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Fostering resilience later in life: a narrative approach involving people facing disabling circumstances, carers and members of minority groups
- Authors:
- OTTMANN Goetz, MARAGOUDAKI Margarita
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 35(10), 2015, pp.2071-2099.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Over the last two decades, the concept of resilience has become the focus of a growing body of gerontological research. However, there is a dearth of qualitative research that explores how socio-economic and socio-cultural factors shape older people's resilience. This study addresses this gap and explores the concept of resilience through the lens of 25 Australians from a variety of backgrounds, investigating the resilience strategies they employed in the face of different challenging life events. A qualitative narrative methodology involving one focus group and semi-structured interviews was employed. A stratified convenience sample of 34 people aged 60 and over participated in semi-structured interviews between 2009 and 2011. The study describes the meaning participants assigned to the term resilience, and focuses on the range of resilience responses and strategies they employed, bringing to light some key commonalities and differences. The study's findings suggest that access to economic and cultural resources and the nature of the adversity older people face can shape and limit their resilience strategies. The article outlines how the concept of resilience could be incorporated into aged care practice and argues that resilience-focused interventions that potentially broaden the resilience repertoire of older people should be explored within an aged care context. (Publisher abstract)
Home adaptations for disabled people: good practice case study: Ealing
- Author:
- CARE AND REPAIR ENGLAND
- Publisher:
- Care and Repair England
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 8
- Place of publication:
- Nottingham
A case study of the Repairs and Adaptations service, an in-house agency service, based within the Regeneration and Housing Directorate of the London Borough of Ealing. The services carries out a full range of adaptation work across all tenures of housing, including the council’s own stock. It employs 12 FTE staff, which includes a manager, an Occupational Therapist (OT), two caseworkers, five surveyors, and two apprentices. The case study illustrates how the service: provides a lean, cost effective adaptations service; delivers the aims of Better Care Fund and Care Act; joint working with health and social care; innovative use of handyperson service to help with hospital discharge and reablement; and a zero-cost model using cross-subsidy. (Edited publisher abstract)
A case study about the supported participation of older men with lifelong disability at Australian community-based Men's Sheds
- Authors:
- GRAIG Diane, BIGBY Christine, BALANDIN Susan
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 40(4), 2015, pp.330-341.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: This article presents an insight into the supported participation of older men with a lifelong disability in community Men's Sheds. The authors draw on a subsample of men from a 3-year study that explored how older people with a lifelong disability could be supported to transition to retirement from sheltered workshops. Method: Data arose from a range of sources – both quantitative and qualitative – and are structured here into a descriptive case study about how mentors at Men's Sheds provided support to older men (n = 9) with lifelong disability. Findings: Older men with disability want to enjoy an active retirement similar to their peers without disability. These men can join mainstream community groups such as Men's Sheds, provided they are offered just the right amount and type of support. Conclusion: Men's Sheds are largely untapped community resources where men with disability are welcome, provided that appropriate support is offered to the members of the shed. (Edited publisher abstract)
Strategies used by older women with intellectual disability to create and maintain their social networks: an exploratory qualitative study
- Authors:
- WHITE Katharine, MACKENZIE Lynette
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 78(10), 2015, pp.630-639.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Introduction: Social networks are important to health and wellbeing, and enhancing social networks are key occupations for older people. This is relevant for older people with intellectual disability, particularly older women, who face challenges in building social networks, and their social networks are vulnerable to loss as they age. This study aimed to investigate how older women with intellectual disability create and maintain their social networks. Method: This exploratory qualitative study involved conducting in-depth interviews with five women with mild to moderate intellectual disability (as defined by their service organisation) aged over 50 years and living in the community, using the Support Interview Guide, that has previously been used with younger adults with intellectual disability. Participants could communicate in spoken English. Data were coded line by line and analysed using a thematic analysis. Results: Participants created social networks independently and through others. Strategies used included communicating, sharing activities, celebrating special occasions, organising activities, supporting each other, having a routine, being out and about and using formal assistance. Barriers and facilitators were also identified. Conclusion As older women with intellectual disability age, occupational therapists and support organisations need to focus on assisting this group to build and maintain their social networks. (Publisher abstract)
Older owners: research on the lives, aspirations and housing outcomes of older homeowners in the UK
- Authors:
- LLOYD James, PARRY Will
- Publisher:
- Strategic Society Centre
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 44
- Place of publication:
- London
Using data from the 2011 Census and a nationally representative panel survey, this qualitative research describes the housing wealth, outcomes and lives of older homeowners in the UK. It also looks at older homeowners in relation to key housing policy outcomes. The research covers: the increase of older home ownership; housing characteristics and living situation; income and economic activity; disability, health and caring; issues with the local environment and services; their attitudes to their neighbourhood, and moving plans. Findings suggest that there is a high percentage of under occupancy among older homeowners; between 20% and 40% of older homeowners in the UK may benefit from some form of adapted or specialised housing; and that the majority of owners had strong levels of neighbourhood attachment and planned to remain in their neighbourhood for a number of years. The report also briefly highlights the relevance of the findings to policy makers in relation to housing suitability; housing supply; housing wealth; and intergenerational fairness. An accompanying policy report 'Open Plan: Building a strategic policy toward older owners' considers the implications of the research findings for policy development. (Edited publisher abstract)
Patterns of technology use among older adults with and without disabilities
- Authors:
- GELL Nancy M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 55(3), 2015, pp.412-421.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Purpose of the Study: This study aimed to describe prevalence of technology use among adults ages 65 and older, particularly for those with disability and activity-limiting symptoms and impairments. Design and Methods: Data from the 2011 National Health and Aging Trends Study, a U.S. nationally representative sample of community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries (N = 7,609), were analySed. Analysis consisted of technology use (use of e-mail/text messages and the internet) by sociodemographic and health characteristics and prevalence ratios for technology usage by disability status. Results: Forty percent of older adults used e-mail or text messaging and 42.7% used the internet. Higher prevalence of technology use was associated with younger age, male sex, white race, higher education level, and being married. After adjustment for sociodemographic and health characteristics, technology use decreased significantly with greater limitations in physical capacity and greater disability. Vision impairment and memory limitations were also associated with lower likelihood of technology use. Implications: Technology usage in U.S. older adults varied significantly by sociodemographic and health status. Prevalence of technology use differed by the type of disability and activity-limiting impairments. The internet, e-mail, and text messaging might be viable mediums for health promotion and communication, particularly for younger cohorts of older adults and those with certain types of impairment and less severe disability. (Edited publisher abstract)
The state of Shared Lives in England: report 2015
- Author:
- SHARED LIVES PLUS
- Publisher:
- Shared Lives Plus
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 27
- Place of publication:
- Liverpool
Summarise the findings of the 2014 State of Shared Lives survey. Shared Lives offers a flexible, person centred solution to housing, care and support needs for older and disabled people, giving people the opportunity to share family and community life with a Shared Lives carer. The report shows that there has been significant growth in the number of people using Shared Lives of 1300 or 14 per cent. This is at a time when other forms of social care are shrinking significantly as budgets are cut. There is a marked increase in the number of schemes diversifying into offering services to people who do not have learning disabilities. The number of older people receiving support has increased and the number of young people under 18 years old has more than doubled. The average net savings from a long-term Shared Lives arrangement per-person per year are £26,000 for people with learning disabilities and £8,000 for people with mental health needs. (Edited publisher abstract)
Home health care nurse perceptions of geriatric depression and disability care management
- Authors:
- LIEBEL Dianne Veronica, POWERS Bethel Ann
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 55(3), 2015, pp.448-461.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Purpose of the Study: Psychosocial interventions alone or combined with antidepressant medication can effectively treat mild to moderate geriatric depression. This research aimed to provide a deeper understanding about how home health care nurses perceive and experience depression detection and evaluation within the context of caring for geriatric patients with disabilities. Design and Methods: This qualitative descriptive study involved 2 focus groups and 16 semistructured interviews with nurses providing care to geriatric home health care patients followed by observation during 25 nurse home visits to geriatric patients who had depression and disability. Findings: Nurses demonstrated confidence in caring for elderly patients with disabilities. However, they expressed different views about the nature of depression and the integration of depression and disability care in daily practice. Evidence points to a need for advanced training that supports an enhanced role for generalist homecare nurses in providing depression care management for this vulnerable geriatric population. Implications: Policy challenges are associated with ways in which home health care is fiscally organized primarily to address patients’ physical and acute skilled care needs and not depression. (Edited publisher abstract)
The impact of assistive technologies on formal and informal home care
- Authors:
- ANDERSON Wayne L., WIENER Joshua M.
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 55(3), 2015, pp.422-433.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Purpose of the Study: Assistive technologies help people with disabilities compensate for their impairments. This study assessed which of 5 categories of assistive technologies - indoor/outdoor mobility, bed transfer, bathing, toileting, and telephone assistance - were substitutes or complements for human personal assistance by differentiating between total and formal personal assistance service (PAS) hours. Design and Methods: The study analysed 2004 National Long-Term Care Survey community-dwelling respondents receiving assistance with activities of daily living. Ordinary least squares (OLS) on total PAS hours was estimated on the entire sample, and logit and OLS models were estimated on the likelihood and hours of formal PAS, respectively. Results: Assistive technology for indoor/outdoor mobility, bed transfer, and bathing was found to be substitutes for total PAS, whereas assistive technology for bed transfer and toileting was found to be complements for the use of formal PAS. Telephone assistance was not significant for either total or formal PAS hours. Implications: The use of some assistive technologies by older people with disabilities appears to reduce the amount of informal care provided, but not the amount of paid PAS. Thus, this study does not provide support for the hypothesis that the use of assistive technologies will reduce use of paid care and, therefore, spending for long-term care. (Publisher abstract)
A review of independent living adaptations
- Authors:
- BIBBINGS Jennie, et al
- Publisher:
- Welsh Government Social Research
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 143
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
A review of the provision of independent living adaptations within Wales, providing a map of the current system, including performance indicators, and exploring the feasibility of options for change. The review identified a fragmented service delivery system with many points of access and a range of diverse pathways with a variety of funding streams for different tenures. Funding for adaptations has developed in an ad hoc way in response to wider policy changes, leading to complexity in funding streams as well as eligibility criteria. Based on the qualitative and quantitative research undertaken as part of this review, three models for change were developed and analysed: option 1 - 'Status quo' - maintains existing funding streams and delivery agencies, with a strong focus on adopting best practice; option 2 - 'Unified system' -merges all existing funding streams into a single pot, to be delivered by a single organisation across all tenures and ages; option 3 - 'Tiered system' , which this review recommends - retains existing funding streams but with a greater focus on building on elements of best practice. The emphasis is on streamlining the front end of service delivery in a way which is more equitable for service users, while maintaining a range of funding streams to relieve pressure across the system. (Edited publisher abstract)