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Bridging the generation gap: enlisting student support to improve well-being
- Authors:
- HOBBS Lesley, CHARLTON Tony, WRIGHT Stuart
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dementia Care, 18(6), November 2010, pp.36-38.
- Publisher:
- Hawker
This study evaluates the effects of student support on the social functioning of a sample of six ‘low interacting’ nursing home residents. The participants were based in a nursing home in South Gloucestershire which offers its residents a person-centred approach to care. Twelve older secondary school students received a structured teaching input focusing on the nursing home ethos, fire and safety issues, activity work, and basic counselling skills. The students then worked in pairs with a resident for one hour per week for six weeks. The visits involved, for example, learning about a resident’s life history, looking at their photographs, encouraging them to reminisce, gardening, walks in the grounds, and sharing common interests. After each visit the students wrote a letter to their resident which referred to their last visit and served as a reminder of the next. Both qualitative and quantitative measures showed encouraging improvement in residents’ well-being and ill-being across, and then two weeks after, the intervention period. The article concludes that this ‘trained’ student support brought about improvements to aspects of residents’ social functioning. Bridging the generation gap between young and old provided positive outcomes for both.
Supporting an informal care group - social contacts and communication as important aspects in the psychosocial well-being of informal caregivers of older patients in Belgium
- Author:
- JANSEN Leontien
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 30(4), 2022, pp.1514-1529.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Increasingly, informal caregivers in Belgium care in group for an older patient. This study aimed to decrease the caregiver burden and to increase the well-being of caregivers and patients by supporting the needs of informal care groups of older patients (≥70 years). Method: Through an online self-management tool, the groups were supported to make informed choices concerning the care for the older patient, taking into account the standards, values, concerns and needs of every caregiver and patient. A pre-post study was performed. Results: Although patients and caregivers considered the self-management tool as useful and supportive, no clear evidence for decreased caregiver burden was found. There was a positive trend in group characteristics such as the distribution of tasks, communication and prevalence of conflicts. Caregivers also stated that they took more time for themselves, had less feelings of guilt and experienced less barriers to ask help. Conclusion: Tailor-made support of informal care groups starts with facilitating and guiding a process to achieve consent within the group to optimise the care for the patient and also for the caregivers. With a shared vision and supported decisions, caregivers can enter into conversations with the professional caregiver to coordinate adjusted support regarding the care needs. (Edited publisher abstract)
Managing emotional and psychological distress in older people
- Author:
- CHAPMAN Felicity
- Journal article citation:
- Working with Older People, 22(4), 2018, pp.234-242.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: Much has been written about helping those with dementia. But what about those for whom distress is not primarily related to a neurological cause and there is no psychiatric history? The purpose of this paper is to offer a guide for allied health professionals and family carers to manage distress in older people who are able to engage in language based communication and who are experiencing significant change or loss. Design/methodology/approach: This practice informed paper draws on the authors’ extensive experience working as a mental health social worker who specializes in work with older people in the community and in care, with family carers and in educating allied health professionals on how to manage presentations of distress in older people. Findings: Three foundational management strategies are discussed: understand the reason for distress, implement the C.A.R.E. Plan and maximize comfort in exploration and referral. Research limitations/implications: This viewpoint piece has not been substantiated through research and does not reflect training in the field of clinical geropsychology. Originality/value: The ideas in this paper are original and are practical solutions to common problems that can be faced by workers or family in close contact with older people. The information can be applied immediately to whatever setting is relevant for the reader and is written in easy to understand language. Furthermore, its aim is not only to increase skill and confidence for the reader but also to promote the emotional and psychological wellbeing of older people. (Publisher abstract)
The missing million: in search of the loneliest in our communities
- Author:
- CAMPAIGN TO END LONELINESS
- Publisher:
- Campaign to End Loneliness
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 62
- Place of publication:
- London
A guide to help commissioners and service providers to develop ways of identifying older people experiencing loneliness or who are at risk of being lonely. Section one identifies methods of identifying older people who may be at risk of loneliness. These include top down approaches which use available data and data mapping to identifying geographical areas likely to contain more people at risk; and bottom up approaches, which draw on the local knowledge and capacity of communities to identify and engage with older people experiencing loneliness in their area. Section two illustrates how these different methods can be used and provides case studies to show how they have been used successfully by other organisations. Section three provides advice to help staff and volunteers to speak to people at risk of loneliness in a way that can bring about positive change. It shows the importance of using empathy, openness and respect when holding conversations and also taking a problem-solving approach to help people identify and plan their own solutions. Each section includes summary learning points and provides advice to help providers and commissioners to help change their ways of working. The report makes 10 key recommendations for service providers and commissioners. (Edited publisher abstract)
The positive association of end-of-life treatment discussions and care satisfaction in the nursing home
- Authors:
- REINHARDT Joann P., BOERNER Kathrin, DOWNES Deirdre
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care, 11(3-4), 2015, pp.307-322.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia
With the progression of dementia, the need for families and health care providers to have discussions about end-of-life (EOL) treatments arises. EOL treatment decisions often involve whether or not medical interventions intended to prolong life—such as resuscitation, artificial nutrition and hydration, and use of antibiotics—are desired. It is unclear if family satisfaction with care in the nursing home may be associated with involvement in EOL treatment discussions. The frequency of discussions that family members reported having with health care team members regarding multiple life-sustaining treatments and symptom management for their relatives with advanced dementia were examined over a 6-month period along with the association of these particular discussions with care satisfaction over time. Results showed that greater frequency of discussion of EOL treatment wishes was positively associated with higher care satisfaction scores among family members of nursing home residents with dementia. When considered together, greater frequency of discussion of artificial hydration was uniquely associated with greater care satisfaction and increased care satisfaction over time. Social workers must ensure that EOL treatment discussions with older adults in the nursing home and their family members take place and that preferences are communicated among the various interdisciplinary health team members. (Publisher abstract)
Predictors of family conflict at the end of life: the experience of spouses and adult children of persons with lung cancer
- Authors:
- KRAMER Betty J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 50(2), April 2010, pp.215-225.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study, guided by an explanatory matrix of family conflict at the end of life, aimed to examine the correlates and predictors of family conflict reported by 155 spouses and adult children of persons with lung cancer. A cross-sectional state-wide survey of family members of persons who died from lung cancer was conducted as part of the larger study on the Assessment of Cancer CarE and SatiSfaction (ACCESS) in Wisconsin. Results indicated significant bivariate correlations between family conflict and family context variables such as: a history of conflict; younger respondent age; race; and specified end-of-life care wishes of the patient. Other correlations include conditions such as greater physical and psychological clinical care needs of the patient, and contributing factors including communication constraints and family asserting control. Using a multivariate model, significant predictors of family conflict included prior family conflict, race, communication constraints, and family members asserting control. This model explained 72% of the variance in conflict. In summary, the authors describe implications for routine assessment and screening to identify families at risk and make recommendations for the development and testing of interventions to facilitate shared decision making and enhance open communication among at-risk families.
Management of pain in older people: a workbook
- Authors:
- SCHOFIELD Pat, AVEYARD Barry, BLACK Catherine
- Publisher:
- M&K
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 82p.
- Place of publication:
- Keswick
A self-directed study workbook designed to provide a basic introduction to the management of pain in older people. It explores the nature of the problem, discusses the importance of communication and outlines practical assessment techniques. Approaches to pain management are also covered and include medication; snoezelen or sensory environments and non-pharmacological approaches such as physical, psychological and psychosocial interventions. The reader is encouraged to think about the issue in their own area of practice. Each section includes short exercises and a list of suggested further reading.
Communication between older people and their health care agents: Results of an intervention
- Authors:
- GUTHEIL Irene A., HEYMAN Janna C.
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Work, 30(2), May 2005, pp.107-116.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study examined an intervention to help high-functioning community-dwelling older people communicate their wishes for care at the end of life with someone they would trust to make health care decisions for them if necessary. Groups consisted of dyads of older people and their potential or designated health care agents randomly assigned to the intervention (STEP program) or control group. STEP participants received three group sessions with educational and support components. For individual participants, there was a statistically significant difference between groups on knowledge of the health care proxy form and the roles and responsibilities of the agent. For the dyads of older people and their agents, there was a significantly higher mean communication score for the STEP participants than for the control group. The findings demonstrate that it is possible to affect advance communication about wishes at the end of life through a group intervention.
Emotional and behavioural responses to music in people with dementia: an observational study
- Authors:
- SHERRATT, K., THORTON A., HATTON C.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 8(3), May 2004, pp.233-241.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Using continuous time sampling and direct observation methodology, this study examined the impact of social interaction in music listening on behavioural responses of people with moderate-to-severe dementia (n = 24). Using Kitwood's theory of personhood as a framework, it was hypothesized that levels of well-being and engagement would be greatest during a live music condition compared with recorded and no music conditions and that levels of challenging behaviour would decrease most in the live music conditions compared with the other music conditions. The relationship between severity of cognitive impairment and well-being, engagement and challenging behaviours across conditions was also examined. The findings suggest that live music was significantly more effective in increasing levels of engagement and well-being regardless of level of cognitive impairment. No significant differences across conditions were found for challenging behaviours, but the correlation between these and cognitive impairment revealed mixed results. Clinical implications regarding the use of live music in dementia care settings are highlighted and recommendations for future research of interventions aimed at reducing challenging behaviours are discussed.
Keeping wandering nursing home residents at the table: improving food intake using a behavioral communication intervention
- Authors:
- BEATTIE E. R. A., ALGASE D. L., SONG J.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 8(2), March 2004, pp.109-116.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The purpose of this multiple case design study (n¼3) with an embedded experiment was to determine the effect of the systematic use of a behavioral nursing intervention on the mealtime behavior of nursing home residents with probable Alzheimer’s disease. It was hypothesized that the systematic behavioural intervention would increase time spent seated during the meal and proportion of food consumed while decreasing the frequency of table-leaving events during mealtime. The intervention was designed to impact the proximal factors of physiological need and social interaction from the Need-Driven Behaviour Model. Results demonstrate that all cases were able to sit at the table longer and eat more food during the intervention, while body weight for all cases remained stable throughout the study. Two of the three cases left the table fewer times during the intervention. There were no statistically significant changes in proportion of fluids consumed in any case.