The Elderly as Family Caregivers

1984 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lotte Marcus ◽  
Valerie Jaeger
Keyword(s):  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Religious Beliefs ◽  
Family Members ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Supportive Services ◽  
Old People ◽  
High Burden ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Depth Interviews

ABSTRACTThe experiences of elderly persons caring for elderly family members at home were examined by means of in-depth interviews with fourty-seven subjects in Montreal and seven in England. The analysis of the Montreal sample revealed that denial of fears and unwillingness to think about the future, as well as negative assessments of cared-for-person's health were more prevalent in women than in men. Women also mentioned more frequently that religious beliefs influenced their caregiving and seemed to feel more strongly the impact and burden caregiving placed on them. Experiences with old people in earlier life was associated with low burden scores; few visitors and a belief that cared-for-person was critical of them were associated with high burden scores. Suggestions for further research and recommendations for supportive services to caregivers are made.

scholarly journals Death and dying: elderly persons’ experiences of grief over the loss of family members

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Eucebious Lekalakala-Mokgele
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Women ◽  
Death And Dying ◽  
Family Members ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Age Group ◽  
The Family ◽  
Qualitative Phenomenological ◽  
Depth Interviews

Background: Death is one of life’s few certainties and a universal experience for all individuals. When death occurs there is usually an impact on the family and friends of the deceased, the magnitude of which often depends on whether death was expected or unexpected. The grieving experiences of the elderly are rarely discussed. The purpose of this study was to describe experiences of grief and reactions to the death of family members amongst the elderly.Methods: A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to obtain data from elderly women in Ga-Rankuwa, Gauteng, to gain insight into the experiences of grief in this age group. Purposive sampling was used to conduct in-depth interviews with 10 elderly women whose family members had died. The data were analysed using a thematic approach.Results: The findings show that the elderly were exposed to multiple deaths of family members. The participants helplessly experienced with sorrow the death of family members, had experienced death anxiety, and relinquished control to God in terms of deaths.Conclusions: The response to death of the elderly affirms that it cannot be assumed that multiple death experiences establish their readiness or ability to handle these experiences and to grieve successfully. It can be concluded that the grieving process of the elderly is not different from any other age group and that they will also require the type of support and assistance considered for younger persons in times of grieving.

scholarly journals Socio-Economic Context of Begging Among the Elderly in Nigeria

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kudus O. Adebayo ◽  
Olufunke Fayehun ◽  
Olugbenga S. Falase ◽  
Isaac A. Adedeji
Keyword(s):  
Policy Process ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Old People ◽  
Southwestern Nigeria ◽  
Demographic Group ◽  
Economic Context ◽  
Depth Interviews

This study utilised a context-based analysis of field observations and fifteen in-depth interviews to examine how begging is practiced by the elderly in a city in Southwestern Nigeria. As both sub-categories of beggars in the population and the larger elderly persons in the society, elderly beggars are a distinct demographic group whose needs differ from the rest of the population. Adopting a livelihood perspective as the exploratory frame, the study explains how beggary constitutes a rational response to economic, social, physiological, institutional and structural imperatives, adopted by old people as a strategy for improving their wellbeing. The study concluded that in trying to eradicate begging among elderly, the context of their emergence must be duly examined and given considerable attention in the policy process. Efforts should also be directed at supporting households headed by the elderly as means of removing the most fundamental social and economic situations that promote begging among old people.

scholarly journals The impact of chronic disease and disability on the elderly

1999 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 9-14
Author(s):  
C. J. Eales
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Impact

Health care systems for elderly people should aim to delay the onset of illness, reducing the final period of infirmity and illness to the shortest possible time. The most effective way to achieve this is by health education and preventative medicine to maintain mobility and function. Changes in life style even in late life may result in improved health, effectively decreasing the incidence of chronic diseases associated with advancing age. This paper presents the problems experienced by elderly persons with chronic diseases and disabilities with indications for meaningful therapeutic interventions.

scholarly journals Social trust and emotional health in rural older adults in China: The mediating and moderating role of subjective well-being and subjective social status

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongsheng Chen ◽  
Zhenjun Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Social Status ◽  
Social Trust ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Subjective Social Status ◽  
Rural Elderly ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
The Impact

Abstract BackgroundChina is becoming an aging society. The emotional health of the elderly is gaining importance. Social trust is an important factor affecting emotional health, but existing studies have rarely considered the various effects of different types of social trust on rural elderly emotional health. Few studies have analysed the role of subjective well-being and subjective social status in the relationship between social trust and elderly emotional health.MethodsUsing the data of the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey 2016 (CLDS 2016) and regression models, this study selected 2084 rural respondents aged 60 years and above to analyse the impact of social trust on their emotional health. Social trust was divided into three categories: trust in family members, trust in friends, and trust in neighbours. This study also examined the mediating and moderating effects of subjective well-being and subjective social status on the relationship between social trust and emotional health.ResultsTrust in family members was significantly and positively associated with emotional health (coefficient=0.194, P<0.01) and subjective well-being (coefficient=0.177, P<0.01). Trust in friends was significantly and positively associated with emotional health and subjective well-being (coefficient=0.097, P<0.01; coefficient=0.174, P<0.01, respectively). Trust in neighbours was significantly and positively associated with emotional health and subjective well-being (coefficient=0.088, P<0.01; coefficient=0.177, P<0.01; respectively). Subjective well-being effectively reduced the impact of social trust in family, friends, and neighbours on the emotional health of the elderly by 0.023, 0.022, and 0.023, respectively. Trust in friends and neighbours significantly and positively affected respondents’ subjective social status (coefficient=0.120, P<0.05; coefficient=0.090, P<0.10; respectively). Subjective social status effectively reduced the impact of social trust in friends and neighbours on the emotional health of the elderly both by 0.004. The positive relationship between trust in family members and emotional health is weakened by subjective well-being.ConclusionsSocial trust, especially family relationships, play an important role in maintaining the emotional health of the rural elderly. In response to population ageing, more social policies must be introduced to care for the rural elderly and help them lead a happy and satisfactory life.

scholarly journals Difficulties encountered in care for elderly persons with dementia: coping based on participatory research

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-43
Author(s):  
Barbara Martins Corrêa da Silva ◽  
Célia Pereira Caldas ◽  
Helena Maria Shchelowski Leal David ◽  
Michel Jean Marie Thiollent
Keyword(s):  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Participatory Research ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Elderly Care ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Care For The Elderly ◽  
People With Dementia

Abstract Objective: to analyze the proposal of an action plan created by nurses to deal with difficulties in caring for the elderly. The aim of the present study was therefore to analyze the difficulties that family caregivers find in relation to access to services, material resources and the support network when meeting the care needs of the elderly in accordance with Brazilian public policy. Method: the methodology of participatory research and content analysis proposed by Bardin was used. The context was the Geriatric service of a university hospital. The group of co-researchers included eight nurses and 12 caregivers of elderly people with dementia. Results: the following categories emerged from the analysis: contradictions and work proposals. The contradictions category revealed reflections about the difference between the proposed care for the elderly and the reality of a lack of care and the precarious conditions of health services. This situation leads to overburdening of caregivers. The work proposals refer to the strategies used by nurses to establish a relationship of support to family caregivers to cope with the difficulties involved in care for the elderly. Conclusion: nurses recognize that they are professionals capable of receiving, listening to and managing the needs of family caregivers of the elderly, thus promoting the health of the elderly and the caregivers themselves, preparing the family of the patient for home care and coping with difficulties experienced in elderly care.

THE IMPACT OF CO-RESIDENT SPOUSES AND SONS ON ELDERLY MORTALITY IN RURAL BANGLADESH

2000 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. OMAR RAHMAN
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Women ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Elderly Person ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Men ◽  
Old People ◽  
Prospective Data ◽  
Rural Bangladesh ◽  
Adult Sons ◽  
The Impact

This paper uses prospective data from the Matlab surveillance system in rural Bangladesh to demonstrate that initially co-resident spouses and sons have a major impact on the subsequent mortality of old people, with significant differences by the sex of the elderly person, and the age of the son. Spouses significantly reduce mortality by similar magnitudes for both elderly men and women. On the other hand, co-resident adult sons reduce mortality for elderly women much more than for elderly men, with younger sons being more beneficial than older sons. Furthermore, both married and unmarried females appear to benefit equally from co-resident adult sons. Finally, this analysis suggests that the impact of spouses and sons on mortality in old age is not substantially mediated through changes in elderly economic status.

scholarly journals Screening of Undiagnosed Hypothyroidism in Elderly Persons with Diabetes according to Age-Specific Reference Intervals for Serum Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and the Impact of Antidiabetes Drugs

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosita Fontes ◽  
Patricia de Fatima dos Santos Teixeira ◽  
Mario Vaisman
Keyword(s):  
Fasting Glucose ◽  
Reference Interval ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Reference Intervals ◽  
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Patients With Diabetes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Tsh Levels

Background. Studies have suggested that hypothyroidism is more frequent in the elderly with diabetes mellitus. However, an adaptation of TSH levels to age should be considered in this assessment. Some antidiabetes drugs reportedly interfere with TSH levels. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of undiagnosed hypothyroidism in patients with diabetes and the influence of antidiabetes drugs.Material and Methods. 1160 subjects, 60 years and older (751 with diabetes), were studied; results were compared according to diabetes treatment and with persons without diabetes. TSH, FT4, antithyroperoxidase, fasting glucose, and HbA1c were measured.Results and Discussion. 6.4% of patients with diabetes had hypothyroidism, a higher prevalence compared with persons without diabetes (5.1%), but lower than observed in many studies. The use of age-specific TSH reference interval (RI) could explain this difference. Patients taking metformin (MTF) had TSH (showed in medians) slightly lower (2.8 mU/L) than those not on MTF (3.3 mU/L),p<0.05. MTF doses influenced TSH levels.Conclusions. The use of specific TSH RI could avoid the misdiagnosis of hypothyroidism in elderly with diabetes. Patients in use of MTF as single drug had lower TSH than those using other medications and persons without diabetes.

Drug—Drug Interactions in the Elderly

2002 ◽  
Vol 36 (11) ◽  
pp. 1675-1681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingeborg K Björkman ◽  
Johan Fastbom ◽  
Ingrid K Schmidt ◽  
Cecilia B Bernsten ◽  
Cecilia B Bernsten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Interactions ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Drug Regimen ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Potential Ddis ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Outpatient Group ◽  
The Impact

OBJECTIVE: To detect the frequency of potential drug—drug interactions (DDIs) in an outpatient group of elderly people in 6 European countries, as well as to describe differences among countries. DATA SOURCES AND METHODS: Drug use data were collected from 1601 elderly persons living in 6 European countries. The study population participated in a controlled intervention study over 18 months investigating the impact of pharmaceutical care. Potential DDIs were studied using a computerized detection program. RESULTS: The elderly population used on average 7.0 drugs per person; 46% had at least 1 drug combination possibly leading to a DDI. On average, there were 0.83 potential DDIs per person. Almost 10% of the potential DDIs were classified to be avoided according to the Swedish interaction classification system, but nearly one-third of them were to be avoided only for predisposed patients. The risk of subtherapeutic effect as a result of a potential DDI was as common as the risk of adverse reactions. Furthermore, we found differences in the frequency and type of potential DDIs among the countries. CONCLUSIONS: Potential DDIs are common in elderly people using many drugs and are part of a normal drug regimen. Some combinations are likely to have negative effects; more attention must be focused on detecting and monitoring patients using such combinations. As differences in potential DDIs among countries were found, the reasons for this variability need to be explored in further studies.

The elderly and undue influence inter vivos

Legal Studies ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona R Burns
Keyword(s):  
Legal Status ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Undue Influence ◽  
Legal Doctrine ◽  
The Law ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Inter Vivos

An important demographic and social trend is becoming indisputably evident in the UK. The population is ageing, and a clearly discernible group of elderly persons is growing. As this trend continues, it will be necessary to reconsider the effectiveness and application of the law from the perspective of the elderly claimant. While it has been recognised that there must be a legal scheme to oversee the care and protection of persons, including elders, who are unable to care for their interests due to severe disability, it is becoming evident that even elders who are apparently healthy and able may be vulnerable. Undue influence inter vivos is a significant legal doctrine upon which elderly people have relied in recent times to set aside gifs, contracts and guarantees which they (or their representatives) have considered in hindsight were not in their best interests. This paper seeks to provide an analysis of and contribute to an understanding of the doctrine of undue influence from the perspective of the elderly claimant in the UK. The paper considers actual and presumed undue influence and the impact of the House of Lords decision in Royal Bank of Scotland plc v Etridge (No2). It will be argued that the law of undue influence inter vivos is in transition from a nineteenth-century doctrine which did not confer a special legal status on the elderly to one which is applied in the context of an increasing recognition that the events leading up to the transaction and the circumstances of the case may indicate that elders need the relief which the doctrine affords. Nevertheless, the transition to a modem system of undue influence for the elderly is incomplete. There remain outstanding issues which need consideration before it can be said that there is a comprehensive or logically coherent approach to elders and undue influence.

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