Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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Combating Alzheimer's disease: immediate concerns and implications for social workers
- Authors:
- SINHA Debotosh Sinah, DEY Namita
- Journal article citation:
- Indian Journal of Social Work, 67(4), October 2006, pp.410-422.
- Publisher:
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences
This article attempts to discuss exactly what Alzheimer's disease is, its causes, the extent of the problem, diagnosis and prognosis, and treatment. The different stages of the disease, role of the caregivers, and the personal and emotional stress they face is also covered. The role of professional social workers are also highlighted.
Dementia: supporting people with dementia and their carers in health and social care: full guideline
- Author:
- NATIONAL COLLABORATING CENTRE FOR MENTAL HEALTH
- Publishers:
- National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, Social Care Institute for Excellence
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 417p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Produced by NICE and SCIE, this joint guideline makes recommendations for the identification, treatment and care of people with dementia and the support of carers within primary and secondary healthcare, and social care. The guide is for health and social care staff who work with people with dementia and their carers, and those who work with older people and people with learning disabilities. This includes GPs, nurses, geriatricians, psychiatrists, social workers, care home managers and care staff. It also includes recommendations relevant to commissioners, managers and coordinators of health and social care. Published as NICE Clinical Guideline 42.
Dementia: supporting people with dementia and their carers: understanding NICE-SCIE guidance
- Author:
- NATIONAL COLLABORATING CENTRE FOR MENTAL HEALTH
- Publishers:
- National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, Social Care Institute for Excellence
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 19p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Produced by NICE and SCIE, this guideline makes recommendations for the identification, treatment and care of people with dementia and the support of carers within primary and secondary healthcare, and social care. The guide is for health and social care staff who work with people with dementia and their carers, and those who work with older people and people with learning disabilities. This includes GPs, nurses, geriatricians, psychiatrists, social workers, care home managers and care staff. It also includes recommendations relevant to commissioners, managers and coordinators of health and social care.
Case managers' perspectives on consumer direction
- Authors:
- KUNKEL Suzanne R., NELSON Ian M.
- Publisher:
- Springer Publishing
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 10p.
- Place of publication:
- New York
The basic philosophy of consumer direction is that people with disabilities (including older people) have the capacity and the right to assess their own needs, to determine how, when, where and by whom those needs should be met, and to continuously assess and improve the quality of the services they are receiving. Noting that there has been a considerable growth in consumer direction as a model of service delivery for older people in the US over the past decade, and that integrating the consumer direction approach into existing case managed programmes presents a significant challenge, this paper presents data from a survey of case managers about their views on consumer direction undertaken in association with the Consumer-Directed Care project introduced in southern Ohio, which offered the consumer-directed option to clients in the Elderly Services Program. The findings included that before the programme began two thirds of case managers felt that the benefits of consumer direction would not outweigh the risks to clients, but that after the option had been in place for several months case managers were more convinced about the benefits of consumer self-direction.
Promoting the psychosocial health of the elderly: the role of social workers
- Author:
- CHONG Alice M.
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Health Care, 44(1/2), 2006, pp.91-109.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This paper considers the psychosocial health of older people, especially in Hong Kong and China, noting the statistical mis-match between high life satisfaction scores and significantly above average suicide rates. Reasons for this inconsistency are considered, and social workers are warned to be aware that, despite a general climate of high life satisfaction, there is likely to be a minority of older people who are very unhappy and require help. The weakening of traditional support networks is likely to exacerbate this problem, as well as increasing the demand for formal health and social care services. The implications of these trends for social workers are discussed in relation to their engagement with individual older people, including building up networks of social support; their role as advocates to empower older people at the community level; and their professional role at international level to share best practice. Finally, social workers are advised to address their own attitudes towards older people, and keep their knowledge of physical and mental health conditions up to date. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Role of the social worker in old versus new culture in nursing homes
- Author:
- MEYERS Sandy
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work: A journal of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), 51(3), July 2006, pp.273-277.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The author argues that social workers play a crucial role in the lives of people living in nursing homes. It is discussed how many social workers are trying to change the prevailing nursing home culture from one of delivering services to sustain life to one of infusing life with the joy of living it. The article discusses how social workers should actively listen and help people grow based on their individual needs and interests, and not to those of the nursing home.
Assisting older victims of disasters: roles and responsibilities for social workers
- Authors:
- TORGUSEN Barbra L., KOSBERG Jordan I.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 47(1/2), 2006, pp.27-44.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Based upon its skills and values, social workers have significant roles to play in the face of potential and actual disasters; yet, gerontological social workers have additional responsibilities for addressing the needs of older persons. This article provides an overview of issues to be considered by social workers, in general, and gerontological social workers, in particular, with regard to preparation for possible disasters and the consequences from such catastrophes that affect older persons. The article is written from an American perspective and draws on American examples. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
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.
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.
Exploring strategies to advance public-sector funding in geriatric social work education
- Authors:
- BEHRMAN Gary, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Education, Winter 2006, pp.37-48.
- Publisher:
- Council on Social Work Education
Changing U.S. demographics and family composition are challenging social work education programs to reposition and reconsider how to prepare students for practice in the field of geriatrics. Implications for future social service and health care needs include ongoing training and education of students with competencies in serving geriatric populations; identifying barriers to training, educating and employing geriatric-trained social workers; and advancing public-sector funding for these initiatives. The proposed strategies presented here identify educationally relevant service dollars, a rationale for this funding, as well as strategic initiatives to maximize Medicaid funding for geriatric social work education.