Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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The use of social services by older males
- Author:
- MEYER Seth J.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work, 19(4), 2019, pp.450-467.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Summary: In the fields of social work and social welfare, there have been many studies which have examined the use of social services. Few studies, however, have specifically explored the use of social services by older male clients (age 60 and older). There is little understanding in social work concerning how to best work with male clients. Using the 2012 Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey (n = 3042), this study examines how older males are using social services as compared to older females. Findings: Specifically using a zero-inflated negative binomial regression model and logit models this study finds that older males, in general, are using fewer social services than older females. Looking at services supported through the Older Americans Act of 1965, it also identifies which services older males have a lower likelihood of using as compared to older females. Furthermore, instead of viewing all older males as a monolithic group, this study shows how intersectionalities in race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status affect service use. Applications: By having a greater understanding of which services older males are and are not using, nonprofit organizations can start exploring how to expand and improve services for this population. To improve outreach to older males, organizations should first explore if they are using services to begin with. (Edited publisher abstract)
Preventive home visits to older home-dwelling people in Denmark: are invitational procedures of importance?
- Authors:
- EKMANN A., VASS M., AVLUND K.
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 18(6), November 2010, pp.563-571.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
All municipalities in Denmark are required by law to offer two annual preventive home visits to all home-dwelling citizens aged 75 or over. This study investigated whether different invitational procedures were associated with first preventive home visit acceptance rates. Two thousand three hundred and ninety nine participants provided complete data for the main analyses. Invitational procedures were categorised as: a letter with a proposed date and time for the visit; a visitor telephone call; and a letter with encouragement to phone the visitor for appointment. Covariates included sex, age, experience with preventive interventions, functional ability, self-rated health, social relations and psychosocial characteristics. Different invitational procedures were associated with first preventive home visit acceptance rates. Significantly more men (75.1%) than women (62.8%) declined the first preventive home visit regardless of the invitational procedure. Compared to `letter with a proposed date', men had an odds ratio of 1.78 for declining visits when `telephone call' was used and an odds ratio 2.81 when `letter without a proposed date' was used as the invitational procedure. In women the odds ratios were 1.23 and 1.87 respectively.
Influence of socioeconomic status, wealth and financial empowerment on gender differences in health and healthcare utilization in later life: evidence from India
- Authors:
- ROY Kakoli, CHAUDHURI Anoshua
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 66(9), May 2008, pp.1951-1962.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Empirical studies from developed countries observe that women report worse health and higher healthcare utilization than men, but the health disadvantage diminishes with age; gender differences in self-rated health often vanish or are reversed in older ages. Comparable assessments of health during later life from developing countries are limited because of the lack of large-scale surveys that include older women. This study attempts to address the shortage of developing country studies by examining gender differences in health and healthcare utilization among older adults in India. Both ordered and binary logit specifications were used to assess significant gender differences in subjective and objective health, and healthcare utilization after controlling for demographics, medical conditions, traditional indicators of socioeconomic status like education and income, and additional wealth indicators. The wealth indicators, measured by property ownership and economic independence, are regarded as financially empowering older adults to exercise greater control over their health and well-being. Data are drawn from a nationally representative decennial socioeconomic and health survey of 120,942 Indian households conducted during 1995–1996. The study sample comprises 34,086 older men and women aged ≥60 years. The results indicate that older women report worse self-rated health, higher prevalence of disabilities, marginally lower chronic conditions, and lower healthcare utilization than men. The health disadvantage and lower utilization among women cannot be explained by demographics and the differential distribution of medical conditions. While successive controls for education, income, and property ownership narrows the gender gap in both health and healthcare utilization, significant differentials still persist. Upon controlling for economic independence, gender differentials disappear or are reversed, with older women having equal or better health than otherwise similar men. Financial empowerment might confer older women the health advantage reflected in developed societies by enhancing a woman's ability to undertake primary and secondary prevention during the life course.
Age, gender, and the underutilization of mental health services: the influence of help-seeking attitudes
- Authors:
- MACKENZIE C. S., GEKOSKI W. L., KNOX V. J.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 10(6), November 2006, pp.574-582.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The objectives of this study were to explore age and gender differences in attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help, and to examine whether attitudes negatively influence intentions to seek help among older adults and men, whose mental health needs are underserved. To achieve these objectives 206 community-dwelling adults completed questionnaires measuring help-seeking attitudes, psychiatric symptomatology, prior help-seeking, and intentions to seek help. Older age and female gender were associated with more positive help-seeking attitudes in this sample, although age and gender interacted with marital status and education, and had varying influences on different attitude components. Age and gender also influenced intentions to seek professional psychological help. Women exhibited more favourable intentions to seek help from mental health professionals than men, likely due to their positive attitudes concerning psychological openness. Older adults exhibited more favourable intentions to seek help from primary care physicians than younger adults, a finding that was not explained by age differences in attitudes. Results from this study suggest that negative attitudes related to psychological openness might contribute to men's underutilization of mental health services. Help-seeking attitudes do not appear to be a barrier to seeking professional help among older adults, although their intentions to visit primary care physicians might be. These findings suggest the need for education to improve men's help-seeking attitudes and to enhance older adults’ willingness to seek specialty mental health services.
Factors affecting the frequency of senior center participation in Korea
- Authors:
- YOO Seong Ho, KIM Shul Soo
- Journal article citation:
- Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development, 15(1), June 2005, pp.63-73.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study examines the factors related to the frequency of senor center participation in Korea. The analyses are based on a sample of 316 Koreans, aged 65 and over, participating at senior centre in Chon-An City. The results show that gender, level of education, and health are statistically significant predictors of participation. This is, male Korean elderly, those who have a higher level of education, and those with better self-assessed health are more likely to participate at the centre. Gender differences were also found.
Technology adoption by older adults: findings from the PRISM trial
- Authors:
- MITZNER Tracy L., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 59(1), 2019, pp.34-44.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Background and Objectives: There is growing evidence of the benefits of computers for older adults. Yet, adoption rates are lower compared with younger adults. Extant theoretical models of technology acceptance are limited in their application to older adults - studies on which these models are based included a limited sample of older adults or none at all; none assessed use of a technology specifically designed for older adults; and most only measured intention to use a technology or short-term use, rather than longer-term use (i.e., adoption). This study assessed adoption of a computer system specifically designed for older users, for a diverse sample, over an extended period of time. Research Design and Methods: This study analysed archival data from 150 ethnically diverse older adults (65–98 years of age) who participated in the Personal Reminder Information and Social Management (PRISM) randomized controlled trial (Czaja SJ et al.). The personalized reminder information and social management system (PRISM) trial: Rationale, methods and baseline characteristics. Contemp Clin Trials. 2015;40:35–46; Czaja SJ et al. Improving social support for older adults through technology: Findings from the PRISM randomized controlled trial. Gerontologist. 2017;58:467-477). This study examined the extent to which attitudes, personal characteristics (e.g., age, gender, and personality), and cognitive abilities predicted mid-term and long-term adoption of a computer system designed for older adults. Results: There were individual differences in PRISM use over time. Regression analyses indicated that individual differences in earlier use of the system, executive functioning, and computer efficacy predicted long-term use. Discussion and Implications: These data provide insights for broader-based models of technology acceptance to guide design, instruction, and deployment of products for older adults. Specifically, the provision of opportunities to foster efficacy and gain positive experience with computer technologies may play a critical role in the likelihood that older adults adopt such technologies. (Edited publisher abstract)
Pulling out all the stops: what motivates 65+ year olds with depressive symptoms to participate in an outreaching preference-led intervention programme?
- Authors:
- van BELJOUW Ilse M.J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 19(5), 2015, pp.453-463.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Many older adults have significant depressive symptoms but few people access care for these. This study explores which personal, clinical and need factors facilitate or hinder acceptance of a new outreaching preference-led intervention programme. It was conducted as part of the Netherlands ‘Lust for Life’ trial, aimed at reducing depressive symptoms in older persons by implementing a stepped care intervention programme. Methods: From a sample of 9661 community-dwelling 65+ year olds, 244 persons with depressive symptoms according to the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 were included. Data on programme effectiveness in terms of care utilisation were collected. Associations between programme acceptance and personal, clinical and need factors were studied using quantitative (logistic regression analyses) and qualitative methods (semi-structured interviews with 26 subjects, who accepted (n = 20) or declined (n = 6) the programme). Results: Fifty-six per cent (n = 137) took part in the interventions. Quantitative logistic regression analyses showed that participants were more often female, suffered from more severe depressive symptoms and perceived more loneliness. Qualitative analyses revealed that people accepting the intervention programme felt that medical terms as having a depressed mood were applicable to their situation, more often perceived their symptoms as hindering, felt lonely and more often perceived a need for care. They were more often advised by their general practitioner to participate than individuals who refused the interventions. Many participating individuals did not see a match between the intervention programme and their needs, especially with respect to meeting new people. Conclusion: Many older persons with depressive symptoms did not feel the need to take part in the programme. Providing support in alleviating loneliness and further adaptation to older adults’ illness representations and perceptions when discussing depressive symptoms might enhance care utilisation. (Edited publisher abstract)
Horizontal and vertical target efficiency: a comparison between users and non-users of public long-term care in Sweden
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 34(4), 2014, pp.700-719.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
The extent to which a system of services is in tune with the needs of the population can be expressed in terms of target efficiency, which includes horizontal target efficiency – the extent to which those deemed to need a service receive it – and vertical target efficiency – the corresponding extent to which those who receive a service actually need it. Vertical efficiency can be measured by looking only at those receiving services. To measure horizontal target efficiency in a population, one must have access to population surveys. Data were taken from the baseline survey of the Swedish National Study on Ageing and Care (SNAC study). The results show that more than 80 per cent of those dependent in personal activities of daily living in the studied geographic areas were users of public long-term care (LTC). Dependency in instrumental activities of daily living was identified as the most important predictor of using LTC. Vertical target efficiency was 83–95 per cent depending on age, gender and type of household, if need was defined as dependency in instrumental activities of daily living. It was considerably lower, 35–61 per cent when defined as dependency in personal daily activities. Overall, long-term target efficiency in Sweden must be regarded as high. Few persons who need public LTC services fail to receive them. (Publisher abstract)
“You’re nothing but a junkie”: multiple experiences of stigma in an aging methadone maintenance population
- Authors:
- CONNER Kyaien O., ROSEN Daniel
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 8(2), 2008, pp.244-264.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This qualitative study examined the existence and experiences of stigma in a sample of older adult methadone maintenance clients. Twenty four subjects aged 50 years or more attending a clinic in a large Midwestern US city participated in semi-structured interviews. Twenty three subjects reported experiencing stigma. Of these, 12 cited experiencing two stigmas simultaneously, 6 experienced three stigmas, and 5 reported four or more stigmas. The two respondents who reported experiencing the most stigmas were both African American men. Generally men reported more stigmas than women. Eight distinct stigma categories emerged the most commonly cited being drug addiction (n=19), aging (n=13), taking psychotropic medications (n=11), and depression (n=10). Respondents who reported more stigmas were more likely to identify stigma as a barrier to substance abuse and mental health treatment. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed. The authors comment that it is important for clinicians, as well as researchers, to recognise the burden of multiple stigmas, the impact stigmas can have on attitudes toward help seeking, and the way in which they further impact the mental health status of clients.
Utilization of health social work services by older immigrants and veterans in Israel
- Authors:
- AUSLANDER Gail K., SOSKOLNE Varda, BEN-SHAHAR Ilana
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Work, 30(3), August 2005, pp.241-251.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The authors examined factors related to utilization of health social work services among older immigrants from the former Soviet Union and veteran residents of Israel, using Andersen's behavioral model. A sample of 476 patients age 55 and older was interviewed. The immigrants and veterans had similar backgrounds, but immigrants had fewer resources and higher need. Veteran Israelis were twice as likely to have been in contact with a hospital social worker. Factors related to seeing a social worker were male gender, social network size (no network or large network), activity limitations, and sick days. The main barriers to contacting a social worker stemmed from information problems. The findings have implications for providing services in areas with large numbers of immigrants.