Benefits for elders with vulnerable health from the Chronic Disease Self-management Program (CDSMP) at short and longer term.

Background: When health declines, older persons may benefit from an intervention program that strengthens their self-management and empowers them to keep in control of their own body and life. Therefore we conducted a Randomized Controlled Trial using the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) in a sample of 169 older persons in frail health and in need of elderly care.

Methods: We assessed psychological coping resources and wellbeing, pre- and posttreatment and at 6-month follow-up, and investigated whether specific subgroups would benefit in particular from the intervention.

Promotion of self-management in vulnerable older people: a narrative literature review of outcomes of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP).

With ageing, older people can become frail, and this has been shown to be associated with a decrease in well-being. Observational studies provide evidence of a positive effect of coping resources on well-being. The question is: can coping resources be improved in vulnerable older people? The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) is a target group-specific intervention which aims to promote the self-management of older people who are confronted with deteriorating health.

The role of coping resources on change in well-being during persistent health decline.

Objective: Research in older persons with deteriorating health shows a decrease in well-being. The aim of this study was to examine the role of psychological coping resources in the association between health decline and well-being, in a longitudinal design.

Method: Data were used from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA).

Persistent Deterioration of Functioning (PDF) and change in well-being in older persons.

Background And Aims: It is often assumed that aging is accompanied by diverse and constant functional and cognitive decline, and it is therefore surprising that the well-being of older persons does not appear to decline in the same way. This study investigates longitudinally whether well-being in older persons changes due to Persistent Deterioration of Functioning (PDF).

Methods: Data were collected in the context of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA).

Escape loneliness by going digital: a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of a Dutch experiment in using ECT to overcome loneliness among older adults.

Background: This study evaluates the outcomes of an Internet-at-home intervention experiment that intended to decrease loneliness among chronically ill and physically handicapped older adults through introducing them to the use of an electronic communication facility.

Method: To determine the effectiveness of the experiment in terms of reducing loneliness, 15 older adults were interviewed three times: shortly before the start, two years later and immediately after termination of the experiment, while their loneliness scores at zero and post-measurement were compared with those of a control group.

Results: Both the participants and the control persons experienced a reduction in loneliness over time.

Does widowhood affect memory performance of older persons?

Background: The loss of a spouse has been found to have a negative effect on physical and mental health and leads to increased mortality. Whether conjugal bereavement also affects memory functioning has largely been unexamined. The present study investigates the effect of widowhood on memory functioning in older persons.

[Determinants of care burden among spouses and children of physically impaired elderly].

The study focused on determinants of care burden among spouses and children providing care to older adults. The care recipients in this study are older adults who participated in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) since 1992. A selected subsample of 155 chronically ill respondents with a need for care, 78 of their spouses and 337 of their children participated in a side-study on family care giving.

Psychological distress in victims of elder mistreatment: the effects of social support and coping.

The objective of the study was to examine psychological distress in victims of elder mistreatment and to determine whether social support, coping style, mastery, and perceived self-efficacy favorably influence the psychological health of these victims. The study sample consisted of 77 subjects who reported recent chronic verbal aggression, physical aggression, or financial mistreatment, and a control group of 147 subjects who had not been mistreated. All participants were elderly persons who were over 65 years of age and living independently in the community.

Activity in older adults: cause or consequence of cognitive functioning? A longitudinal study on everyday activities and cognitive performance in older adults.

The impact of three types of everyday activities (i.e., social, experiential, and developmental) on four cognitive functions (i.

[Effect of changes in physical capacities upon personal social network in aging people].

The aim of the research is to assess whether there is change in the size and composition of older adults' personal network. Furthermore, change in contact frequency and received instrumental support within the relationships is studied. Five relationship types are distinguished: children, other kin, friends, neighbors and acquaintances.

Religious climate and geographical distribution of depressive symptoms in older Dutch citizens.

This study examines whether the degree of conservatism of the religious climate affects the geographical distribution of late life depressive symptoms. A U-shaped relationship is hypothesized: high levels of depressive symptoms at the extremes (both a-religious and hyperconservative), and a low level in the middle (moderate-conservative). Subjects are 3051 older Dutch citizens (55-85 years), living in 11 municipalities.

Ageing in the Netherlands: Structural and cultural characteristics.

This article discusses the specific situation of social policy for the elderly in the Netherlands. On the one hand, due to a prolonged high birth rate after the Second World War, the proportion of the aged is relatively moderate in comparison with surrounding countries. On the other hand, more aged people live in intramural institutions than in other countries, which contrasts with the availability of informal care, resulting from the relatively large proportion of younger persons.

Family care of impaired elderly: a role theory approach.

To understand the behaviour of family members who take care of their impaired parents, a role theoretical model is presented. The model defines three dimensions of human behaviour for assessing the behaviour of role-incumbents. These three dimensions are indicated by the questions: What should be done? What is one willing to do? What can be done? This heuristic model is applied to the caring behaviour of adult children towards their impaired parents.

Sociological research on age, aging and the aged in the Netherlands.

A review is given of the socio-gerontological research in the Netherlands. According to a frame work, organising this area of research, first an overview is presented of the studies on age and ageing and next the research on the aged is summarized. The research on age and ageing is limited.