Older people coping with low mood: a qualitative study

ABSTRACTBackground:To gain new insight into support for older people with low mood, the perceptions, strategies, and needs of older people with depressive symptoms were explored.Methods:Two in-depth interviews were held with 38 participants (aged ≥77 years) who screened positive for depressive symptoms in general practice. To investigate the influence of the presence of complex health problems, 19 persons with and 19 without complex problems were included. Complex problems were defined as a combination of functional, somatic, psychological or social problems.Results:All participants used several cognitive, social or practical coping strategies. Four patterns emerged: mastery, acceptance, ambivalence, and need for support. Most participants felt they could deal with their feelings sufficiently, whereas a few participants with complex problems expressed a need for professional support. Some participants, especially those with complex problems, were ambivalent about possible interventions mainly because they feared putting their fragile balance at risk due to changes instigated by an intervention.Conclusion:Most older participants with depressive symptoms perceived their coping strategies to be sufficient. The general practitioners (GPs) can support self-management by talking about the (effectiveness of) personal coping strategies, elaborating on perceptions of risks, providing information, and discussing alternative options with older persons.

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Social Exclusion and Older Persons: A Case of Millennium of Isolation

Global Sociological Review ◽

10.31703/gsr.2020(v-ii).01 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol V (II) ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Mahwish Zeeshan

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Social Exclusion ◽

Old Age ◽

Older Persons ◽

Private Institutions ◽

Health Issues ◽

Union Council ◽

The Social ◽

Old Age Poverty ◽

Depth Interviews

Old age social exclusion is a crucial issue all over the world. The ways in which social exclusion may affect older people have largely been neglected. This article seeks to generate a better understanding of the dimensions of social exclusion relevant to older people highlighting the causes and effects of social exclusion of old age. Poverty and health issues are important elements of the social exclusion. This data is based on in-depth interviews from the old age people of union council Jalalabad in Multan. 38 respondents were selected from the union council Jalalabad through purposive sampling. Based on in-depth interviews of the respondents containing questions related to the causes and effects of social exclusion it is recommended that government and private institutions should promote the awareness in people to alleviate the social exclusion issue from the society.

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Identifying Cultural Strengths Of Afghan Refugees As A Source Of Their Resilience

10.32920/ryerson.14657742 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Venos Kohistani

Keyword(s):

Coping Strategies ◽

Cultural Values ◽

Cultural Resources ◽

Integration Process ◽

Afghan Refugees ◽

One Year ◽

Depth Interviews ◽

Insight Into ◽

Afghan Migrants ◽

Gaining Insight

This study examined the cultural resources of Afghan migrants and their relationship to the experience of resilience. The study explores the integration process of Afghan migrants as a way of gaining insight into their cultural values, beliefs and characteristics that play a role in facilitating their resilience. Participants in the study included six adult newcomer Afghans (1 Male and 5 Females) who have resided in Canada for over one year and under ten years. They were interviewed separately using open-ended in-depth interviews. The analysis of the interviews resulted in two core themes (1) Personal coping strategies and (2) Cultural resources as coping strategies. The results determined that Afghans utilize some aspects of cultural collectivity, as well as positive cultural values and characteristics when dealing with the adversities of settlement and adaptation.

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Identifying Cultural Strengths Of Afghan Refugees As A Source Of Their Resilience

10.32920/ryerson.14657742.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Venos Kohistani

Keyword(s):

Coping Strategies ◽

Cultural Values ◽

Cultural Resources ◽

Integration Process ◽

Afghan Refugees ◽

One Year ◽

Depth Interviews ◽

Insight Into ◽

Afghan Migrants ◽

Gaining Insight

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Untreated depressive symptoms significantly worsen quality of life in old age and may lead to the misdiagnosis of dementia: a cross-sectional study

Annals of General Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12991-020-00302-6 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Viktor Voros ◽

Sandor Fekete ◽

Tamas Tenyi ◽

Zoltan Rihmer ◽

Ilona Szili ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Older People ◽

Old Age ◽

Older Persons ◽

Screening Tools ◽

Cognitive Symptoms

Abstract Background Several studies demonstrated the role of depressive mood and cognitive impairment in the background of elevated mortality and decreased Quality of Life (QoL) in old age. Our aim was to assess depressive and cognitive symptoms among older people in order to determine if those are recognized and treated or not, to elucidate the association between them and to investigate their impact on QoL. Methods In the framework of the ICT4Life project self-administered questionnaires and clinical screening tools were used to assess QoL, depressive symptoms and cognitive functions of 60 older persons over the age of 65. Results Males found to be depressed (53.8 vs. 40.4%) and cognitively declined (53.8 vs. 48.9%) more frequently; and had higher scores on the depression (6.85 vs. 5.32) and lower on the QoL (47.38 vs. 50.19) scales. Depressed older persons had lower cognitive levels (24.39 vs. 21.52) and their QoL was significantly poorer (53.97 vs. 43.85) than that of the non-depressed subjects. Depressive symptoms were detected in almost half of the older adults (43.9%), and the majority (80.77%) did not receive antidepressant medication. Conclusions Depressive and cognitive symptoms found to be common among older people, but were not recognized and treated in most cases. Close correlation between depression and cognitive impairment was also confirmed, as well as the key role of depression in the background of pseudo-dementia and QoL decline. Early recognition of depressive symptoms is important not only to treat the underlying mood disorder, but also to improve QoL of older persons.

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Lived experiences of the adjustment of older employees to re-employment in Singapore: A Bourdieusian perspective

Journal of Sociology ◽

10.1177/14407833211018854 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 144078332110188

Author(s):

Jianbin Xu ◽

Kalyani K Mehta ◽

David Wan

Keyword(s):

Conceptual Framework ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Lived Experiences ◽

Older Persons ◽

Working Life ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Older Employees ◽

Adjustment Strategies ◽

Depth Interviews ◽

Insight Into

The Singapore government promulgated the Retirement and Re-employment Act in 2012 to promote extending working life. This article offers insight into the utility of Bourdieu’s conceptual framework of habitus, field and capital in exploring how older employees in Singapore adjust to re-employment. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 re-employed older persons consisting of four women and six men. The thematic analysis of the data indicated that a series of adjustment strategies underpinned by the realism-, positivity-, productivity- and proactivity-oriented habitus synergized to empower research participants to navigate through the field of re-employment. The article proposes that in the Singapore context policy makers and employers need to take a habitus-sensitive approach to re-employed older persons, developing a habitus-friendly field of re-employment.

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Understanding Why Older People Develop a Wish to Die

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000078 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 204-216 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

M. L. Rurup ◽

H. R. W. Pasman ◽

J. Goedhart ◽

D. J. H. Deeg ◽

A. J. F. M. Kerkhof ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Cohort Studies ◽

Conceptual Framework ◽

Life Events ◽

Traumatic Life Events ◽

Quantitative Studies ◽

Wish To Die ◽

Open Coding ◽

Death Wishes ◽

Depth Interviews

Background: Quantitative studies in several European countries showed that 10–20% of older people have or have had a wish to die. Aims: To improve our understanding of why some older people develop a wish to die. Methods: In-depth interviews with people with a wish to die (n = 31) were carried out. Through open coding and inductive analysis, we developed a conceptual framework to describe the development of death wishes. Respondents were selected from two cohort studies. Results: The wish to die had either been triggered suddenly after traumatic life events or had developed gradually after a life full of adversity, as a consequence of aging or illness, or after recurring depression. The respondents were in a situation they considered unacceptable, yet they felt they had no control to change their situation and thus progressively “gave up” trying. Recurring themes included being widowed, feeling lonely, being a victim, being dependent, and wanting to be useful. Developing thoughts about death as a positive thing or a release from problems seemed to them like a way to reclaim control. Conclusions: People who wish to die originally develop thoughts about death as a positive solution to life events or to an adverse situation, and eventually reach a balance of the wish to live and to die.

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Young Adults’ Contextualization of Environmental and Sustainability Issues: A Critical Issue for Environmental Education Intervention

Journal of Education in Black Sea Region ◽

10.31578/jebs.v3i1.116 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Anthony KOLA-OLUSANYA

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Environmental Education ◽

Lived Experiences ◽

Critical Issue ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Research Approach ◽

Face To Face ◽

Research Questions ◽

Depth Interviews ◽

Insight Into

As soon as decision makers are expected to make differences towards sustainable future, young adults’ ability to make informed and sound decisions is considered essential towards securing our planet. This study provides an insight into young adults’ knowledge of key environment and sustainability issues. To answer the key research questions, data were obtained using a qualitative phenomenographic research approach and collected through 18 face-to-face in-depth interviews with research participants. The findings of this study suggest that young adults lived experiences that play a huge role in their level of awareness of topical environmental and sustainability issues critical to humanity’s future on earth.

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Older people living at home: experiences of healthy ageing

Primary Health Care Research & Development ◽

10.1017/s1463423621000049 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 ◽

Author(s):

Astrid Fjell ◽

Kristin Ådnøy Eriksen ◽

Monica Hermann ◽

Anne-Marie Boström ◽

Seiger Berit Cronfalk

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Older People ◽

Older Persons ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Healthy Ageing ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Care Services ◽

Manifest Content ◽

Professional Perspective ◽

At Home

Abstract Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate how old persons perceived their life to be, how they viewed the ageing process and their need of health care and societal support. Background: The purpose of WHO’s Healthy Ageing strategy and development of age-friendly environments is to support physiological and psychosocial changes in old persons by facilitating basic needs. Interventions to operationalize these needs in older people living at home are often developed from a professional perspective and to a small extent involves the perceptions, experience and expectations of the older persons. Method: This qualitative study has an explorative design using focus group discussions to collect data. In all, 34 persons between 69 and 93 years of age participated in seven group discussions. The interviews were analyzed using inductive manifest content analysis. Findings: The main results suggest that most old persons enjoyed life and wished it to continue for as long as possible. Important was to sustain networks and to feel useful. Unexpected changes were described as threats and the need to use health care services was associated with illness and being dependent. The result is presented in three categories with sub-categories: ‘Embracing life’, ‘Dealing with challenges’ and ‘Considering the future’.

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The practice of envelope journalism in the Republic of the Congo

Newspaper Research Journal ◽

10.1177/0739532921990763 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 111-126

Author(s):

Cleves Nkie Mongo

Keyword(s):

Journalism Ethics ◽

Financial Situation ◽

Financial Difficulties ◽

News Organizations ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

The Republic ◽

Congo Brazzaville ◽

Depth Interviews ◽

Insight Into

This article provides insight into the “brown envelope journalism” in the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville). Through in-depth interviews with journalists from four major Congolese news outlets, this research reveals how financial difficulties result in reporters justifying their violations of journalism ethics and standards. While two news outlets accept bribes to compensate for their precarious financial situation, two other news organizations pretend that they oppose envelope journalism although this research shows that their reporters also secretly accept bribes.

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Impact of an integrated community-based model of care for older people with complex conditions on hospital emergency presentations and admissions: a step-wedged cluster randomized trial

BMC Health Services Research ◽

10.1186/s12913-021-06668-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jennifer Mann ◽

Fintan Thompson ◽

Robyn McDermott ◽

A. Esterman ◽

Edward Strivens

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Older Persons ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Trial Registration ◽

Significant Finding ◽

Complex Needs ◽

Primary Practice ◽

The Impact ◽

Open Arch

Abstract Background Health systems must reorient towards preventative and co-ordinated care to reduce hospital demand and achieve positive and fiscally responsible outcomes for older persons with complex needs. Integrated care models can improve outcomes by aligning primary practice with the specialist health and social services required to manage complex needs. This paper describes the impact of a community-facing program that integrates care at the primary-secondary interface on the rate of Emergency Department (ED) presentation and hospital admissions among older people with complex needs. Methods The Older Persons Enablement and Rehabilitation for Complex Health Conditions (OPEN ARCH) study is a multicentre randomised controlled trial with a stepped wedge cluster design. General practitioners (GPs; n = 14) in primary practice within the Cairns region are considered ‘clusters’ each comprising a mixed number of participants. 80 community-dwelling persons over 70 years of age if non-Indigenous and over 50 years of age if Indigenous were included at baseline with no new participants added during the study. Clusters were randomly assigned to one of three steps that represent the time at which they would commence the OPEN ARCH intervention, and the subsequent intervention duration (3, 6, or 9 months). Each participant was its own control. GPs and participants were not blinded. The primary outcomes were ED presentations and hospital admissions. Data were collected from Queensland Health Casemix data and analysed with multilevel mixed-effects Poisson regression modelling to estimate the effectiveness of the OPEN ARCH intervention. Data were analysed at the cluster and participant levels. Results Five clusters were randomised to steps 1 and 2, and 4 clusters randomised to step 3. All clusters (n = 14) completed the trial accounting for 80 participants. An effect size of 9% in service use (95% CI) was expected. The OPEN ARCH intervention was found to not make a statistically significant difference to ED presentations or admissions. However, a stabilising of ED presentations and a trend toward lower hospitalisation rates over time was observed. Conclusions While this study detected no statistically significant change in ED presentations or hospital admissions, a plateauing of ED presentation and admission rates is a clinically significant finding for older persons with complex needs. Multi-sectoral integrated programs of care require an adequate preparation period and sufficient duration of intervention for effectiveness to be measured. Trial registration The OPEN ARCH study received ethical approval from the Far North Queensland Human Research Ethics Committee, HREC/17/QCH/104–1174 and is registered on the Australian and New Zealand Trials Registry, ACTRN12617000198325p.

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