam os recursos pessoais e as estratégias de adaptação como ingredientes a ser considerados na intervenção com os mais velhos.
- Successful ageing in centenarians: the relevance of social engagement for psychological wellbeingPublication . Araújo, Lia; Ribeiro, Oscar; da Costa Teixeira, Laetitia; Duarte, Natália; Brandão, Daniela; Azevedo, Maria João; Paul, ConstançaRowe and Kahn’s (1997) version of successful aging defines avoid- ance of disease and disability, maintenance of high physical and cogni- tive function, and sustained engagement in social and productive activ- ities as essential components of aging successfully. The applicability of this model in very advanced age has been questioned and the relative importance of these aspects to well-being is not properly established. In order to analyze the effect of Rowe and Kahn’ criteria on both subjective (hedonic) and psychological (eudaimonic) well-being, 140 individu- als with 100 and more years old from the Oporto Centenarian Study (PT100) were interviewed. The mean age of the sample was 101.18 (SD 1.59); 89.3% women, 76.4% widowed and 57.9% living in the com- munity. The Positive Valuation of Life Scale (Lawton et al., 2001), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985) and a questionnaire of health and social information were used for data collection. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted. Mean scores of well-being were 27.81 (SD=5.21) for VOL and 6.51 (SD=1.97) for SWLS. Of the successful aging criteria only social engagement, i.e. participation in social activities, had a significant association with psychological well-being (p<0.01). These results stress out the influence of activity and social engagement participation in the adaptation to the challenges of very old age. The characteristics, sort and distribution of activities practiced at this age should be further investigated in order to promote and/or adjust available social engagement opportunities.
- Predictors of anxiety in centenarians: health, economic factors, and lonelinessPublication . Ribeiro, Oscar; da Costa Teixeira, Laetitia; Araújo, Lia; Afonso, Rosa Marina; Pachana, NancyCentenarians' psychological well-being is presently of great interest in psychogeriatric research but little is known about factors that specifically account for the presence of clinically relevant anxiety symptoms in this age group. This study examined the presence of anxiety and its predictors in a sample of centenarians and aims to contribute to a better understanding of anxiety determinants in extreme old age.
- Centenarians in EuropePublication . da Costa Teixeira, Laetitia; Araújo, Lia; Ribeiro, Oscar; Jopp, Daniela; Paul, ConstançaIn the last decade, the number of centenarians world- wide has increased. Following this tendency, the number of centenarian studies has also exponentially augmented. Given the complexity to conduct research with centenarians, elementary information on this specific age group remains unknown at a European level. This paper compares basic characteristics of centenarians from 32 European coun- tries based on Census 2011. Results revealed that France is the country with higher ratio of centenarians, followed by Italy and Greece; on the other hand Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria present the lower ratio. The distribution accord- ing to gender is similar for all countries, with higher ratio of women reaching 100 years old. Different patterns of education level were found on countries where this infor- mation was reliable: Portugal and Greece are the countries with lower levels of education, with more than half without formal education; Finland, UK and Iceland are the countries with higher levels of education, with all centenarians having at least lower secondary education. Analysing the residence situation (living in the community or living in the institu- tion), Romania, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Greece and Latvia are the countries that present higher percentages of centenarians living in the community; Iceland is the country with lower percentage of centenarians living in the community. A posi- tive correlation between the number of centenarians and the percentage of Total Health Expenditure of GDP is observed. This study provides important information about the current profile of European centenarians, which is compared to gen- eral information on the centenarian population from EUA and Asia.
- Falls and fear of falling in a sample of centenarians: the role of multimorbidity, pain and anxietyPublication . Teixeira, L.; Araújo, Lia; Duarte, Natália; Ribeiro, OscarBackground: To explore the recent history of falls and the existence of fear of falling in a sample of centenarians, and to identify factors associated with both conditions. Methods: The sample included 109 centenarians from two Portuguese studies. The two main outcomes of this study are fear of falling and history of fall(s). Results: Results revealed that more than a half (51.4%) of the participants had fallen in the last 5 years and that the percentage of fear of falling was 78.9%. No association was found between the two conditions. The factors associated with each one were found to be different: number of health con- ditions for history of falls, and pain frequency and anxiety for fear of falling. Conclusions: The relationship between anxiety and fear of falling reinforces the importance of screening both conditions as it can improve their detec- tion and treatment. The established relationship between a high number of health conditions (common at very advanced ages) and falls demands greater attention in fall prevention initiatives specifically targeted to the extremely elderly.
- Cuidados à população centenáriaPublication . Ribeiro, Oscar; Araújo, LiaO presente capítulo insere-se no âmbito do “PT100 – Estudo de Centenários do Porto”, o primeiro estudo nacional e de base populacional sobre centenários em Portugal, e procura prover uma apreciação geral das suas principais características de saúde (doenças, capacidade funcional e estado cognitivo) e dos cuidados que lhe são prestados. Abrangendo os principais apoios formais e informais (familiares) ao nível social e de saúde, expõe, além de um perfil sociodemográfico global da população abrangida, as principais diferenças entre os centenários que residem na comunidade e aqueles que se encontram institucionalizados.
- Looking at objective and subjective health in centenarians: always in agreement?Publication . Araújo, Lia; da Costa Teixeira, Laetitia; Ribeiro, Oscar; Paul, ConstançaCentenarians ́ objective health is often characterized by functional and health problems associated with their long- life and age-related problems. Nevertheless, their self-rated health (SRH) may not be necessarily negative. There is a large body of literature concerning SRH in later life but lack of evidence about one’s perception of health and its associated factors in very advanced ages. This study aims to analyse the relationship between subjective and objective health status in a sample of centenarians (n=127; Mage = 101.1 years, SD 1.5). Subjective health was assessed by a SRH single-item, and objective health by considering the number of reported diseases and a functional capacity scale. Main health char- acteristics are described as well as examined the associa- tion between objective and subjective health indicators and other relevant variables (e.g., individual resources). Results revealed that almost half of the sample has a positive (good, very good or excellent) health appraisal. Many of these indi- viduals have 3 or more diseases and are dependent in their ADL. Objective and subjective measures of health are dis- cordant is some cases. Results revealed that centenarians ́ SRH could be determined by other factors than the objective health ones. Having diseases and functional dependence at 100 years old may not mean to have a bad SRH. The high variability in SRH and the discordance between objective and subjective measures are a proof of centenarians ́capacity of adaptation and the existence of psychosocial resources that may be decisive for the perception and handling of health status at such an advanced age.
- New horizons in gerotranscendence interventions. Targeting nursing home staff members and other caregivers: a scoping reviewPublication . Abreu, Taiane; Araújo, Lia; da Costa Teixeira, Laetitia; Ribeiro, OscarPurpose – The aim of this scoping review is to describe the published gerotranscendence interventions targeting older adults’ caregivers and their outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – Six databases were searched, and three studies were selected for analysis: one short-term quasi-experimental study and two observational studies. Findings – The interventions consisted in an instructional moment about the gerotranscendence theory and a moment for sharing personal perceptions. Originality/value – Gerotranscendence interventions can be essential for the caregivers to have a better relationship with the older adults, as they could improve their perception on their needs. Even though the interventions presented promising results benefiting caregivers and older adults, none of the studies confirmed that these changes persisted in the long term and additional studies are needed to robustly investigate this subject.