Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
Results 31 - 40 of 770
Time spent in bed at night by care-home residents: choice or compromise?
- Authors:
- LUFF Rebekah, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 31(7), October 2011, pp.1229-1250.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study investigated the amount of time that care-home residents spend in bed at night. Data were collected over 14 days from 125 residents in ten care homes in South East England, and focussed on how residents' bedtimes and getting-up times were managed. Findings revealed that residents averaged almost 11 hours in bed at night, significantly more time than was spent sleeping. There was greater variance in the amount of time residents who needed assistance spent in bed than there was for independent residents. An examination of six care homes, each with 8 pm to 8 am night shifts, showed that bedtimes and getting-up times for dependent residents were influenced by the staff's shift patterns. Interviews with 38 residents revealed a lack of resident choice about bedtimes and many compromises by the residents to fit in with the care-home shift and staffing patterns. The authors concluded that the current system of 12-hour night shifts, during which staff ratios were lower than in the daytime, promoted too much bed-rest, particularly for residents who were least independent.
Religious and spiritual beliefs in outpatients suffering from Parkinson disease
- Authors:
- GIAQUINTO S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 26(9), September 2011, pp.916-922.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Parkinson's disease is a progressive illness, generally of late adult life, in which personality changes may occur. This study, undertaken in an area where Roman Catholic people are in the majority, aimed to evaluate whether religious and spiritual beliefs in patients with Parkinson's disease are different from age-matched controls. The study participants were 83 people with Parkinson's disease, 88 randomly selected age-matched healthy subjects, and 79 people affected by hypertension, in Rome, Italy. Spiritual and religious beliefs were assessed using the Royal Free Interview. The article describes the study, analysis and results. 99% of Parkinson's disease participants and 99% of controls declared that they had beliefs. The main conclusions of the study were that Parkinson's disease participants and controls do not differ in their Royal Free Interview score and that Parkinson's disease participants maintain their faith in spite of the disease severity.
Stepping up to the plate
- Author:
- DUNNING Jeremy
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 29.9.11, 2011, pp.26-27.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
A nutritional champion, employed as a senior care assistant, and a head chef, are raising the standard of cooking and nutrition in one Wimbledon care home. Residents of Queens Court Care Home are screened using the five-step Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool to identify adults who are malnourished, at risk of malnutrition or are obese. Menus are then provided to improve health outcomes as well as to give them the foods they enjoy. The improvement in the health of a resident with dementia after being admitted to Queens Court Care Home is described, highlighting the success of their approach.
The relationship between exercise participation and well-being of the retired elderly
- Authors:
- LEE Yi-Ju, HUNG Wei-Li
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 15(7), September 2011, pp.873-881.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
In Taiwan there is a popular culture among the elderly of doing exercise in public parks and squares in the early morning. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between exercise intensity, exercise frequency and the feelings of well-being of the retired elderly. A questionnaire survey was conducted in 6 parks in Taipei from February to April 2007. A total of 352 valid questionnaires were collected. The survey found that the retired elderly participate in a wide range of sports, from light exercise such as walking to vigorous exercise such as tennis and aerobics, and their participation frequency was very high. Most of the respondents (87.2%) were defined as having positive well-being. The results showed that exercise frequency and well-being were positively correlated. However, a negative correlation was found between exercise intensity and well-being. Most of the activities participated in by the elderly were in the categories of moderate or vigorous intensity. The study suggests that the elderly felt more comfortable and gained more pleasure psychologically while participating in less intensive exercise. The article concludes by recommending that the retired elderly should take exercise as frequently as possible, but that low-to-moderate intensity exercise might be better for their psychological well-being.
Innovations in research for treatment of late-life anxiety
- Authors:
- SHRESTHA Srijana, ROBERTSON Suzanne, STANLEY Melinda A.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 15(7), September 2011, pp.811-821.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Late-life anxiety is highly prevalent, with rates exceeding those of depression. Although psychosocial interventions have shown positive outcomes for older adults with anxiety, effects are not as strong as in younger adults. The aim of this review is to examine innovative approaches to the treatment of late-life anxiety that are currently being developed and tested. A systematic search was conducted using electronic databases of funded clinical trials. The principal investigators (PIs) of the studies were contacted for study details and preliminary data, if available. In some cases, the PIs of identified studies acted as referral sources in identifying additional studies. Eleven studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. These represented 3 areas of innovation: new patient groups; novel treatment procedures; and new treatment-delivery options. These studies, their associated theoretical bases, and their preliminary results are discussed, and shown to represent promising new strategies to facilitate engagement and improve outcomes among unique subsets of older adults with anxiety. Overall, the review reveals a momentum among late-life anxiety researchers to develop tailored treatments for new patient populations, test novel treatment procedures, and examine innovative delivery approaches.
Trees Extra Care Housing: Highgate
- Authors:
- NICHOLSON Anne-Marie, WALKER Martin
- Publisher:
- Housing Learning and Improvement Network
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 11p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The ‘Trees’ Extra Care Housing scheme, opened in March 2011, provides 40 apartments for older people in a beautiful site located in Highgate’s Conservation Area. The scheme is the first 100% affordable housing project in this part of Haringey. The building was awarded a prestigious Housing Design Award in July 2011, winning the best ‘Completed HAPPI Scheme’ and was shortlisted for the British Homes Awards 2011 - Lifetime Home of the Year and the House Builder Awards 2011 - Best Design. This case study provides an overview of the development of the 'Trees' Extra Care Housing scheme, the relationships of the partners involved, the planning challenges in producing modern sustainable design in a conservation area, and how the local community were engaged. The project has resulted in a valuable housing and care facility for older people and the local community, meeting a need in the local area that was previously not met. Key learning points from the project are discussed.
Trajectories of at-homeness and health in usual care and small house nursing homes
- Authors:
- MOLONY Sheila, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 51(4), August 2011, pp.504-515.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Long-term care providers across the United States are building new residential environments that weave humanistic person-centred philosophies into clinical care, organisational policies, and built environments. The small house model (SmH) relocates the resident from institutional care to a place that is believed to better emulate home. The aim of this study was to compare and contrast trajectories of at-homeness and health over time between residents remaining in a usual care nursing home and residents moving from that home to a SmH. The setting for the study was a 100-bed nursing home in a continuing care retirement community in the Midwest. Five new SmHs were built as part of this retirement community. Interviews were conducted with residents before the move to the SmHs and 1, 3, and 6 months after the move. The findings showed that prior to the move individuals who decided to relocate to the SmH had more depressive symptoms and lower levels of at-homeness. Their levels of at-homeness increased after the move, and, in addition, their levels of functional dependence decreased. Most participants who chose to stay in the nursing home reported high baseline levels of at-homeness and maintained this over the next 6 months. Qualitative findings highlight the variables that contributed to at-homeness in both groups. The study demonstrates that a ‘one size fits all’ approach may not be best because at-homeness is an individualised construct.
Challenges and psychosocial growth for older volunteers giving intensive humanitarian service
- Authors:
- PIERCY Kathleen W., CHEEK Cheryl, TEEMANT Boyd
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 51(4), August 2011, pp.550-560.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
There is a need to recruit more people for humanitarian service to respond to disasters worldwide. Because of population aging and reduced funding for service organisations, humanitarian organisations may rely more on older volunteers to fulfil their goals. The aim of this qualitative study was to examine challenges, change, and benefits in a sample of volunteers aged more than 50 years who gave intensive humanitarian service with a religious organisation. Intensive volunteering was defined as service done on a 24-hr a day basis at a location away from home. In-depth interviews were conducted by phone or in person with each of the 38 participants. Couples serving together were interviewed together. The participants described and resolved many challenges including adjustment to new situations and cultures, work-related challenges, and readjustment to home. They described benefits of expanded social networks, increased closeness to spouses, and increased compassion and empathy for others. In terms of wisdom, they described altered personal perspectives, with lessened materialism and self-focus, greater appreciation of cultural differences, and finding existential meaning in service. Understanding the challenges and ways in which they can be overcome, and the benefits of later life intensive volunteering can inform organisational efforts to recruit and support older volunteers.
Living with ageing and dying: palliative care and end of life care for older people
- Editors:
- GOTT Merryn, INGLETON Christine, (eds.)
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 304p.
- Place of publication:
- Oxford
This book identifies ways of improving the end of life experiences of older people by taking an interdisciplinary and international approach. It brings together contributions from leading international experts from different disciplinary backgrounds. Ageing populations mean that end of life care for older people needs to be given greater priority. In particular, there is a perceived need to improve the experiences of older people at the end of life; those that have been identified as the 'disadvantaged dying'. Most current models of care are underpinned by the ideals of specialist palliative care services which were developed to meet the needs of predominantly 'young old' people, and evidence suggests these may not be adequate for the older group. The contributions provide a synergy between the currently disparate literature of gerontology and palliative care. Some authors take a theoretical focus, others a very practical approach rooted in clinical and research experience. The issues covered are diverse and related to a wide range of geographical settings. The book is aimed at both academics and practitioners (doctors and nurses) in palliative care, geriatrics, and gerontology but is also expected to be of interest to social workers, policy makers and anyone with an interest in older people in relation to public health.
Housing markets and independence in old age: expanding the opportunities
- Authors:
- BALL Michael, et al
- Publisher:
- University of Reading. Henley Business School
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 45p.
- Place of publication:
- Reading
This report presents findings from research on housing for older people who live in specialist private retirement accommodation, called owner occupied retirement housing (OORH). This type of housing is purchased, on a leasehold basis, and found in specially designed blocks of apartments which have communal facilities, house managers and other networks of support integrated within them. There are currently around 105,000 OORH houses in the UK, about 2% of the total number of homes for those aged 65 and over. Findings revealed a higher quality of life for residents and their families. The report notes that 92% of OORH residents are very happy or contented and the great majority would recommend the accommodation to others. OORH was environmentally better than traditional housing, with reduced energy use, including less travel. The report states that 51% of OORH residents said that their energy bills were noticeably less. Also, most OORH residents have family and friends in the locality. Older people form an important part of the core of most communities. This report suggests that far more elderly people could benefit from this type of accommodation than live in it now. However, due to restrictive planning and housing policies, many older people are not being provided with the opportunity to purchase OORH.