This study explores the question of how educational bureaucracies impact school efficacy, from the perspectives of senior administrators, a group made up of superintendents and assistant superintendents. The literature review defines the terms educational bureaucracy and systems coupling, which provide a theoretical framework for the study and serve as a lens through which the data, anecdotal reports contextualized by real-life experiences, are analyzed and the theme of school efficacy is explored. Understanding the unique perspective of the senior administrator’s role with regards to educational bureaucracy and its impact will provide a basis from which the structure of school systems is explored more deeply, and the ways in which systems coupling and elements of bureaucratic structures might be used as tools to improve school efficacy. The aim of this study is to better understand the specific functions of educational bureaucracies that have a perceived and/or measured effect on school efficacy. Rather than using a uniform measure of school efficacy, which could serve to limit the experiences shared by participants, the secondary aim of this study is to develop possible definitions/conceptualizations of school efficacy based on the anecdotal reports provided by participants, through the application of grounded theory. The findings of this study and the implications for practice will be of interest to those studying the sociological foundations of education and to stakeholders who wish to know more about the functioning of educational bureaucracies at the systemic level, and how they impact school efficacy.

The Chinese government has long assumed that families will bear the social and health care burden of the older population. However, this is becoming increasingly difficult and is hardly a model of care that can be sustained with the projected growth of the older demographic. Since the late 1970s, China has successfully controlled the population growth by applying the One-Child Policy. However, its byproduct, the “4-2-1 problem”, along with the unavoidable trends of globalization and migration, means that older generations must often rely on themselves, and not their children or grandchildren, for care and support. To prepare for this challenge – the weakening of traditional filial piety – this proposal of an active retirement community centre for calligraphy art reflects a desire for a new way of living during the second half of life. Instead of viewing old age as a residual period, this proposal sets the stage for older adults to continue their contributions as they age. Calligraphy performance as a traditional cultural activity offers older adults a great balance between activity and leisure, caring for the body and caring for the soul. Additionally, the artistic quality of calligraphy art is used to express and convey ideas for the design process.

This thesis deals with the analysis of eating habits of seniors with Diabetes mellitus type 2. Many seniors with Diabetes mellitus type 2 are introduced to a proper diet either through their Doctor or a nutrition therapist. This diabetic diet assists them in maintaining proper blood glucose levels and helps prevent a variety of diabetic complications. Many diabetics, who understand their illness, begin to make changes in their lifestyles that will help them in the future. More thought is put into their lifestyle and how to improve their quality of life. For example, many diabetics become more active, begin to be more diligent with their dietary choices and discover a new meaning of life.

Diplomová práce se zabývá problematikou úrazů seniorů hospitalizovaných v Nemocnici České Budějovice, a.s. a FN Plzeň. Teoretická část práce popisuje současnou situaci týkající se stáří, stárnutí, zabývá se gerontologií, biologickými, psychickými a sociálními projevy stáří, úrazy seniorů, prevencí těchto úrazů, kvalitou života seniorů, dále pojednává o službách poskytovaných seniorům a aktivním stárnutí. Výzkumná část se opírá o kvantitativní průzkumné šetření u vybraných úrazů seniorů. Ke zvolené problematice se vztahují stanovené hypotézy, které jsou následně podrobně analyzovány a vyhodnocovány. Cílem této práce bylo provést retrospektivní analýzu zaznamenaných úrazů seniorů, které vedly k hospitalizaci v letech 2011 ? 2013 na klinice úrazové chirurgie ve FN Plzni a v Nemocnici České Budějovice, a.s. Výzkumné šetření bylo zaměřeno na klienty ve věkových kategoriích 65 - 74 let, 75 - 84 let a 85 a více let. Zjištěné výsledky diplomové práce jsou podrobně analyzovány a graficky znázorněny v kapitole Výsledky a shrnuty v kapitolách Diskuze a Závěr. Cíl předkládaného textu byl naplněn.

Diploma thesis "Changes in social life of elder people" focuses on social life development of elder people and which factors may affect it. The introduction contains theoretical concepts. The theoretical part is dedicated to concepts which are mentioned in the introduction. The first part describes life of elder people and also the old age itself. Next part is dedicated to an ageism and factors which might cause it. Last chapter in theoretical part is dedicated to social service especially the retirement home. The practical part contains the analysis of the interviews with elder people. The interviews were made by using qualitative research methods. The analysis is divided into parts including social life development in retirement age, the current social life of elder people and also the factors affecting social life. The aim of this thesis is to discover the changes of social life and also to compare the social life options of elder people living in retirement home and elder people living in their own home.

This thesis named as "Physical activity of elderly people diagnosed with hypertensive heart disease I. and II. grades" in theoretical part deals with aging and old age. It also mentions movement activity and possible recommendations for movement. One chapter is also devoted to the lifestyle that fundamentally influences the course and quality of human life. Furthermore, there is also mentioned the issue of hypertension in the context of old age and possible physical activity. Practical part ofthe thesis is focused on the monitoring of movement activities of seniors with hypertension I. and II. grades. The research was conducted by using the Yamax Digiwalker SW-700 pedometers and a standardized IPAQ-long questionnaire was used. Obtained results were subsequently analyzed and processed into tables and charts with comments and recommendations.

The thesis deals with seniors' diet in selected social services facilities of the Kralovehradecky region. The main aim of this project is to establish what kind of diet from a quantitative and qualitative point of view is served to the clients of these social services facilities. This was accomplished by collecting and subsequently analyzing in the lab all meals served daily for the duration of 7 days. Furthermore, there was an evaluation of the variety of food conducted. This evaluation was accomplished by observing the menu for a period of one month. Points were awarded only for non-repetitive foods and meals. The evaluation was based on the dietary diversity coefficient. This Diploma project also deals with clients' actual consumption of the served food in social services facilities. There was a client survey conducted, namely, the Mini Nutritional Assessment short form. This was done along with recording the clients' physical activity. Key words: nutrition, senior, Kralovehradecky region

The family constitutes the background and security for everyone regardless of their age. At old age, the well-functioning family means security of psychical, physical and material aid. Moreover, the family develops activities of seniors, provides them with a number of opportunities and thus also strengthens their role in the society. One of negative social features is perception of the old generation as a useless and depending community. This social climate, negative for seniors, may be reflected somehow in the role held by them in the family. The theoretical part of the thesis addresses old age and its division, negative behaviour to seniors, a family as an institution and the role of seniors in a family. The respondents were seniors and their family members. The research was implemented in the form of the qualitatively quantitative data collection. The aim of the qualitative part was to ascertain how seniors characterize their role in the family and whether they are satisfied therewith. The objective of the quantitative research was to ascertain whether opinions of the other family members correspond to the opinions of seniors as far as the role of seniors in the family is concerned. Both objectives have been achieved. The research conclusions reflect how seniors perceive their role in the family and how their role is perceived by the other family members. Thus the conclusions may help workers providing health and social services and other persons understand importance and significance of the family background and teach them how to strengthen and positively influence the role of seniors in the family.

Sammanfattning Denna studie handlade främst om fysiska aktivitetsvanor hos seniorer och hur de upplever möjligheterna till fysisk aktivitet inom sin kommun.   Syfte och frågeställningar Vårt syfte med studien var att undersöka hur mycket och på vilket sätt seniorer rör på sig i två olika Stockholmskommuner, samt hur de mår. Utöver detta ville vi även ta reda på om de hört talas om VillGott.  Hur ser seniorernas fysiska aktivitetsvanor ut i Huddinge respektive Sollentuna? Hur upplever seniorer i respektive kommuner att möjligheten till fysisk aktivitet är? Har seniorerna i utvalda kommuner hört talas om projektet VillGott?   Metod För att samla in data valdes en kvantitativ metod i form av enkät. Insamlingssätten som användes var gruppenkät och hämta-och-lämna-enkät. Enkäten delades ut till 162 seniorer på seniorträffar, seniorcentrum och PRO-aktiviteter inom de båda kommunerna. Enkätsvaren bearbetades i SPSS 19.0.   Resultat Studiens resultat visar att 92 % av respondenterna rör på sig minst en gång i veckan och en stor del av dessa rör sig 2-3 dagar i veckan. Större delen (80 %) anser att möjligheterna till fysisk aktivitet är goda. Tre personer av 162 respondenter har hört talas om VillGott.   Slutsats Slutsatsen är att en stor andel av seniorerna inom de båda kommunerna utövade fysisk aktivitet och detta borde innebära att möjligheterna till fysisk aktivitet är goda. Beträffande VillGott kan vi konstatera att ryktet ej har spridit sig och att det kanske skulle krävas ytterligare exponering i media eller på annat sätt om de vill att fler ska veta att de finns.

No abstract available / Dissertation (MA (Research in Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Practical Theology / unrestricted