| 1. |
- Andréasson, Frida, et al.
(författare)
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The INNOVAGE-Eurocarers platform and current ICT-based services for informal carers of older people in Sweden
- 2015
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Ingår i: Irish Ageing Studies Review. - 1649-9972. ; 6:1, s. 88-88
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Different support services for family carers are available in Sweden through information and communication technologies (ICTs) since late 1990s, like ACTION, My Joice, IPPI, ‘The Gap’, and Carer Sweden’s online ‘Carer’s Book’. The INNOVAGE-Eurocarers platform aimed to complement the offer of web services to carers through the provision of a new tailored package.Methods: The Swedish pilot test enrolled around 50 carers through contacts with professionals working with carers in different municipalities. They could access the following web-based services: information resources; individual support via e-mail and private messages; group support via social network and forum. Periodical writing activities were asked to active users in the forum, alternating expressive writing (EW) and time management (TM) writing tasks. Periodical reminders were sent in order to increase user involvement.Results: Users were predominantly older, female carers, of which two thirds were over 65 years old. The web platform was perceived as a flexible tool, potentially accessible at any time, which gave users the possibility to exploit their experience as carers with others in similar situations. This peer exchange seemed to improve self empowerment, sense of solidarity and mutual learning. However, usage of the web platform was limited due to the low level of digital skills of some carers.Conclusions: Although results confirmed usefulness and appropriateness of implemented web services, it is fundamental to address the issue of usability and accessibility in order to ensure a wider accessibility. An option might be to offer initial digital skill training and continuous technical support for computer novices.
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| 2. |
- Barbabella, Francesco, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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Caring For People With Multiple Chronic Conditions In Italy : Policy And Practices
- 2015
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Ingår i: Irish Ageing Studies Review. - 1649-9972. ; 6:1, s. 71-71
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: An estimated 50 million people in the European Union live with multiple chronic diseases. In Italy, around 26.6% of the population aged 16 to 64 years, reported to have at least one long-standing illness or health problem in 2011. Moreover, around 46% of the population over 50 is suffering from multimorbidity. Some programmes addressing adult or older people with multimorbidity have been introduced.Methods: Data for the ICARE4EU study were collected in the first half of 2014. Eligible programmes focussed on providing care for adult people with two or more medically diagnosed chronic or long lasting diseases (at least onesomatic), involved formalised cooperation between two or more services (at least one medical) and evaluation was available. For each programme an on-line questionnaire was completed and included four main subjects: Patientcentredness, Management, Use of E-health technologies, and Financing systems.Results: In Italy, four programmes met the inclusion criteria. They address both daily patient care and policy/managerial levels. Integration of care services, improved collaboration between care providers, changes in resource utilisation and involvement of informal carers have been observed. In two programmes, older patients are addressed as specific subgroup and in two cases animprovement in the use of E-health tools has emerged.Conclusions: In Italy, new policies and integrated care programmes addressing multimorbidity have been recently introduced in some areas, with good preliminary results.
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| 3. |
- Barbabella, Francesco, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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How web-based services can support family carers of older people : New ways to promote social inclusion and quality of life
- 2015
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Ingår i: Irish Ageing Studies Review. - 1649-9972. ; 6:1, s. 87-87
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Family carers can be negatively influenced by their situation, in terms of stress, social isolation, economic constraints and other difficulties. Web-based services addressing carers’ needs represent an efficient support. The goal of the INNOVAGE work package 3(WP3) study was to develop and test a new multilingual web platform for supporting family carers of older people, to be implemented in 27 European countries.Methods: A review of good practices and a consultation with stakeholders were conducted for identifying most appropriate types of services to be developed and tested. The prototype of web platform included information resources and interactive services for both peer and professional support. A convenient, overall sample of around 130 family carers was enrolled in three countries (Italy, Germany and Sweden) and could access services for 12-17 weeks. Data were collected through questionnaires and focus groups concerning impact onquality of life, social support, self-perception of carer’s role, as well as usability, usefulness and appropriateness of services.Results: Active users were generally satisfied with support (information, advice, counselling) provided by moderators (social workers or psychologists) and peers. Usability and appropriateness were confirmed, although some refinements were suggested and users with low digital skills often needed technical support. A portion of the sample remained inactive even if stimulation strategies were adopted.Conclusions: The pilot study confirmed the INNOVAGE Eurocarers web platform is a useful tool for family carers. Some challenges still exist for implementation in relation to digital skills required and users’ preferences on services at country level.
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| 4. |
- Chiatti, Carlos, et al.
(författare)
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ISSA 2012 : The medium-term impact of the first ISSA in the eyes of its participants
- 2015
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Ingår i: Irish Ageing Studies Review. - 1649-9972. ; 6:1, s. 44-44
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: This contribution aims at illustrating the perspective of students attending the first International Summer School on Ageing (ISSA), highlighting the midterm impact exerted by this initiative on their own educational career.Methods: The reported findings are based on a follow-up assessment questionnaire sent out to and filled-in by ISSA participants (n= 20) six months after the Summer School’s conclusion, with the aim of identifying whether participation in the ISSA had brought any advantage to each participant's professional and educational life.Results: Among the ISSA-related aspects identified as “important” for their future research activity, the main ones were “interacting with established researchers” (100%) and “being part of a research network” (85%), followed by “use of different approaches” and “training environment”. As for the aspects “influenced” by the ISSA, the “development of a professional network” was the most frequently mentioned (100%), followed by “research training” (84%), “research interest” (79%) and “career” (71%). The majority of participants reported that, since their ISSA attendance, had remained in contact with each other for study-related (65%) or work-related (60%) purposes. This networking activity has led to joint scientific collaborations with both mentors (one joint conference presentation and two peer-review publications) and fellow students (preparation of a project proposal in response toa research call and organisation of a scientific event).Conclusions: The reported findings show that the ISSA has been useful in creating a collaborative multidisciplinary network of younger and older researchers on ageing-related issues, which is likely to bear more fruitin the long-term.
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| 5. |
- Efthymiou, Areti, et al.
(författare)
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The role of Eurocarers in promoting web-based support services for informal carers in Europe
- 2015
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Ingår i: Irish Ageing Studies Review. - 1649-9972. ; 6:1, s. 88-89
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Eurocarers is an European non-profit association representing informal carers. It was officially established in 2006 and includes user organisations, research institutions and individual members addressing and working on the issue of informal care. Eurocarers participates in the work package 3 (WP3) of the INNOVAGE project, aiming to develop and disseminate a multilingual web platform for informal carers in 27 Member States of the European Union (EU).Methods: A wide networking activity was carried out in 2013-2014 for identifying and involving at least one user organisation in each country of the EU-27, which could take over responsibility of single national versions of the platform. 29 carers organisations were involved in implementation, as well as in developing country-based contents for the information resources area.Results: Information resource area will be implemented in the EU-27 in all official languages and updated progressively by organisations. Each organisation will implement a set of interactive services, depending on country peculiarities and available resources. A further dissemination phase will follow, based on a multilayered approach: one EU event will take place in 2015, followed by national events and other local activities.Conclusions: A fundamental role in the development and dissemination of web-based support services for carers is played by the activation of a strong and comprehensive network of organisations. Characteristics of the internet have the potential to strengthen collaboration between stakeholders and converge efforts for improving level of support services in countries with less cultural, social and policy recognition of carers’ role in the society.
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| 6. |
- Lamura, Giovanni, et al.
(författare)
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ISSA 2012 : Methodological, logistic and evaluation issues emerging from the first edition of the ISSA
- 2015
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Ingår i: Irish Ageing Studies Review. - 1649-9972. ; 6:1, s. 44-44
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: This contribution presents the evaluation provided by the students participating in the first International Summer School on Ageing (ISSA), highlighting whether the educational goals of this initiative have been achieved and possible improvements for the future.Methods: The reported findings are based on the evaluation requested to ISSA participants on the very last day of the school, through a written questionnaires containing both closed and open questions. The 20 participants were on average just above 30-year-old, mostly females (70%) from European countries (80%), held a Master of Science in half of cases and were enrolled as PhD students in a social (35%) or medical (35%) discipline, with a record of 4 publications on average.Results: Participants appreciated the introductory lectures (on biomedical, socio-economic and other dimensions of ageing), defining them clear (100%) and appropriate (90%). Mentors’ capacity to stimulate discussion was appreciated (85% agreed), as did participants’ opportunity to fully participate and interact (94%), while two thirds of participants agreed to have obtained new ideas for their work (65% and 60% respectively). All modules received a good evaluation, especially in terms of learning material provided and of possibility to participate in the discussion, while the opportunity to develop new ideas varied across the modules, mainly due to the participants’ different disciplinary background.Conclusions: While the first ISSA seems to have fully achieved its original aims, future similar initiatives should have a stronger interactive approach and practical real-life group exercises.
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| 7. |
- Lamura, Giovanni, et al.
(författare)
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Social Exclusion And Service Use Amongst Older Europeans
- 2015
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Ingår i: Irish Ageing Studies Review. - 1649-9972. ; 6:1, s. 38-38
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: This contribution aims to provide an overview of the main trends and phenomena contributing to the association between social exclusion and (health, social and long-term) care service use among older Europeans.Methods: Data comes from measures on health, social and long-term care service usage, and related outcome indicators, from within a series of quantitative cross-European survey studies and from secondary data sources.Results: Findings show that the lack of crucial services – such as transportation, primary health care services, or banking services – might represent a risk of exclusion in older age, this being true for instance in countries with large rural communities (e.g. Ireland, Poland, Lithuania, but also Norway). Nordic countries, such as the Netherlands, Iceland, Norway and Denmark, reveal to be particularly advanced in terms of home care provision. In this regard, data seem to suggest that the availability of formal care services and that of informal care are positively correlated, thus suggesting the existence of acrowding-in effect. The access to web-based services represents an additional field in which new and old exclusion risks might accumulate, as highlighted by the lack of such services in Southern and Eastern European countries.Conclusions: Limitations in accessing services which are necessary in everyday life can heavily affect older people’s ability to remain independent and active, and thereby contribute to experiences of exclusion. The illustrated data show the critical areas in which policy should focus on to tackle current challenges that service exclusion poses for older people across Europe.
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| 8. |
- Poli, Arianna, et al.
(författare)
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Promoting self-empowerment and recognition of carers’ role : Piloting the INNOVAGE-Eurocarers platform in the Italian context
- 2015
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Ingår i: Irish Ageing Studies Review. - 1649-9972. ; 6:1, s. 88-88
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Caring for a dependent elderly can negatively affect family carer’s psychological and physical health, as well as social, professional and personal life. In the Italian context, there are very few web-based servicestargeting these users.Methods: A sample of around 60 carers of older people affected by dementia was involved. Users could access the following services: information resources; e-learning resources; individual support via private messages, chat and video-chat; group support via social network and forum. A psychologist was engaged as moderator of interactive services. Other two psychologists from an Alzheimer Day Centre were available via video chat and forum for individual support. In order to improve participation, two SMSs per week were sent to all carers as reminders and stimulation to use web services.Results: Overall, users’ accesses concentrated on information resources area, social network and forum, which were really appreciated and felt as a useful “protected environment”. Around 15 users accessed the web platform at least once every two weeks, whereas 7carers never accessed the platform and very limited dropouts from the study occurred. Stimulation strategy by SMSs was successful to retain and involve users. Low digital skills and poor experience with on-line services represented a main barrier for usage.Conclusions: The new developed platform and its services can address needs of Italian family carers and improve critical dimensions of quality of life. The possibility to get trustful information and dedicated support in contexts where there is a lack of formal services was considered extremely important by users.
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| 9. |
- Salzmann, Benjamin, et al.
(författare)
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Testing the INNOVAGE-Eurocarers web platform among German carers : Challenges and potentials
- 2015
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Ingår i: Irish Ageing Studies Review. - 1649-9972. ; 6:1, s. 88-88
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The role of family carers is increasing importance all over Europe as they contribute progressively more on to the sustainability and efficiency of national health systems. In Germany, web-based support services for carers are still unconventional.Methods: Around 20 carers of older people were recruited adopting convenience and snowballing approaches. They received the following services: information resources; individual support via e-mail and private messages; group support via social network. Additionally, two sub-groups of 3 people each attended a series of weekly sessions of group support via video-conferencing. Periodical reminders to carers were sent for improving participationto the community.Results: The web platform was well accepted by users. Carers reported they benefitted a lot from the exchange with other carers which was made possible by interactive services offered. Some users felt empowered because they became able to reflect on their own situation, they could receive helpful advice from peers and the moderator, and they could recognise themselves experience to be shared with other people in need. Weekly video-conferencing group sessions were perceived as very helpful and provided a short break fromcaring.Conclusions: Web-based support services seem to havea great potential in the German context. However, difficulties in recruiting carers indicates a probable widespread scepticism towards web-based initiatives addressing carers. Low digital skills in older carers isanother main barrier which should be taken into account.
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| 10. |
- Schmidt, Andrea, et al.
(författare)
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Comparing caregiving patterns of older people in poor and good health in Europe
- 2015
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Ingår i: Irish Ageing Studies Review. - 1649-9972. ; 6:1, s. 50-50
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The question of how health selects into caregiving activities of older people has been largely neglected in previous studies. This aspect is, however, important from an ‘active ageing’ perspective in that social participation can have positive effects on health, thus possibly contributing to primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention strategies in old-age. This paper aims to address this gap in the literature by analysing participation in two different types of informal caregiving: care to older adults (inside and outside the household) and grandparenting.Methods: Using longitudinal data from the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (waves 1, 2 and 4) on people aged 65 years and older from 10 European countries, we analyse differences in factors that determine informal care provision by older people in good health compared to that provided by older people in poor health. We apply logistic regression methods and account for potential individual heterogeneity.Results: We find that participation in care is significantly correlated with individual characteristics of carers, differing by health status and type of care, while only small differences are found between health groups.Conclusions: Even though the determinants of informal care giving are not very different between the two considered groups, policies to promote social engagement should take into account older people‘s health, as those with chronic conditions have less capacity to provide care. Further, co-residential carers have been identified as a vulnerable group, due to their lower socio-economic status and risk of social exclusion.
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