Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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Seniors' self-administration of the Elder Abuse Suspicion Index (EASI): a feasibility study
- Authors:
- YAFFE Mark J., WEISS Deborah, LITHWICK Maxine
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 24(4), 2012, pp.277-292.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Physician involvement in identifying or reporting elder abuse appears to be low. As part of a research programme to improve the detection of elder abuse, the authors had previously developed and validated a 6-question Elder Abuse Suspicion Index (EASI) that can be asked quickly by family physicians of cognitively intact seniors in their offices. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using a modified version of EASI as a self-administered tool completed by older people during waiting times in physicians’ waiting rooms. The self-administrable version of the EASI (EASI-sa) was completed by a convenience sample of 210 cognitively intact older people aged 65 years and over. The findings were stratified by age, sex, and language (English and French). All completed the EASI-sa within an estimated 5 minutes, 82.9% within 2 minutes. Completion time decreased with higher education, but was not affected by age, sex, language, or measured physical or mental health. No questions went unanswered; no words were poorly understood or discomforting. The process of considering the EASI-sa questions also appeared to be associated with a significantly increased understanding about how elder abuse may present.
Development of short versions for the WHOQOL-OLD module
- Authors:
- FANG Jiqian, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 52(1), February 2012, pp.56-65.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) research group has developed several quality of life instruments including the WHOQOL-OLD module for older adults. The aim of this study was to develop 1 or more short versions of the 24-item WHOQOL-OLD module with acceptable psychometric properties. A secondary analysis was conducted based on the data from the WHOQOL-OLD field study. The data set included 5,566 respondents from 20 international centres. Two-thirds of them randomly selected as a developmental sample, and the remaining third as a validation sample. Three approaches (item response theory [IRT] and regression analysis [REG], classical test theory [CTT] and REG, and CTT and IRT and REG) were performed to develop 3 short-form scales with 6 items each using the developmental sample. The reliability and criterion validity of the 3 short-form scales were evaluated using the validation sample. The 3 versions of short-form WHOQOL-OLD showed similar reliability and validity. The article concludes that the new versions contain the best items of the original module, are much shorter, and have good internal consistency and criterion validity as a whole.
Detection scales for the risk of domestic abuse and self-negligent behavior in elderly persons (EDMA)
- Authors:
- TOUZA Carmen, PRADO Carmen, SEGURA Mari P.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 24(4), 2012, pp.312-325.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This research formed part of a project aiming to develop a useful tool for social services professionals to enable them to identify elderly individuals who are suffering domestic abuse or present self-neglectful behaviour. The developed instrument, the EDMA, consists of 2 scales: the Elder Scale; and the Alleged Abuser Scale. The purpose of this article is to present the results of a study carried out to determine the psychometric properties of the EDMA. The study involved the participation of 46 professionals from Social Services in Majorca, Spain. The professionals selected participants whom they knew well in order to sort them into 3 subgroups: appropriate treatment; inappropriate treatment; and abuse. The EDMA Elder scale was completed for 278 elders (90 in the appropriate treatment group, 76 in the inappropriate treatment group, and 112 in the abuse group) and the EDMA Alleged Abuser Scale was completed for 229 individuals. The findings in terms of the reliability and validity of the instrument are discussed, and the instrument and its test results are compared with other established instruments. The results indicate that the EDMA could be used to detect situations of risk of domestic abuse and self-neglectful behaviour.
Psychometric properties of a structured interview guide for the rating for anxiety in dementia
- Authors:
- SNOW A. Lynn, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(5), July 2012, pp.592-602.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: The Rating Anxiety in Dementia (RAID) is a clinical rating scale developed to evaluate anxiety in persons with dementia. This study investigated the psychometric properties and clinical utility of a new structured interview format of the RAID (RAID-SI), developed to standardise administration and scoring based on information obtained from the patient and rater observation. Participants included 32 people with dementia who qualified for an anxiety treatment outcome study. Self-report anxiety, depression, and quality of life measures were administered. Findings indicated that the RAID-SI exhibited adequate internal consistency reliability and inter-rater reliability. There was also evidence of construct validity as indicated by significant correlations with other measures of patient-reported and collateral-reported anxiety, and non-significant correlations with collateral reports of patient depression and quality of life. Also, RAID-SI scores were significantly higher in persons with an anxiety diagnosis compared to those without an anxiety diagnosis. The authors concluded that RAID-SI exhibited good reliability and validity in older adults with dementia.
Confirmatory factor analysis and cross-cultural examination of the Texas revised inventory of grief (TRIG)
- Authors:
- NAM Ilsung, EACK Shaun M.
- Journal article citation:
- Families in Society, 93(1), January 2012, pp.65-73.
- Publisher:
- The Alliance for Children and Families
Grief is an important psychological response to loss, and is often seen in clients served in diverse areas of social work practice. Despite its importance, little is known about the different aspects of grief that clients experience and the degree to which these dimensions are consistent across both majority and minority groups. This study examined the dimensionality of the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG) and its stability across minority and nonminority individuals using confirmatory factor analysis. Two hundred participants were recruited from the Resources for Enhanced Alzheimer Caregivers’ Health project. The study confirmed and refined the scale’s factor structure and its stability across minority and non-minority groups. The findings highlight the multidimensionality of grief across diverse client groups, hold important implications for social work practice, and point to the utility of the TRIG for assessing grief in a variety of social work settings. Implications for the use of the TRIG in practice settings are discussed.
Recognising and assessing pain in people with dementia
- Authors:
- THOMPSELL Amanda, EASTON Nicola
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dementia Care, 20(2), March 2012, pp.24-25.
- Publisher:
- Hawker
Evidence suggests that unless pain is routinely assessed it will not be discovered by care staff. However, pain is more likely to be recognised when using an assessment scale. This article sets out the case for using pain assessment tools regularly when caring for people with dementia. It describes two instruments, the Abbey pain scale and the Doloplus-2 scale, both of which are familiar to many care staff, and presents similarities and differences between them. The article also presents details of a training programme, the Modernisation Initiative End of Life Care Programme, in Lambeth, London, for care staff to use the Doloplus-2 scale to assess patients and interpret the results. Building pain assessment into existing care systems means it will become familiar to more staff, and essential when an acute crisis occurs. Also, by using an instrument to assess pain on a regular basis, pain is more likely to be detected and acted upon.
Assessment of anxiety in older adults: a systematic review of commonly used measures
- Authors:
- THERRIEN Zoé, HUNSLEY John
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(1-2), January 2012, pp.1-16.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The aim of this review is to identify information regarding evidence-based instruments for assessing anxiety in older adults. A literature search was conducted to identify research articles in which anxiety measures were completed by older adults. After screening for suitability, a total of 213 articles were reviewed to determine the most commonly used anxiety measures with older adults, to examine the psychometric properties of these instruments, and to evaluate whether the instruments are appropriate for use with older adults. A total of 91 different anxiety measures were used in the 213 articles, with 12 of the measures most commonly used. Of these most commonly used measures, the majority lacked sufficient evidence to warrant their use with older adults. Based on psychometric evidence, 3 measures (Beck Anxiety Inventory, Penn State Worry Questionnaire, and Geriatric Mental Status Examination) showed psychometric properties sufficient to justify the use of these instruments when assessing anxiety in older adults. In addition, 2 measures developed specifically for older adults (Worry Scale and Geriatric Anxiety Inventory) were also found to be appropriate for use with older adults.
Satisfaction with adult social care assessment: the development of a measure
- Authors:
- ABENDSTERN Michele, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 29(2), 2012, pp.95-114.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
Seeking the opinions of service users is an important aspect of ensuring services are designed and adapted with their views in mind. The evaluation of social care assessment in the UK and elsewhere has to date been limited. This paper describes the development and implementation of The User Satisfaction Assessment Tool (USAT), validated by older people, designed specifically to measure older service users’ views of social care assessment, in particular their satisfaction with it. This was undertaken as part of an evaluation of the Single Assessment Process (SAP), introduced into England in 2004. The challenge was to create a tool that could be used by a broad range of people, be administered in a variety of ways, and be sensitive to variation in response. The paper considers the concept of satisfaction and its measurement, describes the administration of the USAT, and further explores a number of methodological issues arising from this. Following discussion of both its strengths and limitations, the paper concludes that the USAT is an appropriate and reliable satisfaction tool to collect baseline data from which more detailed and in-depth responses could be drawn. (Edited publisher abstract)
ATdementia: an information resource on assistive technologies that help support the independence of people with dementia
- Authors:
- BURROW Simon, BROOKS Deborah
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 11(4), July 2012, pp.553-557.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Assistive technology has been defined as ‘any device or system that allows an individual to perform a task that they would otherwise be unable to do’. These technologies have the capacity to be enabling or disabling for people who are living with dementia. Accessible information is required to equip people to make informed decisions about what technologies are available and how they may be utilised to support independence. This article describes the development of a web-based resource called ATdementia which was designed to provide independent information on assistive technologies for people who are living with dementia. It was designed to be accessed by people with dementia, families, supporters and professionals. The article describes the development and the early operation of ATdementia. Mention is also made of the ATguide, a self-assessment tool to support decision-making in relation to technologies. ATguide was launched in 2012.
Development of the carer well-being and support (CWS) questionnaire
- Authors:
- QUIRK Alan, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Review Journal, 17(3), 2012, pp.128-138.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
A psychometrically validated measure is needed to evaluate outcomes in carers of people with mental health problems, including dementia. This study aimed to validate the Carer well-being and support questionnaire (CWS). Participants included carers of 10 people with mental health problems, 5 carers of people with psychosis, and 8 carers of people with dementia. Development and evaluation of the measure was conducted in three phases. The authors deconstructed an existing questionnaire (CUES-C) to produce a long version measure. This was trialled with carers to reduce the number of items and a preliminary evaluation of the psychometric properties of the remaining items was undertaken. A second field test was conducted with the item-reduced questionnaire measure to evaluate acceptability, reliability and validity. Findings revealed that the CWS well-being scale showed moderate acceptability and good reliability and validity. The CWS support scale shows moderate acceptability and good reliability. The authors concluded that the CWS was a reliable, valid measure of carer well-being and support.