Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 20
Examining resident social support systems in assisted living
- Author:
- KELLY Gina Aalgaard
- Journal article citation:
- Families in Society, 93(3), July 2012, pp.219-225.
- Publisher:
- The Alliance for Children and Families
Assisted living is a homelike long-term care alternative for an individual who can no longer live completely independently but does not need 24-hour direct nursing care. The purpose of this study was to examine the systems of social support utilised by residents in assisted living facilities. A total of 600 residents in 10 facilities from 6 states were interviewed to identify 3 systems of social support: formal (provided by care staff), informal (provided by family and friends), and resident (residents meeting their own individual needs). The findings show that formal, informal, and resident social support systems are all important to residents of assisted living. The resident system of social support was found to be key in the utilisation of the informal and formal social support systems. Cognitive status was found to be the only resident characteristic significantly influencing use in all 3 systems.
Older people
- Author:
- MANTHORPE Jill
- Journal article citation:
- Research Matters, 9, April 2000, pp.14-16.
- Publisher:
- Community Care
Describes recent research that does much to shed light on what older people need from social care to make a real difference to their lives.
Nested social groups within the social environment of a dementia care assisted living setting
- Authors:
- DOYLE Patrick J., DE MEDEIROS Kate, SAUNDERS Pamela A.
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 11(3), May 2012, pp.383-399.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Entering long-term care is a radical transition and particularly difficult for people with dementia whose social environments are often complex. This ethnographic study looked at the ways in which residents in a dementia care setting navigated and participated within social groups. The 31 participants were residents in a long-term care facility in the US. Observation of social environments within the residence revealed active socialisation and even the formation of strong and lasting friendships between people with dementia. Many of these relationships were observed to be a part of groups, ‘nested’ within the larger social environment. These ‘nested social groups’ had unique dynamics and their structure was often influenced by outside factors (e.g. physical environment and staff preferences). The authors discuss the existence of these groups and their implications for the experiences and quality of life of residents in long-term care. Nested social groups are defined and their function within the social environment debated.
Determinants of obtaining formal and informal LTC across European countries
- Authors:
- STYCZYNSKA Izabela, SOWA Agnieszka
- Publisher:
- Center for Social and Economic Research
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 35p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Warsaw
The aim of this study was to identify patterns of utilisation of formal and informal long term care (LTC) across European countries and discuss possible determinants of demand for different types of care. Specifically, the research attempts to measure the volume of different types of care in European countries and the conditions under which different types of care are obtained. The conditions include demographic factors, especially aging of the society, health status and limitations caused by poor health, family settings and social networking. The analysis is provided across all European countries separated into 4 clusters. Estimates of the probability of obtaining formal care are based on the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) data for 2006. The analysis reveals substantial differences in obtaining LTC across European countries depending on the tradition and social protection model that determine availability of institutional care and provision of informal care. In the Nordic-type countries with high state responsibility and high provision of institutional care, informal care is of less importance and, if received, is mostly care provided on a irregular basis from outside the family. Countries of the continental Europe are less unified with high share of people using formal settings of care, but also combining formal and informal care. In Mediterranean countries, provision of informal care, including personal care, plays a much greater role than formal LTC.
Not a one way street: research into older people's experiences of support based on mutuality and reciprocity: interim findings
- Authors:
- BOWERS Helen, et al
- Publisher:
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 34p.
- Place of publication:
- York
This paper outlines emerging findings and key messages from the first 2 stages of an action research project called 'Not A One-Way Street', which is part of the Better Life programme. The project focuses on the various ways in which older people with high support needs take up active roles within different support arrangements based on 'mutuality and reciprocity'. Mutuality and reciprocity refers to arrangements designed to enable those involved to both give and receive support. Research activities have involved: a call for information which has led to useful case studies and leads for follow-up work; a literature search; a mapping exercise of known reciprocal schemes; and a public meeting. Drawing on the findings of this research, this paper explores alternative approaches to planning, funding and providing long term care for older people with high support needs, particularly focusing on the ways older people take up active roles based on mutuality and reciprocity. It provides stories and situations where those involved are giving and receiving support, rather than more traditional services provided by professionals or organisations. The aim is that this work will contribute to emerging discussions and developments associated with mutuality and reciprocity.
A lesbian older adult managing identity disclosure: a case study
- Authors:
- JENKINS David, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 53(5), July 2010, pp.402-420.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This case study details one older lesbian's experience in an assisted living facility to explore the experience of an older lesbian in managing the disclosure of her sexual identity. The participant was a 78-year-old woman living alone in a long-term care facility in a large metropolitan area in the southwest United States. Two in-depth interviews were conducted and transcribed. Analysis identified five themes: keeping her own counsel (a decision to be guided by her personal decisions about what she chose to do and share about her life); maintaining "family" connection (maintaining a connection to other lesbian and gay family and loved ones in the larger community); celebrating second chances (significant chances and changes in her life); living outside the L box (finding ways to nurture her gay self while identifying with a broader group of aging women in multiple and socially rewarding roles); staying morally centred (decision-making reflecting her own sense of morality). The authors discuss the practice and research implications.
Mixed methods study of social engagement in assisted living communities: challenges and implications for serving older men
- Authors:
- PARK Nan Sook, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 52(8), November 2009, pp.767-783.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The purposes of this study were to examine gender differences in social engagement and psychological well-being among residents in assisted living, and to explore experiences and challenges concerning social relationships for older men in assisted living settings, in the context that although evidence suggests that men may socialise differently from women, little is known about how social engagement is experienced by men in long term care settings. A sequential mixed methods design was used whereby 82 quantitative, face-to-face interviews were followed by 29 qualitative, in-depth interviews, in 8 assisted living facilities in Alabama. The findings suggested that male assisted living residents are less likely to be satisfied with their lives and are less likely to be socially engaged with people and the community than female residents, with in-depth interviews indicating that men's social worlds are limited because they experience lack of desirable social relationships within the assisted living community and have difficulty in sharing emotions, and the assisted living environment appears not to be well-designed for men's interests and emotional and social needs. The authors discuss the findings and implications for practice.
'But I am not moving': residents' perspectives on transitions within a continuing care retirement community
- Author:
- SHIPPEE Tetyana Pylypiv
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 49(3), June 2009, pp.418-427.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This article investigates how continuing care retirement community (CCRC) residents define transitions between levels of care. Although older adults move to CCRCs to "age in place," moving between levels of care is often stressful. More than half a million older adults live in CCRCs, with numbers continually increasing; yet, no studies address transitions between levels of care in these communities. Twenty three months of live-in observation and 35 face-to-face in-depth interviews with CCRC residents across 3 levels of care were conducted. Thematic analysis of observation notes and interview transcripts was also carried out. Residents perceived transitions as both disempowering and final. They discussed decreases in social networks that occurred after such moves. Resident-maintained social boundaries exacerbated these challenges. Although the transition to institutional living is one of the most important events in older persons’ lives, transitions within CCRCs also are consequential especially because they are coupled with declining functional ability. These findings may inform policy for retirement facilities on topics such as increasing privacy, challenging social boundaries, and educating residents to prepare them for transitions.
Caregiving networks of elderly persons: variation by marital status
- Authors:
- BARRETT Anne, LYNCH Scott
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 39(6), December 1999, pp.695-704.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Using data from the American 1982 National Long-Term Care Survey, this study examines the relationship between marital status and two dimensions of caregiving networks, size and composition. Results indicate that widowed and never married people have helping networks that are larger than those of married people. Diversity across marital statuses in sources of assistance is revealed in the analysis of two measures of caregiving network composition: (a) having more kin than nonkin helpers and (b) presence of specific helpers (adult children, siblings, friends, and formal helpers). Moreover, gender interacts with marital status to influence the composition of caregiving networks.
Residents perceptions of friendship and positive social networks within a nursing home
- Authors:
- CASEY Anne-Nicole S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 56(5), 2016, pp.855-867.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Purpose of the Study: (i) To describe nursing home residents’ perceptions of their friendship networks using social network analysis (SNA) and (ii) to contribute to theory regarding resident friendship schema, network structure, and connections between network ties and social support. Design and Methods: Cross-sectional interviews, standardised assessments, and observational data were collected in three care units, including a Dementia Specific Unit (DSU), of a 94-bed Sydney nursing home. Full participation consent was obtained for 36 residents aged 63–94 years. Able residents answered open-ended questions about friendship, identified friendship ties, and completed measures of nonfamily social support. Results: Residents retained clear concepts of friendship and reported small, sparse networks. Nonparametric pairwise comparisons indicated that DSU residents reported less perceived social support (median = 7) than residents from the other units (median = 17; U = 10.0, p = .034, r = −.51), (median = 14; U = 0.0, p = .003, r = −.82). Greater perceived social support was moderately associated with higher number of reciprocated ties [ρ(25) = .49, p = .013]. Implications: Though some residents had friendships, many reported that nursing home social opportunities did not align with their expectations of friendship. Relationships with coresidents were associated with perceptions of social support. SNA’s relational perspective elucidated network size, tie direction, and density, advancing understanding of the structure of residents’ networks and flow of subjective social support through that structure. Understanding resident expectations and perceptions of their social networks is important for care providers wishing to improve quality of life in nursing homes. (Edited publisher abstract)