scholarly journals Coping Strategies Used by Older Adults to Deal with Contact Isolation in the Hospital during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author(s):  
Jogé Boumans ◽  
Aukelien Scheffelaar ◽  
Vera P. van Druten ◽  
Tessel H. G. Hendriksen ◽  
Lenny M. W. Nahar-van Venrooij ◽  
...  

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many older adults have experienced contact isolation in a hospital setting which leads to separation from relatives, loss of freedom, and uncertainty regarding disease status. The objective of this study was to explore how older adults (55+) cope with contact isolation in a hospital setting during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to improve their physical and psychological wellbeing. The realist evaluation approach was used to formulate initial program theories on coping strategies used by (older) adults in an isolation setting. Twenty-one semi-structured interviews with older patients (n = 21) were analysed. This study revealed that both emotion-focused coping strategies as well as problem-focused coping strategies were used by older adults during contact isolation. The study also uncovered some new specific coping strategies. The results have useful implications for hospital staff seeking to improve the wellbeing of older adults in contact isolation in hospitals. Problem-focused coping strategies could be stimulated through staff performing care in a person-centred way. Trust in staff, as part of emotion-focused coping strategies, could be stimulated by improving the relationship between patients and staff.

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 245-245
Author(s):  
Xiang Gao ◽  
Kaipeng Wang

Abstract Coping strategies are important factors that influence caregivers’ mental health outcomes. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between coping strategies and caregiver burden and depression among Chinese caregivers of older adults with cognitive impairment. Data came from structured interviews with 300 primary family caregiver-care recipient dyads in Wuhan, China. We used OLS to examine the association between coping strategies and caregiver burden and depression. More positive reframing and acceptance were associated with lower caregiver burden, whereas more self-distraction was associated with higher caregiver burden. More positive reframing was associated with lower caregiver depression, whereas higher self-distraction and religion were associated with higher caregiver depression. Findings of this study suggest that a psychosocial intervention package that emphasizes on enhancing positive reframing skills and affirming acceptance may be effective in reducing caregiver burden and depression among Chinese caregivers of older adults with cognitive impairment.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Julia Schneider ◽  
Jennifer Miller ◽  
Winfried Teschauer ◽  
Andreas Kruse ◽  
Birgit Teichmann

Background: Entering the hospital via an emergency department (ED) is a pivotal moment in the life of people with dementia (PwD) and often starts an avoidable downward spiral. Therefore, it is required to further educate ED staff to raise awareness of the needs of PwD. Although there are many studies about existing dementia training programs for the hospital setting, empirical evidence for the ED setting and cross-level training evaluations are lacking. Objective: The study aims to evaluate a two-day dementia training course for ED staff on the outcome levels of learning, individual performance, and organizational performance. Furthermore, the study examines whether the training fulfilled participants’ expectations. Methods: Mixed methods were used to assess data from head nurses, nursing, and administrative staff working in EDs. We conducted semi-structured interviews three weeks before (N = 18) and eight months after (N = 9) the training. Questionnaire data were assessed before the training, three months, and six months after the training (N = 44). A qualitative content analysis was conducted to analyze qualitative data; quantitative data was described descriptively. Results: The intervention seems to be effective on both learning and individual performance levels. However, we did not observe any changes in the organizational performance. The training program met attendees’ expectations only partly. The working environment of EDs needs to be taken more into account. Conclusion: Hospital staffs’ expectations of a dementia training program depend on the work area in which they operate. Results support the implementation of intervention bundles to enable sustainable cross-level changes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 724-724
Author(s):  
Novia Nurain ◽  
Lesa Huber ◽  
Clara Caldeira ◽  
Kay Connelly

Abstract COVID-19 stay-at-home orders resulted in social isolation and psychosocial challenges for older adults around the world. To understand their lived experiences during the pandemic, we conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 15 older adults living in community settings. Qualitative thematic analysis of the collected data identified themes and patterns of the “new normal” for these participants: ways of living, communication with family and friends, sense of autonomy, psychological responses, coping strategies, and perceived social support. This presentation focuses on participants’ coping strategies. Participants used common coping strategies, customized to the unique challenges of stay-at-home orders. We categorized coping strategies as problem-focused, meaning-focused, and emotion-focused. Participants’ problem-focused strategies aimed to reduce the risk of infection. Meaning-focused strategies included purposeful errands such as going to grocery stores. Emotion-focused strategies emphasized connecting with support networks (e.g., via Zoom) and efforts to maintain psychosocial and emotional well-being (e.g., seeking professional counseling). They also employed self-enhancing comparisons to increase self-concept and self-esteem. At the beginning of the pandemic, some temporarily used distraction/avoidance strategies such as eating comfort food and avoiding news about COVID-19 to maintain a positive emotional state. Our findings imply the applicability of frameworks such as life course perspective and selective optimization with compensation to highlight the successful adaptive strategies developed by older adults through experience. We argue against the ageist view of older adults as vulnerable. Rather, this study suggests that older adults can flexibly employ resilient coping strategies crafted over a lifetime of experiences in response to crises.


1999 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-86
Author(s):  
Martina Kindsmüller ◽  
Andrea Kaindl ◽  
Uwe Schuri ◽  
Alf Zimmer

Topographical Orientation in Patients with Acquired Brain Damage Abstract: A study was conducted to investigate the abilities of topographical orientation in patients with acquired brain damage. The first study investigates the correlation between wayfinding in a hospital setting and various sensory and cognitive deficits as well as the predictability of navigating performance by specific tests, self-rating of orientation ability and rating by staff. The investigation included 35 neuropsychological patients as well as 9 control subjects. Several variables predicted the wayfinding performance reasonably well: memory tests like the one introduced by Muramoto and a subtest of the Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test, the Map Reading Test and the rating by hospital staff. Patients with hemianopia experienced significant difficulty in the task.


1970 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-58
Author(s):  
Fellipe Afonso de Azevedo ◽  
Noé D’jalma Araújo ◽  
Néliton Célio de Novais ◽  
José Vítor da Silva ◽  
Renato Augusto Passos

RESUMOObjetivo: o presente trabalho teve como objetivo identificar os significados de morte emergentes das equipes de enfermagem que atuam nas unidades de Pronto Socorro e Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) em uma entidade de médio porte situada no Sul de Minas Gerais. Materiais e métodos: estudo de abordagem qualitativa, do tipo descritivo, de campo e transversal. A amostra estudada foi composta de oito enfermeiros, 22 técnicos e quatro auxiliares de enfermagem, totalizando 34 profissionais, sendo utilizado o instrumento de caracterização pessoal e profissional da equipe de enfermagem e o roteiro de entrevista semiestruturada. A amostragem foi proposital. A coleta de dados foi realizada através de entrevista semiestruturada, gravada e transcrita. As diretrizes metodológicas do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo foram utilizadas para a seleção das ideias centrais e expressões-chave correspondentes, a partir das quais foram extraídos os discursos dos sujeitos, no cenário da instituição hospitalar. Resultados e Discussão: ao analisar o tema “significados de morte”, obtiveram-se as seguintes ideias centrais: “passagem”, “diversos significados”, “fim da vida” e “fim e começo de outra vida”. Conclusão: As concepções acerca do tema morte para os profissionais participantes deste trabalho reforça a necessidade de estudos sobre o tema durante a formação acadêmica. Certos de que irão vivenciar este tipo de situação no dia-a-dia profissional, é preciso prepará-los psicologicamente para isso.Palavras-chave: Morte, Equipe de enfermagem, Assistência ao paciente.ABSTRACTObjective: This study aimed to identify the meanings of emerging death of the nursing staff working in the Emergency Units and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in a medium-sized entity located in southern Minas Gerais. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional qualitative field research. The sample was composed of 8 nurses, 22 technicians and 4 nursing assistants, totaling 34 professionals. It was used a tool of personal and professional characterization of the nursing team and a semi-structured interview. Sampling was intentional. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews, that were recorded and transcribed. The methodological guidelines of the Collective Subject Speech were used for the selection of the central ideas and corresponding key expressions, from which the speeches of the subjects were taken, in the hospital setting. Results and discussion: to examine the topic "death meanings" yielded the following core ideas: "pass", "different meanings", "end of life" and "end and beginning of another life." Conclusion: The conceptions about the death theme for the professional participants of this study reinforces the need for studies on the subject during their academic training. It is certain that they will experience this type of situation on their daily professional routine, therefore there is a need to prepare them psychologically for this.Keywords: Death, Nursing staff, Patient care.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii17-iii65
Author(s):  
Siti Khalijah ◽  
Suzanne Timmons

Abstract Background Regular exercise and physical activity can maintain function and cardiovascular health, and prevent cognitive decline, in older adults. However, studies show that there is often poor adherence to home exercise programmes (HEP). The purpose of this study was to explore how HEP are perceived by both older adults and physiotherapists. Methods A convenience sample of 28 older adults attending outpatient physiotherapy clinics were given an exercise journal to record their adherence to the HEP prescribed by their physiotherapists for six weeks. Subsequently, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample, and the corresponding prescribing physiotherapists, to achieve maximal variation in terms of HEP adherence, age and sex. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and simple content analysis performed. Results Fourteen participants returned their exercise journal. Median age was 80; half were female; median Berg Balance Score and Timed-up-and-Go-Test were 49 and 16 seconds respectively. Participants exercised a median 79.8% of the prescribed dose, or 5.6 days per week. Seven older adults were interviewed; about half had a positive attitude towards exercise. They were also moderately positive about their HEP (comments ranged from “doable” and “nothing bad about it” to “enjoyable”). Barriers included time, mood, boredom, remembering to do the HEP, and variable health status. Enablers included simple instructions and design, family encouragement, and sense of achievement. Physiotherapists (n=5) perceived that many older adults aren’t compliant with HEPs, but there was some therapeutic nihilism (“you can’t force them”). Their HEP instructions varied from verbal to written instructions/diagrams; one physiotherapist used individualised video content. Notably, participants with good adherence understood their HEP well in terms of content and purpose, although this may be cause or effect. Conclusion To improve compliance with HEP, healthcare professionals need to take time to motivate the recipient, simplify their instructions, and trouble-shoot potential barriers at the time of prescription.


2021 ◽  
pp. 193672442110356
Author(s):  
Elmira Jangjou

In response to students’ food insecurity, a number of colleges and universities have taken action and established campus food pantries as part of their intervention plans. However, many of these pantries ceased operation due to COVID-19 campus shutdowns. The purpose of this study is to illustrate the short-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on postsecondary students, who use a university-provided food pantry. Drawing from semi-structured interviews with 12 participants, the thematic analysis explored the initial coping strategies these students used to endure the pandemic. Findings revealed that many students experienced the immediate effects of the pandemic in the form of income loss, self-isolation, anxiety, and appetite change. Although the pandemic interrupted these students’ journeys to continue their studies and become independent in various ways, the affected students implemented various coping strategies, including seeking help from family or friends, using available resources, cooking at home, and even trying to save money. However, considering that the targeted population in this study was already at risk because of their basic needs insecurity, these postsecondary students require extra attention from their higher education institutions in the case of emergencies, such as a global pandemic. In addition to its timely and relevant findings, this study provides important avenues for future research and intervention efforts.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Nathan A. Lewis ◽  
Naomi Reesor ◽  
Patrick L. Hill

Abstract Despite the growing use of retirement communities and ageing care facilities, little is known about how residing in retirement residences may impact aspects of older adult wellbeing. Living in these communities may hold particular influence on residents’ sense of purpose, if they feel limited in their opportunities for individual action, or could serve to promote purposefulness depending on the social connections available. The current study sought to explore contributing factors as well as barriers to purpose in older adults living in three continuing care retirement communities. Using brief semi-structured interviews, 18 older adults were asked to describe their purpose in life, community-related activities and any perceived challenges limiting their ability to pursue this purpose. Thematic analysis was used to examine themes common across interviews. Interviews presented a mixed picture of the nature of purposefulness in retirement facilities. Residents espoused several benefits of community living such as social and leisure opportunities, while also noting several obstacles to their purpose, including health concerns and the belief that purpose in life was not relevant for older adults. These findings provide insight into how older adults can derive a sense of purpose from activities within their retirement community and how facilities can better tailor programmes to promote purposefulness and support personally valued roles for residents.


Author(s):  
Deepti Adlakha ◽  
Mina Chandra ◽  
Murali Krishna ◽  
Lee Smith ◽  
Mark A. Tully

The World Health Organization and the United Nations have increasingly acknowledged the importance of urban green space (UGS) for healthy ageing. However, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like India with exponential ageing populations have inadequate UGS. This qualitative study examined the relationships between UGS and healthy ageing in two megacities in India. Participants were recruited using snowball sampling in New Delhi and Chennai and semi-structured interviews were conducted with consenting participants (N = 60, female = 51%; age > 60 years; fluent in English, Hindi, or Tamil). Interviews were recorded, transcribed, translated, and analysed using inductive and thematic analysis. Benefits of UGS included community building and social capital, improved health and social resilience, physical activity promotion, reduced exposure to noise, air pollution, and heat. Poorly maintained UGS and lack of safe, age-friendly pedestrian infrastructure were identified as barriers to health promotion in later life. Neighbourhood disorder and crime constrained older adults’ use of UGS in low-income neighbourhoods. This study underscores the role of UGS in the design of age-friendly communities in India. The findings highlight the benefits of UGS for older adults, particularly those living in socially disadvantaged or underserved communities, which often have least access to high-quality parks and green areas.


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