Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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Reclaiming social work with adults
- Author:
- JONES Ray
- Journal article citation:
- Professional Social Work, May 2017, pp.17-18.
- Publisher:
- British Association of Social Workers
The author looks at the role of adult social work and the increasing contribution it can make at a time of an ageing population.
No one wants to help them: volunteer legal guardians assisting older adults in the community
- Authors:
- JONES Andrea L., PASTOR Diane K.
- Journal article citation:
- Qualitative Social Work, 16(3), 2017, pp.376-393.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Choosing to volunteer one’s time in service to another is one of life’s selfless endeavors. Social work practice often intersects with volunteers. Many social workers volunteer their time. Yet, when volunteerism is studied from a quantitative framework, findings may overlook what is so special in this prosocial act, the voices of the volunteers. This article reports on the qualitative findings in a pilot mixed methods research study exploring a group of volunteers who chose to assist incapacitated older and disabled adults in their community by acting as their legal guardians. Volunteer legal guardianship may serve as the only guardian option in many localities, and may be greatly needed as our population ages. Qualitative data from 15 first and second individual interviews (n = 12) were analysed using a thematic analysis process. Findings indicated a strong humanitarian and civic interest in helping their neighbours in their community. Moreover, volunteers performed a wide variety of tasks in their capacity as guardians along a continuum related to their professional background and skills, an important finding relative to informing recruitment and retention strategies. Volunteer guardians trained in human service–related professions tended to require little information or support throughout the process. Those without human service training tended to request more information and support. However, many became increasingly independent in the task as their experience and competence grew. Additional implications include an understanding of this previously unexplored volunteer task, which may encourage use of and support training of volunteer guardians in ageing and allied services. (Edited publisher abstract)
Research and development work relating to assistive technology 2016-17
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Department of Health
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department of Health
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 51
- Place of publication:
- London
A listing of government-funded assistive technology research and development projects designed to enable the independence or wellbeing of disabled and older people. The report also highlights specific research activity in the areas of: assistive technology to improve mobility, assistive technology help children, assistive technology to increase independence and quality of life, and assistive technology for mental health. (Edited publisher abstract)
Ageing with a unique impairment: a systematically conducted review of older deafblind people's experiences
- Author:
- SIMCOCK Peter
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 37(8), 2017, pp.1703-1742.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Little is known about the experiences of people ageing with impairments; social gerontology has largely focused on those ageing into disability rather than those ageing with disability. This paper synthesises existing knowledge to determine what is known about the experiences of those ageing with deafblindness. A comprehensive literature search was undertaken between April 2013 and May 2014. The review method was informed by systematic review principles. A total of 24 references were identified for inclusion. No studies examining deafblind people's experience of ageing and old age specifically were found, suggesting that those ageing with deafblindness are an under-studied sub-group within the deafblind population. However, deafblind people describe ageing experiences in studies exploring their lives generally, and in personal accounts of living with the impairment. Practitioner-authored material also explores the topic. Similarities in experience were identified between those ageing with deafblindness and those ageing with other impairments: ongoing change and consequent need for adaptation; a particular relationship between ageing and impairment; a sense that whilst one can learn adaptive strategies having lived with impairment for many years, it does not necessarily get easier; and a particular relationship with care and support services. These experiences illustrate the unique nature of ageing with impairment, and challenge gerontologists to engage in further research and theorising in the field of disability in later life. (Publisher abstract)
Tracking down a solution: exploring the acceptability and value of wearable GPS devices for older persons, individuals with a disability and their support persons
- Authors:
- WILLIAMSON Brittany, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 12(8), 2017, pp.822-831.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Purpose: To explore the acceptability and value of three wearable GPS devices for older persons and individuals with a disability and safety concerns when accessing the community. Methods: This pilot study explored six wearers’ and their support persons’ experience of using three different wearable GPS devices (a pendant, watch, and mini GPS phone), each for a two-week period. Results: Participants identified safety as the main value of using a wearable GPS device. The acceptability and value of these devices was strongly influenced by device features, ease of use, cost, appearance, the reliability of the GPS coordinates, the wearer’s health condition and the users familiarity with technology. Overall, participants indicated that they preferred the pendant. Conclusions: Wearable GPS devices are potentially useful in providing individuals who have safety concerns with reassurance and access to assistance as required. To ensure successful utilisation, future device design and device selection should consider the user’s familiarity with technology and their health condition. This study also revealed that not all wearable GPS devices provide continuous location tracking. It is therefore critical to ensure that the device’s location tracking functions address the wearer’s requirements and reason for using the device. (Publisher abstract)
Care and violence through the lens of personal support workers
- Author:
- KELLY Christine
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Care and Caring, 1(1), 2017, pp.97-113.
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
Using a grounded theory approach, this article contends that violence should be considered a part of, rather than in opposition to, care. This conceptualisation is empirically supported by themes from a qualitative study of personal support worker education in Ontario, Canada: one on violence against workers; another on abuse; and a third on sentimental motivations. This article demonstrates the tensions of care: that it can be at once violent and rewarding. The conclusion considers what to do with the discomfort raised by this tense definition, suggesting that it is an essential starting point for transforming the organisation of care. (Publisher abstract)
- video
LGBTQI+ video stories
- Author:
- SOCIAL CARE INSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENCE
- Publisher:
- Social Care Institute for Excellence
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Place of publication:
- London
This resource presents five accounts of LGBTQI+ people and their care and support experiences. The stories focus on people with physical disabilities; people with mental health needs; people with learning disabilities; partners in adoption services; and older people and residential care. (Edited publisher abstract)
From disability rights towards a rights-based approach to long-term care in Europe: building an index of rights-based policies for older people. Working paper 1: literature review
- Authors:
- SCHULMANN Katharine, et al
- Publisher:
- European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 73
- Place of publication:
- Vienna
This working paper presents the results of a literature review carried out for the project, 'From disability rights towards a rights-based approach to long-term care in Europe: building an Index of rights-based policies for older people'. The authors investigate the key concepts of the movement to secure the rights of people with disabilities in order to understand how the disability rights movement can inform the ongoing policy debate surrounding older people's rights, and potential limitations of the former model in securing the rights older people with care and support needs. The paper concludes by identifying specific human rights that should be considered in the context of care for older people. (Edited publisher abstract)
The power of population health data on aging and intellectual and developmental disabilities: reactions of knowledge users
- Authors:
- MARTIN Lynn, OUELLETTE-KUNTZ Helene, McKENZIE Katherine
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 14(4), 2017, p.268–278.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Recent work in Ontario (Canada) revealed that adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience higher rates of frailty and use of ageing care services at earlier ages than the general population, and that the subset aged 65+ years is increasing. This paper describes the reaction of knowledge users to study findings and implications for policy and practice. A knowledge transfer webinar was held with nearly 200 people representing different regions of the province, participant types (family members, service providers, decision makers, researchers), and sectors (health and developmental services). Most participants viewed health and developmental services systems as not ready for the ageing population with intellectual and developmental disabilities for two main reasons: insufficient cross-sector expertise and inadequate funding. The need for healthcare, challenged informal supports, lack of services, and the desire for independence were thought to drive higher use of home care among younger adults, while inadequacies within the developmental services sector, challenged informal supports, medical and care needs, lack of community supports, and the need for coordinated cross-sector services were noted as contributing to admissions to long-term care. There is a lack of evidence-based information on ageing and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Ongoing access to quality, population-level data on the number and needs of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities is needed to improve policies and practices to support ageing in the community. Persons working in health and developmental services had a shared understanding of the need for system reform, better collaboration, and integration of resources. Both sectors also viewed admission to long-term care as particularly problematic. The province-wide webinar brought together persons with various levels of responsibility from different sectors. Future exchanges should focus on identifying and promoting best practices. (Edited publisher abstract)
Poverty and social exclusion in the UK. Volume 1: the nature and extent of the problem
- Editors:
- DERMOTT Esther, MAIN Gill
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 280
- Place of publication:
- Bristol
Defining poverty as those whose lack of resources forces them to live below a publicly agreed minimum standard, this text provides unique and detailed insights into the nature and extent of poverty and social exclusion in the UK today. The book reports on the extent and nature of poverty for different social groups: older and younger people; parents and children; ethnic groups; men and women; disabled people; and across regions through the recent period of austerity. It reflects on where government policies have made an impact and considers potential future developments. A companion volume Poverty and Social Exclusion in the UK Volume 2 focuses on different aspects of poverty and social exclusion identified in the study. (Edited publisher abstract)