Lighthouse International

About: Lighthouse International is a nonprofit organization based out in New York, New York, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Vision rehabilitation & Population. The organization has 45 authors who have published 115 publications receiving 4902 citations.

Positive aspects of caregiving and adaptation to bereavement.

Abstract: This study examined how positive aspects of caregiving affect adaptation to bereavement among older adults who cared for a family member with dementia. The sample consisted of 217 caregivers who were part of the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health Study. Using pre- and postloss data, hierarchical regressions were carried out to examine the effects of positive aspects of caregiving (caregiving benefit) on postloss depression and grief. Findings show that preloss caregiving benefit was associated with higher levels of postloss depression and grief, even after controlling for caregiver demographic characteristics, contextual factors, and caregiving burden. This effect was particularly strong for the relation between benefit and grief. Results demonstrate the importance of studying both positive and negative aspects of caregiving and their relation to bereavement outcomes.

Predictors of Complicated Grief Among Dementia Caregivers: A Prospective Study of Bereavement

Abstract: Objective Most family caregivers adapt well to the death of their care recipient relative; however, a sizable minority continues to experience postdeath psychiatric morbidity. The purpose of this study was to better understand why some caregivers manifest clinical levels of complicated grief postdeath. This is the first study to prospectively assess predictors of complicated grief among family caregivers of patients with dementia who experience the death of their care recipient. Method The sample of bereaved caregivers is drawn from a larger study of 1,222 family caregivers providing in-home care to their relative with dementia. In-home assessments of caregivers and patients were carried out at baseline and six-month intervals for a total of 18 months. This article is based on the 217 caregivers who experienced the death of their care recipient in the course of the study. Three logistic regression models are tested to identify pre- and postbereavement predictors of complicated grief, including sociodemographic factors, characteristics of the caregiving experience, including participation in a caregiver intervention, other psychiatric morbidities, and medication use. Results Twenty percent of dementia caregivers evidenced complicated grief along with high levels of depressive symptomatology postdeath. Controlling for sociodemographic factors, caregivers who had high levels of preloss depressive symptoms and burden, reported positive features of the caregiving experience, and were caring for a more cognitively impaired patient were more likely to report clinical levels of complicated grief postloss. In addition, caregivers who were enrolled in a psychosocial caregiver intervention designed to reduce depression and burden reported lower levels of complicated grief. Conclusion This study identifies predictors of complicated grief for which interventions could be developed to not only ease caregiver distress, but also serve as preventive interventions for bereavement. Reducing the burden of active caregiving, treating depression before the death of the loved one and providing supportive psychosocial and skills training caregiver interventions can prevent the emergence of postdeath psychiatric morbidity.

Good to have but not to use: Differential impact of perceived and received support on well-being

Abstract: Research documents a positive association between perceived support availability and well-being in later life. Other work shows that actually receiving support can have negative effects. Instrumental support receipt may be negative for persons with chronic impairment as it may emphasize their inability to accomplish daily tasks. This study contrasted the impact of perceived and received affective and instrumental support on adaptation to chronic vision impairment in 570 elders. After accounting for the significant, positive impact of perceived support, receiving instrumental support had a negative effect, while receiving affective support had a positive effect on well-being. Findings underscore the importance of distinguishing the association of multiple support components and outcomes to increase understanding of how support affects adaptation in later life.

Improving the design of the letter contrast sensitivity test.

Abstract: PURPOSE. To develop a small-format letter contrast sensitivity test with improved accuracy, suitable for portable use and near testing, and having a simple and unambiguous scoring system that can be used with reference to existing norms. METHODS. A near test, printed on resin-coated paper and mounted on plastic was developed by using Sloan letters, with 0.04 log unit contrast decrements between each letter and a simple scoring procedure. Monte Carlo methods and a Weibull function model of visual performance were used to assess test accuracy. RESULTS. The new test has 28% lower score standard deviations than the Pelli-Robson Contrast Sensitivity Chart, over a wide range of low misreporting rates, while maintaining test scores that differ from the Pelli-Robson by 0.01 log unit, permitting use of norms collected with the Pelli-Robson test. CONCLUSIONS. While maintaining comparability with Pelli-Robson norms, the new test has improved accuracy in comparison with the Pelli-Robson chart and several other advantages that result from its smaller size.