Formal long-term care : informal caregivers’ subjective well-being and service utilization

Abstract Japan has faced numerous issues in the last twenty years with its mandatory long-term care (LTC) insurance program. This LTC insurance program obviously affected older adults’ informal support exchanges, reducing support from family and the community, which became more valuable, subjectively. Furthermore, changes in support have impacted older adults’ subjective well-being and children’s perceived care motivation. Additionally, a mandatory uniform system challenges the issue of tolerance of diversity, meaning how non-traditional families’ opinions be involved LTC situations. This symposium discusses unexpected shifting issues in Japan in the implementation of a public LTC program with a focus on older adults’ support exchanges. The first paper examines the long-term impacts of formal and informal support by examining the effects of implementing formal services. The second paper assesses a community’s role in relation to family in the presence of a public LTC program. The third paper examines the subjective impacts of older parents, who provided support to adult children and their reciprocal expectations of receiving LTC. The fourth paper, on the other hand, articulates reciprocal impacts on sons’ care motivation, which has become more important, since the introduction of the LTC program reinforced men’s participation in LTC. Finally, the fifth paper clarifies how a public uniform program accommodates informal support from non-traditional families when the program premises the presence of family in advanced care planning. Our findings have long-term implications for aging societies in relation to formal and informal support exchanges.

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Effects of Garden Visits on Long-term Care Residents as Related to Depression

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.15.2.0298 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 298-303 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Erja Rappe ◽

Sirkka-Liisa Kivelä

Keyword(s):

Elderly People ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Well Being ◽

The Elderly ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Term Care ◽

Major Health Problem ◽

Peace Of Mind

Depression is a major health problem among the elderly. Its prevalence is high among those in long-term care. Exposure to the garden environment may alleviate depressive symptoms, but there is little research evidence to confirm this hypothesis. In this study we investigated the perceived effects and meanings related to garden visits among older individuals living in long-term care and assessed whether there are associations between experiences from garden visits and self-rated depression. Data were gathered by surveying 30 elderly people living in Kustaankartano, a nursing home and service center for elderly people in Helsinki, Finland. Prevalence of self-rated depression was high; 46% of the participants were depressed. Both being in the garden and seeing it from the balcony and observing nature were of great significance for most of the participants. For more than half of the participants, visiting the garden improved mood, quality of sleep, and ability to concentrate; it generated feelings of recovery and promoted peace of mind. Affective effects of visiting the garden tended to be more pronounced among the depressed than among those not depressed. The depressed did not consider social interaction and participation in social activities very important for their well-being. Depression tended to be related to perception of the residents that they experienced hindrances and distresses associated with visiting the garden. Although there were indicative differences between the depressed and nondepressed participants in garden experiences, the results suggest that visiting the garden may affect the subjective well-being of both groups positively.

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Informal Caregivers As Long-Term Care Providers: Differential Experiences By Gender

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e322352004-260 ◽

2002 ◽

Author(s):

Maryam Navaie-Waliser ◽

Aubrey L. Spriggs ◽

Penny H. Feldman

Keyword(s):

Long Term Care ◽

Informal Caregivers ◽

Care Providers ◽

Term Care

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Uitbraak COVID-19 in de verpleeghuiszorg

Tijdschrift voor Gerontologie en Geriatrie ◽

10.36613/tgg.1875-6832/2020.03.01 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Nursing Home ◽

Nursing Homes ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Informal Caregivers ◽

Rapid Review ◽

Daily Routine ◽

Term Care ◽

Care Facilities

Long-term care for older adults is highly affect by the COVID-19 outbreak. The objective of this rapid review is to understand what we can learn from previous crises or disasters worldwide to optimize the care for older adults in long term care facilities during the outbreak of COVID-19. We searched five electronic databases to identify potentially relevant articles. In total, 23 articles were included in this study. Based on the articles, it appeared that nursing homes benefit from preparing for the situation as best as they can. For instance, by having proper protocols and clear division of tasks and collaboration within the organization. In addition, it is helpful for nursing homes to collaborate closely with other healthcare organizations, general practitioners, informal caregivers and local authorities. It is recommended that nursing homes pay attention to capacity and employability of staff and that they support or relieve staff where possible. With regard to care for the older adults, it is important that staff tries to find a new daily routine in the care for residents as soon as possible. Some practical tips were found on how to communicate with people who have dementia. Furthermore, behavior of people with dementia may change during a crisis. We found tips for staff how to respond and act upon behavior change. After the COVID-19 outbreak, aftercare for staff, residents, and informal caregivers is essential to timely detect psychosocial problems. The consideration between, on the one hand, acute safety and risk reduction (e.g. by closing residential care facilities and isolating residents), and on the other hand, the psychosocial consequences for residents and staff, were discussed in case of other disasters. Furthermore, the search of how to provide good (palliative) care and to maintain quality of life for older adults who suffer from COVID-19 is also of concern to nursing home organizations. In the included articles, the perspective of older adults, informal caregivers and staff is often lacking. Especially the experiences of older adults, informal caregivers, and nursing home staff with the care for older adults in the current situation, are important in formulating lessons about how to act before, during and after the coronacrisis. This may further enhance person-centered care, even in times of crisis. Therefore, we recommend to study these experiences in future research.

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Mental well‐being of staff in long‐term care facilities at risk

Geriatrics and Gerontology International ◽

10.1111/ggi.14260 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Chiaki Ura ◽

Tsuyoshi Okamura ◽

Akinori Takase ◽

Masaya Shimmei ◽

Yukan Ogawa

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Well Being ◽

Term Care ◽

Care Facilities ◽

Mental Well Being

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Digital Technologies To Enhance Social Connectedness in Long-Term Care Facilities During COVID-19: A Review

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.3451 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 942-943

Author(s):

Shannon Freeman ◽

Aderonke Abgoji ◽

Alanna Koopmans ◽

Christopher Ross

Keyword(s):

Social Isolation ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Care Facility ◽

Well Being ◽

Sufficient Information ◽

Term Care ◽

Care Facilities

Abstract A consequence of the strict visitor restrictions implemented by many Long-term Care Facilities (LTCFs), during the COVID-19 pandemic, was the exacerbation of loneliness and social isolation felt by older adult residents. While there had been a shift by some persons to utilize digital solutions to mitigate the effects of the imposed social isolation, many facilities did not have sufficient information regarding available solutions to implement institutional strategies to support social connectedness through digital solutions. To support our partners in evidence-based policy-making we conducted a scoping review to identify existing virtual technology solutions, apps, and platforms feasible to promote social connectedness among persons residing in a long-term care facility context during times of lockdown such as experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Initial identification of relevant literature involved a combination of keywords and subject headings searches within 5 databases (PubMed, CINAHL EBSCO, PsychINFO EBSCO, Embase OVIDSP, and Web of Science ISI). DistillerSR was used to screen, chart and summarize the data. There is growth in the availability of technologies focused on promoting health and well-being in later life for persons in long-term care facilities however a gap remains in widespread uptake. We will describe the breadth of technologies identified in this review and discuss how they vary in utility in smaller scale facilities common in rural areas. Of the technologies that can be used to mitigate the impacts of social isolation felt by long-term care residents, many “solutions” depend on stable highspeed internet, which remains a challenge in rural and northern areas.

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Informal carer in Portugal: moving towards political recognition in Portugal

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz187.178 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

I Fronteira ◽

J Simoes ◽

G Augusto

Keyword(s):

Informal Care ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Well Being ◽

Oecd Countries ◽

Low Fertility ◽

Informal Carer ◽

Term Care ◽

System Perspective ◽

Informal Carers

Abstract Informal care represents around 80% of all long term care provided in EU countries. Nevertheless, the needs for this type of care are expected to increase in the coming years in all OECD countries. Portugal is among the OECD countries with the highest ageing index (21.5% of the population was older than 65 years in 2017) due to high life expectancy and low fertility rates. As this demographic trend establishes, Portugal is expected to have more than 40% of the population over 65 years in 2037, and the expected prevalence of dementia is 3%, in 2050. In 2015 there were 2.1% of people over 65 receiving long-term care, representing 52% of all long-term care users. Around 38% were receiving care at home. It is estimated that 287,000 people in Portugal depend on informal carers. The agenda towards the official recognition of informal cares has been push forward in the country. Since 2015, several recommendations have been issued by the Parliament as well as legislative initiatives and a proposal for a Status of the Informal Carer is currently under discussion. We analyse the process of formulation of this policy in terms of sectors and stakeholders involved, definition and scope of informal carer, rights and obligations, role of the person being cared for, formal protection (e.g., labor, social, financial, training) and implementation. Recognition of the informal carer is a sector wide approach. One of the main features is the economic, social and labor protection mainly through reconciliation between work life and caring activities and promotion of the carer’s well being. Notwithstanding, and from a health system perspective, community health teams are to be the focal point for informal carers, supporting and providing specific training whenever needed. Despite its relevance, informal care should not be professionalized and responsibility of care should not be shifted from health services to informal carers. Key messages Needs for informal care are expected to increase in the coming years in OECD countries. Recognition of the informal carer is a sector wide approach.

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Formal long-term care : informal caregivers’ subjective well-being and service utilization