SANTOS Ana Joao, GIL Ana Paula Martins, RIBEIRO Oscar
Journal article citation:
Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 20(2), 2019, pp.56-66.
Publisher:
Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine, through a qualitative lens, how community elder abuse and the ageing process are represented in the older adults’ narratives reporting abuse perpetrated by family members. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative study of a convenience sample of 22 interviews from 24 older adults (two couples) aged 60 years or older who had experienced one or more types of abuse and had sought help about the victimisation experience. A general inductive approach of thematic content analysis was employed. Findings: The four main emergent themes related to the passage of time or the perception of becoming old within the process of abuse were: abuse grown old, abuse after entering later life, vulnerability to abuse and responses to abuse. Ageing was found understanding the phenomenon demands the recognition of ageing (both as a process and as a product) in order to more accurately identify aetiology processes and develop interventions.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine, through a qualitative lens, how community elder abuse and the ageing process are represented in the older adults’ narratives reporting abuse perpetrated by family members. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative study of a convenience sample of 22 interviews from 24 older adults (two couples) aged 60 years or older who had experienced one or more types of abuse and had sought help about the victimisation experience. A general inductive approach of thematic content analysis was employed. Findings: The four main emergent themes related to the passage of time or the perception of becoming old within the process of abuse were: abuse grown old, abuse after entering later life, vulnerability to abuse and responses to abuse. Ageing was found to be associated with an increase vulnerability to abuse and an important element in shaping how older adults experience, report and cope with victimization. The social and contextual issues of being older also influenced the decision of ending (or not) the abuse and the victims’ repertoire of responses. Originality/value: Despite the little suitability of chronological age to define and delimit elder abuse, understanding the phenomenon demands the recognition of ageing (both as a process and as a product) in order to more accurately identify aetiology processes and develop interventions.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 27(3), 2015, pp.174-195.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
In this study, the authors present findings of the Portuguese national prevalence study, “Aging and Violence,” the purpose of which was to estimate the prevalence of abuse and neglect of older people in family settings over a 12-month period and examine the relationship between abuse and sociodemographic and health characteristics. Through a telephone survey of a representative probability sample (N = 1,123), the authors evaluated 12 abusive behaviours and demographic data. Overall, 12.3% of older adults experienced elder abuse in family settings. The prevalence rates of specific types were as follows: psychological, 6.3%; financial, 6.3%; physical, 2.3%; neglect, 0.4%; and sexual, 0.2%. Logistic regression was employed to determine the relationship between abuse and covariates. The study suggests that education level, age, and functional status are significantly associated with abuse. Accurate estimates of the prevalence of elder abuse and understanding of victim and perpetrator characteristics are fundamental to designing effective strategies for prevention and intervention.
(Edited publisher abstract)
In this study, the authors present findings of the Portuguese national prevalence study, “Aging and Violence,” the purpose of which was to estimate the prevalence of abuse and neglect of older people in family settings over a 12-month period and examine the relationship between abuse and sociodemographic and health characteristics. Through a telephone survey of a representative probability sample (N = 1,123), the authors evaluated 12 abusive behaviours and demographic data. Overall, 12.3% of older adults experienced elder abuse in family settings. The prevalence rates of specific types were as follows: psychological, 6.3%; financial, 6.3%; physical, 2.3%; neglect, 0.4%; and sexual, 0.2%. Logistic regression was employed to determine the relationship between abuse and covariates. The study suggests that education level, age, and functional status are significantly associated with abuse. Accurate estimates of the prevalence of elder abuse and understanding of victim and perpetrator characteristics are fundamental to designing effective strategies for prevention and intervention.
(Edited publisher abstract)
British Journal of Health Psychology, 11(3), September 2006, pp.357-371.
Publisher:
Wiley
A new model of perceived control has been proposed (Skinner, 1995) in which 3 types of control-related beliefs were distinguished: control, strategy and capacity. This model has not yet been applied to health issues. Hence, the main purpose of this study was to apply it to the health domain, exploring age differences in the way children and teenagers conceptualize control-related beliefs. A prospective age cohort study was carried out with older children and teenagers attending public schools in Lisbon's metropolitan area. A newly developed instrument (HPCQ) was administered to 188 healthy participants (91 6th graders and 97 11th graders). Analyses of variance showed no age differences in individuals' strategy beliefs. Generally, children showed stronger capacity beliefs and a higher perceived control over their own health than teenagers. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that the belief in being a lucky person was a central predictor of control in later childhood. In adolescence, chance-related factors lost their predictive power, and effort and attributes-related beliefs remained controls' primary predictors. These results emphasize the heuristic value of this recent conceptualization of control-related beliefs. Moreover, they contribute to the development of more effective and reliable health-related school-based prevention/intervention programmes aiming at these particular age cohorts
A new model of perceived control has been proposed (Skinner, 1995) in which 3 types of control-related beliefs were distinguished: control, strategy and capacity. This model has not yet been applied to health issues. Hence, the main purpose of this study was to apply it to the health domain, exploring age differences in the way children and teenagers conceptualize control-related beliefs. A prospective age cohort study was carried out with older children and teenagers attending public schools in Lisbon's metropolitan area. A newly developed instrument (HPCQ) was administered to 188 healthy participants (91 6th graders and 97 11th graders). Analyses of variance showed no age differences in individuals' strategy beliefs. Generally, children showed stronger capacity beliefs and a higher perceived control over their own health than teenagers. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that the belief in being a lucky person was a central predictor of control in later childhood. In adolescence, chance-related factors lost their predictive power, and effort and attributes-related beliefs remained controls' primary predictors. These results emphasize the heuristic value of this recent conceptualization of control-related beliefs. Moreover, they contribute to the development of more effective and reliable health-related school-based prevention/intervention programmes aiming at these particular age cohorts
Subject terms:
self-determination, schools, young people, ageing, health needs;
Background: Longer lives increase the possibility of caring duties, which means that older adults looking after their ageing parents - as well as their own partners - is becoming an increasingly common scenario in developed countries. Objective: To explore the caregiving demands of very old caregiving dyads and the experience of maintaining the identity of a child at such an advanced age. Design:
(Edited publisher abstract)
Background: Longer lives increase the possibility of caring duties, which means that older adults looking after their ageing parents - as well as their own partners - is becoming an increasingly common scenario in developed countries. Objective: To explore the caregiving demands of very old caregiving dyads and the experience of maintaining the identity of a child at such an advanced age. Design: Qualitative study. Subjects: 15 participants (four males), all aged 70 or over and caring for their mothers, aged between 95 and 105 years old. Methods: Semi-structured interviews analysed thematically. Results: Caregivers are willing to care for their mothers 'until death tears them apart', despite the double strains they face, that is more self-limitations and added care receiver need. On a positive side, they feel 'happy, thankful and proud' for still having their mothers alive. They also describe that maintaining the identity of a child at such an advanced age was somewhat unthought of and unexpected but an important source of pride. Conclusions: These findings suggest that these oldest-old caregiving dyads are characterised by a relationship shaped by strong feelings of extended filial love, constituting a family feature that needs further understanding. Findings also underscore the challenges these carers face in dealing with several agents (secondary caregivers) and entities in the care provision.
(Edited publisher abstract)
European Journal of Social Work, 17(3), 2014, pp.336-352.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Even before ageing became a challenge to society, it already was for social work professionals. What interested the social work professionals were the older people who accumulated low incomes, poverty, loneliness, isolation, disease and several outbuildings. The increasing number of older and much older people reconfigured the intervention of professionals in this area. This intervention is in accordance with the policies of the welfare state, based on the rights and human dignity and a paradigm of social development oriented to social cohesion. The professionals are now responsible for older people policies in social and health care areas. The article includes an analysis of the relationship between social work, ageing and policies for older people and some exploratory results obtained through
(Publisher abstract)
Even before ageing became a challenge to society, it already was for social work professionals. What interested the social work professionals were the older people who accumulated low incomes, poverty, loneliness, isolation, disease and several outbuildings. The increasing number of older and much older people reconfigured the intervention of professionals in this area. This intervention is in accordance with the policies of the welfare state, based on the rights and human dignity and a paradigm of social development oriented to social cohesion. The professionals are now responsible for older people policies in social and health care areas. The article includes an analysis of the relationship between social work, ageing and policies for older people and some exploratory results obtained through the analysis of relevant documents that allowed us to characterise the field of social work intervention with older people in the social security system and field of social action. This integrated analysis in a context of economic crisis takes a critical perspective on the impacts of reconfiguration policies for the older people and social work in those days.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
social work methods, social work, intervention, social care provision, older people, social policy, ageing;
ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Publisher:
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Publication year:
2007
Pagination:
259p.
Place of publication:
Paris
An ageing population creates immediate pressures for change in both service delivery and human resources management in government. Government workforces are ageing even more rapidly than the rest of society. This raises specific challenges and opportunities. An ageing public service increases fiscal burdens while decreasing immediate capacities to deliver services. In the long run, however, and an analysis of data from the latest OECD Survey on Strategic Human Resources Management (HRM). Most notably, it developed a snapshot of ageing policies and actions in nine OECD countries: Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal. The general research and discussion is divided into four main chapters: the aging challenge; country actions; a review of country strategies; and toward sustainable ageing and actions for government.
An ageing population creates immediate pressures for change in both service delivery and human resources management in government. Government workforces are ageing even more rapidly than the rest of society. This raises specific challenges and opportunities. An ageing public service increases fiscal burdens while decreasing immediate capacities to deliver services. In the long run, however, it also offers a strategic opportunity to downsize the public sector workforce if necessary and to change employment conditions and the management of government employees where this is deemed reasonable. In reviewing strategies to address these pressing issues, this research project had several strands; a general literature review, preliminary scoping research in all OECD member countries, and an analysis of data from the latest OECD Survey on Strategic Human Resources Management (HRM). Most notably, it developed a snapshot of ageing policies and actions in nine OECD countries: Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal. The general research and discussion is divided into four main chapters: the aging challenge; country actions; a review of country strategies; and toward sustainable ageing and actions for government.
Subject terms:
public sector, staff, staff management, ageing, comparative studies, conditions of employment, demographics;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal
Aging and Mental Health, 9(1), January 2005, pp.1-6.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Experts from eight European countries (Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom) and the disciplines of clinical psychology, general practice, geriatric medicine, old age psychiatry, medical sociology, nursing and voluntary body organisation met in 2003 to explore obstacles to recognition of and response to dementia in general practice within Europe. A modified focus group methodology was used in this exploratory process. Groups were conducted over a two-day period, with five sessions lasting 1-1.5 hours each. An adapted nominal group method was used to record themes arising from the group discussion, and these themes were used in a grounded theory approach to generate explanations for delayed recognition of and response to dementia. The overarching theme that arose from the focus groups was movement, which had three different expressions. These were: population movement and its consequences for localities, services and professional experience; the journey of the person with dementia along the disease process; and the referral pathway to access services and support. Change is the core issue in dementia care, with multiple pathways of change that need to be understood at clinical and organisational levels. Practitioners and people with dementia are engaged in managing emotional, social and physical risks, making explicit risk management a potentially important component of dementia care. The boundary between generalist and specialist services is a particular problem, with great potential for dysfunctionality. Stigma and ageism are variably distributed phenomena both within and between countries.
Experts from eight European countries (Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom) and the disciplines of clinical psychology, general practice, geriatric medicine, old age psychiatry, medical sociology, nursing and voluntary body organisation met in 2003 to explore obstacles to recognition of and response to dementia in general practice within Europe. A modified focus group methodology was used in this exploratory process. Groups were conducted over a two-day period, with five sessions lasting 1-1.5 hours each. An adapted nominal group method was used to record themes arising from the group discussion, and these themes were used in a grounded theory approach to generate explanations for delayed recognition of and response to dementia. The overarching theme that arose from the focus groups was movement, which had three different expressions. These were: population movement and its consequences for localities, services and professional experience; the journey of the person with dementia along the disease process; and the referral pathway to access services and support. Change is the core issue in dementia care, with multiple pathways of change that need to be understood at clinical and organisational levels. Practitioners and people with dementia are engaged in managing emotional, social and physical risks, making explicit risk management a potentially important component of dementia care. The boundary between generalist and specialist services is a particular problem, with great potential for dysfunctionality. Stigma and ageism are variably distributed phenomena both within and between countries.
Subject terms:
older people, access to services, age discrimination, ageing, change management, comparative studies, dementia;
Location(s):
Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom
Working with Older People, 22(4), 2018, pp.224-233.
Publisher:
Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present a process to evaluate the usability and usefulness of a high-fidelity prototype of the +TV4E platform (removed for blind review), an iTV service which aims to promote the info-inclusion and quality of life of Portuguese seniors by delivering informative contents about public and social services. Design/methodology/approach: The research presented in this study is qualitative and uses an inclusive and participatory co-design process involving seniors to evaluate usability of an iTV service with support of the Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ) tool and a questionnaire survey. The participants were 11 individuals, over 65 years enrolled in an adult day care center in Aveiro city, Portugal (removed for blind review). Findings: Findings from this study allowed to assess some key aspects in the +TV4E platform implementation that should be addressed in its final version. Using the PSSUQ tool as well as a questionnaire survey confirmed the relevance of this platform to meet seniors’ informational needs. Originality/value: This original research offers insights on how valuable is including potential users in the development and test phases of an innovative technology which intends to offer more adequate tools to improve seniors’ info-inclusion and quality of life. Also, it is possible to understand what should be considered when evaluating a prototype intended to be used by seniors.
(Publisher abstract)
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present a process to evaluate the usability and usefulness of a high-fidelity prototype of the +TV4E platform (removed for blind review), an iTV service which aims to promote the info-inclusion and quality of life of Portuguese seniors by delivering informative contents about public and social services. Design/methodology/approach: The research presented in this study is qualitative and uses an inclusive and participatory co-design process involving seniors to evaluate usability of an iTV service with support of the Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ) tool and a questionnaire survey. The participants were 11 individuals, over 65 years enrolled in an adult day care center in Aveiro city, Portugal (removed for blind review). Findings: Findings from this study allowed to assess some key aspects in the +TV4E platform implementation that should be addressed in its final version. Using the PSSUQ tool as well as a questionnaire survey confirmed the relevance of this platform to meet seniors’ informational needs. Originality/value: This original research offers insights on how valuable is including potential users in the development and test phases of an innovative technology which intends to offer more adequate tools to improve seniors’ info-inclusion and quality of life. Also, it is possible to understand what should be considered when evaluating a prototype intended to be used by seniors.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
information technology, evaluation, quality of life, older people, ageing, wellbeing, social care, access to information, public sector, television;
Few studies have evaluated the impact of lifetime abuse on quality of life (QoL) among older adults. By using a multinational study authors aimed to assess the subjective perception of QoL among people who have reported abuse during the course of their lifetime. The respondents (N = 4,467; 2,559 women) were between the ages of 60 and 84 years and living in seven European countries (Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden). Lifetime abuse was assessed by using a structured questionnaire that allowed to assess lifetime experiences of abuse. QoL was assessed with the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Old module. After adjustment for potential confounders, authors found that to have had any abusive experience decreased the score of sensory abilities. Psychological abuse was associated with lower autonomy and past, present, and future activities. Physical abuse with injuries significantly decreased social participation. Intimacy was also negatively associated with psychological abuse, physical abuse with injury, and sexual abuse. The results of this study provide evidence that older people exposed to abuse during their lifetime have a significant reduction in QoL, with several QoL domains being negatively affected.
(Publisher abstract)
Few studies have evaluated the impact of lifetime abuse on quality of life (QoL) among older adults. By using a multinational study authors aimed to assess the subjective perception of QoL among people who have reported abuse during the course of their lifetime. The respondents (N = 4,467; 2,559 women) were between the ages of 60 and 84 years and living in seven European countries (Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden). Lifetime abuse was assessed by using a structured questionnaire that allowed to assess lifetime experiences of abuse. QoL was assessed with the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Old module. After adjustment for potential confounders, authors found that to have had any abusive experience decreased the score of sensory abilities. Psychological abuse was associated with lower autonomy and past, present, and future activities. Physical abuse with injuries significantly decreased social participation. Intimacy was also negatively associated with psychological abuse, physical abuse with injury, and sexual abuse. The results of this study provide evidence that older people exposed to abuse during their lifetime have a significant reduction in QoL, with several QoL domains being negatively affected.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
older people, quality of life, ageing, violence, women, physical abuse, emotional abuse, social isolation, sexual abuse, adult abuse;
GONCLAVES Marta, CARAMELO Sergio, RIBEIRO Jose Almeida
Journal article citation:
Working with Older People, 20(1), 2016, pp.23-29.
Publisher:
Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand how the Institute of Public and Social Policies could be useful for Portuguese society in terms of post-graduate training in the area of ageing.
Design/methodology/approach: The authors have conducted two focus groups (n=11), one with professionals of one large and three medium size social organisations, and the other with managers of three large, two medium and two small size social, health and civil rights organisations which support the elderly population. While the specific aim of the first focus group was to identify the ageing training needs of professionals, who work with assistance/support to the elderly population, the aim of the second group was to identify the training interests of the retired or pre-retired elderly population. in the area of ageing as compared to the existing ones.
Research limitations/implications: The authors can conclude that both social professionals and senior population in Portugal have a need for a post-graduate training in the area of aging.
Practical implications: Only by humanisation at multilevel and a specific training for professionals and for families will we be able to deliver the opportunities
(Edited publisher abstract)
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand how the Institute of Public and Social Policies could be useful for Portuguese society in terms of post-graduate training in the area of ageing.
Design/methodology/approach: The authors have conducted two focus groups (n=11), one with professionals of one large and three medium size social organisations, and the other with managers of three large, two medium and two small size social, health and civil rights organisations which support the elderly population. While the specific aim of the first focus group was to identify the ageing training needs of professionals, who work with assistance/support to the elderly population, the aim of the second group was to identify the training interests of the retired or pre-retired elderly population.
Findings: The results show on the one hand professional’s main challenges in working with elderly population in Portugal, their training needs and what exactly could be an adequate training for them in the area of aging as compared to the existing ones, and on the other hand who are the strongly committed elderly people, what are their training needs and what could exactly be for them an adequate training in the area of ageing as compared to the existing ones.
Research limitations/implications: The authors can conclude that both social professionals and senior population in Portugal have a need for a post-graduate training in the area of aging.
Practical implications: Only by humanisation at multilevel and a specific training for professionals and for families will we be able to deliver the opportunities and support that the citizens will need to enable them to age well across the life course.
Social implications: Given the rapidly changing and complex demography of Portugal it is essential to give attention to training in rethinking the support of the elderly population in Portugal.
Originality/value: The authors need to develop empowerment and social inclusion of the elderly population in the society.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
training, needs, staff, older people, higher education, ageing, skills, professionals, service provision, social inclusion;