Use of Time and Value of Unpaid Family Care Work: a Comparison between Italy and Poland

The study provides a comparison of the size and value of unpaid family care work in two European member States, Italy and Poland. A micro-data analysis is conducted using the Italian and Polish time use surveys. Both the opportunity cost and the market replacement approaches are employed to measure family care work distinguishing between childcare and care of the elderly. The comparison between the two countries reveals that Italians participate somewhat less than Poles in child care, but substantially more in elderly care, because of demographic factors. However, the main explanation of the difference in the value of unpaid family care work, which is higher in Italy, is to be attributed to the discrepancy in hourly earnings, since average earnings of Poles are about one fifth of those of Italians. The value of unpaid family care work is more comparable when computed as percentage of the national GDP. Depending on the approach, it ranges between 3.7 and 4.4 per cent of the Polish GDP and 4.1 and 5 per cent of the Italian GDP. The national values of these activities are discussed and an interpretation of the country differentials in the family caretaking gender gaps is given in terms of differences in culture, economic development and institutions.Time Use, Unpaid Work, Care-giving, Child care, Elderly care, Poland, Italy

Remediating the Old People's Home Prototype by Elder Daycare Facility: A Concept in Elderly Care Initiative for Adoption in the Nigerian Context

This paper examines disposition of the state, the family, and Nigerian citizens in general on support and care of persons 60years old and older, seeking to establish, as much as relevant to indigenous contextual values, a substitute initiative to the prototype of the Old People's Home. It discusses predetermined unfolding ego - personality peculiarities that mark out the elderly. It seeks remediation of the Old People's Home prototype by an adaptation in Elder Day Care Facility (EDCF), a care giving concept being suggested by the researcher for the Nigerian context. The paper is concluded by recommending the model of care giving, for adoption in Nigeria setting

A Good Life in Old Age: Accommodating Elderly Patients\u27 Values and Motivations in the Thai Healthcare System

People over age sixty-five are the fastest growing segment of the population in most developed and developing nations and their healthcare problems are placing strains on healthcare systems. An added complication for healthcare providers is that elderly populations carry with them a variety of culturally-specific views surrounding the aging process, so it\u27s hard to standardize care for the elderly globally, and also within individual countries. Addressing cultural difference in gerontology policy and practice therefore requires defining aging well or a good life in old age in the eyes of the elderly. This study used Thailand\u27s healthcare system as a model to investigate how healthcare professionals accommodate elderly patients\u27 views, values and motivations surrounding a good life in old age,” as defined by both elderly patients and healthcare professionals. To do this, anthropological methods provided a means for exploring not only what patients\u27 views are, but also why they hold these views. Through use of open ended interviews and participant observation, this study aimed to discover how both current and future healthcare professionals can work to truly listen, and be sensitive, to patients\u27 individual needs and desires, in order to give patients the best care possible. I completed this research through the International Research Opportunities Program at the University of New Hampshire

Values and long-term care decision-making for frail elderly people

This project explored the values considered by elderly people, their younger relatives, and health professionals in decisions about residential long - term care, aiming to contribute to the literature on prospectively held values. The mixed methods design utilised a medical record review of 60 frail elderly hospital patients, a stratified survey of 3,015 adults in the South Australian community, and interviews with 36 stakeholders ( 10 elderly people, 10 younger relatives, and 18 health professionals ). The medical record review confirmed that the hospital patients and their outcomes resembled those described internationally. It was used to develop a hypothetical vignette, used in the later studies. Survey responses suggested that when considering a hypothetical long - term care decision, community members put the elderly person ' s physical health and safety first. Situational variables ( the elderly person ' s autonomy, environmental adaptation, and caregiver burden ) appeared secondary, albeit less so with increasing age of the respondent. Thematic analysis of the interviews demonstrated that elderly stakeholders considering a hypothetical decision were more likely to mention autonomy values, and less likely to mention safety values, than were relatives or health professionals. However, elderly stakeholders were also more likely to suggest restrictive solutions, such as residential placement and proxy decision - making. This finding raised methodological issues concerning ' third person ' vignettes, in that respondents might be responding as proxy decision - makers, rather than as if the hypothetical decision applied to themselves. The project confirmed that, in this context, prospectively held values resembled the retrospectively described values identified by McCullough, Wilson, Teasdale, Kolpakchi and Shelly ( 1993 ). Hence, the retrospective literature could be applied. The project supported the importance and complexity of psychosocial predisposing factors when applying the Andersen Behavioral Model ( Andersen, 1995 ) to long - term care decisions. Additionally, the Ecological Theory of Aging ( Nahemow, 2000 ) and the MacArthur Model of Successful Aging ( Andrews, Clark, & Luszcz, 2002 ) were found to be relevant to long - term care decisions for individuals and populations. It was concluded that both clinically, and at a policy level, discussions of long - term care could be more effective if they focussed on maintenance of elderly people ' s autonomy and control, rather than on their physical health and safety.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2006

Sustainability of cultural influences on decision-making: a case study of institutional elderly care in China

The world is facing a situation without precedent: We will have more elderly people than children and more people at extreme old age than ever before. It is not the scope of this paper to address the breadth of the issues brought about by the transforming demographic force of population ageing in the world. This paper focuses on the exploration of attitudinal support for institutional elderly care services in China. China is chosen for the study as it is a developing country with one of the fastest aging society in the world whilst its elderly care infrastructure is still at its infancy in comparison with the developed countries. The perceptions of individuals with different demographic characteristics are studied to understand the influence and stability of Chinese cultural beliefs on decision-making for elderly care services. An online survey was used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Data was interpreted in the context of the Chinese traditional practices. Findings revealed majority respondents were not supportive of institutional elderly care due to traditional values, social stigma, superstitions, the tradition of collective decision-making, perception of current institutional care’s quality and financial ability. However, the study also revealed certain demographic profile responded positively to institutional care, providing informative inputs to more targeted marketing efforts for investors. Findings also contribute to the knowledge base of cultural understanding for elderly care business models

How Can a Focus on the Ethical Notions of Dignity and Respect for Autonomy Help to Improve Healthcare for Elderly People in Islamic Countries?

The purpose of this dissertation is to identify how can a focus on the ethical notion of dignity and respect for autonomy help to improve health care for elderly people in Islamic countries. An ethic for aging relies on the principle that the losses of age do not detract from a person\u27s essential autonomy. Thus, care should be provided without assuming that older people are different from those of other ages. It is possible to determine that ethical values are similar in Islamic cultures as well as, Western countries. But these values are often neglected when people face the need to provide health care to the elderly people. This dissertation provides a critical evaluation of the current view and application of the ethical concepts of dignity and respect for autonomy in Islamic countries including the ethical challenges that elderly people encounter in health care. The study focuses on three parts; first it will provide a general introduction to the bioethics in Islamic countries and its relation to Islamic law (Sharia). The argument is that human dignity does exist in the Islamic religion; however, the application and the functions of the concept in elderly health care are disregarded, due to the cultural understanding and interpretations of the concept. This have led health care providers and societies in Islamic countries to miss the momentum of implementing a strong old-age health and social support system that can maintain elderly people dignity and respect for autonomy, and meet their health care needs. The outcomes mandate further examination towards building greater consciousness of treatment and healing, towards the intellectual and cultural adjustment of health practices. The second part presents the applications of both concepts in Western countries, including their functions and meaning. The arguments characterize the notions of dignity regardless of age. It will identify how dignity is associated with respect for autonomy; thus, dignity and respect for autonomy should be a core value in health care practice. The third part analyses the differences and the deficiencies of the application of both ethical concepts to elderly health care in Islamic countries versus Western countries. The arguments will demonstrate how the application of the ethical principle of respect for autonomy in Islamic countries fails to acknowledge Beauchamp and Childress\u27s principle of respect for autonomy. The analysis will help on understanding the major opportunities for and barriers to successful shift in the Islamic countries in regards to elderly health care and the overall process of aging. The challenge is to make sure that all health care providers have the capabilities to convey appropriate care and treatment with respect and appreciation to the elderly individuals\u27 dignity. It will suggest adopting several advantageous approaches that arose in the West and worldwide, and modifying it according to Islamic culture to improve elderly health care. The results justifies that the notions of dignity and respect for autonomy can help to improve elderly health care in Islamic countries. Concluding that in Islamic countries, a considerable measure of research, education, and preparation are all needed in the sphere of geriatrics to meet today\u27s health challenges associated with the increasing of elderly population. A need for adopting a fresh perception on an analytical gerontology and a respected devoted approach that aims to comprehend ageing process and requirements to change for the better

Leadership Development in Elderly Care Institutions: Empathy, Listening, Empowerment

Population aging will significantly impact the elderly care system in the European Union. While most discussions on this topic focus on potential technological solutions and the creation of programs intended for older persons, this paper highlights the importance of leadership development in elderly care institutions. The aim of this paper is to advance understanding and give suggestions on how certain leadership capabilities can be developed that could be considered key in the given context: empathy, listening, and empowerment. Empathy is a precondition for deep listening, while both empathy and listening are essential ingredients of empowerment. All three of these leadership capabilities could improve the well-being, engagement and retention of employees in elderly care institutions. They can also create transferable experiences and values, as employees could further integrate them into their work, consequently improving the wellbeing of older persons. Public policy makers can integrate this leadership development framework into capacity building programs, while management at all levels in both public and private elderly care institutions can use it for learning and development

Relationships between sound pressure level, typical physiological parameters and perceptions of the elderly residents in aged care facilities in northeast China

Residential aged care facilities are places where the elderly conduct their daily activities, and different functional spaces result in various acoustic environments, and the role of sound quality is being increasingly recognized in the elderly's well-being. A series of surveys were conducted in 15 residential aged care facilities in northeast China, where the elderly's perception and physiological parameters were measured, to examine the relationships among the sound pressure level (SPL), the objective physiological indicators and the subjective evaluation of the elderly. The results revealed the influence of SPL on the elderly with different physical functions and had different degrees of correlation with the elderly's comfort votes. It is shown that the elderly with visual impairment have a higher demand for the acoustic environment. The elderly have a higher comfort value of the acoustic environment of the activity room. However, the fitting analysis between the comfort value and the SPL shows that 48dB is the critical value for the elderly to vote the comfort level of the bedroom acoustic environment, while the critical values of activity room, restaurant and rehabilitation room are 52 dB, 55 dB and 50dB respectively

Assessing the Relevance of Educating the Elderly on Their Feeding Pattern and Food Security in Municipality

The elderly are particularly vulnerable to food and food security due to their reduced income and physical capabilities, as well as increased rate of chronic diseases, which predispose them to hardship and poverty. The study sought to assess the feeding habits and challenges of the elderly people in Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (K.E.E.A.) Municipality in The Central Region of Ghana. It also aimed at examining the eating pattern of the elderly, factors affecting the feeding habit of the elderly, roles of caregivers to the elderly, and satisfaction of the elderly with the level of care given to them in their feeding. The study adopted cross sectional, non-interventional and descriptive research design. Snowball sampling technique was used to sample 100 elderly and 100 care givers from a population of 6,315. Interview was used to solicit for information from the focus group. The study revealed that income, poverty, commitment of caregivers and ignorance of nutrient values in food limited the ability of the elderly to adopt improved feeding habit. Due to these factors, majority of the elderly were not able to adopt regular eating style, and eat the recommended three regular meals per day. Some of the challenges encountered by the care givers were erratic flow of remittance, having weak strength to continue providing caregivers support and bearing the high cost of caring for the elderly. The study recommends that frantic efforts should be made by stakeholders in K.E.E.A. Municipality to help improve the general standards of living of the elderly in the Municipality. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) caring for the aged and The Social Welfare Department in the K.E.E.A. Municipality should provide social, technical, and material support to the elderly. The Government of the Republic of Ghana Should increase the LEAP funds meant for the vulnerable aged. Guidance and Counselling professionals should extend their community services and social supports to the elderly in K.E.E.A. Municipality and their caregivers. Keywords:Nutrition, octogenarians, dependent, caregivers, premature, vulnerable, feeding, elderly persons, eating pattern, infections. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-10-05 Publication date: April 30th 2021

Our Hearts Were Once Young and Gay: Health Care Rationing and the Elderly

Although there exists no rigid guideline delineating society\u27s obligation to provide health care, at a minimum Americans are entitled to an adequate level of care without excessive burdens being placed upon them. Fulfilling this ostensibly simple mandate, however, presents an enormous challenge. The need to allocate limited financial and human resources increasingly clashes with the moral desire to provide health care resources to elder Americans beyond their years of economic productivity. As a result, health care professionals face the difficult task of weighing against society\u27s other priorities the efficiency of distributing limited health care resources to the elderly. This demand places upon health care professionals, particularly physicians, a unique burden. Today\u27s physician must become the gatekeeper, a designated guardian of society\u27s resources. It is reasoned that the physician can be forced to conserve society\u27s limited health care resources by controlling the administration of medical treatments. Inevitably, the demands placed on health care administrators results in a balancing test that challenges the breadth of elderly health care services by forcing difficult and sometimes controversial health care decisions to be reached in order to avoid an economic catastrophe. Health care considerations for older Americans so often involve disabled, ill, poor or lonely persons. Moreover, members of society tend to place different values on each of these groups and, as such, no collective societal obligation to such groups emerges. A continuous process that allows for the examination and re-examination of health care costs and benefits, coupled with an evolving assessment of value judgments and ethical concerns, would move towards establishing an equitable elder health care allocation program or, at least, a template for humane decision making. And, if combined with a firm grasp of the formal discipline of ethics, allowing for the critical and rational objective examination of competing values, an acceptable long-term societal solution towards elderly health care allocation will result