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Future directions for investment: social work with older people
- Authors:
- MILNE Alisoun, et al
- Publisher:
- The College of Social Work
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 43
- Place of publication:
- London
This discussion paper makes the case for investing in a specialist social work role to work with older people. The authors make both and economic and a moral and professional case for a specialist role. The paper begins by providing a context for the discussion, focusing on the ageing population, increasing use of services and current policy issues. It then outlines the international evidence base for specialist social work with older people and the contribution specialist social work can make to older people's health and wellbeing in the UK. Areas discussed include community social work, preventive safeguarding, support for carers, and working with older people with dementia or at the end of life. The final section summarises future directions for social work with older people and their families and the need to invest in specialist services. This is one of series of papers published by The College of Social Work investigating the moral and financial case for investing in adult social work. (Original abstract)
Commentary on Protecting my mother
- Author:
- MILNE Alisoun
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 13(1), February 2011, pp.53-56.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This paper presents a commentary on Kate Rees’ article Protecting my mother (Journal of Adult Protection, February 2011, pp.46-52). It highlights a number of the key features of the care of nursing home residents that need to be addressed if standards are to improve and abuse become a rarity. Risk is compounded for residents with dementia who often have limited communication skills and high levels of need. The fact that most residents are not known by care staff on admission is a primary challenge to offering good care, an issue that is compounded by a focus on tasks rather than relationships. The author suggests that a primary deficit is that the emotional well-being of residents is given limited attention by the care home sector or agencies tasked with inspecting them. The author concludes that raising the status of care home work, improving pay, conditions and training, and embedding person-centred values in care home practice are key to raising standards.
Early intervention in dementia care in an Asian community: lessons from a dementia collaborative project
- Authors:
- SEABROOKE Viniti, MILNE Alisoun
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing, 10(4), December 2009, pp.29-36.
- Publisher:
- Pier Professional
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
The number of older Asians in the UK, and therefore at risk of developing dementia is increasing. The emerging need to address early diagnosis is especially prominent in areas where Asian communities are long established. Set up under the auspices of the South East Dementia Services Collaborative, this pilot project aimed to raise awareness of memory problems and facilitate access to early intervention for older Asians in North West Kent. Using an evaluation methodology adopted by the Collaborative and working through a multi-agency steering group, the project identified an appropriate primary care practice, established a link with a specially trained Asian nurse and devised a set of project materials. By inviting older Asian patients with memory problems to make an appointment with the nurse, and enclosing a culturally relevant information leaflet, older people were encouraged to come forward. The project outcomes include significantly increased referral rates from black and minority ethnic communities to specialist services and greater awareness of dementia-related issues in both primary care and Asian care services. Overall, the evaluation suggests that by engaging with a committed primary care practice it is possible to engage a hitherto marginal group of older people in early intervention in dementia and raise awareness about its benefits.
Health and quality of life among older people in rural England: exploring the impact and efficacy of policy
- Authors:
- MILNE Alisoun, HATZIDIMITRIADOU Eleni, WISEMAN Janet
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Policy, 36(3), July 2007, pp.477-495.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
- Place of publication:
- Cambridge
There is increasing evidence that characteristics of place influence health and that the dimensions of rurality interlock with the process of ageing to produce a number of distinctive patterns. For the rising number of older people living in rural England, it is clear that, overall, the countryside promotes the health and wellbeing of the newly retired, fitter cohort who have access to financial and community resources. However, it carries a number of risks for elders who are frail, deprived or isolated; inequalities combine to undermine health and deepen exclusion. The efficacy of policy in taking account of the needs of rural elders is uneven. Analysis of the three most pivotal policy arenas – rurality, ageing and health, and community development – suggests that while some initiatives do promote quality of life, significant limitations remain. Further, the overarching policy response is incoherent and fragmented. Key deficits relate to resource allocation, limited recognition of rural disadvantage, and minimal incorporation of the perspectives of rural elders. That the majority of policy is rurally blind is a fundamental challenge; for rural elders to benefit from policy investment, a systemic shift is required in the mechanisms that steer its development, funding and implementation.
The role and influence of micro-cultures in long-term care on the mental health and wellbeing of older people: a scoping review of evidence
- Authors:
- MIKELYTE Rasa, MILNE Alisoun
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 17(3), 2016, pp.198-214.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore evidence about the role played by micro-cultures in long-term care (LTC) settings in shaping residents’ mental health and wellbeing. Design/methodology/approach: A scoping review on micro-cultures in LTC, including database search of academic and grey literature using pre-determined combinations of key terms and specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. The review followed the methodological framework of Arksey and O’Malley (2005). Findings: Micro-cultures (localised, distinctive cultures of a small group of people) in LTC are complex, multi-faceted and multi-directional; they include social dynamics as well as structural and environmental factors. Although much work has been done on the nature of micro-cultures, limited work has focused on LTC for older people. Initiatives to promote the mental health and wellbeing of residents rarely consider micro-cultures in any holistic way; they tend to be taken into account either as part of a contextual backdrop, or as a uni-directional process often equated with the concept of “care culture” or “organisational culture”. Originality/value: The role played by micro-cultures in influencing the mental health and wellbeing of older people living in LTC settings is significantly under researched. The findings of this review suggest that their complexity and multidimensionality challenges researchers. However if the authors are to develop interventions that promote the mental health and wellbeing of residents it is important to invest in work to explore their nature and systemic influence. (Publisher abstract)
Social work with older people: a vision for the future
- Author:
- MILNE Alisoun
- Publisher:
- The College of Social Work
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 84
- Place of publication:
- London
The report was produced by a special interest group of eight social work academics engaged in research and teaching in gerontology and gerontological social work (the G8) and The College of Social Work (TCSW) . The report offers a ‘vision’ of what the G8 sees as the role, aims, and distinctive nature of social work with older people, in what contexts it can be effectively deployed, what evidence there is, both in the UK and internationally, of its effectiveness and what social work with older people’s contribution is, and can be, to health, wellbeing and the achievement of social policy goals. It outlines the role and positive impact that specialist social work can have in a wide range of settings, including managing personal budgets, supporting independent living, re-ablement, preventing hospital re-admissions, support for ageing carers, prevention of elder abuse and end of life care. The report also argues that investing in specialist social work with older people delivers good value for money, by reducing the use of expensive acute health and care services. It is one of a series of documents published the The College of Social Work which outlines the moral and financial case for investing in adult social work (Edited publisher abstract)
The characteristics and management of elder abuse: evidence and lessons from a UK case study
- Authors:
- MILNE Alisoun, et al
- Journal article citation:
- European Journal of Social Work, 16(4), 2013, pp.489-505.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Despite older people representing a significant majority of victims of abuse in the UK and Europe, evidence about its characteristics and management is limited. This article reports on an analysis of adult protection referrals for older people over an eight year period in two English local authorities. It extends understanding of the characteristics of elder abuse and identifies lessons for its effective management. Findings suggest that older people are at particular risk of multiple and physical abuse. Those living alone are especially vulnerable to financial abuse, and those living in a care home to multiple abuse. The most common settings for abuse were the person's own home or a care home. Just two-fifths of abuse referrals were confirmed, with the vast majority involving multi-agency consultation and most resulting in ongoing monitoring. Findings also suggest that risk is a product of the intersection of dependency and setting, and that information about user and carer need — especially the nature of disability — could enhance the quality of adult protection data and safeguarding responses. The study underscores the need for adult protection legislation and of committing professional resources to the prevention, identification, assessment and management of elder abuse across Europe. (Edited publisher abstract)
Living with dementia in a care home: capturing the experiences of residents
- Author:
- MILNE Alisoun
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 12(2), 2011, pp.76-85.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The purpose of this paper is to consider the experiences and perspectives of residents with dementia living in a care home. The paper reviews current sources of evidence about 'the care home experience'’, including material drawn from: research instruments, interviews, observational methods and phenomenological research which aims to capture the lived experiences of residents. Research that is attempting to capture the lived experiences of residents further adds to the understanding of quality of life (QoL) and quality of care. Specifically, residents prioritise non-disease-related domains of QoL, which is somewhat different than those identified by relatives, care home staff and ‘‘objective’’ measures. Not only is it evident that residents are able to describe aspects of their situation but they appear to retain a sense of self and identity. There is a distinctive need for assessment of QoL amongst residents with dementia that places their subjective view of this concept at its core.
Culture and care in dementia: a study of the Asian community in North West Kent
- Authors:
- SEABROOKE Vinti, MILNE Alisoun
- Publisher:
- Alzheimer's and Dementia Support Services
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 56p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Northfleet
The project described in this report focused on the specific needs of the Asian community in the Dartford and Gravesham area of North West Kent. This enabled the project to reach Asian elders and their families, care workers, GPs and other related professionals to build a detailed and revealing picture of dementia-related need and the conceptualisation of dementia in the Asian community, and identify ways forward in providing appropriate dementia care. The under-representation of ethnic minority populations in dementia services is a long standing concern of researchers and service providers. Service development is only now coming to terms with the fact that the populations that immigrated in the 1940’s are ageing and require dementia care. The project’s key aims were to: investigate the nature of dementia related need amongst older people from the Asian community and their families; determine why so few Asians currently use dementia services; explore what kinds of services they need; and raise awareness and knowledge about dementia. The report examines diagnosis of dementia, service provision, and the support needs of carers. It also raised awareness through workshops. In summary, the project provides evidence of dementia related need, clear direction of specific ways to meet that need and a framework for working with the Asian community, which takes forward dementia education and informs service development. It is essential that the work of this project is taken forward alongside existing service development to ensure that the needs of older Asians with dementia and their carers are effectively met in NW Kent.