Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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Le fonctionnement familial percu en contexte de soutien a domicile d'un parent age
- Author:
- VEZINA Aline
- Journal article citation:
- Canadian Social Work Review, 20(2), 2003, pp.203-226.
- Publisher:
- Canadian Association for Social Work Education
This qualitative and exploratory Canadian study investigates perceived family dynamics in caregiving and compares the perspectives of primary caregivers, depending on whether the caregiver is the elderly person's spouse or child and whether or not the elderly person has dementia and associated problems. Data from 31 semi structured interviews of caregivers were analysed using McMacter's model. The results show that, for various reasons of their own, spouses and daughters ask for less help from other family members. Some aspects of family dynamics appear to be different in situations involving an older person with dementia or a difficult personality. [Article in French].
Family members' perceptions of pain and distress related to analgesics and psychotropic drugs, and quality of care of elderly nursing home residents
- Author:
- HALL-LORD Marie Louise
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 11(3), May 2003, pp.262-274.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Aims to describe family members' perceptions of nursing homes residents' pain and distress in relation to analgesics and psychotropic drugs, and compare whether background variables, dementia, help/support, prescribing of analgesics and psychotropic drugs, and quality of care vary between sub-groups of residents using 232 family members of elderly people in 10 Swedish nursing homes. They responded to a questionnaire including background variables, pain and distress variables, and the Quality from the Patient's Perspective questionnaire. Data on drug prescribing was obtained from medical records. The head nurse on each ward noted whether or not the resident had a documented or known diagnosis of dementia. Results showed that a high frequency of elderly nursing home residents were estimated as having physical pain and worry. Many were prescribed psychotropic drugs. Also, some with moderate or severe physical pain were not prescribed any analgesics. They were divided into 3 sub-groups based on scores of physical discomfort, physical pain and worry. Sub-group comparisons differed with regard to sex, help/support, drugs and quality of care. Staff have a responsibility to assess residents' pain and distress since this will form a basis for better pain and distress management. Other suggestions for improving quality of care are provision of better information to family members and residents, meaningful occupation, less task-oriented care, and care that involves residents.
Perceptions of remarriage by widowed people in Singapore
- Author:
- MEHTA Kalyani K.
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing International, 27(4), December 2003, pp.93-107.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
A study of attitudes to remarriage in later life among different ethnic groups in Singapore provides a counterpoint to studies in the West and illustrates the importance of cultural attitudes and religious beliefs. A survey of elderly Chinese, Malay, and Indian widows and widowers shows them overwhelmingly negative or indifferent to ideas of remarriage, although there are some variations by ethnic group and gender. There is a strong tradition in Asia of incorporating the widowed parent into a multigenerational family household, and views of adult children towards remarriage, presumed to be hostile to the remarriage of a parent, are given considerable salience. It is not generally thought appropriate for elderly people to have or express sexual needs and a marriage partnership may not be seen as ended by the death of a partner.
Is the cooker turned off?: caring for an older person with failing memory
- Authors:
- WOOLF Josephine, WOOLF Michael
- Publisher:
- Gorselands
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 155p.
- Place of publication:
- Oxton
Written by the daughter and son who cared for a man when his memory was failing, this is a unique and in-depth chronicle of the experience from the perspective of the family. This journey not only incorporates insight into the process of memory and memory change as well as the thoughts and feelings of those with memory difficulties, it also acts as a practical guide, providing help and advice with strategies and approaches to understanding and coping with this experience. The book includes chapters on how memory changes, the difficulties that those with memory loss face, specific and detailed guidance on how to relate to a person with memory loss, using memory aids, personal care and looking after oneself as a carer.
Collaboration among siblings providing care for older parents
- Authors:
- INGERSOLL-DAYTON Berit, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 40(3), 2003, pp.51-65.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
As their parents age, adult siblings must find ways in which to jointly assist in their care. Based on a sample of 40 focus group participants who described caregiving relationships among siblings, this study focused on those who equitably shared in the care of their parents. Findings indicated that siblings distributed caregiving responsibilities by taking turns as well as by caregiver task and/or expertise. Factors associated with sibling collaboration were: redefining the caregiving system, enjoying time together, setting aside time for care planning, and implementing suggestions from aging parents. Practice implications highlight ways in which to facilitate this collaboration. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Nonmarried aging parents' and their adult children's characteristics associated with transitions Into and out of intergenerational coresidence
- Author:
- CHOI Namkee G.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 40(3), 2003, pp.7-29.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Using data from the 1993-1995 waves of the Asset and Health Dynamics among the Oldest Old (AHEAD), this study focuses on analyzing elderly parents' and their children's characteristics associated with the transitions into and out of intergenerational coresidence. Multinomial logistic regression results show that transition into coresidence was primarily initiated by the parents' old age and deteriorating health and/or health-related crises. Transition out of coresidence into parents' institutionalization was also likely to have been triggered by the parents' health problems. In addition, other things being equal, divorced/separated or never-married parents were more likely but African American and Hispanic parents were less likely to have moved into an institution over a 2-year period. Children in the newly coresiding pairs and those of institutionalized parents were more likely to be married than children in the continuously coresiding pairs. The implications of these within-group differences for social work practice are discussed. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Programme evaluation of 'Young at Heart': examining elderly volunteers' generativity
- Authors:
- SCOTT Jean Pearson, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 1(3), 2003, pp.25-34.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia
The authors conducted a programme evaluation study of “Young at Heart,” a Texas (United States) programme. that places elderly volunteers in childcare settings. The main constructs evaluated in this research-based article are Erikson's generativity (a motivation to guide younger generations) and life satisfaction. The authors compared four groups of elderly persons on these constructs: Young at Heart volunteers, Meals on Wheels volunteers (who deliver food to other elderly persons and thus gain volunteer experience, but not with children), non-volunteers drawn from the general population of one Texas community, and individuals in the same community who volunteered in a variety of activities (“miscellaneous volunteers”). The guiding assumption was that volunteering with children would appear to be a clear expression of generativity; we thus hypothesized that YAH volunteers would score highest in it. Contrary to prediction, the miscellaneous volunteers averaged the highest generativity, followed by YAH volunteers. Philosophical and conceptual issues are identified with regard to research on generativity and intergenerational programming. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Developing a satisfaction survey for families of Ohio's nursing home residents
- Authors:
- EJAZ Farida, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 43(4), August 2003, pp.447-458.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The purpose of this project was to develop a reliable and valid family satisfaction instrument for use in Ohio's nursing homes. Investigators worked with an advisory council to develop the survey. Purposive sampling techniques were largely used to select 12 small, medium, and large for-profit and proprietary facilities in one large county for the pretest. A total of 239 families who were "most involved" in their relative's care completed an instrument with 97 satisfaction items. Results: Factor analyses identified nine factors that explained 59.44% of the variance in satisfaction. Investigator judgment modified some factors and developed scales. The scales had good internal reliability ( and above, except for one), test–retest reliability ranged from.49 to.88, and differences between families of short- and long-stay residents were in expected directions. A final instrument with 62 satisfaction and 17 background items was recommended for statewide implementation. : Findings from the project can be used to further refine the instrument and protocols for use with larger populations in other states and by the federal government.
Care-giver network transformations: the need for an integrated perspective
- Authors:
- CARPENTIER Normand, DUCHARME Francine
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 23(4), July 2003, pp.507-535.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This paper reviews recent research on care-giver networks and the concepts and approach that they apply, with particular reference to the support networks of the primary care-givers of older people with Alzheimer's disease. It makes the case for an integrated approach to the explanation of the various combinations of formal and informal support that are found. It argues that more attention needs to be given to transformations in care-giver networks over time, and that this will require more development of both theoretical perspectives and analytical tools. The stages of a care-giver's commitment towards an elderly relative are examined, to understand the associations between changes in the ailing person's needs, the structure of the support network and the primary care-giver's roles. This approach makes useful contributions to the understanding of the development, maintenance and dissolution of supportive ties.
'Making the best of things’: relatives' experiences of decisions about care-home entry
- Authors:
- DAVIES Sue, NOLAN Mike
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 23(4), July 2003, pp.429-450.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Despite the growing awareness of the significance of helping a relative to relocate to a care home as a key phase in the care-giving career, relatively few British studies have explored this experience in depth. Informed by a constructivist perspective, this study sought a better understanding of nursing home placements from the viewpoint of relatives. Data were collected in 37 semi-structured interviews involving 48 people who had assisted a close relative to move into a nursing home. Analysis revealed three perceived phases to the transition: ‘making the best of it’, ‘making the move’ and ‘making it better’. The relatives' experiences through these phases had five perceived elements, all of which were continua, from absent to very strong, reflecting the extent to which they were felt. They were: operating ‘under pressure’ or not; ‘in the know’ or ‘working in the dark’; ‘working together’ or ‘working alone’; ‘in control of events’ or not, and ‘supported’ or ‘unsupported’ both practically and emotionally. This paper reports findings about the first phase of the transition, ‘making the best of it’, and documents the experiences of decision-making about nursing home placements. It is argued that health and social care practitioners have enormous potential to influence whether or not helping a relative to move into a nursing home is perceived as a positive choice.