The 2007 NOGS student event “Research Directions 2007” was another
great success. The day, held at Keele University in Staffordshire on 16
May, followed the exciting celebrations of Keele’s Centre for Social
Gerontology 20th anniversary. Twenty five students and academics
attended the event and we were delighted to welcome students
representing universities in Australia and the USA as well as students
from universities across the UK .
Our aim for the day was to provide BSG student
members with the opportunity to network and share their research
interests and this was achieved with the participation of nine doctoral
students presenting their current research. The presentation topics
ranged from retirement issues, disaster preparedness, intergenerational
relationships, caregivers, gardening, technology, and food consumption.
The diversity of subjects led to lively discussion with a surprising
number of common threads. Discussion continued during the coffee breaks
and lunch, during which attendees mingled and networked with each other
as well as with staff from the Centre for Social Gerontology. Eminent
keynote speakers included Past BSG President Chris Phillipson who gave
an opening presentation entitled “Experiencing Urban Society in a Global Age: Implications for Research in Social Gerontology”, and Kate Davidson, the current BSG President, who concluded the day with an address on “Transitions” that provided valuable advice to the audience on how to prepare for postdoctoral life.
We would like to thank everyone who attended for
their contribution, with special thanks to Dr. Jenny Hislop and members
of Keele staff who significantly contributed to the success of the day
due to their organisation and support of the event.
Caregiver Burnout in Dementia: Recognition, Intervention, and Prevention
Pilar L. M. Callaby
University of Southampton
This research was an exploratory study into the recognition,
intervention and prevention of caregiver burnout in dementia,
incorporating the influence of previous factors thought to predict
burnout, the identification of new predictors not previously addressed,
and the effects of facilitated mediation. The purpose of this study was
to explore the overwhelming situations that lead to caregiver burnout by
identifying its key predictors,
with a view to
extending dementia caregiving in the home. Case study in design, a
combination of narrative biography, questionnaire and diary methods were
employed in the exploration of factors thought to pre-empt burnout.
Over a longitudinal timescale, eight couples volunteered for a series of
fortnightly interviews, of which one was a long-term sufferer of
dementia, the other their primary caregiver. The author, a trained
holistic counsellor, facilitated mediated interviews. The aim was to
enhance interactive communication, diffuse overwhelming situations, and
identify significant risk factors not previously addressed. Narrative
biographies and six questionnaires relating to burnout were completed at
baseline to monitor the effects of mediation, assess the reliability of
previous predictors and identify any new phenomena. Caregivers made
diary entries as a record of challenges and/or emotional distress.
Thematic analysis was used to transcribe contextual data and in the
clarification of themes. Triangulation between methodologies
strengthened the validation of risk factors. While previous risk factors
were present, these were overshadowed by more influential factors not
previously addressed, the strongest being resentment and the need for
supported time-out. Patterns of negative interaction were examined with
interventions explored with the primary aim of reducing the emotional
burden associated with caregiver burnout with a view to extending
dementia care in the home.
Disaster preparedness of Massachusetts nursing homes: Are they ready?
Kelly G. Fitzgerald
University of Massachusetts , Boston
Catastrophic events that have recently occurred around the world
illustrate the vulnerability of nursing home residents. This
presentation addresses how facilities in Massachusetts have prepared for
disasters and identified key areas for improvement. It also provides a
comparison of data from Suffolk County (located on the coast of
Massachusetts and includes Boston) and the total data collected. The
goal of the study was to examine the current status of Massachusetts’
nursing homes’ disaster preparedness. Data were collected through a
survey of all Massachusetts nursing home administrators, case studies of
four select homes, a review of current facility disaster plans and
state regulations, and interviews with experts from local emergency
response agencies. Findings from the study suggest that the
Massachusetts nursing home industry is not adequately prepared for a
major disaster and that steps should be taken to develop or enhance
existing plans. Overall study findings can be used to enhance nursing
home preparedness for future disasters and increase awareness of the
importance of disaster preparedness among stakeholders and policymakers,
and most importantly, improve the safety and care of residents.
Finally, lessons learned from the research process were offered in hopes
to assist other students as they move forward in their own research.
Intergenerational relationships in transition in Hong Kong
Florence Meng Soi, Fong
University of Sheffield
The study focuses on the current state of ageing and intergenerational
relationships in Hong Kong . It provides a multi-layered analysis of the
changes in intergenerational relationships through examining the social
welfare policies and programmes; intergenerational support;
relationships in quality between generations; and individuals’
expectation of care and support in old age. A mixture of quantitative
and qualitative research methods are employed by using survey,
literature reviews and in-depth interviews for the study. The initial
findings indicate that despite the negative social and economic
developments for the past decades, the current intergenerational
relationships in Hong Kong have still focused on familial level. The
State welfare policies and programmes continuously reproduce the ideas
of familial-based old age support while societal intergenerational
relationships in Hong Kong mainly emphasise non-material support such as
respect for the old or provision of instrumental care by the society.
However, it is increasingly evident that more and more older people have
to rely on themselves or their spouse rather than children. Hence, old
age support by children may be merely policy rhetoric. Based on the
changes in intergenerational relationships, the study suggests that the
development of public intergenerational support i.e. social pensions
could be the key to enable older people to live independently in the
community in Hong Kong.
Baby boomers shed light on pension policy
Myra Hamilton
University of Sydney
In Australia, we are seeing a shift from the age pension as a
legitimate method of funding retirement towards an increasing emphasis
on self-funding through superannuation. This represents a considerable
re-organisation of the Australian retirement incomes system. In
particular, it signifies a re-articulation on the contractual
underpinnings of this system. This paper will use recent research on the
attitudes of Australian baby boomers - generally understood to be those
born between 1946 and 1961 - towards retirement, to shed light on this
process of re-organisation. The research, consisting of a series of 8
focus groups followed by a national survey, produced very interesting
findings which showed that baby boomers sit at the centre of this
transition in the funding of retirement and hence help us to understand
the progress of the shift so far, and shed light on the possible
progression of such a shift in the future.
Evaluating the transportation requirements of older people: can technology make a positive difference?
Michelle Heward
University of Southampton
Demographic trends resulting in the population becoming older for
longer, are presenting a societal challenge in terms of the planning of
services and infrastructure appropriate to the needs of an ageing
society. Rising concern over the escalation of poverty and social
exclusion in later life is juxtaposed with agendas that support older
citizens retaining their independence for as long as possible. This
study focuses upon one defining element of the concept of independence:
the notion of mobility, which generally facilitates access to everyday
essential places, particularly through adequate transportation systems.
The growth of information and communication technologies is transforming
the traditional notion of mobility, by opening up the possibility of
substituting or supplementing a physical, with a virtual journey.
Exploring the dimensions of mobility within the digital age, and how
technological advancements can be of benefit to older people, is a
fundamental aspect of this research. This study will draw upon a sample
of older people from varying age cohorts in order to assess their
expectations, needs, and actual usage patterns of both public and
private transportation systems. This will serve to highlight strengths
and inequalities within the current system that may help to ensure that
transportation systems of the future meet the needs of an ageing
population. Ultimately, this study aims to assess how far combining
technology with transport enhances the inclusion of older people and
contributes to an overall better quality of life.
Food for life: Factors and features of consumption inequalities in later life
Jenny Routledge
Centre for Research on Ageing, School of Social Sciences, University of Southampton
Access to food provisioning for older people has been considered by
academics and political bodies in the UK and elsewhere, but further
research is needed to more fully develop the range of factors and
features that enable a situation of consumption inequality to arise or
continue on through to later life. This project looks at previous work
developed in political arenas and academia to address and identify
problems associated with consumption inequalities and disadvantages for
older people and further provides a local perspective in Hampshire, UK,
which subsequently is compared to national trends of household
expenditures. Factors that contribute to consumption inequality include:
financial limitations; lifestyle indicators; access to social services;
social exclusion; health considerations; retail planning and
provisioning; and mobility and transport.
How retirement affects professional workers’ identity: Poster presentation
Tatiana Schifferle-Rowson
Keele University
The poster aims to cover the research project on the impact of
retirement on professional workers, especially in relation to whether
retirement leads to a continuity or a discontinuity of identity. The
focus will be around the literature, objectives and the upcoming pilot
study. Important points extracted from the literature will be presented,
such as the meaning of professions, the continuity theory of adjustment
in later life and retirement. The aims and objectives of the research
include the following topics: the extent to which retirement affects
identity, the extent to which the profession enables the individual’s
experience of continuity in retirement, how internal or external
continuity is experienced and other interests after retirement. The
research is a comparative study between the UK and Brazil . At least two
professional groups will be included in the research in each country.
These will be academics and engineers. The topics that will be covered
in the pilot interview stage are: the meaning of work, the level of
control of working life and retirement, possible frustration with
professional career, activities after retirement and continuity.