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Development of a new multidimensional individual and interpersonal resilience measure for older adults
- Authors:
- MARTIN A'verria Sirkin, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 19(1), 2014, pp.32-45.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: To develop an empirically grounded measure that can be used to assess family and individual resilience in a population of older adults (aged 50–99). Methods: Cross-sectional, self-report data from 1006 older adults were analysed in two steps. The total sample was split into two subsamples and the first step identified the underlying latent structure through principal component exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The second step utilised the second half of the sample to validate the derived latent structure through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results: EFA produced an eight-factor structure that appeared clinically relevant for measuring the multidimensional nature of resilience. Factors included self-efficacy, access to social support network, optimism, perceived economic and social resources, spirituality and religiosity, relational accord, emotional expression and communication, and emotional regulation. CFA confirmed the eight-factor structure previously achieved with covariance between each of the factors. Based on these analyses the multidimensional individual and interpersonal resilience measure was developed, a broad assessment of resilience for older adults. Conclusion: This study highlights the multidimensional nature of resilience and introduces an individual and interpersonal resilience measure developed for older adults which is grounded in the individual and family resilience literature. (Edited publisher abstract)
Resilience: thoughts on the value of the concept for critical gerontology
- Authors:
- WILD Kirsty, WILES Janine L., ALLEN Ruth E.S.
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 33(1), 2013, pp.137-158.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This article examines the utility of the concept of resilience to the field of critical gerontology. It examines the history of the concept of resilience; explores some of the diverse ways that gerontologists are attempting to apply it to later life; and discusses the strengths and weaknesses of using resilience as a conceptual framework within critical ageing research. Ways of conceptualising resilience and ageing are also suggested, highlighting the different scales of resilience that impact on the ability of older people to negotiate adversity, and some key areas of resilience relevant to later life. The example of mobility resilience is used to illustrate how different scales of resilience operate within an area of resilience central to the ageing experience. Finally, some key principles for the use of resilience within critical gerontology are outlined, providing guidance on how to maximise the potential of the concept whilst avoiding some of the limitations associated with its historical usage. (Edited publisher abstract)
Self-administered cognitive screening for a study of successful aging among community-dwelling seniors: a preliminary study
- Authors:
- MOORE David J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 22(4), April 2007, pp.327-331.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Cognitive functioning is a central component of successful aging. Yet, there are few published instruments for brief and reliable self-administered cognitive assessment that could be used in large population-based studies of community-dwelling elderly people. This American study examined the utility of a self-administered cognitive screening instrument in a group of community-dwelling older adults, and evaluated correlations of the performance on this measure with demographic variables and specific indicators of self-rated successful aging. The authors assessed 182 well-educated adults ages 58 to 99 with a modified version of a previously published cognitive screening instrument (Cognitive Assessment Screening Test - Revised; CAST-R), a measure of cognitive complaints (Cognitive Failures Questionnaire; CFQ), and a self-rating of successful aging. The SF-36 Physical and Mental Composite Scores was used as a measure of physical and mental health-related functioning. As expected, most individuals performed well on the CAST-R; only 7% of participants fell below a previously established cut score for cognitive impairment. CAST-R scores were positively correlated with level of education, income, SF-36 Mental Composite Scores, and a self-rating of successful aging, and negatively correlated with chronological age. Scores on the CAST-R were not correlated with cognitive complaints (CFQ total score) or SF-36 Physical Composite Scores. It is concluded that a self-administered cognitive screening tool may be a useful, albeit limited, way of screening for cognitive disabilities among well-educated, community-dwelling older adults. Although preliminary, significant associations with several successful aging-related variables in expected directions represent the first step in establishing the validity of the CAST-R.
Prevalence, causes and impact of sight loss in older people in Britain
- Author:
- FLETCHER Astrid
- Publisher:
- Thomas Pocklington Trust
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 19p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This publication summarises findings relating to vision from cross-sectional analyses of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Trial of the Assessment and Management of Older People in the Community. The principal investigator for this trial was Professor Astrid Fletcher, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
Do assessment tools shape policy preferences? Analysing policy framing effects on older adults’ conceptualisation of autonomy
- Authors:
- DICKSON Daniel, MARIER Patrik, DUBE Anne-Sophie
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Policy, 51(1), 2022, pp.114-131.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
- Place of publication:
- Cambridge
The concept of autonomy is essential in the practice and study of gerontology and in long-term care policies. For older adults with expanding care needs, scores from tightly specified assessment instruments, which aim to measure the autonomy of service users, usually determine access to social services. These instruments emphasise functional independence in the performance of activities of daily living. In an effort to broaden the understanding of autonomy into needs assessment practice, the province of Québec (Canada) added social and relational elements into the assessment tool. In the wake of these changes, this article studies the interaction between the use of assessment instruments and the extent to which they alter how older adults define their autonomy as service users. This matters since the conceptualisation of autonomy shapes the formulation of long-term care policy problems, influencing both the demand and supply of services and the types of services that ought to be prioritised by governments. Relying on focus groups, this study shows that the functional autonomy frame dominates problem definitions, while social/relational framings are marginal. This reflects the more authoritative weight of functional autonomy within the assessment tool and contributes to the biomedicalisation of aging. (Edited publisher abstract)
Trends in severe disability among elderly people: assessing the evidence in 12 OECD countries and the future implications
- Authors:
- LAFORTUNE Gaetan, et al
- Publisher:
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 78p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Paris
As the population aged 65 and over will continue to grow steadily in OECD countries over the next decades, improvements in the functional status of elderly people could help mitigate the rise in the demand for, and hence expenditure on, long-term care. This paper assesses the most recent evidence on trends in disability among the population aged 65 and over in 12 OECD countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. One of the principal findings from this review is that there is clear evidence of a decline in disability among elderly people in only five of the twelve countries studied (Denmark, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands and the United States). Three countries (Belgium, Japan and Sweden) report an increasing rate of severe disability among people aged 65 and over during the past five to ten years, and two countries (Australia, Canada) report a stable rate. In France and the United Kingdom, data from different surveys show different trends in ADL disability rates among elderly people, making it impossible to reach any definitive conclusion on the direction of the trend. One of the main policy implications that can be drawn from the findings of this study is that it would not be prudent for policymakers to count on future reductions in the prevalence of severe disability among elderly people to offset completely the rising demand for long-term care that will result from population ageing.
Improving the predictive accuracy of Static-99 and Static-2002 with older sex offenders: revised age weights
- Authors:
- HELMUS Leslie, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Sexual Abuse a Journal of Research and Treatment, 24(1), February 2012, pp.64-101.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Criminal behaviour of all types, including sexual recidivism, is known to decline with age. Actuarial risk assessment scales for sex offenders are generally developed on younger offenders and may therefore overestimate recidivism for older offenders. The aim of this study was to develop a revised scoring system for 2 risk assessment tools (Static-99 and Static-2002) that would more accurately describe older offenders’ risk of recidivism. Data was drawn from 24 studies. The total sample included 8,390 sex offenders with Static-99 scores and 2,609 with Static-2002 scores. The findings confirmed that the actuarial weights given to age at release in Static-99 and Static-2002 overestimated the risk of older sex offenders. After creating new age weights, the resulting instruments (Static-99R and Static-2002R) had only slightly higher relative predictive accuracy. The absolute recidivism estimates, however, provided a substantially better fit for older offenders than the recidivism estimates from the original scales. The article concludes that there is sufficient evidence to switch to the revised scales with the new age weights.
Supporting mutual caring: a booklet for workers in services who are supporting older families that include a person with learning disabilities
- Author:
- FOUNDATION FOR PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES
- Publisher:
- Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 26p.
- Place of publication:
- London
An increasing number of people with learning disabilities are providing regular and substantial care for their ageing relatives. This care ranges from help with personal care, medication, cooking and cleaning, to help with shopping and keeping them company as they go out and about less. In many cases, neither person would be able to remain living independently without this support. This is known as mutual caring. However, mutual caring amongst older families often remains hidden. This booklet highlights some of the main issues facing mutually caring older families and some of the ways that people in different services and roles can make a positive difference. This booklet should be read by anyone who is working in a service or role where they may come into contact with an older family in which a person with learning disabilities is taking on a caring role for their older relative. It focuses on 3 main topics: understanding mutual caring; responding to the challenge of mutual caring; and getting support right for families who are caring for each other.
Need 2 know: mutual caring: supporting mutual caring amongst families that include a person with learning disabilities
- Author:
- FOUNDATION FOR PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES
- Publisher:
- Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 7p.
- Place of publication:
- London
A number of people with learning disabilities are providing regular and substantial care for their ageing relatives. In many cases, neither person would be able to remain living independently without this support. This is known as mutual caring. This briefing note sets out the main findings of a project which conducted in-depth studies with older families that include a person with learning disabilities. The aims of the project included directly supporting the development and promotion of good practice in supporting older families to plan for the future where a person with learning disabilities is providing regular and substantial care to an elderly relative. This briefing note sets out some of the main finding of the project. In particular, it lists guidance and strategies to commissioners and care managers on how to develop an effective service response to these families. A conclusion of the project is that the incidence of mutual caring is growing, but its true extent is not known. Mutual care is often not recognised, and responsibility for these families can often fall between older people’s services, learning disability services and carers’ services.
Mutual caring: multimedia resources
- Authors:
- FOUNDATION FOR PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES, (Producer)
- Publisher:
- Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- DVD, CD ROM
- Place of publication:
- London
This 2-disc set include information developed as part of the Mutual Caring Project. The Mutual Caring Project was set up to help promote recognition of good practice and develop improved service provision for older families where the balance of the caring relationship between the long-term family carer (often a parent) and the person with learning disabilities (normally an adult son or daughter) has changed. This disc set highlights this neglected area and provides evidence of practical approaches that can be used in different settings. Disc 1 is a DVD with video stories of personal experiences and covers: being a carer; person centred planning; carers’ assessments; and group and peer support. Disc 2 is a CD-ROM containing all resources, tools and reports developed as part of the Mutual Caring Project. Resources have been made to help families, people with learning disabilities, staff, commissioners and others and include: Supporting You as an Older Family Carer; Supporting You and Your Family as You Grow Older Together; Supporting You to Support Your Family; Supporting Mutual Caring; Circles of Support and Mutual Caring; and Being a Carer and Having a Carer’s Assessment.