Anne Martin-matthews | University of British Columbia (original) (raw)
Papers by Anne Martin-matthews
XVIII ISA World Congress of Sociology (July 13-19, 2014), Jul 15, 2014
ABSTRACT
Journal of Applied Gerontology, Apr 1, 2008
An extensive body of research explores caring for older relatives. However, relatively little is ... more An extensive body of research explores caring for older relatives. However, relatively little is known about crisis episodes in the provision of care to older adults. The purpose of this research is to explore the nature of crises in employed caregivers' lives by examining the type, frequency, and impact associated with crises. Data come from the Canadian Aging Research Network's (CARNET) survey of 5,496 employed Canadians. The analyses focus on open- and close-ended data collected from 250 respondents (108 men and 142 women) with caregiving responsibilities. Nearly half the participants (47%) reported a crisis in the previous 6 months. Crises are predictable and unpredictable events in the lives of the caregiver and the older person receiving care. They are primarily health related but could also be social, emotional, financial, and idiosyncratic to a family. Findings from this research contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the trajectories in caregiving.
Health & Social Care in The Community, Mar 18, 2010
Although both family care and home support are considered essential components of home-based heal... more Although both family care and home support are considered essential components of home-based health-care, the experiences of family caregivers who have a relative in receipt of home support services are not well understood. Little is known about what aspects of home support services assist family caregivers or hinder them in their caregiving. This study examines family member's experiences of the home support services received by their elderly relatives. Based on a previous Canadian study of contributions in family caregiving, we developed a conceptual model for understanding multiple contributions in caregiving. The present study used this conceptual model to guide the analysis of data from in-depth interviews with family caregivers (N = 52), completed August 2007-April 2008, who have or had an older relative in receipt of home support services in British Columbia, Canada, in the previous 12 months. Verbatim transcripts were read, re-read and independently coded by three members of the research team to identify common themes. Themes relating to direct care (care provided directly to the elderly person) and assistive care (care provided to one caregiver by another) were identified. In discussing the direct care provided by workers, family members emphasised dissatisfaction with instrumental assistance provided by home support workers while also stressing the importance of affective assistance. In commenting about assistive care there were three key themes: caring together, care management, and quality assurance and monitoring. In conclusion, the important role of home support in providing relief for caregivers is highlighted and implications for caregiver policy are discussed.
Canadian Review of Social Policy / Revue canadienne de politique sociale, Dec 13, 2012
In Canada, home care provides health and social services to an estimated one million people, most... more In Canada, home care provides health and social services to an estimated one million people, most of them older adults. In the absence of national policy directives, services vary considerably from one jurisdiction to the next, in what has been called a “checkerboard” of policy and practice. This paper examines policy-relevant issues in the provision of home care services, focusing specifically on “home support” services delivered by unregulated workers. We examine findings from our six-year program of research, and highlight three policy issues that emerged from our study of workers, older clients, family carers, and managers. These are: scope of services, scheduling of services, and the presumption of availability of family/friend carers. For each issue, we give examples of policy or practice initiatives being undertaken and current challenges. We then examine these issues in relation to guiding principles for services, as identified by the Canadian Home Care Association. Au Canada, des services de sante et des services sociaux a domicile sont fournis a environ un million de personnes, pour la plupart des personnes âgees. En l'absence de directives politiques nationales, les services varient considerablement d'un territoire a l'autre, dans ce qui a ete appele une « mosaique » de politiques et de pratiques. Ce document examine les questions liees aux orientations politiques en matiere de prestation de services de soins a domicile, et plus particulierement les services de « soutien a domicile » proposes par des travailleurs non reglementes. Nous analysons les conclusions de notre programme de recherche mene a bien sur six annees, et mettons en avant trois problemes de politique qui ont emerge de notre etude sur les travailleurs, les clients âges, les aidants familiaux et les gestionnaires. Ces trois problemes sont : la portee des services, les horaires des services et la disponibilite presumee des aidants familiaux ou amicaux. Pour chaque point, nous presentons des exemples d'initiatives entreprises en matiere d'orientation politique ou de pratiques, ainsi que les defis rencontres. Nous considerons ensuite ces questions a la lumiere des principes directeurs de ces services, identifies par l'Association canadienne de soins et services a domicile.
Bristol University Press eBooks, Aug 30, 2018
Home Health Care Services Quarterly, Oct 1, 2011
Current Sociology, Mar 1, 2007
This article examines the provision of in-home health and social support services to elderly clie... more This article examines the provision of in-home health and social support services to elderly clients in the context of home as the site of care. It considers gender in the provision of home support services by a marginalized group of employed women; in the experiences of elderly clients receiving services in the private sphere of the ‘home’; in the relationships between old people, family member(s) and home support workers; and in the gendered use of space within the household in care work. Informed by a self-reflexive, autobiographical perspective, the researcher’s experiences as a daughter in a family receiving home care prompted the re-examination of qualitative panel data from 150 home care workers and 155 elderly clients. It examines issues of territory and boundary, control and cooperation, the symbolic significance of home and the negotiating of contingent relationships when public services are provided in the private sphere of home.
International Journal of Ageing and Later Life, Jan 26, 2011
Worldwide, immigrant workers are responsible for much of the care provided to elderly people who ... more Worldwide, immigrant workers are responsible for much of the care provided to elderly people who require assistance with personal care and with activities of daily living. This article examines the characteristics of immigrant home care workers, and the ways in which they differ from non-migrant care workers in Canada. It considers circumstances wherein the labor of care is framed by ethno-cultural diversity between client and worker, interactions that reflect the character of this ethno-cultural diversity, and the strategies employed by workers to address issues related to this diversity. Findings from a mixed methods study of 118 workers in the metropolitan area of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, indicate that while the discriminatory context surrounding migrant home care workers persists, issues of ethno-cultural diversity in relationships are complex, and can also involve non-foreign born workers.
International Journal for Quality in Health Care, Jan 31, 2016
Objective: Drawing on interviews with home care clients and their family caregivers, we sought to... more Objective: Drawing on interviews with home care clients and their family caregivers, we sought to understand how these individuals conceptualize safety in the provision and receipt of home care, how they promote safety in the home space and how their safety concerns differ from those of home support workers. Design: In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with clients and family caregivers. The analysis included topic and analytical coding of participants' verbatim accounts. Setting: Interviews were completed in British Columbia, Canada. Participants: Totally 82 clients and 55 caregivers participated. Results: Clients and family caregivers identified three types of safety concerns: physical, spatial and interpersonal. These concerns are largely multi-dimensional and intersectional. We present a conceptual model of client and caregiver safety concerns. We also examine the factors that intensify and mitigate safety concerns in the home. Conclusions: In spite of safety concerns, clients and family caregivers overwhelmingly prefer to receive care in the home setting. Spatial and physical concerns are the most salient. The financial burden of creating a safe care space should not be the client's alone to bear. The conceptualization and promotion of safety in home care must recognize the roles, responsibilities and perspectives of all of the actors involved, including workers, clients and their caregivers.
Journal of Applied Gerontology, Nov 15, 2010
Client perspectives of home support (i.e., assistance with daily activities that help to maintain... more Client perspectives of home support (i.e., assistance with daily activities that help to maintain a safe and supportive home) have not been considered in relation to personhood: “a standing or status that is bestowed upon one human being, by others, in the context of relationship and social being.” Personhood and positive person work interactions conceptually guided our secondary analysis of data from a generic qualitative study including 82 semi-structured interviews with older adult home support clients in British Columbia, Canada. Findings revealed clients value a “focus on the person,” “preservation of autonomy,” and interactions characterized by recognition, validation, collaboration, and negotiation. Individuals involved in the delivery of home support services are in a key position to support the personhood of older adult clients.
International Journal of Ageing and Later Life, Jan 26, 2011
Worldwide, immigrant workers are responsible for much of the care provided to elderly people who ... more Worldwide, immigrant workers are responsible for much of the care provided to elderly people who require assistance with personal care and with activities of daily living. This article examines the characteristics of immigrant home care workers, and the ways in which they differ from non-migrant care workers in Canada. It considers circumstances wherein the labor of care is framed by ethno-cultural diversity between client and worker, interactions that reflect the character of this ethno-cultural diversity, and the strategies employed by workers to address issues related to this diversity. Findings from a mixed methods study of 118 workers in the metropolitan area of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, indicate that while the discriminatory context surrounding migrant home care workers persists, issues of ethno-cultural diversity in relationships are complex, and can also involve non-foreign born workers.
British Journal of Social Work, Feb 1, 2007
This study advances the understanding of family care-giving by examining the provision of care to... more This study advances the understanding of family care-giving by examining the provision of care to an older relative by adult children. It focuses on examining ‘who helps whom’ by extending analyses beyond the typical dyadic focus of care-giving in later life. The data for this research are derived from CARNET: The Canadian Aging Research Network’s survey of employed Canadians. Specifically,
University of British Columbia Press eBooks, Apr 15, 2021
Canadian journal on aging =, Mar 1, 2010
On estime que 36,000 travailleurs de soutien à domicile aident les anciens canadiens chaque année... more On estime que 36,000 travailleurs de soutien à domicile aident les anciens canadiens chaque année avec les activités quotidiennes, comme la baignade, l'habillement, le nettoyage et les travaux ménagers légers, mais les expériences quotidiennes des travailleurs qui donnent soutien à domicile ne sont pas bien encore compris. Mahmood et Martin-Matthews (2008) ont développé un modèle qui localise le travailleur de soutien à domicile, le client âgée et la membre de la famille à l'intersection des sphères privées et publiques encadré par leur traits sociaux, spatials et temporels, et par la structure organisationnelle de l'entreprise. Cette étude, fi nancée par Les Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada, examine et affi ne ce modèle grâce à une analyse des entrevues approfondies avec les travailleurs de soutien à domicile en la Colombie-Britannique. Travailleurs de soutien à domicile identifi ent les questions clés dans la prestation des services et discutent une gamme de solutions créatives pour effectuer leurs tâches quoti-diennes et avec de la déférence. Les conclusions de l'étude informent notre compréhension des expériences de travail des travailleurs de soutien à domicile; également ils mettent en évidence les qualités qui caractérisent les travailleurs exceptionnelles en naviguant parmi les différents domaines de soutien à domicile.
Gerontologist, Feb 22, 2019
Background and ObjectivesThe self-reported health of foreign-born older adults (FBOAs) is lower t... more Background and ObjectivesThe self-reported health of foreign-born older adults (FBOAs) is lower than that of nonimmigrant peers. Physical activity (PA) and mobility enhance health in older age, yet we know very little about the PA and mobility of FBOAs. In this analysis we sought to determine: (a) What factors facilitate PA amongst FBOAs? and (b) How do gender, culture, and personal biography affect participants’ PA and mobility?Research Design and MethodsWe worked closely with community partners to conduct a mixed-method study in Vancouver, Canada. Eighteen visible minority FBOAs completed an in-depth interview in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Punjabi, or Hindi.ResultsThree dominant factors promote participants’ PA and mobility: (a) participants walk for well-being and socialization; (b) participants have access to a supportive social environment, which includes culturally familiar and linguistically accessible shops and services; and (c) gender and personal biography, including work history and a desire for independence, affect their PA and mobility behaviors.Discussion and ImplicationsWe extend the Webber et al. mobility framework, with examples that further articulate the role of gender (e.g., domestic work), culture (cultural familiarity) and personal biography (work history and a desire for familial independence) (Webber, S. C., Porter, M. M., & Menec, V. H. (2010). Mobility in older adults: A comprehensive framework. The Gerontologist, 50, 443–450. doi:10.1093/geront/gnq013). Future programming to support the PA of FBOAs should be culturally familiar and linguistically accessible.
Policy Press eBooks, May 14, 2008
This chapter examines the experiences of home support workers and older clients in the delivery a... more This chapter examines the experiences of home support workers and older clients in the delivery and receipt of home support services in rural Canada. The research is framed by human ecology and examines issues of distance, privacy and independence as important elements ...
Innovation in Aging, 2020
The development of health and social services should be based on a thorough needs assessment with... more The development of health and social services should be based on a thorough needs assessment with all stakeholders, followed by ongoing monitoring of implementation and subsequent short and long term outcomes. Relying on four different service models, this symposium reviews their evaluation processes and summarizes the main lessons learned, in order to inform future efforts. Wyman and colleagues outline efforts to develop culturally-sensitive dementia care services for American Indian and Alaska Native older adults and caregivers using qualitative interviews and community-based participatory research methods. Findings offer guidance for culturally-tailored implementation of services. Shepherd-Banigan et al. report on a quantitative needs assessment of over 1,500 caregivers of older Veterans enrolled in Veterans Administration healthcare. Providing care to individuals with co-morbid conditions predicted higher levels of distress and burden among caregivers, pointing to likely benefit...
Social Science & Medicine, 2022
With particular focus on availability of family care, research on relationships in later life hav... more With particular focus on availability of family care, research on relationships in later life have often emphasized dynamics inside homes and connections with direct family members. However, a growing number of scholars recognize changes in family practices and the prominence of different types of non-kin ties that are as important as family to older people. Connidis has proposed a sociological approach to capture the realities of personal relationship in later life. Informed by Connidis' approach, we apply qualitative lenses to study social capital in analyzing 40 semi-structured interviews conducted with Chilean people aged 60-74 years. We used a thematic analysis to examine the circumstances under which older people mobilize help through different types of kin and non-kin ties as bonding or bridging social capital. Though literature on social capital describes friends and family members as bonding ties, our findings indicate that they play a double role as bonding and bridging social capital in their own unique way, depending on circumstances. Friends, in comparison to family ties, bridge the older person with a variety of worldviews and lifestyles, helping them to advance their wellbeing in the face of life transitions and challenges experienced with aging. Study participants associated seeking help from others with notions of material and physical dependency, laziness, and a commitment to return help. The preference to seek different types of support from a variety of relationships can be interpreted as a way to manage ambivalence within a larger socio-cultural context.
Background: This contribution aims at illustrating the perspective of students attending the firs... more Background: This contribution aims at illustrating the perspective of students attending the first International Summer School on Ageing (ISSA), highlighting the midterm impact exerted by this init ...
XVIII ISA World Congress of Sociology (July 13-19, 2014), Jul 15, 2014
ABSTRACT
Journal of Applied Gerontology, Apr 1, 2008
An extensive body of research explores caring for older relatives. However, relatively little is ... more An extensive body of research explores caring for older relatives. However, relatively little is known about crisis episodes in the provision of care to older adults. The purpose of this research is to explore the nature of crises in employed caregivers' lives by examining the type, frequency, and impact associated with crises. Data come from the Canadian Aging Research Network's (CARNET) survey of 5,496 employed Canadians. The analyses focus on open- and close-ended data collected from 250 respondents (108 men and 142 women) with caregiving responsibilities. Nearly half the participants (47%) reported a crisis in the previous 6 months. Crises are predictable and unpredictable events in the lives of the caregiver and the older person receiving care. They are primarily health related but could also be social, emotional, financial, and idiosyncratic to a family. Findings from this research contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the trajectories in caregiving.
Health & Social Care in The Community, Mar 18, 2010
Although both family care and home support are considered essential components of home-based heal... more Although both family care and home support are considered essential components of home-based health-care, the experiences of family caregivers who have a relative in receipt of home support services are not well understood. Little is known about what aspects of home support services assist family caregivers or hinder them in their caregiving. This study examines family member's experiences of the home support services received by their elderly relatives. Based on a previous Canadian study of contributions in family caregiving, we developed a conceptual model for understanding multiple contributions in caregiving. The present study used this conceptual model to guide the analysis of data from in-depth interviews with family caregivers (N = 52), completed August 2007-April 2008, who have or had an older relative in receipt of home support services in British Columbia, Canada, in the previous 12 months. Verbatim transcripts were read, re-read and independently coded by three members of the research team to identify common themes. Themes relating to direct care (care provided directly to the elderly person) and assistive care (care provided to one caregiver by another) were identified. In discussing the direct care provided by workers, family members emphasised dissatisfaction with instrumental assistance provided by home support workers while also stressing the importance of affective assistance. In commenting about assistive care there were three key themes: caring together, care management, and quality assurance and monitoring. In conclusion, the important role of home support in providing relief for caregivers is highlighted and implications for caregiver policy are discussed.
Canadian Review of Social Policy / Revue canadienne de politique sociale, Dec 13, 2012
In Canada, home care provides health and social services to an estimated one million people, most... more In Canada, home care provides health and social services to an estimated one million people, most of them older adults. In the absence of national policy directives, services vary considerably from one jurisdiction to the next, in what has been called a “checkerboard” of policy and practice. This paper examines policy-relevant issues in the provision of home care services, focusing specifically on “home support” services delivered by unregulated workers. We examine findings from our six-year program of research, and highlight three policy issues that emerged from our study of workers, older clients, family carers, and managers. These are: scope of services, scheduling of services, and the presumption of availability of family/friend carers. For each issue, we give examples of policy or practice initiatives being undertaken and current challenges. We then examine these issues in relation to guiding principles for services, as identified by the Canadian Home Care Association. Au Canada, des services de sante et des services sociaux a domicile sont fournis a environ un million de personnes, pour la plupart des personnes âgees. En l'absence de directives politiques nationales, les services varient considerablement d'un territoire a l'autre, dans ce qui a ete appele une « mosaique » de politiques et de pratiques. Ce document examine les questions liees aux orientations politiques en matiere de prestation de services de soins a domicile, et plus particulierement les services de « soutien a domicile » proposes par des travailleurs non reglementes. Nous analysons les conclusions de notre programme de recherche mene a bien sur six annees, et mettons en avant trois problemes de politique qui ont emerge de notre etude sur les travailleurs, les clients âges, les aidants familiaux et les gestionnaires. Ces trois problemes sont : la portee des services, les horaires des services et la disponibilite presumee des aidants familiaux ou amicaux. Pour chaque point, nous presentons des exemples d'initiatives entreprises en matiere d'orientation politique ou de pratiques, ainsi que les defis rencontres. Nous considerons ensuite ces questions a la lumiere des principes directeurs de ces services, identifies par l'Association canadienne de soins et services a domicile.
Bristol University Press eBooks, Aug 30, 2018
Home Health Care Services Quarterly, Oct 1, 2011
Current Sociology, Mar 1, 2007
This article examines the provision of in-home health and social support services to elderly clie... more This article examines the provision of in-home health and social support services to elderly clients in the context of home as the site of care. It considers gender in the provision of home support services by a marginalized group of employed women; in the experiences of elderly clients receiving services in the private sphere of the ‘home’; in the relationships between old people, family member(s) and home support workers; and in the gendered use of space within the household in care work. Informed by a self-reflexive, autobiographical perspective, the researcher’s experiences as a daughter in a family receiving home care prompted the re-examination of qualitative panel data from 150 home care workers and 155 elderly clients. It examines issues of territory and boundary, control and cooperation, the symbolic significance of home and the negotiating of contingent relationships when public services are provided in the private sphere of home.
International Journal of Ageing and Later Life, Jan 26, 2011
Worldwide, immigrant workers are responsible for much of the care provided to elderly people who ... more Worldwide, immigrant workers are responsible for much of the care provided to elderly people who require assistance with personal care and with activities of daily living. This article examines the characteristics of immigrant home care workers, and the ways in which they differ from non-migrant care workers in Canada. It considers circumstances wherein the labor of care is framed by ethno-cultural diversity between client and worker, interactions that reflect the character of this ethno-cultural diversity, and the strategies employed by workers to address issues related to this diversity. Findings from a mixed methods study of 118 workers in the metropolitan area of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, indicate that while the discriminatory context surrounding migrant home care workers persists, issues of ethno-cultural diversity in relationships are complex, and can also involve non-foreign born workers.
International Journal for Quality in Health Care, Jan 31, 2016
Objective: Drawing on interviews with home care clients and their family caregivers, we sought to... more Objective: Drawing on interviews with home care clients and their family caregivers, we sought to understand how these individuals conceptualize safety in the provision and receipt of home care, how they promote safety in the home space and how their safety concerns differ from those of home support workers. Design: In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with clients and family caregivers. The analysis included topic and analytical coding of participants' verbatim accounts. Setting: Interviews were completed in British Columbia, Canada. Participants: Totally 82 clients and 55 caregivers participated. Results: Clients and family caregivers identified three types of safety concerns: physical, spatial and interpersonal. These concerns are largely multi-dimensional and intersectional. We present a conceptual model of client and caregiver safety concerns. We also examine the factors that intensify and mitigate safety concerns in the home. Conclusions: In spite of safety concerns, clients and family caregivers overwhelmingly prefer to receive care in the home setting. Spatial and physical concerns are the most salient. The financial burden of creating a safe care space should not be the client's alone to bear. The conceptualization and promotion of safety in home care must recognize the roles, responsibilities and perspectives of all of the actors involved, including workers, clients and their caregivers.
Journal of Applied Gerontology, Nov 15, 2010
Client perspectives of home support (i.e., assistance with daily activities that help to maintain... more Client perspectives of home support (i.e., assistance with daily activities that help to maintain a safe and supportive home) have not been considered in relation to personhood: “a standing or status that is bestowed upon one human being, by others, in the context of relationship and social being.” Personhood and positive person work interactions conceptually guided our secondary analysis of data from a generic qualitative study including 82 semi-structured interviews with older adult home support clients in British Columbia, Canada. Findings revealed clients value a “focus on the person,” “preservation of autonomy,” and interactions characterized by recognition, validation, collaboration, and negotiation. Individuals involved in the delivery of home support services are in a key position to support the personhood of older adult clients.
International Journal of Ageing and Later Life, Jan 26, 2011
Worldwide, immigrant workers are responsible for much of the care provided to elderly people who ... more Worldwide, immigrant workers are responsible for much of the care provided to elderly people who require assistance with personal care and with activities of daily living. This article examines the characteristics of immigrant home care workers, and the ways in which they differ from non-migrant care workers in Canada. It considers circumstances wherein the labor of care is framed by ethno-cultural diversity between client and worker, interactions that reflect the character of this ethno-cultural diversity, and the strategies employed by workers to address issues related to this diversity. Findings from a mixed methods study of 118 workers in the metropolitan area of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, indicate that while the discriminatory context surrounding migrant home care workers persists, issues of ethno-cultural diversity in relationships are complex, and can also involve non-foreign born workers.
British Journal of Social Work, Feb 1, 2007
This study advances the understanding of family care-giving by examining the provision of care to... more This study advances the understanding of family care-giving by examining the provision of care to an older relative by adult children. It focuses on examining ‘who helps whom’ by extending analyses beyond the typical dyadic focus of care-giving in later life. The data for this research are derived from CARNET: The Canadian Aging Research Network’s survey of employed Canadians. Specifically,
University of British Columbia Press eBooks, Apr 15, 2021
Canadian journal on aging =, Mar 1, 2010
On estime que 36,000 travailleurs de soutien à domicile aident les anciens canadiens chaque année... more On estime que 36,000 travailleurs de soutien à domicile aident les anciens canadiens chaque année avec les activités quotidiennes, comme la baignade, l'habillement, le nettoyage et les travaux ménagers légers, mais les expériences quotidiennes des travailleurs qui donnent soutien à domicile ne sont pas bien encore compris. Mahmood et Martin-Matthews (2008) ont développé un modèle qui localise le travailleur de soutien à domicile, le client âgée et la membre de la famille à l'intersection des sphères privées et publiques encadré par leur traits sociaux, spatials et temporels, et par la structure organisationnelle de l'entreprise. Cette étude, fi nancée par Les Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada, examine et affi ne ce modèle grâce à une analyse des entrevues approfondies avec les travailleurs de soutien à domicile en la Colombie-Britannique. Travailleurs de soutien à domicile identifi ent les questions clés dans la prestation des services et discutent une gamme de solutions créatives pour effectuer leurs tâches quoti-diennes et avec de la déférence. Les conclusions de l'étude informent notre compréhension des expériences de travail des travailleurs de soutien à domicile; également ils mettent en évidence les qualités qui caractérisent les travailleurs exceptionnelles en naviguant parmi les différents domaines de soutien à domicile.
Gerontologist, Feb 22, 2019
Background and ObjectivesThe self-reported health of foreign-born older adults (FBOAs) is lower t... more Background and ObjectivesThe self-reported health of foreign-born older adults (FBOAs) is lower than that of nonimmigrant peers. Physical activity (PA) and mobility enhance health in older age, yet we know very little about the PA and mobility of FBOAs. In this analysis we sought to determine: (a) What factors facilitate PA amongst FBOAs? and (b) How do gender, culture, and personal biography affect participants’ PA and mobility?Research Design and MethodsWe worked closely with community partners to conduct a mixed-method study in Vancouver, Canada. Eighteen visible minority FBOAs completed an in-depth interview in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Punjabi, or Hindi.ResultsThree dominant factors promote participants’ PA and mobility: (a) participants walk for well-being and socialization; (b) participants have access to a supportive social environment, which includes culturally familiar and linguistically accessible shops and services; and (c) gender and personal biography, including work history and a desire for independence, affect their PA and mobility behaviors.Discussion and ImplicationsWe extend the Webber et al. mobility framework, with examples that further articulate the role of gender (e.g., domestic work), culture (cultural familiarity) and personal biography (work history and a desire for familial independence) (Webber, S. C., Porter, M. M., & Menec, V. H. (2010). Mobility in older adults: A comprehensive framework. The Gerontologist, 50, 443–450. doi:10.1093/geront/gnq013). Future programming to support the PA of FBOAs should be culturally familiar and linguistically accessible.
Policy Press eBooks, May 14, 2008
This chapter examines the experiences of home support workers and older clients in the delivery a... more This chapter examines the experiences of home support workers and older clients in the delivery and receipt of home support services in rural Canada. The research is framed by human ecology and examines issues of distance, privacy and independence as important elements ...
Innovation in Aging, 2020
The development of health and social services should be based on a thorough needs assessment with... more The development of health and social services should be based on a thorough needs assessment with all stakeholders, followed by ongoing monitoring of implementation and subsequent short and long term outcomes. Relying on four different service models, this symposium reviews their evaluation processes and summarizes the main lessons learned, in order to inform future efforts. Wyman and colleagues outline efforts to develop culturally-sensitive dementia care services for American Indian and Alaska Native older adults and caregivers using qualitative interviews and community-based participatory research methods. Findings offer guidance for culturally-tailored implementation of services. Shepherd-Banigan et al. report on a quantitative needs assessment of over 1,500 caregivers of older Veterans enrolled in Veterans Administration healthcare. Providing care to individuals with co-morbid conditions predicted higher levels of distress and burden among caregivers, pointing to likely benefit...
Social Science & Medicine, 2022
With particular focus on availability of family care, research on relationships in later life hav... more With particular focus on availability of family care, research on relationships in later life have often emphasized dynamics inside homes and connections with direct family members. However, a growing number of scholars recognize changes in family practices and the prominence of different types of non-kin ties that are as important as family to older people. Connidis has proposed a sociological approach to capture the realities of personal relationship in later life. Informed by Connidis' approach, we apply qualitative lenses to study social capital in analyzing 40 semi-structured interviews conducted with Chilean people aged 60-74 years. We used a thematic analysis to examine the circumstances under which older people mobilize help through different types of kin and non-kin ties as bonding or bridging social capital. Though literature on social capital describes friends and family members as bonding ties, our findings indicate that they play a double role as bonding and bridging social capital in their own unique way, depending on circumstances. Friends, in comparison to family ties, bridge the older person with a variety of worldviews and lifestyles, helping them to advance their wellbeing in the face of life transitions and challenges experienced with aging. Study participants associated seeking help from others with notions of material and physical dependency, laziness, and a commitment to return help. The preference to seek different types of support from a variety of relationships can be interpreted as a way to manage ambivalence within a larger socio-cultural context.
Background: This contribution aims at illustrating the perspective of students attending the firs... more Background: This contribution aims at illustrating the perspective of students attending the first International Summer School on Ageing (ISSA), highlighting the midterm impact exerted by this init ...