Institutional Racism in Old Age: Theoretical Perspectives and a Case Study About Access to Social Services

Author(s):  
Micheal J. MacLean ◽  
Nancy Siew ◽  
Dawn Fowler ◽  
Ian Graham

ABSTRACTThis paper presents an analysis of access to social and health services of elderly people at three community and social service centres (CLSCs) in Montreal. Workers at the CLSCs were interviewed about service accessibility for elderly people in their neighbourhood. The elderly clientele of one CLSC, located in the centre of Montreal, primarily consists of French-Canadians and English-Canadians; the second CLSC is in a neighbourhood with many elderly Portuguese and the third CLSC is in a neighbourhood where a large concentration of elderly Chinese people live. No problems of access to services were perceived for elderly French-Canadian, English-Canadian or Portuguese people while serious problems of access were perceived for elderly Chinese people. Services provided for elderly people of the dominant cultures and elderly Portuguese are limited or unavailable to elderly Chinese people of Montreal. This suggests institutional racism against elderly Chinese people.

Author(s):  
Cristina Bosch-Farré ◽  
Maria Carmen Malagón-Aguilera ◽  
David Ballester-Ferrando ◽  
Carme Bertran-Noguer ◽  
Anna Bonmatí-Tomàs ◽  
...  

Background: Most elderly people wish to grow old at their own homes. The sociodemographic characteristics; home and neighbourhood conditions; and the social services support and networks are determinants in the possibility of “ageing in place”. The present study aimed to explore the ageing in place phenomenon, as well as the enablers and barriers that interact in a healthy ageing from the perspective of the elderly connected to local entities. Methods: A generic qualitative design was proposed in the Health Region of Girona in Catalonia (Spain). Seventy-one elderly people were purposefully selected. Six focus groups were conducted, and data were thematically analysed. Results: Three key themes were generated: (1) Participants experienced ageing differently. The physical and mental health, the family environment and financial stability were key elements for life quality. (2) The perception of the elderly’s role in the community depended on their age, health status and attitude towards life. (3) The participants identified several enablers and barriers to healthy ageing in place. Conclusions: The promotion of older people’s autonomy and wellbeing, together with the creation of an active network of health and social services, may improve the possibility for elderly to age at home and avoid or delay institutionalisation.


1993 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 120-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jackie Pool

In piloting an occupational therapy service in Hampshire Social Services' homes for elderly people, it became evident that the occupational therapy philosophy of enabling independence was perceived by the staff of the homes to be contrary to their role as carers. An approach was required which could demonstrate that the concept of care was not incompatible with that of independence and the CARE© approach was developed. This uses a mnemonic device to show that there are four factors that combine to result in the act of caring: Communicating, Assisting, Rehabilitating and Empathising. When all four factors are present, independence is promoted by enabling the elderly person to function to his/her maximum potential. The CARE approach is currently being used in Hampshire Social Services' homes for elderly people in training programmes for staff. The approach is appropriate to anyone who is involved in caring for others. It is used as a framework that assists the carer to make the transition to the role of an enabler.


Author(s):  
Marina A. Shurgaya

Disability of the elderly age group of the population is the most important problem of public health and social services of all developed countries over the world without exception. In the Russian Federation, this age segment is characterized by the gain, reflecting the global process of population aging. The aim of the study was to analyze the nosological structure of the primary and secondary disability in elderly people in comparison with the main age categories of the adult population in the Russian Federation and the evaluation of rehabilitation / rehabilitation activities for disabled people. The volume of the study was 34,840,933 people aged of from 18 years and over, recognized as disabled, including the disabled elderly - 12,971,062. The subject of a special study was the nature of functional disorders, the degree of the disability, the nosological spectrum of causes of the disability of elderly people and the effectiveness of implemented measures of medical and social rehabilitation (rehabilitation and expert characterization). The study was selective, the sample size account of 370 people. The results of the research demonstrate the nosological structure of the pathology, the associated types of impairments and the nature of the disability to determine the severity of the disability in elderly people, the complexity of the formation and implementation of individual programs for the rehabilitation and rehabilitation of disabled people (IPRA). The improvement of the quality of life and integrating disabled people into the society has been and remains a difficult task for rehabilitation and habilitation activities. Rehabilitation and provision of technical means of rehabilitation, to a lesser extent - social and professional rehabilitation are the most feasible for the implementation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-148
Author(s):  
K.Е. Tauenov ◽  

The article is devoted to studying the issue of social services in nursing homes as a factor of successful adaptation of elderly people in new conditions. The main legal acts in the field of protection of the rights of the elderly and disabled people are considered today. The subject of the research is the living conditions of elderly people living in nursing homes, and the impact of social services provided to them on their socio-economic and psychological adaptation. In order to improve the quality of social services in the future, to facilitate the social adaptation of the elderly, to develop proposals to Supplement the legislation on social protection of the elderly in General. Thereby increasing the ability of older people to adapt to social homes.


2020 ◽  
pp. 241-252
Author(s):  
Laurence G. Branch ◽  
Daniel J. Friedman ◽  
Marc A. Cohen ◽  
Nancy Smith ◽  
Elinor Socholitzky

Author(s):  
Irina V. Temaeva ◽  

The article reveals the features of the speech transformations of the elderly people associated with the changes in both biological and social characters. The stereotypes of age perception, ageism as a practice in communicating with the elderly, «secondary babbling» are considered. The practical recommendations aimed at removing barriers in interaction with an elderly person and their relevance in the field of social services for this category of citizens are highlighted.


Author(s):  
Volodymyr Dzhuhan ◽  
Ruslana Dzhuhan

The relevance of the article is due to the process of progressive aging of the population, so it requires from society to find new ways to work with the elderly and their needs’ realization. The article characterizes the current state of the category of elderly people in Ukrainian society. It is noted that support for the elderly is provided through a variety of resources, for example, formal and informal support networks, volunteering, the state, family, community, and society in general. The formal support network is implemented through the social policy of the state, which is focused on assisting in ensuring the rights of the elderly to their social protection of constitutional rights and freedoms. The aim of the article is to reveal the peculiarities of the needs’ realization of the elderly through formal and informal support networks. Research methods applied: generalization − to study the formal network of support, which is implemented through the social policy of the state and focused on constitutional rights for the elderly and social protection; analysis − combining and representing connections of individual elements, parties, components of a complex phenomenon and so in the comprehension of the whole in its components’ unity. The directions of reforming the system of social services are aimed at an authoritative legal framework, where social protection of the elderly would be enshrined at the appropriate level. They includ: deinstitutionalisation through the creation of a wide network of services and facilities that can provide quality services in the community; involvement of non-governmental organizations in the provision of social services; approach of social services to the place of residence; decentralization of management processes, financing, location of services; empowering older people to choose services and participate in the process; increasing the effectiveness of the provision of social services through the study of needs at the individual level and within individual administrative-territorial units; introduction of quality improvement technologies, including monitoring, evaluation and control.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Samantha Anne Harding Hutcheson

<p>This research focuses on the Kāpiti Coast District community social services sector, exploring their experience of the 2008 economic and central government social policy changes. The recession and changing social policies increased pressure on the sector, at the same time as they were responding to increased stress and uncertainty in their communities. The research became an opportunity to give voice to the Kāpiti Coast community social services sector. The research was undertaken from a constructionist perspective, using critical inquiry and case study approaches. The research is presented in an approachable way, as it is hoped that the learning will be used by both the community sector and local government to help improve the way they work together. After setting the scene, the methodology used to listen to the Kāpiti Coast community social services sector is explained. The focus then moves onto the sector. Next, the themes that emerged from the data collected during the research are explored. To increase understanding of these themes, a number of theoretical perspectives are used, which have been selected across a range of disciplines, drawing most strongly on the social work discipline. The voice of the participants has been given primacy at all times; which is in line with the intention of the research, which is to empower the Kāpiti Coast community social services sector. It was helpful to delve into the triangle of relationships: the community social services sector, central and local government, and understand these relationships better. The way that the Kāpiti Coast community social services sector perceives itself, and how it works together and with others, proved a very interesting area of research. The research concludes that listening to the sector on their own terms is a way of addressing the power imbalance and an important step in improving the relationship between the sector and local government. Creating a bridge between the sectors can enable good place-based work to occur to improve social wellbeing in the Kāpiti Coast communities.</p>


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