Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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The inter-relationship between formal and informal care: a study in France and Israel
- Authors:
- LITWIN Howard, ATTIAS-DONFUT Claudine
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 29(1), January 2009, pp.71-91.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study examined whether formal care services delivered to frail older people's homes in France and Israel substitute for or complement informal support. The two countries have comparable family welfare systems but many historical, cultural and religious differences. Data for the respondents aged 75 or more years at the first wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) were analysed. Regressions were examined of three patterns of care from outside the household: informal support only, formal support only and both formal and informal care, with the predictor variables including whether informal help was provided by a family member living in the household. The results revealed that about one-half of the respondents received no help at all (France 51%, Israel 55%), about one-tenth received care from a household member (France 8%, Israel 10%), and one-third were helped by informal carers from outside the household (France 34%, Israel 33%). More French respondents (35%) received formal care services at home than Israelis (27%). Most predictors of the care patterns were similar in the two countries. The analysis showed that complementarity is a common outcome of the co-existence of formal and informal care, and that mixed provision occurs more frequently in situations of greater need. It is also shown that spouse care-givers had less formal home-care supports than either co-resident children or other family care-givers. Even so, spouses, children and other family care-givers all had considerable support from formal home-delivered care.
Social productivity and depressive symptoms in early old age-results from the GAZEL study
- Authors:
- WAHRENDORF M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 12(3), May 2008, pp.310-316.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The associations of frequency of performing three types of socially productive activities (voluntary work, informal help and caring for a person) were tested with depressive symptoms in older people. Data on social activities and frequency of performance were collected in the frame of the annual follow-up of the French GAZEL cohort study in 2005. Depressive symptoms were measured by the CES-D scale. Perceived control was assessed by two items of a quality of life measure (CASP-19). Total of 14,477 respondents aged 52-66 years completed a standardized questionnaire. Linear regression models were calculated adjusting for important confounders including self-rated health assessed during the previous year. In activities characterized by high autonomy (in particular voluntary work) a negative association of frequency with depressive symptoms was observed, whereas the reverse effect was found in the type of activity with low autonomy (care for a person). Perceived control mediated in part the association of frequency of activity with depressive symptoms. It is concluded that being often socially productive in early old age may contribute to well-being to the extent that autonomy and perceived control are given.
Nutritional status of community-dwelling older people with dementia: associations with individual and family caregivers' characteristics
- Authors:
- RULLIER Laetitia, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 28(6), 2013, pp.580-588.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The object of this study was to explore the associations of individual characteristics of both older people with dementia and family caregivers with the nutritional status of older people with dementia. The cross-sectional study comprising community-dwelling older persons with dementia and 56 family caregivers was conducted at home by a psychogerontologist working for a community gerontological center. Older people with dementia were assessed with Mini mental state examination, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and NeuroPsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and family caregivers with the Burden Interview (Zarit scale), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the emotional impact measure of NPI. For both, nutritional status was evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Among older people with dementia, 58.9% were at risk of malnutrition and 23.2% presented a poor nutritional status, and among the family caregivers, 32.1% and 5.4%, respectively. The MNA score of older people with dementia was strongly and inversely associated with the ADL score and was strongly and positively associated with the MNA score of family caregiver. These two factors significantly explained 32% of variation of MNA score of older people with dementia. These findings confirm the value of investigating nutritional deficiencies in dementia within the caregiving dyad and suggest that the functional status of older people with dementia and the nutritional status of family caregivers should be carefully assessed. (Publisher abstract)
Older women: work and caregiving in conflict?: a study of four countries
- Authors:
- MULLER Charlotte, VOLKOV Oleg
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Health Care, 48(7), October 2009, pp.665-695.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Caring issues are important for industrialised societies that have been undergoing population ageing. In this article we consider caring as a factor in the outlook for midlife and older women with respect to economic security and economic advancement. We use demographic and economic data from the United States, France, Sweden and the United Kingdom, in particular to document the importance of continued labour force participation for older women to make ends meet in an era of high household costs of physician services, prescription drugs and other health-related services, and uncertainties about pensions. Data on employment status, industry, and occupation of economically active women in comparison with men indicate the extent of both gender gaps and progress affecting women's resources. The research of Dr. Myrna Lewis was a stimulus to the present exploration.
Dignity and older Europeans: final report of focus groups of French professionals
- Author:
- AMYOT Jean-Jacques
- Publisher:
- Dignity and Older Europeans Consortium
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 62p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
Dignity and Older Europeans is an international research project which brings together a range of academics, clinicians, and user groups to explore the concept of dignity in the lives of Older Europeans. The project spanned 3 years until December 2004 and involved 8 partners from 6 European countries including France.
Dignity and older Europeans: final report of focus groups of French older people
- Author:
- AMYOT Jean-Jacques
- Publisher:
- Dignity and Older Europeans Consortium
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 37p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
Dignity and Older Europeans is an international research project which brings together a range of academics, clinicians, and user groups to explore the concept of dignity in the lives of Older Europeans. The project spanned 3 years until December 2004 and involved 8 partners from 6 European countries including UK, France, Ireland, Spain, Sweden and Slovakia The right to, and the need for dignity is frequently cited in policy documents relating to the health and social care of older people. It is also expressed as an important value in professional codes and declarations of human rights. Yet concerns about the standards of care for a growing number of older people abound despite global ageing being a well-recognised phenomenon. Dignity is a complex concept that is difficult to define. If today’s, as well as tomorrow’s older people are to experience dignity in health and social care, as well as in other aspects of their lives, then these complexities need to be clarified.
Dementia patients caregivers quality of life: the pixel study
- Author:
- THOMAS Philippe
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 21(1), January 2006, pp.50-56.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This French survey aimed to determine parameters influencing caregivers' quality of life, and its possible link with patients' quality of life. A scale measuring caregivers' quality of life, developed from data from previous PIXEL studies was used. It is a questionnaire composed of 20 items. The scale was related to the socio-demographic data of both patients and their main caregivers, to the ADRQL scale (Alzheimer Disease Related Quality Life) of Rabins for the QoL of dementia patients, to the patients medical and therapeutic data, specially a neuropsychological inventory: Folstein's cognition test, Cornell's depression scale, the fast battery of frontal assessment, Katz's dependence index, Cummings' neuropsychiatric inventory for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia and to a physician evaluation of caregiver's depression. One hundred patients diagnosed with dementia who live at home with their principal caregivers were recruited for this survey. The caregivers' quality of life was correlated to the quality of life of the patients they cared for, the importance of behavioural disorders, and the duration of dementia evolution. Women caregivers had a worse quality of life and were more depressive than men.
A place for support: new policies for informal carers in long-term programmes
- Author:
- SCHUNK Michaela
- Journal article citation:
- Benefits, 28, April 2000, pp.22-25.
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
Reviews policy trends for informal carers which have been implemented in various countries between 1996 - 1998. The article focuses on respite care and direct payments for carers of older ill and disabled adults.
Paying for care: lessons from Europe
- Authors:
- GLENDINNING Caroline, McLAUGHLIN Eithne
- Publisher:
- HMSO/Great Britain. Social Security Advisory Committee
- Publication year:
- 1993
- Pagination:
- 169p.,tables,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Comparative study looking at financial support for informal carers which has been introduced in some developed countries in the light of demographic trends experienced across Europe.
Policies for the ageing society: report of a seminar held at Church House, London 15 June 2005
- Author:
- JOHNSON Christopher
- Publisher:
- Franco British Council
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 16p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The ageing society has become a major topic of research, discussion and policy-making. The report focuses on two broad topics: the work-life balance, and the welfare of older people. Society needs to change its attitude towards older people, seeing them as a potential resource rather than a burden. Governments have an important role to play, but a wider dialogue involving employers, trade unions, and non-governmental organizations is needed as well. Greater flexibility is needed in finding the right work-life balance for each individual, on the part of employers as well as employees, allowing part-time work or self-employment after pension age. Later retirement should be encouraged by stronger financial incentives than at present. Products and services should be adapted to benefit people of all age groups, for example domestic appliances. Mobility is a key factor in health and welfare for older people. Traffic lights with longer crossing times and more user-friendly public transport should be introduced. Housing policy in both countries needs to provide for a big increase in the number of households skewed towards older people. Older people could help each other or the younger generations as carers, educators and mentors.