Misunderstandings about older people fuel corona virus complacency

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 269-272
Author(s):  
Ellery Altshuler

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore public assumptions underlying the apparent disregard for the lives of older people during the coronavirus outbreak. It attempts to dispel myths about quality of life among older people. Design/methodology/approach This paper integrates the author’s personal experiences as a doctor with data collection, which involved general PubMed searches for articles relating to the public response to the effect of coronavirus on older people; beliefs about the lives of older people; and issues of happiness, contentedness and quality of life in older people. Findings Some people have concluded that the lives of older people – which they believe to be of low quality – are worth risking to lessen the economic impact of coronavirus. This morbid calculation is based in part on the assumption that older people are less happy than younger people. In fact, the evidence shows that as people get older, they become significantly happier. Originality/value This paper asks readers to explore their assumptions about ageing and reaffirms the importance of protecting older people in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Consolandi

Purpose Seniors are nowadays at the core of important reflections to understand both how to ensure them a proper quality of life and better recognize their social role, providing them services and proper health care to value them as persons and resources. This paper aims to find a through definition about who is a senior, in the author’s opinion the starting point to help them flourishing. Design/methodology/approach As an example of definitions, an online dictionary and two geriatric text-books are quoted, highlighting qualities and rights referred to seniors especially in the delicate context of the health-care system. Findings The lack of a commonly shared perspective on this delicate kind of patient entails the difficulty to reach a coherent and satisfying definition about who a senior is. Originality/value The lack of a commonly shared definition leads to inevitable misunderstandings and could explain the arduousness of considering seniors in all their aspects. Further investigations are suggested.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-62
Author(s):  
Jan Sunman

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on the article by Rachel Forrester-Jones on the experiences of older carers of people with learning disabilities. Design/methodology/approach The commentary reflects on the themes identified in the original article, comparing its findings to the lived experiences of those taking part in older carers’ projects in Oxfordshire, England. Findings Similar broad themes were identified in both samples. Given these findings, the extent to which matters have changed, since the Valuing People work on older carers is considered. Originality/value The paper discusses policy and practice implications to improve the quality of life of older carers and their families and explores how the voice of older carers can be strengthened to enable them to shape practice and policy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sope Williams-Elegbe

Purpose Corruption affects development and quality of life of citizens in affected countries. The increase in anti-corruption measures globally reflects a consensus that corruption is pervasive and costly. Public procurement is one area in which corruption manifests because of the sums of money involved; the asymmetry of information; and the bureaucratic nature of decision-making, which presents opportunities for abuse. In developing countries, procurement corruption is rife because of institutional weaknesses, lack of enforced accountability mechanisms and culture of silence in relation to public sector malfeasance. Design/methodology/approach This paper examines procurement corruption in countries with systemic corruption, using Nigeria as a case study, to determine how to reduce public procurement corruption. Findings The paper will highlight prevalent corrupt schemes in public procurement in Nigeria, examine the reasons for the failure of state anti-corruption institutions and analyze the kinds of initiatives that reduced procurement corruption and increased accountability in other countries and the utility of adopting such mechanisms in the Nigerian context.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 159
Author(s):  
Anisah Budiwati

This research explores the concept of understanding of mosque managers in the public space about the importance of facing the direction of Qibla. Samples Mosque located in the public space of the Hospital Jogja International Hospital, Adisutjipto Airport and Mall Plaza Ambarrukmo be proof of the tendency of pattern of understanding of managers of religious orders to face the direction of Qiblah correctly. By using qualitative analysis method and data collection method in the form of observation, interview and documentation, it is found that first, that understanding of mosque managers in public space at three places reflects the quality of life of Islami ie measuring to the expert so that the direction of qibla . Secondly, the accuracy of the direction of the mosque building in the public space in Sleman Yogyakarta is included in the category of accurate with the maximum reason for the 6 minute arc disturbance, where the direction of the largest deviation on the mosques is 0o 1 '20.8 "or equivalent to 3,074 km which means still leads the city of Mecca.Keywords: Accuracy, Understanding and Mosque in Public Space Penelitian ini menggali konsep pemahaman para pengelola Masjid di ruang publik tentang pentingnya menghadap arah kiblat. Sampel Masjid yang berada di ruang publik yakni Rumah Sakit Jogja International Hospital, Bandara Adisutjipto dan Mall Plaza Ambarrukmo menjadi bukti kecenderungan pola pemahaman pengelola terhadap perintah agama untuk menghadap ke arah kiblat dengan tepat. Dengan menggunakan metode analisis kualitatif dan metode pengumpulan data berupa observasi, wawancara dan dokumentasi diperoleh hasil penelitian, pertama bahwa pemahaman para pengelola masjid di ruang publik pada tiga tempat tersebut mencerminkan kualitas hidup Islami yakni melakukan pengukuran kepada pihak ahli sehingga arah kiblat sesuai dengan keilmuan astronomi. Kedua, akurasi atau ketelitian arah kiblat bangunan Masjid di ruang publik di Sleman Yogyakarta termasuk dalam kategori akurat dengan alasan maksimal penyimpangan 6 menit busur, di mana arah penyimpangan paling besar pada masjid-masjid tersebut adalah 0o 1’ 20,8” atau setara 3,074 km yang berarti masih mengarah kota Mekah.Kata kunci: Akurasi, Pemahaman dan Masjid di Ruang Publik


2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Skingley ◽  
Stephanie De'Ath ◽  
Luci Napleton

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact on health and well-being of participation in dance and arts activities by older people living in the community. Design/methodology/approach – A small-scale, mixed methods research design comprising pretest-posttest evaluation of a three month dance and arts programme. Two groups of older people underwent physical measures and completed a self-report quality of life questionnaire. Written comments and interview data were also gathered. Findings – Physical tests (n=14) demonstrated improvements in posture, shoulder mobility and balance in both groups following the intervention, with some measures reaching statistical significance. Quality of life evaluations (n=21) also showed improvement, with the mental health subscale reaching statistical significance. Qualitative data showed that participants enjoyed the programme and felt physical, psychological and social benefits. Research limitations/implications – The research involved only a small sample of volunteers and a limited programme length which limits its generalisability. The absence of a control group means that causality cannot be inferred. Future research should extend recruitment to a wider geographical area and a longer intervention which includes a control group. Practical implications – Future arts interventions for older people should include consultation prior to, and throughout the project. Commissioners should consider supporting arts for health projects, building in additional funding for evaluative work. Originality/value – This study has added to the evidence base through combining art forms within a mixed methods framework, illustrating the interplay between the art forms, the outcomes and the potential role of social context.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diogo Henrique Helal ◽  
Cleverson Vasconcelos da Nóbrega ◽  
Tatiana Aguiar Porfírio de Lima

Purpose This paper aims to reflect on retirement, showing its different viewpoints, advocating the need to understand the issue from a procedural and multidimensional perspective, and especially, defending a more active role of human resource management in the process. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents a theoretical framework of retirement, based on a procedural and multidimensional perspective. Findings To study how individuals adapt to retirement permits the discovery, for example, of how they obtain the quality of life after the transition and how they manage the internal and external aspects of the process. Human resource management must treat retirement as a complex and multidimensional phenomenon. This means it should consider retirement not only as a decision but also as a process. Originality/value This essay seeks to reflect on retirement, advocating the need to understand the issue from a procedural and multidimensional perspective, and especially, defending a more active role of human resource management in the process.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-114
Author(s):  
Sheshadri Chatterjee

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors influencing the citizens to use robots that would improve the quality of life of the citizens. Design/methodology/approach With the help of different adoption theories and models and with the support of background studies, some hypotheses have been formulated and a conceptual model has been developed with the consideration of the impact of artificial intelligence regulation (IAR) that controls the use of robots as a moderator. The model has been validated and the hypotheses have been tested by statistical analysis with the help of survey works involving consideration of feedbacks from 503 usable respondents. Findings The study reveals that the use of robots by the citizens would appreciably increase if government imposes strict artificial intelligence (AI) regulatory control concerning the use of robots, and in that case, it appears that the use of robots would improve the quality of life of the citizens. Research limitations/implications The duly validated model would help the authority to appropriately nurse and nurture the factors such as ethical dilemma, perceived risks and control beliefs for enhancing the intention of the citizens to use robots for many purposes including domestic usage in the context of appropriate restrictions imposed through AI regulation. Such use of robots would eventually improve the quality of life. Originality/value There are a few studies covering analysis of IAR as a moderator on the linkages of the predictors with the intention of the citizens to use robots. In this context, this study is claimed to have offered a novel contribution.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-216
Author(s):  
Anna Horton ◽  
Simon Horton

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how discourse theories can contribute to the concept of identity formation within a patient- or person-centered care (PCC) orientation, to enable more critical engagement with PCC in older people. Design/methodology/approach This is a conceptual paper. Findings This paper concludes that the discourse literature has important insights for understanding identity formation in older people as operationalized in the context of PCC in three particular ways: accounting for multiplicity in patients’ identity; exploring “the devolution of responsibility” to address shifts in performing identities in clinical encounters; and attending to a “crisis of positioning” to engage empowerment discourse within a PCC philosophy. Originality/value Whilst a notion of patient identity is at the heart of PCC, the concept remains inconsistent and underdeveloped. This is particularly problematic for the quality of care in older adults, as PCC has become increasingly synonymous with care of older people. Discourse theories of identity formation can be used to critically engage with identity within the context of PCC, so as to develop more nuanced understandings of “the person” or “the patient,” with the potential to improve research into care for aging and older adults.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krysia Emily Waldock

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the possible impact of normalisation on the perceptions of quality of life (QoL) and the impact of this association on the research to date. This commentary reflects on the implications of limiting QoL research to autistic people who are perceived to be “more able”. Design/methodology/approach This commentary discusses the implications of undertaking QoL research in the field of autism. Findings This commentary argues for further consideration of the autistic voice in QoL research. Researcher epistemology and life experience, including experience of autistic people, is examined in terms of how QoL might be perceived and attributed. Further participatory research in the field of quality of life of autistic people, including those with a learning disability and engagement with a variety of autistic people, is called for. Originality/value This commentary suggests that the existing definitions of QoL, founded on principles of normalisation, may not be completely applicable to autistic people, and that new ways of both defining and measuring QoL might be needed.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Wise ◽  
Jelena Đurkin Badurina ◽  
Marko Perić

PurposeMore research is needed to consider residents’ perceptions prior to hosting large-scale events. This paper contributes new insight on residents’ perceptions of placemaking analysed by considering awareness, enthusiasm and participation prior to hosting a large-scale event. Placemaking is becoming increasingly important and this insight can help planners understand how locals perceive change and event planning preparations.Design/methodology/approach454 residents of Rijeka, Croatia completed a survey (seven-point Likert scale) of 17 placemaking principles, asked in three ways: (1) how you feel; (2) how you believe people near you feel and (3) if you feel that planning/preparing for ECoC 2020 has made a difference. The data analysis considers socio-demographics and the significance of awareness, enthusiasm and participation as factors affecting residents’ perceptions of placemaking.FindingsThe study found respondents originally from Rijeka expressed statistically significant higher level of agreement. Where statistically significant differences exist, female respondents expressed statistically significant higher levels of agreement. For six statements, the distribution of results was not similar for all age groups. Awareness and enthusiasm seems to influence placemaking principles to a greater extent than participation in this study, but all have proven to have statistically significant positive impacts on the placemaking principles assessed.Practical implicationsPlanners need to focus on effective promotional activities aimed at awareness and enhance enthusiasm to help increase perceptions of placemaking and increase local quality of life.Originality/valueexplores perceptions of “self” and “how others feel” by assessing principles of placemaking associated with the case of Rijeka. This allows researchers to explore understandings of how people perceive the attitudes of their fellow residents.


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