bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
THE ROLE OF MICROANALYTIC SIMULATION MODELS IN THE ANALYSIS OF AUSTRALIAN RETIREMENT INCOME POLICY
Authors: Borowski Allan 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTIt is the contention of this paper that the development of Australian microanalytic simulation models will offer an especially useful tool For analyzing the effects of retirement income policy on the economic situation of the aged. In contrast to the contemporary practice of casting the impacts of policy in aggregate terms, microanalytic simulation generates data that permit addressing the more central questions of the size and distribution of retirement income. This paper describes microanalytic simulation and illustrates its application to the retirement income policy domain.
PETS, LONELINESS AND HEALTH IN SOLITARY OLDER PEOPLE
Authors: Delin Catherine , Delin Catherine 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTThere has been increasing interest in the possibility that owning pet animals can contribute positively to the health of older people. The present study was undertaken to determine whether pet‐ownership does benefit the health and well‐being of older people living alone. The 28‐item General Health Questionnaire was administered to 130 solitary respondents aged from 55–93 years (mean age 74.28 years). Additional information relating to age, sex, type of pet, feelings of loneliness, frequency of visits by friends and family, and history of pet‐ownership was also obtained. 47 (36.2%) of the respondents were pel‐owners and 82 (63.1%) did not own pets (1 missing value). There were no significant differences between pet‐owners and non‐pet‐owners in subscale scoring on the GHQ or on total GHQ score. Significant positive correlations were found between strength of experienced loneliness and scoring on the GHQ. Implications for the care of older people are discussed.
RETIREMENT VILLAGES: SEGREGATED COMMUNITIES?
Authors: McDonald John 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThis article* reviews the literature on the relationships among retirement village residents. Based upon the available American data, such villages can be said to be segregated communities. Comparable Australian data is sadly lacking. The American findings and theoretical frameworks are critically analysed before extrapolating to the Australian situation. It is hypothesized that the integration of villages into wider society (strongly advocated by Australian committees of inquiry) may occur at the expense of ‘community’ among the residents.
THE DO CARE TELELINK PROGRAMME — ENCOURAGING THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF THE ELDERLY, HOUSE‐BOUND PERSON
Authors: Cole Penny 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThis article outlines the philosophy and structures of the Do Care Telelink Programme with particular emphasis on the ways elderly house‐bound people are given power over decision‐making, relationships. information and resources through their active participation in every facet of the Programme. It is proposed that such active participation is both 3 goal and a process which not only lays the foundation for social action but is an essential ingredient in developing a sense of community through which these frail older people also gain a greater sense of their own identity.
AGEIST ATTITUDES PROMOTE URINARY INCONTINENCE IN OLDER PEOPLE AND CAN LEAD TO THE DEMORALISATION OF NURSING STAFF
Authors: Wellings Cynthea 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to analyse some myths surrounding ageing. The particular focus is on myths associated with urinary incontinence in older people. It is suggested that nursing attitudes of acceptance and apathy promote urinary incontinence. The result of these attitudes is that the nursing profession demeans itself and creates an unfavourable environment in which to work.
NURSING HOME WAITING LISTS — INDICATORS OF NEED?
Authors: Gray L. , Lazarus R. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe waiting lists maintained by the nursing homes in the catchment area of the Bundoora Extended Care Centre were reviewed to establish their accuracy as indicators of demand for nursing home admission within the region. The status of listed applicants was established by reviewing lists of current nursing home residents and by telephone contact of listed contact persons.A maximum of 46% and possibly fewer than 37% of the listed applicants were available for immediate admission. Inflation of apparent demand for admission was attributable to several factors: duplication of names, prior death or admission to another nursing home, change of intention, inability to contact the applicant and the practice of listing for possible future need.
UNIVERSITIES OF THE THIRD AGE: AN EXERCISE IN PARTNERSHIP
Authors: Picton C.J. 
Published: December 2008

SummaryOlder people represent a significant and growing element in the Australian population. In recent years they have demonstrated an apparently insatiable thirst for knowledge about an ever‐widening range of topics and issues. Research has now shown conclusively that older people generally retain the capacity to acquire, absorb and use new information and knowledge until much later in life than was hitherto thought possible. While this finding deals a gratifying blow to the negative stereotype of old age, much needs to be done to make opportunities available to older people to pursue a suitable range of intellectually stimulating activities.One exciting model well‐established in Europe is now well established in Australia. Universities of the Third Age (U3As) are based on the notion that older people have the skills to teach and learn together. They are essentially self help organisations with members determining the form and content of programmes that reflect the rich diversity of interests and talents of the participants.Approximately 8,000 people are now active participants in campuses throughout mainland Australia. The First National Conference of Universities of the Third Age was held in Melbourne on 22–23 August 1988 with the assistance of a grant of 60,000 from the Australian Bicentennial Authority.
GERIATRIC REHABILITATION AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION: A NEW DIRECTION
Authors: Hamdorf P. A. , Penhall R. K. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTPhysical educators are playing an important role in the rehabilitation of aged clients within a day hospital in South Australia. Many varied and previously unavailable rehabilitation activities have characterised their approach to specific problems and the general restoration of physical fitness amongst referred clients. The physical educator's place within a multidisciplinary team setting is now fundamental in the provision of physical rehabilitation services.
SENIOR AUSTRALIANS WHO JOIN GROUPS: EFFECTS ON QUALITY OF LIFE
Authors: James C. , Swindell R. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTThe importance of physical, intellectual and social stimulation in promoting quality of life amongst older people has long been recognised. The role of voluntary groups in contributing to quality of life has not been identified. This project set out to identify the effects on perceived quality of life for 78 people belonging to a range of different types of groups: those with a focus on intellectual stimulation, social interaction only, and voluntary ‘helping’ activities. Subsequently an artificially constructed group comprising frail elderly people with major illnesses was established to test whether quality of life factors associated with groups could be integrated into the lives of socially isolated individuals.
MEDICATION USE BY ELDERLY PERSONS IN SYDNEY
Authors: Snowdon J. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to compare the use of medication by elderly persons in four different settings in Sydney. Information was obtained from 143 people living in their own homes, and medication charts were studied in relation to 79 hostel residents, 134 nursing home residents and 43 patients in long‐stay psychogeriatric wards. Prescription of psychotropic medication for residents of hostels and nursing homes in 1985–1988 was at a high level when compared with overseas studies carried out during the same period. Antidepressants were prescribed more often in Sydney than in overseas institutions for older people, though a high percentage of depressed subjects were found not to be taking antidepressants. Other details of medication use are discussed.
HEALTH ADVOCACY AND AGEING: A SEARCH FOR UNDERSTANDING
Authors: Seedsman T.A. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTThis paper represents an exploratory study into the conceptual basis of advocacy and its potential value for health and caring professionals working to enhance the well‐being of the aged. The view is offered that advocacy and its related processes are not as clearly understood as perhaps claimed by those who have humanitarian interests and concerns for the aged. An advocacy model is proposed that shows the possibilities for developing community and individual empowerment through health promotion strategies. Empowerment is seen as an important outcome of the advocacy process that benefits the aged and those working to facilitate improvements in quality of life for the aged. Some well known impediments to aged advocacy are discussed, including perspectives on advocacy for physically active lifestyles. The paper concludes with the identification of the major challenges facing communities and individuals with a genuine interest in health advocacy initiatives for the aged.
‘I THINK HE MIGHT HAVE HIT ME ONCE’: AGGRESSION TOWARDS CAREGIVERS IN DEMENTIA CARE
Authors: Cahill S. , Shapiro M. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTLittle is known about aggression in caregiving relationships in the Australian context, although the topic has received considerable attention in recent overseas literature. This paper reports on a sample of 39 female primary caregivers recruited from the Brisbane metropolitan area and interviewed about a range of aggressive acts directed against them by dementing dependents, while they were providing care in the community. Results show that aggression against caregivers was reported in 89 per cent of cases. Serious violence was experienced by 26 per cent of the sample. In order to provide a coordinated policy an intersectoral approach may be useful.
Psychotropic Medication Use in a Sample of Frail, Elderly Inpatients in Sydney, Australia
Authors: McInnes Elizabeth , Mira Michael , Atkin Nicola , Kennedy Peter , Cullen John 
Published: December 2008

Objective: To examine rates of use and predictors of psychotropic drug use among a group of frail, aged inpatients admitted under the care of a geriatrician. To examine correlates of psychotropic drug use at discharge with inpatient characteristics.Method: The number of psychotropic medications taken were obtained from a medical records audit of 311 frail inpatients under the care of a geriatrician. Medication taken at the point of admission and at discharge, and rates of commencement and cessation of different psychotropic agents were measured.Results: Patients discharged to a nursing home were more likely to be admitted and discharged on anti‐psychotics and anxiolytics/hypnotics. Subjects from an English‐speaking background were more likely to be prescribed anti‐depressants on discharge and there was a trend for females to be discharged on anxiolytic/hypnotic medication. Subjects discharged on anti‐psychotics were also more likely to have lower MMSE scores and higher average DRG cost weights. However, lower numbers of patients admitted from nursing homes and hostels were discharged on psychotropic medication. For those discharged home, the reverse was true.Conclusion: The finding that fewer nursing home and hostel patients were discharged on such medication that admitted on it, suggests that careful review of psychotropics for frail aged inpatients admitted under the care of a geriatrician is practised.
The Lidcombe Hospital Memory (Cognitive Disorders) Clinic: Review of Clinical Experience
Authors: Chan Daniel , Eleazar Joel , Williams Sid , Arpadi Virginia , Ford Roger , Gibian Tom , Kirkby Christopher , McMaster Wendy 
Published: December 2008

Objective: A retrospective review of clinical experience of the Memory (Cognitive Disorders) Clinic at Lidcombe Hospital.Method: 100 available records of patients seen consecutively in the clinic were reviewed. The following information was extracted: demographics, clinical diagnosis, investigations and results. Follow‐up contact was made by phone where possible and the patients' status established in terms of mortality, domicile, dependency, use of basic community services and any significant deterioration in function.Results: 11% of patients were found not to be suffering from dementia and most of these were suffering from potentially reversible conditions, particularly depression and delirium which could be detected clinically rather than on the basis of investigations.Discussion: The clinic was felt to be useful in providing education and support to the families and others caring for those suffering from dementia, in providing a sound basis for case management of dementia sufferers, and in providing a focus for the development and dissemination of skills and knowledge among health professionals.
The Depression Scale of the Psychogeriatric Assessment Scales
Authors: Stacey Barrie G. 
Published: December 2008

Objective: To contribute to the appraisal of the Depression Scale of the Psychogeriatric Assessment Scales (PAS‐D), and its application in community research with older people.Method: Data obtained from a study of 1,000 community‐residing Melbourne people aged 65–94 years were examined to obtain information about the value of PAS‐D in assessing depression.Results: Statistical analyses of the data provided information about the psychometric properties and performance of PAS‐D. Its use in the field provided information about its practical utility and possible limitations.Conclusions: The all‐round functioning of PAS‐D in a community study supported the findings of its originators. More detailed work would be worthwhile on the scale as a potential screening test for possible depressive disorder.
Physical Restraint of Older People: a Study of Australian Practices
Authors: Woodward Michael 
Published: December 2008

Objectives: Physical restraint of older people is a controversial issue. The Australian Society for Geriatric Medicine (ASGM) recently published a position paper in this journal. This Australia‐wide audit was undertaken to ascertain the degree of concordance between local policy and practice and the ASGM position.Methods: An audit package was mailed to each member of the ASGM resident in Australia, with instructions to perform one audit per site.Results: Thirty five sites providing a range of acute and subacute care completed the audit. All but two had a written policy on physical restraint but a minority stipulated actions included in the ASGM position. A prevalence audit revealed 22.6 per cent of 976 people with a mean age of 78.5 years were physically restrained, and an additional 1.7 per cent had an order for restraint. Most (70 per cent) were restrained with bed rails. There was little documentation of the rationale for, or intended duration of, the restraint. Informed consent for restraint was documented in only 16.2 per cent of cases. There was poor correlation between local written policy and actual practice.Conclusion: The ASGM position paper is as yet inadequately incorporated into local physical restraint policy and practice.
Low Level Disability in Activities of Daily Living in Elderly People Living Independently: Risk Factors and Implications
Authors: Collison Shari , Cicuttini Flavia , Mead Valerie , Savio Fiona 
Published: December 2008

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for low level disability in activities of daily living in elderly people living independently, and the association with quality of life and accidents.Design: Cross sectional survey of 334 individuals aged ≥ 80 years randomly selected from the electoral roll.Results: 15.9% of participants had significant disability in at least one of the activities of daily living assessed. Risk of disability was associated with taking 4 or more medications, female gender, arthritis and a previous cerebrovascular event. Those with disabilities had more recent accidents (67.9% vs. 43.8%, p=0.0001) and poorer quality of life as measured by the SF 36. Self reporting was a poor method for identifying disabilities (sensitivity = 68.5%).Conclusions: Low level disabilities in activities of daily living are common in elderly people living independently and are associated with lowered quality of life and increased accidents. This highlights the need for a targeted screening program to identify such disabilities and examine interventions to minimise them.
Undernourished Patients With Hip Fracture: Poor Outcome is Not Due to Excess Infections
Authors: Bruce David , Laurance Isabel , Ng Lisa , Goldswain Peter , Perth Royal 
Published: December 2008

Background: Undernourished hip fracture patients have poorer outcomes for undetermined reasons. We postulated that an immune deficit from malnutrition could lead to excess infections in these patients. Objective: To document the nutritional status (body mass index, BMI), infection rates and outcome in a group of patients with hip fracture. Subjects: One hundred consecutive cases, after excluding nursing home residents and those with end‐stage or malignant disease. Results: Low BMI was common and was associated with greater age, presence of dementia and falling indoors. Patients with low BMI had significantly poorer functional outcomes, greater mortality and nursing home admission rates. Infections were not more common in those with low BMI. An apparent association between poor outcome and the presence of infection in those with low BMI was not confirmed by multiple logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: Significant undernutrition was common and was associated with poorer outcomes in patients with hip fracture. This did not appear to be due to either an excess of infections or an adverse response to infection.
The Effect of Sensory Impairment on the Lifestyle Activities of Older People
Authors: Clark Michael S. , Bond Malcolm J. , Sanchez Linnett 
Published: December 2008

Objective: To evaluate the relative effects of hearing and vision impairments on the lifestyle activities of older people. Method: The sample was drawn from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing, and consisted of 1,052 participants aged 70 years and over. Lifestyle activities were assessed using the Adelaide Activities Profile. Hearing and vision impairments were determined on the basis of clinical assessments using pure tone audiometry and a Snellen chart respectively. Self‐report measures of the effect of sensory impairment on activities were recorded. Results: Respondents with either a hearing or vision impairment were likely to report that their hearing or vision affected their activities. Indeed, vision impairment was associated with an objective reduction in lifestyle activities in domestic chores and household maintenance. Among males vision impairment was also associated with reduced social activities. Hearing impairment had no direct effect on lifestyle activities, nor was there any significant joint effect of hearing and vision impairment. Conclusions: Vision impairments are more likely to lead to reductions in activities than hearing impairments, particularly when the activities are physically demanding or optional. However, age may be a more important determinant of reduced activities than sensory impairment.
The Effects of Physical Health upon the Outcome of Admission to an Acute Psychogeriatrics Ward
Authors: Draper Brian , Luscombe Georgina 
Published: December 2008

Objectives: To quantify the physical health of admissions to an acute psychogeriatric unit (PGU) and to determine whether measures of physical health predict psychiatric outcome at discharge and mortality at 12 months. Method: Prospective audit of PGU admissions over 12 months using the Physical Health Schema (PHS) to quantify physical health. Results: There were 88 admissions categorised into four principal psychiatric diagnostic groups: major depression (46), dementia (20), delirium (7) and ‘;other’ diagnoses (15). The mean number of organ systems affected by physical illness was 3.9 per admission (sd 1.5, range 1–8), which did not differ between psychiatric diagnostic groups. On the PHS, neurological disorders were the most severe and disabling conditions, with gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal disorders the other main acute conditions, and cardiovascular and sensory disorders the other main chronic conditions. Ratings of global outcome as recovered/improved were associated with significantly fewer chronic organ systems affected by physical illness than unchanged/worse outcomes (Model x2= 8.01, df = 1, P = 0.005) and ADL score (Model x2= 6.33, df = 1, P = 0.012). Mortality 12 months after discharge was predicted by PHS acute illness scores (Model x2= 7.94, df = 1, P < 0.005) and ADL score (Model x2= 6.43, df = 1, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Acute PGUs are best co‐located near geriatric medical wards in general hospitals due to high rates of physical illness.
Transportation Needs of Community‐living Older People in Sydney
Authors: Dent O.F. , Broe G.A. , Creasey H. , Waite L.M. , Cullen J.S. , Grayson D.A. 
Published: December 2008

Objectives: To assess difficulty of access to both private and public transport experienced by older people living in the community in Sydney, to identify demographic and disability‐related risk factors for poor access to transport, and to gauge the extent to which transport needs were met by assistance from relatives and friends. Method: An interview survey of a random sample of 620 people aged 75 years and older living in the community was conducted in the inner western suburbs of Sydney between August 1991 and September 1993. Questions covered demographic background, self‐perceived disability, difficulty of access to transport, and assistance given by relatives and friends. Results: Slightly over half of the respondents said that access to private transport was difficult or impossible for them; one‐third said that using public transport was difficult; 29% had difficulty with both forms of transport; yet only a quarter received help from relatives or friends. Fifteen per cent of all respondents were transport deprived in that they found access to both forms of transport difficult but did not receive any assistance. In general, the severely disabled were not significantly at risk of transport deprivation. Conclusions: There was a sizeable group of older people living in the community for whom access to transport posed considerable difficulties and who received no transport assistance from relatives or friends. Further research is needed on the impact of transport deprivation and the extent to which this is ameliorated by formal services.
Family Environment of Older Indians with Chronic Illness
Authors: Soneja Shubha , Dey A.B. , Singh Rajvir 
Published: December 2008

Background: Disparity in perception of old age and illness, between older people and their family, has been noticed in Indian society. Objectives: To assess perception of the family environment by older patients with chronic obstructive airway disease and their primary caregiver. Methodology: Family environment was assessed using a standard family environment scale. Results: Significant agreement was noticed between perceptions of older people and their caregiver in all aspects of family environment. Conclusion: Family environment of this group of older Indians is supportive and caring during health and illness.