scholarly journals The resources of adults taking care of their elderly parents at home – a research report

2020 ◽  
pp. 7-23
Author(s):  
Urszula Bartnikowska ◽  
Katarzyna Ćwirynkało
Keyword(s):  
The Elderly ◽  
Research Report ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Minimum Income ◽  
Elderly Parents ◽  
Demographic Aging ◽  
Research Problems ◽  
Taking Care

Considering the increased demographic aging and system changes in the welfare system in Poland, home care became one of the most important forms of taking care of disabled or elderly persons. Although the country is rooted in the idea of a nanny state, based on large institutions and providing minimum income, for a long time now family has been considered as the basic provider of informal care to the elderly. The aim of the present study is to give some insight into the resources of adult children providing care to their elderly, disabled parents. In order to acquire a comprehensive perception of the phenomenon, the authors chose an interpretavist paradigm and applied a phenomenographic method. 21 participants, aged 41–65, who were caregivers of their parents, took part in semi-structured interviews. Two main research problems were formulated: (1) How do the participants perceive their resources as caregivers of their elderly, disabled parents? (2) What kind of support related to the care of their parents do they consider essential? Results: The participants distinguish two main kinds of resources: internal (e.g. values, passions, feelings for parents, economic situation) and external (e.g. parents, family, friends, professionals, medical equipment and centers they have access to). The narratives of the participants also indicate a number of needs they experience. Implications for practice are discussed.

Les motifs du suicide gériatrique: une étude exploratoire

2003 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-205
Author(s):  
Luc Legris ◽  
Michel Préville
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Basic Needs ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Need To Belong ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Care System

ABSTRACTFive semi-structured interviews were conducted, using the psychological autopsy method, in order to document the causes of geriatric suicide and to describe the interaction among suicidal elderly persons, their personal and social environments, and health care professionals. The results of this study support our hypothesis that elderly persons view suicide as a means of alleviating the psychological suffering associated with the frustration they experience on account of their inability to satisfy their basic needs. Three types of basic needs that affect the suicidal tendency of elderly persons were identified: the need to self-actualize, the need to belong, and the need to feel safe. The results also show that the people who make up the social and personal environment of elderly persons have a limited role in the prevention of suicide. This is due to their unfamiliarity with the problems surrounding the fulfilment of the basic needs of the suicidal elderly. Furthermore, as revealed in the cases studied here, the intervention of the health care system has centred mainly on the use of medication as a treatment for symptoms of psychological distress. The health care system pays little attention to the dissonance associated with the frustration suicidal elderly persons experience on account of their inability to satisfy their basic needs. Finally, the outcome of this qualitative study suggests that understanding the basic needs of the elderly can be very useful in understanding geriatric suicide.

scholarly journals IS GHANA READY FOR GERIATRICS? MEDICAL STUDENTS’ INTEREST AND INTENTION TOWARD GERIATRIC SPECIALIZATION IN GHANA

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S299-S299
Author(s):  
Grace Karikari ◽  
Lesa L Huber ◽  
David K Lohrmann
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Career Option ◽  
Geriatrics Education ◽  
Education Interventions

Abstract Aging is a global phenomenon, and the population of elderly persons continues to increase in many communities around the world. Ghana is not an exception. As the demographics are changing, it is vital that health care providers are trained to effectively diagnose, care for, and manage aging-related conditions to improve the quality of life of the elderly. The aim of this study is to explore the underlying reasons for medical students’ interest in geriatrics and their intentions, likelihood of selecting geriatrics as a specialty for future practice. This exploratory study involved (n =12) fourth, fifth and sixth year medical students in a Ghanaian public university. Semi-structured interviews guided by the theory of planned behavior were conducted. The findings show a lack of geriatric education or training for students in this institution and region. Students’ interest and preferences for geriatrics were mainly influenced by the lack of knowledge and exposure to the specialty, as well as what it entailed to be a geriatrician. Although some students expressed interest in working with older patients, none had the intention to pursue geriatrics as a career option. Creating positive exposure to geriatrics through educational and vocational opportunities are necessary. The findings from this study can be instrumental in developing a knowledge-base of aging and caring for the elderly. Findings can also serve as the foundation for a more comprehensive study, leading to effective geriatrics education interventions in Ghana and Africa at large.

scholarly journals Population Ageing in Ghana: Research Gaps and the Way Forward

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuks J. Mba
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Total Population ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Population Ageing ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Health Profile ◽  
Research Gaps ◽  
Elderly Parents ◽  
New Directions

This paper attempts to highlight research gaps and what should be done concerning population ageing in the Ghanaian context. The proportion of the elderly increased from 4.9 percent in 1960 to 7.2 percent in 2000, while the number rose from 0.3 million to 1.4 million over the same period (an increase of 367 percent). Projection results indicate that by 2050, the aged population will account for 14.1 percent of the total population. Very little is known about the living arrangements and health profile of Ghana's older population. With increasing urbanization and modernization, it is important to know something about intergenerational transfers from adult children to their elderly parents, and characterize the elderly persons' food security strategies. Training of researchers will be important in terms of strengthening Ghana's capacity to monitor trends, as well as to conduct research and explore new directions in population ageing research.

scholarly journals Will my parents come to Australia when retired? Later-life transnational migration intentions of Chinese parents

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Xueying Xiong ◽  
Hoon Han
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Adult Child ◽  
Transnational Migration ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Elderly Parents ◽  
Chinese Parents ◽  
Working Age

Background  China is the second largest source country of immigrants to Australia every year. The elderly parents of these working-age immigrants in Australia usually visit their children on a tourist visa, which allows short term family gatherings. These visits do not require much effort. However, when it comes to long-term transnational migration, the decision becomes hard to make and often involves complex factors, such as personal preferences and lifestyle choices. Aims  This paper aims to examine the later-life transnational migration intentions of elderly Chinese parents and how the parents’ intentions are affected by personal preferences, personality and lifestyle differences between the generations. Data and methods  This paper uses data from a two-stage study including an online survey and semi-structured interviews conducted in Sydney from October 2018 to May 2019 with both caregivers (adult children who are first-generation immigrants living in Australia) and their elderly parents. Results  The study found that external contributors such as language barriers and transport dependence in Australia, and existing social ties as well as another adult child living in China, have a negative influence on moving to Australia. Conclusions  Elderly parents with an optimistic and outgoing personality are more likely to consider moving to Australia compared to those who are more conservative. Foremost, conflicts due to different lifestyles between the generations reduces the possibility of parents’ later-life migration to Australia.

An assessment of the attitudes of potential caregivers toward the abuse of elderly persons with and without dementia

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 892-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osamu Matsuda
Keyword(s):  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Economic Abuse ◽  
Abusive Behavior ◽  
Type Of Abuse ◽  
Care Of Elderly ◽  
Taking Care

Background: Dementia in the elderly is associated with a greater risk of being subjected to abuse. More than half of those in Japan who abuse elderly relatives with dementia do not realize that their behavior corresponds to abuse.Objective: This study sought to examine the effect of the presence of dementia in the elderly on attitudes toward abuse.Methods: The subjects of this study were 135 people aged between 18 and 86 who were not taking care of elderly relatives at the time of the survey. The subjects were asked to rate how abusive they thought each of 12 behaviors listed in a questionnaire was in regard to three categories of elderly: (1) elderly with dementia who require care (DC); (2) elderly without dementia who require care (NC); and (3) elderly without dementia who do not require care (NN).Results: The results of ANOVAs showed that the attitude of the subjects was associated with experience of caregiving, category of elderly, and type of abuse. The results of Bonferroni's tests indicated that the behaviors, especially those behaviors that included physical, psychological, and economic abuse, toward the DC category were not considered to be as abusive as those toward either the NC category or NN category.Conclusions: This study suggests that people might rate abusive behavior as being less abusive when the person being cared for has dementia.

scholarly journals Perceptions of aging and falling ill: a study with elderly persons in palliative care

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 701-710
Author(s):  
Mariana dos Santos Ribeiro ◽  
Moema da Silva Borges
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Spiritual Support ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Life Trajectories ◽  
Perceptions Of Aging ◽  
Development And Aging ◽  
And Coping

Abstract Objective: to learn the perceptions of elderly persons in palliative care regarding coping with aging and illness. Method: an exploratory, descriptive, qualitative study was carried out. The study included 11 elderly persons in palliative care because of oncologic disease. Semi-structured interviews were carried out which were analyzed with the aid of the ALCESTE software. Results: two axes were identified from the content analysis. The first, Resist to Survive and Live, has two categories: the first, aging with integrity, portrays the positive perception of the participants regarding the aging process, and coping strategies used to deal with aging and with illness; the other category, resilient development, refers to the life trajectories of the participants and the adversities of the process of development and aging. The second axis, Resist to Die Well, has only one category and refers to the perceptions of the elderly about the stress related to illness. Conclusion: the results show that the perceptions of aging and falling ill involved resilience, as the participants focused on what they had gained rather than their losses. In this context, they used resilient coping strategies: spiritual support, cognitive restructuring, and acceptance.

scholarly journals Evaluation of elderly persons' functionality and care needs

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (spe) ◽  
pp. 52-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel José Lopes ◽  
Ana Escoval ◽  
Dulce Gamito Pereira ◽  
Carla Sandra Pereira ◽  
Catarina Carvalho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The Elderly ◽  
International Classification ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Progressive Decline ◽  
Margin Of Error ◽  
Functional Dentition

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the elderly persons' functionality, based on the International Classification of Functionality. METHODS: a cross-sectional, descriptive study; a stratified random sample of 903 elderly persons; a confidence level of 95%; and a margin of error of 2.5%. Questionnaire based on the International Classification of Functionality; data was collected based on structured interviews undertaken by health professionals in the health centers in the Alentejo region of Portugal. RESULTS: 30.7% of the elderly persons stated that they were illiterate, and 22.9% lived alone. Feeding/dietary (18.7%), housing (19.2%) and health needs (26.0%) were not met. Orientation functions were maintained in 83.4%; 58% of the elderly persons referred to pain so intense that it required care; 73.3% of the elderly persons did not have functional dentition. Levels of performance were superior to 80% in the participation activities: washing oneself (82.6%), toileting (92.2%), dressing, eating, and drinking (89%). CONCLUSION: although a progressive decline in functionality is observed as age advances, the majority of dimensions are preserved until around 75 years of age.

scholarly journals Perception of oral health in home care of caregivers of the elderly

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 650-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karla Bonfá ◽  
Soraya Fernandes Mestriner ◽  
Igor Henrique Teixeira Fumagalli ◽  
Luana Pinho de Mesquita ◽  
Alexandre Fávero Bulgarelli
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Elderly Individuals ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Elementary School Education ◽  
Dependent Elderly

Abstract Objective: to analyze the perception of caregivers of elderly persons regarding their own oral health care and that of the elderly individuals. Method: a descriptive-exploratory study with a qualitative approach was carried out. Semi-structured interviews with 13 caregivers were conducted, recorded and transcribed, and the Content Analysis technique was applied. Results: All respondents were informal caregivers, most of whom were female, aged over 50, married, had some degree of kinship with those receiving care, an incomplete elementary school education and no other occupation or job. After analyzing the interviews, the data were grouped into the following categories: a) home visits and health professionals; b) caregiver experience and care of the elderly; and c) the caregiver and their self-care. Conclusion: knowledge of caregivers’ perception of their own oral health and that of dependent/semi-dependent elderly persons assists in planning, promotion, prevention and health recovery. The work of a multi-professional team is therefore essential in the seeking out and instruction of these individuals.

scholarly journals Older people’s challenges and expectations of healthcare in Ghana: A qualitative study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0245451
Author(s):  
Confidence Alorse Atakro ◽  
Abigail Atakro ◽  
Janet Sintim Aboagye ◽  
Alice Aluwah Blay ◽  
Stella Boatemaa Addo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Elderly Care ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Inadequate Information

Background The increase in the number of elderly persons in developing countries has not had a corresponding increase in social and health care support systems for the elderly. There is a substantial difference in the quality of healthcare received by older people in developing and developed countries. Elderly persons in developing countries including Ghana are increasingly becoming marginalised and isolated. There is, however, limited evidence of healthcare challenges and expectations by elderly persons in Ghana. This study explored healthcare challenges and expectations of elderly persons to inform policy that could lead to improved quality of life for elderly persons in Ghana. Materials and methods Qualitative exploratory descriptive study design was used in conducting this study. Semi-structured interviews were used in collecting data from 30 participants from three regions in Ghana (10 from each region). Data analysis was carried out through content analysis. Results Four themes were extracted from data. These themes were: 1. Inadequate information from health workers regarding care of the older person. 2. Queuing frustrations. 3. Financial burden. 4. Focused elderly care demand. Conclusion The elderly in Ghana experience challenges of healthcare which include inadequate information, queuing frustrations and financial burdens. Elderly persons also have expectations of healthcare which include having dedicated professionals and units that will attend to them during their hospital visits. Academic and clinical gerontology experts could collaborate and help improve gerontology knowledge of health workers through workshops and conferences. Improving knowledge of health workers in gerontology may be a positive step towards meeting healthcare expectations of older Ghanaians.

scholarly journals Demographic aging of population and the social protection system in the Republic of Macedonia

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 385
Author(s):  
Suncica Dimitrijoska ◽  
Svetlana Trbojevik ◽  
Vladimir Ilievski
Keyword(s):  
Social Services ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Elderly Care ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Pension Insurance ◽  
Republic Of Macedonia ◽  
Demographic Aging ◽  
The Republic

The process of demographic aging has been observed in many of the European countries as well as in the Republic of Macedonia. Based on the UN projections for participation of the elderly in the Republic of Macedonia, it is expected that the number of elderly persons at the age group older than 60 years will increase from 16.5% in 2009 to 33.0% in 2050 and for the elderly aged over 80 years from 2% in 2009 to 6.8% in 2050.This process affects almost all segments of society, but its impact is particularly evident on the system of pension insurance, healthcare as well as on social protection. Adopted international documents and harmonisation with national legislation lead to complete transformation of the system of social protection of the elderly. New scientific knowledge, changes of economic conditions and demographic realities lead to introduction of new social protection principles such as pluralism, decentralization, and inclusion.This paper analyzes both international and national legal framework of social protection of elderly through the segments of introduced innovations, with special emphasis on the rights and services as well as on the assessment of the development of social services in accordance to the needs of elderly people, their availability and efficiency in meeting of individual needs of elderly. Expansion of the programs and implementation of the new scheme of social protection in the area of elderly care represents a convergence to the concept of active aging and to the holistic approach in the process of planning and provision of social services.

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