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This study is concerned with social factors related to neighborhood interaction and disengagement among elderly persons controlling for race. Utilizing a scale of neighborhood cohesion as an index of disengagement, it was hypothesized that racial groups would not differ significantly as to their respective levels of neighborhood cohesiveness and local interest. It was also hypothesized that age groups would not differ significantly as to their respective levels of neighborhood cohesiveness and local interest.

This article investigates the experience of loneliness among a group of elderly ladies. Elderly persons are making up an increasing portion of the population. Research is therefore important, because loneliness is a threat to quality of life and indicates a bad prognosis during aging. Aging is associated with a decline in the different abilities and body functions. It is marked by changes and multidimensional losses that often imply the redefinition of roles. Little research is available that explores the subjective experiences of elderly women. It was decided to do a qualitative, phenomenological study on the experiences of loneliness among white Afrikaans-speaking women. A phenomenological research approach enables the researcher to discover participants' perceptions, experiences and unique understanding of what loneliness involves. The research was undertaken in the context of a service centre where functioning elderly ladies voluntarily participated in the research. Fifteen elderly ladies were involved in the research by means of purposeful sampling, and their experiences of loneliness were shared through visual clay projections (known as the Mmogo method™), a focus group discussion, individual interviews and journal entries. The Mmogo method™ attaches value to the symbolic, contextual foundation of meanings and provides valuable information about socially constructed aspects that are often difficult to verbalise. Various guidelines were followed to ensure the reliability of the findings, such as the triangulation of data sources, checking the findings with the participants, an extended period in the research field and the inclusion of rich descriptions to corroborate the findings. Two central themes emerged from the thematic data analysis process, namely causes of loneliness and strategies to deal with loneliness. The causes of loneliness which were identified, point towards multiple losses at a personal level, interpersonal losses, changed family relations and a world of living that keeps getting smaller. The strategies to deal with loneliness were indicated by elderly women as the actualising of religion, reminiscing on the past, an active involvement in life and denial. The most important contribution made by this research is the discovery that elderly white ladies experience an intimate loss of the "self" because their own identity was strongly associated with the specific roles and functions that were defined by the socio-cultural context in which they were socialised. These functions and roles emphasised the ultimate authority of the man, as opposed to women's dependence and subjection. In this process, women did not develop an independent identity that could continue once the prescribed traditional roles no longer applied. Another interesting finding is that elderly women find it comforting to reminisce on the past and they also find that the knowledge they gain from the experience can be applied in their lives again. This study could possibly have been extended to elderly women in other cultures, in order to obtain a richer description of the research phenomenon. Various practical suggestions were made to the service centre to support elderly women to process the multiple losses, to question socially acceptable roles and functions of women and to create own interests. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

This article investigates the experience of loneliness among a group of elderly ladies. Elderly persons are making up an increasing portion of the population. Research is therefore important, because loneliness is a threat to quality of life and indicates a bad prognosis during aging. Aging is associated with a decline in the different abilities and body functions. It is marked by changes and multidimensional losses that often imply the redefinition of roles. Little research is available that explores the subjective experiences of elderly women. It was decided to do a qualitative, phenomenological study on the experiences of loneliness among white Afrikaans-speaking women. A phenomenological research approach enables the researcher to discover participants' perceptions, experiences and unique understanding of what loneliness involves. The research was undertaken in the context of a service centre where functioning elderly ladies voluntarily participated in the research. Fifteen elderly ladies were involved in the research by means of purposeful sampling, and their experiences of loneliness were shared through visual clay projections (known as the Mmogo method™), a focus group discussion, individual interviews and journal entries. The Mmogo method™ attaches value to the symbolic, contextual foundation of meanings and provides valuable information about socially constructed aspects that are often difficult to verbalise. Various guidelines were followed to ensure the reliability of the findings, such as the triangulation of data sources, checking the findings with the participants, an extended period in the research field and the inclusion of rich descriptions to corroborate the findings. Two central themes emerged from the thematic data analysis process, namely causes of loneliness and strategies to deal with loneliness. The causes of loneliness which were identified, point towards multiple losses at a personal level, interpersonal losses, changed family relations and a world of living that keeps getting smaller. The strategies to deal with loneliness were indicated by elderly women as the actualising of religion, reminiscing on the past, an active involvement in life and denial. The most important contribution made by this research is the discovery that elderly white ladies experience an intimate loss of the "self" because their own identity was strongly associated with the specific roles and functions that were defined by the socio-cultural context in which they were socialised. These functions and roles emphasised the ultimate authority of the man, as opposed to women's dependence and subjection. In this process, women did not develop an independent identity that could continue once the prescribed traditional roles no longer applied. Another interesting finding is that elderly women find it comforting to reminisce on the past and they also find that the knowledge they gain from the experience can be applied in their lives again. This study could possibly have been extended to elderly women in other cultures, in order to obtain a richer description of the research phenomenon. Various practical suggestions were made to the service centre to support elderly women to process the multiple losses, to question socially acceptable roles and functions of women and to create own interests. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

A prevenção das doenças crônicas e degenerativas juntamente com a assistência à saúde do idoso e o suporte aos cuidadores familiares representam novos desafios para o nosso sistema de saúde. Cuidar de quem cuida é também uma responsabilidade dos profissionais de saúde. O presente estudo teve como objetivos caracterizar os cuidadores informais de idosos dependentes dos Núcleos de Saúde da Família (NSF) do CSE-FMRP-USP e identificar algumas das dificuldades e necessidades enfrentadas por esses cuidadores, na realização das atividades de cuidado, e a sobrecarga que as mesmas exercem no corpo e na saúde deste indivíduo. O estudo foi realizado com 52 cuidadores das famílias cadastradas nos NSF, que responderam a um questionário com perguntas abertas e fechadas intitulado “Características dos cuidadores de idosos no contexto da Saúde da Família". As entrevistas foram realizadas no domicílio do cuidador, durante os meses de setembro e outubro de 2004. Os cuidadores eram predominantemente do sexo feminino, variando entre a faixa etária de 50 a 70 anos. A maioria era casada, isto é, dividia as responsabilidades da casa e da família com as atividades de cuidados. Quanto ao grau de parentesco com o idoso, a maior porcentagem ficou com as filhas, seguidas pelos cônjuges. Quanto à presença de atendimento domiciliar, a maioria relatou estar recebendo assistência das equipes dos NSF. Para a maioria dos cuidadores, as atividades de cuidar de alguém doente, mais especificamente o idoso, foram aprendidas sozinhas, na prática, com base em erros e acertos. As dificuldades encontradas na realização das atividades domiciliares variaram conforme o grau de dependência do idoso e o suporte familiar que o cuidador recebeu. As alterações no corpo e na saúde, após o início das atividades como cuidador, variaram entre as físicas, como aparecimento de dores no corpo, principalmente na coluna, e alterações psicológicas e sentimentais como estresse, depressão, angústia e aumentos das preocupações. As observações gerais dos cuidadores sobre o processo de cuidar de alguém doente variaram entre os que acreditaram que estava bom e estavam conformados com a situação, e aqueles que relataram ser uma questão de obrigação, carinho e responsabilidade. Todas as informações analisadas confirmaram que o sucesso da manutenção, recuperação ou promoção da saúde ao idoso está diretamente relacionada com o preparo e amparo das pessoas que lhes prestam cuidado. O Programa de Saúde da Família surge, nesta nova perspectiva, como uma estratégia de reforma do sistema, proporcionando Resumo mudanças importantes nas ações, na organização dos serviços e na prática da assistência à saúde com a valorização do tema família. / The prevention of chronic and degenerative diseases, together with health care for the elderly and support for family caregivers, represents new challenges for our health system. Providing care for caregivers is also a responsibility of health professionals. The objectives of the present study were to characterize informal caregivers of dependent elderly persons in the Family Health Nuclei (NSF) of CSE-FMRP-USP and to describe some of the difficulties and necessities faced by these caregivers while performing care activities and the overload that these activities impose on the body and health of caregivers. The study was conducted on 52 caregivers belonging to families registered at the NSF, who answered a questionnaire with open and closed questions entitled “Characteristics of caregivers of the elderly within the context of Family Health". The interviews were held in the residence of the caregivers in the months of September and October 2004. The caregivers were predominantly women ranging in age from 50 to 70 years. Most of them were married, i.e., they divided their time between the responsibilities towards house and family and the caregiving activities. Regarding the degree of kinship with the elderly persons, most were daughters, followed by spouses. Regarding the presence of home care, most reported that they were receiving assistance from the NSF teams. Most of the caregivers had learned on their own about the activities involved in caring for a sick person, in a practical manner, on the basis of trial and error. The difficulties faced in performing home activities varied according to the degree of dependence of the elderly person and to the family support received by the caregiver. The alterations in the body and in health after the beginning of the caregiving activities ranged from physical ones such as the appearance of body pains, especially back pains, to psychological and emotional ones such as stress, depression, anguish, and increased worries. The general observations made by the caregivers regarding the process of caring for somebody sick varied, with some believing that the process was good and stating that they accepted the situation, while others stated that it was a question of obligation, affection and responsibility. All the information analyzed confirmed that a successful maintenance, recovery or promotion of the health of the elderly is directly related to the preparation of, and support to, the caregivers. The Family Health Program arises within this new perspective as a strategy for Summary the reform of the system, providing important changes in the actions, in the organization of services and in the practice of health care, with valorization of the family theme.

A prevenção das doenças crônicas e degenerativas juntamente com a assistência à saúde do idoso e o suporte aos cuidadores familiares representam novos desafios para o nosso sistema de saúde. Cuidar de quem cuida é também uma responsabilidade dos profissionais de saúde. O presente estudo teve como objetivos caracterizar os cuidadores informais de idosos dependentes dos Núcleos de Saúde da Família (NSF) do CSE-FMRP-USP e identificar algumas das dificuldades e necessidades enfrentadas por esses cuidadores, na realização das atividades de cuidado, e a sobrecarga que as mesmas exercem no corpo e na saúde deste indivíduo. O estudo foi realizado com 52 cuidadores das famílias cadastradas nos NSF, que responderam a um questionário com perguntas abertas e fechadas intitulado “Características dos cuidadores de idosos no contexto da Saúde da Família”. As entrevistas foram realizadas no domicílio do cuidador, durante os meses de setembro e outubro de 2004. Os cuidadores eram predominantemente do sexo feminino, variando entre a faixa etária de 50 a 70 anos. A maioria era casada, isto é, dividia as responsabilidades da casa e da família com as atividades de cuidados. Quanto ao grau de parentesco com o idoso, a maior porcentagem ficou com as filhas, seguidas pelos cônjuges. Quanto à presença de atendimento domiciliar, a maioria relatou estar recebendo assistência das equipes dos NSF. Para a maioria dos cuidadores, as atividades de cuidar de alguém doente, mais especificamente o idoso, foram aprendidas sozinhas, na prática, com base em erros e acertos. As dificuldades encontradas na realização das atividades domiciliares variaram conforme o grau de dependência do idoso e o suporte familiar que o cuidador recebeu. As alterações no corpo e na saúde, após o início das atividades como cuidador, variaram entre as físicas, como aparecimento de dores no corpo, principalmente na coluna, e alterações psicológicas e sentimentais como estresse, depressão, angústia e aumentos das preocupações. As observações gerais dos cuidadores sobre o processo de cuidar de alguém doente variaram entre os que acreditaram que estava bom e estavam conformados com a situação, e aqueles que relataram ser uma questão de obrigação, carinho e responsabilidade. Todas as informações analisadas confirmaram que o sucesso da manutenção, recuperação ou promoção da saúde ao idoso está diretamente relacionada com o preparo e amparo das pessoas que lhes prestam cuidado. O Programa de Saúde da Família surge, nesta nova perspectiva, como uma estratégia de reforma do sistema, proporcionando Resumo mudanças importantes nas ações, na organização dos serviços e na prática da assistência à saúde com a valorização do tema família. / The prevention of chronic and degenerative diseases, together with health care for the elderly and support for family caregivers, represents new challenges for our health system. Providing care for caregivers is also a responsibility of health professionals. The objectives of the present study were to characterize informal caregivers of dependent elderly persons in the Family Health Nuclei (NSF) of CSE-FMRP-USP and to describe some of the difficulties and necessities faced by these caregivers while performing care activities and the overload that these activities impose on the body and health of caregivers. The study was conducted on 52 caregivers belonging to families registered at the NSF, who answered a questionnaire with open and closed questions entitled “Characteristics of caregivers of the elderly within the context of Family Health”. The interviews were held in the residence of the caregivers in the months of September and October 2004. The caregivers were predominantly women ranging in age from 50 to 70 years. Most of them were married, i.e., they divided their time between the responsibilities towards house and family and the caregiving activities. Regarding the degree of kinship with the elderly persons, most were daughters, followed by spouses. Regarding the presence of home care, most reported that they were receiving assistance from the NSF teams. Most of the caregivers had learned on their own about the activities involved in caring for a sick person, in a practical manner, on the basis of trial and error. The difficulties faced in performing home activities varied according to the degree of dependence of the elderly person and to the family support received by the caregiver. The alterations in the body and in health after the beginning of the caregiving activities ranged from physical ones such as the appearance of body pains, especially back pains, to psychological and emotional ones such as stress, depression, anguish, and increased worries. The general observations made by the caregivers regarding the process of caring for somebody sick varied, with some believing that the process was good and stating that they accepted the situation, while others stated that it was a question of obligation, affection and responsibility. All the information analyzed confirmed that a successful maintenance, recovery or promotion of the health of the elderly is directly related to the preparation of, and support to, the caregivers. The Family Health Program arises within this new perspective as a strategy for Summary the reform of the system, providing important changes in the actions, in the organization of services and in the practice of health care, with valorization of the family theme.

Attempts to measure self concept in the elderly have been characterized by a variety of differing definitions of self concept, and differing methodological procedures. Previous investigations have used instruments which are stereotypic and not ecologically valid for elderly, test formats which make excessive demands on some elderly persons' cognitive and sensory-motor abilities, and administration procedures which penalize the less psychologically sophisticated older person, factors precluding adequate assessment of self concept in the elderly. In order to address the limitations of previous research, the present investigation developed and tested the Ecological Q-sort, a self concept instrument designed especially for use with the elderly. Items for the Ecological Q-sort were life situations which were ecologically representative and meaningful for older persons as self-defined by them. Two forms of the Ecological Q-sort were developed: the pictorial form consisting of pictorial representations of situations plus one sentence descriptions of situations; another form consisted of only one sentence written descriptions of situations.

Background Elderly persons need to be physical active for an opportunity to a healthy aging. It is important for the nurse and other healthcare professionals to understand significance of thepreventive care and health promotion for an older population that are growing in our society. This to promote elderly persons wellbeing and health. The elderly person has right to the opportunity for a healthy aging process. Aim The aim of this literature review was to illuminate the elderly person´s experiences of physical activity and how it can contribute to health. Method A method of a five-step model were used. An analysis of qualitative results of 12 scientific articles was preformed, which focused on the elderly person´s experiences of physical activity. Results Two main themes and four subthemes emerged. The result present two main theme:“Personal dimensions that affect the possibility of physical activity” and “Surrounding dimensions that affect the possibility of physical activity”. The subthemes where “Motivation” and “Social interaction”, “Outdoor environment” and “Obstacles”. Conclusion Elderly person´s experience of being physical active has an important link to the feeling of well-being and perceived health. Being physical inactive has consequences such as negative effect on elderly person´s health. This literature study contributes to knowledge about the importance of physical activity for elderly persons, which highlight the importance of offering health promoting efforts in both nursing care and society for elderly persons.

Syftet med denna studie var att beskriva äldres upplevelser och erfarenheter av uppsökande verksamhet i Osby kommun. Förebyggande hälsoinsatser för äldre bedrivs i Sverige med olika benämningar. I Osby kommun bedrivs de med benämning uppsökande versamhet. Uppsökande verksamhet med förebyggande insatser och råd kan stärka äldres egenvård och skjuta upp funktionsnedsättning samt förbättra den äldre personens välbefinnande och livskvalitet. Ur samhällsekonomiskt perspektiv kan uppsökande verksamhet också minska kostnader för vård och omsorg på sikt. Metoden är en kvalitativ intervjuundersökning med öppna frågor. Studie genomfördes under Juni- November år 2015 och tio äldre personer intervjuades. Av dessa var det fem kvinnor och fem män. Intervjuerna analyserades enligt Graneheim och Lundmans kvalitativa innehållsanalys. I resultatet framkom två kategorier och sju subkategorier. Essenserna som hittades från intervjuerna var: förväntningar, tillit i mötet, attityder till förändring, information, utförarens kompetens och personlighet, vikten av relation och kreativitet. Resultatet visar tydligt att äldre upplever arbetet med uppsökande verksamhet värdefullt och vill se detta arbete fortsätta. Denna studie ger utan tvekan stöd att utföra uppsökande verksamhet och uppsökande verksamhet kan ses som en redskap för de äldre att skapa bra förutsättningar att bevara hälsan och ger möjlighet till ett aktivt och självständigt liv. / The purpose of this study was to describe elderly persons experiences of preventive home visits in the Osby municipality. Preventive home visits with preventive actions might help elderly `s self-care abilities and postpone the effects of ageing and disability, in order to give elderly better well-being and good quality of life. This qualitative study and data was collected by qualitative interviews using open queries. The respondents were ten elderly persons (five females and five males). Interviews were carried out during June to November 2015. The material was analysed using Qualitative content analysis as described by Graneheim and Lundman. The analysis resulted in two categories and seven subcategories. In summary the subcategories were: expectations, confidence in the meet, attitudes on change, information, providers competence and personality, importance of relationship and creativity. The results of the study clearly indicates that the preventive home visits are appreciated and valuable to the elderly. All respondents claimed that the visit was a positive event in their lives and want to see it continue in the future. This study gives evidence to carry out the preventive home visits. The preventive visits gives elderly better conditions for maintaining a healthy and satisfactory ageing and independent life.

<p> </p><p>We are aware of the fact that elderly people suffering from alcoholism doesn’t stop their be-haviour the day they turn 65. But when they do turn 65, they might become a case for social workers who only handle cases regarding people over 65, and we wanted to find out if they have any experience of working with elderly who have problems related to alcohol. We de-cided that a group interview, a focus group, would be the best method when our purpose was to try discovering their own experiences, so we interviewed seven social workers in the Stockholm area. The interview was based on four main questions: the social workers experi-ences, difficulties in the cases, how to handle the difficulties and how the social workers talk about these cases among themselves. These questions were analysed with the theory of social construction, Bourdieu´s theory of doxa and Goffman´s theory of stigma. The analyse showed that the social workers had experience but that they didn’t want more recourses, they wanted a cooperation with social workers who specializes on clients with alcohol related problems. They currently focus on the individual, not the alcohol issue which we believe might be a problem in the future.</p>