The social model of disability: thirty years on

This year marks exactly 30 years since I published a book introducing the social model of disability onto an unsuspecting world and yet, despite the impact this model has had, all we now seem to do is talk about it. While all this chatter did not matter too much when the economy was booming, now it no longer booms it is proving disastrous for many disabled people whose benefits and services are being severely cut back or removed altogether. In the article I restate my view of what the social model was and what I see as its potential for improving the lives of disabled people. Finally I focus on the unfortunate criticisms of it and the disastrous implications these have had for disabled people.     

Technology Could Be Harmful Rather Than Beneficial: An Empirical Investigation of Caseworkers’ Perceptions Using a Knowledge Management Framework

ABSTRACT. The reasons for the ineffectiveness of some technology-mediated initiatives in human service organizations are not well understood. This study conceptualized a knowledge management system with the following features: a process orientation that focuses on how caseworkers integrate knowledge into decision making and a sociotechnical system perspective. A mediation research model was developed and was tested empirically using structural equation modeling with a sample of 4,554 caseworkers. Results supported the mediation effect of knowledge integration (KI) as an important factor in organizational effectiveness (OE). The technological domain had a small positive effect on KI and a direct negative effect on OE. The sociocultural and interorganizational domains appeared to be better predictors of KI and OE. Future recommendations include adopting a systematic approach in coordinating knowledge management practices based on a caseworker's KI ability.     

Adult Day Care

Adult day care is a developing concept in the United States. Many consider it a viable alternative to institutionalization for older Americans who are incapacitated. When considering the predicted number of Americans age 80 and over to be 8 million by the year 2000, provisions must be developed to cope with this group and their specific needs. The English experience in adult day care represents a successful and cost effective program. A variety of models are functioning well. Model I and Model II Programs are currently in existence in the United States. Growth is slow but steady. The Subcommittee on Health and Long-Term Care of the House Select Committee on Aging, in 1980, recommended the establishment of a national policy on day care, with funds for planning, and a comprehensive restructuring of funds to better implement the day care concept. Recent legislation, in the form of the Economic Recovery Act, effective January I , 1982. and the 1981 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, represents a beginning as far as economic incentives for day care are concerned. The political climate will undoubtedly effect the future of adult day care, and studies are urgently needed to document its cost effectiveness.     

Advance Care Planning in the Delivery of Adult Protective Services

ABSTRACT

In ensuring the safety and protection of older adults from abuse and exploitation, adult protective services (APS) workers face a variety of situations involving serious illness and end-of-life conditions. Many older adults encountered in APS will present with one or more chronic conditions that may warrant discussion of advance care planning with clients and their families. This study surveyed APS workers (n = 508) in 21 states regarding encounters with end-of-life situations and the practice of future care planning. Results revealed that three-fourths of APS workers encounter clients with serious illnesses and about two-thirds do discuss planning in advance for care. More than one-half of the respondents indicated client incapacity and refusal to address future care needs as barriers to discussing planning in advance for care. Recommendations to enhance advance care planning among APS workers are discussed.     

Social Work Knowledge of Community-Based Services for Older Adults: An Educational Model for Social Work Students

Social workers are often the key link between older adults, their families and community-based services. Thus, knowledge about older adults and community-based care is imperative for social work practice. Evaluation data are provided on a national multisite effort (N = 353) from 35 schools to assure graduate social work student's competency related to community services for older adults. Results suggest that the educational model as described in this article sets forth positive outcomes in the education of aging savvy social workers. Ongoing social work education is needed to meet the burgeoning needs of the geriatric population.     

Health and Medical Services Use: A Matched Case Comparison Between CCRC Residents and National Health and Retirement Study Samples

Little is known about the health status of adults living in continuing care retirement communities (CCRC). Using matched-case control, 458 adults from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) or a CCRC-based sample were compared on total comorbidity, self-rated health, home health services use, and hospitalizations. At year 2, the CCRC sample reported more comorbidities (96%) but significantly better self-rated health (96% good/excellent) than the HRS sample (93% comorbidity, 73% good/excellent; p < .01). There were no significant differences in frequency of home health use or hospitalization. Living in a CCRC appears to be associated with higher self-ratings of health in this sample.     

Seeking Help From Health and Welfare Services Among Elderly Single Women

The current research is a pilot study that included 87 single women who responded to an announcement placed in one of the national newspapers and then filled out interview questionnaires. The study hypothesized three groups of variables for predicting elderly single women's appeals for help from health and welfare services: (a) demographic variables, (b) intrapersonal variables, and (c) interpersonal variables. The research tools were (a) a demographics questionnaire constructed specifically for this study; (b) a personal assessment of single life: chosen or unchosen, including a question regarding what single people think about bachelorhood/spinsterhood; (c) an approach to the institution of bachelorhood/spinsterhood; (d) self-evaluation questionnaire; (e) a sense of mastery over life questionnaire; (f) informal support networks questionnaire; and (g) an assessment of the appeal to health and welfare services for help. A special questionnaire was constructed, which included a list of health and welfare services. The research findings indicate connections among all the research variables. All the research hypotheses were confirmed. Special attention should be given to this one tenth and more of the elder population. It might improve the lives of those women and save Western governments a lot of money.     

Demographic Research in Britain 1936–1986

We use data from the nationally representative 1997 Demographic and Reproductive Health Survey to examine use of maternity services in rural China. The data indicate that roughly 60 per cent of women had at least one prenatal visit, while 40 per cent had a professionally assisted birth over the period 1988–97. Despite China's shift from a more socialist to a more privatized health care system, use of maternity services increased over this period. These increases are consistent with the push toward integration of reproductive health into family planning that emerged after the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development and the 1995 Fourth World Women's Conference held in Beijing. At the same time, we find indirect evidence that the target-based population policy may well have exerted downward pressure on use of maternity services; differences by parity are marked and multilevel models predicting use of maternity services indicate underdispersion at the individual level.     

Aging Women and Long-Term Care: Truth and Consequences

As the primary givers and recipients of care, elderly and middle-aged women comprise the population segment most significantly affected by the long-term care issue. Salient demographic and social factors relating to this phenomenon are explored, and the benefits and shortfalls of the current long-term care payment sources are identified. Despite the recent financial protection afforded by Medicare "Catastrophic Coverage," financing (or directly providing) long-term care still remains the responsibility of the elderly and their families. Privately purchased long-term care insurance provides some protection to those who can afford it, but elderly women continue to constitute a group at high risk for devastation by long-term care needs and costs.     

我国粮食生产中化肥投入的环境成本研究

施用化肥对我国粮食安全起到了重要的保障作用,然而,用于粮食生产的化肥施用量在不断增加的同时也带来了环境污染问题。文章采用1983-2010年的数据,运用比较法和计量模型分析了我国粮食生产中化肥投入对环境所产生的影响。结果显示：化肥施用量以年均4.57%的速度增长,是粮食增速的3.52倍;单位面积粮食产出的化肥投入边际效用以年均1.58%的速度降低;粮食化肥施用的环境成本以年均7.4%的速度增长;化肥使用量每增加一个百分点,粮食产量增加0.32个百分点,化肥施用的环境成本增加1.74个百分点。最后,针对粮食生产中化肥投入的环境污染问题提出了对策建议。