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Escape loneliness by going digital: a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of a Dutch experiment in using ECT to overcome loneliness among older adults
- Authors:
- FOKKEMA T., KNIPSCHEER K.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 11(5), September 2007, pp.496-504.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study evaluates the outcomes of an Internet-at-home intervention experiment that intended to decrease loneliness among chronically ill and physically disabled older adults through introducing them to the use of an electronic communication facility. To determine the effectiveness of the experiment in terms of reducing loneliness, 15 older adults were interviewed three times: shortly before the start, two years later and immediately after termination of the experiment, while their loneliness scores at zero and post-measurement were compared with those of a control group. Both the participants and the control persons experienced a reduction in loneliness over time. However, the reduction was only significant for the intervention participants. Moreover, the changes in loneliness were significantly greater among the participants compared to the control persons. When looking more in detail, the effect of the experiment was only significant regarding emotional loneliness and among the highest educated. Findings of the qualitative research enabled us to understand the mechanisms through which the intervention helped alleviate loneliness. E-mail was found to facilitate social contact. Furthermore, the computer and Internet were often used to pass the time, taking people's minds off their loneliness. Unexpectedly, the intervention also improved people's self-confidence. The decline in loneliness is likely to be greater if persons under more favourable circumstances are selected and if more social functions of the Internet are used.
Employment support agencies in the UK: current operation and future development needs
- Authors:
- WISTOW Richard, SCHNEIDER Justine
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 15(2), March 2007, pp.128-135.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Disabled people are amongst the most excluded in society, while people with learning disability have the lowest rates of employment. Supported employment promises to address the gaps, but it is a new approach, one whose development has been incremental. The present authors explore some of the features of agencies providing employment support to disabled people, together with their managers' views. This paper describes semi structured telephone interviews with the managers of 31 employment support agencies. The survey sought to understand the types of service provided, the staff and caseload numbers, the training offered, and the targets used. The authors also asked the managers what would help them in delivering employment opportunities to disabled people. The responses of the managers highlight gaps between current policy and practice. Particular attention is given to the use of targets, fragmented funding and what managers consider is required to improve employment opportunities for disabled people. Managers endorsed the vision expressed in current policy, and identified numerous obstacles to its implementation in employment support. Taken together, their views can be used to guide the development of supported employment.
Were Ashley's parents right?
- Authors:
- PLATT Martin Ward, BENSON Bob
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 15.02.07, 2007, pp.26-27.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
The case of Ashley X has divided public opinion. The severely disabled girl's parents sought surgery to restrict her growth when she was six-years-old to enable them to care for her better. Ashley is now nine and her treatment was announced earlier this year. The authors, the first a consultant paediatrician and the second from the organisation Scope, debate the issues.
The child protection handbook: the practitioner's guide to safeguarding children
- Editors:
- WILSON Kate, JAMES Adrian, (eds.)
- Publisher:
- Balliere Tindall
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 609p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
- Edition:
- 3rd ed.
Practical, evidence based text, divided into three sections: understanding, managing, and intervention and training issues in child protection. This edition contains new material on: institutional abuse; gender issues; policy guidance for assessment and working together; training for professionals in child protection; and developments in legislation. The text aims to cover both policy and practice, and contains specialist chapters for different professionals.