bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
USER CHARGES FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES
Authors: Howe Anna , Hayman Annette 
Published: December 2008

AbstractUser charges have been suggested as a means of limiting demand for subsidised community services, yet the practicalities and effectiveness of this strategy remain largely unknown. Discussion of user charges has also been stimulated recently with the development of Regional Geriatric Assessment Teams and the restructuring of community services under the Home and Community Care Program.The first part of this paper presents an empirical analysis of user charges practices and policies in twelve Local Government Areas in metropolitan Melbourne that are served by the same Regional Geriatric Assessment Team. The significance of user charges in the financing of community services relative to subsidies from Commonwealth and State Governments and contributions from Local Government are also examined, and relationships between levels of funding and provision are analysed.The second part of the paper discusses a number of implications of the findings from the perspectives of users, providers and Commonwealth and State Governments.User charges appear to have limited effectiveness in containing demand for services, and the considerable variation found in all aspects of user charges creates both vertical and horizontal inequities. These problems compound the uneven access to services arising from variability in levels of central government subsidies, with resultant constraints on the operation of Regional Geriatric Assessment Teams.
IS DISTANCE EDUCATION IN GERONTOLOGY PRACTICAL?
Authors: Helme RD , Scherer S. , Andrews PV 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTThe purpose of education is to increase the knowledge of those being instructed, to promote ongoing self instruction and to facilitate critical analysis and application of the acquired information. Problems associated with reaching a distant audience are maintaining relevance and interest. The methods used to educate at a distance are written, auditory, visual and mixed; and these methods may be used in either a passive or active manner. Interactive computer learning (ICL) has advantages in that it requires active involvement in visual (text and diagram) instruction and potentially auditory and written modalities. It is flexible and capable of continuous updating. Disadvantages include a lack of interpersonal communication and delayed feedback for judgement of relevance. However, ICL is practical and relatively inexpensive. An example of ICL application in gerontology is presented.SummaryThis brief outline illustrates the potential of this form of education. The material presented extends from clinical contact through to the details of social, psychological and medical aspects of dementia research. It gives the student the opportunity to explore a variety of issues surrounding the diagnosis of dementia, but only in a framework which represents the true world of clinical experience. Again, it should be emphasised that one of the most important aspects of this form of teaching program is that it is flexible. It is able to be changed easily if peer review by an expert panel suggests there is ambiguity in its construct, if feedback from students suggest there is some confusion in application, or if concepts regarding the area of study change. In this particular example. a video and text program is being prepared that will substitute for some of the clinical components which are now represented by text only.Interactive computer learning will become the mainstay of distance education in Australia over the next several years. It is particularly applicable to the field of gerontology, the only limitations being the time and imagination required for production as well as the moderate costs involved in reception and use of the product. If any reader envisages the possibility of providing their labour and expertise for the production of a learning package related to a topic of their interest, they should contact the authors.
THE EFFECT OF AGEING ON REMEMBERING TO REMEMBER: AN INVESTIGATION OF SIMULATED MEDICATION REGIMENS
Authors: Rendell P.G. , Thomson D.M. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTRemembering to remember, prospective memory, was investigated by simulation of medication regimen. Subjects were 80 adult volunteers in five age groups: 20s, 40s, 60s, 70s and 80 plus years. Subjects were asked to push a button at prescribed times on a small box containing an electronic device that recorded the date and time of each push. They were required to push the button at the same times over two periods of seven days; once‐a‐day for one week and four‐times‐a‐day for the other week. There was a significant effect for age, with the older adults more often on time and when late they were closer to the set times than the younger adults. However, the typical age‐related decline was found on a retrospective task.
“I JUST ACCEPT IT!” RESEARCH REMINISCENCES ON AGED INCOME SECURITY
Authors: Wiles D. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTFrom its inception in 1909 the Australian Age Pension became well established as a social ‘right’ of citizenship over the following eight decades. Since 1988 and the Social Security Review, though, retirement incomes policy has become subject to political debate and policy turbulence. Ideally, abstract and applied policy should draw upon the lessons of history. So the perceptions of pensioner beneficiaries about the effects of pension provision on life chances are pertinent to present discussion. Such social policy story‐telling suggests that for working class seniors of the present cohort, memories of the Great Depression ameliorate any sense of present hardship, creating appreciation and acceptance of extant pension provisions. In view of the contemporary exhortations that individuals should now take full financial responsibility for their own retirement income security, the lesson that ordinary working folk cannot save an adequate retirement nest egg seems salient Furthermore, politicians' past behaviour of ‘super swindle’ seems likely to be repeated. The baby boom generation, having funded aged care in its day, can itself only anticipate a bleak future in terms of the retreat of the State from the provision of aged income security.
CONFLICT AND CAREGIVING: TESTING A SOCIAL‐PSYCHOLOGICAL MODEL
Authors: Rahman N. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTInterpersonal conflict in the caring relationship and coping with conflict were explored in a survey of 151 informal caregivers of the elderly. Burden, maladaptive coping strategies and the functional limitation of the elderly person were found to be significant predictors of conflict. A two way relationship between conflict and maladaptive coping was indicated. Caregivers experiencing severe amounts of conflict dealt with the situation by using maladaptive coping strategies. Maladaptive coping strategies often lead to abusive behaviour which in turn aggravates the degree of conflict.
Dementia Care Staff and Family Carers: Their Relationships in the Context of Care
Authors: Setterlund Deborah S. 
Published: December 2008

Objectives: This research examines relationships between care staff specifically employed to care for residents with dementia and family carers.Method: The study employed a qualitative approach involving multiple methods of data collection (in‐depth interviews, participant observation, assessment of the physical and mental function of residents). A non‐random sample consisting of fifteen care staff from seven residential care settings was used.Results: Care staff perceive that family carers are generally grateful and undemanding and that a significant number lack sufficient involvement in residents' care. Policy and organisational factors may produce positive understanding between care staff and family carers, while at a less visible level, may prevent both groups from voicing more difficult concerns related to care.Conclusions: Policy and organisational change is needed to enable staff and family carers to voice the tensions inherent in their relationship. Funding arrangements for residential care need to include time for staff to develop relationships with family carers.
Regulation and Quality in Aged Care: a Cross‐National Perspective
Authors: Braithwaite John 
Published: December 2008

Abstract. The objective of this article is to assess critically the regulatory foundations required for continuous improvement in the quality of nursing home care. Data from observation of nursing home inspections in Australia and other nations (particularly the US) are used to illuminate this assessment. Conclusions are:The quality of regulatory dialogue affects care outcomes: disrespectful dialogue and tolerance of law‐breaking make things worse.Trustful dialogue, praise, reintegrative shaming and building the self‐efficacy of managers improves compliance.A useful policy framework is a regulatory pyramid that tries dialogue first and then escalates to more sanction‐based strategies when dialogue fails.Attempts to pursue consistency in regulatory decisions by rendering rules more specific and disciplining them with scientific protocols is counterproductive because of the operation of a ‘;reliability paradox’.
Hip Protectors: Results of a User Survey
Authors: Birks Carol , Lockwood Keri , Cameron Ian , Kurrle Susan , Burnside Wendy , Easter Sandra , Venman Jennifer , Cumming Robert , Quine Susan , Salkeld Glenn , Finnegan Terence 
Published: December 2008

Introduction: Hip fracture has the greatest personal and economic impact of all fall‐related injuries in the elderly population. External hip protectors have been developed and have been effective in reducing the incidence of hip fracture in one study. Their level of effectiveness, however, is influenced significantly by whether people will wear them.Objectives: To ascertain, from the users of hip protectors, their experiences with the garments and their attitudes towards them.Method: A postal self‐report questionnaire was sent to all purchasers (n=82) of hip protectors from the Hip Protector Project Office at Hornsby Ku‐ ring‐gai Hospital from June 1996 to March 1997.Results: The response rate was 55%. The majority (71%) of users wore the hip protectors at all times during the day. Eleven per cent of all users had fallen while wearing the protectors. Most responders found hip protectors comfortable and acceptable to wear and believed that they were effective. Problems identified included difficulty in wearing the garment if suffering from incontinence or from a weakness in the upper limbs. The cost of the hip protectors was also identified as an important issue.Conclusions: A positive attitude overall towards the garment was demonstrated. However, more formal user testing needs to be conducted in order to clarify recommendations for people with incontinence, and for those who have difficulty pulling the garment down for toileting.
Australian Innovations in Home‐based Care: a Comparison of Community Aged Care Packages, Community Options Projects and Hostel Care
Authors: Gibson Diane , Mathur Sushma 
Published: December 2008

Objective: To compare Australian client dependency levels in Community Aged Care Packages, Community Options projects and hostels, and to explore the interplay between client dependency, carer availability and levels of service use in community care services.Method: The data analysed were derived from the first national Community Aged Care Packages Survey conducted by the then Department of Health and Family Services in 1996.Results: Community Aged Care Package clients in Australia were found to be less dependent than both Community Options clients and hostel residents. For both sets of community care clients, service use increased with dependency levels. The presence of co‐resident carers was associated with lower levels of service use for given levels of dependency.Conclusions: Community Aged Care Packages, while intended to provide an alternative to admission to a hostel at the personal care level, were found to be serving a somewhat less dependent sector of the frail and disabled aged population. Most recipients had an informal carer in addition to being in receipt of formal services. The evidence suggests that, among the clients of both Community Options and Community Aged Care Packages, available resources were targeted on those in greater need.
Client Outcomes in Case Managed Care: Who Benefits Most?
Authors: Wells Yvonne , Swerissen Hal , Kendig Hal 
Published: December 2008

Objective: To determine how well outcomes could be predicted by initial circumstances and subsequent deterioration in clients and carers.Method: Longitudinal data from the Victorian Linkages projects, collected in 1992 and 1994, were examined.Results: Institutionalisation was highly likely in cases where carers experienced reduced motivation to care. Placement in nursing homes rather than in hostels was best predicted by incontinence. Death was associated with changes in health status. Those clients most successful in avoiding long‐term institutional care were in stable situations with a spouse carer.Conclusion: The study provides supportive evidence of the capacity of intensive community services to provide alternatives to entry to residential care.
Cognitive Screening of Older Hospital Patients: a Quality Assurance Study
Authors: Katz Benny , Helme Robert D. 
Published: December 2008

Objective: To evaluate the impact of two educational techniques on the rate of cognitive screening of patients referred to a hospital aged care service. Method: Audit of documentation of cognitive status in the medical record of patients aged 65 years or older referred for aged care consultation in an acute teaching hospital following two interventions: a general education program, and a general education program complemented with a pocket‐sized laminated Abbreviated Mental Test card. Results: Cognitive impairment, defined as Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) score of 7 or less was present in 49.9% of patients referred for geriatric consultation over a four year period. Documentation of cognitive state by the referring unit, within forty‐eight hours of admission, using a recognised mental status screening instrument was initially 9.4%. Following an education program, documentation of cognitive screening increased to 18.1%, with a further improvement to 28.2% occurring when the education program was supported with a memory aid, a laminated pocket‐sized AMT card. In the following year when the card was provided without an education program, the rate of cognitive screening fell to 13.4%. (p<.0001). The average frequency of a written description of cognition was 50.2% over the four years, and did not increase with the educational programs. Conclusions: Cognitive screening is infrequently performed on older hospital inpatients referred for geriatric consultation, despite a high prevalence of cognitive impairment in this patient group. The rate of cognitive screening can be influenced by the use of an educational program, and further improved with a memory aid. A memory aid without an educational program is less effective.
South Australia's Ageing Population and its Increasingly Multicultural Nature
Authors: Hugo Graeme 
Published: December 2008

Introduction: In South Australia there has been a massive change in the background of the older population. Objective: The paper analyses recent changes in the growth and distribution of the ethnic aged population in South Australia. Method: The paper utilises the results of the 1996 Australian Census of Population and Housing. Results:Whereas in 1971, 19.7 percent of the State's population aged 65 years and over were overseas‐born, this applied to 34 percent in 1996. Moreover, this share will continue to increase over the next decade. The proportion who were born in non‐English‐speaking countries has increased from 5.1 to 22.1 percent. Each of the major birthplace groups among the ethnic aged has a distinctive spatial distribution. Conclusion: This presents a major challenge to policy makers and service providers since the overseas‐born groups have some characteristics which mean that their needs for services are somewhat different to those of the Anglo‐Celtic majority.
Using the Internet to Build Bridges to Isolated Older People
Authors: Swindell Rick 
Published: December 2008

Objective: To evaluate isolated older persons' perceptions of cognitively challenging courses delivered through the Internet. Method: Characteristics, aspirations and perceptions of the impact of the courses were obtained from 29 of 34 participants who completed pre‐and post‐course written surveys and telephone interviews. Results: Nearly three‐quarters of the participants were women and most of these were aged over 65. Few were experienced Internet users. More than half lived in large cities but regarded themselves as isolated by circumstances such as poor health or care‐giving. Most wanted to continue using the Internet for personal development and to communicate with others. Conclusions: The Internet may be able to enrich the lives of isolated older adults.
Information and Communication Practices: the Joint Concerns of Age and Gender in the Information Age
Authors: Barnett Karen R. , Buys Laurie R. , Adkins Barbara A. 
Published: December 2008

Objectives: To explore the extent to which gender differences appear in the choices of information and communication sources used by older men and women. Method: Data were analysed from a survey utilising questions related to older people's use of a variety of traditional and computer‐based information and communication categories. Results: Older adults are making use of a wide variety of traditional and computer‐based communication technologies. Involvement with traditional categories, such as books, newspapers, television, radio and the telephone continue. When older men and women have access to the new computer mediated activities, they make equal use of them, however men appear to be more likely to own a computer. Conclusion: In view of the late life health and social scenarios for older women, the implications of gendered life experience should be considered when encouraging older adults' involvement with computers and the Internet.
Footwear and Hip Fracture‐related Fails in Older People
Authors: Hourihan Fleur , Cumming Robert G. , Taverner‐Smith Karen M. , Davidson Ian 
Published: December 2008

Objective: To describe features of footwear worn at the time of hip fracture‐related falls. Method: Subjects were 107 persons (mean age 77 years) admitted with a hip fracture‐related fall to a hospital in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia, between February 1995 and February 1996. All subjects resided in private homes or hostels at the time of their fall. An interviewer‐administered questionnaire was used to collect data from participants on foot problems, falls history, and age and use of footwear worn at the time of hip fracture. A standardised approach was used to physically examine features of footwear worn at the time of fracture. Results: Most subjects wore slippers (33 %} or were not wearing any footwear (24%) when they fell and fractured their hip. Among the 79 subjects in footwear, most (70%) fell in footwear they wore every day and 43% of their footwear was less then six moths old. Participants chose to wear their footwear for comfort, not safety. Conclusion: Enthusiasm for developing a ‘;safe shoe’ should be tempered somewhat by the fact that many people who suffer a hip fracture are not wearing shoes at the time they fall.
Rent Assistance Policy for Residents of Retirement Villages
Authors: Eardley Tony 
Published: December 2008

Objectives: To assess whether policies on rent assistance for retirement village residents are targeting help towards those who need it, and to provide an information base for future policy decisions on eligibility for assistance. Method: A telephone survey of managers of a national sample of 52 retirement villages and a postal survey of residents in 49 of these villages. Results: The findings did not support the policy rationale that higher entry contributions were correlated with lower ongoing charges. Just over 40 per cent of residents of self‐care housing and two‐thirds of those in serviced apartments had paid entry contributions low enough for eligibility for rent assistance with their ongoing housing charges. Many of these were not, however, receiving assistance, mainly because their charges were below the minimum rent threshold. The distribution of reported levels of non‐housing assets tended overall to match the varying levels of entry contributions, but half of those paying relatively high entry contributions still had low levels of both assets and income. Conclusions: It appears that targeting remains reasonably accurate for the majority of residents, but there is a potential boundary problem created by the eligibility and minimum rent thresholds. Thus a minority of residents may be disadvantaged compared with others in similar financial circumstances.
Care and Support Assistance Provided in Retirement Villages: Expectations vs Reality
Authors: Buys Laurie R. 
Published: December 2008

Objective: To investigate reasons older people move to a retirement village that does not offer on‐site care and support services. Method: 323 participants living in independent living units were interviewed. Results: Almost all participants cited care and support as one reason for moving to the retirement village. Conclusion: Provisions for in‐home care and support services to assist older residents with on‐going independent living should be addressed by retirement village management.
Age Discrimination in Hiring Practices Against Older Adults in Western Australia: the Case of Accounting Assistants
Authors: Gringart Eyal , Helmes Edward 
Published: December 2008

Objectives: To investigate the willingness of employers to hire older adults. Method: Measures of actual age discrimination were obtained through the use of correspondence testing. Unsolicited fictitious resumes were simultaneously mailed to 452 companies across industries in Western Australia. Resumes were similar in all job relevant information except the applicant's age that was either 32 or 57 and gender. Measures of discrimination were obtained through comparisons of the time for receipt, and the number of positive and negative responses across age and gender.
Results: Responses for 202 resumes were received from 154 companies. A significant three‐way interaction between age, gender, and mailing condition was found for time for receipt of negative responses. The interaction showed that both younger males and older females were significantly faster to receive negative responses compared with either older males or younger females. Overall, younger applicants received a greater number of positive and a smaller number of negative responses compared with the older applicants.
Conclusions: The current study found evidence of actual age discrimination in hiring practices against older adults in Western Australia, with older women the most discriminated against. These trends of discrimination were different and of lower magnitude to those found in the US. Correspondence testing with unsolicited applications was shown to be a valid and sensitive tool for measuring actual discrimination in Western Australia.