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Abstract : Living Conditions in Retirement Homes in the Czech Republic and Austria from Seniors’ Point of View
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Abstract: Senior citizens generally face more challenging life situations than other people (death of people close to them, deteriorating health, loss of social status, leaving home, etc.) – even multiple such situations at one time – and must cope with them. The focus of this report is one of these situations: the life of senior citizens in a retirement home, which is a type of residential social services. Objective: The objective of this research was to map the living conditions of seniors living in 1 retirement home in the Písek region (Czech Republic) and in 1 retirement home in the Innsbruck region (Austria). METHODS: The enquiry method was chosen for the research. A semi-standardised interview with 40 seniors was carried out as part of routine data collection. The topics of the interview were compiled as to cover areas related to residential standards, eating, economic situation, maintaining of social contacts, use of free time and assessment of health care. RESULTS: The research showed that both Czech and Austrian seniors assess their living conditions in the home as good. The respondents gave positive feedback on the clean environment, health and nursing care and the rate of participation in events organised in the homes. What the seniors found positive is maintaining social contacts and they prefer the availability of the above-standard service provided in the home. CONCLUSION: The research also showed that the reason for moving into the retirement home is primarily health problems and the related fear of compromised independence. Keywords: Retirement home, living conditions, senior, residential care, social services.Download Full Article |
Abstract : Individual and Social Model of Intellectual Disability in Teachers’ and Students’ Beliefs
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Abstract: Author’s research discussed in the following article was aimed at determining which model of intellectual disability is preferred by teachers and students, and what the differences are between these respondents in this respect. The assumptions characteristic for the individual model focused on the person with disability, and in particular, on his or her biological (physical) defects. The defects that caused limitations in functioning were treated as the basis of disability. Professional activities (mostly medical) focused on adjusting to the state of limited functioning, seen in a reductionist way: as accepting the loss of ability or independence. The social model situated the origin of disability in society. In this perspective, it defined disability as the product of specific social and economic structures, and its main interest focused on the problems of oppression and discrimination of persons with disability. Research was carried out with special needs teachers who work with individuals with intellectual disability, teachers working with able-bodied individuals, and students of special pedagogy. The Likert type scale, called “The model of an intellectual disability”, was used to determine the model of intellectual disability. The research had a cognitive goal but also a significant practical goal related to the specialists’ professional training. The article offers general recommendations for shaping attitudes and assessments connected with noticing possibilities in the lives of individuals with intellectual disability, taking into account the influence of environmental factors. Keywords: Special needs teachers, teachers, social attitudes, moderate and severe intellectual disability, mild intellectual disability.Download Full Article |
Abstract :Adoption of Integrated forms of Support for Family-Provided Care of Senior Citizens in a Selected Location in the Czech Republic
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Abstract: The primary focus of this paper is to outline how integrated forms of support are applied to unofficial care providers who provide care of senior citizens in the administrative region of Písek – a municipality with extended area of operation. The result of the quantitative survey provides information on how families who provide care to senior citizens in their natural home environment make use of the possibilities of professional health and social support provided in the territory of the respective self-administration entity. Also, the survey reveals what services would ease work for these unofficial care providers. The survey was done from 8/2010 to 11/2011 with 475 unofficial care providers. The outcome of the survey is the need for extending the professional services provided to smaller municipalities and rural agglomerations, so that “dead spots” in the Písek region can be filled. Keywords: Family-provided care, home care, senior citizen, social service planning, social services.Download Full Article |
Abstract : Comparison of Executive Functions in School Children Aged 7 to 12 Years in a State of Malnutrition Due to Thinness, Risk of Thinness and a Control Group of an Educational Institution of the Locality of Ciudad Bolívar- Bogotá, D.C.
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Abstract: The aim of this research was to compare the neuropsychological performance of executive functions of school children in a state of malnutrition caused by thinness and risk of thinness and a control group of a District educational institution of the locality of Ciudad Bolívar in Bogotá, Colombia. The research used a descriptive cross-sectional comparative design, where children aged between 7 and 12 years were selected based on the diagnosis of malnutrition. The executive functions assessed were fluency, working memory, problem solving, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility, through the Neuropsychological Battery for Children [ENI, for its Spanish acronym] and the original version of Stroop and Wisconsin tests. Results showed statistically significant differences in executive functioning between the children with thinness, thinness risk and the control group. The students with thinness showed a low performance in verbal fluency, visual fluency, working memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control compared with students in a state of malnutrition due to thinness risk and those with normal weight (control group). In conclusion, a strong association was found between the effect of child malnutrition and poor performance in executive tasks where there is evidence that executive functioning is more affected in children with malnutrition due to thinness (severe malnutrition) than in children with malnutrition due to thinness risk and in those of the control group. Keywords: Executive functions, malnutrition, child neuropsychology, inhibitory control, working memory.Download Full Article |
Abstract : Dysgraphia in Relation to Cognitive Performance in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease
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Abstract: Dysgraphia has been observed in patients presenting mild to moderate levels of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in several studies. In the present study, 30 AD patients and 30 matched healthy controls, originating from the Lazio region, Rome, Italy, were examined on tests of letter-writing ability and cognitive performance over a series of 10 test days that extended over 19 days (Test days: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19). Consistent deficits by the AD patients over the initial cognition test (PQ1), 2nd cognition test (PQ2) and the difference between them (D∆), expressing deterioration, and writing-time compared the group of healthy control subjects were obtained. Furthermore, the performances of the AD patients on the PQ1, D∆ and writing-time, but not the PQ2, tests deteriorated from the 1st five days of testing (Days 1-9) to the 2nd five days (11-19). Both AD patients’ and healthy controls’ MMSE scores were markedly and significantly correlated with performance of PQ1, writing-time and PQ2. The extent of dysgraphia and progressive deficits in the AD patients implicate multiple brain regions in the loss of functional integrity. Keywords: Dysgraphia, cognition, deficit, patients, healthy controls, PQ1, writing-time, PQ2, MMSE, deterioration, Alzheimer’s disease.Download Full Article |
