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The availability of carers for older disabled people in Spain: demographic insights and policy implications

The growth of the older population with care needs, together with the decrease of the population traditionally providing such care, are the most frequently cited consequences of demographic change affecting long-term care policies. This study examines the changes in the availability of carers in Spain (1998-2018) using survey data. Results point to a decrease of potential carers in terms of intergenerational care, but also to an increase of potential carers among older people of the same generation.

Fri, 09/06/2019 - 12:20

Personhood, identity and care in advanced old age by Paul Higgs and Chris Gilleard

How does society collectively envision what ‘old age’ looks like, and what does this vision mean for how we plan for, support and conceptualise care? This book explores the concepts and practices of care in relation to what Higgs and Gilleard describe as the social imaginary of the fourth age: a collective representation of later life composed of those elements most feared about ‘extreme’ older age, namely, physical and cognitive decline, infirmity, and, ultimately, failure.

Fri, 09/06/2019 - 12:13

Applying the convoy model to support in care situations

This article considers the future of informal care situations, with a special focus on how social networks can support caring. Noting demographic changes and the endemic need for informal support, we outline the convoy model of social relations for proactive planning and contemporaneous caring. The article is grounded in empirical evidence, including comparative findings from four countries and about caring among two uniquely vulnerable populations: latelife remarried couples and lesbian and gay adults.

Fri, 05/24/2019 - 09:19

Ambivalence, families and care

Although research shows that most parents and adult children report generally positive and supportive ties, there is also evidence that negative interactions and emotions are common in intergenerational relationships. To investigate this complexity, researchers have moved beyond simple models to orientations and approaches that recognise contradictory emotions and attitudes regarding family relationships in later life. These efforts have given rise to what has come to be termed the 'intergenerational ambivalence' perspective.

Fri, 05/24/2019 - 09:15

Sharing lives: Adult children and parents by Marc Szydlik (2016)

No relationships last longer than connections between parents and children, particularly in the era of ever-growing life expectancy. Low fertility and the small number of siblings mean that modern families include fewer members of the same generation and more of a previous one, recasting the balance of exchange between parents, children and grandchildren in terms of space, money and time/care. This book presents and discusses the key findings of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), focusing on intergenerational relations.

Fri, 05/24/2019 - 09:08

The intersection of formal and informal care for older people in a multicultural society: the case of two adult day-care centres in Northern Israel

Despite being a relatively young society, Israel, like many other countries, has not escaped the global ageing phenomenon. About 11% of its population are aged 65 years or older; this compares with an average of 18% in many European countries. About 75% of Israel’s population are Jewish and about 21% are Arabs (CBS, 2017).[...] Despite the fact that more older people – from both communities – are now accepting a mix of support from their families alongside services, families are still the main source of care for older people in Israel (Katz et al, 2015).

Fri, 05/24/2019 - 09:03

What would I want? Dementia perspectives and priorities among people with dementia, family carers and service professionals

Different perspectives on dementia, held by people with dementia, carers and professionals working in helping service industries, were examined in 111 interviews across Australia in 2017 to add a recipients' view on what public health campaigning should address. Contrasts were found between the priorities of the different perspectives, plus a common feeling that dementia should become a normal part of social life. Rather than reflecting stigmatising behaviour, all groups expressed a need for knowledge on how to communicate and interact with people with dementia.

Fri, 05/24/2019 - 08:56

Exploring intergenerational, intra-generational and transnational patterns of family caring in minority ethnic communities: the example of England and Wales

We investigated family caring using established questions from national surveys of 1,206 adults aged 40+ from six minority ethnic communities in England and Wales. We included in our analysis factors that predisposed caring (age, sex, marital status and household composition) and enabled caring (health, material resources, education, employment and cultural values). In the general population, 15% of adults are family carers.

Fri, 05/24/2019 - 08:53

Implications of the use of migrant care work and web-based services on family caregivers' health

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.

Fri, 05/24/2019 - 08:47

Better Support for Carer-Employees in Canada: The Development of Standardised Guidelines for The Workplace

In 2012, it was estimated that more than 5.6 million Canadian employees (35% of the workforce) had adult/elder care responsibilities (Fast et al, 2014). Lack of workplace support leads to consequences such as: carer-employees leaving the workforce/missing work; premature retirement; reduced productivity; health problems; and increased costs to employers (Peters and Wilson, 2017). In 2016, a partnership of committed stakeholders set out to develop a bilingual Canadian Caregiver-Friendly Workplace Standard and Implementation Guide.

Thu, 05/23/2019 - 16:05