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COVID 19 and dementia: experience from six European countries
- Authors:
- BURNS Alistair, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, early cite 18 January 2021,
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The effects of Covid‐19 have been well documented across the world with an appreciation that older people and in particular those with dementia have been disproportionately and negatively affected by the pandemic. This is both in terms of their health outcomes (mortality and morbidity), care decisions made by health systems and the longer‐term effects such as neurological damage. The International Dementia Alliance (IDEAL) is a group of dementia specialists from six European countries and this paper is a summary of our experience of the effects of COVID‐19 on our populations. Experience from England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland highlight the differential response from health and social care systems and the measures taken to maximise support for older people and those with dementia. The common themes include recognition of the atypical presentation of COVID‐19 in older people (and those with dementia) the need to pay particular attention to the care of people with dementia in care homes; the recognition of the toll that isolation can bring on older people and the complexity of the response by health and social services to minimise the negative impact of the pandemic. Potential new ways of working identified during the pandemic could serve as a positive legacy from the crisis. (Edited publisher abstract)
Housing our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation
- Authors:
- HOMES AND COMMUNITIES AGENCY, GREAT BRITAIN. Department of Health, GREAT BRITAIN. Department for Communities and Local Government
- Publisher:
- Homes and Communities Agency
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 59p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Following the Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods national strategy report, the Housing our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation was established in 2009 to examine what further reform is needed to ensure that new build specialised housing meets the needs and aspirations of the older people of the future. This report brings together the findings and recommendations of the panel, which focused on improving the quality of life of the ageing population by influencing the availability and choice of high-quality sustainable homes and neighbourhoods, challenging the perceptions of mainstream and specialised housing for older people, raising the aspirations of older people to demand higher quality more sustainable homes, and spreading awareness of the possibilities offered through innovative design of housing and neighbourhoods. It highlights key design recommendations, offers case studies from London, Bristol, York, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Sweden, proposes further work, links to parallel studies that emphasise the role of place making in enhancing quality of life, and forms the basis of advice to government ministers.
Growing older in the community: European projects in housing and planning
- Authors:
- BRECH Joachim, POTTER Philip
- Publisher:
- Anchor Housing Trust/Wohnbund
- Publication year:
- 1994
- Pagination:
- 197p.,tables,illus.,bibliogs.
- Place of publication:
- Oxford
Research report looking at how meeting the care and housing needs of older people, to enable them to live in the community for as long as possible, is being tackled by European countries.
Regulating long-term care quality: an international comparison
- Editors:
- MOR Vincent, LEONE Tiziana, MARESSO Anna
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 519
- Place of publication:
- Cambridge
This edited book provides a comprehensive international survey of long-term care provision and regulation, built around a series of case studies from Europe, North America and Asia. The analytical framework allows the different approaches that countries have adopted to be compared side by side and readers are encouraged to consider which quality assurance approaches might best meet their own country's needs. Wider issues underpinning the need to regulate the quality of long-term care are also discussed. The book is aimed at policymakers working in the health care sector, researchers and students taking graduate courses on health policy and management. (Edited publisher abstract)
Older people's views of falls-prevention interventions in six European countries
- Authors:
- YARDLEY Lucy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 46(5), October 2006, pp.650-660.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study conducted semi-structured interviews to assess perceived advantages and barriers to taking part in falls-related interventions were carried out in six European countries (Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Switzerland and United Kingdom) with 69 people aged 68 to 97 years. The sample was selected to include people with very different experiences of participation or nonparticipation in falls-related interventions, but all individuals were asked about interventions that included strength and balance training. The results found attitudes were similar in all countries and contexts. People were motivated to participate in strength and balance training by a wide range of perceived benefits (interest and enjoyment, improved health, mood, and independence) and not just reduction of falling risk. Participation also was encouraged by a personal invitation from a health practitioner and social approval from family and friends. Barriers to participation included denial of falling risk, the belief that no additional falls-prevention measures were necessary, practical barriers to attendance at groups (e.g., transport, effort, and cost), and a dislike of group activities. Implications: Because many older people reject the idea that they are at risk of falling, the uptake of strength and balance training programs may be promoted more effectively by maximizing and emphasizing their multiple positive benefits for health and well-being. A personal invitation from a health professional to participate is important, and it also may be helpful to provide home-based programs for those who dislike or find it difficult to attend groups.
Performance of an abbreviated version of the Lubben Social Network Scale among three European community-dwelling older adult populations
- Authors:
- LUBBEN James, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 46(4), August 2006, pp.503-513.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
There is a need for valid and reliable short scales that can be used to assess social networks and social supports and to screen for social isolation in older persons. This study is a cross-national and cross-cultural evaluation of the performance of an abbreviated version of the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6), which was used to screen for social isolation among community-dwelling older adult populations in three European countries. Based on the concept of lack of redundancy of social ties we defined clinical cut-points of the LSNS-6 for identifying persons deemed at risk for social isolation. Among all three samples, the LSNS-6 and two subscales (Family and Friends) demonstrated high levels of internal consistency, stable factor structures, and high correlations with criterion variables. The proposed clinical cut-points showed good convergent validity, and classified 20% of the respondents in Hamburg, 11% of those in Solothurn (Switzerland), and 15% of those in London as at risk for social isolation. The authors conclude that abbreviated scales such as the LSNS-6 should be considered for inclusion in practice protocols of gerontological practitioners. Screening older persons based on the LSNS-6 provides quantitative information on their family and friendship ties, and identifies persons at increased risk for social isolation who might benefit from in-depth assessment and targeted interventions.
Minority elderly care in Europe: country profiles
- Editors:
- PATEL Naina, (ed.)
- Publisher:
- Policy Research Institute on Ageing and Ethnicity
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 232p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Researchers in ten countries (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the UK) examine 27 minority groups over a three-year period, looking at social and welfare structures, health, employment and living conditions. This project is the first venture to begin compiling information on minority elders on such a scale. While the experiences of each country are distinct, there are undoubtedly similarities that can be drawn in terms of poor access to housing, lower paid employment and a worse state of health. The project involves minority groups who came from former colonial possessions in the post-war period and those who have arrived more recently, fleeing war and dispossession. It also examines the provision of groups who have known no other homeland yet are endemically discriminated against, such as the Roma.
Service provision for elderly depressed persons and political and professional awareness for this subject: a comparison of six European countries
- Author:
- BRAMSFELD Anke
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(5), May 2003, pp.392-401.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Under-treatment of depression in late-life is a subject of rising public health concern throughout Europe. This study investigates and compares the availability of services for depressed elderly persons in Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. Additionally, it explores factors that might contribute to an adequate services supply for depressed elderly people. Review of the literature and guide supported expert interviews. Analysis of the practice of care provision for depressed elderly persons and of indicators for political and professional awareness, such as university chairs, certification processes and political programmes in gerontopsychiatry. Only Switzerland and the UK offer countrywide community-oriented services for depressed elderly persons. Clinical experience in treating depression in late-life is not regularly acquired in the vocational training of the concerned professionals. Indicators suggest that the medical society and health politics in Switzerland and the UK regard psychiatric disease in the elderly more importantly than it is the case in the other investigated countries. Service provision for depressed elderly persons seems to be more elaborated and better available in countries where gerontopsychiatry is institutionalised to a greater extend in the medical society and health politics.
Minority elderly health and social care in Europe: summary findings of the minority elderly care (MEC) project
- Editors:
- PATEL Naina, (ed.)
- Publisher:
- Policy Research Institute on Ageing and Ethnicity
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 13p.
- Place of publication:
- Bolton
This report, using data from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Switzerland, is designed to inform and help plan the nature and direction of provision of health and social care services in the years to come. The project has the explicit intention of seeking to draw attention to the needs of minority ethnic (ME) elders and thereby improve the provision of services for them throughout Europe. Key findings showed that family was very important to ME elders in all countries and not surprisingly, most elders preferred to be looked after by their family in their own home. It is apparent that in every country there were significant proportions of ME elders on low incomes which were substantially less than the average incomes for elderly in the country concerned. In all countries there were quite significant proportions who described their general health as poor or very poor and these elders needed more medical treatment. The use of different health and social care services is not uniform across the different ethnic groups and countries. While each country has its own systems and procedures it is apparent that in all countries there are some elders who are failing to gain access to services. There are several things an organisation can do to help ME elders to overcome barriers and gain access to services. For example, information can be provided in appropriate languages, staff can be given training in culture-specific care, or new services may be designed specifically to meet the needs of different ME groups. The report makes several recommendations including the provision of clear information about the rights of the individual in accessing and using health and social care services and in different formats and languages. Adopt a person centred approach to patients and service users. Recognise that certain ethnic groups face particularly strong access barriers. Each of the issues is described in detail for each country included in the report.
Growing old differently
- Editors:
- BOGARD Gerald, TYLER William
- Publisher:
- Council of Europe
- Publication year:
- 1994
- Pagination:
- 278p.,bibliogs.
- Place of publication:
- London
Europe wide collection of papers looking at what part education has to play in combating isolation and exclusion from mainstream life of the growing population of older people. Suggests new approaches to education for older people and ageing polices that focus on this issue and on the construction of an active and responsible citizenship for all.