Health & Social Care in the Community最新文献

There is a serious mismatch in China’s social care system for older adults. To address the issue of imprecise service targeting, this study employs the demand spillover theory and survey data from three cities and six counties in China. Results from logistic regression analysis identify a hierarchical structure of influencing factors. The analysis shows that family care resources, particularly marital status and living arrangements, exert the strongest effect on care choices. Meanwhile, socioeconomic resources such as urban residence and higher income serve as key enablers for accessing formal care. These findings reveal a resource-based screening mechanism that channels older adults with different needs into distinct care pathways, ultimately explaining the paradox of insufficient effective demand amid a rapidly aging population.

This study explores professionals’ needs when identifying and intervening in cases of emotional violence against children where a parent is the perpetrator. Emotional violence, while less visible than physical and sexual violence, has significant adverse effects on mental health and behaviour. This study was conducted in Finland, utilising a qualitative descriptive approach with an inductive content analysis method. Data were collected using purposive sampling via an electronic questionnaire distributed to professionals in the health, social and education fields, resulting in 314 valid responses. The analysis revealed three main categories of needs—namely, knowledge and skills to work with families, knowledge and support in acting as a professional in a service system and information to enhance the professionals’ own competence. The professionals reported difficulties in initiating conversations about emotional violence, identifying its various forms and conducting effective interventions. They also highlighted the need for culturally sensitive materials and tools. Additionally, the professionals needed support in navigating the service system and expressing the need for support from supervisors and colleagues, as well as the need for sufficient time and resources. Working with ambiguous legislation was a challenge. The informational needs related to identifying emotional violence and its underlying causes and effects were evident. Education and materials, as well as general discussion and understanding were also needed. This study underscores the necessity of comprehensive education and training programmes to equip professionals with the skills and knowledge to address emotional violence. It also highlights the need for increased public awareness and discussion to support professionals in efforts to prevent and intervene in cases of emotional violence. The findings highlight the critical role of professionals in recognising and addressing emotional violence and the requirement for systemic support to enhance their capabilities in this area.

Methods aimed at increasing aggression regulation for interpersonal violence perpetrators are a crucial part of reducing interpersonal violence. Further improvement of effectiveness and accessibility of these interventions is needed and tailoring the methodology by type of batterer is a promising approach in this regard. A peer support group, guided by a peer support worker is one such intervention. However, little is known about the essential elements contributing to the perceived effectiveness of these groups. In order to gain in-depth understanding of the active elements of peer support groups for batterers, a qualitative study was performed, with the utilization of focus groups and interviews. Participants of several peer support groups, as well as peer support workers and professional coordinators, were included. The interviews and focus groups were analyzed through thematic analysis. From the analysis, four categories emerged (working method, results, active elements, and peer support workers’ characteristics and competences), which were further divided into themes and subthemes and are thoroughly described in this paper. In conclusion, the relevance of peer support groups for batterers is clearly supported by the current findings. Participating batterers are not only motivated to work on their problems, take responsibility for their behavior, and change their behavior but also they worked on personal development and obtained a better understanding of themselves and others. For many participants, the support group developed into a valuable support network. Throughout the entire process, the role of the peer support worker is fundamental.

Little is known about the ways in which experiences of caring for a parent approaching the end of life shape adult sibling relationships before and after a death. Drawing on bereaved adult offsprings’ retrospective accounts, this article explores the relational challenges that accompany negotiating care and navigating loss. A mix of random and purposive sampling was used to recruit participants whose family members had died whilst receiving palliative or residential aged care provided by a nongovernment organisation located in metropolitan Sydney, Australia. In-depth interviews were conducted with seventeen participants, and ten of those participants also completed solicited diaries. Data collection and analysis were guided by a constructivist grounded theory approach. Results revealed diverse experiences of sibling relationships, including collaboration and strengthening of connections, and relational tensions leading to estrangement. These findings highlight how experiences of caring-in-anticipation of dying shape sibling relationships in bereavement and may offer insights for pre- and post-death family support and intervention.

The study explores wellbeing and agency among relatives of persons with lower-limb amputations in Trinidad and Tobago. Using a basic, interpretivist qualitative design, interview data were collected from 17 relatives of persons with amputations, purposively sampled across Trinidad and Tobago. Constant comparison analysis revealed three themes related to the conflicting views of care, variations in the social context, and changing perceptions and options for wellbeing and agency among relatives. Against the backdrop of Sen’s capability approach, ethics of care framework, and the social model of disability and wellbeing, recommendations to enhance wellbeing and agency of relatives of persons with amputations include improved accessibility of public spaces, increased education about limb loss and disability, increased work opportunities for persons with amputations, and counseling services for relatives. Policy revisions are also required to address the multidimensional care views of relatives, the burden experienced by individuals within family networks, and the various rights associated with care.

Extensive research reports caregiver burden and unmet needs when caring for a home-dwelling family member at the end of life. Interventions are often decided by professionals and are less focused on family carers. There remains a gap in understanding family carers’ preferences for support in their caregiving role. This integrative review summarises family carers’ preferences for support when caring for a home-dwelling family member at the end of life. We examined what helps family carers cope and the impact of the organisation of end-of-life care on their experiences. Seven databases were searched between January 2011 and March 2024. Thirty-seven articles were included in this review. Data were thematically analysed. ‘Care continuity’ at the end-of-life features prominently and underpins four themes: (1) Family carers see themselves as a partner in care to ensure their loved one’s needs were prioritised; (2) balancing the needs of their loved one alongside their caregiving responsibilities and attending to their own psychosocial needs was challenging; (3) timeliness of access to information, knowledge and appropriate services through the illness trajectory and shared decision-making were important in helping them cope; and (4) preparedness when death was imminent in terms of dealing with the dying process and support beyond bereavement. ‘Care continuity’ can be conceptualised as personal and relational continuity (at microlevel, it is about individuals building relationships with healthcare professionals through recognising their carer’s role, access to contactable and knowledgeable staff and agreed care plan), informational continuity (micro- and mesolevel refer to effective transfer of information and knowledge between individuals and between services) and organisational continuity (mesolevel is about organised and coordinated care, early involvement of specialist palliative care and bereavement support). Health professionals should recognise that meeting the needs of family carers is inextricably linked to addressing the needs of their loved ones.