From mainstream employment to mainstream retirement: A randomised controlled trial of a transition to retirement intervention for adults with intellectual disability.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated a transition to retirement intervention that adapted strategies used to support employment of people with intellectual disability in mainstream workplaces. The intervention facilitated their independent participation in mainstream community groups and volunteering. METHODS: We randomised 29 older Australians who currently/previously worked in mainstream employment into an intervention group or wait-list control group. Hours of independent participation in target activities were collected before and after the 13-week initial intervention/waiting period, and at 52 weeks for intervention participants. RESULTS: Six of the 12 intervention participants selected an activity and increased hours of independent participation following 13 weeks in the Keeping Active (KA) program and eight were independently accessing their selected activity at 52-week follow-up. None of the 19 wait-list participants increased their independent participation after 13 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention was effective and highlighted the need to account for factors such as participant choice in evaluation of individualised programs.

Perspectives of operational staff working in residential care and aged care reforms.

Australia is undergoing major aged care reforms, changing from the previous service provider-driven approach to consumer-directed care principles. In residential aged care, this has resulted in a significant reduction in government funding in order to support reform initiatives in home and community-based care. There has been limited research on the impact of structural aspects of the reforms such as the effect of changes in funding focus. Using a qualitative descriptive research methodology, this study explores the impact of the reforms on staff at various levels of operational responsibility in residential aged care. Issues identified by participants centered on the capacity to deliver care in three areas, the impact of funding reduction, challenges in meeting increasingly complex needs of residents and their families, and new requirements for care roles within current limitations. This paper provides an insight into how and why operational issues have informed the findings of the current Australian Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. It identifies areas of support for the aged care workforce that are crucial in fulfilling consumer-focused care delivery.

Australians with intellectual disability share their experiences of retirement from mainstream employment.

BACKGROUND: As part of a larger study exploring the transition to retirement for people with intellectual disability from a working life in mainstream employment, this paper reports on retirement from the perspective of those who have already retired. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with five Australian retirees with intellectual disability. Data were analysed using grounded theory methodology. Employment service records provided background information on participants' employment and supports. RESULTS: Retirement occurred as the solution to ongoing problems primarily related to health. Retirement decisions were made in conjunction with family and support staff, with participants reporting varying levels of self-determination in the process, and mixed feelings about their retirement. None of the participants were participating in mainstream community groups in retirement. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for retirement preparation for this emerging population to support self-determination in retirement-related decisions including individualized training to facilitate independent participation in mainstream social activities in retirement.

Best care options for older prisoners with dementia: a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: The prisoner population is ageing, and consideration is needed for how to best support those with age-related health conditions in the system. Existing work practices and organizational structures often fail to meet the needs of prisoners with dementia, and prison staff experience high levels of burden because of the increased needs of these prisoners. Little is known about the best method of responding to the needs of this growing subpopulation of prisoners. METHOD: A scoping review was conducted to answer the question: what are the perceived best care options for prisoners with dementia? To be included, publications had to be publicly available, reported on research findings, or viewed opinions and commentaries on care practices relevant to older prisoners with dementia. Searches were conducted in 11 databases to identify relevant publications. Data from the included publications were extracted and summarized into themes. RESULTS: Eight themes were identified that could support better care practices for prisoners with dementia: (1) early and ongoing screening for older prisoners; (2) specialized services; (3) specialized units; (4) programs or activities; (5) adaptations to current contexts; (6) early release or parole for older prisoners with dementia deemed at low risk of reoffending; and (7) training younger prisoners (8) as well as staff to assist older prisoners with dementia. Besides practical strategies improving care practice, costs, prison-specific resources, and staff skills were highlighted as care barriers across all themes. A lack of empirical evidence supported these findings. CONCLUSION: One of the implications of the international ageing prison population is the higher number of people living with dementia being incarcerated. Suggestions for best care approaches for prisoners with dementia now need to move from opinion to empirical approaches to guide practice.

Risk Factors for Falls in Community Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the risk factors for falls in community stroke survivors. DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive search for articles indexed in MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases was conducted. STUDY SELECTION: Prospective studies investigating fall risk factors in community stroke survivors were included. Reviewers in pair independently screened the articles and determined inclusion through consensus. Studies meeting acceptable quality rating using the Q-Coh tool were included in the meta-analysis. DATA EXTRACTION: Data extraction was done in duplicate by 4 reviewers using a standardized data extraction sheet and confirmed by another independent reviewer for completeness and accuracy. DATA SYNTHESIS: Twenty-one articles met the minimum criteria for inclusion; risk factors investigated by ≥3 studies (n=16) were included in the meta-analysis. The following risk factors had a strong association with all fallers: impaired mobility (odds ratio [OR], 4.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.68-7.10); reduced balance (OR, 3.87; 95% CI, 2.39-6.26); use of sedative or psychotropic medications (OR, 3.19; 95% CI, 1.36-7.48); disability in self-care (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.51-3.49); depression (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.18-3.75); cognitive impairment (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.02-2.99); and history of fall (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.03-2.72). A history of fall (OR, 4.19; 95% CI, 2.05-7.01) had a stronger association with recurrent fallers. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that balance and mobility problems, assisted self-care, taking sedative or psychotropic medications, cognitive impairment, depression, and history of falling are associated with falls in community stroke survivors. We recommend that any future research into fall prevention programs should consider addressing these modifiable risk factors. Because the risk factors for falls in community stroke survivors are multifactorial, interventions should be multidimensional.

Carer Characteristics and Health, Wellbeing and Employment Outcomes of Older Australian Baby Boomers.

Supporting caregivers and enabling continued workforce participation are central strategies in Australia's response to an ageing population, however these strategies have potential disadvantages for carers, particularly women, including reduced workforce participation and retirement income, and poorer health status. This paper explores the nexus between paid work and caregiving for Australia's baby boomer cohort as this group faces unprecedented pressures to manage paid work alongside caring longer and more intensively for family members, including grandchildren. A sample of 1261 men and women aged 60 to 64 completed the 2011-12 Life Histories and Health survey, a sub-study of the New South Wales 45 and Up Study. The survey collected data on sociodemographic, psychosocial, life history and health-related variables including caregiving and employment status. Around a third (32.5%) of the sample (52.2% female) were involved in some type of caregiving at the time. Compared to non-carers, carers reported lower workforce participation (45.8% versus 54.7% for non-carers) as well as poorer health, more mobility difficulties, lower quality of life and lower self-rated SES. Carers who also cared for grandchildren were more likely to be in part-time or no paid work compared to other carers. Working carers tended to be more highly educated, have fewer mobility difficulties, better self-rated health and higher SES than non-working carers. Male carers were more likely than female carers to be in full-time or no paid work. Results indicate that reduced workforce participation and health status of caregivers varies by gender and type of caregiving. Policy reforms are recommended to mitigate these adverse consequences on those providing care, their families, employers and the community.

Assessing the Process of Retirement: a Cross-Cultural Review of Available Measures.

Retirement research is now expanding beyond the post-World War II baby boomers' retirement attitudes and plans to include the nature of their workforce exit and how successfully they adjust to their new life. These elements are collectively known as the process of retirement. However, there is insufficient research in developing countries to inform the management of their ageing populations regarding this process. This review aims to facilitate national and cross-cultural research in developing and non-English speaking countries by reviewing the existing measures of the retirement process published in English and Portuguese. The review identified 28 existing measures assessing retirement attitudes, planning, decision making, adjustment and satisfaction with retirement. Information on each scale's item structure, internal reliability, grammatical structure and evidence of translations to other languages is presented. Of the 28 measures, 20 assessed retirement attitudes, plans and decision-making, 5 assessed adjustment to retirement and only two assessed retirement satisfaction. Only eight of the 28 scales had been translated into languages other than English. There is scope to translate measures of retirement attitudes and planning into other languages. However there is a paucity of translated measures of retirement decision-making and adjustment, and measures of retirement satisfaction in general. Within the limitations of this review, researchers are provided with the background to decide between translating existing measures or developing of more culturally appropriate assessment tools for addressing their research questions.

Understanding decision-making towards housework among women with upper limb repetitive strain injury.

BACKGROUND: Among women with upper limb repetitive strain injury (RSI), occupational therapy interventions include education to facilitate ergonomic practices in housework. From a client-centred perspective, an understanding of women's decision-making about housework is needed to design effective occupational therapy programmes. This study addresses a gap in research in this area by exploring women's views about changing housework habits. AIM: The aim was to construct a conceptual representation to explain decision-making in housework by drawing on experiences of a sample of Singapore Chinese women with upper limb RSI from one hand therapy clinic. METHODS: Based on a constructivist grounded theory methodology, data were collected through in-depth interviewing with 15 women. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. Data were analysed with line by line coding, focussed coding and axial coding with constant comparison throughout data collection. RESULTS: Decision-making in housework among these women involved three main themes: (i) emotional attachment to housework; (ii) cognitively informed decision; and (iii) emotionally influenced decision. Women with upper limb RSI had to make cognitive decisions for or against a change in housework to manage their condition. However, the women's cognitively informed decisions were shaped by their emotional attachment to housework. As such, they experienced strong emotional barriers to changing their housework practices even when they had cognitively accepted the necessity and possibility of making a change. CONCLUSIONS: Therapists need to be aware that counselling to address the emotional barriers experienced by women is important during ergonomic education.

Australian baby boomers face retirement during the global financial crisis.

This paper examines the impact in Australia of the global financial crisis on the baby boom cohort approaching later life. Data from national focus groups of people aged 50 to 64 years (N = 73), conducted in late 2008, found widespread but variable concern and uncertainty concerning work and retirement plans and experiences. A national survey (N = 1,009) of those aged 50 to 64 years in mid-2009 reported lower levels of financial satisfaction compared with other life domains; many planned to postpone retirement. Findings are interpreted in the context of policies and markets that differed significantly from those in the United States, notwithstanding the global nature of the financial crisis.

A Preliminary Exploration of the Impact of Aged Care Reforms on the Governance of Two Australian Residential Care Facilities.

Objectives: Australia's ongoing aged care reforms have re-focused service provisions from a provider-driven policy approach to a consumer-directed care focus and redirected residential care subsidies. This study aimed (i) to identify the experiences and perceptions of people involved in the governance of residential care facilities about their management of changes due to new accreditation requirements and funding mechanisms, and (ii) to describe their strategic responses to aged care reform changes. Methods: A qualitative description design used interviews exploring perspectives of Board Chairs, Board Directors, and Chief Executive Officers of two NSW-based residential care organizations. Thematic analysis was conducted of interview transcripts. Results: Four key themes emerged from the data: (1) Business strategies and challenges under reform conditions including the need for business diversification and new approaches, (2) costs incurred by the reforms such as compliance with accreditation requirements, (3) workforce demands: for example maintaining staffing levels and training needs, and (4) expectations about maintaining quality of care. Discussion: Changes were necessary in business models for facilities to remain sustainable, meet staffing needs, and continue to provide services in a complex, changing fiscal environment. These included generating revenue streams other than government subsidies, better clarity about government support and establishing partnerships.

International responses addressing the under-representation of older people in clinical research.

Older people (aged 65 years +) are under-represented in clinical research across many disease areas. Such exclusions limit the generalisability of trial results and can lead to a gap in critical knowledge regarding the efficacy and safety of interventions in older age groups. International bodies and regulators have addressed this issue to varying degrees. The USA's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has produced regular non-binding guidance about the inclusion of older trial participants, while the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) binding regulations mean that those seeking research funding must include participants of all ages unless there are scientific or ethical reasons to exclude them. European regulations governing clinical trials of new medications require that participants represent the population groups that are likely to use the product being tested, while Britain highlights the need to improve trial participation of under-served groups, which include older people. Australian clinical trial guidelines point to the potential problem of excluding some groups from research but do not specifically address older participants. While current international approaches may provide some improvements in trial representation, additional strategies are required to promote clinical research that better reflects populations seen in clinical practice. Australia could benefit from clinical trial guidance that highlights the specific issue of the under-representation of older participants and outlines strategies to facilitate greater inclusion. This article provides an overview and critique of the current approaches to the inclusion of older people in clinical research and highlights policy gaps and limitations of current strategies.

'I could no longer cope at home': Experiences of clients and families in residential aged care within the context of Australia's aged care reforms.

OBJECTIVES: Since 2012, Australia has been undertaking major aged care reforms, moving from a previously service provider-focussed approach to a more consumer-oriented policy direction. There is limited research examining consumer perspectives of residential care in the reform environment particularly with respect to both clients and their families. This study explores the lived experiences of clients and families in residential aged care facilities amid the reform implementation process. METHODS: Using a qualitative descriptive research methodology, individual interviews were conducted with clients and family members (n = 10) about their expectations and experiences of residential care. Participants were drawn from two not-for-profit aged care providers. RESULTS: Two broad themes emerged: (i) entering residential aged care and related issues, with subthemes including reasons for entering, decision-making processes, choice of provider/facility and impact of entering care facilities; and (ii) expectations and experiences of care delivery, with subthemes including issues of staffing, service provision, communication and awareness of living in or through the reform environment. The discrepancy between the experiences of care delivered and expectations of initial and changing care needs being met was a major concern. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a snapshot of the expectations and experiences of both the client and the family cohorts in residential care under the reform conditions. Adequately addressing the relational and interpersonal elements of care delivery is critical in fulfilling the reforms' consumer-oriented objectives.

Using a smartphone application (App) to assist older adults to navigate their local area during extreme weather events and changing environmental conditions: A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the views of those in later life on the usability of a smartphone application (app) which could assist in negotiating the external environment, particularly during extreme weather and local environmental changes. METHODS: Seven adults aged over 55 years (four women, three men) living in Sydney, Australia, participated in focus groups. Responses were analysed thematically. RESULTS: The findings demonstrate older adults would use a reliable and relevant app to assist in accessing their external environment if it could provide assistance with accurate, up-to-date transport options, road closures, community events and weather. CONCLUSION: If relevant, in real time and locally focussed adults aged over 55 could find value in a mobile app to assist them to navigate their external environment. These results suggest an age-friendly, specifically designed app will have an impact on accessibility to the local environment with the potential to lead to increased walking and social engagement.

Sonographers' communication in obstetrics: Challenges to their professional role and practice in Australia.

INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: Despite the clinical importance of patient-centred care in the sonographer/patient interaction in obstetric ultrasound, there has been very little current research in Australia on sonographer and sonologist communication practices in the event of an adverse finding. This study sought the views, experiences and practices of Australian sonographers, particularly in relation to adverse findings, with consideration of the implications for their professional role and practice. METHODS: Qualified and trainee sonographers who perform obstetric ultrasound were invited to complete a survey through the Australasian Sonographers Association. Using qualitative methodology, the authors developed themes on a range of issues related to sonographer and sonologist communication practices and roles from responses to three open-ended questions within the survey. RESULT: Analysis of 249 responses revealed three distinct 'Communicator types'. 'Open Communicators' confidently practice open and direct communication; 'Limited Communicators' perceived barriers preventing them from openly communicating; 'Variable Communicators' indicated various challenging 'grey areas' which created inconsistent communication practices. Variables, such as the complexity of an adverse finding and a reporting sonologist's role, attitude and level of control they exercised over sonographer communication, all influenced respondents' communication practices. Respondents believed professional bodies should agree on a standardised policy regarding sonographers' roles. DISCUSSION: This paper highlights the complexity of the sonographer/patient interaction and outlines the difficulty in providing true patient-centred care in obstetric ultrasound. CONCLUSION: The need for a collaborative, patient-focussed policy, which defines and recognises the role of the sonographer in the event of obstetric adverse findings, will improve the current model of care.

Sonographers' level of autonomy in communication in Australian obstetric settings: Does it affect their professional identity?

INTRODUCTION: Unlike the United Kingdom, policies in Australia prevent sonographers from exercising autonomy in their level of communication with pregnant patients in the event of adverse findings. The organisational structure makes the sonographer dependent on the sonologist because sonographers do not have the authority to provide the official report. The emotional labour on sonographers is increased as they struggle to provide patient-centred care, given the limits put on their communication during the ultrasound examination. The aim of this study was to explore Australian sonographers' views on communicating adverse findings, including their level of autonomy in communicating with patients and how this influences their sense of professional identity. METHODS: Following a national survey, seven purposively selected participants, who were qualified to perform obstetric ultrasound examinations, completed follow-up interviews. The interviews were thematically analysed with iterative comparison to the survey results. Three case studies show sonographers differed in their 'communicator type' due to geographical location and workplace setting. RESULTS: The case studies illustrate a sonographer's communication role, and level of autonomy is negotiated/renegotiated depending on the needs and expectations of each workplace. Their communication practices varied due to the sonologist (radiologist/obstetrician) policy on sonographer/patient communication, presence and support in the clinical setting. A strong professional identity and level of autonomy came from the construction of attributes that were built over time based on multiple factors, including previous experience, geographical location, critical incidents, training and supportive work environments. CONCLUSION: The sonography profession demands autonomy and a strong professional identity free of hierarchical barriers within a collaborative model of care.

Retirees' perceptions of goal setting: A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the language and meanings that retirees give to goals, including their perceptions of the benefits and limitations of pursuing goals in retirement. METHODS: In-depth interviews and mini-group discussions were conducted with 60 community-dwelling Australian retirees aged 57 to 88 years. Data were transcribed and analysed thematically. RESULTS: Responses to the term 'goal' varied by age in relation to the meaning and relevance of the term to retirement planning, largely shaped by the perceived formality and flexibility of goal setting which linked to acceptance or fear of failure when goals were not achieved with three profiles emerging: the Acceptors, the Ambivalent and the Rejectors. Language was highly influential in forming perceptions. CONCLUSION: Retirees' perceptions about the meaning and usefulness of goals varied greatly, with the language used a key factor in the perceived relevance of goal setting.

Older Adults' Self-Perceptions of Aging and Being Older: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Older adults' self-perceptions of aging and being older can influence well-being and quality of life. This systematic scoping review aimed to map out current research on older adults' self-perceptions of aging and being older. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The scoping review followed Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework. A total of 5,037 records were identified (duplicates removed). After screening, a final 148 papers were included. Descriptives, including year of publication, methodology, age, gender, and location of participants, were calculated. Thematic analyses were conducted examining ways in which the topic was conceptualized. RESULTS: The most frequent method used in the research was quantitative. Participants were from 38 different countries. There were more female participants than male. Seven themes representing the main research emphasis emerged: attitudes towards one's own aging (n = 48), aging well (n = 23), aging stereotypes, self-stigma (n = 23), construction of aging identities (n = 22), subjective age (n = 18), the aging body (n = 8), and future self-views (n = 6). DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The research within these themes approach self-perceptions of aging using varying points of reference for what participants compare their age to. The methods used to illicit aging perspectives held their own assumptions about aging.

The health impact of a hearing disability on older people in Australia.

OBJECTIVES: A series of studies has proposed that hearing loss has adverse effects for other aspects of health. This article examines the health effects associated with self-reported hearing disability on older people. METHODS: The study utilized the 2003 Australian Survey of Disability, Ageing, and Carers (n = 43,233), a weighted population-based survey providing data on self-reported disability and quality of life, to examine hearing disability among older Australians (55 years plus). RESULTS: Of the estimated 654,113 people reporting hearing disability, 71% experienced limited communication and 60% used hearing aids. Compared with population norms, hearing disability at all levels was associated with poorer physical and mental health scores on the SF-12 measure, especially for people with severe or profound hearing loss, thus suggesting a threshold effect at advanced levels of disability. DISCUSSION: Data support emerging literature suggesting a causal relationship between hearing disability and quality of life. Prospective studies to further examine this relationship are indicated.

Hearing loss and paid employment: Australian population survey findings.

This paper provides an analysis of participation in paid employment for people with a hearing loss over the full span of adult ages. The paper is based on original analysis of the 2003 Australian survey of disability, aging and carers (SDAC). This analysis shows that hearing loss was associated with an increased rate of non-participation in employment of between 11.3% and 16.6%. Advancing age and the existence of co-morbidities contribute significantly to reduced participation in employment. A disproportionate impact is evident for women and for those having low education and communication difficulties. Controlling for co-morbidities, hearing loss was associated with a 2.1% increase of non-participation in employment, a proportional difference of 1.4 times the population. People with hearing loss were less likely to be found in highly skilled jobs and were over-represented among low income earners. The SDAC data set provides self-report findings on the experience of disability rather than hearing impairment. As such, these findings serve as a conservative estimate of the impact of hearing loss on accessing well-paid employment.