Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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Comparing professional and patient perspectives on quality of life
- Author:
- ESRC GROWING OLDER PROGRAMME
- Publisher:
- University of Sheffield. Department of Sociological Studies
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- Sheffield
Quality of life is thought to be an important concept in health care and the measurement of patient quality of life is widely advocated. Yet quality of life is not well defined, and there is little information about how health professionals understand the term. In this project, stroke and stroke care is used as a case study to make the concept of quality of life itself the object of investigation. The project was based on a postal survey of and face-to-face interviews with professionals working with stroke patients, interviews with stroke patients aged 60 and over and detailed observations in a stroke unit.
Inequalities in quality of life among people aged 75 years and over in Great Britain
- Author:
- ESRC GROWING OLDER PROGRAMME
- Publisher:
- University of Sheffield. Department of Sociological Studies
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- Sheffield
A survey of over 8,000 people aged 75 and over in 23 general practices in Great Britain was undertaken as part of a trial of the assessment and management of the health of older people in the community. Analyses were undertaken of their quality of life in relation to their socio-economic position.
Older people's experience of paid employment: participation and quality of life
- Author:
- ESRC GROWING OLDER PROGRAMME
- Publisher:
- University of Sheffield. Department of Sociological Studies
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- Sheffield
Recent and continuing demographic changes indicate an expected shortage of younger workers in the future and, consequently, an increasing need for older people to remain in employment beyond current pension ages. This shift demands consideration of issues relating to older people in the workplace and the likely impact of continued employment on quality of life. This research project was broadly concerned with labour force participation in the age range 50-75. It focused specifically on the relationship between participation in paid work and subsequent psychological well-being and life satisfaction and the possible determinants of labour force participation at older ages.
Loneliness, social isolation and living alone in later life
- Author:
- ESRC GROWING OLDER PROGRAMME
- Publisher:
- University of Sheffield. Department of Sociological Studies
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- Sheffield
A critical element in the quality of life of older people is social participation and engagement. This project, using a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches, investigated three key dimensions of social participation: loneliness, isolation and living alone in later life. The authors demonstrate that, overall, only a minority of older people are lonely (7 per cent) or isolated (11-17 per cent) and that this has shown little change in the past 50 years. We also show that while these concepts are interrelated they are not the same. Our data demonstrate the dynamic nature of loneliness and isolation across the lifecourse and the varying pathways into loneliness in later life. The report identifies two distinct groups: those for whom loneliness is a continuation of previous experiences and those for whom it is a 'novel' experience. In developing intervention to respond to loneliness and isolation we need to respond to the varying types and pathways into loneliness and isolation in later life.
Adding quality to quantity: older people's views on their quality of life and its enhancement
- Author:
- ESRC GROWING OLDER PROGRAMME
- Publisher:
- University of Sheffield. Department of Sociological Studies
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- Sheffield
This study set out to explore older peoples' definitions of, and priorities for, a good quality of life. Nine hundred and ninety nine randomly sampled people aged 65 and over, living at home in Britain, were interviewed for the study.
Quality of life and real life cognitive functioning
- Author:
- ESRC GROWING OLDER PROGRAMME
- Publisher:
- University of Sheffield. Department of Sociological Studies
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- Sheffield
This study examined the predictive value of mid-life risk factors for cognitive functioning in old age. Participants were drawn from a study of middle-aged people living in research conducted 30 years ago. Current cognitive functioning, both 'abstract' and 'real world', was assessed, along with attitudes and beliefs regarding how to maintain cognitive functioning in old age. Cognitive functioning was then examined in relation to perceived quality of life.
Spiritual beliefs and existential meaning in later life: the experience of older bereaved spouses
- Author:
- ESRC GROWING OLDER PROGRAMME
- Publisher:
- University of Sheffield. Department of Sociological Studies
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- Sheffield
The current generation of British older people were brought up within a much more religious society than today's. Yet little is known about the belief systems they currently hold. This research explores the significance of spiritual belief for the well-being of a sample of older bereaved spouses drawn from a Christian background.
Inequalities in quality of life in early old age
- Author:
- ESRC GROWING OLDER PROGRAMME
- Publisher:
- University of Sheffield. Department of Sociological Studies
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- Sheffield
A new measure of quality of life was developed for use among older people. A sample of around 300 people aged 65-75 years was asked about their quality of life. Full occupational, marital and residential histories have previously been collected on the sample. Analyses were performed to assess the characteristics of the sample and the relative influence of present day and lifecourse factors on quality of life in early old age.
Transport and ageing: extending uality of life via public and private transport
- Author:
- ESRC GROWING OLDER PROGRAMME
- Publisher:
- University of Sheffield. Department of Sociological Studies
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- Sheffield
Accessible public transport and the independence that comes with car driving are generally thought to be linked to quality of life in old age. However, there has been almost no research on this topic in the UK. This study used a multi-method approach to explore the relationship between quality of life and access to public and private transport. The study also examined the extent to which the transport needs of older people are taken into account by transport professionals.
Evaluating the impact of reminiscence on the quality of life of older people
- Author:
- ESRC GROWING OLDER PROGRAMME
- Publisher:
- University of Sheffield. Department of Sociological Studies
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- Sheffield
Reminiscence has been defined as 'the vocal or silent recall of events in a person's life, either alone, or with another person or group of people'. Anecdotal evidence suggests that reminiscence can improve the well-being of older people, but there have been very few substantial studies. In our study, 142 older people living in care settings participated in an evaluation of the impact of reminiscence on quality of life. We assessed our participants' quality of life before and after the intervention, and changes in their quality of life over the period of the intervention were compared with those found in a group of older people who were not involved in any reminiscence intervention (the control group). We also carried out interviews and focus groups with care staff, older people, and family carers of older people, to establish their views and feelings on reminiscence.