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Applying a trauma-informed perspective to loss and change in the lives of older adults
- Authors:
- KUSMAUL Nancy, ANDERSON Keith
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Health Care, 57(5), 2018, pp.355-375.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Traumatic events are widely acknowledged to have long-term impacts on individuals, yet only recently have health-care professionals begun to assess for and gain an understanding of trauma in the lives of older adults. For many older adults, trauma is often disenfranchised and overlooked as being either a distant past event (e.g., child abuse) or a normal part of aging (e.g., widowhood). Trauma-informed care, on the other hand, calls for health-care professionals to acknowledge that past and recent events may have been traumatic for older adults and to assess and care plan to reduce or prevent re-traumatization. In this article, we explore the impacts of trauma in later life through a case study of a patient admitted to a long-term care facility. Analysis of this case study suggests several important implications for social work practice in long-term care and the use of person-centered care practices in the care of older adults in general. (Edited publisher abstract)
Characteristics of double care demanding patients in a mental health care setting and a nursing home setting: results from the SpeCIMeN study
- Authors:
- COLLET Janine, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 22(1), 2018, pp.333-39.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: Older patients suffering from a combination of psychiatric disorders and physical illnesses and/or dementia are called Double Care Demanding patients (DCDs). Special wards for DCDs within Dutch nursing homes (NHs) and mental health care institutions (MHCIs) offer a unique opportunity to obtain insight into the characteristics and needs of this challenging population. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study collected data from 163 DCDs admitted to either a NH or a MHCI providing specialised care for DCDs. Similarities and differences between both DCD groups are described. Results: Neuropsychiatric symptoms were highly prevalent in all DCDs but significantly more in MHCI-DCDs. Cognitive disorders were far more present in NH-DCDs, while MHCI-DCDs often suffered from multiple psychiatric disorders. The severity of comorbidities and care dependency were equally high among all DCDs. NH-DCDs expressed more satisfaction in overall quality of life. Conclusions: The institutionalised elderly DCD population is very heterogeneous. Specific care arrangements are necessary because the severity of a patient's physical illness and the level of functional impairment seem to be equally important as the patient's behavioural, psychiatric and social problems. Further research should assess the adequacy of the setting assignment and the professional skills needed to provide adequate care for elderly DCDs. (Publisher abstract)
Preventing and responding to depression, self-harm, and suicide in older people living in long term care settings: a systematic review
- Authors:
- GLEESON Helen, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, early cite 4 November 2018,
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objective: The well documented demographic shift to an ageing population means that more people will in future be in need of long term residential care. Previous research has reported an increased risk of mental health issues and suicidal ideation among older people living in residential care settings. However, there is little information on the actual prevalence of depression, self-harm, and suicidal behaviour in this population, how it is measured and how care homes respond to these issues. Method: This systematic review of international literature addressed three research questions relating to; the prevalence of mental health problems in this population; how they are identified and; how care homes try to prevent or respond to mental health issues. Results: Findings showed higher reported rates of depression and suicidal behaviour in care home residents compared to matched age groups in the community, variation in the use of standardised measures across studies and, interventions almost exclusively focused on increasing staff knowledge about mental health but with an absence of involvement of older people themselves in these programmes. Conclusion: Discuses the implications of these findings in the context of addressing mental health difficulties experienced by older people in residential care and future research in this area. (Edited publisher abstract)
Concept mapping to improve team work, team learning and care of the person with dementia and behavioural and psychological symptoms
- Authors:
- ABERDEEN Suzanne M., BYRNE Graeme
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 17(3), 2018, pp.279-296.
- Publisher:
- Sage
The incidence of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia in residential aged care facilities is high. Effective team work and knowledgeable staff are cited as important facilitators of appropriate care responses to clients with these symptoms, but to achieve this within a resource-poor workplace can be challenging. In the study reported in this paper, concept mapping was trialled to enhance multifocal person-centred assessment and care planning as well as team learning. The outcomes of team concept mapping were evaluated using a quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-testing in 11 selected Australian residential aged care facilities , including two control residential aged care facilities , over a nine-month period. It was demonstrated that use of concept mapping improved team function, measured as effectiveness of care planning, as well as enhancing learning, with increased knowledge of dementia care even amongst staff who were not directly involved with the process. It is suggested that these results may be generalizable to other countries and care settings. (Publisher abstract)