Questions and Conundrums: How Qualitative Methods Can Help Us Understand the Health Needs of the Elderly

Author(s):  
Ricardo Ainslie
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Silvia Lizbeth Aguilar ◽  
Sonia Bass-Zavala

A current issue of relevance for Mexico is the aging of the population, its demographic history has been strongly related directly to political and economic decisions. The ageing population faces significant income-generating challenges, which are essential to meeting its basic health needs, which are increasing considerably. For what is transcendental to characterize as precarious labour has permeated the elderly of the State of Hidalgo, on the basis of the integration of socio-demographic and economic indicators that allow the exploration of the conditions in which this segment of the population finds itself, which is growing every day and serves as an instrument for the generation of public policies.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carin Holmquist ◽  
Elisabeth Sundin

PurposeThe aim of this article is to discuss how age and entrepreneurship interact in the specific case of older (50+) entrepreneurs. Building on theories on entrepreneurship and theories on age and aging, the authors’ focus is on how such entrepreneurs relate to the building and running of a business organization. The authors discuss how entrepreneurship among the elderly plays out and how older entrepreneurs relate to the narratives on both age and entrepreneurship.Design/methodology/approachThis research comprises quantitative as well as qualitative studies. The authors show that qualitative methods that unfold the process over time are necessary and essential to fully understand how and why entrepreneurs start their own business and/or continue to run it at older ages.FindingsThe authors find that the choice to become an entrepreneur at the age of 50+ (or to stay as one) is not a goal in itself, becoming an entrepreneur is a means to stay active in the labor market.Originality/valueThe study findings add to entrepreneurship theory by insights on the link between entrepreneurship and the labor market where the authors argue that becoming an entrepreneur at ages 50+ might be more a question of choice of organizational form than a question on a way of living or occupation. The authors also contribute to theories on age by showing that entrepreneurs aged 50+ choose entrepreneurship as a means to be able to stay in the labor market.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Šantrić Milićević ◽  
M Kostadinović ◽  
D Nikolić ◽  
J Todorovic ◽  
Z Terzic-Supic

Abstract Background This study assessed the prevalence of unmet health needs of the elderly and the associated factors regarding socioeconomic, health and functional status. Methods A secondary analysis of the 2013 National Health Survey data was conducted on a representative sample of 3540 persons aged sixty-five and older (the lowest response rate was 99.7%). Participants characteristics such as socioeconomic status, health self-perception, diagnosed chronic disease, physical functional limitations, performing essential daily activities in the home and daily personal care were explored with logistic regression analysis (Odds Ratio - OR and 95% Confidence Interval) in relation to five aspects of unmet health needs. Results 15.8% participants had unmet health needs due to the long waiting times, 16.1%, had unmet needs for medical care, 17.7% for dental care, 15.2% for drugs prescription and 96.9% participants for mental health care. Common predictors exist for medical, dental drug prescription and due to long waiting times unmet needs including older age years, middle education, rural residence, lower wealth index, single persons, with average or bad self-perceived health, chronic disease and difficult daily performance of personal care and of home activities. Unmet mental health needs by 61% less likely had participants with average wealth index, while a greater likelihood had participants with average and bad self-perceived health by 3.7 times and 8.4 times (p = 0.035, p = 0.001) respectively, by 6.2 times those with difficulties (p < 0.001) and by 5.9 times unable (p = 0.045) to perform daily activities of personal care and by 1.7 times those with difficulties (p = 0.037) to perform home activities. Conclusions Unmet health needs reported less than 20% of the elderly but almost all have unmet mental health needs. Unmet health needs are associated with negative health outcomes, age, low education level, single persons, rural settings, poorer households, and limited daily activities. Key messages Unmet mental health needs of the elderly are an extremely important problem for the health system and healthy ageing in Serbia. A strong association of unmet health needs of old, low educated elderly without partners, from rural settings and poor households with health and functional outcomes, requires responsive policies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Marie Cheney ◽  
Tiffany F. Haynes ◽  
Mary Olson ◽  
Naomi Cottoms ◽  
Keneshia Bryant ◽  
...  

1976 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 433-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Jeanne Hain ◽  
Shu-Pi C. Chen
Keyword(s):  

1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-95
Author(s):  
Barry Checkoway

ABSTRACTOlder people are increasing in number and proportion of the population in Latin America and, as they do their health needs and social resources are becoming more apparent. In response, gerontologiacal health promotion is emerging as a new field emphasizing the community as a unit of health and the participation of older people in the process. Recognizing the need for more empirical research on the topic, this paper identifies initiatives that promote the health of perople in Costa Rica, Chile, and Argentina, by enabling them to plan programmes, develop services, and advocate change at the community level. It analyzes some of their common themes, and discusses general prospects for the future.


1990 ◽  
Vol 80 (5) ◽  
pp. 238-239
Author(s):  
SB Hoffman ◽  
M Kaplan

The authors discuss the Interdisciplinary Team Training in Geriatrics program developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. At the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, this program provides funding to podiatric residents, enabling them to work with practitioners from other health care disciplines as a team that addresses all of the varied health needs of the elderly patient.


1991 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Meyerowitz

The population of older adults is heterogeneous and can be divided into many subgroups: the young-old, the old-old, the healthy, the sick, the frail, the mentally and physically handicapped, the ambulatory, the chair-bound, house-bound or institution-bound, and the economically advantaged and disadvantaged. This diversity is extremely important to the discussion of the oral health needs, preventive health strategies, and research agenda for the elderly. As life expectancy increases, more attention is being paid to disease prevention so that the quality of life in old age can be improved. However, the link among oral health, systemic disease, and quality of life in the elderly needs to be better-defined. There is some evidence in the literature that indicates that coronal and root caries appear to be major health problems for the elderly. This needs to be corroborated in longitudinal studies. Although periodontal disease prevalence and severity are high in some subgroups of the elderly, these appear to be in decline in the general population. Dental health-care workers must be cognizant of the oral conditions associated with systemic disease and the use of medication, a major concern in older adults. Prevention of oral disease in the elderly requires early intervention, education of the dental health team, and innovative uses of well-established preventive agents such as fluoride. An extensive research effort is needed to answer basic and applied questions regarding the oral health needs of the elderly. Federal and private funding will be necessary. The dental profession will have to demonstrate and be persuasive that money spent on research and care for the elderly is money well spent.


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