Practices of Care in Times of COVID-19

We argue that the COVID-19 virus has been a trigger for emerging practices of care by being an actor with agency that transforms the everyday life of subjects by placing them under uncertainty. Therefore, this paper aims to show how practices of care emerged or were maintained as vulnerable groups were confronted by restrictions to movement and uncertainties following the outbreak of COVID-19. We demonstrate this using two case studies of the Maasai pastoral community in Narok, Kenya and the community kitchens in the city of Berlin, Germany. Thus, we seek to show how practices of care for, care about, and care with are carried out by the members of these communities during pandemic times. Granted that care remains highly contentious in feminist literature, this paper contributes to a growing body of literature on care in Feminist Political Ecology by broadening the conceptualization of care. The research builds on a typology of care relations based on practices of distribution, exchange, and reciprocity. This allows us to show when care is exercised in a unidirectional and hierarchical way and when in a multidirectional way reinforcing social bonds of responsibility and collective care that transcends the socio-nature boundaries.

Architecturalising Aged Care Delivery for Urban Dwelling Elderly

<p>The world’s demographics are drastically changing, with people living longer and are healthier as they age (WHO, 2018). By 2050 the world’s population over </p> 65 years old will be 17% almost double 8.5% in 2015 (Cire, 2016). Architecture for aged care, evolved out of necessity to separate sick aging people to reduce their chance of mortality and exposure to disease. The typology of care has taken on a more homelike approach over the last 60 years as research suggests that better health outcomes and better quality of life can be observed through the familiar vernacular of home (de Veer and Kerkstra, 2001). In many cultures the retirement village is the epitome of this home-like approach. This thesis argues that the lack of integration between this typology and the surrounding neighborhoods both suburban and urban, create social and physical separation between elderly and their communities. <p>This research explores how architecture can deliver aged care services to make ageing at home in an urban environment more accessible within the context of a central Tokyo intersection. Using the underlying weaknesses of current systems of care delivery identified through the literature review this research begins the conversation on how architecture can frame the facilitation of care and the possibilities for future design responses. Through the design process, combating segregation of elderly individuals while balancing their privacy needs and independence has determined the ideas behind design experimentation and creation. </p> <p>The outcome of this research is an understanding of architectures role within aged care. The support from the environment is not only vital physically but can significantly contribute to wellness. As well as this the research reinforces the scope of alternative solutions possible when working with an established rich urban environment inherently more focused on connection. A significant move into an urban space will result in a care environment that is connected with its surroundings instead of designed in isolation. Application of this research to current aged care facility environments could create a first step of developing greater scope of connection between a facility space and a community model of care. </p>

Architecturalising Aged Care Delivery for Urban Dwelling Elderly

<p>The world’s demographics are drastically changing, with people living longer and are healthier as they age (WHO, 2018). By 2050 the world’s population over </p> 65 years old will be 17% almost double 8.5% in 2015 (Cire, 2016). Architecture for aged care, evolved out of necessity to separate sick aging people to reduce their chance of mortality and exposure to disease. The typology of care has taken on a more homelike approach over the last 60 years as research suggests that better health outcomes and better quality of life can be observed through the familiar vernacular of home (de Veer and Kerkstra, 2001). In many cultures the retirement village is the epitome of this home-like approach. This thesis argues that the lack of integration between this typology and the surrounding neighborhoods both suburban and urban, create social and physical separation between elderly and their communities. <p>This research explores how architecture can deliver aged care services to make ageing at home in an urban environment more accessible within the context of a central Tokyo intersection. Using the underlying weaknesses of current systems of care delivery identified through the literature review this research begins the conversation on how architecture can frame the facilitation of care and the possibilities for future design responses. Through the design process, combating segregation of elderly individuals while balancing their privacy needs and independence has determined the ideas behind design experimentation and creation. </p> <p>The outcome of this research is an understanding of architectures role within aged care. The support from the environment is not only vital physically but can significantly contribute to wellness. As well as this the research reinforces the scope of alternative solutions possible when working with an established rich urban environment inherently more focused on connection. A significant move into an urban space will result in a care environment that is connected with its surroundings instead of designed in isolation. Application of this research to current aged care facility environments could create a first step of developing greater scope of connection between a facility space and a community model of care. </p>

A typology of care-giving across neurodegenerative diseases presenting with dementia

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study is to develop and extend our understanding of dementia care-giving by introducing a typology of informal care-giving across four different diseases. Care-giving factors were examined with respect to specific dementia presentation in mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease-associated dementia. Informal care-giving literature in the four diseases was systematically searched to identify specific disease symptoms and resultant care-giving strains and outcomes. Key concepts were extracted and grouped thematically. The first classification, ‘role-shift’, reflects care-giving where cognitive deterioration results in changing roles, uncertainty and relational deprivation among married partners. The second classification, ‘consumed by care-giving’, refers to those caring for persons with dementia-motor decline that greatly increases worry and isolation. Finally, in the ‘service use’ classification, formal support is needed to help care-givers cope with daily responsibilities and behaviour changes. In each case, the dementia presentation uniquely impacts care-giver strains. A major conclusion is that the same support to all care-givers under the umbrella term ‘dementia’ is unwarranted; the development of targeted support is required.

A Typology of Caregiving Situations and Service Use in Family Carers of Older People in Six European Countries

This paper presents the EUROFAMCARE study findings, examining a typology of care situations for family carers of older people, and the interplay of carers with social and health services. Despite the complexity of family caregiving situations across Europe, our analyses determined the existence of seven “caregiving situations,” varying on a range of critical indicators. Our study also describes the availability and use of different support services for carers and care receivers, and carers’ preferences for the characteristics of support services. Our findings have relevance for policy initiatives in Europe, where limited resources need to be more equitably distributed and services should be targeted to caregiving situations reflecting the greatest need, and organized to reflect the preferences of family carers.

Managing the care journey: Meeting the health care needs of children in out-of-home care

This paper looks at the issues impacting on the physical and mental health of children placed in out-of-home care and at the capacity of the care system to recognise and respond to those needs. It draws on the findings of a recent exploratory research project in Perth, commissioned by the General Practitioners’ Evaluation Programme (GPEP), in which the author participated as a researcher. The paper focuses in particular on the paucity of information about the child’s journey through the care system, reflecting on the aggregate ‘snap-shot’ focus on cohorts and ‘children as through-puts’, rather than on individualised, longitudinal profiles of placed children. A typology of care journeys is presented as a potential framework for locating and mapping children’s experiences.