Residential Respite Care: The Caregiver's Last Resort

Understanding the beliefs that caregivers of people with dementia have in regard to the use of residential respite may inform strategies to address low service utilisation. In this article, the application of theory in qualitative research with 36 caregivers provides insight into why most delay service use. Although some believe that service use may increase caregiving longevity, others position service use in conflict with normative values, and may hold beliefs that negative outcomes will result from utilisation. To address caregivers' beliefs to support service use, improvements are required to service promotion, as well as to models of care.     

Authoring aging: Personal and social constructions

The aim of this paper is to set out some of the context for the journey I have taken as a gerontologist, reflecting both on some of the decisive “turning points” and the links between personal and social constructions of aging. Along the way, the paper examines some questions about the relationship between analytical and biographical themes. The article reviews the various influences affecting my approach to issues about aging, and the contribution of these to my own thinking about critical gerontology. The latter I see as having a long gestation within my own maturing as a gerontologist, following engagement with debates in sociology and social policy. The article identifies a number of important actors and institutions that have shaped my understanding of the social, economic and political relationships underpinning old age.     

SUCCESSFUL STEPFAMILY THERAPY: CLIENTS' PERSPECTIVES

This study examined responses from 267 adults who sought therapy because of stepfamily issues. Concerns identified at the initiation of therapy and those aspects of therapy found to be helpful or unhelpful to stepfamily adjustment were investigated. Results indicated that issues around parenting/stepparenting and stepfamily functioning were of greatest concern at the initiation of therapy. Affective support, clarification of issues, and the process and structure of therapy were most frequently reported as helpful. The therapist's perceived lack of training and skill in treating stepfamily issues was reported most frequently as unhelpful in therapy.     

Reflections on scholarship and linguistic rights: A rejoinder to Jan Blommaert

The attachment that many peoples have to their language is clear from the fact that it often becomes a symbol of their very existence (see, e.g. Fishman 1997). This is what makes this field interdisciplinary and vital for human rights but difficult to limit to traditional empirical research. There are elements of identity, access issues, and questions of ownership. (Michael Clyne, personal communication)     

Direct What? The Untapped Potential of Direct Payments to Mental Health Service Users

This article describes research carried out for the Central Research Unit of the Scottish Executive about Direct Payments to mental health service users including people with dementia. Previous research had found that Direct Payments were not often, if at all, offered to mental health service users. Using focus groups, interviews and a telephone survey, Scottish Health Feedback explored the extent of implementation of Direct Payments across Scotland, and the views of mental health service users, carers and professionals about the idea of Direct Payments, the potential obstacles, and the support that would be needed. Awareness of Direct Payments was low, even among professionals. Many were hearing about this option for the first time through this research and a common reaction to the research questions was 'Direct what?' The study found that in order to make Direct Payments work for mental health service users, what was needed was 'person-centred' assessment, access to proper support, advice and training, and Direct Payment schemes that were flexible to allow for different arrangements and for transitions.     

Residential respite care: the caregiver's last resort

Understanding the beliefs that caregivers of people with dementia have in regard to the use of residential respite may inform strategies to address low service utilisation. In this article, the application of theory in qualitative research with 36 caregivers provides insight into why most delay service use. Although some believe that service use may increase caregiving longevity, others position service use in conflict with normative values, and may hold beliefs that negative outcomes will result from utilisation. To address caregivers' beliefs to support service use, improvements are required to service promotion, as well as to models of care.     

If Men Do More Housework,Do Their Wives Have More Babies?

We analyze data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey waves 1–6, to investigate whether the housework and childcare contributions of coupled Australian men with one child affect the likelihood that their wives will have a second child. We find no evidence that the way housework or childcare is shared has an effect, nor that the amount of men’s contribution to housework or childcare has an effect. In addition, the effect of men’s housework and childcare time on fertility does not appear to be mediated through its effect on their wives’ housework and childcare.     

Shares of Housework Between Mothers,Fathers and Young People: Routine and Non-routine Housework,Doing Housework for Oneself and Others

This study applies wavelet coherency analysis to examine the relationship between the U.S. per capita real GDP and six income inequality measures over the period 1917 to 2012. Wavelet analysis allows the simultaneous examination of correlation and causality between the two series in both the time and frequency domains. Our findings provide robust evidence of positive correlation between the growth and inequality across frequencies. Yet, directions of causality vary across frequencies and evolve with time. Evidence that inequality leads per capita real GDP at both high- and low-frequencies exists for the Top 1 and 10% measures of inequality with little evidence that real GDP per capita leads inequality. In the time-domain, the time-varying nature of long-run causalities implies structural changes in the two series. These findings provide a more thorough picture of the relationship between the U.S. per capita real GDP and inequality measures over time and frequency, suggesting important implications for policy makers.