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Meeting the needs of older people living at home with dementia who have problems with continence
- Authors:
- DRENNAN Vari M., MANTHORPE Jill, ILIFFE Steve
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 18(4), 2017, pp.246-253.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to discuss the question of how to meet the needs of older people living at home with dementia who have problems with continence. The paper is focused on social care practice in community settings. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is practice focused and draws on the authors’ research and experiences in clinical care, workforce development and service improvement. Findings: This paper summarises research on incontinence and its negative effects on quality of life and care relationships. It describes the impact of incontinence in terms of social embarrassment, restricted social activity, extra work (such as laundry) and costs, but also distress. It links research with care practice, with a focus on people with dementia who may be at particular risk of both continence problems and of assumptions that nothing can be done to assist them. Social implications: This paper provides questions that could be addressed in commissioning and provision of services and argues that they need to be informed by care practitioners’ experiences. It provides details of sources of support that are available at national and local levels. Originality/value: This paper draws together research on continence and social care practice to provide a series of self-assessment questions for local services. It focuses on social care workers who are at the frontline of practice including personal assistants and carers. (Publisher abstract)
Health-related quality of life and attitudes to long-term care among carers of older people using social services
- Author:
- ILIFFE Steve
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 23(3), 2005, pp.165-173.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
Using three standardised measures to screen for activity limitation (ADLs), depression (GHQ-28) and health related quality of life (HRQoL) (SF36), a study of carers and people aged 75 and over referred consecutively to social services departments in adjacent inner city areas showed a high prevalence of limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs), that a substantial proportion (42 per cent) had GHQ-28 scores high enough to suggest depression and their scores on the SF-36 showed that many carers were low in vitality and tired. Co-resident carers had poorer psychological health and more difficulties with social functioning than non-resident carers, and were older, but were not significantly different in self-reported physical health. Whether carers wanted the cared-for person to remain at home for as long as possible depended on their relationship (spouse or not) and whether the older person was depressed. The carers' own psychological health was not related to their attitude to institutional care. The study suggests that targeting social care resources on carers showing psychological distress may not reduce downstream expenditure on long-term care.
Smarter working in social and health care (SWISH): enhancing the quality of life of older people using an 'expert system'
- Authors:
- ILIFFE Steve, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing, 6(4), December 2005, pp.4-11.
- Publisher:
- Pier Professional
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
Successive policy documents concerning older people's health and well-being have aimed to improve their care, by raising standards and promoting independence. These policies also emphasise the need for research to prevent disability, and reduce admission to hospitals and long-term care settings. This article reports on an evaluation in progress of a health technology approach designed to achieve these objectives. An 'expert system' (health risk appraisal for older people - HRAO) is described that is intended to improve older people's access to health and social care needs of older people, and to allow planners to assess the needs of whole populations.