Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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“Winning and losing”: vulnerability to mass marketing fraud
- Authors:
- OLIVER Sean, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 17(6), 2015, pp.360-370.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to report the findings from a small qualitative study of victims of mass marketing fraud (MMF), exploring how they become involved in such activity and then sustain their involvement. The paper concludes with recommendations for practitioners involved in supporting vulnerable older people. Design/methodology/approach: The paper considers a small qualitative case study into the vulnerability of older people (n=3) to MMF from the perspectives of the “victims” of such fraud. Findings: This paper highlights a range of predisposing risk factors to MMF which emerged as key themes including the psycho-social background of the victim, emotional vulnerability, the need for meaningful activity and opportunities engagement in meaningful social activity. Research limitations/implications: The small scale of this research is a limitation, but as there is currently a dearth of research in this area it makes a valuable contribution to the developing knowledge base. Practical implications: Professionals need to develop increased understanding of the complexities of sustained involvement in MMF, and the ways in which fraudsters manipulate potential victims by “grooming” and luring through plausible schemes which appear genuine to the victim. Social implications: MMF is a growing threat in the financial abuse of older people, and is increasingly recognised as a concern for professionals involved in supporting and safeguarding vulnerable older people. Originality/value: Despite the growing awareness of MMF in the financial abuse of vulnerable older people, this paper is one of the first to consider the perspectives of victims of MMF. (Publisher abstract)
All Wales risk identification checklist (RIC) and quick start guidance for domestic abuse, stalking and 'honour'-based violence
- Author:
- OLDER PEOPLE'S COMMISSIONER FOR WALES
- Publisher:
- Older People's Commissioner for Wales
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 8
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
This checklist provides a consistent and simple tool for practitioners who work with adult victims of domestic abuse in order to help them identify those who are at high risk of harm and whose cases should be referred to a multi-agency risk assessment conference meeting in order to manage their risk. Domestic abuse can take many forms but it is usually perpetrated by men towards women in an intimate relationship such as boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife. This checklist can also be used for lesbian, gay, bisexual relationships and for situations of ‘honour’-based violence or family violence including abuse of the older person. Domestic abuse can include physical, emotional, mental, sexual or financial abuse as well as coercive control, stalking and harassment. The document includes notes to help understand the significance of the questions on the checklist. (Edited publisher abstract)
Passive suicide ideation: an indicator of risk among older adults seeking aging services?
- Authors:
- VAN ORDEN Kimberly A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 55(6), 2015, pp.972-980.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Objectives: This study examines patterns of endorsements of active suicide ideation (SI), passive SI (synonymous with death ideation), and psychological distress (i.e., depressive and anxious symptomatology) in a sample of vulnerable older adults. Methods: Data were collected via in-home interviews with ageing services care management clients aged 60 years and older (n = 377). The Paykel scale for suicide measured the most severe level of suicidality over the past year, and the ninth item of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) measured current passive/active SI. The remaining items from the PHQ (i.e., PHQ-8) and the Goldberg Anxiety scale measured distress. Results: Latent class analysis revealed a four-class model: a group with mild distress and no active SI, a group with high distress and no ideation, a group with mild distress and both passive and active SI, and a group with high distress and both passive and active SI. Discussion: Results indicate that passive SI rarely presents in vulnerable older adults in the absence of significant risk factors for suicide (i.e., psychological distress or active SI). Thus, the desire for death and the belief that life is not worth living do not appear to be normative in late life. (Edited publisher abstract)
Making connections – reducing loneliness and encouraging well-being
- Authors:
- MARSHALL Shelagh, CRAMPTON Janet
- Journal article citation:
- Working with Older People, 19(4), 2015, pp.182-187.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to: first, report on a pilot; second, provide a further opportunity for a wider audience to be aware of the work carried out by the Age Action Alliance, Isolation and Loneliness Working Group to identify vulnerable people in the community. Third, to highlight the successful aspects of the project which could be used by other organisations seeking to reduce the effects of isolation and loneliness in the community. Links to the full report and the more detailed findings can be found at: www.ageactionalliance Design/methodology/approach: The main proposal was to test the most effective approach to identifying those at risk of loneliness, using pharmacists in two well-known “high street” pharmacies, through the use of a simple questionnaire that could be handed out to a target 100 customers at each pharmacy or health care team over a six-week period. Findings: A simple questionnaire proves to be successful and gets a good rate of return. The right partners are essential to bring effective results. Referrals were handled very professionally and people were helped to connect socially. Research limitations/implications: The sample was small but the authors achieved a relatively high rate of returns and, in consequence, a number of people were directly helped access the support, information and advice to enable them to feel less lonely. Practical implications: The planning and preparation for this project proved that all needed to be actively and continuously involved in the planning from the beginning. Furthermore in this project involving local pharmacies, the manager or lead pharmacist at a store need to lead and actively engage their staff in the aims and objectives of the project. Social implications: This project aimed to identify people at risk of loneliness and the potential adverse effect on their health and well-being. Anyone helped to avoid social isolation and loneliness is a success, and sometimes with relatively low cost but high-impact intervention. Originality/value: This project was conceived amongst partners and reflected the particular involvement of a “household name” pharmacy and recognition of its key role in identifying and accessing people who may be at risk of loneliness. (Publisher abstract)
The will to mobility: life-space satisfaction and distress in people with dementia who live alone
- Authors:
- LLOYD BARBARA Teresa, STIRLING Christine
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 35(9), 2015, pp.1801-1820.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Increasing numbers of people with dementia reside in single-person households, yet little is known of their experiences and priorities. This exploratory Australian study elicited perceptions of seven people with dementia living alone, regarding their domestic environment and its surroundings. The general aim was to identify unmet service needs in this vulnerable population. Drawing upon the theoretical concepts of ‘the will to mobility’ and ‘life-space’, we identified four factors of particular salience to our respondents. These were access to public space, social distance and proximity, changing meanings of space and objects, and imaginative co-presence. Participants provided useful insights into a soon-to-be-common scenario in which increased numbers of people with dementia will be living without a resident carer. The findings have implications for the development of more personalised and targeted dementia care in the domestic setting, more inclusive public planning and more extensive public education programmes. (Publisher abstract)
Heatwave plan for England: making the case: the impact of heat on health: now and in the future
- Author:
- PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND
- Publisher:
- Public Health England
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 19
- Place of publication:
- London
This document provides a background to the 'Heatwave plan for England'. The purpose of the plan is to avoid the adverse health effects of excessive heat by raising public awareness and triggering actions by those in contact with people who are most at risk. This, in turn, helps reduce pressures throughout the health and social care system. The document outlines key health issues associated with heatwaves, explains why long-term planning is essential and gives some examples of medium term and longer term actions which can be taken to mitigate or ameliorate some of the effects of future heatwaves and hot weather. (Edited publisher abstract)
Heatwave plan for England: supporting vulnerable people before and during a heatwave: advice for health and social care professionals
- Author:
- PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND
- Publisher:
- Public Health England
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 18
- Place of publication:
- London
This factsheet is part of a national programme to reduce the health risks by alerting people to the dangers of severe heat and encouraging them to plan in advance what to do in the event of a heatwave. Heatwaves can happen with little warning and illness and death can occur within the first couple of days. This leaflet offers advice both on caring for people most at risk during a heatwave, and on organising others who provide care. Example advice cards for commissioners of health and social care, Directors of Public Health and health and social care staff are also included. (Edited publisher abstract)
Heatwave plan for England: supporting vulnerable people before and during a heatwave: advice for care home managers and staff
- Author:
- PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND
- Publisher:
- Public Health England
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 14
- Place of publication:
- London
This factsheet is part of a national programme to reduce the health risks by alerting people to the dangers of severe heat and encouraging them to plan in advance what to do in the event of a heatwave. Heatwaves can happen with little warning and illness and death can occur within the first couple of days. This fact sheet contains action cards outlining the roles and responsibilities required of care home managers and staff at each level. (Edited publisher abstract)
The relevance of four narrative themes for understanding vulnerability among homeless older African-American women
- Authors:
- MOXLEY David P., WASHINGTON Olivia G.M., CRYSTAL Jennifer
- Journal article citation:
- Practice: Social Work in Action, 27(2), 2015, pp.113-133.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Narrative strategy can strengthen social work practice, given its usefulness in revealing how social forces influence people’s experiences with situations that can compromise their well-being. In this paper, a product of long-term developmental research, the authors consider the versatility of narrative strategy to address homelessness among older African-American women, a growing segment of the homeless population in the United States. After considering homelessness as a social issue, and the distress it can produce, often resulting in serious health and mental health problems among older minority women, the authors examine vulnerability from a narrative perspective, offer background on their long-term narrative research and summarise their observations about the nature of narrative practice in working with members of vulnerable populations. The authors develop a thematic framework for conceptualising narrative as a practice research tool for social workers and other human service professionals. For each of the four narrative themes (involving plight, efficacy, hope and recovery), useful in helping people who are vulnerable, the authors document the distinctive focus of each one, and they then conclude the paper with implications for helping people who are vulnerable. (Publisher abstract)
A review of factors which potentially influence decisions in adult safeguarding investigations
- Author:
- TRAINOR Patricia
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 17(1), 2015, pp.51-61.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to look at safeguarding documentation in relation to 50 adult safeguarding files for the period April 2010 to March 2011. This was followed up with semi-structured interviews with a small number of Designated Officers whose role it is to screen referrals and coordinate investigations. Findings from the research were used to redesign regional adult safeguarding documentation to ensure Designated Officers have access to the information necessary to assist them in reaching decisions. Designated and Investigating Officer training was also updated to reflect learning from the research thereby reducing the potential for variation in practice. Design/methodology/approach: A file tool was developed which examined the recorded information in safeguarding documentation contained within 50 service user files. The review tool looked at the personal characteristics of the vulnerable adult, the nature of the alleged abuse and the decisions/outcomes reached by staff acting as safeguarding Designated Officers. A semi-structured interview schedule asked Designated Offices to comment on the training and understanding of the process as well as the factors they believed were central to the decision making process. Their responses were compared to data obtained from the file review. Findings: A key finding in the research was that while factors such as type of abuse, the vulnerable adults’ consent to cooperate with proceedings, identity of the referrer, etc. did influence decisions taken there was a lack of clarity on the part of Designated Officers in relation to their roles and responsibilities and of the process to be followed. Research limitations/implications: The research was limited to one Health & Social Care Trust area and had a small sample size (n=50). Practical implications: The findings of the research led to a revamping of existing safeguarding documentation which had failed to keep pace with developments and was no longer fit for purpose. Adult safeguarding training courses within the Trust were redesigned to bring greater focus to the role and responsibilities of designated and Investigating Officers and the stages in the safeguarding process. Adult Safeguarding leads were established within programmes of care and professional support mechanisms put in place for staff engaged in this area of work. Social implications: Better trained and supported staff alongside more efficient safeguarding systems should lead to better outcomes in the protection of vulnerable people from abuse and harm. Originality/value: The research built on existing albeit limited research into what potentially influences staff involved in critical decision-making processes within adult safeguarding. (Publisher abstract)