scholarly journals Integrating the needs of LGBT+ older adults into health and social care education

2021 ◽  
pp. 81-88
Author(s):  
Anže Jurček ◽  
Mojca Urek
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Care Education ◽  
Health And Social Care

scholarly journals Health and social care service utilisation and associated expenditure among community-dwelling older adults with depressive symptoms

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiyu Lu ◽  
Tianyin Liu ◽  
Gloria H. Y. Wong ◽  
Dara K. Y. Leung ◽  
Lesley C. Y. Sze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Service Utilisation ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
Social Care Service ◽  
Health And Social Care

Abstract Aims Late-life depression has substantial impacts on individuals, families and society. Knowledge gaps remain in estimating the economic impacts associated with late-life depression by symptom severity, which has implications for resource prioritisation and research design (such as in modelling). This study examined the incremental health and social care expenditure of depressive symptoms by severity. Methods We analysed data collected from 2707 older adults aged 60 years and over in Hong Kong. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Client Service Receipt Inventory were used, respectively, to measure depressive symptoms and service utilisation as a basis for calculating care expenditure. Two-part models were used to estimate the incremental expenditure associated with symptom severity over 1 year. Results The average PHQ-9 score was 6.3 (standard deviation, s.d. = 4.0). The percentages of respondents with mild, moderate and moderately severe symptoms and non-depressed were 51.8%, 13.5%, 3.7% and 31.0%, respectively. Overall, the moderately severe group generated the largest average incremental expenditure (US$5886; 95% CI 1126–10 647 or a 272% increase), followed by the mild group (US$3849; 95% CI 2520–5177 or a 176% increase) and the moderate group (US$1843; 95% CI 854–2831, or 85% increase). Non-psychiatric healthcare was the main cost component in a mild symptom group, after controlling for other chronic conditions and covariates. The average incremental association between PHQ-9 score and overall care expenditure peaked at PHQ-9 score of 4 (US$691; 95% CI 444–939), then gradually fell to negative between scores of 12 (US$ - 35; 95% CI - 530 to 460) and 19 (US$ -171; 95% CI - 417 to 76) and soared to positive and rebounded at the score of 23 (US$601; 95% CI -1652 to 2854). Conclusions The association between depressive symptoms and care expenditure is stronger among older adults with mild and moderately severe symptoms. Older adults with the same symptom severity have different care utilisation and expenditure patterns. Non-psychiatric healthcare is the major cost element. These findings inform ways to optimise policy efforts to improve the financial sustainability of health and long-term care systems, including the involvement of primary care physicians and other geriatric healthcare providers in preventing and treating depression among older adults and related budgeting and accounting issues across services.

scholarly journals The Role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Older Adults’ Decision-Making Related to Health, and Health and Social Care Services in Daily Life—A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
Susanna Nordin ◽  
Jodi Sturge ◽  
Maria Ayoub ◽  
Allyson Jones ◽  
Kevin McKee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Information And Communication

Information and communication technology (ICT) can potentially support older adults in making decisions and increase their involvement in decision-making processes. Although the range of technical products has expanded in various areas of society, knowledge is lacking on the influence that ICT has on older adults’ decision-making in everyday situations. Based on the literature, we aimed to provide an overview of the role of ICT in home-dwelling older adults’ decision-making in relation to health, and health and social care services. A scoping review of articles published between 2010 and 2020 was undertaken by searching five electronic databases. Finally, 12 articles using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method designs were included. The articles were published in journals representing biology and medicine, nursing, informatics, and computer science. A majority of the articles were published in the last five years, and most articles came from European countries. The results are presented in three categories: (i) form and function of ICT for decision-making, (ii) perceived value and effect of ICT for decision-making, and (iii) factors influencing ICT use for decision-making. According to our findings, ICT for decision-making in relation to health, and health and social care services was more implicitly described than explicitly described, and we conclude that more research on this topic is needed. Future research should engage older adults and health professionals in developing technology based on their needs. Further, factors that influence older adults’ use of ICT should be evaluated to ensure that it is successfully integrated into their daily lives.

The association of loneliness with health and social care utilisation in older adults in the general population: A systematic review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberley J Smith ◽  
Christina Victor
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
General Population ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Service Utilisation ◽  
Study Quality ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Consistent Finding ◽  
Care Utilisation ◽  
Health And Social Care

Abstract Background and Objectives Loneliness is proposed to be linked with increased service use. This review examined the association of loneliness and health and social care utilisation (HSCU) in older adults from the general population. Research Design and Methods Four databases were screened for studies that examined the association of loneliness (predictor) with HSCU (outcome) in older adults (defined as majority of sample 60 or older). Study quality was assessed with the NIH scale for observational cohorts and cross-sectional studies. Results We identified 32 studies, of which 9 prospective studies were evaluated as being good or good-fair quality. Two good-fair quality studies found loneliness at baseline was associated with subsequent admission to a residential care home. There was emerging evidence that loneliness was associated with emergency department use (n=1), and CVD-specific hospitalisation (n=1). Once adjusted for confounders the highest quality studies found no association of baseline loneliness with physician utilisation, outpatient service utilisation, skilled nursing facility use, and planned or unplanned hospital admissions. The remaining, studies were cross-sectional, or of fair to poor quality, and inadequate to reliably determine whether loneliness was associated with a subsequent change in HSCU. Discussion and implications There was heterogeneity in study design, measurement, and study quality. This generated an inconsistent evidence base where we cannot determine clear inferences about the relationship between loneliness and HSCU. Only one consistent finding was observed between two good-fair quality studies regarding care home admission. To determine clinical implications and make reliable inferences additional good quality longitudinal research is needed.

Abuse of people with dementia

2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amber Selwood ◽  
Claudia Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
General Population ◽  
Older People ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Care Recipient ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Vulnerable People ◽  
With Memory

SummaryPeople with dementia are particularly vulnerable to abuse. It is inherently difficult to study as it is a hidden offence, perpetrated against vulnerable people with memory impairment, by those on whom they depend. In the general population, 6% of older people have experienced abuse in the last month and this rises to approximately 25% in vulnerable populations such as people with dementia. We know that various factors in the carer and the care recipient can predispose to a higher rate of abuse and this knowledge can be harnessed to try and improve prevention. There are also valid and reliable scales available to help detect abuse in vulnerable older adults. All health and social care professionals have a responsibility to act on any suspicion or evidence of significant abuse or neglect in order to ensure that appropriate management is taken.

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