Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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European challenges in delivering social services in rural regions: a scoping review
- Authors:
- MANTHORPE Jill, LIVSEY Lynne
- Journal article citation:
- European Journal of Social Work, 12(1), March 2009, pp.5-24.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This article presents an overview of the challenges facing the diverse rural regions of Europe in delivering social services to its citizens. This is at a time of significant socio-economic and demographic change in Europe. Changes include the impact of globalisation, European integration, population ageing, international and regional migration and restructuring of employment. The uneven impact of change is transforming rural regions in different ways. The article uses findings from a scoping review of the literature that explored different definitions and policy dimensions of the term 'rural social services'. A desktop search was undertaken of social services and rural policy literature published in the English language, from 1996 to 2007, and the limitations of this are acknowledged. This narrative review aims to scope the broad nature of challenges facing rural regions with regard to social services provision. The findings are grouped in sections exploring definitions, common trends and debates, key questions and underlying paradigms. The article concludes that policy makers and social work professionals may find it useful to take a wide view of existing literature while recognising that it is often limited and compartmentalised.
Family carers' experiences using support services in Europe: empirical evidence from the EUROFAMCARE study
- Authors:
- LAMURA Giovanni, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 48(6), December 2008, pp.752-771.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This article explores the experiences of family carers of older people in using support services in six European countries: Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Sweden, and the UK. Following a common protocol, data were collected from national samples of approximately 1,000 family carers per country and clustered into comparable subgroups to facilitate cross-national analysis. Carers' use of available support services is limited across Europe but is considerably higher in Germany, Sweden, and the UK than in Poland, Greece, and Italy. Service use is more prevalent among wives and carers with stronger support networks and less frequent among working daughters with high levels of burden, suggesting the need for a reconsideration of eligibility criteria and better targeting of service responses. Access to and use of services is characterized by a divide between carers in northwestern Europe, who experience few difficulties other than the older person's refusal to accept the support offered, and carers in southeastern Europe, where service affordability and poor transportation present remarkable barriers. Concerns regarding the timeliness and quality of support are common to all countries. European Union-wide efforts to improve carer support need to focus on improving the care system's ability to provide timely, high-quality care delivered by staff who treat the older person with dignity and respect, and to enhance cooperation between health professionals (in all countries), informal networks (especially in southeastern Europe), social services (particularly in Sweden and the UK), and voluntary organizations (in Germany and the UK).
Long-term care for older people: the future of social services of general interest in the European Union: discussion paper
- Author:
- HUBER Manfred
- Publisher:
- European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 47p.
- Place of publication:
- Vienna
The European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research released a discussion paper by Manfred Huber in May 2007 called "Long-term care for older people: The future of Social Services of General Interest in the European Union." While the paper acknowledges that unpaid family members provide most of the long-term care in European countries, there are also a number of public programs and services provided to adults with chronic conditions or long-term care needs. The paper examines the financial sustainability of those programs, the quality of care provided, projected staff shortages and other long-term care issues, particularly as they are affected by the aging of the European population.
The sustainable development agenda: the role of social services. SDG3 improving health and wellbeing
- Author:
- EUROPEAN SOCIAL NETWORK
- Publisher:
- European Social Network
- Publication year:
- 2019
- Pagination:
- 12
- Place of publication:
- Belgium
A policy briefing which explains how social services can play an important role in providing preventative services to ensure good health and wellbeing at the local level. It is based on literature review, collection of practices and the outcomes of discussions at a working group meeting of the Social Services Network. The meeting was attended by representatives of social services from different EU countries, Canada, United States and Norway. Participants discussed strategies promoting the health and wellbeing of the population groups: children in care, older people, homeless people and people with substance misuse and addictions. For each target group, the paper presents key points and identifies challenges and opportunities facing social services in their promotion of wellbeing. The briefing also includes recommendations on successful health and wellbeing promotion for vulnerable populations with an emphasis on the role of social services in implementation. (Edited publisher abstract)
Investing in later life: a toolkit for social services providing care for older people
- Author:
- EUROPEAN SOCIAL NETWORK
- Publisher:
- European Social Network
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 79
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
This toolkit provides recommendations and examples of innovative practice for professionals working in social services providing care for older people. It is based on desktop literature research and the result of the European Social Network’s (ESN) work on ageing and care between 2014 and 2016. Chapters cover knowledge and best practice around initiatives to promote active ageing and independence, carers support, improving the coordination of health and social care services, and support for people with complex needs and disabilities as they grow older. Chapter one focuses on the promotion of active ageing and discusses key developments such as supporting volunteering, prevention and early intervention, and rehabilitation. Chapter two highlights the challenges in recruiting sufficient qualified social care staff, particularly in the provision of long-term care and looks at how to better support informal carers. Chapter three discusses cooperation and integration opportunities in older people’s services. It analyses the challenges of integrated services at three different levels: macro-level, meso-level and micro-level. The final chapter explores how people with multiple conditions can be supported most effectively in a person-centred way, including people living with dementia and people with learning disabilities. Each chapter includes a review of the legal and policy frameworks and examples from practice. (Edited publisher abstract)
Caring for children and older people in Europe: a comparison of European policies and practice
- Author:
- ROSTGAARD Tine
- Journal article citation:
- Policy Studies, 23(1), March 2002, pp.51-68.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article sets out to present a conceptual framework for the comparative understanding of social care benefits in arguing that the study of social care policies benefits from incorporating cash as well as service benefits, for the old as well as for children. Looking at the development of social care policies in seven countries over a period of 15 years reveals that social care has come under increasing focus. Policies have been evaluated with reference to the organization of care, the need for introducing new providers and for an increased share of user payment. Models of efficiency, marketization and consumerism have challenged former models of equity and professionalism, resulting in a greater mix of providers, as well as a benefit provision as high as ever in terms of number of recipients.
European social services
- Editor:
- MUNDAY Brian
- Publisher:
- University of Kent. European Institute of Social Services
- Publication year:
- 1993
- Pagination:
- 401p.
- Place of publication:
- Canterbury
Detailed account of social services in the twelve member states of the European Community. Contains sections on: organisation, responsibility and finance for social services; preventative services; children and families; elderly people; people with disabilities; addictions; illnesses; AIDS/HIV; socially excluded people; young people; services for migrants; names and addresses of major public and private social services agencies.