Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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A special way of maintaining well-being in dementia
- Author:
- GODE Margaret
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dementia Care, 8(5), September 2000, pp.20-24.
- Publisher:
- Hawker
Explains how the SPECIAL approach (Specialised Early Care for Alzheimer's) uses detailed information about a person's way of life before dementia to develop a mosaic of strategies and interventions to maintain their self-esteem and well-being in the present.
Life-review therapy with computer supplements for depression in the elderly: a randomized controlled trial
- Authors:
- PRESCHL Barbara, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(8), November 2012, pp.964-974.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study investigated a life-review therapy in a face-to-face setting supplemented with additional computer use. It examined whether a six-week life-review therapy with computers constituted an effective approach to treat depression in older adults aged 65 and over. A total of 36 participants with elevated levels of depressive symptoms were randomised to a treatment group or a waiting-list control group and completed the post-assessment. Findings revealed significant changes from pre- to post-treatment for depression, well-being, self-esteem, and obsessive reminiscence, but not for integrative reminiscence and life satisfaction. Depressive symptoms decreased significantly over time until the three-month follow-up in the intervention group compared to the control group. The authors concluded that the life-review therapy in this combined setting could be recommended for depressive older adults.
The good life: from Socrates to Surbiton
- Authors:
- GALLACHER John, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 12(1), March 2011, pp.17-25.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This study applies structural equation modelling (SEM) to the self-evaluations of older people to explore how they perceive ‘the good life’. Self-evaluations were used to operationalise the concepts underlying ‘the good life’ with life satisfaction being used to provide a global evaluation of flourishing (overall life quality), self-esteem being used to assess commitment to virtue and self-efficacy being use to assess commitment to success. A population sample of 632 men and women aged 50 years and older, recruited to participate in an epidemiologic study, were consented and assessed online. Participation included psychological assessment. The analysis presents baseline data for this sample. After adjustment for negative emotions (anxiety and depression) age, self-report health, deprivation and financial status, a path analysis found that life satisfaction was influenced by self-esteem, which was influenced by self-efficacy. Gender, deprivation and cognitive function did not contribute to the final model. These findings may be interpreted at several levels, although inferences on causality must be tentative. In terms of ‘the good life’, the global evaluation of life by older people is directly influenced by virtue rather than success, with success being important insofar as it contributes to virtue. In short, older people derive satisfaction from achieving things they consider to be worthwhile: the wisdom of years.
Mobility, accessibility and quality of later life
- Authors:
- MUSSELWHITE Charles, HADDA Hebba
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 11(1), March 2010, pp.25-36.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article details qualitative research on the importance of mobility and accessibility to older people’s quality of life. In depth interviews, focus groups and diary entries involving 57 ‘over 65’s’ in the United Kingdom, of which approximately one half drove and one half had recently stopped driving, were discussed. This research acknowledges the importance of mobility for accessing services and shops. However, the reasons why older people travel go beyond a primary, utilitarian need of accessibility to include secondary, affective needs such as a desire for control, inclusion, independence, maintaining status and ‘normalness’ and travel for its own sake as a tertiary, aesthetic need. When older people give up driving their self-reported quality of life is reduced and correlates with a reduction in the affective and aesthetic qualities of mobility that driving a car affords that using public transport or walking lack. Comments made by the drivers illustrate what can be achieved but contrast with comments on what giving up driving has meant to the travel needs, aspirations, outcomes and quality of life of non-drivers when travelling by bus or by foot. The implications for policy and practise are listed by the authors and they stress that older people’s affective and aesthetic need to travel is of equal importance to their primary need of accessibility.
Body image and self-esteem in older adulthood
- Authors:
- BAKER Lucie, GRINGART Eyal
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 29(6), August 2009, pp.977-995.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Given global population ageing and the fact that Australia is experiencing a significant increase in the proportion of older adults in its population, research into ageing issues has become a national priority. Whilst body image and self-esteem have been empirically linked, the relationship among older adults has been neglected. This study investigated several body-image variables and their relationship to self-esteem in a sample of 148 men and women aged 65–85 years who were living independently in the Perth Metropolitan Area of Western Australia. They completed the ‘Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale’ and the ‘Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire’. The results indicated, contrary to a common misconception, that body-image concerns are significant to self-esteem in older adulthood, but that these vary by age and gender. Whilst women appear to develop various strategies to counter the effects of ageing, men seem to be more negatively affected, particularly in relation to body functioning. The findings shed light on the meaning of body image in older adulthood. A better understanding of the meaning of body image, of the factors that influence the meaning, and of how these relate to older adults' self-esteem may help older adults develop a positive body image that will contribute to psycho-social strengths and enhance their quality of life.
The effect of reminiscence group work on life satisfaction, self-esteem and mood of ageing people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- VAN PUYENBROECK Joris, MAES Bea
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 22(1), January 2009, pp.23-33.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study evaluates the effects of reminiscence group work on the subjective well-being of ageing people with intellectual disabilities. The content of the successive group work sessions was manipulated as follows: a control-phase with three 'current topics' sessions, an experimental phase with six 'reminiscence' sessions and finally three 'current topics' sessions. Life satisfaction, perceived self-competence and mood were measured by questionnaires, filled in by the participants and direct support workers. A quasi-experimental pre-test–post-test design (n = 41) did not detect any changes in life satisfaction and perceived self-competence. For mood, a quasi-experimental ABA-design (n = 41) did not yield an experimental treatment effect, but a significant increase in scores was observed over time. Personality characteristics 'extraversion' and 'emotional stability', but not memory specificity were found to be significant covariates for the mood scores. Although the study's design did not allow the researchers to confirm the effect of reminiscence group work, the analysis nonetheless revealed some useful indications for further research. Also, interviews conducted before and after the programme resulted in positive appraisals of the programme as a worthwhile and meaningful activity for ageing people with intellectual disability.
The four notions of dignity
- Authors:
- NORDENFELT Lennart, EDGAR Andrew
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing, 6(1), June 2005, pp.17-21.
- Publisher:
- Pier Professional
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
Presents the theoretical model of dignity that has been created within the Dignity and Older Europeans (DOE) Project. The model consists of four kinds of dignity: the dignity of merit (social rank and formal positions in life); the dignity of moral stature (the result of moral deeds); the dignity of identity (the integrity of the subjects body, mind and sometimes self-image; and Menschenwurde (the universal dignity that pertains to all human beings to the same extent and cannot be lost as long as the person exists).
Quality of life and dementia: the voice of the person with dementia
- Authors:
- MOYLE Wendy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 6(2), May 2007, pp.175-191.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Although it is known that quality of life (QOL) can greatly influence a person's well-being, the measurement of QOL in individuals with dementia has been largely ignored as a result of conceptual, logistical and measurement difficulties inherent in this population. To enable the voice of the person with dementia to be heard, a triangulated approach was adopted using survey data that aimed to assess the quality of life-Alzheimer's disease (QOL-AD) in Australian residential aged care and unstructured interviews with a small sample of participants (n = 33). This article presents the survey results and demonstrates there were significant differences in QOL-AD scores between length of stay in the care setting groups, interpersonal relationship quality and self-esteem. Groups with greater physical impairment had lower QOL scores. It is concluded that the participants in this study were able to provide meaningful commentary on their QOL and that the findings may be useful when planning education of care staff and may contribute to theoretical models of dementia care.
Breaking the cycle of loneliness? Psychological effects of a friendship enrichment program for older women
- Authors:
- MARTINA C.M.S., STEVENS N.L.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 10(5), September 2006, pp.467-475.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The present study examines effects of participation in the friendship enrichment program, an intervention that is designed to stimulate improvement in friendship, self-esteem and subjective well-being, as well as reduction in loneliness among older women. The intervention group was compared to a control group of women who were interested in the program or in improving their friendships. All respondents had been studied at three points in time: at a baseline, prior to the program; three months later, and 9–10 months after baseline. The results indicate that the program was successful in attracting lonely older women who were willing to work on their friendships. Many participants reported improvement in the quantity and quality of their friendships. The program was moderately successful in stimulating improvement in subjective well-being and awareness of the need for an active stance toward achieving goals in social relations, especially in friendship. Loneliness among the participants was reduced, but it also declined in the control group, and both groups continued to experience loneliness. One conclusion is that an effective intervention to help older women reduce their loneliness should be multi-dimensional focusing not only on friendship but also on other personal and situational factors contributing to loneliness.
Inducing older adults into volunteer work to sustain their psychological well-being
- Authors:
- CHEUNG Chau-Kiu, KWAN Alex Yui-Huen
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing International, 31(1), Winter 2006, pp.44-58.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
This study focuses on the ways in which social worker induction into volunteer work sustain the well-being of older people. The study surveyed 719 Chinese people aged 60 or above in Hong Kong, China. Results show significant contribution of social worker induction to the older person's self-esteem, life satisfaction, and self assessed health. Moreover, social worker induction magnified the benefit of volunteering. However, social worker induction was less salutary to older people with higher incomes and more illness.