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- Ernsth Bravell, Marie, et al.
(author)
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Reciprocal patterns of support of very old people and their families
- 2016
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In: The Gerontologist. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1758-5341.
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: The aging population is often considered as a threat that will deplete family and societal resources. Yet older people may be a resource, giving support and care to their family. The aim of this study is to analyze patterns of giving and receiving support by the oldest old with their family. Method: Data were used from the OCTO2- study, a Swedish population-based sample of 171 women and 156 men, 75–90 years. Respondents completed the Intergenerational Support Index to examine patterns of receiving and giving care and support and factors associated with support exchanges. Results: Results showed that the oldest old gave as much support as they received within the family. Most of the older persons receiving formal help from the community (79%) continued giving support to family. The most common types of support given and received within the family were emotional (89% given, 90% received) and practical (44% given, 46% received). Older persons gave more financial support (26%) than they received (2%). Age, gender, functioning in daily life activities and satisfaction with life were associated with giving different types of family support. Conclusion: Old-old people in Sweden are not just consumers of care, but are involved in reciprocal patterns as receivers and providers of care and support. It is not a simple opposition between being a giver and receiver of informal support simultaneously, but more knowledge is needed about the complex interplay between various form of care and support.
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| 2. |
- Ernsth Bravell, Marie, et al.
(author)
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The importance of social network factors among older adults in need of regular care
- 2016
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In: The Gerontologist. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1758-5341.
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: As populations continue to age, the need for formal care is increasing. As criteria for formal care services become stricter, older adults with greater health problems may remain at home longer and become increasingly reliant on help from their social networks. Knowledge on how different social network factors affect use of care is limited. This study aimed to analyze 1) how personal outlook and objective and subjective social network factors change over time and 2) how these factors are associated to the use of care among older adults. Methods: Data from 7 follow-up questionnaires from the Swedish Adoption Twin Study of Aging (SATSA) were used, spanning a 23-year period. Individuals older than 55 years at baseline were included. Objective social network measures included: number of neighbors, acquaintances, close friends, confidants, and caregivers. Subjective social networks were measured as the satisfaction with these different contacts. Personal outlook included feelings of loneliness and satisfaction with life. The outcome was measured as self-reported receipt of weekly care. Multivariate logistic regression explored the relationship between social network factors and weekly care. Results: Among the 1,065 older individuals in the sample, changes in social networks were most concentrated in the oldest individuals (85+ years at baseline). Increasing age (p<0.0001) was associated with an increased likelihood of weekly care, while never feeling lonely was associated with a much lower likelihood of weekly care (p=0.034). Conclusion: Age and personal outlook factors are important considerations in formal care needs among older populations.
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| 3. |
- Johansson, Linda, et al.
(author)
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Changes in nutritional status and its association with death among older persons
- 2016
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In: The Gerontologist. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1758-5341.
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- It is well known that malnutrition is common among older persons and has a negative impact on health. Even though there is a growing literature on nutrition and aging, few studies focus on longitudinal changes in later life. The aims of this study are to characterize general nutritional status development over time, to identify clusters of nutritional status trajectories, as well as to study the association between the nutritional status trajectories and death. The baseline sample is drawn from the Screening Across the Lifespan Twins (SALT) study. All participants of SALT that had at least 3 assessments according to Mini Nutritional Status Shortform (MNA-SF) documented in the Senior Alert quality register between 2008 and 2015 were included for analyses (N=1509). At the first registration, mean age was 82.4 ± 7.5. According to MNA-SF, 13.3% persons were malnourished, 44.9% were at risk of malnutrition, and 41.8 % were well nourished. Preliminary analysis indicate that despite a general decline in nutritional status in old age, there is a large variability in the sample, making the data suitable for latent class trajectory analyses. Initial analyses also indicate that decrease in nutritional status is associated with decreased survival. Consequently, deterioration in nutritional status seems to be associated with mortality. Detecting malnutrition in older age is important in order to avoid premature death.
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| 4. |
- Johansson, Linda, et al.
(author)
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Improving nutritional status among persons with dementia by performing individualized interventions
- 2016
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In: The Gerontologist. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1758-5341.
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Poor nutritional status is common among persons with dementia and negatively associated with subjective health, mobility and mortality. When malnutrition occurs it is challenging to improve the nutritional status. The aim of the study was to investigate if a structured preventive care process could increase body weight, among persons with dementia at risk of malnutrition or malnourished. The structured preventive care process includes four steps which have been registered in a national quality register: 1) Risk assessment by Mini nutritional assessment-Short Form. 2) Team-based analysis of underlying causes (19 evidence-based risk factors) performed by staff including professionals like nurses, nurse assistants, occupational therapists and physiotherapists. 3) Planning and performing interventions based on the need and problems of the individual (28 evidence-based actions) and 4) evaluation of performed interventions (body weight). A prepost design was used with body weight measured during baseline (0) and follow-up (7–106 days later). In total 526 persons with dementia at risk of malnutrition 176 The Gerontological Society of America Copyedited by: OUP at :: on January 10, 2017 http://gerontologist.oxfordjournals.org/ Downloaded from or malnourished, 65 years and older and with a care contact, were included. Results: 109 persons was registered in all four steps i.e. a team-based analysis of underlying causes have been performed. An improvement in the nutritional status was observed in these individuals (baseline Md 60.0 kg; follow-up Md 62.0 kg; p-value 0.013). No improvement was detected among those missing an analysis of underlying causes. Accordingly, by planning care in a structured way and give individualized interventions based on underlying causes can help improve nutritional status among persons with dementia at risk of malnutrition or malnourished.
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| 5. |
- Wallroth, Veronika, fil.dr, 1978-
(author)
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Adult Sons Perceptions of Care
- 2016
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- From a study, with face-to-face interviews with 19 caregiving men that provides care for an elderly parents or in-law, this presentation will bring attention to men’s perceptions of care and caregiving. The literature on family caregiving as well as the theoretical debate on the concept of care, has focused almost exclusively on women. This focus has meant that although gender analysis are not uncommon in the literature in question, gender tends to be equated with womanhood. This because women are assumed to engage in more care work than men and that women are seen as natural care providers. This means that women’s experiences and definitions of care work have guided much gerontological scholarship, and have provided the standards against which men’s experiences are compared. However, the men interviewed in this study emphasizes that caregiving is natural and that caregiving is a part of their personality. Some of them stressed also that they felt that the ability to provide care comes natural to them and is a part of their identity even if they acknowledged that caregiving and manhood are not considered to be synonymous. Several of the interviewed men also connect their caregiving responsibility to the experience of being fathers. They stressed that being able to respond to someone’s care needs is not something that only women can do. This suggests that while being a caregiver is a part of these caregiving men’s identity, this does not only challenge gender and masculinity norms, it also challenges the norms of caregiving.
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