...Anxiety Scores of Informal Caregivers Theresa A. Patterson Mount Aloysius College Abstract Informal caregivers, or family members who provide care to their physically or cognitively impaired relatives, are leading providers of services to elderly individuals. However, caregivers frequently experience symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety. Also, caregivers may suffer from physical or psychological distress as a result of these symptoms. The author examined the effects of depression, stress and anxiety and suggested an assessment instrument to gauge levels of anxiety. In addition, strengths and limitations of this approach were delineated. The author hypothesized that caregivers would exhibit higher anxiety scores than non-caregivers. This hypothesis was tested by comparing a group of informal caregivers to a group of non-caregivers. Furthermore, recommendations for reduction of stress and anxiety symptoms were made. Anxiety Scores of Informal Caregivers Family members of elderly, impaired individuals in the United States provide the majority of necessary daily care for their relatives (Sheehan & Nuttall, 1988). These caregivers may be described as informal: individuals who provide unpaid care to a friend or family member out of love and respect for the impaired person (George & Gwyther, 1986). Unfortunately, many caregivers reported significant stress, depression and anxiety (Sheehan & Nuttall, 1988). Research demonstrated a correlation...
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...| | Elderly Abuse and Neglect When discussing abuse and neglect we often think of children first. That being said, children are not the only ones who will be abused and/or neglected. In fact, this happens to some elderly as well. While some elderly may be productive enough to care for themselves, others are not. The end result is a complete (or close to complete) dependency on someone else for their needs. In addition, just like with children, this dependency can lead to abuse and/or neglect. There has been an increase in the number of elderly that have been subjected to violence and mistreatment. This type of treatment is associated with the individual’s dependency on others; whether it be a relative, acquaintance and/or institution (Meadows, 2010). According to estimates “between 1 and 2 million Americans aged 65 years or older have been injured, exploited, or otherwise mistreated by someone on whom they depended for case or protection (National Research Council Panel to Review Risk and Prevalence of elder abuse and neglect, 2003)” (Meadows, 2010, p. 87). The type of abuse that elderly get subjected to is not only physical, it may also be emotional. Obviously, abuse may take on many different forms and may include: financial abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. This abuse is not limited to certain circumstances...
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...5652 Research Methods Introduction The improved life expectancy has given rise to a sizeable elderly population in all the developed societies of the world (Joseph, 2001).Today’s fast moving technological age has made time a scarce commodity, resulting in less care and time being devoted to the elderly members of the family. This has in turn created a host of problems for these senior members who includes but are not limited to loneliness, anxiety, depression and the resultant loss of self-confidence. Many families with aged parents or other relatives may at some point of time find themselves considering long term care solutions for their aging relatives such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The Assisted Living Federation of America defines Assisted Living as “ a combination of housing, personalized supportive services, and healthcare designed to meet the individual needs of persons who require help with the activities of daily living but who do not require the skilled medical care provided by a nursing home” (James, 2004). The daily activities for which people need help include eating, bathing, dressing, getting to and using bathroom, getting out of bed or chair and the activities which require general mobility. US Department of Health and Human Services defines Assisted living as “a residential setting that provides either routine general protective oversight or assistance with activities necessary for independent living for mentally or physically limited persons”...
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...individuals participated in a study to measure satisfaction of services received. The study hypothesized that at least 80 percent of the clients surveyed would report satisfaction with the services they received from the Associated Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston (ACC). The study also hypothesized that there would be no significant differences between gender and reported satisfaction. It was further hypothesized that there would be no significant differences between ethnicity and reported satisfaction. Moreover, it was hypothesized that there would be a positive correlation between age and reported satisfaction scores. A ten question three point Likert scale instrument to survey clients satisfaction with convenience, timeliness, language, treatment, and overall help received by worker, program, and agency. Data was collected through telephone and written survey format on an immediate feedback or mail-out basis. The results indicated that 89 percent of the clients surveyed were satisfied with the services they received from ACC. Furthermore, the results indicated there was a difference in the satisfaction levels of men and women with women reporting more satisfaction with services. There was no significant difference across ethnicity. Further analysis demonstrated a significant difference between Caucasians and minorities in relation to their reported satisfaction with Caucasians reporting more satisfaction. Overall, the study...
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...Senior Health Plus Case Study 25 Selena D. Fleming University of Maryland HCAD670- Dr. Capstone Senior Health Plus Case Study History Senior Health Plus is a Medicare HMO Services Organization which has been in existence for 20 years in Newport Beach, Santa Ana, California. It is known as a grassroots organization which focuses on maintaining the independence of senior citizens. The CEO had a history of facilitating creative approaches to overcome medical and social challenges. It had become quite impressive as well as a progressive healthcare system for the elderly to partake in. Jamie Richards become the new VP of Human Resource for Senior Health Plus after leaving a previously challenging job working with HMO patients. She had been hired at a highly anticipated time when the organization was rapidly quickly and the moral of the employees was at a high. Internal Strengths & Weakness Strengths Good financial management. Due to the growth of membership over the years, the Senior Health Plus has had a good financial position. They were up to seven offices in their base location of southern California. They expanded graphically to meet the needs of their current customers and to encourage new prospective customers. Knowledgeable Staff. While the Senior Health Plus staff is knowledgeable; she would have to keep the workforce progressing with positive moral. The values of the corporation were passion, integrity, respect, and responsibility...
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...recent webinar “Stress in the Workplace: meeting the challenge” co-sponsored by the national Women’s Health Resource center, the leading independent health information source for women. this white paper offers comprehensive research about the causes and impact of workplace stress, its role in lost productivity and higher healthcare costs and includes the effects of job stress on women workers. the research also reviews successful organizational and individual strategies to help manage stress and reduce costs. Following these strategies can help reduce absenteeism and turnover, help employees better balance work/life responsibilities, and also reduce healthcare costs. about health aDVocate™, inc. Health Advocate, inc., the nation’s leading independent healthcare advocacy and assistance company, serves more than 5,000 clients nationwide, providing more than 15 million Americans with personalized help to resolve healthcare and insurance-related issues. the company offers a spectrum of advocacy, Wellness, Pricing decision Support and Human Resources solutions to help save time and money. the company also offers a direct-to-consumer advocacy service, called Health Proponent ®, to individuals who are not part of groups. For more information, contact Health Advocate (toll-free) at: 1-866-385-8033, prompt #2 or via email at info@HealthAdvocate.com. st r e ss i n t he wor k p l a c e t me e t ing t he chal l en g e he alarming spike in the incidence of reported stress among...
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...recent webinar “Stress in the Workplace: meeting the challenge” co-sponsored by the national Women’s Health Resource center, the leading independent health information source for women. this white paper offers comprehensive research about the causes and impact of workplace stress, its role in lost productivity and higher healthcare costs and includes the effects of job stress on women workers. the research also reviews successful organizational and individual strategies to help manage stress and reduce costs. Following these strategies can help reduce absenteeism and turnover, help employees better balance work/life responsibilities, and also reduce healthcare costs. about health aDVocate™, inc. Health Advocate, inc., the nation’s leading independent healthcare advocacy and assistance company, serves more than 5,000 clients nationwide, providing more than 15 million Americans with personalized help to resolve healthcare and insurance-related issues. the company offers a spectrum of advocacy, Wellness, Pricing decision Support and Human Resources solutions to help save time and money. the company also offers a direct-to-consumer advocacy service, called Health Proponent ®, to individuals who are not part of groups. For more information, contact Health Advocate (toll-free) at: 1-866-385-8033, prompt #2 or via email at info@HealthAdvocate.com. st r e ss i n t he wor k p l a c e t me e t ing t he chal l en g e he alarming spike in the incidence of reported stress among...
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...recent webinar “Stress in the Workplace: meeting the challenge” co-sponsored by the national Women’s Health Resource center, the leading independent health information source for women. this white paper offers comprehensive research about the causes and impact of workplace stress, its role in lost productivity and higher healthcare costs and includes the effects of job stress on women workers. the research also reviews successful organizational and individual strategies to help manage stress and reduce costs. Following these strategies can help reduce absenteeism and turnover, help employees better balance work/life responsibilities, and also reduce healthcare costs. about health aDVocate™, inc. Health Advocate, inc., the nation’s leading independent healthcare advocacy and assistance company, serves more than 5,000 clients nationwide, providing more than 15 million Americans with personalized help to resolve healthcare and insurance-related issues. the company offers a spectrum of advocacy, Wellness, Pricing decision Support and Human Resources solutions to help save time and money. the company also offers a direct-to-consumer advocacy service, called Health Proponent ®, to individuals who are not part of groups. For more information, contact Health Advocate (toll-free) at: 1-866-385-8033, prompt #2 or via email at info@HealthAdvocate.com. st r e ss i n t he wor k p l a c e t me e t ing t he chal l en g e he alarming spike in the incidence of reported stress among...
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...Development Yumiko Myoken Senior Science Officer Science & Innovation Section British Embassy Tokyo Japan’s Service Robotics Development Japanese industrial robots are estimated to represent a share of approximately 30% of the world market. The service robot industry will grow up to 65 billion yen in 2020. Japan has maintained its high patents rate and achieved rapid growth in the areas of speech recognition and safety technologies as well as technologies related to affinity to human beings. The ministry investing the largest budget for robotics R&D is the Ministry of Economics, Trade and Industry (METI). There are two large scale ongoing projects funded by METI that are focused on next generation intelligent robots and living assistance robots. Introduction For decades, Japan has maintained high competence in developing advanced robotics technologies. The proportion of Japanese industrial robots in the world market has grown steadily, mainly in response to the increased demand for industrial use. Today Japanese industrial robots are estimated to represent a share of approximately 30% of the world market. Faced with a rapid increase in serious concerns about an aging population combined with the decline in birth rate, a growing number of people look to advanced intelligent robots, not merely as suitable for industrial use, but also for service applications for people to support nursing care and housework. The Aichi Expo in 2005 was a big turning point when Japanese...
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...Food Stamps Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Abstract This article describes the benefits of the Medicare system while exploring the many challenges of the program. The United States Medicare program is the closest program to universal health care for one portion of the population. While providing some level of health care to most elderly citizens over 65 years of age, it sometimes is found to be highly confusing to its patients. Additional concerns explored by this paper relate to the costs, quality of care, and availability to all who need this insurance. When all of the pros and cons are explored, one final concern arises. Amid the rising costs of medical care, prescription drugs, and costs of program administration, will the funding of this program continue and will this be a program that the young families of today can depend upon for their retirement years? 1. Introduction: The rules and regulations of Medicare Simply stated, Medicare is the federally financed health insurance program for people aged 65 and over, certain individuals with disabilities, and individuals with end-stage renal disease. Medicare Part A covers hospital and other inpatient stays. Medicare Part B is optional insurance, and covers hospital outpatient, physician, and other services. Medicare Parts A and B are known as original Medicare or Medicare FFS. Medicare beneficiaries have the option of obtaining coverage for Medicare Part A and B services...
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...improve the well-being of people in the target society. The target population may include the sick, needy, disadvantaged, and vulnerable individuals among other different categories of people with unique needs within our society. Therefore, the social work profession also purposes to assist in effecting social change and minimizing social barriers, injustices, and inequalities. I see the main functions of social workers as to work closely with other professionals to link the target clients to the unique resources that are required to improve their well-being. Their major focus is always the individuals and families that need these resources; they are commonly referred to as clients. Their main function is to provide these clients with hope, assistance and encouragement to thus facilitate the transition towards a new life. Among the functions of social workers includes educating clients on various aspects such as the development of skills like budgeting, communication, preventing violence among others. They work as advocates who mobilize necessary resources, convince the community and if need be, fight for equal rights for the clients in the society. Often, many social workers offer direct counseling to mental and chronic illness patients and their families and serve as a liaison between institutions and health professions that ensure the patients’ wellness. Another function is research and identification of necessary services and making such services easily and equally accessible...
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...(NOT FOR ATTRIBUTION; FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY) Preserving Cultural Heritage through Good Environmental Management in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur: A Contribution to the Philippines Country Environmental Analysis Draft for discussion Do not quote September 2008 1 Elmer S. Mercado, EnP World Bank Consultant. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed herein are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent. This paper represents work in progress and comments to the author are invited (elmer_sm@yahoo.com). 1 (NOT FOR ATTRIBUTION; FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY) Summary One of the critical challenges of urbanisation in developing countries is how to rein in the environmental impacts of progress with the need to maintain one’s sense of social history, culture and heritage. Like the cities of Seville in Spain, Kyoto in Japan, Rome in Italy or even Manila in the Philippines, Vigan City wanted to remove the ravages of political warlordism that plagued its recent past and reclaim its once rich Spanish colonial cultural heritage and prestige it held in the 19th century. When the city of Vigan decided to transform itself as a cultural heritage city, one of the core platforms of the city’s cultural and heritage conservation programme and master plan was the environmental conservation and management of its...
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...ELDER ABUSE: IN NEED OF A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL FRAMEWORK ARTICLE IRISEL COLLAZO NAZARIO * Introduction ...............................................................................................................287 I. Defining Elder Abuse ........................................................................................ 289 A. Negligence ..................................................................................................... 290 B. Physical Abuse................................................................................................292 C. Emotional or Psychological Abuse.............................................................. 294 D. Financial Exploitation ...................................................................................295 II. Incidence and Prevalence ................................................................................. 296 III. Causes and Risk Factors .................................................................................. 298 IV. Dealing with the Problem of Elder Abuse ....................................................... 301 V. Mandatory Reporting ........................................................................................ 304 Conclusion and Final Recommendations ............................................................... 307 INTRODUCTION AS THE POPULATION SCHEME changes, the system faces new challenges. In 2000, the elders accounted for 16% of the total population in...
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...Treatment of Insomnia: An Alternative Approach Anoja S. Attele, DDS, Jing-Tian Xie, MD, and Chun-Su Yuan, MD, PhD Abstract Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder, and is often associated with significant medical, psychological, and social disturbances. Conventional medical treatment for insomnia includes psychological and pharmacological approaches; however, long-term use of frequently prescribed medications can lead to habituation and problematic withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, herbal and other natural sleep aids are gaining popularity, as herbs commonly used for their sedative-hypnotic effects do not have the drawbacks of conventional drugs. Whether alternative therapies possess activity similar to conventional therapies needs further evaluation. (Altern Med Rev 2000;5(3):249-259) Introduction Humans sleep approximately one-third of their lives. Scientists do not fully understand the necessity for sleep, nor the mechanisms for sleep’s physical and mental restoration. Sleep disruption creates fatigue and suboptimal performance, causing significant medical, psychological, and social disturbances.1,2 Insomnia is a widespread health complaint, and the most common of all sleep disorders.3 In the United States, the cost of insomnia, including treatment, lost productivity, and insomnia-related accidents may exceed $100 billion per year.4,5 Insomnia can be defined as the subjective complaint of impairment in the duration, depth, or restful quality of sleep. It is characterized...
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...Michael Plesnarski………………………33 10. Moral & Ethical Implications by Karen Quaderer…………………………… 39 11. Bibliography…………………………………………………………………….47 Abstract In this research paper our team will look at the use of Robotic Technology in the medical field, more specifically in the surgical field as well as discuss the issues and implications surrounding the topic. Our discussion will include topics ranging from the history and development of robots that can be found in surgical rooms, political concerns regarding the Food and Drug Administration and their requirements to approve use of these robots, the legal aspect of robotic technology on how to determine which party is held liable in case of accidents or malfunctions that can lead to injury and a legal case that shows the difficulty to prove fault against a manufacturer. Also discussed will be the economic ramifications on our society, psychological, sociological, cultural, moral and ethical impacts on human life, in particular the patients that undergo surgery involving a robotic surgical system, and the environmental impacts of robotics in surgery. It is our hope that through this research paper that we are able to explain to and educate our readers on the impacts of Robotic Surgery as this type of surgery is becoming more popular with doctors in order to...
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