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Congruence between disabled elders and their primary caregivers
- Authors:
- HOROWITZ Amy, GOODMAN Caryn R., REINHARDT Joann P.
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 44(4), August 2004, pp.532-542.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study examines the extent and independent correlates of congruence between disabled elders and their caregivers on several aspects of the caregiving experience. Participants were 117 visually impaired elders and their caregivers. Correlational analyses, kappa statistics, and paired t tests were used to examine the extent of congruence. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses identified significant correlates of congruence on four target issues: elder's functional disability, elder's adaptation to vision impairment, caregiver's overprotectiveness, and caregiver's understanding of the vision problem. Caregivers assessed elders as more disabled and rated themselves as more overprotective than did the elders. Although independent correlates varied by target issue, two domains most consistently influenced congruence across measures: the caregiver's assessment of the elder's status and quality of the relationship. Findings underscore the importance of addressing congruence by target issue, rather than as a global characteristic of the caregiving relationship.
Escape loneliness by going digital: a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of a Dutch experiment in using ECT to overcome loneliness among older adults
- Authors:
- FOKKEMA T., KNIPSCHEER K.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 11(5), September 2007, pp.496-504.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study evaluates the outcomes of an Internet-at-home intervention experiment that intended to decrease loneliness among chronically ill and physically disabled older adults through introducing them to the use of an electronic communication facility. To determine the effectiveness of the experiment in terms of reducing loneliness, 15 older adults were interviewed three times: shortly before the start, two years later and immediately after termination of the experiment, while their loneliness scores at zero and post-measurement were compared with those of a control group. Both the participants and the control persons experienced a reduction in loneliness over time. However, the reduction was only significant for the intervention participants. Moreover, the changes in loneliness were significantly greater among the participants compared to the control persons. When looking more in detail, the effect of the experiment was only significant regarding emotional loneliness and among the highest educated. Findings of the qualitative research enabled us to understand the mechanisms through which the intervention helped alleviate loneliness. E-mail was found to facilitate social contact. Furthermore, the computer and Internet were often used to pass the time, taking people's minds off their loneliness. Unexpectedly, the intervention also improved people's self-confidence. The decline in loneliness is likely to be greater if persons under more favourable circumstances are selected and if more social functions of the Internet are used.
The Sandwell Telecare Project
- Authors:
- WADDINGTON Paul, DOWNS Barry
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Integrated Care, 13(3), June 2005, pp.40-48.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article begins with a case study of the Sandwell Telecare Project, an innovative venture to pioneer the introduction of electronic aids to enable vulnerable people to live independently. The article concludes with an account of the evaluation, which was undertaken by an independent consultant.
A new approach to the qualitative evaluation of functional disability in dementia
- Authors:
- KURZ X., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(11), November 2003, pp.1050-1055.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Dementia patients suffer from the progressive deterioration of cognitive and functional abilities. Instrumental disabilities usually appear in the earlier stages of the disease while basic disabilities appear in the more advanced stages. In order to differentiate between mild, moderate and severe patients both instrumental and basic functional disabilities should be taken into account simultaneously. The objective of this study was to find a new method for classifying dementia patients based on their disabilities by using a basic and an instrumental Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale. Functional disability was assessed in a Belgian cohort of dementia patients using the Katz and Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scales. A k-means derived clustering method allocated patients to disability clusters according to their Katz and Lawton scores. In order to validate the classification, we compared socio-demographic, clinical and costs parameters between the groups. The clustering method allocated patients between three clusters: dependent, non-dependent with instrumental functional disability (ND-IFD) and non-dependent. Dependence, as defined by these clusters, significantly correlates with age, residential setting, MMSE, patient's quality of life and costs. This new classification of patients suffering from dementia will provide better understanding of functional disabilities and will complement the evaluation of disease severity based on cognitive function.
The effectiveness of adult day services for disabled older people
- Authors:
- GAUGLER Joseph E., ZARIT Steven H.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 12(2), 2001, pp.23-47.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Adult day care has attracted a considerable amount of attention among researchers, practitioners, and policy makers in the US. Reviews research that determines the effectiveness of adult day services in improving clients' functioning, alleviating care giver stress, and delaying nursing home placement. The strengths and limitations of the research are considered. Concludes with a discussion of policy-relevant issues that must be addressed when determining the effectiveness of adult day services.
The effectiveness of housing adaptations
- Author:
- JOSEPH ROWNTREE FOUNDATION
- Publisher:
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2001
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- York
Public spending on housing adaptations - permanent or fixed alterations to make homes more suitable for disabled occupants and their families - amounts to more than £220 million every year, and both numerical demand and unit costs are growing. This research examined the effectiveness of these investments from the point of view of those who have to live with them. Presents the findings of the study.
Low intensity support services: a systematic literature review
- Author:
- JOSEPH ROWNTREE FOUNDATION
- Publisher:
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2000
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- York
Despite some recent policy acknowledgement of the potential role of low intensity support services in assisting people to live independently, community care resources continue to be targeted mainly on high level, often crisis, interventions. Partly because of this continuing focus, there has been little consideration of the evidence of the value of low intensity services. The Centre for Housing Policy, University of York, has now undertaken a systematic research literature review of the effectiveness of such services in enabling people to live independently in ordinary housing. Presents the findings.
Does the NHS deserve a golden celebration
- Authors:
- HIRST Judy, WELLARD Sarah
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 9.7.98, 1998, pp.8-9.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
As the NHS celebrates its 50th anniversary, the authors reflect on the service it offers and examines the experiences of vulnerable social groups.
Mental and physical frailty in older people: the costs and benefits of informal care
- Author:
- -
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 18(3), May 1998, pp.317-354.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Describes the financial, opportunity and social costs and benefits of providing informal support to frail older people within an economic framework. Around half the supporters reported financial costs or lost social opportunities. A minority of supporters had reduced their working hours or withdrawn from employment because of caregiving. Nearly all supporters reported at least one social cost and identified at least one positive aspect of caregiving. The benefits of caregiving were not consistently related to co-residency, relationship of supporter or frailty type. Possible strategies for decreasing the costs and increasing the benefits of caregiving are discussed.
"Nar alle revalideringsmuligheder ma anses for udtomte"
- Author:
- ANDERSEN Tine
- Journal article citation:
- Nordisk Sosialt Arbeid, 17(4), 1997, pp.231-235.
- Publisher:
- Universitetsforlaget AS
Looks at how the Danish rehabilitation institutions have been experiencing problems. Suggests a radical solution to these problems.