Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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The oldest old and the risk of social exclusion
- Authors:
- KEY Wesley, CULLINEY Martin
- Journal article citation:
- Social Policy and Society, 17(1), 2018, pp.47-63.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This article examines whether people aged eighty-five-and-over, referred to throughout as ‘The Oldest Old’, are more likely to suffer from social exclusion than people aged sixty-five to eighty-four. Social Exclusion is defined according to the four dimensions identified in the 1999 Poverty and Social Exclusion Survey. Using data from Understanding Society, the analysis finds that the Oldest Old have a higher likelihood of experiencing social exclusion than people aged sixty-five to eighty-four. These findings illustrate the risks facing the Oldest Old, and highlight the policy challenges presented by ageing western populations. (Publisher abstract)
The meal as a performance: food and meal practices beyond health and nutrition
- Authors:
- NYBERG Maria, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 38(1), 2018, pp.83-107.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
The proportion of elderly people in the population is increasing, presenting a number of new challenges in society. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate how elderly persons with motoric eating difficulties perceive and perform their food and meal practices in everyday life. By using Goffman's concept of performance as a theoretical framework together with Bourdieu's thinking on habitus, a deeper understanding of food and meal practices is obtained. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 elderly people (aged between 67 and 87 years) and meal observations were carried out with 11 of these people. Participants were found to manage food and meal practices by continuously adjusting and adapting to the new conditions arising as a result of eating difficulties. This was displayed by conscious planning of what to eat and when, avoiding certain foods and beverages, using simple eating aids, but also withdrawing socially during the meals. All these adjustments were important in order to be able to demonstrate proper food and meal behaviour, to maintain the façade and to act according to the perceived norms. As well as being a pleasurable event, food and meals were also perceived in terms of being important for maintaining health and as ‘fuel’ where the main purpose is to sustain life. This was strongly connected to the social context and the ability to enjoy food and meals with family members and friends, which appeared to be particularly crucial due to the impending risk of failing the meal performance. (Publisher abstract)
Review of methodologies of cohort studies of older people
- Authors:
- KINGSTON Andrew, JAGGER Carol
- Journal article citation:
- Age and Ageing, 47(2), 2018, pp.215-219.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This paper describes a cohort study in terms of its design, the research questions answered by cohort studies, common analytic techniques and the strengths and limitations of this type of study. The authors also describe the main cohort studies of older populations, many of which are available for secondary data analysis. (Publisher abstract)
A silver lining for the UK economy? The intergenerational case for supporting longer working lives
- Author:
- THOMSON Patrick
- Publisher:
- Centre for Ageing Better
- Publication year:
- 2018
- Pagination:
- 44
- Place of publication:
- London
This paper explores how supporting older workers to remain in better, more fulfilling work for longer can be part of the solution to addressing the fiscal pressures of an ageing population. Currently, less than half of the population are in employment the year before they are eligible for their state pension. The age employment gap is likely to grow in line with the scheduled rises in state pension age unless action is taken now. The paper argues that the key driver of supporting people to work for longer is to improve the quality of work. It sets out key policy options, which include: policies to prevent older workers from falling out of work – ensuring that existing initiatives and services such as Access to Work are tailored to the health profile and needs of older workers, enabling workers to make a statutory request for flexible working upon point of hire, without having to wait 26 weeks, requiring statutory reporting of flexible working requests and responses, and introducing a right to return for both carers and people with long term health conditions; policies to support a return to work – developing specialised employment support for claimants aged 50 and over, recognising the particular difficulties faced by this age group, creating greater flexibility in the benefits system to recognise that not everyone can work, particularly in the context of the rising state pension age; and policies to support workplaces that accommodate all ages – introducing age bands in gender pay gap reporting to highlight pay inequalities faced by older women in the workplace, and ensuring open access and promotion of skills and progression opportunities for all ages. (Edited publisher abstract)
Conditions for pets to prevent depression in older adults
- Authors:
- CHEUNG Chau-Kiu, KAM Ping Kwong
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 22(12), 2018, pp.1627-1633.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objective: The study aims to determine if and how pet availability and engagement predicted depression in older adults. The prediction can be unconditional or independent of the sociodemographic characteristics of the older adult and/or conditional or dependent on the characteristics. These predictions rest on the contribution of resources pooled from older adults, their spouses, and pets, according to ecological theory. Method: The present study analyzed the effects of pet availability and engagement based on a survey of 340 older adults in Hong Kong, China. Results: Pet engagement but not pet availability manifested a significant negative effect on depression unconditionally. In addition, pet availability and engagement indicated some significant negative effects conditionally, including living with the spouse as a condition. Conclusion: For preventing depression in older adults, promoting their pet availability and engagement is promising. Particularly, the promotion would be more effective for older adults living with their spouses and being more resourceful than for others. (Publisher abstract)
Building age-friendly neighbourhoods in Greater Manchester: evidence from the Ambition for Ageing programme
- Author:
- THORLEY Jessica
- Publisher:
- Ambition for Ageing
- Publication year:
- 2018
- Pagination:
- 28
- Place of publication:
- London
This report draws on research and learning gathered from the Ambition for Ageing programme, which aimed to help to create more age-friendly places and empower people to live fulfilling lives as they age. Using data and information collected from the programme, the report looks at what older people across Greater Manchester thinks makes a neighbourhood age-friendly. It draws on the: event feedback, participant and volunteer survey responses and a snapshot of case studies. The programme identified key themes for building age-friendly neighbourhoods. These are: the need for positive social connections and community cohesion; participation and meeting opportunities; good accessibility, facilities and transport; community spaces and resources; feelings of safety and security; and available information with effective communication. (Edited publisher abstract)
Multi-morbidity predicted to increase in the UK over the next 20 years
- Author:
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH RESEARCH. Dissemination Centre
- Publisher:
- National Institute for Health Research
- Publication year:
- 2018
- Place of publication:
- London
This NIHR Signal looks at the findings of a study which ran a computer model using data on over 300,000 people from three UK population surveys to predict changes in multi-morbidity between 2015 and 2035. The study found two-thirds of adults aged over 65 are expected to be living with multiple health conditions (multi-morbidity) by 2035. Seventeen percent would be living with four or more diseases, double the number in 2015. One-third of these people would have a mental illness like dementia or depression. The increase will place greater demand on all areas of health and social care and highlights the need for commissioners to ensure adequate provision of services. It also supports the on-going public health focus on health awareness and disease prevention. NIHR Signals highlight examples of important research and explain why the study was needed, what the study found and the implications of the findings. They include commentary from experts, researchers and those working in practice. (Edited publisher abstract)
Adjustment to widowhood and loneliness among older men: the influence of military service
- Authors:
- CARR Dawn Celeste, URENA Stephanie, TAYLOR Miles G.
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 58(6), 2018, pp.1085-1095.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Background and Objectives: Men are at higher risk of experiencing poorer adjustment to widowhood compared to women, a transition that is associated with increased loneliness. Military service may play an important role in how men process widowhood, particularly among current cohorts of older men. The present study explores whether military experiences relate to better adjustment to widowhood, that is, reduction of loneliness associated with widowhood for men. The authors examine (a) whether military experience, especially exposure to death, shapes changes in loneliness following widowhood relative to those without military experience, and (b) if any observed benefits of military experience are explained by greater social engagement. Research Design and Methods: The authors use the Health and Retirement Study and linked Veterans Mail Survey to address respondents while they are continuously married (T1) and at widowhood four years later (T2) using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression. To address their hypotheses, the authors examine whether military experience without exposure to death, and/or military experience with exposure to death moderates the overall negative effect of widowhood for loneliness relative to civilians. Results: There is a significantly lower level of loneliness among veterans with exposure to death relative to civilians who become widowed; however, veterans without exposure to death remain similar to civilian widowers. Social engagement does not explain the benefits associated with military exposures for widowers. Discussion and Implications: Although exposure to death early in life is traumatic, our research suggests that such adversity within the specific context of the military may help enhance resilience during the transition to widowhood. (Edited publisher abstract)
Trauma-informed care and elder abuse: a synergistic alliance
- Authors:
- ERNST Joy Swanson, MASCHI Tina
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 30(5), 2018, pp.354-367.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Elder abuse is a global systemic problem in which one or more traumatic or stressful life experiences directly affect older adults, their families, and communities. Despite its devastating impact, the understanding of—and response to—elder abuse has rarely been explored through a trauma-informed lens. Despite the prevalence of traumatic and stressful life experiences, research and practice are just beginning to target the intersection of elder abuse and life course trauma. This article demonstrates how knowledge about the causes, consequences, and responses to elder abuse can be integrated with the principles of trauma-informed care to improve agency and community responses to preventing or intervening with elder abuse and neglect. In order to address the ongoing problems with detection and treatment of elder abuse, we assert that instilling trauma and elder abuse informed care in organizational services and policies forms a synergistic alliance and would address many of these concerns. (Edited publisher abstract)
Continuing to Get Out of Line: reflections on ageing activism and moral agency
- Author:
- BARNES Marian
- Journal article citation:
- Ethics and Social Welfare, 12(3), 2018, pp.204-215.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Abingdon
Margaret Urban Walker’s essay ‘Getting out of line’ questions gendered assumptions about moral agency in old age and its assumed links to the concept of a ‘career self.’ In this article the author develops and applies her critique to consider what forms ageing activism might take. This focuses on recognising and remembering the value of connections with people and with struggles that may both pre-date and outlive the individual. The author suggests that there is a need to think of remembering as future as well as past oriented and as political as well as personal. In developing her argument she draws from experience of working with old people in initiatives focussed on achieving change in health and social care services, on accounts of feminist activists of different generations and on personal reflections of contacts that embody both awareness of different vulnerabilities and of shared struggles for change. (Edited publisher abstract)