Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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Is group psychotherapy effective in older adults with depression? A systematic review
- Authors:
- KRISHNA Murali, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 26(4), April 2011, pp.331-340.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The evidence from earlier reviews and meta-analyses lead to the conclusion that psychological treatment of depression is effective in older adults. The authors conducted a systematic review specifically looking at group psychotherapy. Electronic databases were searched to identify randomised controlled trials, selected studies were quality assessed and data extracted by two reviewers. Six trials met the inclusion criteria. These trials examined group interventions based on the cognitive behavioural therapy model with active therapeutic interventions (such as reminiscence therapy) or waiting list controls. The analyses indicate that group psychotherapy is an effective intervention in older adults with depression in comparison to waiting list controls but the overall effect size is very modest. The reported benefits of group intervention in comparison to other active interventions did not reach statistical significance. The benefits of group psychotherapy were maintained at follow-up. The authors note that the quality of the studies was variable, and not always optimal, and that most of the work involved the younger old so may not be transferable to the very elderly. Overall they conclude that group cognitive behavioural therapy is effective in older adults with depression.
Engaging with older people: evidence review
- Author:
- AGE UK
- Publisher:
- Age UK
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 30
- Place of publication:
- London
Drawing on published research, this evidence review provides the theory behind engagement and provides a starting point for any community or organisation wanting to engage or involve older people in their activities. It outlines the different levels of engagement, from being consulted, to higher levels of involvement such as decision-making and agenda setting. It also identifies the benefits of participation for older people, organisations and communities as a whole. Benefits include older people having a greater sense of purpose, developing new skills, organisations getting feedback about their services, reaching groups who might not access their services; and improved relationships with communities. The review also identifies barriers and facilitators to successful engagement. Engagement is most likely to be successful when there is careful planning to overcome barriers of participation, making efforts to include people who are representative of the community, and providing feedback to participants and organisations. The review identifies a lack of published research and evaluation on engagement, especially with older people, and highlights the need for more evidence on what works well. (Edited publisher abstract)
An evidence review of the impact of participatory arts on older people
- Author:
- MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION
- Publisher:
- Mental Health Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 57p.
- Place of publication:
- London
There is a growing evidence base which verifies the positive impact participative arts can have on the health and wellbeing of older people. The aim of this review is to provide evidence to funders about the benefits accrued through art activities and to support arts organisations to improve their work. A comprehensive literature search and screening of the retrieved articles resulted in the selection of 23 peer review articles and 7 reports from the grey literature. They covered a variety of art forms: music; singing; drama; visual arts; dance; storytelling; festivals; and mixed art forms. Most of the studies consider the impact of participatory arts at an individual level. Mental health and emotional impacts included increased self-esteem and confidence. Positive feedback received from family, friends and communities in response to performances, exhibitions and productions appeared to offer a particularly powerful boost to emotional wellbeing. This was a common finding across all the different art forms. Some of the studies provided evidence of the impacts that participatory art for older people could have on the wider community and attitudes towards older people. The review concludes that, although the evidence base is relatively weak, the findings demonstrate the beneficial impact of participatory art in terms of mental and physical wellbeing at the individual, community and societal levels.
Elder abuse and oppression: voices of marginalized elders
- Authors:
- WALSH Christine A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 23(1), January 2011, pp.17-42.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The aim of this study was to explore the complex interrelationship between oppression and elder maltreatment. Oppression is of itself abusive but it can also increase older adults’ vulnerability to, or exacerbate their experience of, abuse. The authors began by reviewing the literature on oppression and elder abuse. They then undertook a secondary analysis of data from the Elder Abuse Study. This involved focus group discussions on elder abuse with marginalised older adults (n=76) and the professionals caring for them (n=43) in two Canadian cities. The stigmatised/oppressed definitions included women, immigrants, Aboriginals, lesbians, those diagnosed with mood disorders and survivors of abuse. The analysis revealed that increased vulnerability to elder abuse was related to oppression experienced as a consequence of ageism, sexism, ableism/disability, racism, heterosexism/homophobia, classism, and various intersecting types of oppression. The authors note that stereotypes about older adults often became internalised by the older adults themselves, which helps to explain why they can become marginalised. Although many of the participants were marginalised or oppressed in a number of ways an important finding was the resilience of some of the elder abuse victims. The focus groups provided suggestions for how care workers and policy makers might meet the needs of elderly abuse victims.
Prevention in adult safeguarding: a review of the literature
- Authors:
- SOCIAL CARE INSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENCE, FAULKNER Alison, SWEENEY Angela
- Publisher:
- Social Care Institute for Excellence
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 59p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This report outlines the literature on the preventing the abuse of vulnerable adults, from public awareness campaigns through to approaches that empower the individual to be able to recognise, address and report abuse. In addition, it examines policy and practice guidance and examples of emerging practice. This review began with a scope on data, literature and best practice on what is being done in relation to prevention strategies by local authorities. The scope was then expanded using reference harvesting and expert recommendation. Literature identified is discussed in the following sections: identifying people at risk of abuse; public awareness; information, advice and advocacy; training and education; policies and procedures; community links and community support; regulation and legislation; inter-agency collaboration; and empowerment and choice. Case studies of emerging good practice are included in the final section entitled emerging evidence.
Housing, prevention and early intervention at work: a summary of the evidence base
- Author:
- PORTEUS Jeremy
- Publisher:
- Housing Learning and Improvement Network
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 6
- Place of publication:
- London
This summary briefing explores the latest research and findings on the preventive aspects of both capital and revenue housing interventions in local care economies and the wider benefit realisation. In particular, it captures research that evidences the cost benefit of support for older and vulnerable adults with a long term condition in extra care housing as an alternative to residential care, preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and speeding up patient discharges. This evidence shows the care efficiencies that can be achieved and the potential for savings on the public purse. The paper concludes that that for prevention and early intervention to be effective a multi-dimensional approach is required, rewarding closer integration, offering incentives to encourage innovation and market development, and supporting investment in physical and social capital. (Edited publisher abstract)
Evidence: helping people help themselves: a review of the evidence considering whether it is worthwhile to support self-management
- Author:
- DE SILVA Debra
- Publisher:
- Health Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 39p.
- Place of publication:
- London
As the population grows in size and age and people are more likely to suffer from long term illnesses that require ongoing care, health services in Britain are facing an enormous challenge. There is a need to change the way systems work and this includes helping people to help themselves. Supporting self-management means providing information and encouragement to help people maintain greater control by understanding their condition and being able to monitor and take appropriate action. This review compiles evidence about the effects of supporting self-management on people’s quality of life, clinical outcomes and health service use. Findings from 550 studies are included in the review. Evidence suggests that supporting self-management works. Supporting people to look after themselves can improve their motivation, the extent to which they eat well and exercise, their symptoms and clinical outcomes and can even change how they use health services. A wide range of initiatives are described as ‘self-management support’ and some may be more effective than others. Many different types of support are important components of the jigsaw needed to encourage self-management, but information provision alone is unlikely to be sufficient to motivate behaviour change and improve outcomes.
Trauma and stress among older adults in the criminal justice system: a review of the literature with implications for social work
- Authors:
- MASCHI Tina, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 54(4), May 2011, pp.390-424.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Older adults are the fastest growing sector of the prison population. Older adults in the criminal justice system often have more physical health problems than those in the community, especially chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Unaddressed trauma and stress among aging prisoners may have significant consequences on their physical and mental health. The purpose of this article was to review the research literature that investigated trauma and stress among older adults in the criminal justice system. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify empirical studies published between 1988 and 2010 examining trauma or life stressors in adults aged 50 and older in the criminal justice system. A total of 19 articles were identified. These included 11 studies using mixed age samples of adjudicated older and younger adults and 8 studies using older adult only samples. The article discusses the findings in the areas of: history of traumatic and stressful experiences; consequences and correlates of traumatic and stressful experiences; and coping resources as a protective factor. The implications and future directions for gerontological social work, research, and policy with older adults in the criminal justice system are discussed.
A critical review of the literature on social and leisure activity and wellbeing in later life
- Authors:
- ADAMS Kathryn Betts, LEIBBRANDT Sylvia, MOON Heehyul
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 31(4), May 2011, pp.683-712.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Many older adults with high participation in social and leisure activities report positive wellbeing, and an engaged lifestyle is widely regarded as an important component of successful ageing. This article provides a critical review of the gerontological literature in order to examine the conceptualisation and measurement of activity among older adults and consider the implications and prospects for a more comprehensive activity theory. A search was conducted for studies that focus on social and leisure activity and wellbeing, and 42 studies in 44 articles published between 1995 and 2009 were identified. They reported from 1 to 13 activity domains, the majority reporting 2 or 3, such as informal, formal and solitary, or productive versus leisure. Domains associated with subjective wellbeing, health or survival included social, leisure, productive, physical, intellectual, service and solitary activities. Informal social activity has accumulated the most evidence of an influence on wellbeing. Individual descriptors such as gender or physical functioning sometimes moderate these associations, while contextual variables such as choice, meaning or perceived quality play intervening roles. The article concludes that differences in definitions and measurement make it difficult to draw inferences on the associations between activity and wellbeing. Arriving at a more comprehensive framework will require measure of activity to be better standardised and to take into account the dimensions of purpose, context and demand on the individual.