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Intergenerational mentoring in Germany: older people support young people's transitions from school to work
- Author:
- SCHLIMBACH Tabea
- Journal article citation:
- Working with Older People, 14(4), December 2010, pp.4-15.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The author provides an overview of intergenerational mentoring for young people during the transition from school to work in Germany. The changing employment environment is first discussed with reference to the experiences of grandparents and parents compared with current young people. The benefits of intergenerational mentoring are then discussed followed by an outline of the development of youth mentoring in Germany. Examples of youth mentoring projects and initiatives are then given. An overview is also given of the literature evaluating the benefits of mentoring for society, young people and the mentors. In summary the author comments that vocational mentoring is a field that holds much potential not only for young people, but also for their mentors and the society. Despite the fast development of vocational mentoring in Germany in recent years, only a fraction of the demand of school leavers is covered. Current challenges are: to increase the coverage of projects; establish mentoring as a stable, nationwide service to young people; raise awareness of mentoring as an opportunity to help younger people into employment or training; further facilitate professional networking and exchanges; improve evaluation and analysis in the field.
Evaluation of special and traditional dementia care in nursing homes: results from a cross-sectional study in Germany
- Authors:
- WEYERER Siegfried, SCHAUFELE Martina, HENDLMEIER Ingrid
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25(11), November 2010, pp.1159-1167.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Two-thirds of all residents in nursing homes in Germany suffer from some type of dementia. This study investigated whether or not dementia patients receiving special (segregated or partially segregated) care exhibited a better quality of life than their counterparts residing in traditional integrative nursing homes. In a cross-sectional study in 28 special dementia care facilities in the city of Hamburg 594 residents were compared to a group of 573 nursing home residents with dementia in 11 randomly selected nursing homes who were receiving traditional integrative care. Primary features such as cognitive and functional impairment, and behaviour problems were assessed by qualified nursing staff. The results showed that the dementia patients in special care units had higher levels of volunteer caregiver involvement and that there was more social contact with staff, fewer physical restraints, more involvement in home activities, and more frequent use of psychiatrists as compared to the reference group. There was no significant difference between the two care settings with regard to overall use of psychotropic drugs, however, residents in special dementia care used antipsychotics significantly less often and antidepressants more often. The article concludes that significant differences for a number of indicators of the quality of life point in favour of special dementia care.
Are patients with dementia treated as well as patients without dementia for hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidaemia?
- Authors:
- MÜTHER Johannes, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of General Practice, 60(578), September 2010, pp.671-674.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of General Practitioners
This study investigated whether GPs treated patients with dementia differently than patients without it. The authors hypothesised that explanations for this could include stigmatisation, treatment with a palliative approach, and the result of the disease process. The index diseases of hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidaemia were used to measure care. Sixteen GP’s recruited all their patients with dementia and at least one of the index diseases. Patients without dementia but only the index diseases were matched for age, sex, index disease, and practice, resulting in 216 pairs of patients with and without dementia. Findings indicated no differences in treatment outcomes between the two patients groups, except one significant difference: one of the two documented systolic blood pressure values is lower in the dementia group. Furthermore, patients with dementia more often do not receive any medication or are treated with low-priced medications for hypertension. The authors concluded that GPs did not seem to treat patients with dementia differently, and the use of lower-priced antihypertensive medication could be the only indication for some kind of difference in approach.
Wellbeing depends on social relationship characteristics: comparing different types and providers of support to older adults
- Authors:
- MERZ Eva-Maria, HUNHOLD Oliver
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 30(5), July 2010, pp.843-857.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Data from 1,146 older people, from the (2002) second wave, of the ‘German Ageing Survey’ is used to explore different types of support, the providers, and the wellbeing of people over 65-years of age in Germany. Emphasis is given to wellbeing differences associated with kin (family member) or non-kin providers, emotional and instrumental types of support and the quality of the relationships with kin and non-kin. Emotional support from kin and instrumental support from non-kin were positively associated with wellbeing. Emotional support from non-kin providers did not associate with wellbeing whereas instrumental support from kin providers had a negative association with one aspect of wellbeing. High relationship quality from either kin or non-kin positively related to wellbeing, agreeing with the authors’ expectations that a good relationship would buffer negative impacts of both kin/non-kin instrumental supports. The authors conclude that when family carer relationships are of high quality, the challenges, frailties and decreasing capabilities associated with ageing can be met with support without compromising wellbeing.
Ageing societies: challenges and opportunities: evidence from the BUPA health pulse 2010 international healthcare survey
- Authors:
- FERNANDEZ Jose-Luis, FORDER Julien
- Publisher:
- Bupa
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 27p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This report presents the findings of the Bupa Health Pulse 2010 international healthcare survey around the theme of 'ageing societies'. It summarises some of the most important evidence about the ageing process across the world, and discusses some of the key policy challenges that ageing presents, looking particularly at the capacity for societies to provide high quality support for their older people in the future. The study surveyed 12,262 people across 12 countries (Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Spain, UK, USA), but the patterns described are common to a much larger number of countries. The report is structured around 3 parts. The first examines the question of the ageing process in different societies and what it means in terms of: increases in the older population; changes in the balance between young and old; and increases in the number of people with health problems and in the level of demand for care services. The second part examines the support system required to look after older people in need of care including: the sharing of caring and funding responsibilities between the state and private individuals; the need to ensure that resources are in place to look after the growing number of older people; and the levels of support provided to older people in need. The last section summarises the key policy implications.
Potential technological solutions to promote mental well-being in older age
- Authors:
- COOK Glenda, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Generations Review, 20(3), July 2010, Online only
- Publisher:
- British Society of Gerontology
Using a multi-national Appreciative Inquiry (AI) design, the strategies that older people adopt to maintain their well-being were examined. Fifty-nine people participated in the study, from the countries of Australia, Germany, South Africa and United Kingdom. Participants described their experiences of mental well-being in relation to: social isolation and loneliness; social worth; self-determination; and security. The authors the reflected on the participants experiences, literature and research to identify potential technologies that may have assisted participants to enhance their self-reported strategies to promote their mental well-being.
Rights, risks and restraint-free care of older people: person-centred approaches in health and social care
- Editors:
- HUGHES Rhidian, (ed.)
- Publisher:
- Jessica Kingsley
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 224p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This book provides health and social care professionals with an authoritative reading resource on the ethics and use of restraint. It provides an overview of the different forms of restraint, the conditions under which they are used and their implications for the health and wellbeing of older people. Practical approaches to minimising restraint are then explored, underlining the importance of person-centred care. Innovative programmes and approaches to reducing the use of restraint are described and assessed, and case studies are drawn upon to highlight practice challenges and their effective resolutions. The perspectives of older people and their carers and families, as well as of professionals, commissioners and regulators of health and social care, are also taken into account. The contributors are drawn from an international range of health and social care settings, as well as from the academic world.