[Review] David Prendergast & Chiara Garattini (2015) Aging and the digital life course

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The solo cross-national researcher of long-term care systems for older people

The main aim of this chapter is to fill a significant gap in the discussion of qualitative research methods and methodologies in cross-national comparisons, illustrated by the example of a three-nation study conducted by a solo researcher exploring the long-term care of the elderly. The study aims to shed light on several key issues – time and space, comparability, culture and language – involved in the practical implementation of cross-national qualitative research. Cross-national qualitative comparison is highly demanding and requires language skills, cultural understanding, resources and time to produce a rigorous comparative instrument and outcome. Key approaches that address challenges faced by solo researchers are careful attention to geographic location and flexible timetable and programs for the collection of data; use of multidisciplinary knowledge to address the complexity of the research topic; application of a multi-method and multi-layer approach in data collection and analysis; identification of the caring culture; and sensitivity to national as well as local language. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the added value provided by the activity of the solo researcher activity in cross-national qualitative research

Successful ageing in long-term care: international comparison and lesson learning

Quality of life is one of the main concerns in long-term care amongst ageing populations in many countries. This problem is historically unique and increases the demand for research material. This thesis looks at how different societies promote or fail to promote successful ageing of long-term care of older people, and considers how countries may learn from one another in their search for solutions. The three countries studied (England, the Netherlands and Taiwan) correspond to Esping-Anderson's three types of welfare system (Esping-Anderson, 1990). In addition, the Asian-European dimension has been employed as it is a neglected one. Data sources included conceptual, empirical and statistical documents on long-term care of older people. Moreover, this research used identical qualitative cross-national research methods on three levels in each country: national, county and municipal. A total of 142 interviews were carried out in 2004. This aim of this study was broadly to rank the three welfare systems where there were clear differences but to qualify this by pointing out the complexities and difficulties of mixed economy comparisons. The overall conclusion is that the Netherlands provides higher quality care to older people, thus confirming Esping-Andersen's finding about the superiority of social democratic systems. In reviewing current policies and research in needs and successful ageing, this qualitative comparative study has focused on needs, social inclusion, power and autonomy, care resources as well as partnership as crucial concepts in care systems and discovered good practice in each and lessons to be learnt

Exploring psychological well-being in working family carers

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Co-creating connected and intelligent care homes for people with dementia

Connected Care aims to address three main challenges that care homes face with regards to people living with dementia 1. Care homes are increasingly challenged by a rising number of people living with dementia and a simultaneous demand to improve quality of care amidst limited funding and staff shortages. 2. Although innovation is associated with better quality of care, there is limited research looking into the ways in which digital technology, including the Internet of Things and sensors, could help care homes deliver better care for people with dementia. 3. Scholarly research has highlighted that top-down implementations of technology fail to deliver their potential benefits when there is limited user buy-in. In the context of care homes, care workers, residents and their families are often under-represented in technological developments

Social networks and loneliness in people with Alzheimer's dementia

Objectives Modifiable lifestyle risk factors are of great interest in the prevention and management of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Loneliness and social networks may influence onset of AD, but little is known about this relationship in people with AD. The current study aimed to explore the relationship between loneliness and social networks (social measures) and cognitive and psychopathology decline (AD outcomes) in people with AD. Methods Ninety‐three participants with mild‐moderate AD were recruited from memory clinics, in a cross‐sectional study. Social networks (measured by the Lubben Social Network Scale), feelings of loneliness (measured by De Jong Loneliness Scale), cognition (measured by the Standardized Mini Mental State Examination) and psychopathology (measured by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory) were assessed in an interview setting. Two multiple regressions with Bootstrap were conducted on cognition and psychopathology as outcome variables. Family and Friends subsets of social networks and loneliness were entered as predictors and age, gender and depression as covariates. Results The friendship subset of social networks was significantly related to cognition (independent of age, gender, depression, loneliness and family subset of social network): B = .284, p = .01. Neither loneliness nor social networks predicted psychopathology (ps > .05). Conclusions Maintaining or developing a close friendship network could be beneficial for cognition in people with AD. Alternatively, greater dementia severity may lead to fewer friends. More research on the direction of this relationship in people with AD is needed

Aprendizaje transformativo en tiempos de pandemia: nuevos desafíos para la comunidad universitaria

https://bok.uni.mau.se/Fac. de Trabajo SocialFALSEsubmitte

Welfare and Long-term care in the East and West: Cross-national inequalities

Purpose - This paper provides an overview of the inequalities between three countries England, the Netherlands and Taiwan in relation to the welfare and long-term care of older people. It compares the positive and negative distinctions between the respective countries and their systems. Design/methodology/approach - This paper discusses and analyses data from public sources and literature and measures the similarities and differences between demographic and social issues, the cultural and political differences shaping policy objectives, economic constraints and long-term care services. Findings - All three countries face similar pressure in long-term care provision of ageing populations, funding limitations and shrinking numbers of carers. None of the countries studied completely conforms to Esping-Andersens ideal types; instead they seem to constitute hybrids. The care system in the Dutch social democratic-conservative welfare regime seems to provide wider support for older people who need care, the English liberal-social democratic welfare regime comes second and Taiwanese conservative-liberal welfare regime comes third. Overall, some converse trends of the long-term care systems indicate a narrowing of the gap in responsibility between state, family and individuals in the East and the West. Research limitations/implications - The difficulties in comparing national and even international databases are well known as they are not always strictly comparable. Therefore I have indicated specific anomalies where they occur. While such indicators need to be treated with care, nevertheless they supply us with a basic understanding of social, political and economic circumstances. Practical implications - The paper contributes suggestions to further research in the area of elements and structures of care systems support and the failure to provide ongoing quality of long-term care and reflects on the implications for the global market of care-workers and the extensive use of migrant workers in the field. Originality/value - The paper provides a detailed consideration of the wide-ranging issues that impact on older peoples care provision in England, the Netherlands and Taiwan

[Review] Mo Ray and Judith Phillips (2012) Social work with older people

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Resources, Resources and Resources: Long-Term Care Service Provision of Older People in England, the Netherlands and Taiwan

This paper forms a part of PhD research to examine the way each country has contributed to the long-term care of older people between the East and West. In particular, attention has been drawn to the issue of resources in long-term care. It demonstrates the strengths and weaknesses of the existing resources in each country. It also considers the capacity and capability of the care forces which are likely to have an effect on the quality of older peoples care. It will argue that the approaches of different countries need to be located and understood within the context of broader welfare state models. This article also will point out the complexities and difficulties of mixed economy comparisons. The countries selected (England, the Netherlands and Taiwan) were based on Esping-Andersens original welfare typology. Although I have confirmed the typologies are relevant, the 3 countries chosen in this study are hybrid. It is important to include a country such as Taiwan which shares a Confucian culture with many other states in Asia. It is hoped that it might further encourage a more international approach and not just comparisons between European or English Speaking countries. This paper will draw on an identical qualitative cross-cultural research method on three levels in each country: national, county and municipal. A total of 142 interviews were carried out in 2004-5. In addition, the research was conducted by one researcher to support a uniform application of practical issues in the field and interpretation in the analysis