Working with Contact Father Families: Insights from Therapy

The incidence of marital and relationship breakdown, in particular where children are involved, continues to increase across Australia. For the contact father, the psychological and emotional effects of separation are often experienced concurrently with many practical matters and can raise issues such as dealing with loss, identity development and constructive role restructuring. The adjustment period can also expose an increasing need to move on in developmental terms. This paper describes the effects of relationship or marital breakdown and ongoing adjustment issues upon those contact fathers who have not initiated separation, who have physically left the family home and in doing so, have left their children behind with the mother. The paper also considers the psychological and therapeutic implications for working with this often marginalised group of clients. A working model which addresses various coping styles is presented.     

Regional differences in gender—role attitudes: Variations by gender and race

In this paper, we use data from the General Social Survey (1985–1998) to examine the effects of region on gender-role attitudes, focusing on variations across time by gender and race. Regional differences in gender-role attitudes persisted into the 1990s for white men and women, with southern whites holding more traditional attitudes than those held by whites in other parts of the country. For white men and women and for black men, the effect of region changed little between the 1980s and 1990s. However, for black women, region was a prominent factor affecting their gender-role attitudes in the 1980s, but by the 1990s its effect had diminished considerably.     

Gender,Organizational Cultures and the Practices of Manager‐Academics in UK Universities

The article explores gendered management in UK universities in the context of moves to introduce new managerialism to higher education. Qualitative data are drawn from an Economic and Social Research Council funded project (R00023 7661) in which interviews were conducted with 137 male and female manager‐academics, from Heads of Department to Vice Chancellors, in 16 universities. The career trajectories of female and male manager‐academics are analysed to see if gender power relations, expectations and discrimination have affected their careers and organizational experiences. Also examined are whether and how gender relations and cultures are perceived to be relevant to management, the practices of women and men manager‐academics and the extent to which the differential value and status attached to teaching, research and management are gender‐related. It is suggested that women's participation in management roles, their perceptions of their practices and the expectations others hold of them are still marked by gender, even though some women have benefited, through promotion, from the greater emphasis on management now evident in UK universities.     

Residents and Residence: Factors Predicting the Health Disadvantage of Social Renters Compared to Owner-Occupiers

Numerous studies have found that owner-occupiers live longer and stay healthier than renters. Epidemiologists often view housing tenure as a proxy for economic circumstances rather than as having directly health-promoting or damaging effects. Housing researchers, on the other hand, have tended to study physical and psychosocial aspects of housing that might directly impact upon health. Linking these two literatures, we analyzed nearly 3,000 postal questionnaires from a stratified random sample of Scottish adults. In particular, we examined differences between owners and social renters that might explain observed tenure differences in health. Personal characteristics explained much of the difference between owners and social renters, but some dwelling and neighborhood characteristics also played a role.     

Hospice use by older adults knocking on the door of the nursing facility: implications for social work practice

Since 1983, federal funding has been available for hospice services. However, research studies have found that hospice is underutilized by people with terminal illnesses and their families. Low-income older adults are particularly at risk for underutilization. This study examined utilization of hospice services by nursing home applicants in one Midwestern state. Characteristics of users and non-users, and potential barriers to hospice use were examined. Findings further document that hospice is underutilized, especially by the Medicaid population, and point to barriers to hospice utilization. Specific recommendations are made to help practitioners increase hospice access.     

Hoarding Cases Involving Older Adults: The Transition From a Private Matter to the Public Sector

Hoarding interventions with older adults require significant resources from multiple public agencies, yet recidivism occurs frequently. To improve services through better coordination, some communities have formed multiagency hoarding teams (MAHT), which include aging services. MAHTs requested this mixed methods study to understand the progression of cases through the public sector. Quantitative data collected on 52 cases involving adults ages 60+ identified steps in this process. Qualitative data collected from MAHT members were the basis for case studies illustrating the progression of cases through the public sector. Findings have implications for social workers involved in local service coordination, training, and policy.     

TigerPlace,A State-Academic-Private Project to Revolutionize Traditional Long-Term Care

ABSTRACT

The Aging in Place Project at the University of Missouri (MU) required legislation in 1999 and 2001 to be fully realized. An innovative home health agency was initiated by the Sinclair School of Nursing specifically to help older adults age in place in the environment of their choice. In 2004, an innovative independent living environment was built and is operated by a private long term care company, as a special facility where residents can truly age in place and never fear being moved to a traditional nursing home unless they choose to do so. With care provided by the home care agency with registered nurse care coordination services, residents receive preventative and early illness recognition assistance that have markedly improved their lives. Evaluation of aging in place reveal registered nurse care coordination improves outcomes of cognition, depression, activities of daily living, incontinence, pain, and shortness of breath as well as delaying or preventing nursing home placement. Links with MU students, faculty, and nearly every school or college on campus enrich the lives of the students and residents of the housing environment. Research projects are encouraged and residents who choose to participate are enjoying helping with developing cutting technology to help other seniors age in place.