Melissa K Andrews
Biographic Data
| ID | 1789421 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Melissa K Andrews |
| GIVEN NAMES | Melissa K |
| FAMILY NAME | Andrews |
| SIGNATURE | ANDREWS M K |
| AFFILIATIONS | Dalhousie University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-7514-8972 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 11 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 14 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 11 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2004 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Building Purpose and Belonging Shoulder-to-Shoulder
Background Older men face significant health inequities compared to women, with the transition to retirement often exacerbating these differences. Objective This study explored the benefits of participation in the Squamish Men’s Shed (SMS) in British Columbia, Canada. Methods Using a case study design, semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 members aged 55 and older. Findings Thematic analysis identified four overarching themes: A Meani…
Assessing knowledge, attitudes, willingness, and barriers to Pneumococcal vaccination among Canadian older adults
Pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with older adults aged 65 and above at particularly high risk for invasive pneumococcal infections. In Canada, pneumococcal vaccination has been recommended for this age group since 1989, yet coverage remains below national targets. Currently, only about 55% of older adults report being vaccinated, falling short of the 80% target. This study assessed knowledge, attitude…
Exploring frailty in Brazil
The Brazilian aging population will challenge publicly funded health services, on which most Brazilians rely. The country must prepare for aging-associated health challenges such as frailty. We used data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil) to generate a standardized Frailty Index (FI), assess frailty levels among this population, and supply reliable and nationwide information. In total, 9,901 adults aged 50 years or older…
The impact of influenza on the ability to work, volunteer and provide care
In Canadian older adults, influenza and ILI had notable impacts on ability to volunteer and provide care across two recent seasons. Optimization of influenza prevention in this population may yield important societal benefits
Adaptation of a social vulnerability index for measuring social frailty among East African women
The SVI-Kenya is a holistic index to measure social frailty among older women in Kenya, incorporating questions in multiple domains. Further research is needed to validate this adapted instrument
Wellness in the Face of Frailty Among Older Adults in First Nations Communities
Our findings provide a profile of strength and wellness among older First Nations adults living with frailty
Developer/Adapter Method
The purpose of this paper is to provide a narrative of our experience with community-driven change using our “Developer/Adapter” research method in Northern Ontario, Canada, so it can be explored in other First Nations contexts. The goal of our currently funded research is to identify community solutions and knowledge and implement community-developed interventions to better support older Indigenous persons, especially those in rural and remote c…
Ageism and Covid-19
The goal of this commentary is to highlight the ageism that has emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 20 international researchers in the field of ageing have contributed to this document. This commentary discusses how older people are misrepresented and undervalued in the current public discourse surrounding the pandemic. It points to issues in documenting the deaths of older adults, the lack of preparation for such a crisis in long-term ca…
Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Social Vulnerability Index for Use in the Dutch Context
Being able to identify socially frail older adults is essential for designing interventions and policy and for the prediction of health outcomes, both on the level of individual older adults and of the population. The aim of the present study was to adapt the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) to the Dutch language and culture for those purposes. A systematic cross-cultural adaptation of the initial Social Vulnerability Index was performed followin…
Thinking you're old and frail’
Many older adults experience what is clinically recognised as frailty but little is known about the perceptions of, and attitudes regarding, being frail. This qualitative study explored adults' perceptions of frailty and their beliefs concerning its progression and consequences. Twenty-nine participants aged 66–98 with varying degrees of frailty, residing either in their homes or institutional settings, participated in semi-structured interviews.…
Rates of influenza vaccination in older adults and factors associated with vaccine use
The vaccination rate in this sample, in whom influenza vaccination is indicated, was low (55.2%). Even in a publicly administered health care setting, influenza vaccination did not reach an important proportion of the elderly population. Whether these differences reflect patient preference or access remains to be determined
Thinking you're old and frail’
Many older adults experience what is clinically recognised as frailty but little is known about the perceptions of, and attitudes regarding, being frail. This qualitative study explored adults' perceptions of frailty and their beliefs concerning its progression and consequences. Twenty-nine participants aged 66–98 with varying degrees of frailty, residing either in their homes or institutional settings, participated in semi-structured interviews.…
Rates of influenza vaccination in older adults and factors associated with vaccine use
The vaccination rate in this sample, in whom influenza vaccination is indicated, was low (55.2%). Even in a publicly administered health care setting, influenza vaccination did not reach an important proportion of the elderly population. Whether these differences reflect patient preference or access remains to be determined
Thinking you're old and frail’
Many older adults experience what is clinically recognised as frailty but little is known about the perceptions of, and attitudes regarding, being frail. This qualitative study explored adults' perceptions of frailty and their beliefs concerning its progression and consequences. Twenty-nine participants aged 66–98 with varying degrees of frailty, residing either in their homes or institutional settings, participated in semi-structured interviews.…
Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Social Vulnerability Index for Use in the Dutch Context
Being able to identify socially frail older adults is essential for designing interventions and policy and for the prediction of health outcomes, both on the level of individual older adults and of the population. The aim of the present study was to adapt the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) to the Dutch language and culture for those purposes. A systematic cross-cultural adaptation of the initial Social Vulnerability Index was performed followin…
Ageism and Covid-19
The goal of this commentary is to highlight the ageism that has emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 20 international researchers in the field of ageing have contributed to this document. This commentary discusses how older people are misrepresented and undervalued in the current public discourse surrounding the pandemic. It points to issues in documenting the deaths of older adults, the lack of preparation for such a crisis in long-term ca…
Developer/Adapter Method
The purpose of this paper is to provide a narrative of our experience with community-driven change using our “Developer/Adapter” research method in Northern Ontario, Canada, so it can be explored in other First Nations contexts. The goal of our currently funded research is to identify community solutions and knowledge and implement community-developed interventions to better support older Indigenous persons, especially those in rural and remote c…
The impact of influenza on the ability to work, volunteer and provide care
In Canadian older adults, influenza and ILI had notable impacts on ability to volunteer and provide care across two recent seasons. Optimization of influenza prevention in this population may yield important societal benefits
Adaptation of a social vulnerability index for measuring social frailty among East African women
The SVI-Kenya is a holistic index to measure social frailty among older women in Kenya, incorporating questions in multiple domains. Further research is needed to validate this adapted instrument
Wellness in the Face of Frailty Among Older Adults in First Nations Communities
Our findings provide a profile of strength and wellness among older First Nations adults living with frailty
Exploring frailty in Brazil
The Brazilian aging population will challenge publicly funded health services, on which most Brazilians rely. The country must prepare for aging-associated health challenges such as frailty. We used data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil) to generate a standardized Frailty Index (FI), assess frailty levels among this population, and supply reliable and nationwide information. In total, 9,901 adults aged 50 years or older…
Building Purpose and Belonging Shoulder-to-Shoulder
Background Older men face significant health inequities compared to women, with the transition to retirement often exacerbating these differences. Objective This study explored the benefits of participation in the Squamish Men’s Shed (SMS) in British Columbia, Canada. Methods Using a case study design, semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 members aged 55 and older. Findings Thematic analysis identified four overarching themes: A Meani…
Assessing knowledge, attitudes, willingness, and barriers to Pneumococcal vaccination among Canadian older adults
Pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with older adults aged 65 and above at particularly high risk for invasive pneumococcal infections. In Canada, pneumococcal vaccination has been recommended for this age group since 1989, yet coverage remains below national targets. Currently, only about 55% of older adults report being vaccinated, falling short of the 80% target. This study assessed knowledge, attitude…
Medicine (9 works) · Gerontology (7 works) · Frailty in Older Adults (5 works) · Health disparities and outcomes (5 works) · Psychology (5 works) · Public health (4 works) · Biostatistics (3 works) · Demography (3 works) · Epidemiology (3 works) · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes (3 works)