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Promoting the well-being of older people: messages for social workers
- Author:
- TANNER Denise
- Journal article citation:
- Practice: Social Work in Action, 17(3), September 2005, pp.191-205.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This article considers factors that research with older people has identified as significant in promoting their quality of life, highlighting the need to attend to subjective as well as objective components of well-being. The difficulties of adopting broader concerns with quality of life that confront social workers practising in managerial contexts, dominated by resource restrictions and concerns about eligibility, are acknowledged. The article argues that a focus on enhancing well-being has to be part of social work's business. It suggests key messages from the research reviewed that social workers can take forward in their practice to enhance the quality of life of older people.
Age UK Doncaster Circles project: evaluation report 17/18
- Authors:
- CLIFFORD Carol, BOWN Helen
- Publisher:
- National Development Team for Inclusion
- Publication year:
- 2018
- Pagination:
- 49
- Place of publication:
- Bath
An evaluation of the Circles for Independence in Later Life (CFILL) project in Doncaster, from the period April 2017 to July 2018. Based on the Community Circles model, the project focuses on increasing social engagement, independence and resilience of older people, particularly those at risk of hospitalisation or entry into a care home. The model has been adapted to support older people who have no family or friends or where they don’t want them to be part of the circle. The volunteers becoming part of an older person’s social network or ‘circle’ rather than facilitating others to create one. The evaluation draws on both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. The findings show that during the evaluation period 112 people have been involved in the initiative, 76 have had contact with a Circles Connector at Age UK Doncaster, and 40 people out of the 76 who are actively engaged have been matched with a volunteer. The evaluation shows that the project is having a positive impact for those involved towards the four project outcomes: increased confidence in managing long-term health conditions and staying independent; improvements in mental wellbeing; an increase in social connections and less isolation; and benefits for families and volunteers. (Edited publisher abstract)
Improving mental health in later life: the role of service user involvement
- Author:
- CREPAZ-KEAY David
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 17(3), 2016, pp.179-188.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe service user involvement, explain some of the key issues that define, affect or protect mental health in later life and show how involvement may contribute to better mental health in later life. Design/methodology/approach: The paper reviews existing definitions of involvement and mental health in later life; provides a more detailed review of some examples of involvement at a range of levels and illustrates how these could have a positive impact on mental health. Findings: Active involvement and engagement at all levels offers significant opportunities for older people to protect and improve their own mental health and the mental health of society as a whole. Research limitations/implications: This research does not set out to promote any particular intervention or involvement technique. The examples given have been evaluated in a variety of ways. Practical implications: Service user involvement should be considered as an important potential contributor to mental health in later life. Social implications: The paper encourages people in later life to be considered as a community resource rather than a problem that needs to be solved. Originality/value: This paper brings together existing research with a focus on the relationship between involvement and individual and collective mental health. (Publisher abstract)
Older people: independence and mental wellbeing: draft guideline
- Author:
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND CARE EXCELLENCE
- Publisher:
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 45
- Place of publication:
- London
This guideline makes recommendations on maintaining and improving the independence and mental wellbeing (including social and emotional wellbeing) of older people. It aims to: help older people maintain their mental wellbeing, including their ability to remain independent to avoid health conditions linked to social isolation, depression, and other conditions linked to poor mental wellbeing; help service commissioners and providers to plan, deliver and evaluate services that help older people maintain their independence and mental wellbeing; and reduce health inequalities among older people. The guideline includes recommendations on strategy, needs assessment, awareness raising, interventions, support for community organisations, service evaluation and training for health and social care practitioners. This consultation ends on 10 July 2015. (Edited publisher abstract)
‘I like to go out to be energised by different people’: an exploratory analysis of mobility and wellbeing in later life
- Authors:
- ZIEGLER Friederike, SCHWANEN Tim
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 31(5), July 2011, pp.758-781.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This paper proposes a broader understanding of mobility than movement through physical space, and considers how this affects well-being. It conceptualises mobility as the overcoming of any type of distance between two places, which can be situated in physical, electronic, social, psychological or other kinds of space. Data gathered in focus groups and interviews of 128 older people in County Durham, England, suggests that mobility and well-being influence each other in many different ways. Findings show that mobility of the self – a mental disposition of openness, and a willingness to connect with the world – is a key driver of the relationship between mobility and well-being. While loss of mobility in a physical sense often affects older people's sense of well-being adversely, this is not necessarily so; other mobilities can at least to some extent compensate for the loss of physical mobility. Well-being is also enhanced through physical mobility because the latter enables independence or subjectively experienced autonomy, as well as social relations with other people.
Potential technological solutions to promote mental well-being in older age
- Authors:
- COOK Glenda, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Generations Review, 20(3), July 2010, Online only
- Publisher:
- British Society of Gerontology
Using a multi-national Appreciative Inquiry (AI) design, the strategies that older people adopt to maintain their well-being were examined. Fifty-nine people participated in the study, from the countries of Australia, Germany, South Africa and United Kingdom. Participants described their experiences of mental well-being in relation to: social isolation and loneliness; social worth; self-determination; and security. The authors the reflected on the participants experiences, literature and research to identify potential technologies that may have assisted participants to enhance their self-reported strategies to promote their mental well-being.
Assessing the health impact of age-specific housing
- Authors:
- KINGSTON Paul, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 9(4), July 2001, pp.228-234.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
It has been claimed that 'retirement communities', defined in this instance as voluntary communities of older people living in shared, purpose-built housing, combine the best attributes of residential and community living. Subjective health status may there by be improved through a culture in which independence and autonomy are actively promoted. Concerns has also been raised that age-segregated communities of this sort might produce 'ghettos' of increasing dependency and service demand. This study, conducted over 12-month time period, found that when compared to older people living in the local neighbourhood, the retirement community population maintained their physical and mental health. Investigation of these findings indicated that peer support and safety/security, and 'autonomy with inclusion' were key factors in maintaining health status.
Do health and use of services differ in residents of sheltered accommodation? A pilot study
- Authors:
- WALKER Michael, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 13(9), September 1998, pp.617-624.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Compares the rates of mental health problems, disability and use of health and social services of older people living in sheltered accommodation in Islington London with those of the rest of the community in the same age group.
What does quality of life mean to older adults? A thematic synthesis
- Journal article citation:
- PLoS ONE, 14(3), 2019, Online only
- Publisher:
- Plos Publications
- Place of publication:
- San Francisco, CA
Background: Consideration of older adults’ quality of life (QoL) is becoming increasingly important in the evaluation, quality improvement and allocation of health and social care services. While numerous definitions and theories of QoL have been proposed, an overall synthesis of the perspective of older adults themselves is lacking. Methods: Qualitative studies were identified in PubMed, Ebsco/Psycinfo and Ebsco/CINAHL, through a search on 28 November 2018. Articles needed to meet all of the following criteria: (i) focus on perceptions of QoL, (ii) older adults living at home as main participants, (iii) use of qualitative methodology, (iv) conducted in a Western country and (v) published in English (vi) not focused on specific patient groups. A thematic synthesis was conducted of the selected studies, using the complete ‘findings/results’ sections from the papers. Results: This study included 48 qualitative studies representing the views of more than 3,400 older adults living at home in 11 Western countries. The QoL aspects identified in the synthesis were categorized into nine QoL domains: autonomy, role and activity, health perception, relationships, attitude and adaptation, emotional comfort, spirituality, home and neighbourhood, and financial security. The results showed that although different domains can be distinguished, these are also strongly connected. Conclusion: QoL can be expressed in a number of domains and related subthemes that are important for older adults living at home. The findings further support that the concept of QoL should be seen as a dynamic web of intertwined domains. (Edited publisher abstract)
Mental wellbeing and independence for older people: QS137
- Author:
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND CARE EXCELLENCE
- Publisher:
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Place of publication:
- London
This quality standard covers interventions to maintain and improve the mental wellbeing and independence of people aged 65 or older, and how to identify those at risk of a decline. It includes three quality statements which are for older people who are at risk of a decline in their independence and mental wellbeing to be identified by service providers; offered tailored, community-based physical activity programmes; and offered activities to build or maintain social participation. For each statement, the standard provides an overview rationale, the quality measures and data sources can be use measure quality improvement. It also outlines what the standard means for service providers, health and social care practitioners and commissioners. The standard aims to improve outcomes for older people in the areas of quality of life, social isolation and loneliness and level of physical activity. The standard does not cover people who live in a care home or attend one on a day-only basis. (Edited publisher abstract)