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Full-Text Articles in Gerontology

Increasing Nursing Aide Knowledge On Benefits Of Light For Sundowning Syndrome, Grace Hilfiker, Julie Masters May 2024

Increasing Nursing Aide Knowledge On Benefits Of Light For Sundowning Syndrome, Grace Hilfiker, Julie Masters

Honors Theses

In this study, the knowledge of nursing aides on the benefits of light for sundowning syndrome was investigated. While dementia and sundowning syndrome is discussed during nursing aide training in the state of Nebraska, there is no discourse focused on how light plays beneficial role in lessening the symptoms of sundowning syndrome for those who are afflicted with dementia. This study asked what the current knowledge base surrounding dementia and sundowning syndrome is of nursing aides in the state of Nebraska. The aim was to justify adding a focus on concrete methods to use when caring for patients with dementia …


How Does Educational Attainment Influence The Perceived Need For Future Assistance With Activities Of Daily Living?, Julia M. Finan Apr 2024

How Does Educational Attainment Influence The Perceived Need For Future Assistance With Activities Of Daily Living?, Julia M. Finan

Population Health Research Brief Series

Adults often underestimate whether they will need assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) as they age. This brief summarizes the results of a recent study that used data from the 2011-2014 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to examine educational differences in perceived need for future ADL assistance among 54,946 adults aged 40 to 65 years in the United States. Even though adults with less education are more likely to require long-term ADL care services and supports, results show that they are less likely than their more highly educated peers to perceive the need for future ADL assistance.


Multicultural Gerotranscendence: A Theoretical Approach To Working With Older Adults, Whitney George, Danielle Schlittler Apr 2024

Multicultural Gerotranscendence: A Theoretical Approach To Working With Older Adults, Whitney George, Danielle Schlittler

Adultspan Journal

With the growing number of the aging population, the call for counselors to understand the developmental processes of all clients is essential. The theories of gerotranscendence and multicultural counseling and therapy are central to the understanding of adult development in later life. The use of these two theories together provides a theoretical basis for counselors wishing to provide services to diverse older adults.


Supporting Intergenerational Arts, Rafael Maninang Apr 2024

Supporting Intergenerational Arts, Rafael Maninang

Capstone Research Posters

This research project looks at intergenerational arts programs and seeks to answer the question of how we can better support intergenerational arts programs in a variety of settings within the community. Specifically, this study will give us a better understanding of how people interpret intergenerational arts programs and what they believe will help support these programs. A better understanding of supports for intergenerational arts programs is important because it will help foster a greater variety of programs for the public as well as how to help those programs flourish in our communities. To complete this research project 5 interviews were …


Older Adults Are At Greater Risk Of Opioid Use Disorder In Communities With High Social Vulnerability, Tse-Chuan Yang, Seulki Kim, Stephen A. Matthews, Carla Shoff Mar 2024

Older Adults Are At Greater Risk Of Opioid Use Disorder In Communities With High Social Vulnerability, Tse-Chuan Yang, Seulki Kim, Stephen A. Matthews, Carla Shoff

Population Health Research Brief Series

The prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) among older adults has increased and imposes a heavy burden on the health care system in the United States. This brief summarizes findings from a study that used data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to examine how county characteristics contributed to the prevalence of OUD among Medicare beneficiaries age 65+ in U.S. counties in 2021. They found that the prevalence of OUD among these adults is higher in counties with more place-level social vulnerability (e.g., socioeconomic disadvantage, high housing cost burden).


Cognitive Functioning Is Higher Among Older Adults In Walkable Neighborhoods That Have Low Economic Disadvantage, Tse-Chuan Yang, Seulki Kim, Seung-Won Emily Choi, Shannon Halloway, Uchechi A. Mitchell, Benjamin A. Shaw Mar 2024

Cognitive Functioning Is Higher Among Older Adults In Walkable Neighborhoods That Have Low Economic Disadvantage, Tse-Chuan Yang, Seulki Kim, Seung-Won Emily Choi, Shannon Halloway, Uchechi A. Mitchell, Benjamin A. Shaw

Population Health Research Brief Series

Living in neighborhoods with poor built and social environments, such as low walkability and high concentrations of low-income populations, is associated with low levels of cognitive functioning among older adults. This brief summarizes findings from a study that aims to understand how U.S. older adults’ (age 65+) exposures to residential neighborhood environments – specifically walkability and concentrated socioeconomic disadvantage – are associated with their cognitive functioning between 2010 and 2018. The authors also examined how these associations vary by older adults’ education level and household income level.


What Factors Increase Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementia?, Elizabeth Vásquez, Kai Zhang Feb 2024

What Factors Increase Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementia?, Elizabeth Vásquez, Kai Zhang

Population Health Research Brief Series

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and ranks 7th in the leading causes of death in the United States (U.S.). This data slice uses nationwide data from 3,155 counties in the U.S. to identify the factors that best predict county-level rates of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRDs) in 2018. The results indicate that insufficient sleep, consuming less than one serving of fruits and vegetables per day, having no high school diploma, Black population percentage, and social vulnerability were among the leading factors predicting county-level ADRD prevalence.


Perceptions Of Financial Exploitation Among Older African American Women In The Black Church, Patricia Jackson Feb 2024

Perceptions Of Financial Exploitation Among Older African American Women In The Black Church, Patricia Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Perceptions of Financial Exploitation Among Older African American Women in the Black Church by Patricia Jackson MS, Walden University, 2016 BA, Langston University, 1977 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Social and Behavioral Sciences, Family Studies and Intervention Walden University February 2024


Lessons From Hospitality: Towards A Hybrid Model Of Senior Living Communities, Yunying Zhong, Tingting Zhang Feb 2024

Lessons From Hospitality: Towards A Hybrid Model Of Senior Living Communities, Yunying Zhong, Tingting Zhang

Rosen Research Review

Old age gets most of us, and how we spend it should be meaningful. The hospitality sector could play a vital role in this regard. Senior living communities are big business in the U.S., but they face demands from residents, and the family and friends who visit them, for more than the traditional focus on healthcare. UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management researchers, Dr. YunYing Zhong, Dr. Tingting Zhang, and their co-author understand the connection between the senior living community and hospitality sectors; their research is giving impetus to a hybrid model that could benefit both.


Cognitive Functioning Among U.S. Older Adults Differs By Gender And Urbanicity, Elizabeth Lawrence, Samantha John, Tirth Bhatta Jan 2024

Cognitive Functioning Among U.S. Older Adults Differs By Gender And Urbanicity, Elizabeth Lawrence, Samantha John, Tirth Bhatta

Population Health Research Brief Series

There are no widely accessible and effective medical therapies to prevent or treat Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias for the U.S. older adult population, making prevention of cognitive decline particularly important. Many social factors shape cognitive functioning, leading to disparities in cognitive functioning across groups and geographic areas. This data slice uses data from the Health Retirement Study to describe how cognitive functioning among adults ages 50+ differed by gender and across urban, suburban, and ex-urban areas in the U.S. from 1999-2016. The results show that cognitive functioning was higher among women than men, but these gender differences varied by …


A Causal Discovery Exploration Of Determinants Of Social Isolation, Barry Nuqoba, Kenneth Choo, Yi Wen Tan, William Tov Jan 2024

A Causal Discovery Exploration Of Determinants Of Social Isolation, Barry Nuqoba, Kenneth Choo, Yi Wen Tan, William Tov

ROSA Research Briefs

In this report, we explore the potential causes of social isolation among older adults in Singapore using causal discovery. We found an inferred causal relationship between perceived helpfulness and social isolation, where older adults who perceived themselves as helpful were less likely to perceive themselves as socially isolated. Our study also found that perceived isolation and loneliness may be distinct concepts among older adults in Singapore, with loneliness being more likely to precede social isolation. Policy recommendations include promoting a sense of helpfulness through programs such as volunteering to reduce social isolation.


沒有年齡的課室 : 跨代共學實務手冊, 陳曉瑩, 伍婉萍, 袁沅玉, 周頌聲, 杜詠詩, 馮明穗, 陳澤群, 劉嘉慶, 鄺家宗 Jan 2024

沒有年齡的課室 : 跨代共學實務手冊, 陳曉瑩, 伍婉萍, 袁沅玉, 周頌聲, 杜詠詩, 馮明穗, 陳澤群, 劉嘉慶, 鄺家宗

Manual & Guide 手冊及指引

由周大福慈善基金及和悦慈善基金共同捐助、和悦社會企業舉辦的「沒有年齡的課室」項目,建構香港首個跨代學習空間,推動「長幼共學」理念,讓長者及幼童共同體驗成長及學習的過程,增加跨代互動,促進了解及尊重。

《沒有年齡的課室 : 跨代共學實務手冊》收錄了嶺南大學亞太老年學研究中心為「沒有年齡的課室」項目進行的成效評估研究結果,同時收錄了教學團隊設計的課程教案及活動設計,記錄曾面對的困難和具體改善建議,供有意舉辦跨代共學活動的幼兒及社福機構參考。


Impact Of A Covid-19 Related Lockdown On The Experience Of Informal Caregiving In Singapore, Vicky Mengqi Qin, Abhijit Visaria, Rahul Malhotra Jan 2024

Impact Of A Covid-19 Related Lockdown On The Experience Of Informal Caregiving In Singapore, Vicky Mengqi Qin, Abhijit Visaria, Rahul Malhotra

ROSA Journal Articles and Publications

Introduction: Lockdowns, while limiting COVID-19 transmission, can affect provision of care by informal caregivers and their caregiving experience. We assessed, among informal caregivers in Singapore, (a) the perceived impact of a 2-month (April to May 2020) nationwide lockdown on their care provision, (b) correlates of different perceptions of the impact of the lockdown on care provision, and (c) association of different perceptions of the impact with negative and positive experiences of caregiving. Methods: In the August 2020 wave of the Singapore Life Panel (SLP; nationally representative, longitudinal monthly survey of Singapore citizens and permanent residents aged 50-70 years at baseline), …


沒有年齡的課室 : 成效評估研究報告, Meng Soi, Florence Fong, Chak Kwan, Dickon Chan, Ka Hing, Calvin Lau, Ka Chung, Tom Kwong Jan 2024

沒有年齡的課室 : 成效評估研究報告, Meng Soi, Florence Fong, Chak Kwan, Dickon Chan, Ka Hing, Calvin Lau, Ka Chung, Tom Kwong

APIAS Research Report 研究報告

背景

香港人口老齡化的趨勢持續加劇,傳統的家庭照顧模式已難以滿足老年人和幼童在身心發展上的需求,需要探索新的跨代互助模式。因此,和悅社會企業於2023 年夏季舉辦了一項名為「沒有年齡的課室」的計劃(以下簡稱「計劃」/「課程」)。該課程旨在為長者及幼童提供共學的機會,推動跨代連結與互惠。為了更客觀地檢視「沒有年齡的課室」的實施情況與成效,以及探討在香港推行跨代共學的可行性,和悅社會企業委託嶺南大學亞太老年學研究中心對該課程進行了評估研究,並撰寫了此報告以供相關持分者參考。

研究方法

2. 研究採用定量研究及定性研究的數據收集和分析的混合研究法 (Mixed Methods) 進行。除了透過問卷調查和聚焦小組去收集參加者對課程的看法外,同時分析課程的數據、進行實地觀察,以及檢視相關文獻資料,從而更全面地瞭解整個課程的實施情況、對參與者的影響,以及探討計劃未來的發展方向。

研究結果

3. 本研究於2023年6月至9月期間成功對實驗組及對照組參加者進行了兩輪問卷調查,收集參加者的意見。調查結果顯示,長者及幼童的家長讓他們的孩子參與計劃的最主要原因是為了「想學習新知識 」(長者學員:72%;幼童:73%),其次為「進行跨代接觸交流」 (長者學員:60%;幼童家長:54%),第三個主要原因是可以「嘗試新事物」(長者學員:40%;幼童:54%),以及可以「認識新朋友」 (長者學員:36%;幼童家長:50%)。至於計劃對參加者的影響方面,本研究透過比較實驗組 (即參加「沒有年齡的課室」的長者及幼童學員) 與對照組 (即課程無長幼共學成份)參加者在對雙方態度、自尊心及自信、社交技巧等方面的前後變化。從分析結果顯示,長幼學員在修畢本課程後,對彼此的態度 (長者學員對幼童態度:實驗組增長17%,對照組下降1%;幼童學員對長者態度:實驗組增長19%,對照組增長7%) 及幼童學員的社交技巧 (實驗組增長9%,對照組增長1%) 之增長達統計學顯著程度,足見本課程成功透過長幼共學的方式去改善長幼對彼此的觀感和態度。至於對課程的體驗方面,長者學員及幼童學員之家長均給予高度評價和評分,以1-7分為量表去評價,參加者普遍對課程感到十分滿意 (長者學員:平均分為6.07分;幼童學員:6.29分)、並表示若和悅社會企業日後舉行類似課程會再次參加(長者學員:平均分為5.33分;幼童學員:6.41分) 和向別人推薦此類課程 (長者學員:平均分為5.33分;幼童學員:6.29分)。概括而言,從統計結果反映了課程為參加者帶來很多正面影響,特別是長者或幼童態度之改善比沒有跨代共學成份的課程更為顯著。

4. 此外,本研究邀請了參與課程的長者、幼童家長、和推行「沒有年齡的課室」計劃的同工進行了3 場聚焦小組以深化對問卷調查結果,並進一步探討可如何改善計劃之推行及在社區推廣跨代共學的模式。從結果顯示,長幼學員透過參與本課程互相接觸及互動,增加彼此了解,使彼此的觀感及態度亦變得正面,達到促進跨代共融的目標。同時,幼童的社交技巧、接觸長者的動機及幼童的個人成長亦有所提升。長幼學員、課程導師及項目統籌人員均表示參加者能愉快地學習和十分享受參與本課程。

5. 從不同的的數據作綜合分析,促進「沒有年齡的課室」的成功因素包括: (i) 1對1的長幼配對,增加長幼學員之互動機會以便建立互信關係以及日後的情感聯繫; (ii) 課程時間節數安排要配合幼童的學習時間表 (如與暑假活動分開、每堂時數能讓幼童學員專心等) ;及 (iii) 招募適合的參加者,以其年齡、興趣喜好及性別進行配對 (如女性參加者明顯更為適合參與此類以幼童為對象的活動計劃)。

6. 關於課程的未來發展,研究建議推行機構可考慮以下5 個要點:(i) 除以1對1長幼配對外,亦可考慮同時加入1位長者對數名幼童,或1名幼童對數名長者的混合模式,這樣可以增加長幼學員與不同參加者的互動機會,進一步培養社交技巧;(ii) 可增加針對長者學員的課程內容 ,讓長者以學生身份投入各個課程活動;(iii) 讓一些能力比較高的長者參與課程設計及教材 (如讓長者準備自己過去相片與幼童分享過去時代點滴生活),為長者充權;(iv) 微調課堂時間以配合長者的活動時間表 (如可參考現時日間長者中心的活動時間);及 (v) 增加人手安排編制至5至8人,以便在推行活動過程中提供適時的支援 (如增設社工以應付課堂上幼童學員突發的情緒問題)。

總結

7. 綜合各種數數據證明「沒有年齡的課室」有效促進跨代共學與互助,為長者建立正面形象、提升他們的生活質素、亦能令幼童認識如何與長者溝通,改善社交技巧以及提升自尊感等。因此,其他長者服務機構、企業及教育團體可以仿傚此活動,在幼稚園 (即幼兒期) 便引入跨代共學的元素,促進代際間情感、知識與文化的傳遞,重塑「老吾老以及人之老,幼吾幼以及人之幼」的價值觀,建立一個強調代間互助和共融的社會。


Impact Of The Built Environment On The End-Of-Life Journey, Kelechi Akwazie Dec 2023

Impact Of The Built Environment On The End-Of-Life Journey, Kelechi Akwazie

Masters in Architecture Program: Theses

Several research studies and personal anecdotes show that home-based hospice care patients report better quality of life than their inpatient care counterparts – suggesting that the location of care/built environment is a critical component of hospice care. As a result, other research studies have attempted to provide evidence-based design recommendations for inpatient hospice facilities; however, several of these recommendations either conflict with each other or are vaguely prescribed – which may dull any attempts to implement them.

This literature review takes a unique approach to the provision of evidence-based design recommendations for inpatient hospice facilities by holistically assessing hospice care, …


Project Silverlight: Community Based And Participant-Led Initiatives To Increase Civic Engagement Among Older Adults, Paulin T. Straughan, William Tov, Wensi Lim, Rachel Ngu, Yan Er Tan, Mindy Eiko Tadai Dec 2023

Project Silverlight: Community Based And Participant-Led Initiatives To Increase Civic Engagement Among Older Adults, Paulin T. Straughan, William Tov, Wensi Lim, Rachel Ngu, Yan Er Tan, Mindy Eiko Tadai

ROSA Research Briefs

Project Silverlight was a year-long project aimed at redefining social engagement and participation of older adults in the community. In this report, we share our findings from the project and key recommendations to community partners who are looking to adopt a similar model of participant-led programs. Our study found that by engaging student volunteers as a key partner in this initiative, participants showed a significant improvement in their perceptions of youth, and that participants derived a great sense of satisfaction from being involved in the curation of their activities.


The Use Of Deception In Dementia-Care Robots: Should Robots Tell "White Lies" To Limit Emotional Distress?, Samuel R. Cox, Grace Cheong, Wei Tsang Ooi Dec 2023

The Use Of Deception In Dementia-Care Robots: Should Robots Tell "White Lies" To Limit Emotional Distress?, Samuel R. Cox, Grace Cheong, Wei Tsang Ooi

ROSA Journal Articles and Publications

With projections of ageing populations and increasing rates of dementia, there is need for professional caregivers. Assistive robots have been proposed as a solution to this, as they can assist people both physically and socially. However, caregivers often need to use acts of deception (such as misdirection or white lies) in order to ensure necessary care is provided while limiting negative impacts on the cared-for such as emotional distress or loss of dignity. We discuss such use of deception, and contextualise their use within robotics.


Food Insecurity And The Experiences Of Adults Aged 65 Years And Older, Yvonne Mannings Nov 2023

Food Insecurity And The Experiences Of Adults Aged 65 Years And Older, Yvonne Mannings

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.


The Covid-19 Crisis And Intergenerational Relations : The Case Of Hong Kong Families With Older Parents Ageing In The Greater Bay Area In Mainland China, Bowen Zhou Nov 2023

The Covid-19 Crisis And Intergenerational Relations : The Case Of Hong Kong Families With Older Parents Ageing In The Greater Bay Area In Mainland China, Bowen Zhou

Lingnan Theses and Dissertations

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has been developed by the Chinese central government since 2016. Driven by the development of the Greater Bay Area, the well-developed transportation has further provided chances for Hong Kong older people to reside in the mainland GBA cities. The relevant Hong Kong government departments have made a comparison showing that the number of Hong Kong older people (aged 65 and above) who are ageing in the Greater Bay Area of mainland China has increased to around 90,200 in 2019, a 33% increase from 2013. Given the most updated situation, these Hong Kong families with …


Late-Life Gender Disparities In Economic Security: Evidence From The 2022 Elder Index, Jan E. Mutchler, Nidya Velasco Roldán, Yan-Jhu Su Oct 2023

Late-Life Gender Disparities In Economic Security: Evidence From The 2022 Elder Index, Jan E. Mutchler, Nidya Velasco Roldán, Yan-Jhu Su

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

Estimates from the 2022 Elder Index illustrate the elevated risk of economic insecurity experienced by older women, especially those living alone. We use the Elder Index to calculate the percentage of older adults living in one- and two-person households with annual incomes that do not support economic security. National averages suggest that half of older women living alone, along with 42% of older men living alone, have annual incomes below the Elder Index. In addition, 21% of older couples have annual incomes below the Elder Index. Women in same-sex couples experience greater levels of disadvantage than men in same-sex couples …


An Overview Across Three Generational Packages: Pioneer Generation, Merdeka Generation, And Young Seniors, Paulin T. Straughan, Yi Wen Tan, Rachel Ngu, Zidane Tiew, Wensi Lim Oct 2023

An Overview Across Three Generational Packages: Pioneer Generation, Merdeka Generation, And Young Seniors, Paulin T. Straughan, Yi Wen Tan, Rachel Ngu, Zidane Tiew, Wensi Lim

ROSA Research Briefs

In Singapore, there has been a concerted effort to implement diverse programs and initiatives to cater to the needs of the ageing demographic. In Singapore, it is expected that those aged 65 and above will make up 27% of the population by 2030 (Soh et al., 2020). It is also crucial to acknowledge that within this ageing population, each cohort follows a distinct life trajectory (Hooyman & Kiyak, 2010). For instance, older generations in Singapore may have navigated through uniqueevents like World War II, profoundly impacting their life trajectories. Meanwhile, newer generations are likely to experience remarkable economic growth alongside …


Supporting Care Partners Of People Living With Dementia, Sherril Gelmon, Walter Dawson, Jenn Hollandsworth Reed Oct 2023

Supporting Care Partners Of People Living With Dementia, Sherril Gelmon, Walter Dawson, Jenn Hollandsworth Reed

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

This report addresses the need to better support care partners of people living with dementia, including a proposal for a new Dementia Care Partner Hub (the “Hub”) that will facilitate care partner access to information, supports, services and activities. This work is the culmination of the “Supporting Care Partners of People Living with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD)” project funded by the Portland State University Institute on Aging’s “Gerontology Education & Research Initiative” (GERI) faculty grant, conducted from June 2022 to October 2023. The project focused on addressing concerns and needs of care partners and people living with dementia …


Profiles Of Activity Engagement And Depression Trajectories As Covid-19 Restrictions Were Relaxed, Jonathan Louis Jie Sheng Chia, Andree Hartanto, William Tov Oct 2023

Profiles Of Activity Engagement And Depression Trajectories As Covid-19 Restrictions Were Relaxed, Jonathan Louis Jie Sheng Chia, Andree Hartanto, William Tov

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Given elevated depression rates since the onset of the pandemic and potential downstream implications, this research examined the association between activity engagement and depression among middle-aged and older adults postlockdown. This study aimed to (a) identify activity engagement profiles among middle-aged and older adults, (b) understand factors associated with profile memberships, and (c) compare depression trajectories across profiles as COVID-19 restrictions eased over 16 months in Singapore. This longitudinal study involved 6,568 middle-aged and older adults. Latent growth analysis was first conducted to obtain estimates of depression trajectories for each individual. Latent profile analysis was then conducted to identify different …


Designing A Human-Centered Intelligent System To Monitor & Explain Abnormal Patterns Of Older Adults, Min Hun Lee, Daniel P. Siewiorek, Alexandre Bernardino Oct 2023

Designing A Human-Centered Intelligent System To Monitor & Explain Abnormal Patterns Of Older Adults, Min Hun Lee, Daniel P. Siewiorek, Alexandre Bernardino

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Older adult care technologies are increasingly explored to support the independent living of older adults by monitoring their abnormal activities and informing caregivers to provide intervention if necessary. However, the adoption of these technologies remains challenging due to several factors (e.g. lack of usability). In this work, we present a human-centered, intelligent system for older adult care. Our proposed designs of the system were created based on the findings from a focus group session with caregivers. This system monitors the abnormal activities of an older adult using wireless motion sensors and machine learning models. In addition, unlike previous work that …


照顧者實用資訊手冊, 嶺南大學亞太老年學研究中心 Asia-Pacific Institute Of Ageing Studies, Lingnan University, Meng Soi, Florence Fong, Chak Kwan, Dickson Chan, Kin Chung Cheung, Lai Ieng Jay Lau, Sin Yui Sharon Chan, Kin Ho William Li, Ka Ho, Alan Li Sep 2023

照顧者實用資訊手冊, 嶺南大學亞太老年學研究中心 Asia-Pacific Institute Of Ageing Studies, Lingnan University, Meng Soi, Florence Fong, Chak Kwan, Dickson Chan, Kin Chung Cheung, Lai Ieng Jay Lau, Sin Yui Sharon Chan, Kin Ho William Li, Ka Ho, Alan Li

Manual & Guide 手冊及指引

手冊源起

香港面對人口高齡化,醫療和福利系統無可避免面臨持續的挑戰。照顧者因壓力問題而引發的家庭悲劇時有發生,反映照顧者自身亦極需要社會的重視和支援。

現時照顧者人數眾多,當中不乏配偶、父母、子女、女婿、媳婦,對長者照顧及社會無酬的付出,確實值得社會的認同和肯定。然而,儘管本港為長者及照顧者提供不少支援服務,由於不同的原因,照顧者似乎未有善用現有的服務,常常需要一力承擔所有照顧的責任,這無疑增加了他們的壓力。

照顧者需求多樣性

照顧者有不同種類,所需要的服務或支援亦有所不同。例如:「新手照顧者」剛開始接觸照顧工作,需要盡快提升日常護理和相關的疾病知識,以及獲得合適的離院/復康服務支援。「隱蔽照顧者」一直承擔照顧工作但沒有接受任何支援,因此,他們需要的是服務提供者/鄰里的主動接觸,並被轉介合適的照顧服務,以分擔他們部分照顧工作。「高危照顧者」幾乎長時間被照顧的工作佔據了其生活,他們需要的是喘息空間和暫託服務,甚至可能是情緒支援。即使「資深的照顧者」也可能需要喘息或暫託的支援服務去減輕壓力;而結束了照顧工作的「畢業照顧者」,無論是情緒的支援,還是重新規劃財務與就業的安排,都有非常實際的需求。基於照顧者的不同需要,照顧者的支援和服務也是多樣化,如何讓不同種類的照顧者能夠輕易了解現有的社區支援服務、可考慮甚麼因素選取相關服務、如何獲取所需的支援包括申領經濟支援或預早準備長期護理開支、如何自強增值等,都是這本手冊希望解答的問題。

手冊的目的

編製這本手冊的目的就是要減少照顧者四處尋找資訊的麻煩,提供一個整全且易於瀏覽的資訊來源。本手冊主要有兩大目標:其一,幫助照顧者認識不同的服務和資源,積極尋求援助;其二是一站式提供豐富的資訊服務,提升照顧者的能力和平衡身心健康。

手冊的意義

此手冊的社會意義是期望提高大眾對照顧者需要的關注,並引導更多的行動以支援照顧者。如果您的親友是照顧者,又或您認識的朋友甚至鄰居正面對照顧家人的困難,您可以主動伸出援手,又或利用這本手冊作為啟示,向他們介紹相關的服務。

另外,這本手冊可以視作為支援照顧者的工具,讓照顧者明白在承擔照顧家人的重任時並不需要孤軍奮戰,也可以善用社區提供的各種資源和服務。

手冊架構

本手冊由四個主要部分組成,每部分都專注於特定的主題,旨在提供照顧者的全方位支援和資訊,幫助他們在面對挑戰時能夠有所依賴,並從中獲得力量:

第一部分主要提供基礎知識,其中包括不同種類的照顧者的介紹、四種長者常見疾病(包括認知障礙、中風、老年抑鬱和癌症)的病徵說明、以及照顧者可能面臨的壓力與「喘息服務」的重要性。第二部分專注介紹長者常用的社區及健康服務。我們按照地區將服務機構進行了分類,羅列「認知障礙、中風、老年抑鬱、癌症」常用的服務機構,此外,我們還提供家居安全、樂齡科技租賃服務,以及財務支援等相關建議。第三部分將焦點重新放回照顧者身上,提供了支援照顧者的社福機構介紹、照顧者同路人的心得分享,以及照顧者的培訓資訊,旨在幫助照顧者在面對困難時能自強不息。最後,在本手冊的結尾部分,我們特別邀請了四位專家學者就照顧者政策提出見解和建議,為加強照顧者支援服務提供新思路。

如果按持份者來分類,手冊的四個部分的重點如下:

第一部分:照顧者的基礎知識

◎ 針對預備照顧者、新手以及隱蔽照顧者,讓他們了解照顧者的角色和需要;照顧體弱長者的基礎知識,並提供應對壓力的建議,包括自我照顧和喘息服務等。

第二部分:照顧者支援

◎ 針對所有護老者,提供長者常用的社區服務、健康服務和支援計劃,包括暫託、住宿、護送及陪診、善別支援、情緒支援、復康用品津貼及租賃的支援計劃,以及財務策劃師提供的理財貼士。

第三部分:照顧者自強

◎ 針對照顧者,資訊包括不同的照顧者支援組織、同路人和畢業照顧者的經驗心得、培訓課程,以及實用的電子資訊平台推介。

第四部分:對照顧者支援政策的看法和展望

◎ 針對服務提供者、政策倡議者及制定者,提供專家學者對照顧者服務及政策的未來發展方向的看法和建議,以期引發更多關於「如何為照顧者提供更好支持」的討論。

給讀者的使用指引

本手冊內容十分豐富,讀者可以先瀏覽目錄,選擇與您相關的部分進行細讀。對於新手照顧者或剛接觸/關注護老服務的人士(例如:學生、社區人士),我們建議您可以參考手冊第24-33頁「給照顧者的智慧錦囊」的個案,了解不同照顧者可能面對的情境,這可能會給您一點概念,讓您可以考慮尋求哪些支援服務,又或您身邊照顧者朋友有哪些需要,以及如何協助他們獲取所需要的支援。我們深知閱讀本手冊時,您可能會遇到一些不明白的地方,請不必感到困惑。您可以嘗試找身邊的朋友、鄰居或社會服務機構的工作人員一起閱讀,或者向本中心的職員進行查詢。

此外,為方便讀者可以隨時隨地閱讀而不需要攜帶整本手冊,我們為本手冊設立了一個專屬網頁,免費下載整本手冊或某些章節內容。

希望您在閱讀的過程中能找到有用的資訊,並能從中獲得實際的幫助。


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