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Providing informal care next to paid work: explaining care-giving gratification, burden and stress among older workers
- Authors:
- GRUNWALD Olga, DAMMAN Marleen, HENKENS Kene
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 41(10), 2021, pp.2280-2298.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
With an increasing retirement age, more older adults are combining employment with informal care-giving responsibilities. However, little is known about how older workers experience care-giving activities next to their paid jobs. This study aims to fill this gap by examining how the work situation (i.e. working hours, occupational status and perceived access to human resources practices) is associated with feelings of gratification, burden and stress in care-giving. Using data from the NIDI Pension Panel Survey, we study care-giving experiences – in other words, the extent to which care-giving activities are gratifying, burdensome or stressful – of 1,651 Dutch older workers (age 60–65) who provide care at least once per week. Multivariate analyses reveal that the work situation plays an explanatory role next to socio-demographic factors and indicators of the care-giving situation. Working care-givers who feel they have access to phased retirement and organisational health support experience care-giving as relatively less burdensome and stressful. Moreover, those with access to phased retirement experience relatively higher levels of gratification in care-giving. Our findings suggest that the availability of organisational support relates to lower levels of care-giving burden and stress, and to some extent to higher levels of gratification. Organisations thus play an important role in facilitating the combination of work and care-giving obligations in a context of longer working lives. (Edited publisher abstract)
Attuning to the needs of structural socially isolated older adults with complex problems: the experiences of social workers with personal guidance trajectories for a less‐researched group
- Authors:
- MACHIELSE Anja, DUYNDAM Joachim
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 29(3), 2021, pp.800-808.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Many interventions to combat the social isolation of older adults are hardly effective because they ignore both the heterogeneity of the target group and the uniqueness of the individual experiences of social isolation. In order to be effective, interventions must meet the individual needs of specific clients. In this study, we aim to gain insight into the process in which professionals seek to understand how clients assess their situation, and what this means for the help they provide. We investigated how social workers in one‐to‐one guidance trajectories try to attune to the needs of the clients they accompany and what considerations they make in doing so. The study was conducted between 2014 and 2017 in the city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Participants were 20 social workers of 8 social work agencies who provided guidance to community‐dwelling older adults who have been isolated for a long time and have problems in multiple life domains. We analysed 36 research‐driven logbooks, written by the social workers, which contain case study descriptions with information about specific clients who belong to the target group of this study. We also interviewed the individual social workers and organised six focus groups with 8–12 of the participating social workers. Our findings make clear how social workers try to identify the needs of their clients and provide help that is tailored to their possibilities and ambitions. By giving recognition to the emotions and situations of their clients, and by practical problem‐solving, they build a relationship with the older adults in which adequate help is accepted. The professionals set modest goals; their guidance helps stabilise the existing situation and may also contribute to the self‐reliance of their clients. This knowledge will be highly valuable in the developing and implementation of programmes and interventions for this less‐researched group. (Edited publisher abstract)
‘Big Five’ personality characteristics are associated with loneliness but not with social network size in older adults, irrespective of depression
- Authors:
- SCHUTTER N., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Psychogeriatrics, 32(1), 2020, pp.53-63.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge Journals
Objective: Loneliness and social isolation have negative health consequences and are associated with depression. Personality characteristics are important when studying persons at risk for loneliness and social isolation. The objective of this study was to clarify the association between personality factors, loneliness and social network, taking into account diagnosis of depression, partner status and gender. Design: Cross-sectional data of an ongoing prospective cohort study, the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older Persons (NESDO), were used. Setting and participants: 474 participants were recruited from mental health care institutions and general practitioners in five different regions in the Netherlands. Measurements: NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) personality factors and loneliness and social network were measured as well as possible confounders. Multinominal logistic regression analyses were performed to analyse the associations between NEO-FFI factors and loneliness and social network. Interaction terms were investigated for depression, partner status and gender. Results: Higher neuroticism and lower extraversion in women and lower agreeableness in both men and women were associated with loneliness but not with social network size irrespective of the presence of depression. In the non-depressed group only, lower openness was associated with loneliness. Interaction terms with partner status were not significant. Conclusions: Personality factors are associated with loneliness especially in women. In men lower agreeableness contributes to higher loneliness. In non-depressed men and women, lower openness is associated with loneliness. Personality factors are not associated with social network size. (Edited publisher abstract)
‘Meaning in life? Make it as bearable, enjoyable and good as possible!’: a qualitative study among community‐dwelling aged adults who receive home nursing in the Netherlands
- Authors:
- HUPKENS Susan, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 29(1), 2021, pp.78-90.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The population of adults ageing in place and using home‐care services is growing rapidly worldwide. Meaning in life (MiL) of this group of clients is relevant for healthcare and social workers. MiL is associated with many positive outcomes, but can be challenging for aged persons. Objective of this study was to explore MiL in daily life of community‐dwelling aged persons who receive homecare. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was followed. Three waves of semi‐structured interviews took place among 24 clients of a home‐care organisation in the Netherlands between November 2015 and July 2018. Photo‐elicitation was part of the interview procedure. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and dialogues enhanced understanding. Findings show that participants derived meaning from self, others, environment and living. The process of retaining MiL involved maintaining, adapting and discovering. We conclude that community‐dwelling aged adults can draw MiL from many sources. Retaining MiL is interwoven in everyday life and requires continuous adaptation to ever‐changing life conditions during later life. Although relevant general themes were sketched in this paper, the importance of each, and the connections between them, vary and come to light at the individual level. The themes in this paper and the cases in the appendices provide insights that may help professionals recognise MiL in their work. Besides listening to the stories of aged adults, person‐centred interventions should support aged adult's strategy to retain MiL. (Edited publisher abstract)
Physical fitness is predictive for 5‐year survival in older adults with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- OPPEWAL Alyt, HILGENKAMP Thessa I.M.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 32(4), 2019, pp.958-966.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: The very low physical fitness levels of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) may influence their life expectancy. Therefore this study investigated the predictive value of physical fitness for survival in older adults with intellectual disabilities. Method: In the Healthy Ageing and Intellectual Disabilities (HA‐ID) study, the physical fitness levels of 900 older adults (≥50 years; 61.5 ± 8.1 years) were measured at baseline. All‐cause mortality was collected over a 5‐year follow‐up period. Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine the association between each physical fitness test and survival, adjusted for age, sex, level of ID, and Down syndrome. Results: The physical fitness components that were independently predictive for survival were manual dexterity (HR = 0.96 [0.94–0.98]), visual reaction time (HR = 1.57 [1.28–1.94]), balance (HR = 0.97 [0.95–0.99]), comfortable gait speed (HR = 0.65 [0.54–0.78]), fast gait speed (HR = 0.81 [0.72–0.91]), grip strength (HR = 0.97 [0.94–0.99]) and cardiorespiratory fitness (HR = 0.997 [0.995–0.999]), with a better physical fitness showing a lower mortality risk. Conclusion: This study showed for the first time that physical fitness was independently associated with survival in older adults with intellectual disabilities. Improving and maintaining physical fitness must become an essential part of care and support for this population. (Edited publisher abstract)
Social network type and informal care use in later life: a comparison of three Dutch birth cohorts aged 75–84
- Authors:
- SUANET Bianca, van GROENOU Marjolein Broese, van TILBURG Theo G.
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 39(4), 2019, pp.749-770.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Recent societal changes have increased the salience of non-kin relationships. It can be questioned whether network types that are more strongly non-kin-based give more informal care nowadays. This study examines how informal care use differs according to network type for three birth cohorts. Data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) on older adults aged 75–84 years, interviewed in 1992, 2002 and 2012, respectively (total sample size N = 2,151, analytical sample having functional limitations N = 926). The study identified four network types: restricted, family-focused with a partner, family-focused without a partner and wider community-focused diverse networks. Wider community-focused diverse networks are more common in the late birth cohort, whereas restricted networks and family-focused networks without a partner are less common. Logistic regression analyses reveal that those in a family-focused network with a partner use informal care more often than those in the other three network types, and insignificant interaction terms show that this does not differ by birth cohort. Irrespective of their network type, those in the late birth cohort use informal care less often. However, after controlling for need, predisposing and context factors, this cohort-difference is no longer significant. The study concludes that despite large-scale societal changes, wider community-focused diverse networks do not provide more informal care than before and that among the functionally impaired, the odds of receiving informal care does not decline across birth cohorts. (Edited publisher abstract)
Change and stability in loneliness and friendship after an intervention for older women
- Authors:
- MARTINA Camille M.S., STEVENS Martin, WESTERHOF Gerben J.
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 38(3), 2018, pp.435-454.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study examines patterns of change and stability in loneliness among 108 women who had participated in a friendship enrichment programme during the year after the programme. Seven groups of participants in which different levels of loneliness significantly declined, remained stable or increased were identified. These were reduced to the following groups: those recovered, significantly improved and not improved. The authors then examined whether resources such as age, education, partner status, health, initially available friendships and developments in friendships were related to these loneliness patterns. The data were collected using face-to-face semi-structured interviews, a loneliness scale and the personal convoy model. The results indicate that none of the demographic characteristics, nor health, were associated with the patterns of loneliness. Friendship availability and development did differ among the groups. Recovery from loneliness after a year was associated with the presence of a friend in the outer circle of the convoy and having more variation in one's friendships initially and one year later. It was also associated with the presence of a friend in the inner circle and reporting improvement in friendship later. The absence of these qualities initially or subsequently was more characteristic of those whose loneliness was stable or increased. Thus, the maintenance of companionate friendship and the development of intimacy in one's friendships seem advantageous for recovery from loneliness. While this study illustrates that recovery from, and significant reduction of loneliness are possible, we are not yet able to predict who will benefit and who will not benefit from a friendship enrichment programme. (Publisher abstract)
The creation of age-friendly environments is especially important to frail older people
- Authors:
- CRAMM Jane M., DIJK Hanna M. van, NIEBOER Anna P.
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 38(4), 2018, pp.700-720.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
The preference of older people when it comes to ageing in place may be modified by levels of frailty. The aim of this research is to characterise the relationship between frailty and ageing in place, and to identify differences in neighbourhood characteristics supporting ageing in place missed by frail and non-frail older people. A concurrent nested mixed-methods approach was used. For quantitative evaluation, a sample of 945 independently living older adults residing in four districts of Rotterdam were asked to complete a questionnaire in 2013 (response rate = 62%; N = 558). In addition, 32 interviews were conducted with frail and non-frail older people. Results showed that gender, age and especially frailty were related to missed neighbourhood characteristics. People displayed awareness of their increasing frailty and often acknowledged that it increased the need for neighbourhood characteristics enabling them to age in place. The authors conclude that dependence on neighbourhoods varies with frailty status. This relationship is dynamic; with frailty, older people become more dependent on their neighbourhood. However, expectations regarding neighbourhood characteristics seem to dissipate with advanced age and increasing frailty. (Publisher abstract)
The relationship between social functioning and subjective memory complaints in older persons: a population-based longitudinal cohort study
- Authors:
- KUIPER Jisca S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 32(10), 2017, pp.1059-1071.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objective: Poor social functioning is associated with cognitive decline in older adults. It is unclear whether social functioning is also associated with subjective memory complaints (SMC). This study investigated the association between social functioning and incident SMC and SMC recovery. Methods: A population-based sample of 8762 older adults (aged ≥65 years) with good objective cognitive functioning at baseline (MMSE ≥26) from the LifeLines Cohort Study were followed for 1.5 years. Self-reported SMC were measured at baseline and after 1.5 years follow-up. Aspects of social functioning included marital status, household composition, social network size, social activity, quality of social relationships, social support, affection, behavioural confirmation, and status. Results: Thirteen percent (513/3963) developed SMC during follow-up (incident SMC). Multivariate logistic regression analyses (adjusted for age, gender, education level, physical activity, alcohol use, smoking status, depression, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke) showed that participants with better feelings of affection, behavioural confirmation and stable good social support had a lower risk of incident SMC. Thirty-four percent (1632/4799) reported recovery. Participants with good social functioning at baseline on all determinants reported more SMC recovery. People who remained stable in a relationship, stable in good quality of social relationships or increased in quality of social relationships more often report SMC recovery. Conclusions: Good social functioning is associated with less incident SMC and more SMC recovery over a follow-up period of 1.5 years. Albeit future confirmative studies are needed, the authors argue for also targeting social functioning when designing multidomain interventions to prevent or slow down cognitive decline. (Edited publisher abstract)
Can mindfulness-based interventions influence cognitive functioning in older adults? A review and considerations for future research
- Authors:
- BERK Lotte, BOXTEL Martin van, OS Jim van
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 21(11), 2017, pp.1113-1120.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: An increased need exists to examine factors that protect against age-related cognitive decline. There is preliminary evidence that meditation can improve cognitive function. However, most studies are cross-sectional and examine a wide variety of meditation techniques. This review focuses on the standard eight-week mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). Method: The authors searched the PsychINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, COCHRANE, and PubMed databases to identify original studies investigating the effects of MBI on cognition in older adults. Results: Six reports were included in the review of which three were randomised controlled trials. Studies reported preliminary positive effects on memory, executive function and processing speed. However, most reports had a high risk of bias and sample sizes were small. The only study with low risk of bias, large sample size and active control group reported no significant findings. Conclusion: The authors conclude that eight-week MBI for older adults are feasible, but results on cognitive improvement are inconclusive due a limited number of studies, small sample sizes, and a high risk of bias. Rather than a narrow focus on cognitive training per se, future research may productively shift to investigate MBI as a tool to alleviate suffering in older adults, and to prevent cognitive problems in later life already in younger target populations. (Edited publisher abstract)