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Domestic homicide of older people (2010-15): a comparative analysis of intimate-partner homicide and parricide cases in the UK
- Author:
- BOWS Hannah
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 49(5), 2019, pp.1234-1253.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Despite half a century of research on both domestic violence and elder abuse, homicide of older people by a partner or family member (domestic homicide (DH)) remains largely unexplored. This article presents data drawn from a larger parent study examining homicide of older people (aged sixty and over) in the UK. This analysis is based on a subset of cases that would fall within current definitions of DH (n = 221). Analysis reveals differences in DH of older men and women in relation to the perpetrator gender and relationship and differences between intimate-partner homicides and those perpetrated by other family members. Implications for research, theory and practice are discussed. (Publisher abstract)
Older carers in the UK: are there really gender differences? New analysis of the Individual Sample of Anonymised Records from the 2001 UK Census
- Authors:
- DEL BONO Emilia, SALA Emanuela, HANCOCK Ruth
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 17(3), May 2009, pp.267-273.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The aim of this paper is to disentangle the role of gender and partnership status in the caring commitments of older people (age 65 and over). Logistic and interval regression models are applied to individual records from the 2001 UK Census to estimate: (1) the impact of gender on the likelihood of being a carer; (2) the impact of gender on the hours of care provided; and (3) the impact of gender on the likelihood of being a carer for different groups defined by marital status. In the general population the share of women who provide care is higher than the corresponding share of men, but men have a higher probability of being carers among people aged 65 or above. This phenomenon is largely explained by gender differences in marital status. As older men are more likely to be married, and married people are more likely to be carers, higher levels of caring among older men were observed. Once differences in marital status are accounted for, the relationship between gender and care provision among older people is overturned. It was found that without controlling for household size, limiting long-term illness or marital status, the odds of being an informal carer are lower for older women than men. Once these factors are accounted for, older women have higher odds of caring than older men. Restricting the sample to care providers, and controlling for the same factors, it is shown that older women supply more hours of care per week than older men. Gender differences in the provision of care among older people disappear only when considering married individuals and adjusting for the presence of other household residents affected by a limiting long-term illness.
Individual pension-related risk propensities: the effects of social-demographic characteristics and a spousal pension entitlement on risk attitudes
- Authors:
- CLARK Gordon L., STRAUSS Kendra
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 28(6), August 2008, pp.847-874.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
The transition from defined-benefit to defined-contribution occupational-pension plans has placed a premium on the participants' or contributors' decision-making competence. Their attitudes to risk and their responses to available investment options can have far-reaching implications for their retirement income. Behavioural research on risk and uncertainty has raised understanding of the limits of individual decision-making, but the social status and demographic characteristics of plan participants may also affect risk perception and pension choices. By studying a random sample of the British adult population this paper explores the significance of socio-demographic characteristics for pension-related risk attitudes. It is demonstrated that pension plan participants do not appear to understand the risks associated with different types of retirement savings and pension plans. The paper also shows that the gender, age and income of plan participants can give rise to distinctive risk propensities, and that marital status and, in particular, whether a spouse also has a pension can also have significant consequences for household risk preferences. These results have implications for those segments of the population that are disadvantaged in the labour market. Employer-provided pensions education and information programmes may have to be more basic and more closely tailored to the social status of pension plan participants than hitherto assumed or hoped.
Estimates of the number of older people with a visual impairment in the UK
- Author:
- CHARLES Nigel
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Visual Impairment, 25(3), September 2007, pp.199-215.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This article considers two key studies that have made it possible to produce estimates of the size of the older visually impaired population in the UK. It concludes that there are between about 1.6m and 2.2m people aged 65 years and over in the UK with visual acuity ranging from mild to serious levels of visual impairment. About half of visually impaired older people fall into the category of mild vision impairment (6/12 — 6/18). The other half has a moderate to severe visual impairment (VA < 6/18). Women aged 65 years and over with moderate or severe visual impairment outnumber visually impaired men by nearly three to one. Of those aged 75 years and over with moderate to severe visual impairment, about half of them have cataracts or refractive error, many of whom could have treatment or intervention which would considerably improve their vision. There are also an estimated 300,000 people aged 75 years and over in the UK with registerable eye conditions.
An investigation into the leisure occupations of older adults
- Authors:
- BALL Veronica, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 70(9), September 2007, pp.393-400.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This study aimed to explore the current leisure occupations of adults over 60 years who considered themselves to be healthy and to identify the motivations that underpinned participation in those occupations. Structured interviews were conducted with 70 adults with a mean age of 72 years. The majority of the participants (51, 73%) reported engaging in leisure occupations. The range of leisure occupations was wide and included walking, sailing, listening to music, emailing and volunteering. Of these, 23% were active leisure, 18% passive leisure, 24% social leisure, 20% hobbies and 15% other leisure occupations. Content analysis was adopted to explain the motivators for taking part in these leisure occupations. It was found that enjoyment, pleasure and relaxation were the key motivators. This study shows that the majority of well older people are participating in leisure occupations and feeling positive about doing so. Further research is required to establish the role that occupational therapists can have in encouraging older adults to continue with or develop new leisure occupations to enhance health and quality of life.
Older people's experiences of loneliness in the UK: does gender matter?
- Authors:
- VICTOR Christina R., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Policy and Society, 5(1), January 2006, pp.27-38.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study investigates whether there are differences in the nature and extent of loneliness amongst older men and women in contemporary Britain. Loneliness was measured using a self-report four-point scale in a nationally representative survey of people aged 65+ living in the community. Survey response rate was 77 per cent and the sample of 999 approximates to that of the general population. Approximately half of our sample 53 per cent were women. Compared with males in the sample women were significantly more likely to be widowed, live alone and have direct contact with friends and relatives. Preliminary analysis identified statistically significant differences between men and women in and self-reported loneliness (and changes over the previous decade). Ordered logistic regression, indicated that gender was no longer independently associated with loneliness once the confounding influences of marital status, age and living arrangement were excluded. The overall self-reported prevalence of severe loneliness shows little difference between men and women, challenging the stereotype that loneliness is a specifically female experience.
“You’ve got to be old to go there”: psychosocial barriers and facilitators to social eating in older adults
- Authors:
- SAEED Anisa, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 60(4), 2020, pp.628-637.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Background and Objectives: Social eating is associated with a range of physical and mental health benefits for older adults. Previous research has identified some of the practical barriers that may limit social eating, such as cost and access to public transport. However, little is known about the psychosocial issues that can affect older adults’ engagement with social eating. This study examines psychosocial barriers and facilitators to attending community-based social eating opportunities for older adults.Design and Methods: Forty-two older people aged between 59 and 89 years living in Manchester, UK, participated in semi-structured interviews or focus groups about their experiences and perceptions of social eating opportunities. Interview transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic analyses. As there are known gender differences in relation to attitudes and behaviors relating to food and social activities, a framework analysis was applied to explore how these themes were differentially expressed by gender.Results:Four themes were identified that related to the importance of (a) offering more than food; (b) participants’ social identity; (c) taking the first step; and (d) embarrassment and self-consciousness about physical health. Gender differences related to perceptions of the relevance and attractiveness of social eating, and the role of social support.Discussion and Implications:This study improves our understanding of older adults’ social eating experiences and highlights clear strategies by which social eating opportunities could be made more attractive, accessible, and acceptable to older adults. (Publisher abstract)
‘I just felt as though I had to drop something’: the implications of care for female working elder carers’ working lives
- Authors:
- BURR Vivien, COLLEY Helen
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 39(5), 2019, pp.877-89.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This paper explores the challenges that female elder carers in the United Kingdom face in combining paid work with elder care, and the implications of this care for their current and future working lives. In-depth interviews with 11 working women from a large organisation were conducted, and five of the women were re-interviewed after a period of one year to examine any changes in their situation. The interviews revealed the precarious nature of their daily schedules, which required constant effort to maintain, the intrusion of elder care into their working lives, and the impact it had upon their career development and future aspirations. The findings provide insight into the reasons why carers, especially women, are more likely to reduce their working hours, do not take advantage of training opportunities and retire early. The findings are discussed in relation to the expectation of an extended working age and gender equality. (Publisher abstract)
Doing memory work with older men: the practicalities, the process, the potential
- Authors:
- BLAKE Vic, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Working with Older People, 20(4), 2016, pp.209-213.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe the process of setting up and participating in a collective memory work group of older men, with a focus on the making and unmaking of older men and masculinities through age, ageing, gender, gendering, and other intersections. Design/methodology/approach: Participant review and reflection on collective of memory work group of older men. Findings: Memory work is located in relation to related but different forms of writing and group work, emphasizing how in this method everyone becomes a writer, an author, a listener, a reader, a discussant, and a commentator. This provides a novel way to explore the constructions and intersections of ageing, gender, men, and masculinities. Social implications: The potential of memory work, both for working with older men, and more generally is outlined. Key issues are: genuine and collective commitment to substantive change, not just at a personal level, but also at wider social/political/cultural levels; willingness to trust in the other members of the group, an issue that may be difficult for some men; and commitment for caring for one another especially in their moments of greatest vulnerability. Originality/value: There is little, if any, other writing on this approach to ageing, men, and masculinities. The paper is therefore of great value, and may stimulate wider application of this approach. (Publisher abstract)
The effect of ageing on health inequalities
- Author:
- MATTHEWS David
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 111(45), 2015, pp.18-21.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
Health inequalities persist in old age, as individual's health status is an accumulation of lifelong socioeconomic, ethnic and gender-based influences. This final article in a five-part series on health inequalities looks at the influence age has on an individual's health and wellbeing. It discusses the influence of the following factors: socioeconomic status, gender, ethnicity, and age discrimination, including discrimination in healthcare settings. (Edited publisher abstract)