Feeling Old, Body and Soul: The Effect of Aging Body Reminders on Age Identity.

OBJECTIVES: Although changes in body functioning and appearance signal the aging process to ourselves and others, studies give limited attention to the effect of bodily experiences of aging on age identity. Our study examines the effect on age identity of 3 categories of aging body reminders: everyday body problems, body repairs, and body aids. METHODS: Hierarchical linear models are run using 5 waves of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (2011-2015). Models predict the effect on age identity of change in the count of everyday body problems (e.g., pain), body repairs (i.e., surgeries and medications), and body aids (e.g., hearing aids). RESULTS: Increases in everyday body problems and body repairs (in particular, medications) predict older identities, with the strongest average effect found for everyday body problems. These results are observed in models controlling on health, suggesting that body reminders exert independent effects. DISCUSSION: Our study reveals a realm of aging experiences-bodily experiences-that influence age identity. Avenues for further research include examinations of other aging body reminders, as well as variation across individuals.

Feeling Older and Driving Less: The Effect of Age Identity on Older Adults' Transition from Driving.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Prior research examining predictors of older adults' transition from driving has not considered age-related perceptions, such as age identity, that could shape decisions to limit, or self-regulate, one's driving. Our study examines this possibility, testing the hypothesis that older (or less youthful) identities predict greater self-regulated driving. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Using two waves of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS, 2011 and 2015), we run negative binomial regression models predicting the number of self-regulated driving behaviors, as a function of baseline age identity and change in age identity between the waves. Models control for factors shown to predict self-regulated driving, namely sociodemographics, health, and transportation support. RESULTS: Supporting our hypothesis, we find that older (or less youthful) identities at baseline and greater increases in age identity between the waves predict more self-regulated driving behaviors 4 years later, controlling on these behaviors at baseline. The results held in models controlling for sociodemographics, health, and transportation alternatives, suggesting that age identity exerts an independent effect on self-regulated driving. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our study reveals that age identity affects later life driving decisions, contributing to our understanding of the process of transitioning from driving. It also adds to the long list of consequences of age-related perceptions revealed in prior research, much of it focused on health but not behaviors. Directions for future research include examining other age-related perceptions, such as aging anxieties or attitudes, and exploring the likely bidirectional process linking age-related perceptions and driving transitions.

Evacuating People and Their Pets: Older Floridians' Need for and Proximity to Pet-Friendly Shelters.

OBJECTIVES: Pets influence evacuation decisions, but little is known about pet-friendly emergency shelters' availability or older adults' need for them. Our study addresses this issue, focusing on the most densely populated area of Florida (Miami-Dade)-the state with the oldest population and greatest hurricane susceptibility. METHOD: We use Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based methodology to identify the shortest paths to pet-friendly shelters, based on distance and congested and uncongested travel times-taking into account the older population's spatial distribution. Logistic regression models using the 2013 American Housing Survey's Disaster Planning Module examine anticipated shelter use as a function of pet ownership and requiring pet evacuation assistance. RESULTS: Thirty-four percent of older adults in the Miami-Dade area have pets-35% of whom report needing pet evacuation assistance. However, GIS accessibility measures show that travel time factors are likely to impede older adults' use of the area's few pet-friendly shelters. Logistic regression results reveal that pet owners are less likely to report anticipating shelter use; however, the opposite holds for pet owners reporting they would need help evacuating their pets-they anticipate using shelters. DISCUSSION: High pet shelter need coupled with low availability exacerbates older adults' heightened vulnerability during Florida's hurricane season.