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Avoiding institutional outcomes for older adults living with disability: the use of community-based aged care supports
- Authors:
- ELLISON Caroline, WHITE Amy, CHAPMAN Libby
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 36(3), September 2011, pp.175-183.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Most people, regardless of ability or impairment, want to remain independent and living in their own home as they age. This study aimed to establish if accessing community-based aged care supports was perceived as assisting individuals ageing with a disability to remain living in their own homes and to avoid more institutional models of service. Sixty individuals aged 50 years and over with an intellectual, physical or neurological disability were interviewed to determine their perceptions in relation to ageing and the supports needed to remain living in the community. In addition, 26 staff and 6 family members were interviewed. The findings indicated that the participants receiving community-based aged care supports reported benefits including opportunities to develop relationships, maintain daily living skills, and participate in community activities. However, due to a lack of confidence in the availability of access to mainstream community-based aged care services, many participants felt vulnerable or unsure about their future and ability to remain living in their own home. Several participants commented that this meant that an undesired early relocation into residential aged care or congregate disability services appeared inevitable.
What can assistive technology offer disabled adults?
- Author:
- RESEARCH IN PRACTICE FOR ADULTS
- Publisher:
- Research in Practice for Adults
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 6p.
- Place of publication:
- Dartington
This briefing presents an overview of assistive technology and explains how it is a key component of the independence agenda, helping disabled people gain greater control over their social environment.
Sustaining an intimate and sexually fulfilled marriage or partnership in older adulthood with a disability: perspectives of social workers
- Authors:
- LINTON Kristen F., WILLIAMS Lela Rankin
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 29(8), 2019, pp.1026-1035.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The American portrayal of sex is often left for only the young, attractive, and able-bodied. In contrast many studies have found that older adults with disabilities in marriages and intimate partnerships have sexual desire and sexually active lives. Social workers are often burdened with balancing the sexual intimacy desires of their older adult clients with disabilities, alongside the need to protect them from sexual abuse and exploitation, particularly among those who may lack the capacity to consent due to cognitive impairment. This phenomenological study aimed to understand the lived professional experience of social workers (N = 5) in supporting married and intimately partnered couples in which at least one person was an older adult with a disability to understand the clients’ needs and common social work practice methods used to address their needs. Inductive coding was used to identify themes and subthemes. Their role included helping their clients to learn about their ability to have sex, consenting to sex, negotiating accommodations for intimacy and sex with their spouses, and counselling those who took on caregiver roles for their spouses. Social workers reported that individual diagnosis, such as dementia, should not alone determine one’s ability to consent to sex. (Edited publisher abstract)
Canadian power mobility device users' experiences of ageing with mobility impairments
- Authors:
- KOROTCHENKO Alexandra, CLARKE Laura Hurd
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 36(6), 2016, pp.1238-1253.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
In this article, the authors draw upon interviews with 14 men and 15 women aged 51–92 to examine the embodied experiences of Canadian power mobility device users. In particular, they investigate how individuals ageing with mobility impairments perceived and experienced the practical impacts and symbolic cultural connotations of utilising a power mobility device. The findings reveal that those participants who had begun to use their power mobility devices later in life were dismayed by and apprehensive about the significance of their diminishing physical abilities in the context of the societal privileging of youthful and able bodies. At the same time, the participants who had used a power mobility device from a young age were fearful of prospective bodily declines, and discussed the significance and consequences of being unable to continue to operate their power mobility devices autonomously in the future. The authors consider the ways in which the participants attempted to manage, mitigate and reframe their experiences of utilising power mobility devices in discriminatory environments. The authors discuss their findings in relation to on-going theoretical debates pertaining to the concepts of ‘biographical disruption’ and the third and fourth ages. (Edited publisher abstract)
Why is it important to consider so-called 'invisible' older people in UK healthcare?
- Authors:
- TINKER Anthea, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 15(4), 2014, pp.187-196.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Design/methodology/approach: Using information obtained from academic literature, government statistics and other publications from relevant organisations, this paper discusses older people who are in groups that are not readily visible to policy makers and practitioners. The authors investigated one 'invisible' group each and comparisons and conclusions were then made collaboratively. The six underserved populations covered were older people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, those from LGBT communities, older prisoners, older people with chronic long-term mental health problems (in particular depression and dementia) and those who are homeless. The issues of health needs, access to health care and provision of services are discussed. Findings: Many groups of older people seem to be absent from statistics and from policy making. The paper suggests that there needs to be more research to identify the scale of any problems and how they may be solved. Practical implications: There are practical implications for health and social care professionals if they do not recognise that there are groups in society about whom little is known. Lack of knowledge and empathy may affect their approach to these groups. (Edited publisher abstract)
Impact of a multicomponent support services program on informal caregivers of adults aging with disabilities
- Authors:
- LAVELA Sherri L., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 55(2), February 2012, pp.160-174.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
A multicomponent support services program was implemented for veterans aging with disabilities and their informal caregivers (n = 42 dyads, caregiver average age 56 years) living in Florida. The programme was provided through Social Work Services and targeted high risk families. It included 24 hour in-home respite care, caregiver group support, and education and skills training. It was designed to keep veterans in their home while providing temporary relief to family caregivers. Caregiver outcomes (satisfaction, physical and mental health status, burden, and benefits) were evaluated before and after program use. They reported significant improvements in mental health post-program. Those who provided care to individuals with impaired physical health experienced meaningful improvements in burden after the support services were implemented. The authors conclude that supporting caregiver health status through such programs is vital to preserve noninstitutional long-term care for persons aging with disabilities, particularly when care is provided over many years to an individual with physical impairments.
Treating depression in disabled, low-income elderly: a conceptual model and recommendations for care
- Authors:
- AREAN Patricia A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25(8), August 2010, pp.765-769.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Ten percent of older people in the United States live at or below the poverty line, and the treatment of depression within this group is complicated by several factors, where poor access to resources, disability, and mild cognitive impairment are the main factors that moderate treatment effects. Interventions that not only address the depressive syndrome but also manage social adversity are needed to help this patient population recover from depression. This paper presents a literature review of correlates of depression in late life. In the review the authors propose a treatment model that combines case management to address social adversity with problem solving treatment to address the depressive syndrome. The case of a male patient is outlined – living in poverty, depressed, and physically disabled. The authors’ illustrate how the combination of case management and problem solving treatment can work together to ameliorate depression. In conclusion, the paper suggests that the combination of age, disability, and social adversity complicates the management and treatment of depression. Case management and problem solving treatment are interventions that work synergistically to overcome depression and manage social problems.
Facilitators and barriers to autonomy: a systematic literature review for older adults with physical impairments, living in residential care facilities
- Authors:
- van LOON Jolande, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, early cite 30 October 2019,
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Autonomy is important in every stage of life. However, little is known about how autonomy is enhanced for older adults living in residential care facilities (RCFs). This leads to the research question: which facilitators and barriers to autonomy of older adults with physical impairments due to ageing and chronic health conditions living in RCFs are known? The results will be organised according to the framework of person-centred practice, because this is related to autonomy enhancement. To answer the research question, a systematic literature search and review was performed in the electronic databases CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, Social Services Abstracts and Sociological Abstracts. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were derived from the research question. Selected articles were analysed and assessed on quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Facilitators and barriers for autonomy were found and arranged in four themes: characteristics of residents, prerequisites of professional care-givers, care processes between resident and care-giver, and environment of care. The established facilitators and barriers are relational and dynamic. For a better understanding of the facilitators and barriers to autonomy for older adults with physical impairments living in RCFs, a description is based on the 35 included articles. Autonomy is a capacity to influence the environment and make decisions irrespective of having executional autonomy, to live the kind of life someone desires to live in the face of diminishing social, physical and/or cognitive resources and dependency, and it develops in relationships. The results provide an actual overview and lead to a better understanding of barriers and facilitators for the autonomy of older adults with physical impairments in RCFs. For both residents and care-givers, results offer possibilities to sustain and reinforce autonomy. Scientifically, the study creates new knowledge on factors that influence autonomy, which can be used to enhance autonomy. (Edited publisher abstract)
Delivering personal budgets for adult social care: reflections from Essex
- Author:
- OFFICE FOR PUBLIC MANAGEMENT
- Publisher:
- Office for Public Management
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 9p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Essex County Council (ECC) has commissioned a three year study to investigate the impact of personal budgets taken as cash payments by older and disabled people and their families. This paper reflects on some of the issues raised through face-to-face interviews, conducted between November 2009 and January 2010, with 46 older and/or disabled people who were receiving cash payments and/or interviews with their relatives. In addition four interviews were conducted with older service users whose personal budgets were being managed by the council. The majority had only been receiving cash payments for a couple of months at the time of interview. Generally service users reported positive outcomes. The predictors of take-up of self-managed budgets appeared to be the confidence of service users, based on their own sense of rights, their skills and support available from close relatives and wider social networks. For older service users and those with learning disabilities family members often played a central role in making the initial decision about whether to opt for cash payments. Findings suggested that frontline staff may be making implicit assumptions about which service users are capable of managing cash payments which may influence what choices, if any, are offered. A lack of clarity was found about what is meant by ‘choice and control’ leading to open interpretation by individual frontline staff. The importance of ensuring frontline staff are clear about choice and control and confident in explaining the principles underpinning self-directed support is stressed.
Developmental disability and ageing
- Editors:
- O'BRIEN Gregory, ROSENBLOOM Lewis, (eds.)
- Publisher:
- Mac Keith
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 131p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Aimed at clinicians and others who are engaged in caring for ageing adults with developmental disabilities, this handbook is intended to inform understanding, promote assessment, assist care planning, and improve everyday living for this group of vulnerable individuals. It provides a brief general overview, discusses dementia in the context of developmental disability, and looks at the patterns of ageing of two of the major groups of developmental disabilities, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy, and at other syndromes and their characteristics with ageing. It covers drug treatment for common problems among elderly people with developmental disabilities (including dementia), and considers issues of psychosocial intervention and life planning for ageing individuals with developmental disability. The book provides brief case examples, cites key evidence, and indicates sources of further reading.