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Smoking after the age of 65 years: a qualitative exploration of older current and former smokers' views on smoking, stopping smoking, and smoking cessation resources and services
- Authors:
- KERR Susan, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 14(6), November 2006, pp.572-582.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The aim of this study was to explore older current/former smokers' views on smoking, stopping smoking, and smoking cessation resources and services. Despite the fact that older smokers have been identified as a priority group, there is currently a dearth of age-related smoking cessation research to guide practice. The study adopted a qualitative approach and used the health belief model as a conceptual framework. Twenty current and former smokers aged ≥ 65 years were recruited through general practices and a forum for older adults in the West of Scotland. Data were collected using a semi structured interview schedule. The audio-taped interviews were transcribed and then analysed using content analysis procedures. Current smokers reported many positive associations with smoking, which often prevented a smoking cessation attempt. The majority were aware that smoking had damaged their health; however, some were not convinced of the association. A common view was that 'the damage was done', and therefore, there was little point in attempting to stop smoking. When suggesting a cessation attempt, while some health professionals provided good levels of support, others were reported as providing very little. Some of the participants reported that they had never been advised to stop smoking. Knowledge of local smoking cessation services was generally poor. Finally, concern was voiced regarding the perceived health risks of using nicotine replacement therapy. The main reasons why the former smokers had stopped smoking were health-related. Many had received little help and support from health professionals when attempting to stop smoking. Most of the former smokers believed that stopping smoking in later life had been beneficial to their health. In conclusion, members of the primary care team have a key role to play in encouraging older people to stop smoking. In order to function effectively, it is essential that they take account of older smokers' health beliefs and that issues, such as knowledge of smoking cessation resources, are addressed.
Changing attitudes to learning in later life
- Author:
- McKECHNIE Brian
- Journal article citation:
- Generations Review, 16(3/4), September 2006, pp.7-9.
- Publisher:
- British Society of Gerontology
This article reports on a project to examine why older people in the UK are the least likely of all age groups to participate in lifelong learning. The project also looks at ways to overcome barriers to their involvement.
Older, wiser and unlikely to present
- Author:
- PATRICK Eleanor
- Journal article citation:
- Therapy Today, 17(3), April 2006, pp.4-8.
- Publisher:
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
In order to understand how older people might use a counselling process, we need to hear their opinions. The author reports on a small study carried out with eight older people in order to find out how older people imagined counselling and whether they might consider bringing their own issues to such a session or series of sessions in an attempt to resolve them.
A multidimensional scale for the measurement of agreement with age stereotypes and the salience of age in social interaction
- Authors:
- KRUSE Andreas, SCHMITT Eric
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 26(3), May 2006, pp.393-411.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This paper presents a new scale for the assessment of the salience of age in social interaction and of levels of agreement with four age stereotypical assertions, about the characteristics of people in the ‘third age’ and the ‘fourth age’, about older people's social roles and social participation, and about the problems for society produced by population ageing. The scale was constructed by testing the agreement of a national sample of 804 German respondents aged 41–84 years with over 60 item-statements in two pilot studies. The final scale has 24 items, and was tested using a stratified sample of 1,275 subjects aged 40–75 years. Five postulated subscales were confirmed using principal components analysis: ‘age salience’ in social interaction, old age as a time of ‘developmental gains and potentials of development’, old age as a time of ‘developmental losses and risks of development’, ‘the social downgrading of older people’, and believing that ‘older people are a burden on society’. For age stereotypes and age salience, no significant sex differences were found, but those aged 58–64 years held more optimistic views about old age and population ageing than both the younger and the older age groups (with no differences between the latter). Moreover, age stereotypes and age salience varied by several social-economic variables, particularly occupational status, the rate of unemployment in the region of residence, and being resident in the eastern or western part of Germany. No significant interactions between age group and sex were found for any of the five subscales.
Strengthening aging content in the baccalaureate social work curricula: what students have to say
- Authors:
- WAITES Cheryl E., LEE Othelia
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 48(1/2), 2006, pp.47-62.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Encouraging student's interest and preparing them for social work practice with older adults is increasingly important in view of the demographic changes that are taking place. This article describes a study that engages BSW students from North Carolina in a discussion of best models for promoting gerontological social work curriculum infusion. Using two focus groups, the authors explore barriers to student interest and potential strategies to recruit students for gerontological social work. Fear of their own decline and mortality, lack of exposure to older adults and aging issues emerge as the primary reasons for aversion to working with older adults. Strategies to promote student interest, organize curricula, and create an inclusive learning context are discussed. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Increased wealth and income as correlates of self-assessed retirement
- Author:
- CAPUTO Richard K.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 47(1/2), 2006, pp.175-201.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This study examined whether retirement implies complete withdrawal from the labour force and the role that increased wealth and income play in regard to the nature of retirement. Data came from the Health and Retirement Study in the United States, Waves 1-5. Findings indicated that most study sample pre-retirees remained in the labour force as they moved into what are considered the normal retirement years. As they moved on average from 50+ years of age to 60+ years of age, increasing percentages of study sample pre-retirees reported themselves as completely retired. Those who viewed themselves as completely retired were far less likely to work than those who did not view themselves as completely retired. Of particular importance was the finding that increased income in 2000 decreased the likelihood of self-reported complete retirement. Equally important was the finding that increased assets had no effect on retirement status with the exception of survey year 1998 when increased assets decreased the likelihood of viewing oneself as completely retired. Findings suggested that pro-work retirement policies aimed at increasing labour force participation among pre-retirees and increasing the normal retirement age can be effective. Five pro-work policies were discussed. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Defining a fall and reasons for falling: comparisons among the views of seniors, health care providers, and the research literature
- Authors:
- ZECEVIC Aleksandra A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 46(3), June 2006, pp.367-376.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The purpose of this Canadian study was (a) to obtain information about the perceptions held by seniors and health care providers concerning what constitutes a fall and potential reasons for falling, and (b) to compare these perceptions to the research literature. As part of a larger telephone survey, interviewers asked 477 community-dwelling seniors to define a fall and to provide reasons for falling. In addition, 31 health care providers from the community were interviewed on the same topics. In order to capture patterns in conceptualized thinking, content analysis was used to develop codes and categories for a fall definition and reasons for falling. Selected articles were reviewed in order to obtain a comprehensive overview of fall definitions currently used in the research and prevention literature. The results found that a fall had different meanings for different groups. Seniors and health care providers focused mainly on antecedents and consequences of falling, whereas researchers described the fall event itself. There were substantial differences between the reasons for falling as reported by seniors and the risk factors as identified in the research literature. The authors conclude that if not provided with an appropriate definition, seniors can interpret the meaning of a fall in many different ways. This has the potential to reduce the validity in studies comparing fallers to nonfallers. Research reports and prevention programs should always provide an operational definition of a fall. In communication between health care providers and seniors, an appropriate definition increases the possibility for early detection of seniors in greater need of care and services.
The symbolic value of tai chi for older people
- Author:
- SCOURFIELD Peter
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing, 7(2), June 2006, pp.4-12.
- Publisher:
- Pier Professional
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
This article is based on a small-scale study into a tai chi class for older people at risk of falling. The aims of the research were to explore what benefits the class members felt they derived from practicing Tai Chi and whether they practiced Tai Chi at home. The research revealed that members did not believe that Tai Chi had reduced their risk of falling, though their commitment to Tai Chi was very strong. The findings suggest that tai chi had a symbolic value for this predominantly middle class group.
Working with older people: a resource directory for churches
- Author:
- JOHNSON Alison
- Publisher:
- Leveson Centre for the Study of Ageing, Spirituality and Social Policy
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- loose leaf
- Place of publication:
- Solihull
- Edition:
- 2nd
This Directory brings together details of over 100 church-related organisations working with older people. Its publication challenges many of the prevalent attitudes both in society and church to age and ageing. The Directory includes national church-related organisations; local organisations and projects in individual churches; diocesan and similar church bodies with a particular interest in ageing issues and individuals working in this area.
Relationship between adherence to tradition and depression in Chinese elders in China
- Authors:
- MJELDE-MOSSEY L. A., CHI I., LOU V.W.Q.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 10(1), January 2006, pp.19-26.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study examined the relationship between adherence to tradition and depression in a sample of 1,502 Chinese elders living in the People's Republic of China. In Chinese traditional culture, an elder's purpose, meaning and self-worth are derived, in large, from their social roles within the family and community. As the traditional culture declines so do these familiar roles, supports, and ways of coping. This constitutes a major loss which can have a variety of psychosocial consequences, one of which could be depression. The elders in our study responded to a nine-item measure of traditional mutual aid and intergenerational exchange. Depression was measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Regression analysis found a significant and negative relationship between tradition and depression which suggests that adherence to tradition may have protective benefits. These findings have application with elders in China as well as with those who are immigrants to other societies.