Summary

More than 55 million people have dementia worldwide. The sustainability of dementia care today is facing great global challenges of supporting dementia carers – e.g. spouses, partners, adult-children, relatives or friends – who are the primary resources available for people with dementia. However, the greatest up-coming support demand for this group is likely going to come from dementia working carers (DWC) who provide dementia care to their families or friends while on employment, if greater life expectancy implies populations are expected to live and work in an age of longevity in the coming decades. This presentation focuses on the qualitative aspect of the study with 24 DWC to gain a deeper understanding of their positive and negative care experiences of sustaining work-life balance in dementia care. It begins with a brief discussion of the issues related to DWC internationally. It then discusses the English care policies that may have an impact on wellbeing and the support which DWC receives in England. The presentation then drew insights from qualitative artefact and in-depth interviewing research in England to further explore the challenges and opportunities related to work and life balance of DWC and those are shared with non-working dementia carers. Finally, the paper concludes with a discussion of its main findings and their implications for care policy and practice guidelines for social workers and other relevant care professionals to support DWCs.The study in England is motivated by it has national statistical data of DWC and non-working dementia carers from the IDEAL national research programme to provide a good starting point for the qualitative focus. Additionally, by focusing on England where is one of the few countries that has developed national strategies and has prioritised support services for dementia carers, this study fills an important gap in international learning.

Keywords (separate with commas)

Dementia, carers, dementia working carers, work-life balance, positive and negative care experiences

Summary

BackgroundSocial workers are professionally bound to advocate for older adults’ rights when their preferences are being overlooked in the name of protection. Yet how hospital-based social workers navigate the tensions between attending to risk and advocating for rights remains relatively unexplored.   Study purposeThe aim of this study is to explore social workers’ experiences assessing for risk and supporting autonomy in the context of their role planning for discharge in a hospital setting. The types of risks leading to their involvement were also explored. Methods Informed by the tenants of grounded theory this qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to uncover the factors that supported or hindered social workers’ capacities to advocate for rights in the face of risk. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed in four stages. ResultsA total of 10 hospital-based social workers participated in the study. Analysis of the findings revealed a series of circumstances that facilitated or hindered social workers’ capacity to recognize and attend to older adults’ rights in assessing risk. In all circumstances social workers suggested that biomedical views of aging and risk dominated care provision in hospital settings are barriers to attend rights. When social workers were supported in their abilities to assess for strengths, worked on teams that centered compassion and engaged in reflexivity, they were able to exercise their advocacy skills to ensure older adults' preferences were at the center of care planning. Conclusion and implications to practice Hospital-based social workers are best positioned to support the rights and autonomy of older adults during discharge planning when they are reflexive, work in environments that center compassion, and receive interdisciplinary support to assess for strengths alongside vulnerabilities. This suggests that training within and beyond the profession is required to protect against rights violations of older adults in hospital settings.

Keywords (separate with commas)

Older adults, assessment, risk, autonomy, social workers

Summary

There is a cafeteria in Taiwan that practices productive aging. It imitates the employment model to allow the elderly to become service producers. Those social values were created by challenging the super-aged society.Research methods:In-depth interviews with 2 people who have been scheduled for more than 1 year and who are over 75 years old in 110 and their main caregivers to explore and understand the appearance of the following three aspects,(1) Changes in work patterns, work feelings, physical and mental health, and social connections of the elderly.(2) The primary caregiver's support for family re-employment, care stress and changes in family relationships.(3) The expectations of the elderly and their main caregivers on the job content, working hours, salary and benefits of the re-employment of the elderly, as well as matters that employers and the government should assist.4. Research results:The two elderly people interviewed are the main force of the cafeteria. One of them is very proud of being a chef, and is happy that someone comes to the cafeteria for her. Another senior citizen is a waiter, and he often acts as a guide to guide the cafeteria. He feels very honored. The "soul satisfaction" of being respected and being able to make good friends is quite evident in the joyful sharing. In addition, blood sugar is controlled, no need to take sleeping pills, and you can sleep well with a "sense of physical health"; working in shifts, busy in the kitchen, and contacting different groups of people, life has the "sense of fulfillment" that you look forward to; learn to cook The dish has also become a signature dish, and there is also a "sense of accomplishment in life" with the ability to make money, etc.

Keywords (separate with commas)

advanced age, social value, primary caregiver

Summary

Aging well is a global concern, and comprehensive care for older adults demands a holistic approach, including the bio-psycho-social-spiritual-ecological dimension. Gratitude is a well-studied area in social science, with interventions showing positive impacts on overall well-being and health. However, researchers emphasize the need for comprehensive gratitude research, considering diverse spiritual and cultural contexts and practical interventions that promote well-being not only from Western European perspectives but also rooted in Eastern spiritual traditions. In Won Buddhism, originating from South Korea, gratitude holds a significant spiritual role, making it an essential practice. This study aims to holistically explore the experiences of Won Buddhist older adult practitioners engaged in spiritually based gratitude practice. The central research question is, “What are the views of Won Buddhist older adult practitioners regarding the experiences, benefits, and challenges of engaging in Won Buddhist gratitude practice?” The study will involve a sample of 20-30 older adult practitioners over 65 years old, who integrate spiritually based gratitude practice into their daily lives. Participants will be selected from Eastern regions of Won Buddhist temples that provide Dharma services in English. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews will be conducted via Zoom, recorded, and transcribed with open-ended questions, lasting approximately one to one and a half hours each. By analyzing participants’ insights through thematic analysis and comparing them with previous studies, this research aims to gain a deeper understanding of Won Buddhist gratitude practice, enhancing the experiences and benefits of gratitude among older adults. Additionally, the study’s findings will provide valuable insights for social workers, enhancing their ability to support older adults in developing and utilizing spiritually based practices effectively. Overall, this study will contribute to the growing body of knowledge on gratitude practices, particularly in the context of older adults and the spiritually based approach in Won Buddhism.

Keywords (separate with commas)

aging well, holistic approach, older adults, gratitude, gratitude practice, spirituality, Won Buddhism, spiritually based practice