scholarly journals Transition from hospital to home during COVID-19: A case report from an Australian transitional care program

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Claire Gough ◽  
Claire Hutchinson ◽  
Chris Barr ◽  
Anthony Maeder ◽  
Stacey George
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Case Report ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Transitional Care ◽  
Care Program ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Transition Care

Aim and Background: With the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, consideration for vulnerable groups, including our ageing population has been of great concern. Social isolation has been recommended to protect older adults with chronic diseases and reduce the spread of the virus, as well as to prevent healthcare services becoming overwhelmed. Yet social isolation presents its own health risks. Methods: In this paper, we provide commentary on the lived experience of returning home from hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. This case report details the experience of an 83-year-old female, who was living and mobilising independently in her own home, prior to hospital admission following a fall and resultant head injury. Results: The participant returned home during the COVID-19 pandemic with a community transition care program which included assistance with cleaning tasks, shopping, and physiotherapy over a 45-day period. Conclusions: COVID-19 has illuminated the issue of social isolation and increased awareness of its negative health effects at a global level. As society eases restrictions and returns to a new ‘normal’, many older adults will remain socially isolated. Ongoing allied health intervention is required to ensure quality of life through the latter years and to support older adults through periods of social distancing. Keywords: transition care; COVID-19, social isolation, community participation    

The ‘loneliness pandemic’: implications for gerontological nursing

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 652-655
Author(s):  
Carlos Laranjeira
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Gerontological Nursing

The COVID-19 pandemic compelled states to limit free movement, in order to protect at-risk and more vulnerable groups, particularly older adults. Due to old age or debilitating chronic diseases, this group is also more vulnerable to loneliness (perceived discrepancy between actual and desired social relationships) and social isolation (feeling that one does not belong to society). This forced isolation has negative consequences for the health of older people, particularly their mental health. This is an especially challenging time for gerontological nursing, but it is also an opportunity for professionals to combat age stereotypes reinforced with COVID-19, to urge the measurement of loneliness and social isolation, and to rethink how to further adjust interventions in times of crisis, such as considering technology-mediated interventions in these uncertain times.

scholarly journals Virtual Geriatric Education Preferences of Rural Social Workers

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 328-328
Author(s):  
Joan Ilardo ◽  
Raza Haque ◽  
Angela Zell
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Transitional Care ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Multiple Chronic Conditions ◽  
Care Plans ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Geriatric Service

Abstract Older adults in rural communities need access to comprehensive healthcare services provided by practitioners equipped with geriatric knowledge and skills. The Geriatric Rural Extension of Expertise through Telegeriatric Service (GREETS) project goal is to use telemedicine and telehealth to expand geriatric service options to underserved Michigan regions. GREETS educational programs train health practitioners to provide geriatric care for vulnerable older adults. To determine gaps in geriatric competencies, the team conducted an online survey of health professionals including behavioral health practitioners. Respondents identified educational topics and preferred virtual delivery methods. Demographic information included respondent’s professional position, practice setting, and county. The respondents were asked to indicate level of educational need using a scale ranging from a low, medium, or high need. Fifty (47%) of 106 total responses were from social workers. We compared the percent of social workers to other practitioners’ responses in our analysis. Four topics emerged for both groups as medium or high educational needs: 1) transitional care when changing residential settings or post-hospitalization; 2) assisting family caregivers cope with caregiving responsibilities; 3) incorporating community-based services into care plans; and 4) and managing frail older adults. Social workers noted higher need than the other respondents for: 1) managing chronic pain; 2) managing care of patients with multiple chronic conditions; 3) having serious illness conversations; 4) diagnosing dementia; and 5) discussing advance care planning. Both social worker and other respondents indicated interactive case-based webinars; published tools, toolkits, tip sheets; and didactic webinars as their top three learning formats.

scholarly journals Stress and Adjustment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study on the Lived Experience of Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra J. Jasmine Fiocco ◽  
Charlie Gryspeerdt ◽  
Giselle Franco
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Living Arrangement ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Behavioral Strategies ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing measures were put into place to flatten the pandemic curve. It was projected older adults were at increased risk for poor psychological and health outcomes resulting from increased social isolation and loneliness. However, little re-search has supported this projection among community-dwelling older adults. While growing body of research has examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults, there is a paucity of qualitative research that captures the lived experience of community-dwelling older adults. The current study aimed to better understand the lived experience of community-dwelling older adults during the first six months of the pandemic. Semi-structured one on one interviews were conducting with independent living older adults aged 65 years and older. After achieving saturation, 22 interview were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Following a recursive process, two overarching themes emerged from the data: perceived threat and challenges of the pandemic and coping with the pandemic. Specifically, participants reflected on the threat of contracting the virus and challenges associated with living arrangement, social isolation, and financial insecurity. Participants shared their coping strategies to maintain health and wellbeing, including behavioral strategies, emotion-focused strategies, and social support. Overall, this re-search highlights resilience among older adults during the first six months of the pandemic.

scholarly journals eHealth Literacy and Capability in the Context of the Pandemic Crisis

2022 ◽  
pp. 109-129
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Kokkinakis
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Ehealth Literacy ◽  
Complex Information ◽  
Health Promoting

AbstractThe rapidly increasing size of the ageing population, and in particular older adults living alone, requires the incorporation of eHealth into social and healthcare services, in order to choose the best way to manage their needs and demands for health and medical care. The purpose of this brief scoping study is to describe and identify an important dimension in this context, namely eHealth literacy (eHL) and its relation to health-promoting behaviours among older adults within the capability theoretical framework. The chapter examines some aspects of eHL and recent research highlighting the importance of eHL and the direct correlation between eHL and quality of life for older adults within the capability context. To make this more specific and explicit, this study takes into consideration outstanding circumstances, such as those caused by a pandemic crisis, namely the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Since the COVID-19 pandemic has required urgent action and rapid containment, it offers a unique opportunity to test and evaluate the readiness of healthcare systems and to rapidly develop, scale up and enhance eHealth for the benefit of older people. However, this comes with a price, which is the necessity to quickly and effectively navigate complex information environments and manage behavioural changes and health.

Integrating Social and Health Services for People, Communities, Homes, and Places

2021 ◽  
pp. 21-66
Author(s):  
Maddalena Illario ◽  
Vincenzo De Luca ◽  
Regina Roller-Wirnsberger
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Technological Innovation ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Ageing Society ◽  
Regional Policies ◽  
Framework Approach ◽  
The Impact

The challenge of an ageing population requires a paradigmatic shift in the way we provide social and healthcare services, demanding the need to prioritize the functionality and independence of older adults. The risk and subsequent fear of falling is one of the most high-risk states for older adults, as it generates a destabilizing effect on their health that is often hard to recover. It is essential to thoroughly address their risk factors and mitigators. This discussion needs to be made in light of a person-centered perspective that goes beyond fragilities to capitalize on the strengths of the older adults. The chapter provides examples of how to connect assessment, interventions, and monitoring to a coherent framework approach that mitigates the risks and the impact of falls on an ageing society. The authors explore how technological innovation, urban planning, and regional policies that are culturally relevant can be incorporated in creating a circular economy while meeting the needs of an aging population and preventing falls and cognitive decline.

OLDER ADULTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND ASSOCIATIONS WITH FRAILTY: A FEASIBILITY AND ACCEPTABILITY STUDY

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
B. Arakawa Martins ◽  
H. Barrie ◽  
J. Dollard ◽  
N. Mahajan ◽  
R. Visvanathan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Care Program ◽  
Recruitment Rate ◽  
Frail Older People ◽  
Life Space ◽  
Transition Care ◽  
Euroqol 5D ◽  
Residential Transition ◽  
Activity Questionnaire

It is essential to evaluate frail older adults understanding and execution of survey tools to improve data quality and accurate representation in research. The study tested the feasibility and acceptability of a survey that assesses various measures of functional status in frail older people. The study evaluated: 1) recruitment rate; 2) time to complete questionnaires and difficulties encountered; and 3) acceptability by participants. Validated tools including: FRAIL Scale, EuroQoL 5D-5L, Charlson’s Comorbidities Index, Baecke’s Physical Activity Questionnaire, Life-Space Assessment, Katz and Lawton ADL and NEWS Walkability Scale were assessed. Twenty-five older patients (63% recruitment rate) of a post-acute restorative program (residential Transition Care Program) in Adelaide, South Australia were interviewed. Although not statistically different, time to complete the overall questionnaire differed between robust, pre-frail and frail participants. Overall, the survey was considered acceptable and feasible, with consideration with NEWS and Life-Space assessment regarding length, phrasing and layout.

scholarly journals Stress and Adjustment during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study on the Lived Experience of Canadian Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (24) ◽  
pp. 12922
Author(s):  
Alexandra J. Fiocco ◽  
Charlie Gryspeerdt ◽  
Giselle Franco
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Behavioral Strategies ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing measures were put into place to flatten the pandemic curve. It was projected that older adults were at increased risk for poor psychological and health outcomes resulting from increased social isolation and loneliness. However, little research has supported this projection among community-dwelling older adults. While a growing body of research has examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults, there is a paucity of qualitative research that captures the lived experience of community-dwelling older adults in Canada. The current study aimed to better understand the lived experience of community-dwelling older adults during the first six months of the pandemic in Ontario, Canada. Semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted with independent-living older adults aged 65 years and older. A total of 22 interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Following a recursive process, two overarching themes were identified: perceived threat and challenges of the pandemic, and coping with the pandemic. Specifically, participants reflected on the threat of contracting the virus and challenges associated with living arrangements, social isolation, and financial insecurity. Participants shared their coping strategies to maintain health and wellbeing, including behavioral strategies, emotion-focused strategies, and social support. Overall, this research highlights resilience among older adults during the first six months of the pandemic.

A Qualitative Study of Older Patients’ and Family Caregivers’ Perspectives of Transitional Care From Hospital to Home

2021 ◽  
pp. RTNP-D-20-00067
Author(s):  
İlknur Dolu ◽  
Mehmet İIlkin Naharcı ◽  
Patricia A. Logan ◽  
Piret Paal ◽  
Mojtaba Vaismoradi
Keyword(s):  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Transitional Care ◽  
Care Program ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Rehabilitation Model ◽  
Hospital To Home ◽  
Discharge From Hospital

Background and PurposeThe need for high-quality long-term healthcare services is increasing across the globe as the population ages. Strategies for improving transitional care from hospital to home are needed. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of patients aged 65 years and over and their family caregivers transitioning from hospital to home in an urban area of Turkey.MethodsThematic analysis of in-depth semi-structured interviews was conducted with older patients (n = 14), with at least one chronic disease and admitted to the hospital for a minimum of 3 days, and family caregivers (n = 11) who voluntarily participated.ResultsMain themes were “confused feelings of safety and stress”; “worried about being left alone”; and “disrupted healthcare journey.” The proactive rehabilitation model was used to elaborate on the study findings and interpret the perspectives and experiences of older patients and their family caregivers, which can be used for improving the quality of care after discharge from hospital.Implications for PracticeA high-quality transitional care program requires taking care of the feeling of safety in older patients and their family caregivers by the multidisciplinary team and their enhanced involvement in care initiatives after hospital discharge.

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