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Rapid needs assessments for older adults in disaster
- Author:
- BURNETT Jason
- Journal article citation:
- Generations, 31(4), Winter 2007, pp.10-15.
- Publisher:
- American Society on Aging
The author describes the use of a Rapid Needs Assessment tool to assess the needs of victims of Hurricane Katrina. The tool was specifically designed to identify the needs of older people in disaster situations.
Social networks: a profile of the elderly who self-neglect
- Authors:
- BURNETT Jason, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 18(4), 2007, pp.35-49.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Self-neglect is known to be an independent risk factor for premature death among older people, and has been linked to depression and the presence of mental and physical decline. Sound social networks have been shown to slow the process of decline, but little is known about the social networks of those who self-neglect. This study compares 91 cases of self-neglect validated by Adult Protective Services with 91 controls matched on age, race, gender and socioeconomic status. The self-neglect group were significantly less like to live with a spouse, live with others, have weekly contact with children or siblings, visit neighbours or friends, and participate in religious activities. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
What is the association between self-neglect, depressive symptoms and untreated medical conditions?
- Authors:
- BURNETT Jason, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 18(4), 2007, pp.25-34.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This study is described as the first to examine the occurrence of untreated medical conditions in older people with depression who self-neglect. Two matched samples were compared: 50 self-neglect cases validated by Adult Protective Services; and 50 non self-neglecters recruited from a hospital geriatric unit. All received a comprehensive assessment including the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-SF), Mini Mental State Examination, Self-Rated Health and Mortality questionnaire, Physical Performance Test, laboratory blood analysis and health investigation by a geriatric nurse practitioner. There was a statistically significant difference in the distribution of abnormal GDS-SF scores between the self-neglect and control groups. In addition, self-neglecters with scores indicative of depression were also more likely (56% versus 21%) to have untreated medical conditions than self-neglecters who had normal scores on the GDS-SF. Clinicians should therefore anticipate that depressed elderly patients who self-neglect may have untreated medical conditions. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).