Elderly suicides in Denizli, Turkey: a retrospective study from 2011 to 2020

Background Although suicide rates and methods used may vary according to society, gender, and age there are epidemiological studies reporting that suicide rates increase with advanced age in all societies, particularly accelerating after the age of 65 years. This study aimed to investigate the demographic data and suicide characteristics—such as the location and method, among others—of the elderly suicide deaths among forensic deaths between 2011 and 2020 in Denizli, Turkey. Results It was determined that elderly suicides constituted 13.8% of all suicides and increased gradually over the years during the 10-year period. The vast majority of cases were male (82%). It has been observed that hanging is the most frequently used method. It is also noteworthy that although firearm suicide among men was the second most common method, women do not choose this method at all. The majority of elderly suicides (88.5%) in Denizli occurred in the home and its annexes. Conclusions Suicide prevention programmes should promote the elderly to benefit widely from social and health services. Therefore, there is a need to include widespread home care services and firearms regulations in prevention programmes.

What constitutes ‘good’ home care for people with dementia? An investigation of the views of home care service recipients and providers

Background Our objective was to explore what people receiving and providing care consider to be ‘good’ in-home care for people living with dementia. Methods We conducted 36 in-depth interviews and two focus groups with key stakeholders in Australia in the first quarter of 2018. Participants included those receiving care (4 people living with dementia, 15 family carers) or providing care (9 case managers, 5 service managers, 10 home care workers). Qualitative thematic analysis was guided by Braun and Clarke’s six-step approach. Results Consensus was reached across all groups on five themes considered as important for good in-home dementia care: 1) Home care workers’ understanding of dementia and its impact; 2) Home care workers’ demonstrating person-centred care and empathy in their care relationship with their client; 3) Good relationships and communication between care worker, person with dementia and family carers; 4) Home care workers’ knowing positive practical strategies for changed behaviours; 5) Effective workplace policies and workforce culture. The results contributed to the co-design of a dementia specific training program for home care workers. Conclusions It is crucial to consider the views and opinions of each stakeholder group involved in providing/receiving dementia care from home care workers, to inform workforce training, education program design and service design. Results can be used to inform and empower home care providers, policy, and related decision makers to guide the delivery of improved home care services. Trial registration ACTRN 12619000251123.

Predictors of Nursing Home Admission in the Older Population in Belgium

BackgroundThis study examines the risk factors associated with nursing home admission (NHA) in Belgium to contribute to a better planning of the future demand for nursing home (NH) services and health care resources.MethodsIndividual level linkage of the 2013 Belgian health interview survey data and health insurance data (2012 to 2018) was done. Only non-institutionalized participants, aged ≥65 years at the time of the survey were included in this study (n=1930). Participants were followed until NHA, death or end of study period, i.e., December 31, 2018. The risk of NHA was calculated using a competing risk analysis.ResultsOver the follow-up period (median 5.29 years), 226 individuals were admitted to a NH and 268 died without admission to a NH. The overall cumulative risk of NHA was 1.4%, 5.7% and 13.1% at, respectively 1 year, 3 years and the end of follow-up. After multivariable adjustment, higher age, low educational attainment, belonging to low income household, living alone, use of home care services and a number of need factor (e.g., history of falls, suffering from urinary incontinence, depression or Alzheimer disease, etc.) were significantly associated with a higher risk of NHA, while female, individuals with multimorbidity and increased contacts with health care providers were significantly associated with a decreased risk of NHA. Subjective health and limitations are both significant determinants of NHA, but subjective health is an effect modifier on the effect of limitations and vice versa.ConclusionsOur findings pinpoint important predictors of NHA in older adults, and offer possibilities of prevention to avoid or delay NHA for this population. The strong impact of need factors on the risk of NHA may indicate equitable access to NHA (i.e., those in need for support have access to NH). Practical implications include prevention of falls and appropriate and timely management of physical chronic conditions and neurodegenerative disorders. Focus should also be on people living alone to provide the appropriate social support and/or home care services. Further investigation of predictors of NHA should include contextual factors such as the availability of nursing-home beds, hospital beds, physicians and waiting lists for NHA.

Traditional Korean Medicine Home Care for the Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Korea

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the status of community care services regarding traditional Korean medicine (TKM) for older adults and raise awareness on current opinions and services of TKM institutions. Methods: The National Development Institute of Korean Medicine conducted a survey of 16 local governments by sending official letters through an electronic document system from October 2020 to November 2020. The survey items included basic demographic information and information about TKM service. Results: Eleven (68.8%) of the 16 local governments provided TKM home care services. A total of 136 TKM clinics provided home care services for 598 older adults with musculoskeletal disorders. The number of TKM services provided in five or more local governments were cupping 11 (100.0%), acupuncture 11 (100.0%), education and consulting 10 (90.9%), and moxibustion 9 (81.8%). Moreover, pain (recorded on visual analogue scale) and quality of life significantly improved following TKM services (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Covered under medical policy, TKM homecare services could function as a viable alternative for continued medical care disrupted during the coronavirus disease 19 pandemic. In addition, standardisation and legalisation of these services could ensure and improve their efficiency.

Economic burden of multiple sclerosis: a cross-sectional study in Iran

Background Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic debilitating disease that imposes a heavy socioeconomic burden on societies. This study aimed to determine the economic burden of MS on patients using the first (CinnoVex and ReciGen) and second (Fingolimod and Natalizumab) drug therapy lines. Methods This cost of illness study was an economic evaluation carried out as cross-sectional research in 2019 in southern Iran. A total of 259 patients were enrolled in two lines of drug therapy (178 patients in the first line and 81 ones in the second). The prevalence-based approach and the bottom-up approach were used to collect cost information and to calculate the costs from the societal perspective, respectively. The human capital approach was applied to calculate indirect costs. To collect the required data a researcher-made data collection form was utilized. The data were obtained using the information available in the patients’ medical records and insurance invoices as well as their self-reports or that of their companions. Results The results showed that the annual costs of MS in the first and second lines of drug therapy per patient were $ 1919 and $ 4082 purchasing power parity (PPP), respectively, and in total, $ 2721 PPP in 2019. The highest mean costs in both lines were those of direct medical costs, of which purchasing the main medicines in both lines accounted for the highest. Conclusion Considering the findings of this study and in order to reduce the burden of the disease, the following suggestions are presented: providing necessary facilities for the production of MS drugs in the country; proper and equitable distribution of neurologists; expanding the provision of home care services; and using the technologies related to the Internet, including WhatsApp, to follow up the MS patients’ treatment.

eSports and eSocial Work

Bringing together international players, eSports benefits beyond digitalization according to its intended use. It is possible to socialize individuals who cannot come together due to pandemics, extraordinary events, and economic difficulties and increase their commitment to life with these video games. Social work should take advantage of this developing field. eSports can provide benefits in geriatrics, home care services, physical therapy, elderly people in nursing homes, women, children, people with an autistic spectrum disorder, and social adaptation. Social work's functions in many areas such as environmental and social adaptation, well-being, welfare, public health, social policy, and the rehabilitation of children prone to crime can be made more functional through eSports. This chapter deals with the functions of social work to be developed and improved with eSports.

Determinants of home care utilization among the Swedish old: nationwide register-based study

Since the 1990s, Sweden has implemented aging-in-place policies increasing the share of older adults dependent on home care instead of residing in care homes. At the same time previous research has highlighted that individuals receive home care at a higher age than before. Consequently, services are provided for a shorter time before death, increasing reliance on family and kin as caregivers. Previous studies addressing how homecare is distributed rely primarily on small surveys and are often limited to specific regions. This study aims to ascertain how home care services are distributed regarding individual-level factors such as health status, living arrangements, availability of family, education, and socioeconomic position. To provide estimates that can be generalized to Sweden as a whole, we use register data for the entire Swedish population aged 65 + in 2016. The study's main findings are that home care recipients and the amount of care received are among the oldest old with severe co morbidities. Receiving home care is slightly more common among women, but only in the highest age groups. Childlessness and socioeconomic factors play a small role in who receives home care or not. Instead, the primary home care recipients are those older adults living alone who lack direct support from family members residing in the same household.

The Application of “Internet+” in the Ageing Adaptation of Elderly People with Disabilities at Home

This paper focuses on the role of the Internet in empowering social work to intervene in ageing-in-place services for the disabled elderly in terms of time, space, and resources. Through the practical analysis of home care service providers, the advantages and characteristics of the “Internet” for ageing-in-place services for the disabled elderly are identified, as well as some of the problems that exist in the current intelligent home care service platform. This paper proposes to improve and optimize the “Internet+” by fully enhancing the technical empowerment of the Internet, improving the integration and spanning of space, and giving full play to the role of social work on the Internet. This paper proposes to improve and optimize the “Internet+” elderly home care services for the disabled, so as to solve to a certain extent the practical problems faced by the “Internet+” elderly home care services in the early stage of development. The significance of this paper is that, through the study of the “Internet+” home care services for the elderly with disabilities, the process of the services is sorted out and summarized, and suggestions and measures are put forward for its shortcomings, providing practical methods and feasible paths for future generations, which are of great significance for other social work agencies using Internet tools.