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GPs' perspectives on preventive care for older people: a focus group study
- Authors:
- DREWES Yvonne M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of General Practice, 62(604), November 2012, pp.582-583.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of General Practitioners
The aims of preventive care for older people may differ from the traditional targets of preventing diseases or injuries and include the maintenance of independence and wellbeing. This qualitative study explored Dutch GPs' perspectives on preventive care for older people in six focus groups involving a total of 37 GPs. Whether or not to implement preventive care for older people depends on the patient's individual level of vitality, as perceived by the GP. For older people with a high level of vitality, GPs confine their role to standardised disease-oriented prevention on a patient's request. It is when the vitality levels in older people fall that the scope of preventive care shifts from prevention of disease to prevention of functional decline. For older, vulnerable people, GPs expect most benefit from a proactive, individualised approach, enabling them to live as independently as possible. Based on these responses, a conceptual model for preventive care for different groups of older people was developed. It focuses on five main dimensions: aim of care (prevention of disease versus prevention of functional decline), concept of care (disease model versus functional model), initiator (older persons themselves versus GP), target groups (people with requests versus specified risk groups), and content of preventive care (mainly cardiovascular risk management versus functional decline).
‘They ought to do this for their parents’: perceptions of filial obligations among immigrant and Dutch older people
- Authors:
- de VALK Helga A. G., SCHANS Djamila
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 28(1), January 2008, pp.49-66.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This paper presents a study of the perceptions of filial obligations among immigrant and Dutch older people in The Netherlands. It is first questioned how and to what extent these perceptions are determined by ethnic background or attributable to socio-demographic factors. Secondly, it is examined how filial obligations among immigrant older people differ by level of acculturation. Data from the main and migrant sample of the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study (2002–2003) for respondents aged 50–80 years in five ethnic groups are used. The analysis sample included 470 Dutch, 70 Turks, 73 Moroccans, 125 Surinamese and 59 Antilleans. Immigrant background was found to be an important determinant of the perception of a child's obligations towards parents. Immigrant elders generally expected more weekly visits and care from their children, and more facilitation of co-residence to parents than was the case for the Dutch. Among elderly people in all ethnic groups, including the Dutch, the attained level of education was related to perceptions of filial obligation, but marital status and current health status were not. Finally, it was found that different aspects of acculturation were related to the perception of filial obligations among older people with Mediterranean and Caribbean backgrounds.
A multi-perspective evaluation of a service robot for seniors: the voice of different stakeholders
- Authors:
- BEDAF Sandra, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 13(6), 2018, pp.592-599.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Purpose: The potential of service robots for older people is given increasing attention as the ageing population in Western countries will continue to grow as well as the demand for home care. In order to capture the experience of living with a robot at home, a multi-perspective evaluation was conducted. Methods: Older adults (n = 10) were invited to execute an actual interaction scenario with the Care-O-bot® robot in a home-like environment and were questioned about their experiences. Additionally, interviews were conducted with the elderly participants, informal carers (n = 7) and professional caregivers (n = 11). Results: Seniors showed to be more keen to accept the robot than their caregivers and relatives. However, the robot in its current form was found to be too limited and participants wished the robot could perform more complex tasks. In order to be acceptable a future robot should execute these complex tasks based on the personal preferences of the user which would require the robot to be flexible and extremely smart, comparable to the care that is delivered by a human carer. Conclusions: Developing the functional features to perform activities is not the only challenge in robot development that deserves the attention of robot developers. The development of social behaviour and skills should be addressed as well. This is possible adopting a person-centred design approach, which relies on validation activities with actual users in realistic environments, similar to those described in this paper. (Edited publisher abstract)
Overcoming old in age-friendliness
- Authors:
- LINDENBERG J., WESTENDORP R.G.J.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice, 29(1), 2015, pp.85-98.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
In this article, the authors explore views on an age-friendly space in the Netherlands by analysing the responses of older individuals (N = 54) in focus groups and by examining the perspectives around an age-friendly zone in the Netherlands, Parkstad Limburg. The authors found that a central issue in the wishes for living at a later age are adjustments to envisioned physical limitations that come with the ageing process; this includes adjustments to ensure safety, accessibility and mobility, in order to facilitate older individuals' efforts to stay engaged with the world around them. In their wishes, the older participants constructed ideal dwelling places that closely resembled a senior home, but at the same time they rejected wishing to live in a place that was identified as a senior home. The authors explain this paradox by the representation of such a space as being for old people, i.e. needy older individuals, which was not how the older participants wished to be identified. It is concluded that the conception of age-friendly environments will have to face the difficult challenge of overcoming the association with old age, while simultaneously taking into account adjustments that signify and relate to the ageing process and that seem inescapably tied to oldness. (Edited publisher abstract)
Impact of different types of retirement transitions on perceived satisfaction with life
- Authors:
- HERSHEY Douglas A., HENKENS Kene
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 54(2), 2014, pp.232-244.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Purpose: This study examines how life satisfaction changes as a function of the transition into retirement, distinguishing between different types of voluntary and involuntary exits. Design and Methods: Perceived satisfaction with life (SWL) was measured among 1,388 older Dutch workers on two occasions, separated by 6 years. During that time, more than half of participants (54%) left full-time employment and entered retirement. Results: Those who made a voluntarily departure from the workforce reported higher levels of perceived SWL compared with those who remained employed, whereas the life satisfaction scores of those whose departure was involuntary (due to health reasons, organizational reasons) were found to be the lowest. Other factors that had an effect on satisfaction included positive and negative health changes experienced during the 6-year interim, as well as changes in marital status due to divorce or loss of a spouse. Implications: These findings have important theoretical implications for the understanding of factors that shape individuals’ perceptions of how they view the quality of their lives. From an applied perspective, the findings have implications for the development of organizational initiatives aimed at helping workers transition into retirement in such a way as to maintain high levels of subjective well-being. (Publisher abstract)
Home visits for frail older people: a qualitative study on the needs and preferences of frail older people and their informal caregivers
- Authors:
- KEMPEN Janneke A. L. van, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of General Practice, 62(601), August 2012, pp.417-418.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of General Practitioners
Despite continuing interest from professionals in home visits for older people, reports on older people's needs and preferences for such visits are scarce. This qualitative study investigated the views and needs of 11 community-dwelling older people living in the area of Nijmegen, the Netherlands, concerning home visits. Most participants felt home visits would give older people the personal attention they used to receive from GPs. Most stated that this would give them more trust in GPs. Participants stated that trust was one of the most important factors in a good patient-professional relationship. Further, participants preferred home visits to focus on the psychosocial context of the patient. They stated that more knowledge of the psychosocial context and a good patient-professional relationship would enable the professional to provide better and more patient-centred care. The authors concluded that future studies on home visits should involve patients in the development of home visiting programmes.
Intentions to seek (preventive) psychological help among older adults: an application of the theory of planned behaviour
- Authors:
- WESTERHOF Gerben J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 12(3), May 2008, pp.317-322.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The study is carried out from the theory of planned behaviour and distinguishes attitudes (psychological openness), subjective norms (indifference to stigma), and perceived behavioural control (help-seeking propensity) in explaining behavioural intentions with regard to seeking preventive and therapeutic psychological help. One hundred and sixty seven Dutch adults between 65 and 75 years of age filled out a questionnaire measuring these concepts. Results found older adults have low intentions to seek professional help for psychological problems. Their intentions to use preventive help are somewhat higher. Older adults are rather indifferent to stigma and they perceive control, but they are less open to professional help when it comes to their own person. Regression analyses revealed that psychological openness and help-seeking propensity are related to intentions to seek preventive and therapeutic help.
Quality of life in dementia in perspective; an explorative study of variations in opinions among people with dementia and their professional caregivers, and in literature
- Authors:
- DROES Rose-Marie, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 5(4), November 2006, pp.533-558.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Many different definitions of the concept of quality of life (QOL) are found in the literature. This raises the question as to which domains are viewed as really important by people with dementia and which are possibly based on views of others, such as (in)formal carers, or theoretical models. An explorative study was carried out among people with dementia living in the community and in nursing homes. Their opinions were compared to those of professional carers and to the current theoretical models and instruments for QOL in dementia. Data were gathered by means of interviews, focus groups and literature study. Most QOL domains mentioned as important by the persons with dementia were also acknowledged by the carers and in the literature. A few, however, were not mentioned by the carers (i.e. ‘sense of aesthetics in living environment’,‘financial situation’ and ‘being of use/giving meaning to life’), and not selected in the measuring instruments (‘security and privacy’, and ‘self-determination and freedom’). This indicates differences in perspectives on quality of life between persons with dementia, their carers and theoretical models. Further research is recommended on this point.
Older people's views of falls-prevention interventions in six European countries
- Authors:
- YARDLEY Lucy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 46(5), October 2006, pp.650-660.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study conducted semi-structured interviews to assess perceived advantages and barriers to taking part in falls-related interventions were carried out in six European countries (Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Switzerland and United Kingdom) with 69 people aged 68 to 97 years. The sample was selected to include people with very different experiences of participation or nonparticipation in falls-related interventions, but all individuals were asked about interventions that included strength and balance training. The results found attitudes were similar in all countries and contexts. People were motivated to participate in strength and balance training by a wide range of perceived benefits (interest and enjoyment, improved health, mood, and independence) and not just reduction of falling risk. Participation also was encouraged by a personal invitation from a health practitioner and social approval from family and friends. Barriers to participation included denial of falling risk, the belief that no additional falls-prevention measures were necessary, practical barriers to attendance at groups (e.g., transport, effort, and cost), and a dislike of group activities. Implications: Because many older people reject the idea that they are at risk of falling, the uptake of strength and balance training programs may be promoted more effectively by maximizing and emphasizing their multiple positive benefits for health and well-being. A personal invitation from a health professional to participate is important, and it also may be helpful to provide home-based programs for those who dislike or find it difficult to attend groups.
It isn't something to yodel about, but it exists! Faeces, nurses, social relations and status within a mental hospital
- Author:
- DONGEN E Van
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 5(3), August 2001, pp.205-215.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
In medical settings, emotion-provoking work creates a hierarchy among health care professionals. Emotions like disgust, contempt or aversion that are evoked by 'body work' with elderly patients often remain invisible, but they play an important role in morality and shape the social relations between the patients and the professionals. With the help of ethnographic data from the nursing wards of a mental hospital in the Netherlands, the author shows how feelings about excrement are determined not only by their nature, but also by the nature of the relationships among the nurses and the relationships between the nurses and the elderly patients. Body care and the emotions that are evoked are connected to morality and moral care. Dealing with bodily and moral 'dirt' gives nurses a special position within the hospital as a whole, which will have effects on the care for elderly.