Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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Resilience in attaining and sustaining sobriety among older lesbians wth alcoholism
- Authors:
- ROWAN Noell L., BUTLER Sandra S.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 57(2-4), 2014, pp.176-197.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This phenomenological study illuminates coping among older lesbians with alcoholism. Twenty study participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling; each completed 3 interviews structured to gain a deeper understanding of participants’ lived experiences. This article focuses on the key situations and people that helped study participants obtain sobriety and stay sober. Five major themes emerged from the data: wake-up calls, impact of formal treatment, impact of 12-step recovery groups, consequences from other sources, and resiliency. Findings support the need for culturally sensitive approaches to practice with this subpopulation of older adults. (Publisher abstract)
Rural elderly women's attitudes toward professional and governmental assistance
- Authors:
- BUTLER Sandra S., DePOY Elizabeth
- Journal article citation:
- Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work, 11(1), Spring 1996, pp.76-94.
- Publisher:
- Sage
The study presented here examined the attitudes of 218 rural elderly women in the USA toward receiving professional and governmental assistance. The results indicated that although the respondents had little familiarity with governmental programmes, they were generally in favour of increased assistance for people in need. The relationship of these constructs to age, income, education, and marital status is discussed, as are the implications for social work practice with this population.
Low-income, rural elders' perceptions of financial security and health care costs
- Author:
- BUTLER Sandra S.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Poverty, 19(1), 2006, pp.25-43.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Despite Medicare coverage, health care expenses consume a significant proportion of older Americans' incomes. These costs can be particularly difficult for low-income elders. Rural elders face some unique challenges including lower incomes and higher health care costs, on average. This study examines the perceptions of a sample of 66 low-income rural elders regarding their employment history, current income, financial security, health status, level of health insurance, and ability to meet basic needs and health care costs. In general, study participants were happy to be living rurally, although many had had restricted employment opportunities throughout their lives with resulting low retirement incomes. Health care expenses were burdensome for many. The article concludes with advice to policy makers from the study participants and by examining how the recent Medicare reform might help or hurt these elders. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Older lesbians' experiences with home care: varying levels of disclosure and discrimination
- Author:
- BUTLER Sandra S.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 29(4), 2017, pp.378-398.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
There is considerable evidence that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults have experienced barriers to health care access and have profound fears about how they will be treated in the long-term care system, but the specific experiences of older lesbians have received less attention. Most older adults needing long-term services and supports (LTSS) prefer to remain at home, and this is true for lesbians as well. This article reports on a national, qualitative study of the experiences of 20 older lesbians (age 65 and older) with home care workers. The experiences of six informal partner caregivers with home care services are also included. Emergent themes regarding level of disclosure, experiences with homophobia, evaluation of care received, and thoughts about ideal LTSS are described. Most study participants did not disclose their sexual orientation to their home care workers. A significant minority experienced homophobia, but nearly all ultimately found workers who provided good care with which they were comfortable. Their visions of ideal LTSS included greater affordability and particular qualities that were important for home care workers to possess, such as competence, caring and acceptance. Practice and policy implications are outlined including careful recruitment, training and supervision of home care workers to foster lesbian-sensitive care, but also improved wages and work conditions in order to maintain a quality home care workforce. (Publisher abstract)
Evaluating the senior companion program: a mixed-method approach
- Author:
- BUTLER Sandra S.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 47(1/2), 2006, pp.45-70.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article reports on a mixed-method assessment of the Senior Companion Program (SCP), a federal program in the United States which provides volunteer opportunities with small stipends to low-income older adults, 60 years of age and older, who provide companionship and offer assistance to frail community elders. Through four standardized scales and open-ended questions regarding the impact of the SCP in their lives, 34 Senior Companion volunteers and 32 of their clients were interviewed. Informants reported relatively large social networks and low levels of depression and loneliness. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data revealed the benefits of the program for both volunteers and their clients. Themes emerging from the rich narratives included: companionship, independence, reduced anxiety, giving, and rewards. The article concludes with a suggested brief evaluation instrument that directors of SCP programs, and other similar programs, can use to collect data on the impact of their program-something that is required, but often difficult to do. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Depression and caregiver burden among rural elder caregivers
- Authors:
- BUTLER Sandra S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 46(1), 2005, pp.47-63.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Through a simple screening tool, the Maine Primary Partners in Caring (MPPC) project identified individuals providing care to older adults through rural primary care practices, in order to provide “upstream interventions” before caregivers were in crisis. This paper describes a sample of 62 rural family caregivers identified through their physicians' offices. High levels of caregiver burden and depression were reported. Family support and knowledge of caregiver tasks predicted decreased caregiver burden and depression, while isolation predicted increased caregiver burden. Implications of these results for gerontological social workers are outlined. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).