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A social model of loneliness: the roles of disability, social resources, and cognitive impairment
- Authors:
- BURHOLT Vanessa, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 57(6), 2017, pp.1020-1030.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Purpose of the study: The authors consider the points at which cognitive impairment may impact on the pathway to loneliness for older people, through impeding social interaction with family and friends, or by interfering with judgements concerning satisfaction with relationships. Design and methods: The authors conceptualise a mediation model anticipating that social resources (LSNS-6) will mediate the pathway between disability (Townsend Disability Scale) and loneliness (De Jong Gierveld 6-item scale) and a moderated-mediation model in which the authors hypothesise that cognitive impairment (MMSE) will moderate the association between disability and social resources and between social resources and loneliness. To validate the hypothesised pathways, the authors draw on the CFAS Wales data set (N = 3,593) which is a nationally representative study of community-dwelling people aged 65 and older in Wales. Results: Disability had a significant indirect effect on loneliness through the mediating variable social resources. Cognitive impairment was significantly associated with social resources, but did not moderate the relationship between disability and social resources. Cognitive impairment had a significant impact on loneliness, and moderated the effect of social resources on loneliness. Implications: Social structures can (dis)empower people with cognitive impairment and lead to exclusion from social resources or impact on the social construction of ageing, cognitive impairment, and dementia. The sense of self for an older person with cognitive impairment may be influenced by social norms and stereotypes, or through a temporal social comparison with an “earlier” sense of self. The authors conclude that loneliness interventions should be theoretically informed to identify key areas for modification. (Edited publisher abstract)
Age and loneliness in Wales
- Author:
- WALES CENTRE FOR PUBLIC POLICY
- Publisher:
- Wales Centre for Public Policy
- Publication year:
- 2021
- Pagination:
- 10
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
This briefing is part of a series of insights on loneliness in Wales based on bespoke analysis of the National Survey for Wales (NSW). The series is designed to provide policy makers and public services with a greater understanding of who is lonely so that funding and interventions to tackle loneliness can be designed and delivered most effectively. This data insight combines three years’ worth of NSW data to identify levels of overall, emotional, and social loneliness among different groups and explore how age interacts with other characteristics to show which groups are especially vulnerable to loneliness. It highlights the acute risk of loneliness faced by people experiencing multiple forms of disadvantage and the importance of targeted policy and public service funding and interventions to support them. The data reveals that: younger people are lonelier than older people, especially those aged 16-24 – those aged under 64 are significantly more socially lonely than older age groups; for all age groups, higher deprivation translates into higher levels of loneliness – those aged 16-24 living in the 20% most deprived areas of Wales are the loneliest; among those aged 25-64, people from ethnic minority backgrounds are lonelier than those who identify as White British; those with a long-term illness, disability or infirmity, across all age groups, are lonelier than those without; having a poorer level of general health means higher levels of loneliness across all age groups. (Edited 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)
The rise and rise of the silver separator
- Authors:
- FRANKLIN Ben, CREIGHTON Helen
- Publisher:
- International Longevity Centre UK
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 16
- Place of publication:
- London
Examines trends on divorce amongst the over 60s – a growing phenomenon which some have labelled the rise of the silver separator. The report looks at the rise in divorce rates in some detail with regard to England and Wales, seeking to understand what has been driving it and what some of its implications might be. It shows that from 1990 to 2012, the number of men and women experiencing divorce aged 60 or above has risen by over 85 per cent and the rate continues to rise. By 2037, almost 1 in every 10 people experiencing divorce will be aged over 60. The report sets out the main driving factors in increasing divorce rates among older people, including: people marrying later in life; rising employment amongst women, which equates to more financial independence; increased chances of divorce associated with people living longer; and changes in social attitudes towards divorce. The report suggests that as divorce rates increase caring responsibilities may increasingly have to be taken on by people’s children or by paid carers. Divorced older men are more likely to rely on institutional care than divorced older women, who are more likely to be able to rely on their children. This also has implications for isolation among older men. In addition, evidence shows that divorced parents are more susceptible to loneliness and depression than married parents in later life and that divorce has a negative effect on both physical and mental health. (Edited publisher abstract)
Transport in rural Wales
- Author:
- WINDLE Gill
- Journal article citation:
- Working with Older People, 8(2), June 2004, pp.32-35.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Reports some findings from a collaborative piece of research, 'Housing for an ageing population: planning implications (HAPPI)', funded by the Wales Office of Research and Development for Health and Social Care, developed in partnership with Gwynedd Rural Ageing Network and undertaken at the University of Wales, Bangor. The study examined older people's use of public and private transport in rural Wales. Interviews were conducted with 423 people aged 70 and over who lived in their own homes. The article focuses particularly at why people did not use transport and the impact in terms of isolation and loneliness.
Tell me more summary report
- Author:
- AGE CYMRU
- Publisher:
- Age Cymru
- Publication year:
- 2022
- Pagination:
- 19
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
Tell Me More is an engagement project which aims to gather insights into the lived experience of care home residents during the Covid-19 pandemic and is funded by Welsh Government. This report details key themes that featured in the conversations we had with people living in care homes during 2021, one of the most challenging times that care homes have experienced as a result of the global pandemic. The report reflects the range of perspectives voiced by residents on care home life, through the restrictions that were in place because of regulation, guidance, or care home policy. It reflects the findings from conversation with 105 residents living in 22 care homes throughout Wales. Everyone we spoke with told us that they had felt safe in the home where they live, they told us that care staff were working to protect them from the virus. Some residents however felt that this, at times, overtook their rights to make individual choices and restricted their freedom to make decisions that affected their quality of life. Residents told us how finding company during the pandemic was very important to them. Despite the barrier of PPE, residents often spoke of staff becoming ‘more like family’ their reason to keep going and the main connector for them with the outside world. However, one of the most talked about subjects we encountered was family visits to the homes. Some residents shared their sadness and frustration about this. Residents told us that they spent most of their time alone and in their rooms. They told us that they had little to look forward too and their days were long. Many residents told us that they found it difficult to know what to do with their days, many felt the effects of the loss of community engagement and fun activities. (Edited publisher abstract)
Rural Wisdom evaluation: the value of connection
- Author:
- NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM FOR INCLUSION
- Publisher:
- National Development Team for Inclusion
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 8
- Place of publication:
- Bath
This short report shares the experiences and reflections of the Volunteering Matters Cymru team leading the Rural Wisdom project in Wales on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had upon their work. Rural Wisdom is a five-year National Lottery funded project exploring the impact of community-based activities that are led by older people living in rural areas in Scotland and Wales. In sharing these reflections, the report aims to provide others living and working in rural areas to apply and benefit from what works, in fast-paced and challenging times. For older people, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has been incredibly detrimental. The issues identified, around loneliness, isolation and vulnerability, have been exacerbated by the measures to shield and isolate from family, friends and the wider community over a prolonged period of time. Building and maintaining connections with people, even remotely, has never been so important. Despite restrictions older people are still willing and able to contribute to their communities. Development Workers are working with people over the age of 70 who still volunteer but have adapted what they do based on their circumstances and restrictions, for example being a telephone befriender. Through engagement events, local community councils and steering groups, older people are still having a voice and influencing change; the difference is that they now meet online. Where groups or events have been sustained and taken on by the community the pandemic has only put a pause on their activity, although it is hard to tell how long for. However, other activities such as the school lunch club that had not been running long enough for it to be embedded or sustained, may need support to get re-started. (Edited publisher abstract)
Review of key mechanisms in intergenerational practices, and their effectiveness at reducing loneliness/social isolation
- Authors:
- BRYER Nia, OWNES Janine
- Publisher:
- Welsh Government
- Publication year:
- 2019
- Pagination:
- 99
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
This review examines enablers and barriers to successful intergenerational activities and interventions effectiveness at reducing loneliness and social isolation. It also examines whether there are particular subgroups for whom intergenerational programmes are particularly effective. The review was carried out by researchers at OB3 Research and the Centre for Loneliness Studies at University of Sheffield. It included a literature review, and field work to identify intergenerational interventions and case studies from Wales and the wider UK. The review identified a range of interventions from low level interventions such as raising awareness of ageing issues through to high level intervention where intergenerational activities are embedded into community settings. The findings also indicate that intergenerational practice does more to reduce social isolation and lack of social connections than loneliness. The review identified different benefits for the three groups involved - children/young people, adults and older people. The review also identified a number of enablers that contribute to effective operation of IP (e.g. a visionary leader, a focused perspective) and barriers that hinder action (e.g. time, planning, logistics). The review makes eight recommendations for the Welsh Government to consider in terms of future policy relating to intergenerational practice. (Edited publisher abstract)
Residents as volunteers: final evaluation report
- Authors:
- NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS, HORNUNG Lisa
- Publisher:
- National Council for Voluntary Organisations
- Publication year:
- 2018
- Pagination:
- 48
- Place of publication:
- London
An evaluation of the Residents as Volunteers project, which aimed to support older people aged over-75 years living in a residential home setting to volunteer and to measure the impact of volunteering on well-being and quality of life. The project was delivered in partnership by Abbeyfield Society and NCVO, and funded by the Big Lottery fund. A total of 110 residents volunteered during the project. Those participating felt that volunteering had a positive impact on their emotional and social well-being and many also reported that volunteering helped them to stay physically and mentally active. The evaluation identified a number of barriers to volunteering faced by care home residents. These included feeling too old, having a health condition, lack of confidence, narrow views of volunteering or anti-volunteering sentiment. The project also found it was far more difficult to reach residents that had never volunteered before. It also identified barriers for staff and care homes themselves, including existing social interactions, staff to resident ratio, existing volunteering culture and non-supportive environment or lack of management buy-in. The report makes some suggestions to overcome these barriers. (Edited publisher abstract)
Social support networks of older migrants in England and Wales: the role of collectivist culture
- Authors:
- BURHOLT Vanessa, DOBBS Christine, VICTOR Christina
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 38(7), 2018, pp.1453-1477.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This article tests the fit of a social support network typology developed for collectivist cultures to six migrant populations living in England and Wales. We examine the predictive utility of the typology to identify networks most vulnerable to poor quality of life and loneliness. Variables representing network size, and the proportion of the network classified by gender, age, kin and proximity, were used in confirmatory and exploratory latent profile analysis to fit models to the data (N = 815; Black African, Black Caribbean, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Chinese). Multinomial logistic regression examined associations between demographic variables and network types. Linear regression examined associations between network types and wellbeing outcomes. A four-profile model was selected. Multigenerational Household: Younger Family networks were most robust with lowest levels of loneliness and greatest quality of life. Restricted Non-kin networks were least robust. Multigenerational Household: Younger Family networks were most prevalent for all but the Black Caribbean migrants. The typology is able to differentiate between networks with multigenerational households and can help identify vulnerable networks. There are implications for forecasting formal services and variation in networks between cultures. The use of a culturally appropriate typology could impact on the credibility of gerontological research. (Edited publisher abstract)