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Perceptions of elder abuse in Sweden: voices of older people
- Authors:
- ERLINGSSON Christen L., SAVEMAN Britt-Inger, BERG Agneta C.
- Journal article citation:
- Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention, 5(2), May 2005, pp.213-227.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study explores the perceptions of elder abuse held by older persons in Sweden. Six focus group interviews were conducted. Through qualitative content analysis, the text revealed four themes: causes of elder abuse, conceptions of elder abuse, consequences of elder abuse, and coping with elder abuse. Changing society and families, as well as individual determinants, were believed to be causes of elder abuse. The main conception of elder abuse was that of robbery or assault, and the main consequence was fear. Coping with abuse included individual strategies and improvements in society. Issues of age discrimination were intrinsic in the findings. Gender differences were evident in the group dynamics. Nurses and other health care personnel need to be aware of what older persons believe to be the cause of elder abuse and what they consider abusive. Awareness of the results of this study can help in refining interview and assessment techniques and in designing training manuals.
Are today's older people more active than their predecessors? Participation in leisure-time activities in Sweden in 1992 and 2002
- Authors:
- AGAHI Neda, PARKER Marti G.
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 25(6), November 2005, pp.924-941.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
For the older individual, leisure activities are a resource that helps to maintain health and engagement with life. This article investigates change over 10 years in the level of participation of older people in leisure activities in Sweden, and the factors associated with these changes. The data are from nationally representative samples of the Swedish population aged 77 or more years in 1992 and 2002. The level of participation was higher at the later date, and among four major groups of activities, social and cultural activities increased the most, while physical and intellectual activities increased only among women. Ordered logistic regressions enable variations in the level of participation by age, gender, level of education, disability and fatigue to be described. Participation in most kinds of activities, including the overall level, was more common at the younger ages (the late seventies and early eighties) and among those with full mobility and more education. Since average health was worse in 2002 than in 1992, it cannot explain the higher level of participation. Other possible explanations, such as cohort differences, improved accessibility, and changing gender roles, and the implications for health promotion programmes are discussed.
The amount of informal and formal care among non-demented and demented elderly persons - results from a Swedish population-based study
- Authors:
- NORDBERG G., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20(9), September 2005, pp.862-871.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study describes the amount of formal and informal care for non-demented and demented persons living at home in a population-based sample. The population consisted of all inhabitants, 75 + years, living in a rural community (n = 740). They were clinically examined by physicians and interviewed by nurses. The results found the amount of informal care was much greater than formal care and also greater among demented than non-demented. There was a relationship between the severity of the cognitive decline and the amount of informal care while this pattern was weaker regarding formal care. Tobit regression analyses showed a clear association between the number of hours of informal and formal care and cognitive decline although this pattern was much stronger for informal than formal care. The authors concluded that informal care substitutes rather than compliments formal care and highlights the importance of future studies in order to truly estimate the amount of informal and formal care and the interaction between them.
The impact of information and communication technology on family carers of older people and professionals in Sweden
- Authors:
- MAGNUSSON Lennart, HANSON Elizabeth, NOLAN Mike
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 25(5), September 2005, pp.693-713.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This article explores the perceived benefits of, and barriers to, information technology as a means of supporting family carers of older people. Following a brief overview of the care-giving literature, with particular reference to the Swedish context, interview and questionnaire data collected from 34 families who took part in the Swedish ACTION project are used to explore the role of user-friendly information and communication technology to inform and enable family carers of older people to exercise choice, to care more effectively and to work in partnership with professionals. Interview data from two groups of professionals that utilised ACTION are also examined to throw light on its potential benefits for both carers and professionals. Consideration is given to the barriers to using information technology, and to identifying those carers most likely to benefit. Areas for further development are the need for practitioners' education and a wider range of programmes to address carers' diverse needs. Clearly, lessons learned from the Swedish project have wider relevance, given that new forms of support are being developed in most technically advanced countries.
From plan to market: a comparison of health and old age care policies in the UK and Sweden
- Authors:
- FOTAKI Marianna, BOYD Alan
- Journal article citation:
- Public Money and Management, 25(4), August 2005, pp.237-243.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article reviews changes in the organization, delivery and financing of health care and old age services in the UK and Sweden over the past 25 years. User autonomy has become a more important policy objective than equity of access or equality of opportunity, with a greater reliance on market mechanisms for delivering services. The public and politicians seem to be prepared to accept that competition, choice and decentralization may result in a widening of regional and geographical inequalities, and the erosion of the universal character of the welfare state. These developments reflect broader normative shifts in both societies, and are likely to continue and become more widespread in the future, as they will be strongly influenced by demographic and social factors, fiscal constraints and the policies of supernational bodies such as the European Union.
Dignity and older people
- Authors:
- ARINO-BLASCO Sergio, TADD Win, BOIX-FERRER Josep Antoni
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing, 6(1), June 2005, pp.30-36.
- Publisher:
- Pier Professional
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
This article deals with professionals' views concerning the importance of dignity for older people and how this can best be maintained. Overall, participants painted a negative picture of the lives of older people, although clear distinctions were drawn between fit and frail older people. Indignities associated with old age arose from ill health, dependency, vulnerability, frailty and loss of competence. It was considered that technological advances made older people seem left behind. However, many described working with this age group as an enjoyable experience. Professionals identified the following factors as essential to dignified care: promotion of autonomy and independence,; a person-centred and holistic approach; maintenance of identity and encouragement of involvement; participation and empowerment; effective communication and respect. Undignified care was associated with invisibility, de-personalisation, abuse, humiliation and narrow and mechanistic approaches to care.
Dignity: the voice of older people
- Authors:
- BAYER Tony, TADD Win, KRAJCIK Stefan
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing, 6(1), June 2005, pp.22-29.
- Publisher:
- Pier Professional
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
Reports on the findings of 89 focus group and individual interviews, involving 391 people aged 61plus in six European countries. The study was carried out with the aim of exploring how older people view human dignity in their lives. It was seen as highly relevant and important concept, enhancing self-esteem, self-worth and wellbeing. Three major themes were identified: respect and recognition; participant and involvement; and dignity in care. The empirical data reflected the theoretical model of human dignity in that it considered the dignity of personal identity as of importance and relevance. In conclusion, the authors assert that for the dignity of older people to be enhanced, communication issues, privacy, personal identity and feelings of vulnerability need to be addressed.
Growing older in Europe
- Editor:
- WALKER Alan
- Publisher:
- Open University Press
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 295p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Maidenhead
This book provides a European dimension, examining and comparing the quality of life as experienced by older people in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK. Case studies by European authors consider quality of life indicators such as income, housing, employment, physical and mental health, and family and social support. Examples of good practice are provided from each region, and recommendations are made for future priorities. A comparative introduction by the editor draws out key similarities and differences between the countries studied and sets the context for the case studies.
According to need? Predicting the amount of municipal home help allocated to elderly recipients in an urban area of Sweden
- Authors:
- MEINOW Bettina, KAREHOLT Ingemar, LAGERGREN Marten
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 13(4), July 2005, pp.366-377.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The authors argue that in light of the cutbacks which have been carried out in the Swedish welfare state despite the unchanged official policy of allocation of home help services according to needs, it is essential to evaluate the factors which guide the allocation of home help today. Whereas numerous studies have identified factors which predict entry into the home help system, the present paper concentrates on predictors of the amount of home help amongst those allocated assistance. Data were obtained from the population-based care and services section of the 2002 Swedish National Study of Aging and Care Kungsholmen (SNAC-K). All home help recipients ( 65 years of age) living in an inner city district of Stockholm (Kungsholmen) were analysed with ordinary least squares regressions to identify predictors of the number of hours of home help that equalled 943. Need indicators, i.e. dependency in activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental ADLs (IADLs), and cognitive impairment (Berger scale) were the strongest predictors of more hours of home help. The addition of sociodemographic (i.e. age, gender and income), environmental (i.e. informal care, housing adaptations and housing accessibility) and structural (i.e. variations in allocation decisions between one care manager and another) factors contributed only marginally to the explained variance. Hours of help entitlement increased slightly with greater age. Co-residing individuals were allocated significantly fewer home help hours than those living alone. Income and regular access to informal care were not significant predictors. The fact that services are provided according to need criteria does not necessarily mean that the provided services are adequate to meet needs. On the macro level, social policy decisions and available economic and manpower resources determine the allotment of municipal home help. However, this study in an urban sample suggests that, within the available resources, the amount of home help allocated is guided mainly by need indicators amongst those given assistance.
Dignity and older people: the voice of society
- Authors:
- STRATTON David, TADD Win
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing, 6(1), June 2005, pp.37-45.
- Publisher:
- Pier Professional
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
This article describes the findings of a focus group study designed to discover young and middle aged attitudes towards the subject of age and dignity. 89 focus groups were carried out with 505 participants aged between 13 and 59 years from the UK, Ireland, Spain, France, Slovakia and Sweden. The results confirmed that dignity was important to people of all ages but particularly to older people. Being treated as an individual was critical for the maintenance of dignity. In the participating countries older people were generally treated negatively and undervalued and seen as vulnerable, second-class citizens. Old age was seen as a time for physical and mental deterioration, poverty and dependency. Suggestions for enhancing dignity included greater public awareness about dignity for older people and existing care and support services. Health policies should also tackle ageism in service provision and the developments of standards in health and social care.