scholarly journals Not just "sweet old ladies" - challenges in voluntary work in the long-term care services

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laila Tingvold ◽  
Nina Olsvold
Keyword(s):  
Structural Changes ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Professional Staff ◽  
Voluntary Work ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Public Care ◽  
Daily Work ◽  
Care Services

Introduction: The Norwegian government is addressing the need for increased voluntary work in the municipal care sector. Several reforms over the last decades have transferred important care tasks to the municipalities, as it is a political aim for people to live longer in their own homes. Despite important structural changes in the provision of public care services, less attention has been devoted to the investigation of how voluntary work interacts with the overall development of care tasks within municipal care services. This paper aims to discover how the contribution of volunteers matches the current needs of service recipients and the daily work of professional staff and, additionally, to discover what level of volunteer competence and qualifications are considered necessary when cooperating with staff.Method: Eight case studies addressing opportunities and barriers to voluntary work in long-term care were carried out. Our study included participants from both voluntary organisations and long-term care.Results: Volunteers were considered to fill important functions and gaps by providing social support, offering activities and by communicating with the service recipients. However, the poor health of service recipients risked putting undue strain on volunteers. Volunteers need to have personal qualifications, such as good observation and communication skills, in order to function well and be useful in their role as volunteers.Discussion: Care is seen as a complex task requiring time, effort, and technical and social skills. Relational care is not easily distinguished from the overall care needs of service recipients. Service recipients in the municipalities are seen as increasingly frail and have complex health needs. With the expected increase in the number of elderly with dementia in the future, we may need to question whether volunteers are equipped to take on such advanced health problems.

scholarly journals Longitudinal Follow-Up of Long-Term Care Planning Using PlanYourLifespan.org

2020 ◽  
pp. 073346482094306
Author(s):  
Vanessa Ramirez-Zohfeld ◽  
Anne Seltzer ◽  
Ana Ramirez ◽  
Ruqayyah Muhammad ◽  
Lee A. Lindquist
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Term Care ◽  
User Perceptions ◽  
Care Plans ◽  
Age In Place ◽  
Care Services

Many older adults wish to age-in-place but do not have long-term care plans for when they may require more assistance. PlanYourLifespan.org (PYL) is an evidence-based tool that helps older adults understand and plan for their long-term care needs. We examined the long-term effects of PYL use on user perceptions and planning of long-term care services. Individuals who previously accessed PYL were invited to complete an online, nation-wide mixed methodology survey about end-user outcomes related to PYL. Among 115 completed surveys, users found PYL helpful with long-term planning for their future needs. Over half of website users reported having conversations with others because of PYL use. However, 40% of respondents reported not having a conversation with others about their plans; common themes for barriers to planning included procrastination and a lack of immediate support needs. Although PYL helps with planning, many people are still not communicating their long-term care plans.

A Comparative Analysis of Costs to Government for Home Care and Long-term Residential Care Services, Standardized for Client Care Needs

2007 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. 149-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus J. Hollander ◽  
Neena L. Chappell
Keyword(s):  
Home Care ◽  
Residential Care ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Lower Cost ◽  
Level Of Care ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Residential Long Term Care

ABSTRACTThis paper reports on the results of analyses using administrative data from British Columbia for 10 years from fiscal 1987/1988 to 1996/1997, inclusive, to examine the comparative costs to government of long-term home care and residential care services. The analyses used administrative data for hospital care, physician care, drugs, and home care and residential long-term care. Direct comparisons for cost and utilization data were possible, as the same care-level classification system is used in BC for home care and residential care clients. Given significant changes in the type and/or level of care of clients over time, a full-time equivalent client strategy was used to maximize the accuracy of comparisons. The findings suggest that, in general, home care can be a lower-cost alternative to residential care for clients with similar care needs. The difference in costs between home care and residential care services narrows considerably for those who change their type and/or level of care, and home care was found to be more costly than long-term institutional care for home care clients who died. The findings from this study indicate that with the appropriate substitution for residential care services, in a planned and targeted manner, home care services can be a lower-cost alternative to residential long-term care in integrated systems of care delivery that include both sets of services.

Long Term Care Needs and Personal Care Services Under Medicaid

1991 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard A. Palley ◽  
Julianne S. Oktay
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Personal Care ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Services

Maintaining a Long-Term Care Workforce: Ideas from Front Line Workers

2003 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-30
Author(s):  
P. Branch ◽  
Amanda Shearer
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
High Turnover ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Front Line Workers

Throughout Alaska older people say that they would rather remain in their own homes and communities for the duration of their lives. A growing array of home and community based long-term care services are available to assist elders and their families as care needs increase. These include services such as personal care, respite care, delivered meals, and chore services. However, high turnover and the inability to recruit staff limit the availability of these services in many of our rural areas.

scholarly journals Caregiver Burden and Associated Factors for the Respite Care Needs among the Family Caregivers of Community Dwelling Senior Citizens in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5873
Author(s):  
Thin Nyein Nyein Aung ◽  
Myo Nyein Aung ◽  
Saiyud Moolphate ◽  
Yuka Koyanagi ◽  
Siripen Supakankunti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Caregiver Burden ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Respite Care ◽  
Chiang Mai ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Services

Background: Families are the backbone of caregiving for older adults living in communities. This is a tradition common to Thailand and many low- and middle-income countries where formal long-term care services are not so available or accessible. Therefore, population aging demands more and more young people engaging as family caregivers. Informal caregiving can become an unexpected duty for anyone anytime. However, studies measuring the burden of informal caregivers are limited. We aimed to determine the caregiver burden, both from the perspective of the caregivers as well as that of their care recipients. Method: We used the baseline survey data from a cluster randomized controlled trial providing a community integrated intermediary care (CIIC) service for seniors in Chiang Mai, Thailand, TCTR20190412004. Study participants were 867 pairs of older adults and their primary family caregivers. Descriptive analysis explored the characteristics of the caregivers and binary logistic regression identified factors influencing the caregivers’ burden. Results: The mean age of family caregivers was 55.27 ± 13.7 years and 5.5% indicated the need for respite care with Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) scores ≥24. The highest burden was noted in the time-dependence burden domain (25.7%). The significant associated factors affecting CBI ≥24 were as follows: caregivers older than 60 years, being female, current smokers, having diabetes, and caring for seniors with probable depression and moderate to severe dependency. Conclusions: A quarter of caregivers can have their careers disturbed because of the time consumed with caregiving. Policies to assist families and interventions, such as respite service, care capacity building, official leave for caregiving, etc., may reduce the burden of families struggling with informal care chores. Furthermore, caregiver burden measurements can be applied as a screening tool to assess long-term care needs, complementing the dependency assessment. Finally, implementation research is required to determine the effectiveness of respite care services for older people in Thailand.

scholarly journals Does context matter? Voluntary work in long-term care

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-180
Author(s):  
Laila Tingvold ◽  
Oddvar Førland
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Home Care Services ◽  
Voluntary Work ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Home Setting ◽  
Care Services

Introduction: Increased voluntary work in long-term care (LTC) is encouraged in white papers in Norway as well as in many other western states. This is due to the growth in the number of service recipients and a subsequent economic burden for the state. Voluntary work in nursing homes and home care services take place in different spatial contexts, but little attention has been paid to how the different contexts may potentially influence the possibilities for voluntary work. The aim of this study is to obtain new knowledge of the significance of context in recruitment of volunteers in LTC. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among leaders in nursing homes and home services in 50 municipalities across all regions of Norway. Descriptive analysis was used. Results: According to the leaders, home care services had less voluntary work than nursing homes. Respondents from home care scored “poor flow of information” and “low interest in the municipality” as major hinderances, more so than respondents from nursing homes did. Discussion: Nursing homes typically have many residents under one roof following a similar schedule. Thus, volunteer-run activities are held more easily at set times and incorporated into the daily life of the institutions. On the other hand, home dwellers in home care stay in a more individualised setting with more autonomy and can opt out of activities that nursing home residents would normally join. Skill acquisition, networking and socializing are common motivations for volunteering, and a nursing home setting may be an easier context to obtain this. The governmental endeavour for increased voluntary work in LTC can be seen as an effort to meet expected rises in public expenditure. However, the realism can be debated due to substantial challenges on the future potential of volunteerism in LTC, especially in the home care context.

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