Financial Incapacity of Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s Disease: What Neurologists Need to Know about Where the Impairment Lies

Research in the last decade has focused on assessing financial capacity and incapacity mainly in old age, but new research has turned to address the question of how financial incapacity can be predicted by cognitive factors. The aim of this study was to identify which cognitive domains predict financial capacity and the relevant cognitive skills of patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in order to assist neurologists in functional assessment and further patient referral. In this study, 109 patients diagnosed with mild AD were examined with a number of neuropsychological tests: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Functional Rating Scale for Symptoms of Dementia (FRSSD), Functional Cognitive Assessment Scale (FUCAS), Trail Making Test (TMT)-Part B, Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCFT)-copy condition and delayed recall condition, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Boston Naming Test, Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (RBMT), digit span forward and backward, WAIS-R digit symbol substitution test, Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and the Legal Capacity for Property Law Transactions Assessment Scale (LCPLTAS). LCPLTAS total score and relevant subdomains were best predicted only by the score of one item coming from MMSE: subtraction of serial sevens. This is the only measure of arithmetic testing in use for the Greek geriatric population. Financial capacity is severely impaired in the group of mild AD patients. In order to prevent financial exploitation cases, neurologists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, and geriatrists should pay close attention to the information from the relevant arithmetic question of MMSE, as it is one of the most widely administered screening tests in clinical settings.

Health Problems, Financial Capacity, and Access to Healthcare of Older Persons in Metro Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines

This descriptive qualitative study explored the experiences of older persons how they availed of and assessed the quality of available healthcare services to address their needs given their capacity to pay. The focus revolved around the concept of financial capacity for healthcare needs to address health problems during old age. Experiences were documented through face-to-face interviews of purposively identified eight older persons using semi-structured guide questions. Thematic analysis was applied, which revealed that financial capacity matters in health quality relative to the particular health problems the older persons have endured. The findings further revealed differentiated access to healthcare services given the variable economic conditions of older persons. This paper reiterates their recommendations that providing them the needed healthcare assistance and information about the management and prevention of common ailments affecting them may avert their health problems from becoming worse and more expensive to cure beyond their financial capacity.

المنظور الاستراتيجي لوسائل الاتصال في مؤسسات العمل الطوعي. "بالتطبيق على الهلال الأحمر الإماراتي

This research studiesthe efforts ofsome of the humanitarianvolunteer work organizations in order toachieve excellence inperformancewith respect tocommunicating withthe public andits beneficiariesas well as thesupportersfor their activities by using theso-calledeffective communicationstrategies.The problem ofresearch is summed up inhow to achievesuccessandleadershipinhumanitarianvolunteer workat the local and international levelby adoptingeffectivecommunicationstrategieswhich stem from the visionofthe organizations themselves, as well as by taking advantage ofemploying their financial capacity andmediaorgans. One of the mainobjectives of the researchis how toidentifythe communication management betweenvolunteeringinstitutionsand the beneficiaries of their services, as well as evaluatingthe efforts made bythese institutionsin order to establisheffective communicationbetween them and thebeneficiaries of theservicesandthe impact ontheir performance.Theresearcher used thedescriptive methodin which he relied onthe case studymethod. He chose thestudy ofthe UAE RedCrescent Committeeas a case study where the results can be generalizedtothe rest of thesimilarinstitutions. One of the mainfindings of theresearchisthat the components of strategic thinkingof theinstitutionsthat provide servicesto the communityare necessary componentsto adjust therhythm ofwork, particularly in thevolunteer workof humanitarianorganizations. Volunteer workinstitutionsthat adopt clearadministrativeandcommunication policiesarethe more successfulthan others, and that’s due toadopting these policies. The researcher recommendsthe need tolink the strategies of thevolunteer workinstitutions; the vision, the missionandthetaskscarried out bythe mediaworkingof these institutionsaspublic relations; and this isin order to achievethe totalgoals sought.The researcher recommended alsothe need toconsolidatethe relationship betweenvolunteer workorganizationsand themass communicationmeans even further than they are,andmove away from themarginalrolesexercised bythese meansat the present time.

Sustainability in the film industry: External and internal dynamics shaping the Wellington film district

<p>Official statistics show that the revenue from film production in Wellington has increased in the last decade. However, unofficial debates identify that the Wellington film industry lacks financial capacity and has only intermittent levels of production. I argue that the absence of sustainability, defined here as long-term endogenous viability, underlies the difficulties faced by the film industry in Wellington. However, cultural industries studies have overlooked the issue of sustainability in the film industry, or dealt with it only indirectly. This study draws on theoretical approaches from the political economy of culture and geographical industrialisation theory, suggesting that integrated relations among the value chain phases, and synergistic interactions among the film industry organisations, are crucial to film industry development. Accordingly, this thesis derives from the hypothesis that such relations are key to sustainable outcomes. The main question that this research addresses is, What interrelations in the film industry enable its sustainability? The thesis uses the empirical example of the film industry in Wellington as an industrial district that sheds light on similar film industrial districts that depend on transnational outsourcing and government funding, yet struggle to achieve a sustainable endogenous industry. Although the district in Wellington has unique characteristics, it cannot be understood without referring to the determinant influence of policies and economic flows that occur at the national and international levels. Therefore, a large part of the thesis is dedicated to examining such external dynamics. I gathered data through 30 qualitative interviews with key practitioners as well as boundary spanners in the film industry. Boundary spanners are people who are responsible for establishing relations with other film-related organisations and the industrial district environment. The research also drew on secondary data from various sources, mainly official documents and statistics, media reports, public information of film industry organisations and previous academic studies. As part of my analysis, I identified localised ‘vertical’ blockages in the value chain, such as the disarticulation of production from distribution and commercialisation of films, and ‘horizontal’ blockages in a vast array of interlinked organisations and policy environments. I have argued that these constraints obstruct synergistic interrelations towards achieving sustainability as they underwrite outcomes in five main areas: financial capacity, ability to maintain labour pools, ability to feed from creative sources, ability to develop productivity and infrastructure, as well as the opportunity to reach audiences. The Wellington example showed structural blockages in all those areas and the thesis suggests general paths to canalise relationships in the industry to create sustainability. My analysis contributes to the international field of cultural industries studies, in which there is very little clarity about how to give an account of sustainability in the film industry. The thesis has identified a gap between the theoretical accounts explaining how the film industries work, and international organisations’ advocacy for sustainable development in the cultural industries. By proposing a definition of sustainability in the film industry as well as suggesting systematic accounts of sustainability as an analytical and normative framework, the thesis contributes by establishing a bridge between the theory and its application to achieve normative (or desirable) sustainable outcomes. In addition, the research findings provide an increased understanding of the industry for both film industry practitioners and film policy advisors. When contrasting the findings with the conditions for a sustainable industry, I have noted that the film industry in Wellington presents several challenging areas. I suggest that policy-makers should pay special attention to them. These are audience development; professionalisation in scriptwriting and original creative content; intermediary expertise (not at the individual but at the organisational level so that knowledge around marketing and copyright management can be accrued and transferred in the long-term); alternative channels of distribution and dissemination (whose contracts guarantee with minimum standards a fair and quick redistribution of the revenue stream for the producer). Likewise, I consider it essential to increase the collaboration of local companies with independent (as opposed to major) international players in order to maintain the balancing power in negotiation without compromising control over revenue.</p>

Sustainability in the film industry: External and internal dynamics shaping the Wellington film district

<p>Official statistics show that the revenue from film production in Wellington has increased in the last decade. However, unofficial debates identify that the Wellington film industry lacks financial capacity and has only intermittent levels of production. I argue that the absence of sustainability, defined here as long-term endogenous viability, underlies the difficulties faced by the film industry in Wellington. However, cultural industries studies have overlooked the issue of sustainability in the film industry, or dealt with it only indirectly. This study draws on theoretical approaches from the political economy of culture and geographical industrialisation theory, suggesting that integrated relations among the value chain phases, and synergistic interactions among the film industry organisations, are crucial to film industry development. Accordingly, this thesis derives from the hypothesis that such relations are key to sustainable outcomes. The main question that this research addresses is, What interrelations in the film industry enable its sustainability? The thesis uses the empirical example of the film industry in Wellington as an industrial district that sheds light on similar film industrial districts that depend on transnational outsourcing and government funding, yet struggle to achieve a sustainable endogenous industry. Although the district in Wellington has unique characteristics, it cannot be understood without referring to the determinant influence of policies and economic flows that occur at the national and international levels. Therefore, a large part of the thesis is dedicated to examining such external dynamics. I gathered data through 30 qualitative interviews with key practitioners as well as boundary spanners in the film industry. Boundary spanners are people who are responsible for establishing relations with other film-related organisations and the industrial district environment. The research also drew on secondary data from various sources, mainly official documents and statistics, media reports, public information of film industry organisations and previous academic studies. As part of my analysis, I identified localised ‘vertical’ blockages in the value chain, such as the disarticulation of production from distribution and commercialisation of films, and ‘horizontal’ blockages in a vast array of interlinked organisations and policy environments. I have argued that these constraints obstruct synergistic interrelations towards achieving sustainability as they underwrite outcomes in five main areas: financial capacity, ability to maintain labour pools, ability to feed from creative sources, ability to develop productivity and infrastructure, as well as the opportunity to reach audiences. The Wellington example showed structural blockages in all those areas and the thesis suggests general paths to canalise relationships in the industry to create sustainability. My analysis contributes to the international field of cultural industries studies, in which there is very little clarity about how to give an account of sustainability in the film industry. The thesis has identified a gap between the theoretical accounts explaining how the film industries work, and international organisations’ advocacy for sustainable development in the cultural industries. By proposing a definition of sustainability in the film industry as well as suggesting systematic accounts of sustainability as an analytical and normative framework, the thesis contributes by establishing a bridge between the theory and its application to achieve normative (or desirable) sustainable outcomes. In addition, the research findings provide an increased understanding of the industry for both film industry practitioners and film policy advisors. When contrasting the findings with the conditions for a sustainable industry, I have noted that the film industry in Wellington presents several challenging areas. I suggest that policy-makers should pay special attention to them. These are audience development; professionalisation in scriptwriting and original creative content; intermediary expertise (not at the individual but at the organisational level so that knowledge around marketing and copyright management can be accrued and transferred in the long-term); alternative channels of distribution and dissemination (whose contracts guarantee with minimum standards a fair and quick redistribution of the revenue stream for the producer). Likewise, I consider it essential to increase the collaboration of local companies with independent (as opposed to major) international players in order to maintain the balancing power in negotiation without compromising control over revenue.</p>

The geography of financial condition in the Mexico City metropolitan area

There has been academic and policy concern about the financial capacity of administratively fragmented metropolitan areas to implement inclusive development measures and provide public services. Metropolitan public financing is problematic because there is a geographical mismatch between extended functional urban regions and administrative units. While local governments are responsible for implementing policies, spending, and raising revenues, financial capacity tends to differ across jurisdictions in response to economic, social and political factors, resulting in manifold disparities. Such variations can be particularly acute depending on the complexity and size of the metropolitan area, and can lead to major spatial disparities in the life standards of residents. This paper focuses on the local financial condition in Mexico City Metropolitan Area, which is often used to exemplify a fragmented metropolitan area. Official statistics from 1989 to 2018 are used to identify major intra-metropolitan variations in the financial condition of local governments. A novel methodology is used to classify municipalities according to their financial health, and discriminant analysis is used to explore the factors shaping the geography of financial performance. The economic and demographic size of municipalities appear to play a significant role.

CURRENT ISSUES OF PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT IN UKRAINE

The article describes the approaches to defining the essence of understanding «public finance» and «public finance management» in the context of administrative and financial decentralization. A study on the current state of economic development of Ukraine is carried and the public financial management system is analyzed. The dynamics of the ratio of revenues and expenditures of the State and local budgets is shown and the national and subnational levels in the financing of public expenditures are described. The sequence of achieving a new level of welfare of the population is presented and the ways of state influence on local economic development are outlined. The content of the state’s activity on financial resources management and public importance of finances is given. Particular attention is paid to the financial capacity of UTC and the existing positive developments within the decentralization reform in Ukraine. The need to improve the management of public finances was emphasized, as it was evidenced by the size of the budget deficit. The division of budget expenditures by functional classification between the national and subnational levels is presented and the decline of financial independence of subnational budgets is witnessed. An assessment of the level of confidence in financial asset management services of territorial communities based on the calculation of the relevant index is made, and the relationship between the selected indicators (the monetary expenditures of the population; deposits of individuals in investment funds; population savings; volume of capital investments; volume of investments in Ukraine; assets of investment funds) and the level of public confidence in the management of UTC financial assets is researched. Keywords: financial management, public finance, financial capacity of territorial communities, financial assets. JEL Classification H70, H89, R59, Q01 Formulas: 1; fig.: 5; tabl.: 3; bibl.: 20.

Analysis Financial Ratio of Regional Government Budget in Assessing Financial Management Performance of Regional Government of Gianyar Regency

This research sought to assess the performance of regional financial management in Gianyar Regency during 2016-2020, as measured by the degree of fiscal decentralization ratio, the regional financial dependence ratio, the Original Regional Government Revenue effectiveness ratio, the regional financial efficiency ratio, and the regional expenditure compatibility ratio. In addition, this research also determined the regional financial capacity of Gianyar Regency, measured through the calculation of Share and Growth, the mapping of regional financial capacity, and the index of regional financial capacity. The research results revealed that the financial management performance of Gianyar Regency during 2016-2020 on average was in a bad condition. It can be seen from its low regional autonomy and its high dependency on the central government. In addition, the regional government has not been able to streamline the regional finances in which regional expenditures were greater than regional revenues. The distribution of regional budget in Gianyar Regency has not been evenly allocated so that the performance regional financial management was at worse state. However, viewed from the level of regional financial capacity, Gianyar Regency has very good potential, obstructed by its low level of Original Regional Government Revenue use to finance regional expenditures.

Assessment of the Financial Capacity in Elderly: Approach and Challenges in Indian Scenario

The elderly population, with those individuals above the age of 60 years, is increasing exponentially, attributable to higher life expectancy as a result of improved health care, socioeconomic level, and quality of life. As they grow older (>80 years), it becomes difficult to manage their basic needs and daily living. A report on Decade of Healthy Ageing estimates that 14% of people aged 60 years and above cannot meet their basic daily needs which include the ability to manage finances. Some elderly people depend on others to manage finances because of their inability to make decisions resulting in conflicts and communication problems between siblings and other members of the family and lodging of civil lawsuits in India’s joint family unit. So, decision-making is an important area to assess in the elderly people, given its clinical, legal, and ethical aspects. Courts of law can refer to older persons for assessing their capacity to manage finances, though there are no structured clinical procedures to assess it in India. This article evaluates existing methods around the world, discusses the challenges associated with the assessment, and provides clinicians with guidance on assessing financial capacity from an Indian perspective.