Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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The social networks of nursing-home residents in Hong Kong
- Author:
- CHENG Sheung-Tak
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 29(2), February 2009, pp.163-178.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
The degree of social support available to older persons who are institutionalised is under-researched. This study investigated the structural and functional support exchanges with their social network members of 72 nursing home residents in Hong Kong (58 women, 14 men). They were asked to identify their network members, to evaluate the degree to which each one was important in their lives, and to rate the support received from and provided to each individual. The participants reported few network members (average 2.6) and in many cases neither a spouse nor children were included. Only one-fifth of the participants reported a social network member in the nursing home, and most of those who did nominated a member of the staff. There were also few friends in their networks. On the whole, the participants were comparatively socially isolated. The findings were explained in terms of the shame associated by the Chinese with placement in an institutional home, cultural patterns of social support, changes in children's filial attitudes, home placement policies, and the management practices that accentuate the distance between the older person and family members around the time of institutionalisation. These inculcate a feeling of abandonment, and discourage family visits as well as social interactions within the home.
Information and communicative technology use enhances psychological well-being of older adults: the roles of age, social connectedness, and frailty status
- Authors:
- FANG Yang, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 22(11), 2018, pp.1516-1524.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Information and communicative technology (ICT) use is a potential vehicle for improving the psychological well-being (PWB) of older people. The study examined the roles of age, frailty, and social connectedness in the relationship between ICT use and PWB. Method: Telephone interviews were conducted in mid-2016 with 1201 participants aged 50 and above (55.7% female) residing in Hong Kong, China. The participants reported PWB, ICT use (frequency of using the Internet and smart devices), frailty status, contact with family, friends, and neighbours, self-rated health, subjective financial sufficiency, education level, and employment status. Results: The study found that the association between ICT and PWB was moderated by age: ICT was associated with PWB only among old-olds (75+), but not in other age groups. This moderation was mediated by contact with family, but not with friends or neighbours. The moderation was further qualified by frailty status: the ICT-by-age moderation was found only among frail, but not pre-frail or robust older adults. Conclusion: The findings suggest that ICT use can potentially enhance the PWB of older adults aged 75+ through facilitating their contact with family members. These benefits might be particularly salient for those who were frail. Improving ICT access and literacy among older adults may be promising. (Edited publisher abstract)
The music culture of older adults in Cantonese operatic singing lessons
- Author:
- LO Wai Han
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 35(8), 2015, pp.1614-1634.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Cantonese operatic singing, one of the regional opera forms in China, flourishes mainly in the southern province of Guangdong. By exploring the culture of Cantonese operatic singing, this study relates older people's music participation to a sense of collectivism, thereby contributing to the maintenance of interpersonal relationships and promoting successful ageing. The study also illustrates how the musical participation of older adults can be influenced by the lifecourse and ageing in terms of both vocal abilities and levels of participation. Data analysed through participation observation in two Cantonese operatic singing lessons identify the rituals and core values of Cantonese operatic singing lessons. The findings help to explain how this particular music genre interacts with ageing. (Publisher abstract)
Raising self-esteem through social networking intervention for older Chinese adults in Hong Kong
- Authors:
- CHOW Esther Oi-Wah, CHEUNG Chau-Kiu
- Journal article citation:
- Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work, 19(1), June 2009, pp.66-81.
- Publisher:
- Times Academic
The effectiveness of a social networking programme to raise the self-esteem of older people was examined. The results from split-group analyses demonstrates that those how maintained active participation exhibited higher self-esteem. The results provide significant implications for future practice, especially to the less-educated males.
Subjective health-related quality of life of Chinese older persons with depression in Shanghai and Hong Kong: relationship to clinical factors, level of functioning and social support
- Authors:
- CHAN Sally, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 24(4), April 2009, pp.355-362.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study aimed to measure and compare the perceptions of HRQoL amongst Chinese older people with depression between Hong Kong and Shanghai and to explore the association of HRQoL with clinical factors, level of functioning and social support in the two sites. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 80 older people from Hong Kong and 71 from Shanghai with a diagnosis of depression. The results showed that both the Hong Kong and Shanghai groups had a poor perception of their HRQoL when compared with Caucasian populations. The Shanghai group had a significantly higher HRQoL perception than did the Hong Kong group. Physical health problems that affected functional abilities also influenced older people's satisfaction with life. The severity of depression, number of medical conditions, functional abilities and satisfaction towards social support were predictors of HRQoL. The high rate of depression in Hong Kong and Shanghai deserves attention. Older people with depression have both psychological and physical health care needs. This study provides insights for healthcare professionals to plan innovative and co-ordinated services that meet the various health care needs of older people with depression.
Factors influencing older persons' residential satisfaction in big and densely populated cities in Asia: a case study in Hong Kong
- Authors:
- PHILLIPS David R., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing International, 29(1), Winter 2004, pp.46-70.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
Factors that might impact on older persons' residential satisfaction were explored in Hong Kong in terms of 'domains' with elements: structural (interior and exterior characteristics, security concerns), informal (family, friends, neighbours) and formal (social services, community facilities). A random sample of 518 residents 60 or over in housing arrangements including private/public and new/old were interviewed. Hierarchical regression analysis models revealed the structural domain had the strongest tie with residential satisfaction. Formal and informal types of support were generally unrelated to residential satisfaction. Further investigation showed all 3 elements of the structural domain contributed unique variance to residential satisfaction. Satisfaction with community facilities, an element of the formal domain, was related to residential satisfaction even when variations from other domains were accounted for. When all 3 were simultaneously analysed for their contribution all elements of the structural and the community facilities element of the formal contributed to unique variance. Implications for policy makers in designing home settings for older persons in Hong Kong and other Asian cities are discussed.
Community integration of older people with developmental disabilities in Hong Kong
- Authors:
- NGAN Raymond Man-Hung, LI Mark Kin-yin, CHEUNG Jacky Chau-kiu
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation, 2(2/3), 2003, pp.101-119.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
To understand the community integration of adults with developmental disabilities in Hong Kong, a comprehensive measure includes four dimensions, pertaining to social activity, social services, interpersonal behavior, and people involved in social interaction. Applying this measure to 692 adults (aged 15-62), the territory-wide study finds that these adults lack company for out-of-home activities and community activities despite their higher knowledge, assertiveness, social interaction, and feeling accepted in the community. With the strengthening of many conditions (including knowledge and community support) for community integration, the adults tend to have greater need for empowerment to enhance their active participation in community activities.
Social comparison in Chinese older adults
- Authors:
- CHOU K.-L, CHI I.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 5(3), August 2001, pp.242-252.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Depression is quite common among the elderly members of Hong Kong Chinese society. This study examines the role of social comparison in the relationship between depressive symptoms and four key life domains including: physical health, financial situation, relationships with adult children, and social support from friends. The respondents are people aged 60 years or older from a survey of a representative community sample of the elderly population in Hong Kong. Using multiple regression models, the authors find that social comparison mediated the effect of support from friends on depressive symptoms and social comparison was the partial mediator in the linkage between financial strain and depressive symptoms. Moreover, social comparison also moderated the effect of physical health and support from friends on depressive symptoms. Finds that self-efficacy and self-esteem were moderators in the relationship between depressive symptoms and all four key life domains including physical health, financial situation, relationship with adult children, and social support from friends, whereas sense of control over physical health and sense of control over support from friends moderated the effect of social comparison on physical health and support from friends, respectively, on depressive symptoms.
Chinese older adults' resilience to the loneliness of living alone: a qualitative study
- Authors:
- LOU Vivian W.Q., NG Jimmy W.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(8), November 2012, pp.1039-1046.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study investigated resilience factors that help Chinese older adults living alone cope with senses of loneliness. In-depth interviews were conducted on 13 older adults living alone in the community in Hong Kong who did not show severe loneliness. The theme of resilience was found in cognitive competence, self and personality, and social relations. This study demonstrated that family-oriented and relationship-focused resilience at the cognitive, self and personality, and social relations levels played significant roles in helping the Chinese older adults overcome their high risk of loneliness. The authors concluded that maintaining practices that integrate family-oriented and relationship-focused coping strategies at the cognitive and social levels are beneficial.
A natural locally-based networking approach for singleton disabled elderly: implementation and case illustration
- Authors:
- KAM-SHING Yip, SUNG-ON Law
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 32(8), December 2002, pp.1037-1049.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The Good Neighbour Centre of the United Christian Nethersole Community Health Service in Hong Kong has implemented a natural locality-based supportive networking approach for disabled singleton elderly in a public estate (1991-2000). As part of this approach, various psycho-social interventions were developed over nine years to strengthen mutual support among neighbours, able-bodied elderly, outpatients suffering from mental illness and volunteers who were matched and integrated with the disabled singleton elderly person to form a locality-based naturally supporting community. Different stages of developing a natural, supportive community by networking were identified in this project: network assessment, network matching, network formation and network strengthening. The concepts of stable and constant mutual support, mutual development and mutual concern were stressed. Feedback from stakeholders was encouraging and the demonstrated improvement in the functional and psycho-social well-being of disabled singleton elderly and mental health outpatients was impressive and clear.