With the increase in Canada’s seniors population (age 65 and over), there is a need to understand the residential requirements of this population. Almost 90 percent of seniors in Ontario reside in urban areas (Hodge 2008) and the majority live in the Greater Toronto Area. Of particular concern is the decrease in availability of informal care for aging and weakening individuals due to changes in economy and family relations. These changes are likely to result in a large influx of seniors into residential care facilities (RCFs) because not everyone is able to stay at home or is eligible to live in a long term care (LTC) facility. Seniors’ reasons for relocating as well as an analysis of their experiences after the move are required as the need for RCFs increases. Cultural and/or religious groups have become important providers of RCFs in Canada by offering necessary services for an aging population. The goal of this thesis is to analyse the importance of culture and the built environment within a push-pull framework associated with the decision to move to an RCF through a case study. The guiding question of the research is: Why do seniors choose facilities with cultural affiliations? In 2013, interviews were conducted with 15 residents, who were currently residing in a Ukrainian RCF called Ivan Franko. The results show that seniors move because of certain limitations (e.g., health, difficulty doing housework, family events, etc.). When an older person decides that they want or need to move, they will move to a facility that provides a physical and social environment while reinforcing cultural values (i.e., built environment), assuming a place is available. Acknowledging the limitations of a qualitative case study approach, the findings are important to consider as the multicultural population of the GTA and other large Canadian cities continue to age. The growing demand for places in RCFs reflects social, cultural and religious needs of a diverse older population. A challenge will exist for cultural and religious not-for-profit voluntary organizations, the for-profit sector, and governments at all levels to seek new ways to develop facilities in the future. / Thesis (Master, Geography) -- Queen's University, 2014-06-19 00:28:54.511

Research shows that in Canada, there is an overrepresentation of minoritized/ marginalized children and youth living in residential care settings. These youth face structural barriers such as poverty, racialization, and gendered and sexual discrimination (among others) which result in their exclusion from mainstream notions of wellbeing and success, and their positioning as requiring professional help (Lavergn, Dufour, Trocme, & Larrivee, 2008). Literature on the topic of residential care demonstrates however that interventions facilitated in residential programs often fail to implicate social inequities as contributing factors to the need for professional involvement, or address these factors in the therapeutic context. Instead, interventions tend to focus on socio-psychological and behavioural functioning, with a desire to assist young people in “catching up” to a dominant standard of living that is taken for granted as “normal” and beneficial for them (Harley, Jolivette, McCormick, & Tice, 2002). It is unclear how these tensions are reconciled by CYC practitioners. By critically analyzing the discourses that inform “diversity” in CYC practice, this exploratory study investigates how practitioners who work in residential settings conceptualize and negotiate these contradictory representations and expectations of youth in care. The study is grounded in a transtheoretical framework drawn from feminist/post structural (Butler, 1990; Davies, 2000; Fendler, 2001; Foucault, 1977;1979), Indigenous and post-colonial (McIntosh, 1998; Tuhiwai Smith, 1999) and queer theories (Sedgwick, 1990; Marinucci, 2010) to position diversity within an intersectional analysis (Burman, 2003; 2004; Chantler, 2004; 2005). The study contributes to current understandings within the field of CYC about methods of care in relation to children/youth of diverse and/or marginalized backgrounds in residential care settings. / Graduate

Background: Good parent-child connectedness, general and substance use specific communication are protective against alcohol, tobacco and drug use during adolescence. Previous research also suggests that general communication with foster and other statutory carers is associated with more positive outcomes, including relationships with caregivers and siblings. However, no studies have examined substance use specific communication between looked after young people and their carers. Aims: The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of how carers and looked after young people communicate about alcohol, tobacco and drug use and the factors that shape communication, including the use of digital media. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted, using in-depth interviews with 13 looked after young people in foster and residential care; two social workers; six foster carers and eight residential care workers. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and the data were analysed thematically. Findings: Relationships between carers and young people were crucial and acted as the antecedent to communication. Carers' role identity influenced their relationships with young people and their approach to and communication about substance use. Shared doing provided a way in which communication about substances could be facilitated in an environment which feels natural. The context in which communication occurred was important, with differences between foster and residential care. Digital media were viewed with caution, as something used to gain information about substances but not as a way of communicating with young people. Conclusions: The findings have implications for foster carers and residential care staff working with looked after young people, in terms of relationships and communication about substance use. Carers should continue to develop positive relationships with young people, whilst considering the potentially negative effects of conflicts in professional role identity. Techniques such as shared doing and encouraging natural conversations about substance use may help.

El trabajo de investigación presenta la explicación de un taller realizado en un Centro de Atención Residencial cuyo objetivo era definir lo que es una familia dentro de un CAR, para poder hacer la convivencia más dinámica. La población con la cual se trabajó fueron niños cuyas edades oscilaban entre los 9 y los 12 años. Como instrumento se utilizó el taller y una ficha de observación que se creó antes de llevar a cabo el taller. Dentro de los resultados obtenidos se tuvo una mejora en el comportamiento de los menores respecto al modo en el que se jugaba. Otro resultado significativo fue con respecto a los alumnos que iban a la escuela, ya que ahora contaban como les había ido en su día y no como se habían portado. Finalmente, con la realización del taller se llegó a la conclusión de la importancia de realizar más estudios de este tipo, ya que permiten conocer de cerca como es la dinámica de estos niños institucionalizados. / The research work presents the explanation of a workshop held in a Residential Care Center whose objective was to define what a family is within a CAR, in order to make living more dynamic. The population with which they worked were children whose ages ranged from 9 to 12 years. The workshop was used as an instrument and an observation sheet that was created inside before carrying out the workshop. Among the results obtained, there was an improvement in the behavior of minors with respect to the way in which it was played. Another significant result was with respect to the students who went to school, since they now told how they had done in their day and not how they had behaved. Finally, with the completion of the workshop, it was concluded that it is important to carry out more studies of this type, since they allow us to learn about the dynamics of these institutionalized children. / Trabajo de investigación

This study explores the experiences of young orphans who transition into extended families in Zimbabwe, focusing on the five- to ten-year-old age group. The study embraced a qualitative approach which is situated within the interpretivist paradigm. The choice of the qualitative mode of inquiry was to ensure that the researcher interacted with participants who were remarkably close to young orphans and, henceforth, gather as much reliable and pertinent data as possible. A multiple case study design was employed to investigate five extended family members and their five to ten-year-old young orphans, one social worker and two residential care centre administrators. All five extended families with young orphans lived in the Mutoko, Murewa, Mudzi and Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe (UMP) districts. Data were gathered through interviews, drawings, narratives, and observations. The preference for the research methods were to necessitate a high level of trustworthiness and comprehensive data. The study established that although the government is mandated to provide services in the transitioning of young orphans into extended families in Zimbabwe, lack of resources inhibit efforts to support these children. Due to lack of funds social workers seldom follow up on young orphans. Although Zimbabwe has well stipulated national, regional and international agreements in its archives on transition, this research study had established that the strained Zimbabwean economy had a negative effect on children who transitioned into extended families. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that extended family members are inadequately prepared and trained to handle young orphans who transition into their families. Furthermore, extended families also face challenges on the scarcity of resources to support young orphans. Young orphans were further challenged by the fact that people stereotyped them because they came from residential care centres. These young orphans also faced several psychological challenges. The study concluded that both young orphans and extended families are victims of a system that does not have the resources, nor the political and social will to support the transition process. Based on these findings, the recommendations were made for the attention of the government of Zimbabwe, as well as the Department of Social Welfare, who act as executive body in implementing Government’s directives. The study therefore, upholds that extended family members should have relevant skills to enable them to appropriately deal with young orphans. The study further recommends the implementation of policies to take cognisance of the needs of young orphans who transition to extended families are taken on board, as they access appropriate services and resources to mitigate their impediments. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / pt2021 / Early Childhood Education / PhD / Unrestricted

Magister Artium (Social Work) - MA(SW) / The National Policy on Orphans and Vulnerable defines an orphan as a child, who has lost one, or both parents, and is under the age of 18, while a vulnerable child is one, who is in need of care and protection. The Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) are placed in residential childcare facilities (RCCFs), such as children’s homes, shelters, safe havens, or any other alternative form of care. They are provided with psychosocial support, depending on the facility, in which they are placed.Failure to provide proper and specialised care by the caregivers could prove harmful to the overall wellbeing of the child, resulting in children with developmental difficulties, poor interpersonal relationships, mental health difficulties, behavioural difficulties, and poor academic achievement.

Elderly sexuality in residential care is a subject ignored in both society and in research. This qualitative study investigates staff’s beliefs and experiences of sexuality in residential care. The research was conducted in Sweden, using semi-structured in-depth interviews with staff in residential care. Thirteen caregivers participated in this study. The study embraces the concept of constructionism as its analytical framework. The following are the key findings: (1) The participants noted the presence of sexuality among elderly people; (2) Staff’s interpretation of sexual expressions varied; depending on where, to whom and how the sexual expressions were articulated; (3) The institutional barriers were: lack of privacy, overall institutional limitationsin knowledge and guidelines, and caregivers understanding about sexuality among elderly; (4) The participants also identified sexual harassment at their workplace by the elderly; (5) Caregivers emphasized Dementia as a key factor disrupting sexual boundaries. In conclusion this study shows that residential care institutions do not recognize the need of sexuality among elderly people. As a consequence of elderly´s sexual needs being unrecognized their sexual needs is not taken account for. This also legitimize lack of guidelines and the staff being put in situations that they are not properly equipped to handle.

Yes / A participatory film-making study carried out in long-term social care with 10 people with Alzheimer-type dementia found that places the participants had known early in life were spontaneously foregrounded. Participants’ memories of such places were well-preserved, particularly when photo-elicitation techniques, using visual images as prompts, were employed. Consistent with previous work on the ‘reminiscence bump’ in dementia, the foregrounded memories belonged in all cases to the period of life between approximately 5 and 30 years. Frequently the remembered places were connected with major life events which continued to have a strong emotional component. The continuing significance of place in the context of long-term dementia care is considered from a psychogeographical perspective.

Yes / The full-text of this article will be released for public view at the end of the publisher embargo, 6 months from first publication.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur HVB-personal på olika hem i Stockholm arbetar med ensamkommande flyktingbarn rörande barnens kulturer och traditioner samt ta reda på hur personalen arbetar för att integrera flyktingbarn in i vad de upplever vara ett svenskt samhälle. Studien har även till syfte att ta reda på ifall HVB- personalen upplever att det finns problematik kring att integrera barnen samtidigt som de måste ta hänsyn till ursprunglig kultur och tradition hos barnen. Uppsatsen grundar sig i en kvalitativ ansats av tio intervjuer med personal som arbetar på olika HVB-hem. Med hjälp av de teoretiska begreppen gräsrotsbyråkratier, systemintegration, social integration, kultur, kulturmöte och kulturkrockar men även tidigare forskning visar resultat och analys ett sammanhängande mönster. Resultaten visade att HVB-personalen i hög grad värderar hänsynstagande till de ensamkommande flyktingbarnens/ ungdomarnas kulturer och traditioner under integreringsprocessen. De främst återkommande punkterna som personalen menar är viktigast att ta hänsyn till rörande kultur och tradition är barnens/ ungdomarnas; värderingar, religioner, högtider och ursprungliga språk. HVB-personalen upplever att deras huvudsakliga mål som HVB-personal är att integrera barnen/ ungdomarna till det svenska samhället. Tillvägagångsätten för att integrera barnen beskrivs som ett vardagligt arbete som omfattar personalens engagemang i att vägleda, informera barnen/ ungdomarna om samhällets viktiga organ så som att gå i skolan eller att lära dem skillnaderna mellan rätt och fel enligt Sveriges normer och värderingar. Begreppet integrering handlar för våra respondenter sammanfattningsvis om att flyktingbarnen/ ungdomarna tar del av ett nytt samhälle och blir en del av det. Studien visade avslutningsvis att spänningar/ obalans kunde uppstå vid integreringen av barnen/ ungdomarna som resultat av kulturskillnader och kulturkrockar men även på grund av skilda tolkningar av arbetsuppgifter för personal. / The purpose of this study is to investigate how staff from residential care homes in Stockholm work with unaccompanied refugee children/ adolescents concerning the children's/ adolescents cultures and traditions. The study also aims to find out how the staff work to integrate refugee children/ adolescents into what they perceive to be a Swedish society. Lastly the study also aims to find out if the staff experienced problems concerning the integration of the children/ adolescents while they have to take their original culture and tradition into account. The essay is based on a qualitative approach of ten interviews with staff working in different residential homes in Stockholm. With the help of the theoretical concepts grassroots bureaucracies, systems integration, social integration, culture, culture meeting and cultural clashes but also previous research showing results and analysis of a coherent pattern. Results showed that staff and their perceived values take into account of the unaccompanied refugee children/ adolescents different cultures and traditions during the integration process. Values, religions, traditions and the original language were described as the most important parts to take into consideration when focusing on the children’s/ adolescent’s cultures and traditions. Approaches to integrate the children was described as a main objective and a casual work which includes staff involvement in guiding, informing the children/ adolescents of society's major institutions such as going to school or to teach them the difference between right and wrong according to Swedish standards and values. Further the concept of integration according to our respondents, means that the refugee children and adolescents take part of a new society and become a part of it. Finally, the study showed that stress or imbalance could arise during the integration of children/ adolescents as a result of perceived cultural differences and cultural conflicts but also because of different interpretations of the duties of staff.