Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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Digital inclusion evidence review
- Authors:
- GREEN Marcus, ROSSALL Phil
- Publisher:
- Age UK
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 37
- Place of publication:
- London
A review of the evidence on digital inclusion of older people in the UK, covering key aspects of digital inclusion connected with internet use. The paper suggests that it is possible that a tipping point has now been reached as for the first time the number of people aged 65+ who have used the internet has overtaken those who have never used it. The review examines: the factors associated with digital exclusion; what older people use the internet for; the benefits of internet use for older people, including alleviating loneliness and social isolation, supporting lifelong learning, health and wellbeing and access to public services; reasons for not using the internet; and interventions to reduce digital exclusion in old age. The review concludes with an analysis of trends in use and the future of digital inclusion. (Edited publisher abstract)
When care is needed: the role of whistleblowing in promoting best standards from an individual and organizational perspective
- Authors:
- KELLY Daniel, JONES Aled
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 14(3), 2013, pp.180-191.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose – The aim of this paper is to scan the evidence and to make sense of the processes underpinning the maintenance of care standards and the meaning and significance of whistleblowing in the available literature. It formed part of a project examining attitudes to whistleblowing in the care of older people in Wales. The paper focusses on the actions of employees within organisations (such as hospitals or domiciliary care organisations) or professional groups (such as nurses and doctors) but does not include reference to whistleblowing or the raising of concerns by members of the public (such as relatives or patients). Design/methodology/approach–Published literature concerning whistleblowing in the UK and internationally was considered. Health and social care databases were searched (including PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, BNI, PsychLit, ERIC) and a wide variety of opinion pieces, research and theoretical explorations were accessed. Additionally, because whistleblowing occurs in workplaces other than health and social care, databases in the humanities, law and business were also searched. Other useful documents included public inquiry reports on matters both of public concern occurring in health and social care (e.g. The Shipman Inquiry, The Bristol Inquiry) as well as inquiries into events outside of this sector where whistleblowing was significant. Findings–There is no widely accepted theoretical framework or universally accepted conceptual underpinning for whistleblowing in the literature. This paper reveals various associated meanings, but all sources agree that whistleblowing is an imposed, rather than a chosen, situation and that whistleblowers are usually ordinary people who become aware of negative situations forcing them into a decision to remain silent, or to speak out. Another area of agreement within the literature is that the term whistleblowing has attracted overwhelmingly negative connotations. The simple choice between taking action or remaining silent belies the complexity of workplace cultures; including the care of older people. Originality/value–The paper explores a range of published sources from health care as well as other sectors. Although whistleblowing has been recognised as making an important contribution to patient safety, and the saving of lives, it has also had a somewhat tortured history in the health and social care sector, as well as in other industries. This paper explores whistleblowing in the context of recent UK policy developments and suggests the need for workplace cultures to be better understood; as well as promotion of open communication regarding concerns or unsafe practices. (Publisher abstract)
A review and summary of the impact of malnutrition in older people and the reported costs and benefits of interventions
- Author:
- WILSON Lisa
- Publisher:
- Malnutrition Task Force
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 30
- Place of publication:
- London
Malnutrition is one of the key issues affecting the health of older people in the UK, yet it remains under-detected, under-treated and under-resourced and often over looked by those working with and for older people. This report puts the financial case for the prevention and early treatment of malnutrition. In support, the author summarises the findings from recent studies and research on the economic cost of malnutrition in the UK; the costs to health and social care, and to individuals; evidence of cost savings; and interventions to prevent and treat malnutrition. Also discussed is the economic value of voluntary initiatives such as the Food Train in Dumfries and Age UK Oldham's shopping support service; also the role of community meals services. (Original abstract)
Factors that influence the occupational engagement of older adults with low vision: a scoping review
- Authors:
- McGRATH Colleen E., RUDMAN Debbie Laliberte
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(5), 2013, pp.234-241.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Introduction: Prior research has provided occupational therapists with an understanding of the negative impact of low vision on self care, leisure and productivity. In order to guide future low-vision rehabilitation services, an understanding of the factors that influence the occupational engagement of older adults with age-related vision loss (ARVL) is also needed. Method: A scoping review of the literature was conducted in order to identify those factors that have been shown to influence the occupational engagement of older adults with ARVL, and to identify future research needs. Findings: As identified in this scoping review, five types of factors were shown to influence occupational engagement for older adults with ARVL including: demographic variables, emotional components, behavioural components, diagnostic components, and environmental aspects. Conclusion: Although findings pertaining to personal factors can inform practice, few studies explored the influence of environmental factors on occupational engagement. Given that occupation is a result of person-environment transactions, it is important that future research more fully explores environmental influences in order to enable occupational therapists to deliver services that optimize the occupational performance of seniors with ARVL. (Publisher abstract)
Handyperson schemes and the Equality Act 2010
- Authors:
- MORIARTY Jo, MANTHORPE Jill
- Journal article citation:
- Housing Care and Support, 16(3/4), 2013, pp.114-125.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore whether handyperson services are able to meet the needs of diverse groups of older people, specifically in the UK policy context, to meet the requirements of the Equality Act (2010). Design/methodology/approach: The scoping review of the literature was conducted in 2012 using a wide range of literature from the UK. Findings: In an under-researched field it is difficult for policy makers to determine whether handyperson schemes and their associated services are accessible to and being used by all sections of the older population. Schemes do not generally collect and report data about their users. Research limitations/implications: The scoping review concentrates on UK literature. There are a variety of handyperson schemes and they operate in different ways with different criteria and priorities. Some of the accounts of handyperson schemes provide little data about user characteristics. Practical implications – The paper suggests how handyperson schemes may be able to meet the requirements of the Equality Act (2010) by outlining what data are needed and approaches to gathering it sensitively and proportionally. Originality/value: The paper is the first to consider the implications of the Equality Act for handyperson schemes, which may be relevant to other housing and care services. (Publisher abstract)
Ageing with a serious mental illness: a literature and policy review
- Author:
- CLIFTON Andrew
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Review Journal, 18(2), 2013, pp.65-72.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The authors draw on a general review of both the literature and current UK policy guidance to determine the current state of provision for older people with a serious mental illness (SMI). Much of the relevant literature the authors identified originates from the USA, with older adults with SMI perceived as an under-served population in need of urgent attention. Additionally, UK policy provision is patchy with very limited pockets of good practice currently available to guide clinicians and inform service users. The paper highlights the distinct lack of literature, evidence and policy which currently exists in the UK addressing the needs of older adults with a serious mental illness. The authors call for clinicians, researchers and other stakeholders to engage with service users, their family and/or friends to produce quality and meaningful research to improve outcomes for this vulnerable group of citizens. Finally, the policy, practice and service user communities need to collaborate in a spirit of “boundary spanning” working across disciplines to generate practical policies which can be operationalised by organisations and individuals. (Edited publisher abstract)
Social workers’ attitudes toward older adults: a review of the literature
- Authors:
- WANG Donna, CHONODY Jill M.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Education, 49(1), 2013, pp.150-172.
- Publisher:
- Council on Social Work Education
Ageist attitudes toward older adults have been recognised as barriers to recruiting and training competent social workers. This article provides a systematic review of the literature that focused on social workers’ and social work students’ attitudes toward older adults and working with older adults. The authors sought empirical studies that used an attitudinal measure of ageism with a social work sample, and a total of 20 articles met the criteria. Characteristics of the studies’ participants, methodology, instruments, and results were evaluated. This article discusses the findings and offers implications for future research. (Publisher abstract)
Future need of ageing people with an intellectual disability in the Republic of Ireland: lessons learned from the literature
- Authors:
- DOODY Catriona M., MARKEY Kathleen, DOODY Owen
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 41(1), 2013, pp.13-21.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This article synthesises current literature regarding ageing and service provision for people with an intellectual disability. It presents the context of intellectual disability in Ireland and ageing for people with intellectual disability in relation to increased longevity and service provision. Searches were conducted through electronic databases (EBSCO and CINAHL) retrieving literature published between 1980 and 2010. Computerised searches using the terms, ‘old age, aged, ageing, ageing, mortality, morbidity’, were used in conjunction with the terms ‘intellectual disability, mental handicap and mental retardation’. The review found that Ireland has and is seeing a dramatic change in the age profile of clients and the support services they require. While Ireland had specifically trained nurses in intellectual disability, they predominately work in residential settings. This can be seen as been at odds with the philosophy of supporting people with intellectual disability live at home with their family and the primary care system. As the ageing population is rising, intellectual disability services need to proactively develop and respond to this changing age profile by reviewing and adjusting the way in which they deliver services, not only in terms of how services develop and respond to a changing age profile but also in terms of collaborative working across all health services. (Edited publisher abstract)
The critical-ecological framework: advancing knowledge, practice, and policy on older adult abuse
- Authors:
- NORRIS Deborah, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 25(1), 2013, pp.40-55.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The abuse of older adults is a recognised yet understudied issue compared to other forms of family violence. The purpose of this article is to propose a critical-ecological framework as a means through which research, policy and practice on older adult abuse can be advanced. Relevant themes from critical theory include power, control, and transformation. Relevant themes from ecological theory include reciprocity and equilibrium. Within the article, research, theory, and practice in family violence and older adult abuse are compared; elements that can be transferred to the field are analysed; and gaps are identified. Various methodologies were used for the research including an extensive literature review, 2 focus groups with local stakeholders, and interviews with 6 key informants recognised as national subject experts. The findings are used to argue that a critical-ecological framework provides a unifying lens which can help to bridge understandings between what, at face value, may seem to be disparate manifestations of violence and abuse. Its integrative and holistic approach considers the macrolevel ideologies and structures that shape everyday life, situational factors, as well as the realities of relational and individual dynamics.
Opportunity knocks: exploring the links between day opportunities and equal opportunities
- Authors:
- MANTHORPE Jill, MORIARTY Jo
- Journal article citation:
- Practice: Social Work in Action, 25(5), 2013, pp.317-333.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The term ‘day opportunities’ is used in the context of personalisation in England to refer to alternatives to day centres. This article employs the lens of legislation on equalities to comment on access to day opportunities by different groups of eligible older people. It reports and discusses findings from a scoping review of the literature conducted in 2012 and updated in 2013 which searched for research and ‘grey literature’ material. Findings from the scoping review are presented using the different elements of the Equalities Act 2010. The authors conclude that social workers need to be aware of definitions when describing what is being suggested as part of a support plan or reviewed in the context of desired outcomes. Attention is drawn to the need to think about levels of needs and access to any day opportunity. Social workers are well placed to identify whether these changes have a differential impact on certain groups. This exploration of the literature on user experiences and outcomes from day opportunities may be helpful to social work practice and scholarship. (Publisher abstract)