Suchergebnisse

The introduction of new asset/income tested charges for high care residents was the 1997–98 Commonwealth government policy response to concerns about financing residential aged care. This in‐depth study of residents, families, staff and managers in three aged care facilities explores issues of equity, access and empowerment arising when some residents pay more for the same level of care and amenity. The study reports little evidence of financial contributions affecting access to high care places and the delivery of care, the potential for differential access to amenities such as single rooms linked to the extra payments, and no evidence of a sense of empowerment linked to payment of the new charges. The complexity of current financial arrangements, access to appropriate financial advice at the time of entry, and the potential for an informal two tier system in relation to the allocation of amenities are identified as developing policy issues.

PurposeResponding to suspected financial abuse in residential aged care provides particular challenges to care managers. This paper aims to explore responses to financial abuse by care managers and the knowledge, policies and principles that guide practice in this context.Design/methodology/approachThe research is part of a larger project exploring financial asset management and financial abuse in residential aged care in Australia. The thematic analysis reports on responses of care managers in 62 aged care facilities to survey interview questions and case scenarios presenting issues of alleged financial abuse.FindingsAlthough most care managers accepted an obligation to act in response to suspected financial abuse, inconsistency and a lack of familiarity with policy are clearly demonstrated. Practice responses vary according to whether the primary focus is on residents, family or managing risk. Despite most reporting policies in place in the event of alleged theft, reports on the use of policies and protocols to guide responses to suspected misuse of an enduring power of attorney or undue influence are limited. The care manager's knowledge and approach to practice are crucial to framing the response.Originality/valueThe research provides insight into inconsistencies in responses to financial abuse in residential aged care, identifies good practice and outlines the limitations in knowledge of some care managers. It argues for the need to enhance understanding, support and training to further develop practice in this setting, particularly in relation to adult protection principles.

ABSTRACTLittle is known about the experience of family and friends when a young adult goes missing, less is known about how siblings make sense of the experience. Police assistance to locate the missing person may be sought but there is little recognition of going missing or missingness as a social issue, and there is little or no adequate social response to the needs of those left behind. This paper links knowledge of siblings, loss and grief to an understanding of this phenomenon. It presents the methodology and findings of an exploratory, qualitative study into the experiences of nine adult siblings of long‐term missing people in Australia and presents the themes drawn from their accounts. The themes are briefly elaborated using direct quotations from participants in the study and represented in a diagram. The paper seeks to develop greater understanding of the inter‐relationship between missingness and other social issues, to give voice to the views of participants and to encourage practitioners to engage more purposefully in work with family and friends affected by this issue. Some implications for social work practice are presented.

This qualitative study explores the influence of Malay culture and religion in shaping the pathways of help seeking for family carers of older adults with mental health problems in rural Malaysia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with family carers of older adults diagnosed with schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. Thematic analysis was used to analyse patterns within the data. Based upon the perspectives of family carers, findings show how cultural and religious beliefs and practices provided support to carers, and highlight how carers manage the intersection of culture and religion with psychiatric treatment for their family members with mental illness.