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Ageing and well-being in an international context
- Author:
- CLIFTON Jonathan
- Publisher:
- Institute for Public Policy Research
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 36p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
The author asks what lessons the UK can learn from several case studies from overseas about how the well-being of older people can be incorporated into a wider range of policy areas than those, traditionally, of pensions, health and social care. For example, in the UK an ageing population brings more focus onto mental health, loneliness and isolation issues, whereas life satisfaction is highest in Japan among those over 65. In addition, case studies from Ireland, the United States, Norway, Finland, New Zealand and China are presented with much variation in findings. Examples of how the well-being of older people can be addressed in the four key areas of relationships, work, learning and the built environment are discussed and put forward by the author as good practice for the future of an ageing population in the UK.
At risk alcohol drinking in primary care patients aged 75 years and older
- Authors:
- WEYERER Siegfried, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 24(12), December 2009, pp.1376-1385.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study looks at alcohol consumption patterns among older patients. The subjects were 3,224 non-demented patients aged 75 and over attending general practitioners in 6 cities in Germany. Detailed assessment of alcohol consumption was determined by structured clinical interviews. The results showed that 50.1% were abstainers and that 43.4% were moderate drinkers. The prevalence of at-risk alcohol consumption (over 20g alcohol per day for women and over 30g alcohol per day for men) was 6.5%. This was significantly higher for men (12.1%) than women (3.6%). Compared to moderate drinking, at-risk drinking was significantly higher in men, individuals with liver disease, and current smokers. Apart from the liver disease, at-risk drinking in this population was associated with relatively good physical and mental health. The authors suggest that public prevention measures should focus on at-risk drinkers to make them aware of potential risks of high alcohol consumption in old age.
When the solution is part of the problem: problem solving in elderly suicide attempters
- Authors:
- GIBBS Lawrence M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 24(12), December 2009, pp.1396-1404.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Depression, loss, and physical illness are associated with suicide in the elderly. However, the nature of individual vulnerability remains poorly understood. Unresolved problems may create stressors, which may lead those with deficits in problem-solving ability to be predisposed to suicidal behaviour. This study tests the hypothesis that depressed elderly with past suicide attempts will demonstrate poorer self-reported social problem-solving compared to never-suicidal depressed elderly and to non-depressed elderly controls. The 64 participants who were all aged 60 or more included 18 depressed suicide attempters, 27 non-suicidal depressed participants, and 19 non-depressed controls. All completed the Social Problem Solving Inventory-Revised Short-Version to measure both adaptive problem-solving dimensions and dysfunctional dimensions. The results showed that depressed elderly who had attempted suicide perceived their overall problem solving as deficient. Suicide attempters perceived their problems more negatively and approached them in a more impulsive manner. Both depressed groups reported lower rational problem solving and higher avoidance compared to non-depressed controls. The article concludes that a perception of life problems as threatening and unsolvable and an impulsive approach to problem solving appear to predispose vulnerable elderly to suicide attempts.
Ageing cities: public health approaches to creating a mentally healthy London for older citizens
- Authors:
- MANTHORPE Jill, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Mental Health, 8(3), September 2009, pp.20-27.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
At a time of increasing interest in mental health in later life, the role of public health approaches is potentially heightened. This paper draws on interview data with older people living in London to consider the interplay between personal and public approaches to health and well-being. The interviews were under taken as part of the midpoint review of the UK government's 10-year strategy for older people (Healthcare Commission et al, 2006) and the social characteristics of London are considered.
Senior gambling: risk or reward?
- Authors:
- PAREKH Rupal, MORANO Carmen
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 52(7), October 2009, pp.686-694.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article reports on the development and implementation of a Gambling Education Workshop for older adults attending senior centres in a large metropolitan area, along with qualitative interviews with a sample of workshop participants. Among the findings from this project are the need for greater awareness of the risk factors associated with problematic gambling, as well as for greater awareness among older adults about the consequences associated with gambling.
Understanding Alzheimer's disease and other dementias
- Authors:
- GRAHAM Nori, WARNER James
- Publisher:
- Family Doctor
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 160p.
- Place of publication:
- Poole
Dementia is a term used to describe any condition where a variety of different brain functions such as memory, thinking, recognition, language, planning and personality deteriorate over time. Everyone gets more forgetful as they get older but that does not mean that they have dementia - it is not part of normal ageing. The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, but there are several other types. This book is intended for patients and carers and for anyone who may be worried that they or one their family or friends may have dementia. Chapters include: Symptoms of dementia; Treatments for dementia; Living with dementia; Future prospects.
Early response as predictor of final remission in elderly depressed patients
- Authors:
- KOK Rob M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 24(11), November 2009, pp.1299-1303.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Several studies have attempted to predict the final response or remission based on improvement during the early course of treatment of major depression, but there is variation in the cut offs used to define early response and in the best week to predict final results. This study aimed to compare different cut-offs at different time points early in the treatment of elderly depressed patients, using a 12 week randomised controlled trial in 81 elderly inpatients with major depression comparing venlafaxine with nortriptyline. The results showed that in elderly in patients, prediction of final remission is possible as early as week 3. In conclusion the researchers suggested that, combining the results from this study and other studies addressing this issue, treatment should be changed in the elderly if after 3-4 weeks less than 30% improvement in depression score has been achieved.
Persistence in goal striving and positive reappraisal as psychosocial resources for ageing well: a dyadic analysis
- Author:
- WINDSOR Tim D.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 13(6), November 2009, pp.874-884.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study looks at the association of individuals and their spouses tendencies towards goal striving and positive reappraisal with the individuals’ characteristics of successful aging. The indices of successful aging used were: physical and mental health, life satisfaction, and social networks and engagement. It was hypothesised that goal persistence and positive reappraisal would be positively associated with aging well. One hundred and twenty married couples with an age range of 52 to 90 completed a questionnaire concerned with psychosocial correlates of mental health and well-being. The results showed that individuals’ tendencies towards positive reappraisal were positively related to physical and mental health and life satisfaction, and were also related to more extensive social networks. Individuals’ persistence in goal striving was associated with better mental health but not to any of the other indices of aging well. Spouses’ goal persistence and reappraisal tendencies were not related to individuals’ aging well. The author concludes that the results highlight the value of positive reappraisal as a copying strategy to loss of primary control later in life.
Linking elderly to holistic care services through integrated communication technology: the Personal Emergency Link service rendered by the Senior Citizen Home Safety Association in Hong Kong
- Authors:
- LEUNG Barbara S. L., TIMOTHY K. W. A., CARMEN K. M. G.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Technology in Human Services, 27(1), January 2009, pp.34-43.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
In 1996, after the deaths in a cold spell of 150 elderly people living alone, concerned citizens formed the Senior Citizen Home Safety Association which now supplies an emergency link service to nearly 61,000 people in Hong Kong, and this article describes the service and the use made of it. Although most users are elderly, living alone and suffering from chronic diseases, others in need can join the service for a fee, and with certain conditions can be paid for by a charity scheme. The basic service is similar to those operating elsewhere for the last 20 years, comprising a personal alarm worn on the body to alert a 24-hour centre, together with a main unit allowing 2-way voice communication. Additionally, through a cooperative venture between the association and Hong Kong’s hospitals, in the event of an emergency patient records can be faxed to accident and emergency departments prior to the ambulance’s arrival. The centre receives information back from the hospital to inform the patient’s family where they can be found. There is also a hot line service for accessing useful information and getting emotional support, and other services, some of which are chargeable. The service is well- used and successful and continues to develop, at present extending into mobile phone networks.
Process requirements for building sustainable digital assistive technology for older people
- Authors:
- OLPHERT Wendy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Assistive Technologies, 3(3), September 2009, pp.4-13.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
“Digital assistive technology” refers to information communications technologies (ICTs) to support older people’s everyday tasks. These could range from online shopping to information seeking and searching the Web in a variety of ways. Research under the New Dynamics of Ageing Programme, and other research, tries to improve older people’s quality of life through the exploitation and exploration of new developments in computing and information technology. However the acceptance rate of digital assistive technology by older people is still low, while the abandonment of already existing technologies increases. This purpose of this paper is to propose a framework to inform the decision-making of designers and implementers of digital assistive technologies. The aim is to facilitate the development of more adaptable user centred systems that can dynamically accommodate the changing needs of older people and decrease the rate of abandonment of digital assistive technologies. Technologies referred to include digital television (DiTV), the Internet, with or without a volunteer acting as intermediary, for information seeking and shopping, and “smart flats” or “smart houses”, which support the automation of domestic tasks and other social activities such as shopping, banking and healthcare through the use of sensor microchips and detectors. The proposed framework includes provision for learning and capacity-building, collaboration and knowledge sharing and participation in decision-making for older people during the design and implementation process.