Nisa Hardin Capstone
I had to think of something unique to my passion. Psychology is all about studies and experiments, depicted through articles and documentaries stemmed from someone just like me wanting to know the anthropology fueling the ever-changing human mind. I had to do it to the extent of my understanding, so a documentary or prolonged experiment of my own was out of the question. I wanted to make it more about my own learning experience and had to think of what I could do to create a good balance between gaining a source for learning while also utilizing it to show what I am working towards. I’d been volunteering at a nursing home outside of my neighborhood for about three years, and my mother works there as a recreational manager, so I figured that I could use these accessible factors and make something out of it; and that's how I came up with the idea to simply interview the people that I see regularly.
A large fraction of the nursing home did not exercise, and outside of those in healthcare, I wanted to know why they didn’t use the gym provided. Those that were pushed to exercise and care for their health were better off in the long term and began encouraging others to do the same. I found that people tend to follow the common myth that the older adult isn’t required to continue exercising and taking care of their bodies, yet it’s arguably one of the most effective ways to alleviate conditions that follow old age.
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Barnett, Anne, Ben Smith, Stephen R. Lord, Mandy Williams, and Adrian Baumand. "Community‐based Group Exercise Improves Balance and Reduces Falls in At‐risk Older People: A Randomised Controlled Trial | Age and Ageing | Oxford Academic." OUP Academic. Oxford University Press, 01 July 2003. Web. 24 Jan. 2018.
Unlike the other trials, this experiment assesses how the older adult reacts to exercise from a more emotionally based standpoint. This is done by collecting the results from the subgroups within the total number of patients, such as those who exercised at home, in a small group or a larger group. the objective was to determine whether participation in group activities had an effect on a patient's willingness to exercise and take more interest in their overall well-being or not. The results showed a small increase in the participation of a larger group, and a majority of the patients reported having better balance and less joint pain. I can use this to prove that conducting trials such as this can result in something that possibly wasn't expected.
Dustman, Robert E.
"Aerobic Exercise Training and Improved Neuropsychological Function of Older Individuals." Neurobiology of Aging. Elsevier, 19 Mar. 2003. Web. 22 Jan. 2018.
This trial gives me an in-depth explanation on the differences between the neuropsychological and physical changes that might occur in the older citizen depending on time, place and length of the trial period. It was aerobic exercise specifically, which I am not positive makes a difference in the overall mental effects, but the trial concluded with the improvement of balance in the arms, legs and backs of older adults, with little to no increase or decrease of the function in the patient's peripheral part of the brain, and more of a change in the central. I can use this in comparison to the other trials that assess this topic from a similar standpoint.
Hampe, Barry.
“Making Documentary Films and Videos.” Google Books, Henry Holt and Company, 7 Sept. 2002, books.google.com/books?hl=en.
This was one of the two sources I decided to use as guidance through the filming and editing parts of the project. I like this excerpt because it gives inexpensive and creative ways to create a documentary whether the goal is to have it broadcasted or not. It also provides information on how a documentary differs from other genres of film both historically and design-wise, so going into this aspect of the capstone I at least know a few tips on how I am planning to film the project as opposed to getting the actual equipment without knowing what I plan to do with it.
Howe, Tracey E.
"Exercise for Improving Balance in Older People." Wiley. Cochrane Library, 17 Oct. 2007. Web. 24 Jan. 2018.
This article will be used to help me analyze if there is a certain pattern of the types of exercise elderly citizens prefer to engage in, and how that part of the body relates to their age, by decade, in search of a narrower assessment. Overstimulation or lack thereof from any exercise can take a toll on the older adult's health , which more often than assumed can be associated with illness and falls. I am thinking of including a segment within the documentary that suggests some exercises that are free weight or don't require any other than body weight, being that my audience is the older adult and I have to place myself in their shoes and think of what they'd want out of something similar to what I'm doing.
Lord, Stephen R.
et al. “The Effect of a 12‐Month Exercise Trial on Balance, Strength, and Falls in Older Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 27 Apr. 2015, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1532-5415.1995.tb07394.x/full.
Along with a couple other citations, I felt it was necessary to include some trials made surrounding my topic that have different independent/dependent variables so that I am able to compare these results with each other and eventually with my own. This is also conducted by experts within the neuropsychological field, so I figured since my topic falls under this umbrella that I could apply some of the tactics used by the scientists to how I decide to form some of my questions. This experiment in particular was conducted over the course of a year, so the results regarding the motor skills, physiological changes, etc. are solid.
Miles, Toni P., Ann V. Schwartz, Marie Luz Villa, Mila Prill, Joseph A. Kelsey, Jill A. Galinus, Romelia Ramirez Delay, Michael C. Nevitt, Daniel A. Bloch, Robert Marcus, and Jennifer L. Kelsey.
"SPECIAL POPULATIONS IN GERIATRICS." Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 27 Apr. 2015. Web. 22 Jan. 2018.
I am using this to show that there are differences in the changes of the peripheral cortex and the stimulation of it when it comes to race/background. This study was conducted on mexican-american patients specifically, so these results will cater more towards my research which is presumably more diversified than the general research results that I have explored. There are a number of things that older people of color don't have access to, and that might even be a nearby nursing home, elderly fitness group or personal fitness instructor. This drastically extends the amount of time a patient is expected to become accustomed to and further rely on a exercise/nutritional routine, especially being that the options listed are out of reach. The study was conducted over roughly 3 years, the results of which displayed that mexican-american women actually faced a higher risk of serious falls. It wasn't until the end of this trial that the patients involved were knowledgeable of this fact, and were more willing to take action. I want my documentary to have this type of influence.
Ratto, Matt.
“DIY Citizenship: Critical Making and Social Media.” Google Books, M.I.T, 4 Sept. 2014, books.google.com/books?hl=en.
I am using this source because it reminded me that in creating my documentary, I should take into account the type of visuals and language that I want to use. I need something that can resonate with the elderly residents, but up until I read this article I realize it would be better to avoid assuming I know what it is that amuses or catches the attention of the older audience and better to simply add that into some of my preliminary questions. It also proves that I need to have a solid balance of entertainment, persuasiveness and scientific detail.
Reuben, David B.,
et al. “Quality of Care for Older Persons at the Dawn of the Third Millennium.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Blackwell Science Inc, 10 July 2003, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2389.2003.51346.x/full.
I will use this source to make a comparison of how the attention paid to the geriatric community has grown or diminished based over the generations. I didn't know there was much of a change as I didn't really pay attention to the lifestyles of older people up until now, but according to the study there has been a significant decrease of residents in nursing homes, and older adults are staying home with their children. Because of this, there has also been an increase in the interest of older people currently living in nursing homes. I can either include this research directly with a hyperlink or explain it briefly in my documentary.
Romaniuk, M., McAuley, W. J., & Arling, G.
(1983). An examination of the prevalence of mental disorders among the elderly in the community. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 92(4), 458-467.http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.92.4.458
This excerpt allowed me to see from the perspective of one who not only studies geriatrics, but also the ever changing mental state of America’s older citizen as it rapidly evolves. Despite the recent spike in tensions politically, economically and so on, the study of cognitive and emotional behavior in geriatrics has been conducted long before this year. With the large number of factors that play into how the mind does or doesn’t develop mental illness, to attempt to come to a conclusion for the mental disorders that a majority of older citizens may face is difficult and ongoing. Remedies for the effect mental illness on the older adult include exercise, so I will be able to use this so the inclusion of this topic is seen in my final product.
Young, Deborah Rohm, Lawrence J. Appel, SunHa Jee, and Edgar R. Miller.
"The Effects of Aerobic Exercise and T'ai Chi on Blood Pressure in Older People: Results of a Randomized Trial." Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 27 Apr. 2015. Web. 24 Jan. 2018.
I am using this trial to explore how a type of exercise can be more for the mind than the body, such as tai chi. It forces you to practice patience and balance, and become more aware and at peace with yourself and the world around you. I think I will pitch the idea of meditative exercise towards the mentally disabled or ill older citizens, considering that they're far less likely to be involved in group activities or outside of a fairly isolated area anway. Though I would say that it panders to a smaller audience (at least in America), I would emphasize that it can be learned and mastered just as any other exercise would be, just less traditional and requiring more patience and determination.
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