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Characteristics of physical activity programs for older adults: results of a multisite survey
- Authors:
- HUGHES Susan L., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 45(5), October 2005, pp.667-675.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
In this American Study seven academic centers in diverse geographic areas surveyed physical activity programs for older adults. Five sites conducted surveys by mail with telephone follow-up, and two administered surveys primarily by telephone. Reported program attendance rates were compared with local census data to assess unmet needs. The 2000 Census enumerated 1,123,401 total older adults across the seven sites. Facilities reported 69,634 individuals as current weekly program participants, equaling 6% of the sites' total older-adult population. This percentage varied from 3% in Pittsburgh to 28% in Colorado. Based on conservative estimates of demand, the number of physical activity programs would have to increase substantially (by 78%) to meet the needs of older adults. The data also indicate the need to develop more strength-training programs and to engage a higher percentage of older adults in these programs. There is a clear need to stimulate demand for programs through health promotion.
Growing old disgracefully
- Author:
- LEE Michele
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, October 2007, pp.30-33.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
Services are still failing to meet the needs of older people with mental health problems. The author discusses the issues drawing on findings from the UK Inquiry into Mental Health and Well-Being in Later Life.
Unmet home care service needs of rural older adults with Alzheimer's disease: a perspective of informal caregivers
- Authors:
- LI Hong, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 55(5), July 2012, pp.409-425.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
A majority of rural older adults with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) live at home and are cared for by informal caregivers. Services designed to assist older adults and their caregivers, such as meals-on-wheels and in-home personal care, may be less accessible in rural communities. The aim of this study was to assess the unmet service needs of rural older adults with AD and to identify factors that were related to these needs. Data were collected during in-depth telephone interviews conducted with 109 informal caregivers of AD patients in central Illinois. The findings indicated that over half of the patients experienced unmet service needs in 1 or more areas of activities of daily functioning. Informal caregiver burden and patient's gender and functional status were significantly related to patients' unmet service needs. Patients' use of formal services was marginally related to their unmet service needs. The article concludes that a comprehensive needs assessment should be conducted with both patients and their caregivers in order to better address patients' service needs.
Identification of community-residing individuals with dementia and their unmet needs for care
- Authors:
- JOHNSTON D., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 26(3), March 2011, pp.292-298.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Dementia is currently recognised in primary care settings at a rate of only 30-50%. Undiagnosed it results in increased risk of acute hospitalisation and caregiver exhaustion. In their search for a new approach to the widespread delivery of evidence-based dementia care, the authors investigated whether telephone screening could identify individuals in the community in need of intervention. A total of 292 community-residing individuals aged 70 and older living in Maryland took part in a brief cognitive telephone screen. A subsample (n=43) received a multidimensional needs assessment to identifying the type and frequency of unmet needs. Cognitive, functional, behavioural, and clinical factors were assessed. The Johns Hopkins Dementia Care Needs Assessment (JHDCNA) was used to identify unmet needs related to dementia. Of those screened by phone, 27% were positive for dementia. Almost all those with dementia who were assessed had at least one unmet need. Most often this was for a dementia workup, general medical care, environmental safety, assistance with activities of daily living, or access to meaningful activities. Caregivers, when present, also had unmet needs; most often for education about dementia, knowledge of community resources, and caregiver mental health care. The authors note that although successful, this pilot study involved a substantial amount of time identifying and reaching the target population.
From hospital to home: assessing the transitional care needs of vulnerable seniors
- Authors:
- GRAHAM Carrie L., IVEY Susan L., NEUHAUSER Linda
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 49(1), February 2009, pp.23-33.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This qualitative study assessed the needs of patients and caregivers during the transition from hospital to home. The study specifically identified unmet needs of ethnic minorities, recent immigrants, and seniors with limited English proficiency (LEP). Findings are translated into recommendations for improving services to these groups during health care transitions. This needs assessment included extensive analysis of qualitative data collected from 20 language-, culture-, and ethnic-specific focus groups with caregivers who recently assisted a senior after a hospital discharge. Findings from these focus groups were supplemented by 5 in-depth, longitudinal case studies of recently hospitalized seniors and their caregivers. Inadequate information and training at discharge were themes that spanned all groups, despite ethnicity or language. Additional unmet needs were identified for ethnic minorities, those with LEP, and recent immigrants, including lower levels of social support than might be expected, lack of linguistically appropriate information and services, and cultural and financial barriers to using long-term care services. Recommendations include assessments of informal care, bilingual information and services, partnerships with community agencies providing culturally competent services, and expansion of home- and community-based services to near-poor seniors.
Unmet needs for mental health services for Latino older adults: perspectives from consumers, family members, advocates, and service providers
- Authors:
- BARRIO Concepcion, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 44(1), February 2008, pp.57-74.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This study qualitatively assessed the need for mental health services among Latino older adults in San Diego, California. The primary mental health issue was depression. Primary organizational barriers to accessing services were language and cultural barriers secondary to a lack of translators, dearth of information on available services, and scarcity of providers representative of the Latino community. Other challenges included a lack of transportation and housing, and the need for socialization and social support. Latino older adults experienced their unmet needs in ways associated with their cultural background and minority status. Age- and culturally-appropriate services are needed to overcome these barriers.
Unmet needs for supportive services: a comparison of rural and urban older adults
- Author:
- LI Hong
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Service Research, 32(3), 2006, pp.19-39.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This study examined residence differences in unmet needs for seven commonly used supportive services including respite/adult day care, personal care, homemaker, home-delivered/congregate meals, transportation, home modification, and assistive devices services. Data were extracted from the 1999 National Long-Term Care Survey and included 848 caregivers of an adult who was over 65 years old, was community dwelling, and used one or more supportive services. Over one-third of caregivers reported that supportive services provided did not meet the needs of old adults. The prevalence rate of unmet needs differs across the seven supportive services. Using multivariate logistic regression tests, rural versus urban differences in unmet needs were found for personal care, homemaker, and assistive devices services. Rural older adults were less likely to experience unmet needs for these services than their urban counterparts. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Invisible and ill: three case reports of homelessness in older adults
- Authors:
- BENBOW Susan M., COHEN Paul R.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 8(3), November 2006, pp.12-15.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The authors describe three homeless older people who presented to an old age psychiatry service. Homeless older adults are likely to have untreated mental and physical health problems and to be invisible to services. It is argued that to detect and treat them, services need to be more flexible.
Care services inquiry interim report: concerns about care for older Londoners
- Author:
- ROBINSON Janice
- Publisher:
- King's Fund
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 16p.
- Place of publication:
- London
There is increasing public concern about the availability, quality and appropriateness of care services for London’s diverse older population. Is the ‘care market’ working for older people in London, and will there be enough care services of the right quality for them in the future? In February 2004, the King’s Fund launched its Care Services Inquiry to investigate these questions, led by an independent committee made up of people with experience and expertise in the health, housing and social care of older people. This interim report sets out early findings from the opinions expressed and information submitted to the inquiry between March and September 2004.
The failing safety net
- Author:
- AGE UK
- Publisher:
- Age UK
- Publication year:
- 2018
- Pagination:
- 13
- Place of publication:
- London
Drawing on individual case studies, this report highlights the lack of available support for older people living at home, with those living alone in declining health, with no family and friends to support them at particularly high risk. The stories show how easy it is for older people to ‘fall off the health and care radar’, so they only receive help at crisis point. They highlight the gaps between services for older people living in their own homes in an under-resourced system, the emotional energy it takes for loved ones providing informal care, and frustration experienced by committed health and care professionals providing home care and community health services who lack the time or support to do the job they want to do. The report concludes with examples of effective care, including virtual wards, a hospital at home service, care navigators and support from the voluntary and community sector. (Edited publisher abstract)