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Examining Rural Older Adults’ Perceptions of Cognitive Health*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 May 2017

Juanita Bacsu ,
Sylvia Abonyi ,
Marc Viger ,
Debra Morgan ,
Shanthi Johnson  and
Bonnie Jeffery
Juanita Bacsu*
Affiliation:
Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit
Sylvia Abonyi
Affiliation:
Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit
Marc Viger
Affiliation:
Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit Department of Family Medicine, University of Saskatchewan
Debra Morgan
Affiliation:
Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan
Shanthi Johnson
Affiliation:
Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport; University of Regina
Bonnie Jeffery
Affiliation:
Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit Faculty of Social Work, University of Regina
*
†La correspondance et les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à : / Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to: Juanita Bacsu, M.A., Ph.D. Community Health and Epidemiology University of Saskatchewan Department of Community Health & Epidemiology Rm. 3247 – E wing – Health Sciences 104 Clinic Place Saskatoon, SK, S7N-2Z4 <juanita.bacsu@usask.ca>
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Abstract

Existing cognitive health literature focuses on the perspectives of older adults with dementia. However, little is known about the ways in which healthy older adults without dementia understand their cognitive health. In rural communities, early dementia diagnosis may be impeded by numerous factors including transportation challenges, cultural obstacles, and inadequate access to health and support services.

Based on participant observation and two waves of 42 semi-structured interviews, this study examined healthy, rural older adults’ perceptions of cognitive health. By providing an innovative theoretical foundation informed by local perspectives and culture, findings reveal a complex and multidimensional view of cognitive health. Rural older adults described four key areas of cognitive health ranging from independence to social interaction. As policy makers, community leaders, and researchers work to address the cognitive health needs of the rural aging demographic, it is essential that they listen to the perspectives of rural older adults.

Résumé:

La littérature existante sur la santé cognitive se concentre sur les perspectives des personnes âgées atteintes de démence. Cependant, on sait peu de la façon dont les personnes âgées en bonne santé, sans démence, comprendre leur santé cognitive. Dans les communautés rurales, le diagnostic précoce de la démence peut être entravé par de nombreux facteurs, y compris le défi du transport, les obstacles culturels et l’accès inadéquat aux soins de santé et aux services de soutien.

Sur la base des observations des participants et de deux séquences de 42 entrevues semi-structurées, cette étude a examiné les perceptions de la santé cognitive des personnes agées en milieu rural. En fournissant une base théorique innovante, éclairée par la culture et les perspectives locales, les résultats révèlent une vision complexe et multidimensionnelle de la santé cognitive. Il est essentiel que les décideurs, les chefs communautaires et les chercheurs, dans la mesure où ils travaillent pour répondre aux besoins de santé cognitive d’une population vieillissante en milieu rural, écoutent les opinions des personnes âgées rurales.

Keywords

agingcognitive healthdementiarural healthrural older adultsperceptionsvieillissementsanté cognitivedémencesoins de santé au milieu ruralpersonnes âgées ruralesperceptions
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 36 , Issue 3 , September 2017 , pp. 318 - 327
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Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2017 

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Footnotes

*

This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research; the Public Health and Agricultural Rural Ecosystem (PHARE) Graduate Training Scholarship; the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation; the Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit; and the University of Saskatchewan. We thank the rural older adult participants, as well as the following community partners for their time, insight, and contributions: Noreen Johns, Grant Conlin, and Murray Westby.

Authors’ Note: A version of this article is included in a manuscript-style Ph.D. dissertation (https://ecommons.usask.ca/handle/10388/ETD-2016-04-2486).

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