Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 22
Exploring the relationship between absolute and relative position and late-life depression: evidence from 10 European countries
- Authors:
- LADIN Keren, DANIELS Norman, KAWACHI Ichiro
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 50(1), February 2010, pp.48-59.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Previous research has shown socioeconomic inequality to be associated with higher levels of morbidity and mortality. This study investigates the role of absolute and relative deprivation in predicting late-life depression at both individual and national levels. Data obtained from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe included 22,777 men and women, aged 50 to 104 years, from 10 European countries. Late-life depression was measured using the EURO-D scale. Absolute deprivation was measured using gross domestic product and average household income at the national level and socioeconomic status at the individual level. Relative deprivation was measured by Gini coefficients at the national level and educational achievement at the individual level. Depression ranged from 18% in Denmark to 37% in Spain, part of a clear north-south gradient. Measures of absolute and relative deprivation were significant in predicting depression at both country and individual levels. Results suggest that the negative impact of societal inequality cannot be overcome by increased individual-level or country-level income, and that increases in individual-level income did not mitigate the effect of country-level relative deprivation. Mental health disparities persist throughout later life whereby persons exposed to higher levels of country-level inequality suffer greater morbidity compared with those in countries with less inequality. National variations in the relationship between inequality and depression clearly show the need for further research.
The experience of rural poverty in Scotland: qualitative research with organisations working with people experiencing poverty in rural areas
- Author:
- EKOS Ltd
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scottish Government Social Research
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 70p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
This research work was undertaken to inform the development of the Tackling Poverty and Inequality Framework. The aim of the research was to increase understanding about the experience of poverty in rural areas in Scotland. More specifically, the research was intended to establish whether the experience of poverty in rural areas in Scotland is distinctive from the experience of poverty in urban areas and, if so, to highlight the ways in which it is distinctive; and to suggest what the implications of these differences are for policies aimed at reducing poverty in rural areas and the ways in which these policies are delivered. The research explored the key aspects of both accessible and remote rural areas and of the experiences of five specific vulnerable groups.
The experience of poverty in rural Scotland - qualitative research with organisations working with people experiencing poverty in rural areas
- Author:
- EKOS Ltd
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scottish Government Social Research
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
EKOS Ltd was commissioned by the Scottish Government to carry out qualitative research to examine whether and how the experience of poverty is distinctive in rural Scotland. The work was undertaken to inform the development of Achieving our potential - a framework for tackling poverty and income inequality in Scotland. The focus was on five vulnerable groups: single pensioners, single parents, disabled people, people with mental ill health, and migrant workers. Information was collected from a range of organisations working with people in the target groups. The findings are based on perceptions of a relative small sample of support and service delivery staff, and are, therefore, affected by individual experiences, attitudes and levels of personal awareness. Main findings are presented.
Rural mental health: a discussion of service capacity building for rural elders
- Authors:
- RATHBONE-McCUAN Eloise, BANE Share
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 42(3/4), 2003, pp.301-311.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Mental health services available in many rural communities are too limited in scope and availability to meet the needs of rural citizens. The future of mental health services for the rural poor will be impacted by state government decisions about Medicaid funding priorities. It is important that rural practitioners, especially those that work in the fields of mental health, health, and aging services, engage in advocacy for better coverage of the rural poor and low-income elderly persons. This chapter discusses issues of advocacy related to improving the provision of mental health services to older rural citizens as an important goal in the larger effort to expand and improve rural mental health service delivery throughout the nation. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Geriatric depression in Nigerian primary care attendees
- Authors:
- SOKOYA Olukunle, BAIYEWU Olusegun
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(6), June 2003, pp.506-510.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
202 older people were screened using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). The Geriatric Mental State schedule (GMS) was administered to participants who scored above the cut-off on the GDS in order to assess psychopathology. Diagnosis of depression was based on ICD-10 criteria as well as the GMS-AGECAT programme. The rate of geriatric depression in primary care was found to be 7.4%. Severe depression was only 1.5%. Very low income and subjective report of poor health were significantly associated with depression in the cohort. AGECAT recognition of depression was comparable to that by the ICD-10 (k = 0.7). The study is the first known study of geriatric depression in primary care in Nigeria. The rates are comparable with rates obtained in other countries. Specific correlates of depression in the older Nigerians identified included poor self-assessed health and low income.
Meeting the mental health needs of older women: taking social inequality into account
- Authors:
- MILNE Alisoun, WILLIAMS Jennie
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 20(6), November 2000, pp.699-723.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Whilst there is increasing acceptance that social inequalities have implications for mental health, there is minimal acknowledgement of their effects on the development and treatment of mental ill health in older people. This article focuses on older women, as they are the majority sufferers of mental illness in later life, and are particularly vulnerable to the cumulative effects of lifelong and age-related inequalities. Draws on literature from the fields of gerontology and mental health and argues that for effective care to be developed, older women's mental ill health needs to be seen within the context of their past and present experience of social inequalities. Evidence particularly relates to socio-economic disadvantages as well as to the consequences of discrimination. Argues that psychological vulnerability is further compounded by the gendered effects of social policy, and by care system which constructs mental health needs as unrelated to oppression, and dislocated from their economic, social and historical roots. Finally outlines the key components of care and service system which takes account of social inequalities, and which accords centrality to the experiences, views and women opinions of older women with mental health problems.
Socio-economic deprivation and the prevalence and prediction of depression in older community residents
- Authors:
- WILSON K.C.M, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 175, December 1999, pp.549-553.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
The Townsend index is a measure of social deprivation. This study examines the utility of the Townsend index in identifying older populations with a high prevalence and risk of developing depression. It is concluded that the index could be used to prioritise psychiatric and primary care resources so as to cater for older populations likely to suffer from depression and organic psychiatric conditions.
The forgotten majority: promoting public transport for people with special needs
- Author:
- ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN AUTHORITIES
- Publisher:
- Association of Metropolitan Authorities
- Publication year:
- 1989
- Pagination:
- 40p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Highlights problems faced by the disabled, mentally ill, elderly, women, ethnic groups, unemployed and children in achieving maximum access to the public transport system.
Caring and COVID-19: hunger and mental wellbeing
- Authors:
- BENNETT Matthew R., ZHANG Yanan, YEANDLE Sue
- Publisher:
- University of Sheffield. CIRCLE
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 16
- Place of publication:
- Sheffield
This report looks at the use of foodbanks and the experience of hunger in the households of unpaid carers providing care to someone living outside their own household in April 2020, during COVID-19 lockdown. Drawing on data from the April 2020 wave of Understanding Society COVID-19 survey, the analysis also reports evidence of changes in carers’ mental wellbeing, analysing these by sex, age and employment status. There were an estimated 6,048,286 adults providing care to someone living outside their own household in the UK in 2020. They are a ‘subset’ of the 10,991,440 adults estimated to be carers. The analysis shows considerable evidence of the difficulties some carers face – 228,625 carers said someone in their household had gone hungry in the previous week with women being twice as likely as men to report this; figures were especially high for younger carers, reaching 12.24% for those aged 17-30. In addition, 106,450 carers (1.76%) said their household had used a foodbank in the past month – female carers were twice as likely as men to use foodbanks and foodbank use was especially high (8%) for carers aged 17-30. The report also looks at carers’ mental wellbeing in April 2020 and compares it with the same carers’ reported wellbeing in the 2017-19 wave of the survey. It shows that carers’ mental wellbeing was lower than that of non-carers in both surveys – mental wellbeing was much lower among female carers than male carers and lower for working age carers, especially those aged 17-45. Between 2017-19 and April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental wellbeing of female carers, older carers, carers in employment and those without a paid job declined. (Edited publisher abstract)
Inequalities in later life
- Authors:
- SCHARF Thomas, SHAW Caroline
- Publisher:
- Centre for Ageing Better
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 127
- Place of publication:
- London
This report presents the results of an evidence review on the nature of inequalities in later life, with a focus on six key areas: subjective wellbeing; physical and mental health; life expectancy and healthy life expectancy; financial security; social connections; and home and living environment. The review was carried out by researchers at the Institute of Health and Society and Institute for Ageing at Newcastle University and the International Longevity Centre-UK (ILC-UK) and includes published research from 2006 to 2016. For each outcome, inequalities were considered in relation to: gender, race, age, disability, sexual orientation and religion or beliefs, socioeconomic status, place of residence, and status as an informal carer. The results show that inequalities for older people are largely a product of poverty and disadvantage throughout life. Poor education and work opportunities and lack of social connection can have long term consequences. The review also found that older women are more vulnerable to financial difficulties than older men, with both their employment history and family circumstances impacting on pension income and ability to save. People from BAME backgrounds and some from LGBT are also disproportionately disadvantaged. In analysing the strength of the available evidence, the review also identified the need for more research relating to the inequalities in later life experienced by Black and minority ethnic groups, LGBT groups and people with disabilities. (Edited publisher abstract)