Optimism,Social Support,and Caregiving Burden among the Long-Term Caregivers:The Mediating Effect of Psychological Resilience

Background:As the elderly population grows,the demand for long-term care services is increasing.Despite significant investments in care quality and workforce training,long-term care workers often face challenges such as work fatigue,heavy workloads,and inadequate support.These issues can impact job satisfaction,mental health,and care quality,leading to staff turnover.This study examines how optimism,social support,and psychological resilience relate to caregiving burden,aiming to understand their effects on caregivers’well-being and performance to enhance the quality of long-term care services.Methods:The participants were 542 long-term care workers.Descriptive statistics,t-tests,one-way ANOVA,and hierarchical regression were used for data analysis.Results:(1)Optimism and social support were significantly and positively correlated with psychological resilience and significantly and negatively associated with caregiving burden.(2)Regarding differences in optimism,social support,psychological resilience,and caregiving burden among long-term care workers,females scored significantly higher than males in“social support;”married workers scored significantly higher than unmarried workers in“optimism,”“social support,”and“psychological resilience”;workers aged 45–65 scored significantly higher than those aged 25–45 in“optimism”;workers aged 25–45 scored significantly higher than those aged 45–65 in“caregiving burden”;social workers scored significantly higher than nursing staff in“optimism.”(3)Psychological resilience partially mediated the relationship between social support and caregiving burden concerning explanatory and predictive power.Conclusions:These findings suggest that optimism,social support,and psychological resilience are essential factors in reducing the caregiving burden among long-term care workers.The study highlights the importance of promoting psychological resilience and providing social support to alleviate the burden of caregiving.

Research on the Establishment of a Long-Term Care System for the Elderly with Alzheimer’s Disease Under the Background of Long-Term Care Insurance: A Literature Review

With the aging of the country’s population structure,the problem of social pensions is becoming more and more serious.As for the issue of social pension,the elderly with Alzheimer’s disease are a special group,and the issue of care services for these elderly has attracted widespread attention from society.However,judging from the current level of social security provided to the elderly with dementia in the country,there is a serious imbalance between supply and demand.Therefore,this problem needs to be solved urgently and is of great significance for further improving the country’s social pension security system.Routine care is limited to hospitals and mainly focuses on the patient’s condition.Patients fail to receive comprehensive care services and the effect is not ideal.Therefore,in order to improve patients’cognitive function and quality of life,and learn from international experience,a“community-institution-home”three-dimensional linkage care model based on long-term care insurance can be established.The application of this model can effectively solve and further improve the country’s elderly care and social security system.

Survey on the Demand for Elderly Care Services of Community Residents in Beijing and Analysis of Influencing Factors

Objective: To investigate the current situation of the demand for geriatric care services of community residents in Beijing and analyze the influencing factors to provide a reference basis for meeting the demand for diversified and professional geriatric care services. Methods: A self-made questionnaire was used to randomly survey 1558 elderly individuals at community health service centers in 8 urban districts where elderly care centers were planned to be built. The influencing factors of the different characteristics of elderly care service needs from three aspects were analyzed using a dichotomous logistic regression model: predisposing, enabling, and, need factors. Results: 69.7% of the elderly required home care services, 22.8% wanted to get care services at elderly care centers, 15.9% wanted to get care services at nursing homes, 12.3% required community care services, and 7.4% didn’t know where to access care services. 68.5% of the elderly required care services for disabilities/semi-disabilities, 58.0% for dementia, 54.7% for common diseases, 34.9% for rehabilitation training, 33.0% for plumbing care, and 7.5% for hospice care. At the same time, there were urban- rural differences in the demand for elderly care services, with suburban elderly having a higher demand for care services than those living in urban areas (P < 0.05). The elderly’s demand for care services was mainly related to age, place of residence, and gender in the causative factors, mode of residence and physical condition among able factors, and mode of care services and care needs among need factors (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The demand for elderly care services was differentiated by factors including place of residence, age, and gender. It is crucial to accurately match the demand for elderly care services, innovate the mode of elderly care services, and improve the service quality to improve the elderly health service system.

Imperative for long-term management and surveillance in Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease(KD)is a significant pediatric vasculitis known for its potential to cause severe coronary artery complications.Despite the effectiveness of initial treatments,such as intravenous immunoglobulin,KD patients can experience long-term cardiovascular issues,as evidenced by a recent case report of an adult who suffered a ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction due to previous KD in the World Journal of Clinical Cases.This editorial emphasizes the critical need for long-term management and regular surveillance to prevent such complications.By drawing on recent research and case studies,we advocate for a structured approach to follow-up care that includes routine cardiac evaluations and preventive measures.

Demands and influencing factors of digital transition care service in discharged older patients:a cross-sectional study

Objective:To identify the group classification of discharged older adults’digital transition care demands and analyze its influencing factors.Methods:From July to August 2022,we used stratified random sampling to recruit older patients who were discharged between July 2021 and July 2022 from tertiary hospitals in Shanghai.We used latent profile analysis to classify the older patients into distinct groups based on their service demands:low,medium,and high.We use multiple logistic regression to explore the factors influencing the different demand levels.Results:The degree of discharged older patients’demand was classified as low(Category 1(C1),34.2%),medium(Category 2(C2),49.5%),high-demand levels(Category 3(C3),16.3%).Compared to those have C2,older adults in C1 are more likely to be male(Odds Ratio(OR)=2.81,P=0.02),have 2 chronic diseases(OR=3.91,P=0.03),and are less likely to be junior high and below(OR=0.09,P=0.00),hospitalized for 1–2 times in the past year(1 times:OR=0.19,P=0.07;2 times:OR=0.14,P=0.02),living with children(OR=0.32,P=0.05),have less insurance(OR=0.48,P=0.03),less understanding of digital transitional care(OR=0.47,P=0.01),have less eHealth literacy(OR=0.80,P=0.00),have less degree of importance attributed by family(OR=0.52,P=0.03);Compared to those have medium demand level,older adults in high demand level are more likely to have self and spouse as primary income(self:OR=26.35,P=0.00;spouse:OR=24.06,P=0.02),walking to the nearest health facility(self:6.74,P=0.03),have higher eHealth literacy(OR=1.88,P=0.00),degree of importance within the family(OR=5.19,P=0.01),higher self’s influence on medical decisions-making(OR=5.69.P=0.01).They are less likely to be in 60–79 years group(OR=0.00–0.37,P=0.00–0.03),Household Annual Income<5,000 CNY(OR=0.05,P=0.02).Conclusion:Digital transitional care demands of discharged older patients can be divided into three categories.Constructing a digital transitional care service system that aligns with the demands of discharged older patients is essential.Communication,care plan development,and follow-up are the most fundamental services.Additionally,it is essential to understand the characteristics of high-demand populations to provide tailored services and identify vulnerable populations from health and social perspectives to offer cost-effective transitional care services.

Dignity and its related factors among older adults in long-term care facilities:A cross-sectional study

Objectives:This study aimed to explore the dignity and related factors among older adults in long-term care facilities.Methods:Cross-sectional data were obtained from a sample of 253 Chinese older adults dwelling in long-term care facilities.Dignity among older adults was measured using the Dignity Scale,and its potential correlates were explored using multiple linear regressions.Results:Results showed that the total score of the Dignity Scale is 151.95±11.75.From high to low,the different factors of dignity among older adults in long-term care facilities were as follows:caring factors(4.83±0.33),social factors(4.73±0.41),psychological factors(4.66±0.71),value factors(4.56±0.53),autonomous factors(4.50±0.57),and physical factors(4.38±0.55).A higher score of the Dignity Scale was associated with higher economic status,fewer chronic diseases,less medication,better daily living ability and long-time lived in cities.Conclusion:Older adults with low economic status,more chronic diseases,and poor daily living ability,taking more medications,or the previous residence in rural areas seem to be most at low-level dignity in long-term care facilities and thus require more attention than their peers.

Volunteers as caregivers for elderly with chronic diseases:An assessment of demand and cause of demand

Objective:We sought to examine the demand of volunteers on long-term care of elderly patients with chronic diseases.Further,we evaluated patients'reasons to want long-term care volunteers as well as socioeconomic factors affecting these needs.Methods:Questionnaires were distributed to 516 elderly with chronic diseases from nursing homes,hospitals,and elderly living with relatives.Patient questions dealt with basic socioeconomic questions,their reasons to want care volunteers,and the nature of chronic disease,and their motivation to volunteer and which sorts of activities they perform while volunteering.Results:73.4%of the elderly patients with chronic diseases desired to have volunteers for long-term care.The most desired services were care visits,transportation,and leisure/recreation activities.The number of chronic diseases they had,their marital status,education level,and social support system were all statistically important.Conclusion:The data presented here suggest that the government should actively advocate for volunteer service for elderly with chronic diseases.Additional support is needed in terms of financial support,incentive measures,professional training for volunteers,and supervision of volunteers.Such developments are needed to improve volunteer service standards.

Survey of <i>C. difficile</i>-Specific Infection Control Policies in Local Long-Term Care Facilities

Introduction: The incidence and severity of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has been increasing and long-term care facility (LTCF) residents are at high risk given their age, co-morbidities, and high antibiotic exposure. Infection control policies are crucial for controlling CDI, but there are currently no regulatory guidelines in the United States. Therefore, we evaluated infection control policies in local LTCFs to define the CDI-specific policies and the administrative and staff understanding of CDI, so as to identify perceived barriers for compliance. Methods: IRB approval was sought and exemption granted, all 8 local LTCFs were asked to participate. Each facility was visited by study personnel who interviewed the administrative Infection Control Practitioner (ICP) and 3-4 Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) with distinct survey format. Infection control policies were then compared to the SHEA recommendations for CDI in LTCFs. Results: Of the eligible facilities, 75% (n = 6) participated. ICP (n = 6) and LPNs (n = 21) were interviewed. All facilities accept residents with active CDI and 2 had written CDI-specific infection control policies. All facilities had hand hygiene or glove use policies and 2 had policies for the use of sporicidal environmental cleaning. No facility restricted antibiotic use. Each facility has a policy to instruct their staff through in-services, either annually or upon new hire, but 33% (n = 7) LPNs reported no facility-based CDI training. While 80% (n = 17) of LPNs felt comfortable with the facility CDI policies, only 11 accurately restated it. ICPs felt the most relevant barrier to staff compliance was time constraints (n = 4, 67%), however, LPNs felt it was limited knowledge (n = 10, 48%) and poor communication (n = 2, 10%). Discussion and Conclusions: With the increasing incidence and severity of CDI in LCTF, few of the facilities surveyed had CDI-specific policies. Despite CDI-specific training, there is a perceived knowledge and communication gap for staff caring for residents with CDI.

Equity of access to long-term care among the Korean elderly

The aim of the current study is to examine the extent to which equity in the utilization of longterm care services has been achieved in the Republic of Korea (hereafter Korea), based on the Aday—Andersen Access Framework that takes into consideration a series of variables hypothesized as predictive of utilization. The current study used cross-sectional survey data collected and conducted by the Korea Labor Institute (KLI) between August 1 to December 22, 2006. The sample for this study was 5544 persons who are older than 60 years. The study was extracted from a larger nationally representative cross-sectional survey of 10,255 individuals. The stratified cluster sampling technique was used to draw the survey respondents. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data from the sample. Descriptive and logistic regression analysis was performed examining the relationship between the dependent variable and the independent variables and the relative importance of factors. The results indicate that a universal health insurance system has not yielded a fully equitable distribution of services. The limitation of benefit coverage as well as disparities in consumer cost-sharing and associated patterns of utilization across plans high out-of-pocket payment can be a barrier to health care utilization, which results in inequity and differential long-term care utilization between sub-groups of older adults. Health policy reforms in Korea must continue to concentrate on expanding insurance coverage, reducing the inequities reflected in disparities in consumer cost-sharing and associated patterns of utilization across plans, and establishing a financially separate insurance system for poor older adults. The behavioral responses of physicians to the method of reimbursement, and the subsequent impact on overall rates of utilization and expenditures need to be more fully understood. In addition, further research is needed to identify the nonfinancial barriers that persist for certain demographic subgroups, i.e., those 70 and older, men, lacking social network members, those who have four or more family members, and those who have no schooling.

Safety and Quality of Care Evaluation in Japanese Long-Term Facilities Focused on the Activity Condition and Cognitive Function of Residents

Objective: Currently, standards for evaluating long-term care facilities do not exist in Japan. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of healthcare services in Japan’s long-term care facilities and identify the structural and process indicators associated with the facilities’ outcome indicators. Methods: This retrospective study assessed changes in residents’ abilities to participate in physical activities, their cognitive function, and their vulnerability to injuries. From 2012 to 2013, we collected information on the healthcare services at 1067 long-term care facilities registered with Japan’s Welfare, Health and Medical Care Information Network in the Welfare and Medical Service Agency. We examined 12 structural indicators, 26 process indicators, and 7 outcome indicators. We used multivariate linear regression models adjusted to analyze relationships between outcome indicators and structural or process indicators. Results: Residents’ activity and cognitive function indicators either improved by 80% - 90% or were maintained for one year. The Geriatric Functional Independence Measures, the Barthel Index, and holding conferences related to care were all considered activities of daily living. Three adverse events—tumbles and falls, behavioral problems, and aimless wandering or leaving the facility without permission—were factors that restricted residents’ behavior and number of residents per care staff member. Conclusions: Maintaining or improving levels of independence and cognition in daily living requires a care process system that enables ongoing monitoring of residents’ activities of daily living and cognitive functioning. Ensuring the safety of residents and improving the quality of care in long-term care facilities without securing adequate care staff are not possible.

The research of the community-home elderly long-term care service system

With the rapid development of the aging of the population, the demand of long-term care services in the elderly is growing. Because of family miniaturization, core, and currently limited social accumulation are difficult to meet the demand of the elderly in long-term care.Community provides the elderly long-term care services, and provides the elderly all kinds of household helping services. They just make up for the inadequacy of the family and society.And how to make the community elderly long-term care services become more suitable for the needs of the elderly at home, provide better service for the elderly, are our current problems to be solved.

Building Long-Term Care Insurance System in China

The objective is to explore the foundation of the elderly long-term care insurance system in China, which is to face the problem resulted from aging of the population. Adopting the contrastive analysis to introduce briefly the long-term care insurance system in German, Japan and America for our learning. Therefore, China＇s long-term care insurance system could not totally indiscriminately imitate the mandatory long-term care insurance system in German and Japan, it also could not copy the business model of nursing insurance system in America. The conclusion is that long-term care insurance system in China should use the experience of developed countries based on the basic national conditions, doing some relative works, such as establishing policies and regulations, strengthening personnel training, and improving the market specification.

Influence Factors of Mobility-Related Activities of Daily Living in Chronic Dialysis Patients Needing Long-Term Care: Analysis of Long-Term Care Eligibility Assessment Survey Data

Background: In the near future in Japan, chronic dialysis patients will likely face a situation where the aging and the lengthening of hemodialysis treatment periods will adversely affect the mobility-related activities of daily living (MR-ADL). The aim of this study was to investigate chronological change in MR-ADL among chronic dialysis patients in need of long-term care and the effect of admission to long-term care facilities on their MR-ADL. Methods: Data were analyzed from a long-term care eligibility assessment survey conducted in late March 2009 of 1000 individuals residing in Niigata City, Japan who were approved to receive long-term care. Then data from those individuals who had undergone the assessment survey ≥4 times over a period of ≥4 years were statistically evaluated. To reveal change in MR-ADL, this study performed a three-way analysis of variance with mean survey scores from assessment categories 2 - 5 containing questions related to MR-ADL as the independent variable and the number of eligibility assessment surveys (within-subjects factor), facility admission, and dialysis therapy (between-subjects factors) as dependent variables. Results: We observed the effect of facility admission in individuals aged >70 years for categories 2 - 5, and observed the effect of the number of assessment surveys taken only in women ≥80 years for categories 2 and 5. Regarding the effect of dialysis therapy, female dialysis patients aged ≥80 years and in need of long-term care scored significantly higher on survey items for transferring, grooming, toileting, eating, and instrumental activities of daily living, all of which are indicators of a moderate decline in ADL. Conclusions: Because dialysis is often initiated in women aged around 80 years, ADL in this group of individuals can be improved by the initiation and proper provision of dialysis.

Long-term Energy Demand and CO_2 Problem in the PRC

The long-term energy demand in China and the-Chinese share in global CO2 emission are forecasted on the basis of scenarios of population growth and economy development up to 2050 proposed in view of the interaction of energy, economy, environment and social development. The total energy demand in 2050 will reach 4.4~ 5.4 billion tce. It is shown in energy supply analysis that coal is China’s major energy in primary energy supply. The share of CO2 emission in the future Chinese energy system will be out of proportion to its energy consumption share because of the high persentage of coal to be consumed. It will reach about 27%. The nuclear option which would replace 30.7% of coal in the total primary energy supply will reduce the share by 9.8%. So the policy considerations on the future Chinese energy system is of great importance to the global CO2 issues.

Nursing culture assessment tool (NCAT): Empirical validation for use in long-term care

Background:Capturing general aspects of the occupational subculture of nursing is needed in long-term care(LTC)given its latent influence on the quality of care that residents receive and on the ability of nursing staff(licensed nurses and certified nursing assistants)to implement evidence-based practice innovations.The psychometrically validated Nursing Culture Assessment Tool(NCAT)provides a comprehensive assessment using six dimensions(teamwork,communication,satisfaction,professional commitment,behaviors,and expectations),and evaluation of these dimensions could help positively reshape the culture before any change implementation.Purpose:Aims were to:(1)assess the validity and reliability of the NCAT across nursing staff in a single type of clinical setting e LTC facilities,and(2)present a refined theoretical model of the interaction of culture and practice implementation.Methods:A cross-sectional,exploratory investigation of the NCAT in LTC settings was conducted.Empirical construct validity of the 19-item NCAT's six subscales was investigated by confirmatory factor analysis using a sample of licensed nurses and certified nursing assistants(n?318).Results:The model fit was judged using the comparative fit index(0.94)and standardized root mean-square residual(0.05).Cronbach's alpha correlation coefficients of items in each subscale and in the overall scale ranged from 0.76 to 0.94.Conclusion:A summary of the NCAT development and report on its psychometric properties when administered in LTC settings is provided,extending previous findings of the NCAT's enhanced stability when used in assessing nursing staff perceptions in LTC and by demonstrating that the NCAT is a reliable and valid psychometric screening tool for nursing culture.

Clarifying Problems with Emergency Healthcare Systems in Japanese Long-Term Care Facilities for Older People

Background: Long-term care facilities for older people play an important role as alternatives to family care in an aging society. This study aimed to assess staffing problems linked to emergency healthcare for residents of these facilities, and to investigate the relationship between these problems and the characteristics of the facilities. Methods: The study surveyed managers of long-term care facilities for older people in a Japanese urban area between September and December 2014. The type of care facility, the number of staff and any problems providing or accessing emergency healthcare for the residents were evaluated. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to explore the factors common to facilities reporting staffing problems linked to emergency healthcare of residents. Results: In total, 321 long-term care facilities were eligible for this study and 226 (70%) returned the questionnaire. We compared the characteristics of facilities reporting and not reporting staffing problems in emergency healthcare of residents. The type of care facility was significantly associated with staffing problems in emergency healthcare of residents both during the day (p < 0.01) and at night (p = 0.04). The facilities most likely to report problems were group homes for older people with dementia, because of staffing shortages. Conclusions: Problems in emergency healthcare systems in Japanese long-term care facilities for older people varied by type of care facility. Our data underscore the need for telemedicine and consideration of mergers between smaller facilities such as group homes for older people with dementia.

The Study of Supply and Demand about Shanghai Community Home Care Service

As the Chinese traditional culture is depend on the family, community home care service is increasingly becoming the first choice of the elderly aged. At present, Shanghai is facing serious aging phenomenon, the contradiction between supply and demand has become more and more intensified. This paper will analyze the status of supply and demand about Shanghai community endowment services, and then identify the existing problems and reasons for the accordance in supply and demand on the base of analysis. Ultimately, this paper will raise suggestions about promoting the matching between supply and demand of Shanghai community home care service.

Analysis on Long-Term Care and Influencing Factors of Empty-Nest Differently Abled Elderly People in China —Based on the Data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey

Purpose: This study aimed to understand the actual needs of empty-nest differently abled elderly people and analyze their long-term care status including the factors affecting choice of care mode so adequate resources can be allocated to meet their healthcare needs. Methods: An empty-nest group was compared with a non-empty-nest group based on data from the 2014 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Individual characteristics, family characteristics, and sociological factors were considered as independent variables, and long-term care model was the dependent variable in the three binary logistic regression method. Results: Age, gender, marriage, and disability were the most important factors influencing the choice of long-term care mode, including the willingness of the differently abled elderly. Family care can no longer meet the needs of the severely disabled elderly. Long-term care for such elderly people should be undertaken by professional and specialized social institutions. Conclusion: Multi-level services should be provided according to the elderly peoples’ needs, and the skill and expertise of professional personnel of care institutions should be strengthened. The government should deploy fund-raising initiatives, actively use the power of non-governmental organizations, and strive to resolve the financial issues faced by the empty-nested elderly people with disability.

Vitamin D and Number of Falls in a Long-Term Care Facility

Falls represent a significant contribution to the morbidity and mortality of the elderly population. Because vitamin D is important in bone physiology, the use of vitamin D to restore deficient bone and ameliorate the effects of bone fractures due to falls has become a common practice in recent years. Following introduction of widespread use, reports began to emerge that vitamin D not only aided in repair of fall-induced bone fractures, but that it also reduced the occurrence of falls. Vitamin D now has become a routine intervention as a fall-prevention measure. Early analyses found evidence of prevention efficacy (reduced falls), but recent analyses are more equivocal. We retrospectively examined the records of 350 patients in a long-term care facility in which vitamin D administration and the number of falls were recorded as part of a comprehensive database of care. We found a dramatic rise in vitamin D use over the period covered (2006 – 2011) and a corresponding dramatic decrease in the number of falls. However, the number of falls continued to decline after 2008, despite a plateau in number of patients on vitamin D, particularly females. It appears that other factors contribute to the overall decline.

Path Exploration for Long-term Care of Rural Disabled Elderly: A Case Study of G Town in South Shaanxi

Field survey of G Town in South Shaanxi indicates that current situations and existing problems of rural disabled elderly. According to these situations and problems,this paper analyzes difficulties in long-term care of rural disabled elderly. From the perspective of welfare pluralism,it comes up with development paths for long-term care of rural disabled elderly with joint participation of government,communities,non-profit organizations on the basis of the family endowment.