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1 – 10 of over 8000Miriam Stewart, Edward Shizha, Edward Makwarimba, Denise Spitzer, Ernest N. Khalema and Christina D. Nsaliwa
This paper seeks to explore varied interrelated challenges and barriers experienced by immigrant seniors.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to explore varied interrelated challenges and barriers experienced by immigrant seniors.
Design/methodology/approach
Senior immigrants representing diverse ethnicities (Chinese, Afro Caribbean, Former Yugoslavian, Spanish) described their challenges, support needs, and barriers to service access. Service providers and policy makers from organizations serving immigrant seniors were interviewed to elicit their views on barriers to access and appropriateness of services for immigrant seniors. Qualitative methods were employed to enhance understanding of meanings, perceptions, beliefs, values, and behaviors of immigrant seniors, and investigate sensitive issues experienced by vulnerable groups. The qualitative data were subjected to thematic content analysis.
Findings
Seniors reported financial and language difficulties, health problems, discrimination, family conflicts, and social isolation. Although most immigrant seniors appreciated the standard of living in Canada and the services provided to seniors, most believed that support received was inadequate. Seniors encountered systemic (e.g. government policies), institutional (e.g. culturally inappropriate programs), and personal (e.g. transportation, language problems) barriers to accessing social and health services. Service providers and policy makers faced high costs of programs, inadequate financial and human resources, inadequate information about needs of immigrant seniors, inadequate geographical coverage, and lack of inter‐sectoral collaboration.
Practical implications
The challenges experienced by immigrant seniors have implications for programs and policies and can inform the development of culturally sensitive and appropriate services.
Social implications
The barriers encountered by service providers in assisting immigrant seniors point to the importance of inter‐sectoral coordination, cultural sensitivity training, and expansion of service providers' mandates.
Originality/value
This study revealed numerous unmet needs for successful acculturation of immigrant and refugee seniors in Canada. It also reveals that the most cogent and sustainable approach to close this chasm of support deficits, unattended challenges, and complex stressors is to implement a model that simultaneously addresses the three levels and use a multisectoral approach.
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Derrick C.K. Tam, Eilo W.Y. Yu and Anise M.S. Wu
Elder mistreatment is a neglected issue in the Macao elder policy. The purpose of this paper is to review the current elder policy as well as legislation on the prevention…
Abstract
Purpose
Elder mistreatment is a neglected issue in the Macao elder policy. The purpose of this paper is to review the current elder policy as well as legislation on the prevention and management of elder mistreatment in Macao and providing practical suggestions to improve the situation.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper reviews government documents and statistics on elder services and policy of Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) government. The authors interviewed frontline social workers for the phenomenon of elder mistreatment in Macao as well as the issues and problems in handling abuse cases.
Findings
This paper argues that the MSAR government has paid attention to financial aid to its senior citizens. In terms of elder care services, the government outsources various elder care services to nonprofit organizations and other private bodies. However, this public-private partnership approach cannot adequately coordinate service providers to prevent and manage elder mistreatment. Furthermore, Macao-mainland integration has encouraged more and more elders to stay in mainland China. Stronger government initiatives are needed to collaborate with Macao society, as well as mainland authorities, regarding the mistreatment of Macao elders.
Research limitations/implications
It is only a review on elder mistreatment in Macao. Further research is needed to survey the extent of mistreatment of elder people in Macao (quantitatively and qualitatively). Besides, more effort has to be paid on the problem and difficulty of frontline social workers handling elder mistreatment.
Practical implications
This paper suggests practical methods and measures to Macao government to manage and prevent elder mistreatment which is a neglect issue in the society.
Social implications
There are very few studies on elder mistreatment in Macao. This paper aims to draw the attention of Macao government and public as well as academic to the issue.
Originality/value
Many scholars and academics studying Macao elders have been directing to the government focus and keep their eye on the pension system and social security for the elderly. Very limited studies have examined the elder care and mistreatment. This paper is a breakthrough of Macao elder studies that serving as a pilot study of elder mistreatment and hence shifting public attention to the intangible need of Macao elder.
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George T. Patterson and Philip G. Swan
The purpose of this paper is to report on a systematic review that examined police social work and social service collaboration strategies implemented to address social problems.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report on a systematic review that examined police social work and social service collaboration strategies implemented to address social problems.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic review was conducted to identify the components of police social work and social service collaboration strategies. A total of 11 databases were searched. The inclusion criteria centered on the social problem, focus population, service providers, collaboration components and geographic location. Any methodological approach was included provided that a collaboration between police and social service providers focused on addressing a social problem was implemented and described.
Findings
The database searches identified 3,065 hits. After first eliminating duplicate titles, then reviewing and eliminating titles and abstracts that did not met the inclusion criteria, 119 full-text studies were reviewed. Among the 81 studies included in the systematic review, 83 implemented collaborations were found. The most collaborations were implemented in the USA, whereas only one implemented collaboration was found among the majority of the countries. Interpersonal violence was the most frequent social problem addressed by the collaborations followed by mental illness, crime, juvenile delinquency, and alcohol and substance use and abuse. Interventions were predominantly delivered by social workers who provided referrals and collaboration with social service agencies that assisted adults.
Practical implications
Given that police officers are first responders to a wide range of social problems, investigating and disseminating information about the characteristics of police social service collaboration strategies is an important endeavor. Whereas investigating the effectiveness of collaborations was not the aim of this review, several practical implications can be derived from the findings. These findings show the types of social problems, partners and tasks that comprise the collaborations. The present findings suggest that law enforcement agencies do not have accessible name brand social work and social service collaboration models that can be replicated. The majority of the collaborations found appear to be unique models implemented between law enforcement and social service agencies. More outcome studies are needed that investigate whether the social problem has improved among citizens that received services from the collaboration.
Originality/value
This paper is the first systematic review focused on police social work and social service collaboration strategies implemented to address social problems.
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Attracta Lafferty, Margaret Pearl Treacy and Gerard Fealy
– The purpose of this paper is to examine the support experiences of older people who have been abused in Ireland.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the support experiences of older people who have been abused in Ireland.
Design/methodology/approach
Recruited through dedicated elder abuse services, nine older people who had experienced elder abuse participated in in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The data were analysed using thematic content analysis.
Findings
The study highlighted the help-seeking pathways of abused older people and revealed that few older people sought help for themselves and most were unaware of the services available to support and protect older people. Data analysis identified the range and type of help received from family, friends, voluntary and statutory services, as well as the perceived barriers to accessing help and support.
Research limitations/implications
The research did not include abused older people who lacked mental capacity or who had experienced self-neglect, criminal victimisation by strangers or who had not received statutory support services. This field may benefit from future research that seeks to examine the support experiences of these groups.
Practical implications
Family, staff and professionals who care for older people need to be cognisant of the signs of elder abuse, and bring them to the attention of older people should they have concerns, as older people may not always recognise that they are being abused.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to our understanding of the support needs of older people in Ireland and the perceived barriers to accessing help and support.
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Marie Beaulieu, Michelle Côté and Luisa Diaz
The purpose of this paper is to present an inter-agency practice integrated within a police intervention model which was developed for police officers and their partners…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present an inter-agency practice integrated within a police intervention model which was developed for police officers and their partners in Montréal.
Design/methodology/approach
The Integrated Police Response for Abused Seniors (IPRAS) action research project (2013-2016) developed, tested, and implemented a police intervention model to counter elder abuse. Two linked phases of data collection were carried out: a diagnostic of police practices and needs (year 1) and an evaluation of the implementation of the intervention model and the resulting effects (years 2 and 3).
Findings
The facilitating elements to support police involvement in inter-agency practices include implementing a coordination structure regarding abuse cases as well as designating clear guidelines of the roles of both the police and their partners. The critical challenges involve staff turnover, time management and the exchange of information. It was recognised by all involved that it is crucial to collaborate while prioritising resource investment and governmental support, with regards to policy and financing, as well as adequate training.
Practical implications
The IPRAS model is transferable because its components can be adapted and implemented according to different police services. A guideline for implementing the model is available.
Originality/value
In the scientific literature, inter-agency collaboration is highly recommended but only a few models have been evaluated. This paper presents an inter-agency approach embedded in an evaluated police intervention model.
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This paper offers a framework for managing abuse inquiries in social care. Drawing on experience of an inquiry into the physical abuse of people with learning disabilities…
Abstract
This paper offers a framework for managing abuse inquiries in social care. Drawing on experience of an inquiry into the physical abuse of people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviours in a residential service, it reviews the likely demands on inquiries, offers observations about stake‐holding and makes suggestions about inquiry management and reporting.
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This paper highlights the case of David Cooper, a vulnerable adult who was financially abused. It discusses the indicators that may have alerted individuals and services…
Abstract
This paper highlights the case of David Cooper, a vulnerable adult who was financially abused. It discusses the indicators that may have alerted individuals and services to the risk of financial abuse, and the measures taken by those aware of David's potential vulnerability.
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Mark Eshwar Lokanan and Susan Liu
This study aims to examine the demographic factors of investors, contributing to financial victimization that occurs in Canada from June of 2008 to December of 2019.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the demographic factors of investors, contributing to financial victimization that occurs in Canada from June of 2008 to December of 2019.
Design/methodology/approach
In all 235 cases disclosing the details of financial crime victims are collected from the Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) enforcement platform between June of 2009 and December of 2019 for the analysis. The study used a descriptive analysis to showcase the demographic characteristics of investors who have been victims of financial crimes in Canada.
Findings
The findings indicate that these investors of age 60 and above were more likely to fall prey to various types of financial crime. The results also disclosed that retirees and investors with limited investment knowledge increase the probability of being vulnerable to the perpetrators than others.
Research limitations/implications
Overall, the study helps regulators in the securities industry gain insights into demographic portraits of the more vulnerable investors. Hence, more precautionary measures could pitch into these concerns to protect specific subsets of investors from investment fraud.
Originality/value
Individuals who are more vulnerable to investment fraud might not be entirely comparable with the stereotypical victims that most studies portray. The research gap could cause individual investors who appear to be at lower risk to unconsciously fall prey to investment fraud. The IIROC study, detailing the demographic factors of victims, can fill the gap and improve understanding of the tendency of victims.
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