Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 22
The impact of crisis and austerity on long term care for older people in Portugal - an analysis based on the experiences of social workers in private institutions for social solidarity
- Authors:
- ALMEIDA Vasco, BARATA Maria Joao, DANIEL Fernanda
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Service Research, 48(1), 2022, pp.108-119.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
In Portugal, long-term care (LTC) for older people rests mainly upon Private Institutions for Social Solidarity (IPSS). The debt crisis of 2008-2013 and the austerity policies that followed had a considerable impact on all sectors of the country’s economy and social services. How did this crisis and austerity impact long-term care for older people? This study approaches this question with qualitative research using content analysis, based on individual interviews of a geographically convenient sample (N = 20) with social work staff of IPSS providing social responses of LTC for older people (1 full-time social work staff per each institution), located at the Center Region of Portugal. The main themes revealed by the analyzis were: financing, human resources, partnerships and quality. The results show a strong impact at the level of financing, yet, a correspondent lower impact on the quality of the services. Also, some dynamics of innovation appear in issues of partnerships and human resources. Although the results and discussion are limited to a specific historical and geographical context, upon further research, they can be considered as implications of crisis and austerity on older people’s social services more broadly, and a reference point to compare with future social policies. (Edited publisher abstract)
The role of the gerontological social worker in assisted living
- Authors:
- KOENIG Terry L., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 54(5), July 2011, pp.494-510.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Assisted living (AL) is currently the most preferred and fastest growing area of long-term care for older adults. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the role of social work in AL and the potential barriers to using social workers from the perspective of AL administrators. The study involved semi-structured interviews with 13 AL administrators in an urban county in New York State. The interview questions were designed to explore the administrator’s perspectives of the role and the importance of the AL social worker in addressing the unmet needs of older adults as they move and transition into AL. Five major roles of the AL social worker were identified by all 13 administrators: decision-making and adjustment coordinator; resident advocate; mental health assessor and counsellor; family social worker; and care planner. The study points to the important and value of AL social workers. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
More assessment for social work?
- Author:
- SAMUEL Mithran
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 21.7.11, 2011, pp.30-31.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
The Dilnot commission's proposals could result in a single national threshold when deciding whether people are eligible for long term care. All people with a care need would be entitled to state funding after they had passed a cap on their costs of up to £35,000. This could result in social workers undertaking an increasing number of assessments. This article discusses the proposals, the opportunities and challenges for social workers.
Facilitating transition from hospital stay to nursing home admission: a hospital-based long-term care ombudsman program
- Authors:
- COX Carolyn, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 52(8), November 2009, pp.849-858.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The Older Americans Act requires all US states to establish Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs in nursing homes and personal care homes to resolve complaints of residents in nursing home or residential care facilities, but does not specify that hospitals that have special beds to provide skilled nursing care need such programmes, although many of these hospital patients subsequently enter a nursing or personal care home. This article describes how a medical centre in Missouri established a hospital-based Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program to address the need for patient advocacy in its skilled nursing facility, and looks at specific actions social workers can take to facilitate the establishment of such a programme in a hospital-based long-term care unit.
Professional perspectives on decision making about the long-term care of older people
- Authors:
- TAYLOR Brian J., DONNELLY Michael
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 36(5), June 2006, pp.807-826.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
With the increasing pressure on social and health care resources, professionals have to be more explicit in their decision making regarding the long-term care of older people. This grounded theory study used 19 focus groups and nine semi-structured interviews (99 staff in total) in Northern Ireland to explore professional perspectives on this decision making. Focus group participants and interviewees comprised care managers, social workers, consultant geriatricians, general medical practitioners, community nurses, home care managers, occupational therapists and hospital discharge support staff. The emerging themes spanned context, clients, families and services. Decisions were often prompted by a crisis, hindering professionals seeking to make a measured assessment. Fear of burglary and assault, and the willingness and availability of family to help were major factors in decisions about living at home. Service availability in terms of public funding for community care, the availability of home care workers and workload pressures on primary care services influenced decision ‘thresholds’ regarding admission to institutional care. Assessment tools designed to assist decision making about the long-term care of older people need to take into account the critical aspects of individual fears and motivation, family support and the availability of publicly funded services as well as functional and medical needs.
Helping older adults and their families develop and implement care plans
- Authors:
- PINQUART Martin, SORENSEN Silvia, PEAK Terry
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 43(4), 2005, pp.3-23.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
As people age, they are at increased risk of needing assistance with household tasks and personal care. After summarizing research on older adults' preparation for future health care needs, the authors introduce a process model for promoting preparation processes. The focus is on how social workers may best help individuals cope with these risks, that is, how to overcome barriers that inhibit preparation, find an option that fits the older adult's needs, and help the older adult implement care plans. Finally, the authors provide a case example for the application of the suggested model. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Social workers need to know more about assisted living and vice versa
- Author:
- FRANKS Janette
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in Long-Term Care, 1(3), 2002, pp.13-16.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
The role of the social worker in Assisted Living goes beyond the obvious facility employee. Community-based social workers have a critical role in helping families and older adults to understand the real options in long-term care, including Assisted Living.
Running between the raindrops: the obligation dilemma of the social worker in the nursing home
- Authors:
- LEV Sagit, AYALON Liat
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Work, 40(1), 2015, pp.10-18.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The authors examined perspectives of social workers working in nursing homes concerning their obligation to the older adult, the family, and the facility, and identified the dilemmas and difficulties that arise from these sometimes conflicting obligations. Authors conducted semistructured in-depth interviews with 15 social workers employed in nursing homes in Israel. Inter-theme consistencies and contradictions were elucidated, and descriptive and then interpretive categories were created to represent interview data. Social workers acknowledged their multiple, often contradictory loyalties to the older resident, the management of the institution, the staff, and the resident's family. The obligation dilemma was particularly evident in relocation decisions and suspected cases of elder abuse. The findings highlight the importance of the obligation dilemma in the work experience of social workers. Potential implications for the care provided to older adults in nursing homes are discussed. (Publisher abstract)
By invitation only: social work involvement at the end of life in long-term care
- Authors:
- MUNN Jean Correll, ADORNO Gail
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care, 4(4), 2008, pp.333-357.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia
Three focus groups consisting of 3 to 5 social workers from long-term care facilities in North Carolina were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide to examine how they viewed their roles with dying residents. Each group included social workers from both nursing homes and assisted living facilities and some social workers who were responsible for residents at both levels of care. Of the 11 focus group participants, 9 were female. Nine reported some training in care for persons at the end of life. The study found that long-term care social workers had difficulty articulating a clear role in dealing with residents and families of residents at the end of life, desired to become more involved, and encountered barriers associated with involvement. They were most likely to become involved at the request of nursing staff. Social workers also found hospice involvement positive, but expressed some difficulty integrating this service. Time and space were elements that influenced involvement. The authors comment that lower social worker to resident ratios, clearer articulation of the social work role, and additional end-of-life content in social work education are recommendations that are supported by these data.
Using conflict theory to explore the role of nursing home social workers in home- and community-based service utilization
- Author:
- FOGLER Sarah
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 52(8), November 2009, pp.859-869.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
In this article, the conflict theory (which stipulates that superstructures compete to stay in power and that they work solely to maximise their benefits) is used to try to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between nursing home social work practitioners and home and community based service (HCBS) utilisation. The author asserts that, in an attempt to curb long term care spending, US federal and state policy makers have explored cost containment strategies such as the provision of HCBS in place of institutional care in nursing homes, and that nursing home social work practitioners, who assist residents with long term care decision-making and coordinate community-based long-term care support and services for older adults returning to the community after a rehabilitative nursing home stay, have a central role in HCBS utilisation. The article explores the competing interests of the nursing home industry and national long term care initiatives and the potential effect of the competing interests on nursing home social worker discharge planning practice, and covers the role of nursing home social work practitioners, factors affecting their professional effectiveness and the implications of ineffective practice.