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Training, geography, and provision of aging services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender older adults
- Authors:
- KNOCKEL K. Abel, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 55(5), July 2012, pp.426-443.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults avoid needed medical, social and long-term care, and hide their identities when they do access such services. The aim of this study was to explore the readiness of providers of ageing services to provide culturally appropriate services to LGBT clients. An online survey was conducted of leaders of 320 Area Agencies on Aging to understand their services, training, and beliefs about serving LGBT older adults. The findings showed that few agencies provided LGBT services or outreach. One-third had trained staff around LGBT ageing and four-fifths were willing to offer training; these numbers were significantly higher for urban-based agencies. Agencies that had provided staff training and urban-based agencies were more likely: to provide LGBT outreach and services; to believe in addressing LGBT issues; and to receive LGBT assistance requests. Training, policy, organising, and research implications are discussed.
Ageism and professional training in aging: who will be there to help?
- Author:
- ROSOWSKY Erelene
- Journal article citation:
- Generations, 29(3), 2005, pp.55-58.
- Publisher:
- American Society on Aging
This American article discusses the manifestations of ageism that are apparent in the education and training of professionals who provide health services to older people. It looks briefly at what can be done to change attitudes.
Training professionals to facilitate future planning for aging caregivers: exploratory results from a multistate intervention
- Authors:
- OWEN Aleksa, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 18(2), 2021, pp.131-140.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Planning for the future is important for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. When caregivers are no longer able to provide support, individuals with I/DD may experience loss of services or benefits, residential or employment-related disruption, or other adverse consequences. Up until now, most future planning related interventions and approaches have been focused on directly supporting families and individuals with I/DD. We present findings from a training intervention designed for professionals who work with individuals with I/DD and their families, suggesting that future planning be included in service provision and community outreach. Training participants increased their confidence in helping families plan and their likelihood to take action after participating in a 1-day training. We discuss the implications of developing disability professionals as allies and resources to families as they engage in future planning activities. (Edited publisher abstract)
Goal-Oriented Attention Self-Regulation (GOALS) training in older adults
- Authors:
- TURNER Gary R., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 24(3), 2020, pp.464-473.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: A common cognitive complaint of older adulthood is distractibility, or decline in ability to concentrate and maintain focus, yet few evidence-based interventions exist to address these deficits. The researchers implemented a s pilot trial of an evidence-based executive function training program, to investigate whether training in applied goal-directed attention regulation and problem solving would enhance executive control abilities in a sample of cognitively normal older adults with self-reported complaints of concentration problems. Method: Consecutively recruited participants were placed into small groups and randomised to either Goal-Oriented Attentional Self-Regulation training (GOALS; N = 15) or a closely matched Brain Health Education program (BHE; N = 15). Results: GOALS participants significantly improved on: neurocognitive measures of mental flexibility (p = 0.03, partial eta squared = 0.23); real-world setting functional performance measures of: task failures (p = 0.02, Cohen’s d = 0.88), task rule breaks (p = 0.02, Cohen’s d = 1.06), and execution (p = 0.04, Cohen’s d = 0.76); and in-lab functional assessment of goal-directed behaviour divergent thinking scale (p = 0.03, Cohen’s d = 0.95). All participants improved on a neurocognitive measure of planning (p = 0.01, partial eta squared = 0.031). BHE participants’ improvement over and above GOALS participants was limited to: rule adherence on the real world task (p = 0.04, Cohen’s d = 0.99), and evaluator rating (p = 0.03, Cohen’s d = 0.56), and average score (p = 0.02, Cohen’s d = 0.71) on the in-lab functional task. Conclusion: Participation in GOALS training can enhance executive control, and lead to real-world functional improvements, for cognitively normal older adults with self-reported attention difficulties. (Edited publisher abstract)
How to enhance route learning and visuo-spatial working memory in aging: a training for residential care home residents
- Authors:
- MITOLO Micaela, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 21(5), 2017, pp.562-570.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a route-learning training in a group of older adults living in a residential care home. The authors verified the presence of training-specific effects in tasks similar to those trained – route-learning tasks – as well as transfer effects on related cognitive processes – visuo-spatial short-term memory (VSSTM; Corsi Blocks Test (CBT), forward version), visuo-spatial working memory (VSWM; CBT, backward version; Pathway Span Tasks; Jigsaw Puzzle Test) – and in self-report measures. The maintenance of training benefits was examined after 3 months. Method: Thirty 70–90-year-old residential care home residents were randomly assigned to the route-learning training group or to an active control group (involved in non-visuo-spatial activities). Results: The trained group performed better than the control group in the route-learning tasks, retaining this benefit 3 months later. Immediate transfer effects were also seen in visuo-spatial span tasks (i.e., CBT forward and backward version and Pathway Span Task); these benefits had been substantially maintained at the 3-month follow-up. Conclusion: These findings suggest that a training on route learning is a promising approach to sustain older adults’ environmental learning and some related abilities (e.g., VSSTM and VSWM), even in residential care home residents. (Edited publisher abstract)
Confidence of group home staff in supporting the health needs of older residents with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- WEBBER Ruth, BOWERS Barbara, BIGBY Christine
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 41(2), 2016, pp.107-114.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: Increased life expectancy for people with intellectual disability is accompanied by increased age-related health concerns. People ageing with intellectual disability experience more health conditions and are relocated to aged care earlier than their age peers. Method: Group home staff were surveyed about their (a) training and confidence in 11 health conditions and 7 health procedures, and (b) attitude to relocating residents with health needs to aged care. Results: Staff training in each of 10 health conditions and 7 health procedures was positively associated with increased confidence in supporting residents with those health issues. Higher staff confidence in caring for residents with 9 conditions and requiring 4 procedures was negatively associated with a likelihood of recommending that a person with those health needs should relocate to aged care. Conclusions: Targeted training of staff in age-related health issues may contribute to better health care and delay residents relocating to aged care. (Publisher abstract)
Protecting cognition from aging and Alzheimer's disease: a computerized cognitive training combined with reminiscence therapy
- Authors:
- BARBAN Francesco, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 31(4), 2016, pp.340-348.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objective: The aim of this paper was to assess the efficacy of process-based cognitive training (pb-CT) combined with reminiscence therapy (RT) in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (mAD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and in healthy elderly (HE) subjects. Methods: This multicentre, randomised, controlled trial involved 348 participants with mAD, MCI, and HE from four European countries. Participants were randomly assigned to two arms of a crossover design: those in arm A underwent 3 months of computerised pb-CT for memory and executive functions combined with RT and 3 months of rest; those in arm B underwent the reverse. The primary outcome was the effect of the training on memory and executive functions performance. The secondary outcome was the effect of the training on functional abilities in mAD assessed with the instrumental activities of daily living. Results: The study found a significant effect of the training for memory in all three groups on delayed recall of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test and for executive functions in HE on the phonological fluency test. MCI and HE participants maintained these effects at follow-up. MCI and mAD participants also showed a significant effect of the training on the Mini-mental state examination scale. Participants with mAD showed more stable instrumental activities of daily living during the training versus the rest period. Conclusions: The results corroborate the positive effect of pb-CT and its maintenance primarily on memory in HE and MCI participants that did not seem to be potentiated by RT. Moreover, our results are very promising for the mAD participants. (Edited publisher abstract)
Assisting individuals ageing with learning disability: support worker perspectives
- Authors:
- WARK Stuart, HUSSAIN Rafat, EDWARDS Helen
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 20(4), 2015, pp.213-222.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: While ageing with an intellectual (learning) disability has been subject to increased research in recent years, there remains little knowledge regarding the daily practice issues that disability workers struggle most to support in this cohort. This paper aims to gain feedback directly from staff regarding the problems they experience in daily work, and to evaluate whether any changes to legislation or practice could potentially alleviate identified areas of concern. Design/methodology/approach: A Delphi project was conducted over three rounds with participants from rural areas of New South Wales (NSW). The panel was composed of support workers who assist people ageing with a learning disability. Participants were asked their perceptions of the main practice issues facing them while they provide support. Findings: The panel identified 29 issues that were considered problematic in the provision of support to people ageing with a learning disability. A thematic analysis indicated three main themes of access to services; time constraints; and funding. Research limitations/implications: The participants in this study were all disability workers employed by non-government organisations in rural NSW, and as such, many of the issues identified may be specific to this population cohort and geographic setting. Any generalisation of these results to other locations or populations must be considered within these limitations. Originality/value: Identification of the issues facing disability staff may facilitate government, health care providers and disability organisations to proactively plan to address current and future problem areas. The consequent effect of improving practices can assist individuals to receive better support and lead to a corresponding improvement in their quality of life. The current implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme in Australia is an ideal opportunity for cross-sectoral collaboration to change practice to facilitate better support for a highly vulnerable group of the community. (Publisher abstract)
The training needs of staff supporting individuals ageing with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- WARK Stuart, HUSSAIN Rafat, EDWARDS Helen
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 27(3), 2014, pp.273-288.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: The issue of ageing within the cohort of people with intellectual disabilities has been an increasing focus for research. However, the training needs of the staff who support them has not been subject of extensive examination. Materials and Methods: A multiround Delphi project was conducted focusing upon the impact ageing issues have on the support provided by disability workers, and what training is required to address the identified areas. Results: Three rounds of the Delphi identified twenty-six separate important issues. A thematic analysis identified five main themes including Generic Training Issues; Medical Issues; Emerging Ageing Issues Requiring Changing Support; Mental Health Issues; and Quality of Life. Conclusions: The study identified a series of training priorities for staff assisting people ageing with an intellectual disability. It would appear possible for many training programmes to be developed and delivered with minimal cost impacts even within rural localities. (Original abstract)
Examining cohort differences and resilience among the aging LGBT community: implications for education and practice among an expansively diverse population
- Authors:
- DENTATO Michael P., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 24(3), 2014, pp.316-328.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The aging lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community continues to grow considerably while often being faced with unique and unmet needs separate from younger LGBT cohorts or their non-LGBT counterparts. Drawing on the experience of the USA, this article explores some of the differences in attitudes among generational cohort groups regarding coming out decisions; sexual risk and safety; the impact of evolving policies within systems and society; as well as the demonstrated strengths and resiliencies of the aging LGBT community. Implications and suggestions for education, training, and best practices among this expansive and diverse population are considered as well as continued research in the field of LGBT aging. (Edited publisher abstract)