Predictors of Custodial Grandparents’ Perceived Barriers to the Use of Services

Abstract Getting timely access to help, information, and a variety of services is paramount among the challenges of raising a grandchild, and grandparents face a variety of internal and external barriers in getting such help. The present pilot exploratory study focused on caregiving-related and personal resource variables best predicting grandparent caregivers’ perceptions of barriers to receiving services. Fifty-two grandparents (M age = 59.1) raising their grandchildren completed measures assessing caregiver strain, social support, resilience, self-care, psychosocial adequacy, health, depression, and grandchild relationship quality. They also completed measures of the extent to which they faced personal and caregiving-related difficulties giving rise to the need for services (e.g. health, grandchild well-being, support from others) as well as the extent to which they had experienced barriers to service (health/financial limitations, isolation, transportation, respite care, lack of knowledge of services) in the past 3 months. Correlations (p < .05) suggested that psychosocial adequacy (r = -.32), depression (r = .27), caregiver strain (r = .42) and difficulties (r = .48) were all related to greater perceived barriers. Regression analyses (F7, 40 = 2.81, p < .02) indicated that caregiver strain (Beta = .33, p < .05) and difficulties giving rise to the need for services (Beta = .32, p < .04) emerged as most salient in predicting barriers. These findings underscore the fact that personal, caregiving-related, and interpersonal factors exacerbate the barriers associated with grandparents’ accessing needed services and reinforce such factors’ impact on grandparents as targets for overcoming impediments to accessing services among them.

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EFFECTS OF SOCIAL RELATIONS ON MORTALITY IN THE CONTEXT OF GRANDPARENTING

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.144 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S37-S37

Author(s):

Heejung Jang ◽

Fengyan Tang

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Relations ◽

Well Being ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Custodial Grandparents ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Grandparent Caregivers ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

Grandparent Caregiving ◽

Functional Support

Abstract Issues of health and well-being have received considerable attention as a way to help grandparent caregivers. There is growing evidence that grandparenting is beneficial for grandparent caregivers’ health, yet acting as grandparent caregiver also is detrimental to health and social relations when a grandparent provides an extensive level of care to grandchildren. The extent to which grandparent caregiving benefits or harms of the health of a grandparent is still unknown; mortality specifically has not been systematically studied. Moreover, although altruistic behaviors towards others have been shown to have beneficial effects on caregivers’ health in general, there is little information regarding social relations of grandparent caregivers and their impact on mortality. This study aims to investigate the roles of different aspects of social relations among community-dwelling older adults, examining whether aspects of social relations, including social networks, received functional support aid, and perceived support quality, mediate the association between grandparent caregiving and mortality. The data were drawn from the 2008 and 2014 Health and Retirement Study (N=1,196). Results of survival analyses indicate that custodial and co-parenting grandparents were significantly associated with all-cause mortality over a 6-year period; however, the associations were marginally significant after health statuses were added into the model. Specifically, family-focused network groups were significantly associated with mortality. Received functional support and perceived positive support mediated the association between custodial grandparents and mortality. This study suggests that community-based support may be beneficial to older grandparents and perceived positive relationship quality could matter for older adults’ well-being.

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Theories of Grandparental Stress

Journal of Business and Social Review in Emerging Economies ◽

10.26710/jbsee.v4i1.372 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 101-106

Author(s):

Thamilselvi Pandialagappan ◽

Rahimah Ibrahim

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Well Being ◽

Paper Briefly ◽

Custodial Grandparents ◽

Grandparent Caregivers ◽

Factors Influencing

Many grandparents today have the responsibility of caring for their grandchildren. Clearly, grandparenting has become a complex, diversified role within families. As the number of grandparent-headed households continues to increase in society, so do their stressors. Although it is not a new phenomenon, interest in examining grandparental stress is relatively new. The focus of this paper is to provide an overview of theories and factors influencing grandparental stress. The paper briefly reviews theories to explain causes of grandparental stress. Based on the reviewed theories, it can be concluded that grandparental stress is a multifactorial problem that appears to affect grandparent caregivers overall well-being. The stress experienced by custodial grandparents was related to their caregiving situation, the subsequent environmental and socioeconomic status.

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Case Studies for Telepractice in AAC

Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication ◽

10.1044/aac23.1.42 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 42-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tanya Rose Curtis

Keyword(s):

Service Delivery ◽

Case Studies ◽

Eye Gaze ◽

Cognitive Impairments ◽

Perceived Barriers ◽

Computer Experience ◽

Access Methods ◽

Complex Communication Needs ◽

Barriers To Service ◽

Communication Needs

As the field of telepractice grows, perceived barriers to service delivery must be anticipated and addressed in order to provide appropriate service delivery to individuals who will benefit from this model. When applying telepractice to the field of AAC, additional barriers are encountered when clients with complex communication needs are unable to speak, often present with severe quadriplegia and are unable to position themselves or access the computer independently, and/or may have cognitive impairments and limited computer experience. Some access methods, such as eye gaze, can also present technological challenges in the telepractice environment. These barriers can be overcome, and telepractice is not only practical and effective, but often a preferred means of service delivery for persons with complex communication needs.

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Empowering families facing end-stage nonmalignant chronic diseases with a holistic, transdisciplinary, community-based intervention: 3 months outcome of the Life Rainbow Program

Palliative & Supportive Care ◽

10.1017/s1478951520001224 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Man-Chi Law ◽

Bobo Hi-Po Lau ◽

Anna Y. Y. Kwok ◽

Judy S. H. Lee ◽

Rain N. Y. Lui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Diseases ◽

Information Needs ◽

Well Being ◽

Caregiver Strain ◽

Spiritual Support ◽

Community Based ◽

Average Hospital ◽

Hospital Bed ◽

Bed Days ◽

End Stage

Abstract Objectives Families facing end-stage nonmalignant chronic diseases (NMCDs) are presented with similar symptom burdens and need for psycho-social–spiritual support as their counterparts with advanced cancers. However, NMCD patients tend to face more variable disease trajectories, and thus may require different anticipatory supports, delivered in familiar environments. The Life Rainbow Programme (LRP) provides holistic, transdisciplinary, community-based end-of-life care for patients with NMCDs and their caregivers. This paper reports on the 3-month outcomes using a single-group, pre–post comparison. Method Patients with end-stage NMCDs were screened for eligibility by a medical team before being referred to the LRP. Patients were assessed at baseline (T0), 1 month (T1), and 3 months (T2) using the Integrated Palliative Outcome Scale (IPOS). Their hospital use in the previous month was also measured by presentations at accident and emergency services, admissions to intensive care units, and number of hospital bed-days. Caregivers were assessed at T0 and T2 using the Chinese version of the Modified Caregiver Strain Index, and self-reported health, psychological, spiritual, and overall well-being. Over-time changes in outcomes for patients, and caregivers, were tested using paired-sample t-tests, Wilcoxon-signed rank tests, and chi-square tests. Results Seventy-four patients and 36 caregivers participated in this research study. Patients reported significant improvements in all IPOS domains at both 1 and 3 months [ranging from Cohen's d = 0.495 (nausea) to 1.793 (depression and information needs fulfilled)]. Average hospital bed-days in the previous month fell from 3.50 to 1.68, comparing baseline and 1 month (p < 0.05). At 3 months, caregiver strain was significantly reduced (r = 0.332), while spiritual well-being was enhanced (r = 0.333). Significance After receiving 3 month's LRP services, patients with end-stage NMCDs and their caregivers experienced significant improvements in the quality of life and well-being, and their hospital bed-days were reduced.

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Caregiver strain and quality of life 6 - 36 Months post stroke

South African Journal of Physiotherapy ◽

10.4102/sajp.v69i4.382 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 69 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J. Hilton ◽

W. Mudzi ◽

V. Ntsiea ◽

S. Olorunju

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

High Strain ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Caregiver Strain ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Demographic Information ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Post Stroke

Background: Caregivers of patients with stroke are central in providing for the patient’s needs post stroke. The well-being and quality of life of the caregiver is important in the rehabilitation of the patient with stroke. This study sought to establish the: functional level of patients, level of strain and quality of life of the caregiver, and the factors that influence caregivers’ quality of life six to 36 months post stroke. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study which included 35 patients six to 36 months post stroke and their primary caregiver utilising a sample of convenience from local clinics/hospitals in Johannesburg. Demographic information was obtained from the patient and the caregiver using a questionnaire. The Barthel Index (BI), Caregiver Strain Index (CSI) and the EQ-5D were also administered. Results: On the BI, 60% of the patients were moderately dependent to independent while 77% of the caregivers were strained. Older caregivers were 81% more likely to experience a decrease in quality of life than younger caregivers. Conclusion: A large proportion of patients are discharged from hospital without receving rehabilitation and are still dependent on caregivers six to 36 months post stroke. Caregivers of patients with stroke need more support from health professionals to mitigate against the high strain and low quality of life that they experience when caring for patients six to 36 months post stroke.

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Changing the Irish dietary guidelines to incorporate the principles of the Mediterranean diet: proposing the MedÉire diet

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s136898001800246x ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 375-381 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Audrey C Tierney ◽

Ioannis Zabetakis

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Well Being ◽

Dietary Guidelines ◽

Perceived Barriers ◽

Low Fat Diet ◽

Mediterranean Countries ◽

Food Pyramid ◽

Health And Well Being

AbstractObjectiveIn Ireland, the major causes of death are CVD. The current Irish healthy eating guidelines and food pyramid primarily advocate a low-fat diet. However, there is overwhelming scientific evidence for the benefits of a Mediterranean diet (Med Diet) in the prevention and management of metabolic disease as well as improving overall health and well-being. In the current commentary, the rationale to incorporate the principles of the Med Diet into the Irish dietary guidelines is presented.DesignPerspectives of authors.SettingLocal and international.SubjectsPopulations in Europe, North America and Australia.ResultsAdopting components of the Med Diet presents a more evidence-based approach to updating the current Irish dietary guidelines. Experience and lessons from other non-Mediterranean countries show that it could be a feasible and effective solution to improving the dietary habits of the Irish population to prevent and mange chronic diseases.ConclusionsPolicies and programmes to address perceived barriers to the Med Diet’s implementation and uptake in non-Mediterranean countries should be promoted.

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Direct and Indirect Effects of the Physical Aspects of the Environment on Mental Well-Being

Environment and Behavior ◽

10.1177/0013916516679876 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 49 (10) ◽

pp. 1071-1104 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Sara Hadavi

Keyword(s):

Indirect Effects ◽

Well Being ◽

Perceived Barriers ◽

Direct And Indirect Effects ◽

Social Spaces ◽

Neighborhood Satisfaction ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Outdoor Spaces ◽

Environmental Attributes ◽

Mental Well Being

This study investigated the mediating role of neighborhood satisfaction and use of outdoor spaces in the effects of the physical environment on mental well-being. Four planning/design-related aspects of the environment were examined: perceived proximity of home to green/social spaces, open lawn with trees, and building-dominated spaces as well as perceived barriers to neighborhood use. A random sample of 434 Chicago residents participated in a photo survey. The results of linear regression modeling and mediation analyses support the hypothesis that satisfaction with quality of public space and frequency of use of green/social spaces have a significant mediating role in the relationship between nearby environmental attributes and mental well-being. Perceived barriers were also found to have both direct and indirect effects on mental well-being. Recognition of the differential roles played by environmental attributes, neighborhood satisfaction, and use patterns can help guide planners/designers to create outdoor spaces that enhance urban residents’ mental well-being.

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Carers’ experiences of timely access to and use of dementia care services in eight European countries

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x19001119 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hannah Jelley ◽

Liselot Kerpershoek ◽

Frans Verhey ◽

Claire Wolfs ◽

Marjolein de Vugt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Service Use ◽

Study Participant ◽

Formal Care ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Care Services ◽

People With Dementia ◽

Timely Access ◽

Mixed Feelings ◽

Barriers To Service ◽

Person With Dementia

AbstractTimely access to care services is crucial to support people with dementia and their family carers to live well. Carers of people with dementia (N = 390), recruited from eight countries, completed semi-structured interviews about their experiences of either accessing or not using formal care services over a 12-month period in the Access to Timely Formal Care (Actifcare) study. Participant responses were summarised using content analysis, categorised into clusters and frequencies were calculated. Less than half of the participants (42.3%) reported service use. Of those using services, 72.8 per cent reported timely access and of those not using services 67.2 per cent were satisfied with this situation. However, substantial minorities either reported access at the wrong time (27.2%), or feeling dissatisfied or mixed feelings about not accessing services (32.8%). Reasons for not using services included use not necessary yet, the carer provided support or refusal. Reasons given for using services included changes in the condition of the person with dementia, the service's ability to meet individual needs, not coping or the opportunity to access services arose. Facilitators and barriers to service use included whether participants experienced supportive professionals, the speed of the process, whether the general practitioner was helpful, participant's own proactive attitude and the quality of information received. To achieve timely support, simplified pathways to use of formal care services are needed.

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