| 1. |
- Abelev, Betty, et al.
(författare)
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Long-range angular correlations on the near and away side in p-Pb collisions at root S-NN=5.02 TeV
- 2013
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Ingår i: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693. ; 719:1-3, s. 29-41
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Angular correlations between charged trigger and associated particles are measured by the ALICE detector in p-Pb collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV for transverse momentum ranges within 0.5 < P-T,P-assoc < P-T,P-trig < 4 GeV/c. The correlations are measured over two units of pseudorapidity and full azimuthal angle in different intervals of event multiplicity, and expressed as associated yield per trigger particle. Two long-range ridge-like structures, one on the near side and one on the away side, are observed when the per-trigger yield obtained in low-multiplicity events is subtracted from the one in high-multiplicity events. The excess on the near-side is qualitatively similar to that recently reported by the CMS Collaboration, while the excess on the away-side is reported for the first time. The two-ridge structure projected onto azimuthal angle is quantified with the second and third Fourier coefficients as well as by near-side and away-side yields and widths. The yields on the near side and on the away side are equal within the uncertainties for all studied event multiplicity and p(T) bins, and the widths show no significant evolution with event multiplicity or p(T). These findings suggest that the near-side ridge is accompanied by an essentially identical away-side ridge. (c) 2013 CERN. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
- Barbabella, Francesco, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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Launching an interdisciplinary “International Summer School on Ageing” (ISSA) : Aims, methodology and outcomes
- 2016
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Ingår i: Educational gerontology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0360-1277 .- 1521-0472. ; 42:4, s. 253-264
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Despite the increasing availability of gerontological training programmes, knowledge of theircontents, characteristics, methods and outcomes remains limited. However, the transitionfrom multidisciplinarity to interdisciplinary orientations is now fundamental to such training,providing participants from diverse academic orientations and professional backgrounds withopportunities to interact ‘across boundaries’. In response to recommendations of the EUFuturage Road Map for European Ageing Research (2011) concerning training and careerdevelopmentneeds of future cohorts of practitioners and scholars in aging, an InternationalSummer School on Ageing (ISSA) was developed in 2012. Its aim was to initiate the practicalimplementation of some of the capacity building goals identified by Futurage. The design andstructure of the ISSA was informed by the experience of Canada’s Summer Programme inAgeing - run by the Institute of Aging of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research – and bythe cross-border academic training activities organized by Lund University (Sweden) inScandinavian countries. As Italy has lacked a tradition of comprehensive, interdisciplinarytraining programmes in gerontology, the Italian National Institute of Health and Science onAgeing undertook to launch the inaugural ISSA. In this article, the core aims andmethodology of the ISSA are presented, together with an analysis of its main outcomes, asmeasured by participant evaluations. These are discussed in the context of internationaldebate on this topic.
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| 3. |
- Arndt, Holger, et al.
(författare)
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Real-time constant monitoring of fall risk index by means of fully-wireless insoles
- 2017
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Constant monitoring of gait in real life conditions is considered the best way to assess Fall Risk Index (FRI) since most falls happen out of the ideal conditions in which clinicians are currently analyzing the patient's behavior. This paper presents the WIISEL platform and results obtained through the use of the first full-wireless insole devices that can measure almost all gait related data directly on the feet (not in the upper part of the body as most existing wearable solutions). The platform consists of a complete tool-chain: insoles, smartphone & app, server & analysis tool, FRI estimation and user access. Results are obtained by combining parameters in a personalized way to build individual fall risk index assessed by experts with the help of data analytics. New FRI has been compared with standards that validate the quality of its prediction in a statistically significant way. That qualitatively relevant information is being provided to the platform users, being either end-users/patients, relatives or caregivers and the related clinicians to ideally assess about their long term evolution. © 2017 The authors and IOS Press.
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| 4. |
- Artzi-Medvedik, Rada, et al.
(författare)
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Quality of Life and Kidney Function in Older Adults : Prospective Data of the SCOPE Study
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Medicine. - 2077-0383. ; 12:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A longitudinal alteration in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) over a two-year period and its association with early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression was investigated among 1748 older adults (>75 years). HRQoL was measured by the Euro-Quality of Life Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS) at baseline and at one and two years after recruitment. A full comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed, including sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-SF), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The association between EQ-VAS decline and covariates was investigated by multivariable analyses. A total of 41% of the participants showed EQ-VAS decline, and 16.3% showed kidney function decline over the two-year follow-up period. Participants with EQ-VAS decline showed an increase in GDS-SF scores and a greater decline in SPPB scores. The logistic regression analyses showed no contribution of a decrease in kidney function on EQ-VAS decline in the early stages of CKD. However, older adults with a greater GDS-SF score were more likely to present EQ-VAS decline over time, whereas an increase in the SPPB scores was associated with less EQ-VAS decline. This finding should be considered in clinical practice and when HRQoL is used to evaluate health interventions among older adults.
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| 5. |
- Barbabella, Francesco, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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Alcuni profili dell’assistenza nelle regioni
- 2013
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Ingår i: L'assistenza agli anziani non autosufficienti in Italia. - Rimini : Maggioli Editore. - 8838735646 ; , s. 29-43
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Barbabella, Francesco, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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La bussola di NNA : lo stato dell'arte basato sui dati
- 2015
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Ingår i: L'assistenza agli anziani non autosufficienti in Italia. - Rimini : Maggioli Editore. - 8891614068 - 9788891614063 ; , s. 15-33
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)
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| 9. |
- Barbabella, Francesco, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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Opportunities and challenges of migrant work in the Italian long-term care system
- 2013
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Ingår i: The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging. - 1279-7707 .- 1760-4788. ; 17:Supplement, Juny/july, s. S133-S133
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Italy is one of the most aged countries in the world, with a longstanding tradition of family care of the dependent elderly. Inrecent times, however, Italy has been witnessing in-depth social and cultural changes, which have been negatively impacting on informal care provision. In addition, the public long-term care (LTC) system highly relies on cash-for-care schemes for supporting older people, whereas “formal” care services are characterised by weak coverage and intensity. This situation has led to a remarkable increase in theprivate employment of migrant care workers (MCWs), whose number increased by four times in the last two decades.Method: An overview of MCWs phenomenon in Italy is provided through the analysis of empirical data retrieved by available official sources at national level, as well as by results from own surveys conducted in recent years on large samples of MCWs.Results: The following opportunities and challenges concerning MCWs’ employment in the LTC sector were identified: improve MCW’s capacity to deliver quality care; reduce therisk of elder abuse and neglect and of meeting MCWs’ own care needs; increase their social integration in destination countries and reduce “care drain” in sending countries; and how to improve stakeholders’ involvement for a better exchange of good practices and more effective policy measures.Conclusion: In these years, privately employed MCWs have contributed to change the traditional Italian “family care model” into a new “migrant-in-the-family care model”. However, the issue concerning the sustainability of this model within the Italian LTC system in the future is still open.
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
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| 12. |
- 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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| 13. |
- Chiatti, Carlos, et al.
(författare)
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Migrant care work for elderly households in Italy
- 2013
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Ingår i: Ageing in the Mediterranean. - Bristol : Policy Press. - 9781447301066 ; , s. 235-256
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This paper aims at pointing out the need for a more equitable, internationally driven approach to solve elder care staff shortages, on the background of the implications deriving from the widespread phenomenon of employing migrant care workers in the Italian elder care sector. The paper describes at first how this form of care provision has become so popular in this country to face the long term care needs characterising its ageing population. Main reasons are identified, on the one hand, in the decreasing availability of informal care, due to the increasing female participation in the labor market, a longer working life and a reduction in the support provided by social networks. On the “formal” side, a major role has been played also by the lack of appropriate long term care services, such as residential and public home care, as well as by a chronic shortage of nursing staff and a shorter length of hospital stays. The traditionally “cash-oriented” profile of the Italian welfare system – more based on cash-for-care measures rather than in-kind services – has ended up with perpetuating familistic tendencies stimulating the employment of foreign migrant care workers, often on a live-in, undeclared basis. The paper’s conclusions focus on the analysis of the main opportunities and challenges raised by this phenomenon, trying to catch all involved parties’ perspectives: the older care recipients’ families; the migrant care workers; the receiving and the sending societies. This approach allows to identify core advantages of this solution in the possibility to increase ageing in place opportunities (thus reducing institutionalisation rates) and to provide a more personalised home care at reasonable costs. On the other hand, drawbacks can occur in terms of low quality of care, risk of widespread undeclared labour conditions, possible exploitation of foreign migrants and abuse of older people, as well as “brain and care drain” effects in sending countries. A more neutral, internationally driven governance is therefore suggested in order to minimize these risks and promote equitable solutions to solve care provision shortages in some countries without “plundering the future” of other nations.
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| 14. |
- Corsonello, Andrea, et al.
(författare)
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Estimated glomerular filtration rate and functional status among older people : A systematic review
- 2018
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Ingår i: European journal of internal medicine. - : Elsevier. - 0953-6205 .- 1879-0828. ; 56, s. 39-48
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and functional status may change as a function of the equation used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We reviewed the predictive value of different eGFR equations in regard to frailty and disability outcomes. Methods: We searched Pubmed from inception to March 2018 for studies investigating the association between eGFR and self-reported and/or objective measures of frailty or disability. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies were separately analysed. Results: We included 16 studies, one of which reporting both cross-sectional and longitudinal data. Three out of 7 cross-sectional studies compared different eGFR equations in regard to their association with functional status: two studies showed that cystatin C-based, but not creatinine-based eGFR may be associated with hand-grip strength or frailty; another study showed that two different creatinine-based eGFR equations may be similarly associated with disability. Four out of 10 longitudinal studies provided comparative data: two studies reported similar association with disability for different creatinine-based eGFR equations; one study showed that creatinine-based eGFR was not associated with frailty, but a not significant trend for association was observed with cystatin C-based eGFR; one study showed that cystatin C-based but not creatinine-based eGFR may predict incident mobility disability, while both methods may predict gait speed decline. High heterogeneity was observed in regard to confounders included in reviewed studies. None of them included the most recently published equations. Conclusion: Available data do not support the superiority of one of the eGFR equations in terms of measuring or predicting functional decline.
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| 15. |
- D’Amen, Barbara, et al.
(författare)
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Italian Adolescent Young Caregivers of Grandparents : Difficulties Experienced and Support Needed in Intergenerational Caregiving—Qualitative Findings from a European Union Funded Project
- 2022
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Ingår i: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 19:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The article aims to describe the experiences of 87 Italian adolescent young caregivers (AYCs) of grandparents (GrPs), with reference to the caregiving stress appraisal model (CSA) that provides a theoretical lens to explore the difficulties encountered and support needed in their caring role. Qualitative data were drawn from an online survey conducted within an EU Horizon 2020 funded project. An inductive thematic analysis was carried out, and the findings were critically interpreted within the conceptual framework of the CSA model. The analysis highlighted three categories of difficulties: material, communication and emotional/psychological. The most common material difficulty was the physical strain associated with moving “uncooperative” disabled older adults. The types of support needed concerned both emotional and material support. The study provides a deeper understanding of the under-studied experiences of AYCs of GrPs. Based on these findings, policies and support measures targeted at AYCs of GrPs should include early needs detection, emotional support and training on intergenerational caring in order to mitigate the stress drivers. Moreover, the study advances the conceptualisation of the CSA model by considering the above-mentioned aspects related to intergenerational caregiving
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| 16. |
- Di Rosa, Mirko, et al.
(författare)
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A typology of caregiving situations and service use in family carers of older people in six European countries : The EUROFAMCARE study
- 2011
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Ingår i: GeroPsych. - Bern : Hogrefe Publishing. - 1662-9647 .- 1662-971X. ; 24:1, s. 5-18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper presents the EUROFAMCARE study findings, examining a typology of care situations for family carers of older people, and the interplay of carers with social and health services. Despite the complexity of family caregiving situations across Europe, our analyses determined the existence of seven “caregiving situations,” varying on a range of critical indicators. Our study also describes the availability and use of different support services for carers and care receivers, and carers’ preferences for the characteristics of support services. Our findings have relevance for policy initiatives in Europe, where limited resources need to be more equitably distributed and services should be targeted to caregiving situations reflecting the greatest need, and organized to reflect the preferences of family carers.
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| 17. |
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| 18. |
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| 19. |
- Di Rosa, Mirko, et al.
(författare)
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Migrant care workers in Italian households : recent trends and future perspectives
- 2017
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Ingår i: The Routledge Handbook of Social Care Work Around the World. - Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2018. : Routledge. - 9781315612805 - 9781472479457 ; , s. 142-155
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This chapter focuses on role played by migrant care work within the Italian long-term care (LTC) system. Italy is a country where the informal sector, and in particular the family, has traditionally represented the bulk of care provision, with public policies and interventions tending to perpetuate and take for granted this constellation. The analysis examines the increasingly important pillar of the Italian LTC system represented by care workers who are directly employed by Italian households, usually called in Italian assistenti familiari or – in a partly pejorative informal term – badanti. The impact of demographic trends on the Italian LTC system is exacerbated by a traditional lack in the coverage of formal LTC services, and more recently by the deepest economic recession since the Second World War. Families can take the chance to open up to new care and living solutions and create human capital, or they can isolate and shut down any positive possibility in the caregiving triad.
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| 20. |
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| 21. |
- Di Rosa, Mirko, et al.
(författare)
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Private employment of home care workers and use of health services by disabled older people in Italy
- 2013
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Ingår i: Euroregional Journal of Socio-Economic Analysis. - 2344-6404. ; 1:1, s. 33-42
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Home care workers privately employed by households have become today the “third rail” of longtermcare policies in several industrialised countries. In Italy, estimates suggested that they might be asmany as over 840,000, most of them being foreign-born migrants living with the cared for person. So far, littleattention has been paid to the integration and coordination of these workers within the formal care sector.We analysed a cross-sectional sample of 4,814 disabled older Italians living in the community to assess theassociation between the private employment of home care workers and the likelihood of using other formalservices. After controlling for possible confounding effects of predisposing characteristics and need factors,we found that using private assistance at home is strongly associated with the use of all services. Thesecorrelations suggests that a “crowding-in” effect exists between the use of private care and public formalservices, and a clear pattern of care tasks allocation can be identified in Italy, where family and privatecarers are responsible for assisting the older person with basic tasks of daily living, while the residualcompetences of public formal sector relate to specialised health care services.
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| 22. |
- Eslami, Bahareh, 1978-, et al.
(författare)
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Lifetime abuse and perceived social support among the elderly : a study from seven European countries
- 2017
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Ingår i: European Journal of Public Health. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1101-1262 .- 1464-360X. ; 27:4, s. 686-692
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Being a victim of abuse during one's life course may affect social relations in later life. The aims of this study were to: (i) examine the association between lifetime abuse and perceived social support and (ii) identify correlates of perceived social support among older persons living in seven European countries. Methods: A sample of 4467 women and men aged 60-84 years living in Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain and Sweden was collected through a cross-sectional population-based study. Abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial and injury) was assessed through interviews or interviews/self-response questionnaire based on the Conflict Tactics Scale-2 and the UK study on elder abuse. Perceived social support was assessed by the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Results: Victims of lifetime abuse perceived poorer social support in later life. Multivariate analyses showed that high levels of perceived social support were associated with being from Greece and Lithuania (compared to Germany), being female, not living alone, consuming alcohol and physical activity. Poorer perceived social support was associated with being from Portugal, being old, having social benefits as the main source of income, experiencing financial strain and being exposed to lifetime psychological abuse and injuries. Conclusions: Our findings showed that exposure to psychological abuse and injuries across the lifespan were associated with low levels of perceived social support, emphasizing the importance of detection and appropriate treatment of victims of abuse during their life course. Future research should focus on coping strategies buffering the negative effects of abuse on social relationships.
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| 23. |
- Eslami, Bahareh, et al.
(författare)
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Lifetime abuse and somatic symptoms among older women and men in Europe
- 2019
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science. - 1932-6203. ; 14:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Research suggests that survivors of interpersonal violence have an increasing experience of bodily symptoms. This study aims to scrutinise the association between lifetime abuse and somatic symptoms among older women and men, considering demographics/socio-economic, social support and health variables. Methods: A sample of 4,467 community-dwelling persons aged 60–84 years (57.3% women) living in seven European countries (Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, Sweden) was recruited for this cross-sectional study. Lifetime abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial and injury) was assessed on the basis of the UK study of elder abuse and the Conflict Tactics Scale-2, while somatic symptoms were assessed by the Giessen Complaint List short version. Results: Women reported somatic symptoms more frequently than men. Multiple regression analyses revealed that lifetime exposure to psychological abuse was associated with higher levels of somatic symptoms among both women and men, while experiencing lifetime sexual abuse was associated with somatic symptoms only among older women, after adjusting for other demographic and socio-economic variables. Country of residence, older age, and low socio-economic status were other independent factors contributing to a higher level of somatic symptoms. Conclusions: The positive association between the experience of abuse during lifetime and the reporting of higher levels of somatic symptoms, in particular among older women, seems to suggest that such complaints in later life might also be related to the experience of mistreatment and not only to ageing and related diseases. Violence prevention throughout lifetime could help to prevent somatic symptoms in later life.
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| 24. |
- Lamura, Giovanni, et al.
(författare)
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Current LTC challenges in Italy
- 2013
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Ingår i: The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging. - 1279-7707 .- 1760-4788. ; 17:Supplement 1, June/july, s. S227-S227
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: The rapid ageing of the Italian population is reflected by a growing demand for LTC services. As families are facing increasing difficulties in providing everyday elder care, the pressure on formal services is growing. At the same time, the current financial crisis is making the public response less and less able to provide the needed resources. As a consequence, the current approach of indirect public support to the private employment of migrant care workers (MCWs) through cash-for-care schemes is likely to continue.Method: The presentation is based on a detailed analysis of empirical findings and policy documents, outlining the crucial features characterising the Italian LTC system and describing also some of the main differences existing between different regional care approaches.Results: After adecade of increasing availability of publicly funded LTC services for older people, in some sectors, such as integrated home care, the audience of recipients has started receiving a lower number of hours of care. The mainly monetary focus of the Italian care regime has a clear incentivizing effect to employ foreign migrant care workers, often on an undeclared basis, to provide everyday elder care in Italian homes. Another crucial characteristic is the strong heterogeneity of Italian regions, according to which today different clusters of regions can beidentified, with strong inequalities in LTC provision.Conclusion : Thelack of a coherent national LTC policy has been recently accompaniedby an increasing focus on cash-for-care payments, which in the future will require a stronger attention to care quality issues.
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| 25. |
- Lamura, Giovanni, et al.
(författare)
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Filling the gap in long-term professional care through systematic migration policies : Synthesis Report
- 2014
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Bok (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- Many EU countries face the challenge of providing elderly care in the context of shortages of trained personnel. The Peer Review in Berlin (23-24 October) provided the opportunity for peer countries to explore the German approach of recruiting and training non-EU migrants. This report summarises the key issues discussed and the lessons learned. It is available in electronic format in English, French and German
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| 26. |
- Lamura, Giovanni, et al.
(författare)
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Implications of the use of migrant care work and web-based services on family caregivers' health
- 2019
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Ingår i: International Journal of Care and Caring. - : POLICY PRESS. - 2397-8821 .- 2397-883X. ; 3:1, s. 97-116
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article illustrates the implications of two recent trends on family carers' health: the employment of home-based migrant care workers; and the provision of web-based supports. The main factors traditionally associated with carers' health are used to analyse the results of a six-country study via a multilevel linear regression. Attention will be dedicated to the role of migrant care workers, who are often hired by private households to provide eldercare. Finally, web-based services for carers will be investigated by considering InformCare, a recently implemented European platform tested on a sample of carers from three countries (Germany, Italy and Sweden).
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| 27. |
- 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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| 28. |
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| 29. |
- Lüdecke, Daniel, et al.
(författare)
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For better or worse : Factors predicting outcomes of family care of older people over a one-year period. A six-country European study
- 2018
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 13:4
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: Demographic change has led to an increase of older people in need of long-term care in nearly all European countries. Informal carers primarily provide the care and support needed by dependent people. The supply and willingness of individuals to act as carers are critical to sustain informal care resources as part of the home health care provision. This paper describes a longitudinal study of informal care in six European countries and reports analyses that determine those factors predicting the outcomes of family care over a one-year period.METHODS: Analyses are based on data from the EUROFAMCARE project, a longitudinal survey study of family carers of older people with baseline data collection in 2004 and follow-up data collection a year later in six European countries (Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom), N = 3,348. Descriptive statistics of the sample characteristics are reported. Binary logistic random-intercept regressions were computed, predicting the outcome of change of the care dyad's status at follow-up.RESULTS: Where care is provided by a more distant family member or by a friend or neighbour, the care-recipient is significantly more likely to be cared for by someone else (OR 1.62) or to be in residential care (OR 3.37) after one year. The same holds true if the care-recipient has memory problems with a dementia diagnosis (OR 1.79/OR 1.84). Higher dependency (OR 1.22) and behavioural problems (OR 1.76) in the care-recipient also lead to a change of care dyad status. Country of residence explained a relatively small amount of variance (8%) in whether a care-recipient was cared for by someone else after one year, but explained a substantial amount of variance (52%) in whether a care-recipient was in residential care. Particularly in Sweden, care-recipients are much more likely to be cared for by another family or professional carer or to be in residential care, whereas in Greece the status of the care dyad is much less likely to change.DISCUSSION: The majority of family carers continued to provide care to their respective older relatives over a one-year period, despite often high levels of functional, cognitive and behavioural problems in the care-recipient. Those family carers could benefit most from appropriate support. The carer/care-recipient relationship plays an important role in whether or not a family care dyad remains intact over a one-year period. The support of health and social care services should be particularly targeted toward those care dyads where there is no partner or spouse acting as carer, or no extended family network that might absorb the caring role when required. Distant relatives, friends or acquaintances who are acting as carers might need substantial intervention if their caregiving role is to be maintained.
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| 30. |
- Melchiorre, Maria Gabriella, et al.
(författare)
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Abuse of older men in seven European countries : a multilevel approach in the framework of an ecological model
- 2016
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 11:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Several studies on elder abuse indicate that a large number of victims are women, but others report that men in later life are also significantly abused, especially when they show symptoms of disability and poor health, and require help for their daily activities as a result. This study focused on the prevalence of different types of abuse experienced by men and on a comparison of male victims and non-victims concerning demographic/socio-economic characteristics, lifestyle/health variables, social support and quality of life. Additionally, the study identified factors associated with different types of abuse experienced by men and characteristics associated with the victims.METHODS: The cross-sectional data concerning abuse in the past 12 months were collected by means of interviews and self-response during January-July 2009, from a sample of 4,467 not demented individuals aged between 60-84 years living in seven European countries (Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain and Sweden). We used a multilevel approach, within the framework of an Ecological Model, to explore the phenomenon of abuse against males as the complex result of factors from multiple levels: individual, relational, community and societal.RESULTS: Multivariate analyses showed that older men educated to higher levels, blue-collar workers and men living in a rented accommodation were more often victims than those educated to lower levels, low-rank white-collar workers and home owners, respectively. In addition, high scores for factors such as somatic and anxiety symptoms seemed linked with an increased probability of being abused. Conversely, factors such as increased age, worries about daily expenses (financial strain) and greater social support seemed linked with a decreased probability of being abused.CONCLUSIONS: Male elder abuse is under-recognized, under-detected and under-reported, mainly due to the vulnerability of older men and to social/cultural norms supporting traditional male characteristics of stoicism and strength. Further specific research on the topic is necessary in the light of the present findings. Such research should focus, in particular, on societal/community aspects, as well as individual and family ones, as allowed by the framework of the Ecological Model, which in turn could represent a useful method also for developing prevention strategies for elder abuse.
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| 31. |
- Melchiorre, Maria Gabriella, et al.
(författare)
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The prevalence, severity and chronicity of abuse towards older men : Insights from a multinational European survey
- 2021
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : PLoS. - 1932-6203. ; 16:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Elder abuse is a growing public health question among policy makers and practitioners in many countries. Research findings usually indicate women as victims, whereas male elder abuse still remains under-detected and under-reported. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, severity and chronicity of abuse (psychological, physical, physical injury, sexual, and financial) against older men, and to scrutinize factors (e.g. demographics) associated with high chronicity of any abuse.METHODS: Randomly selected older men (n = 1908) aged 60-84 years from seven European cities (Ancona, Athens, Granada, Kaunas, Stuttgart, Porto, Stockholm) were interviewed in 2009 via a cross-sectional study concerning abuse exposure during the past 12 months.RESULTS: Findings suggested that prevalence of abuse towards older men varied between 0.3% (sexual) and 20.3% (psychological), with severe acts between 0.2% (sexual) and 8.2% (psychological). On the whole, higher chronicity values were for injury, followed by psychological, financial, physical, and sexual abuse. Being from Sweden, experiencing anxiety and having a spouse/cohabitant/woman as perpetrator were associated with a greater "risk" for high chronicity of any abuse. For men, severity and chronicity of abuse were in some cases relatively high.CONCLUSIONS: Abuse towards older men, in the light of severe and repeated acts occurring, should be a source of concern for family, caring staff, social work practice and policy makers, in order to develop together adequate prevention and treatment strategies.
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| 32. |
- Melchiorre, Maria Gabriella, et al.
(författare)
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Validation of the Italian Version of the Caregiver Abuse Screen among Family Caregivers of Older People with Alzheimer's Disease
- 2017
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Ingår i: BioMed Research International. - : HINDAWI LTD. - 2314-6133 .- 2314-6141.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction. Elder abuse is often a hidden phenomenon and, in many cases, screening practices are difficult to implement among older people with dementia. The Caregiver Abuse Screen (CASE) is a useful tool which is administered to family caregivers for detecting their potential abusive behavior. Objectives. To validate the Italian version of the CASE tool in the context of family caregiving of older people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to identify risk factors for elder abuse in Italy. Methods. The CASE test was administered to 438 caregivers, recruited in the Up-Tech study. Validity and reliability were evaluated using Spearman's correlation coefficients, principal-component analysis, and Cronbach's alphas. The association between the CASE and other variables potentially associated with elder abuse was also analyzed. Results. The factor analysis suggested the presence of a single factor, with a strong internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86). CASE score was strongly correlated with well-known risk factors of abuse. At multivariate level, main factors associated with CASE total score were caregiver burden and AD-related behavioral disturbances. Conclusions. The Italian version of the CASE is a reliable and consistent screening tool for tackling the risk of being or becoming perpetrators of abuse by family caregivers of people with AD.
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| 33. |
- Santini, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Difficulties and Needs of Adolescent Young Caregivers of Grandparents in Italy and Slovenia : A Concurrent Mixed-Methods Study
- 2022
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Ingår i: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 19:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many adolescent young caregivers (AYCs) care for a grandparent (GrP) with chronic disease, especially in countries with no or low developed long-term care systems and/or level of awareness of and policy responses to young caregivers. This mixed-methods study aimed at shedding light on the needs and difficulties faced by a sample of 162 adolescents aged 15–17, caring for GrPs, living in Italy (87) and Slovenia (75), respectively. A multiple linear regression model was built for the quantitative data. Qualitative data were content analysed using an open coding process. Italian and Slovenian respondents reported a moderate amount of caring activity and relatively high positive caregiving outcomes. Nevertheless, one out of three AYCs reported health problems due to their caring responsibilities. Compared to their Italian counterparts, Slovenian respondents were supported to a lesser extent by public services. Italian respondents faced communicative and practical problems; Slovenian AYCs experienced mainly emotional discomfort. AYCs from both countries requested emotional and practical support from formal services and family networks. Further, Slovenian AYCs requested emotional support and a personalized learning plan from schoolteachers. Support measures aimed at training AYCs of GrPs on geriatric care are recommended to address specific issues related to ageing and long-term care needs.
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| 34. |
- Santini, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Positive and Negative Impacts of Caring among Adolescents Caring for Grandparents : Results froman Online Survey in Six European Countries and Implications for Future Research, Policy and Practice
- 2020
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Ingår i: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 17:18, s. 1-16
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although up to 8% of European youngsters carry out high-intensity care for a family member,adolescent young carers (AYCs), especially those caring for their grandparents (GrPs), remain anunder-researched group. This study aimed at addressing the current knowledge gap by carrying outan online survey in Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.The analysis included a final sample of 817 AYCs aged 15–17 years old. AYCs of grandparents (GrPs)were compared to AYCs of other care recipients (OCRs), in order to identify any dierence in positiveand negative caregiving outcomes and exposure factors between the two groups. Linear or logisticregression models were built, and multivariate analyses were repeated, including a fixed eect onthe country variable. AYCs of GrPs experienced more positive caregiving outcomes than AYCs ofOCRs across all six countries. Being female or non-binary, and having a migration background,were associated with more negative outcomes, regardless of the relationship with the care recipient.Further research on intergenerational caregiving outcomes is recommended for shaping measuresand policies, which preserve the intergenerational emotional bonds, whilst protecting AYCs frominappropriate responsibilities, undermining their mental health and well-being.
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| 35. |
- Socci, Marco, et al.
(författare)
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Impact of working situation on mental and physical health for informal caregivers of older people with Alzheimer's disease in Italy. Results from the UP-TECH longitudinal study
- 2021
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Ingår i: Aging & Mental Health. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1364-6915 .- 1360-7863. ; 25:1, s. 22-31
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: This longitudinal study explores whether the working situation (no change in working hours despite care, reduction of working hours due to care or not working) moderates mental and physical health of informal caregivers of older people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Italy. Methods: Data from a sample of 146 caregivers of older people with moderate AD involved in the UP-TECH trial across three waves were analysed. Multivariate analyses were used to study the association between independent variables (caregivers' work situation) and dependent variables (caregivers' psycho-physical health). In a second model, elements relating to the caregiver, the cared-for individual and the caregiving situation were added as controls. Results: Being forced to reduce working hours due to care tasks or not being employed independently from care was negatively associated with informal caregiver's physical health, compared with working carers not experiencing reduction of working hours. In the extended model, this result was confirmed. In comparison with working carers not forced to reduce working hours, non-working carers experienced higher levels of caregiver burden and depression, however these results were not confirmed in the adjusted model. Other factors also emerged as important including weekly hours of care, the cared-for older individual's ADL/IADL scores and informal support network. Conclusions: Given the positive effect of labour force participation on health of informal caregivers of older people with AD, policy makers should promote their employment avoiding their forced reduction of working hours, while also putting measures in place to decrease the intensity of informal care provision.
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| 36. |
- Socci, Marco, et al.
(författare)
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The Impact of the Pandemic on Health and Quality of Life of Informal Caregivers of Older People : Results from a Cross-National European Survey in an Age-Related Perspective
- 2024
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Ingår i: Applied Research in Quality of Life. - : Springer Nature. - 1871-2584 .- 1871-2576.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During the COVID-19 outbreak, the care services interruption/delay resulted in increased amount of care for informal caregivers of older people with long-term care needs. This study aimed at understanding how the Pandemic affected physical health, mental well-being and quality of life of older people' informal caregivers of different ages and to what extent starting caregiving affected such life realms among new caregivers. An online survey was carried out in Winter 2020-2021 targeted to informal caregivers living in 16 European countries. A sub-sample of 848 adult (aged 18-64) was compared to another of 542 older (over 65) informal caregivers. People who started caring during the Pandemic were also identified and the impact of the Pandemic on the three life realms of this group were analysed separately by gender and age. The differences between the two groups of adult and older caregivers were estimated using logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounders. Analyses were repeated after propensity score matching. During the second Pandemic wave hitting Europe in Winter 2020-21, regardless of age, being female entailed a worsening in physical health, mental well-being and quality of life, in line with previous research Also new caregivers were mostly females and their physical health and quality of life were worsened by caregiving. Gender-specific work-life balance policies and measures are needed to support female working caregivers. More attention should be paid to older female caregivers through scheduled physical and mental health screenings and home visits. Future studies on the topic in a gender and intergenerational perspective are encouraged.
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| 37. |
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| 38. |
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