Utilization of Formal and Informal Home Care: How Do Older Canadians’ Experiences Vary by Care Arrangements?

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeonjung Lee ◽  
Rachel Barken ◽  
Ernest Gonzales
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Canadian Community Health Survey ◽  
Formal Care ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Care Recipients ◽  
Community Health Survey

This study investigates how the receipt of formal, informal, and/or a combination of both types of care at home relates to older adults’ perceived loneliness, life satisfaction, and day-to-day lives. Quantitative analyses using the Canadian Community Health Survey ( n = 3,928) reveal that older adults who only received formal care reported lower levels of loneliness and higher levels of life satisfaction when compared with respondents who received informal or a blend of home care. Qualitative analyses of persons aged 65+ years receiving formal and informal home care in Ontario ( n = 34) suggest that formal care bolstered care recipients’ autonomy and reduced their sense of being a burden on family. In turn, receiving formal care served to improve these older adults’ social connectedness and well-being. Findings underscore older adults’ symbolic, functional, and emotional attachment to formal care services, as well as the limitations of a reliance on informal support.

Challenges associated with the recognition and treatment of depression in older recipients of home care services

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 514-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liat Ayalon ◽  
Daniela Fialová ◽  
Patricia A. Areán ◽  
Graziano Onder
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Home Environment ◽  
Home Care Services ◽  
Caregiver Distress ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Psychotherapeutic Interventions ◽  
Care Recipients ◽  
Treatment Of Depression ◽  
Older Recipients

ABSTRACTBackground: Home care for older adults is a common phenomenon worldwide because it allows older adults to remain in their home environment. Research has shown that depression is frequently found in older recipients of home care services. Nonetheless, it is often poorly recognized and treated. Untreated or poorly treated depression in older home care recipients has been associated with a variety of negative outcomes, including increased morbidity and mortality, greater likelihood of nursing home institutionalization and higher caregiver distress.Methods: The present review outlines some of the challenges associated with appropriate recognition and treatment of depression in older home care recipients.Results: Our review demonstrates that more aggressive management of depressive symptoms and the employment of an interdiciplinary team can result in beneficial outcomes.Conclusions: Further research is needed, especially in the area of psychotherapeutic interventions as these should be flexible enough to meet the unique and evolving needs of this frail population of older adults.

scholarly journals Weight, Weight Perceptions, and Health and Well-Being Among Canadian Adolescents: Evidence From the 2017-2018 Canadian Community Health Survey

2021 ◽  
pp. 089011712110310
Author(s):  
Lei Chai ◽  
Jia Xue
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Canadian Community Health Survey ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Weight Perceptions ◽  
Community Health Survey ◽  
Health And Well Being

Purpose: The present study examines the extent to which (mis)matched weight and weight perceptions predict adolescents’ self-rated health, mental health, and life satisfaction. Design: Quantitative, cross-sectional study. Setting: Data from the 2017-2018 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS)—a nationally representative sample collected by Statistics Canada. Participants: Canadian adolescents aged between 12 and 17 (n = 8,081). Measures: The dependent variables are self-rated health, mental health, and life satisfaction. The independent variable is (mis)matched weight and weight perceptions. Analysis: We perform a series of ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models. Results: Overweight adolescents with overweight perceptions are associated with poorer self-rated health (b = −.546, p < .001 for boys; b = −.476, p < .001 for girls), mental health (b = −.278, p < .001 for boys; b = −.433, p < .001 for girls), and life satisfaction (b = −.544, p < .001 for boys; b = −.617, p < .001 for girls) compared to their counterparts with normal weight and normal weight perceptions. Similar patterns have also been observed among normal weight adolescents with overweight perceptions (e.g., normal weight adolescents with overweight perceptions are associated with poorer self-rated health (b = −.541, p < .01 for boys; b = −.447, p < .001 for girls)). Conclusion: Normal weight adolescents are not immune to adverse self-rated health, mental health, and life satisfaction because their weight perceptions are also a contributing factor to health and well-being consequences.

scholarly journals Linkages between informal and formal care-givers in home-care networks of frail older adults

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 1604-1624 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARIANNE JACOBS ◽  
THEO VAN TILBURG ◽  
PETER GROENEWEGEN ◽  
MARJOLEIN BROESE VAN GROENOU
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Informal Care ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Care Recipient ◽  
Formal Care ◽  
Care Giver ◽  
Care Network ◽  
Care Givers ◽  
Care Recipients

ABSTRACTIn ageing societies, policy makers aim for more contact between informal and formal care-givers as it may enhance the quality of care. So far, the linkage between formal and informal care-givers is generally studied from a one-sided or a single dyadic perspective, without taking into account that care networks of community-dwelling older adults often exist of multiple informal and formal care-givers. The current study examines discussion of care between all potential informal–formal care-giver dyads in a care network, and relates this to characteristics of the older care recipient, the care network and the care-givers. Seventy-four Dutch older care recipients provided information on all care-givers who helped with five different types of tasks; 410 care-givers reported on the contact between all care-givers identified. Multi-level logistic regression was conducted in 2,150 informal–formal care-giver dyads and revealed that in 26 per cent of all these dyads discussion on care occurred. This was more likely when both care-givers performed multiple types of tasks, the informal care-giver was residing with the care recipient, and contact within the formal and the informal sub-network was higher. To enhance discussion of care between informal and formal care-givers in care networks where no discussion occurs at all, home-care organisations may need to allocate formal care-givers who form a bridge with an extra-residential care-giver of care recipients living alone.

scholarly journals Impact of the Outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Formal and Informal Care of Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Cross-National Clustering of Empirical Evidence from 23 Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7277
Author(s):  
Aviad Tur-Sinai ◽  
Netta Bentur ◽  
Paolo Fabbietti ◽  
Giovanni Lamura
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Informal Care ◽  
Home Care Services ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽  
Informal Help

The COVID-19 pandemic has been dramatically affecting the life of older adults with care needs and their family caregivers. This study illustrates how the initial outbreak of the pandemic changed the supply of formal and informal care to older adults in European countries and Israel and assesses the resilience of these countries in providing support to their older populations by means of a mix of both types of care. We subjected data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe COVID-19 period (SHARE-COVID-19) across 23 European countries (including Israel) to descriptive and cluster analyses. In the first wave of the outbreak, a significant proportion of older adults in European countries received informal help, with an increase in the frequency of informal help received from children, neighbors, friends, or colleagues and a decrease in that received from other relatives. In most countries, difficulties in receiving home care services from professional providers were reported. Seven clusters were identified, reflecting different combinations of changes in the formal/informal care provision. In most countries, informal care is more resilient than home care services that formal providers deliver. Since they are an essential source for sustainable care, their challenges related to care should be addressed. The impact of the pandemic does not follow the traditional characterization of welfare regimes. A clustering effort may yield more understanding of the priorities that future care policies should exhibit at the national level and may identify potential systems for policymakers to enhance sustainability of care for community-dwelling older adults.

scholarly journals Family Solidarity, Social Support, Loneliness, and Well-Being Among Older Adults in Rural China

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 319-320
Author(s):  
Xiaoyan Zhang ◽  
Merril Silverstein
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Adult Children ◽  
Child Support ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
National Bureau ◽  
Subjective Well Being

Abstract China is experiencing a large increase in elderly population. In 2019, China’s population aged 60 and above had reached 253 million, accounting for 18.1% of the total population (National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2020). By 2050, the number of adults aged 60+ would be up to 430 million, reaching one third of the total population (Du, Zhai & Chen, 2005). Considering such a rapid aging process and the existing large number of older adults in China, it becomes imperative to investigate how psychosocial factors affect this group’s subjective well-being. This study proposed that, among older adults, higher support received from each of the three relational sources (adult children, family and friends) were associated with reduced loneliness and improved well-being. Structural equation modeling was conducted using a sample of rural adults aged 60 and older (N= 1142) from the 2018 wave of data from the Longitudinal Study of Older Adults in Anhui Province, China. Findings indicated that support from adult children directly and indirectly decreased older adults’ depression and improved their life satisfaction through loneliness; while support from family members directly decreased depression but did not directly improve life satisfaction or indirectly improve well-being through loneliness. Although support from friends did not have a significant impact on older adults’ well-being, it indirectly improved well-being through reduced loneliness. Findings have implications for programs or interventions targeting both parent -adult-child support and friends support and reducing rural older adults’ loneliness.

scholarly journals Examining Fall Recurrence Risk of Homebound Hispanic Older Adults Receiving Home Care Services

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-26
Author(s):  
Guillermina R. Solis ◽  
Jane Dimmitt Champion
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Home Health Care ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Home Care Services ◽  
Recurrence Risk ◽  
The United States ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Risk Of Fall

Introduction: Unintentional falls and injuries is a major problem among older adults and the fourth cause of death in the United States. A previous fall event doubles the risk of recurrence and lessens the person’s quality of life. Hispanic older adults have higher rates of disability and lower independent functioning due to poor medical health and risk for fall recurrence. Most fall studies focus on fall risk with few studies on fall recurrence in older adults receiving home health care services unrelated to fall incident. Method: A descriptive pilot study of 30 homebound Hispanic older adults receiving home care services who reported a fall within 3 months was conducted by a multidisciplinary team to evaluate risk of fall recurrence. Results: A heightened risk for fall recurrence was identified with high number of chronic illnesses, high intake of medications, vision problems, and prevalence of urinary incontinence. Conclusion: Findings highlight significant number of intrinsic factors for fall risk recurrence and injuries in a Hispanic older adults population that is homebound and receiving home care services. A multidisciplinary evaluation and culturally appropriate interventions to lessen the risk of fall recurrence are recommended.

scholarly journals Effects of Participation in Social Activities on Cognitive Function Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Korea

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 2315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jongnam Hwang ◽  
Sangmin Park ◽  
Sujin Kim
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Activities ◽  
The Social ◽  
Gender Groups

Cognitive function is a critical health issue in later life, the decline of which disrupts well-being and daily life function. Cognitive decline in older ages can also be understood in the context of the social environment such as social connectedness and engagement in personal life. This study aimed to examine: (1) whether participation in social activities contributes to preventing cognitive decline, and (2) what type of social activities are beneficial to maintaining cognitive function. Data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLOSA) 2006–2014, a longitudinal survey of the household-dwelling population aged 45 and older in Korea were used. The results revealed that Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores decreased with increasing age, at a rate of approximately 0.18 units across all age-gender groups, and the decrease was steeper for adults aged 65 and over. Participation in social gatherings was likely to delay the decline in cognitive function after the age of 65. In a gender-stratified model, social activity may not have an impact on the decline of cognitive function for men, whereas participation in social gatherings was negatively related to the decline of MMSE scores in women. This study suggests the need for a gender-stratified policy for preventing the decline of cognitive function while promoting engagement in social activities in Korean older adults.

scholarly journals Hospital to Home: Supporting the Transition From Hospital to Home for Older Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 084456212110443
Author(s):  
Brittany Barber ◽  
Lori Weeks ◽  
Lexie Steeves-Dorey ◽  
Wendy McVeigh ◽  
Susan Stevens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Home Care Services ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Hospital To Home

Background An increasing proportion of older adults experience avoidable hospitalizations, and some are potentially entering long-term care homes earlier and often unnecessarily. Older adults often lack adequate support to transition from hospital to home, without access to appropriate health services when they are needed in the community and resources to live safely at home. Purpose This study collaborated with an existing enhanced home care program called Home Again in Nova Scotia, to identify factors that contribute to older adult patients being assessed as requiring long-term care when they could potentially return home with enhanced supports. Methods Using a case study design, this study examined in-depth experiences of multiple stakeholders, from December 2019 to February 2020, through analysis of nine interviews for three focal patient cases including older adult patients, their family or friend caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Results Findings indicate home care services for older adults are being sought too late, after hospital readmission, or a rapid decline in health status when family caregivers are already experiencing caregiver burnout. Limitations in home care services led to barriers preventing family caregivers from continuing to care for older adults at home. Conclusions This study contributes knowledge about gaps within home care and transitional care services, highlighting the importance of investing in additional home care services for rehabilitation and prevention of rapidly deteriorating health.

scholarly journals A National Survey of Gambling Problems in Canada

2005 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 213-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J Cox ◽  
Nancy Yu ◽  
Tracie O Afifi ◽  
Robert Ladouceur
Keyword(s):  
National Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Canadian Community Health Survey ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Gambling Problems ◽  
Severe Problem ◽  
Community Health Survey ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Canadian Provinces ◽  
Video Lottery

Objective: The 1990s saw widespread expansion of new forms of legalized gambling involving video lottery terminals (VLTs) in community settings (that is, in bars and restaurant lounges) and permanent casinos in several Canadian provinces. To date, there has never been a national survey of gambling problems with representative interprovincial data. Using a new survey, we sought to compare prevalence figures across the 10 Canadian provinces. Method: Using the Canadian Problem Gambling Index, we investigated the current 12-month prevalence of gambling problems in the Canadian Community Health Survey: Cycle 1.2—Mental Health and Well-Being, in which a random sample of 34 770 community-dwelling respondents aged 15 years and over were interviewed. The response rate was 77%. The data are representative at the provincial level and were compared with the availability of VLTs per 1000 population and with the presence of permanent casinos for each province. Results: Manitoba (2.9%) and Saskatchewan (also 2.9%) had the highest prevalence of gambling problems (specifically, moderate and severe problem levels combined). These 2 provinces had significantly higher levels than the 2 provinces with the lowest prevalence of gambling problems: Quebec (1.7%) and New Brunswick (1.5%). Conclusions: The 12-month prevalence of gambling problems in Canada was 2.0%, with interprovincial variability. The highest prevalence emerged in areas with high concentrations of VLTs in the community combined with permanent casinos. These findings support earlier predictions that the rapid and prolific expansion of new forms of legalized gambling in many regions of the country would be associated with a considerable public health cost.

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