Older Clients (older + client)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Multiprofessional collaboration promoting home care clients' personal resources: perspectives of older clients

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OLDER PEOPLE NURSING, Issue 2 2008
Sini Eloranta MNSc
Home care can be decisive in supporting older people in the home environment. However, one professional in home care cannot take the whole responsibility for promotion alone; on the contrary multiprofessional collaboration is needed. The aim of the study is to describe the experiences of multiprofessional collaboration in promoting personal resources among older home care clients (75+ years) in Finland. The data were collected by unstructured interviews with 21 older home care clients. Their mean age was 83.5 years, ranging from 75 to 91, with 17 female and four male participants. Inductive content analysis was used to analyze the data. The interviewees described the work of professionals from four perspectives: expertise, communication, decision-making and responsibility. Multiprofessional collaboration promoted the personal resources of interviewees with physical, psychological and social support. This study showed that the professionals worked as being expert-oriented: in the multiprofessional collaboration, each expert took care of his/her own part of the client's situation. This included the risk,, that the client's overall situations remained uncharted. However, the client's overall situation is a very important aspect when professionals suppport older people living in their own homes as long as possible. This study revealed the need for developing collaboration skills between social and health care professionals so that the staffs serve the needs of aged clients better together. [source]


Minimising harm to older Victorians from heatwaves: A qualitative study of the role of community-based health profession and carer organisations

AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL ON AGEING, Issue 3 2010
Judith A McInnes
Aim:, To investigate the role of community-based health profession and carer organisations in Victoria in minimising harm to older people from heatwaves. Methods:, A qualitative study based on semistructured interviews was conducted in Victoria, Australia. Twelve people were interviewed, representing four professional groups that support the health of older Victorians who reside at home. Results:, None of the health profession and carer organisations studied had formalised heatwave strategies; however, their staff conduct a range of activities before and during heatwaves that may reduce harm to older clients. Interviewees discussed roles their organisations could play in a heatwave response plan, including coordination, identification of high-risk individuals and education. All saw a need for extra resources and training if responses to heatwaves were required more frequently. Conclusion:, It may be feasible to utilise the existing services and infrastructure of community-based health profession and carer organisations operating in Victoria within a State-wide Heatwave Response plan; however, this will require extra resources, training and coordination. [source]


Young people who attend specialist alcohol treatment: who are they and do they need special treatment?

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 4 2008
Devon Indig
Abstract Objective: Patterns of drinking in adolescence and young adulthood may have major short term impacts and influences on later drinking, yet little is known about the characteristics of young people who seek help for alcohol problems. Here we examine the characteristics of treatment episodes for adolescents and young adults who present to specialist alcohol treatment in New South Wales (NSW). Methods: The NSW Minimum Data Set for Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services was examined for all alcohol-related treatment episodes (N=21,012) reported between July 2004 and June 2005. We compared treatment episodes for adolescents aged 12-19 years, young adults aged 20-29 years and clients aged 30 years or more for their demographics, drug use and service delivery characteristics. Results: Clients aged under 30 years were significantly more likely to be referred into specialist treatment by a police, court or criminal justice diversion program compared with older clients (adolescent: OR=3.7, 95%CI: 3.1-4.4; young adult: OR=2.2, 95%CI: 1.9-2.4). Concern about cannabis use was significantly higher among younger clients (adolescents: OR=2.8 95%CI: 2.3-3.3; young adults: OR=2.1, 95%CI: 2.0-2.4) than those aged 30 years or more. Younger clients were also more likely to be of Indigenous origin or seen in a rural setting. Conclusions: Adolescent and young adult alcohol treatment clients include a higher proportion of clients who are Indigenous, legally coerced, and who have concerns with polydrug use. Service providers should seek to tailor their treatment programs to better meet these unique needs and to better attract young people into voluntary treatment. [source]


Impact of fatigue on everyday life among older people with chronic heart failure

AUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2010
Eva-Britt Norberg
Aim:,To explore the relationship between fatigue and performance of activities of daily living (ADL), use of assistive devices, home-help service and community mobility services in older clients with chronic heart failure. Methods:,A cross-sectional descriptive study of 40 patients was performed using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, the Staircase of ADL, Assessment of Motor and Process Skills and a demographic checklist. Results:,We found high levels of general fatigue, physical fatigue and reduced activity. Greater fatigue was associated significantly with increased dependence and decreased quality of ADL, but not for shopping. Use of community mobility services and assistive devices was frequent and home help less frequent. Use of assistive devices and home help were associated significantly with greater fatigue, but not the use of community mobility services. Conclusions:,Fatigue had a negative impact on ADL mainly from physical rather than from mental causes. Improved energy conservation strategies to reduce the consequences of fatigue are needed. [source]


Sexual activity and risk-taking in later life

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 2 2001
C. Merryn Gott MA PhD
Abstract The primary study objective was to identify the prevalence of sexual activity and sexual risk-taking behaviour among a sample of older community-based adults. Secondary objectives included gathering data about past experiences of consultations regarding sexual health issues with general practitioners (GPs) and at genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics, and exploring participants' STI and HIV/AIDS-related information needs. Individuals over the age of 50 were identified from four electoral wards within Sheffield, UK by means of a postal screen based on the electoral register. Respondents self completed a short postal questionnaire. Three hundred and nineteen individuals aged over 50 years selected at random from the general population responded. Approximately 80% of respondents were currently sexually active and 7% engaged in behaviours that may place them at risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Risk takers were typically male, aged between 50 and 60 years and married. Being male was also related to reporting current or past sexual health concerns. In total, of 75 respondents reporting such concerns, two thirds had discussed these concerns with their GP or attended a GUM clinic. Levels of satisfaction with such consultations were generally high, but declined with increasing age. Overall, most participants felt they had not received very much information about STIs and HIV, and about one quarter reported that they would like to receive more information on these topics. These data have implications for all health and social care professionals who work with older people and indicate a potential need for education to help professionals meet the sexual health needs of their older patients/clients. Further implications for sexual health promotion and the need for additional research in this field are also discussed. [source]