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Health capital in everyday life of the oldest old living in their own homes
- Authors:
- BERGLAND Astrid, SLETTEBO Ashild
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 35(10), 2015, pp.2156-2175.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
As more people experience old age as a time of growth and productivity, more research is needed that explores how they master everyday life. This paper reports on a qualitative study that explored how ten older women age 90 years or more experience and cope with the challenges of everyday life with a salutogenic perspective. The findings suggest that health resources such as positive expectation, reflection and adaptation, function and active contribution, relations and home, contribute to the health capital of women. These health resources were of importance for the women's experience of comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness in daily life. Health capital is a meaningful concept for understanding coping in everyday life by older people. (Edited publisher abstract)
Health beliefs of community dwelling older adults in the United Arab Emirates: a qualitative study
- Author:
- CAMPBELL Carol
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing International, 40(1), 2015, pp.13-28.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
There is a paucity of information about the health beliefs that older adults in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) hold. This is a serious omission as understanding people’s ideas about health maintenance and disease prevention informs public health policy and practice. Using a qualitative methodology, twenty-three community dwelling adults aged between sixty and eighty years were interviewed. The data were analysed to uncover the meanings of health and health beliefs ascribed by the participants within their narratives. Participant narratives revealed representations of health that were in close alignment with previous research. ‘Health as value’ also emerged as a distinct health belief. Analysis of the interview data identified three superordinate themes labelled ‘Health is what you eat’; ‘Health was better in the past’; and ‘Health is from God’ as factors that participants attributed to their health. The implications for the health care system in the UAE are discussed. As the first study of its kind within the UAE, this study provides a solid base from which future studies exploring health beliefs and social representations of health can build upon. (Edited publisher abstract)
Where does Quality of Life (QoL) fit in the future of technology in the 21st Century?
- Authors:
- MARSTON Hannah R., FREEMAN Shannon, MUSSELWHITE Charles
- Journal article citation:
- Generations Review, 25(3), 2015, pp.8-14.
- Publisher:
- British Society of Gerontology
There is great opportunity to leverage existing technologies to measure Quality of Life (QoL). This article considers the value and use of Quantified Self (QS); also called self/life logging. The QS is a field or movement that enables individuals to incorporate and/or utilise technologies which are wearable. Types of QS may include physical and psychological characteristics such as heart rate and number of steps walked, places visited and tasks completed, dietary choices and number of calories consumed, sleep habits, and self-perceived mood. (Edited publisher abstract)
Health and wellbeing consequences of social isolation and loneliness in old age
- Authors:
- COURTIN Emilie, KNAPP Martin
- Publisher:
- NIHR School for Social Care Research
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 3
- Place of publication:
- London
Summarises the findings of a scoping review which looked at literature on the impact of social isolation and loneliness on physical health, mental health and wellbeing in old age. Searches were conducted on nine databases, retrieving 11,736 articles, of which 128 were included in the scoping review. Almost all the studies reviewed found that isolation and loneliness has a detrimental effect on health. Depression and cardiovascular health were the most often researched outcomes, followed by well-being. Gaps in the evidence base were identified in both the use of health and social care by older people and on interventions to reduce loneliness and isolation. A lack of consistency in the definitions and measures of isolation and loneliness was also found, which limits the ability to compare findings between studies. (Edited publisher abstract)
A practical guide to healthy ageing
- Authors:
- NHS ENGLAND, AGE UK
- Publisher:
- NHS England
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 28
- Place of publication:
- Redditch
Updated version of a guide to help people to stay physically and mentally well as they age by providing advice on how to keep fit and independent. The guide is particularly relevant for people aged around 70 years or older who are beginning to find that everyday tasks now take them longer to do and may be experiencing from mild frailty. The evidence base for the topics in the guide is based on a systematic review of 78 longitudinal observational studies that collectively identified 11 principal risk factors associated with functional decline in older people living at home. The contents cover: looking after your feet, preventing falls, looking after your eyes, vaccinations, making your home safe, keeping warm, keeping active, getting ready for winter, medicines review, bladder and bowel problems, hearing tests, eating and drinking well, caring and looking after yourself, looking after your mental health, looking after your mouth, and looking after your brain. The guide has also been tested using focus groups and in depth interviews. It aims to contribute to supporting people to stay well for longer and improve the quality of life of people and their carers. (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)
Ageing Well in Wales: a national movement
- Authors:
- WILLIAMS Iwan, HATTON-YEO Alan
- Journal article citation:
- Working with Older People, 19(4), 2015, pp.170-176.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to inform readers about the Ageing Well in Wales Programme, including its background, purpose and key aims and objectives. Design/methodology/approach: The Programme is in its first year and works at several levels, from high-level national bodies to community/volunteer groups on the ground. The Programme’s success is largely dependent on the commitment of individuals and organisations. Findings: The Programme is on-going with no findings as such to date, however, the Programme is a response to research and evidence that suggests that the health and wellbeing of older people in Wales needs to be urgently addressed, particularly in the context of demographic change and the impact of austerity on front-line public services and the development of more preventative approaches. Practical implications: One of the outcomes will be an increasing understanding of what makes effective national learning and participative networks. Social implications: People in Wales will be more active and engaged and as a consequence experience greater health and wellbeing. Originality/value: Provides a state of play on the Programme up to Summer 2015, outlining what has been achieved to date and next steps. (Publisher abstract)
Associations between falls and general health, nutrition, dental health and medication use in Swedish home-dwelling people aged 75 years and over
- Authors:
- FONAD Edit, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 23(6), 2015, p.594–604.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The vast majority of elderly people in Sweden live in private homes in their communities for as long as possible. Poor health and a high risk of falls are very common among this group. This cross-sectional study investigates the association between falls and general health, appetite, dental health, and the use of multiple medications among home-dwelling men and women aged ≥75 years. Data were collected between October 2008 and March 2009 using a postal questionnaire. A total of 1243 people participated in the questionnaire survey (74% response rate), of which 1193 were included in the analysis. The majority of participants were women (n = 738, 62%). Falls in the previous 12-month period were reported by 434 (36%) participants. Most fallers (n = 276, 64%) were women. The majority of the fallers lived in a flat (n = 250, 58%). Poor health (aOR: 1.61; CI: 1.34–1.95), poor dental health (aOR: 1.22; CI: 1.07–1.39) and the use of four or more types of medication daily (aOR: 1.13; CI: 1.03–1.25) were significantly associated with falls in all participants. Poor dental health was found irrespectively of living in a flat (aOR: 1.23; CI: 1.04–1.46) or living in a house (aOR: 1.28; CI: 1.02–1.61), and both were significantly associated with falls. The use of more than four different types of medication daily (aOR: 1.25; CI: 1.11–1.41) was associated with falls for those living in a flat. The results highlight that falls are associated with poor general health, poor dental health and the use of four or more types of medication daily. Health professionals should provide health promotion education and investigate dental health and risk factors for oral disease. Likewise, medical and clinical practices of physicians and community care nurses should include assessing the risk of falling, and treatment that predisposes falls. (Publisher abstract)
Systematic review of EASY-care needs assessment for community-dwelling older people
- Authors:
- CRAIG Christopher, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Age and Ageing, 44(4), 2015, pp.559-565.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Background: Undertaking comprehensive geriatric assessments (CGAs) combined with long-term health and social care management can improve the quality of life of older people. The EASY-Care tool is a CGA instrument designed for assessing the physical, mental and social functioning and unmet health and social needs of older people in community settings or primary care. It has also been used as a frailty assessment tool and for gathering population-level data. Objective: To review the evidence of reliability, validity and acceptability of EASY-Care and its appropriateness for assessing the needs of community-dwelling older people. Methods: systematic search of literature databases using pre-defined search terms (January 1994-May 2014) for English language articles reporting on the reliability, validity, acceptability and implementation of EASY-Care in primary care and community settings. Eligible articles were critically reviewed. Discussion papers mapping professionals’ use of the tool were also included as these could be considered an aspect of validity. Results: Twenty-nine papers met the inclusion criteria and underwent data extraction. A narrative synthesis was performed, because there was a variety of quantitative and qualitative outcomes and characteristics. Reliability evidence for EASY-Care is minimal. Evidence for validity is good, and it has received numerous positive endorsements of acceptability in international settings from older people and practitioners. Conclusion: Evidence supports the use of EASY-Care for individual needs assessment; further research is needed for other uses. Of the papers that made statements about who should administer EASY-Care, the majority indicated that nurses were preferable to self-completion. (Publisher abstract)
Association of social isolation and health across different racial and ethnic groups of older Americans
- Author:
- MIYAWAKI Christina E.
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 35(10), 2015, pp.2201-2228.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Social isolation is a social and public health problem that affects people of all ages, especially elders. Previous studies have found that social isolation across numerous industrialised countries is associated with negative health outcomes. However, it is unknown whether and how this association differs by race/ethnicity and age. To begin to address this gap, this study examines the association of social isolation and physical and mental health among Black, White and Hispanic elders in the United States of America. Building on Cornwell and Waite's perceived isolation and social disconnectedness dimension model of social isolation, the author used multi-stage survey data from a nationally representative sample of 3,005 community-residing adults aged 57–85 from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. Tests for association were conducted on health by age, gender, marital status, education and race/ethnicity separately. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to test the association of social isolation and health exclusively and separately among these three groups. Results showed that social isolation is strongly associated with physical and mental health. Both perceived isolation and social disconnectedness had a significant negative association with physical and mental health among White elders. For Blacks, social disconnectedness is negatively associated with their physical health while perceived isolation had a negative association with mental health. Among Hispanic elders, there seemed to be no association between social isolation and physical health, but a significant negative association was found with their mental health. Despite various associated patterns, however, social isolation overall was associated with health outcomes that were similar across three elder groups. By identifying factors influencing social isolation and health among minority older Americans, this study has relevance to the development of culturally sensitive health-care practice and services, which may be applicable to minority elders in different countries. (Publisher abstract)