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Over the past few decades health-related quality of life (HRQL) has emerged as the new image of medicine viewed from a psychosocial perspective. The concept of Quality of Life has attracted a good deal of interest, not only from a clinical perspective but also from psychosocial, health economics as well as cultural aspects. More recently, the neurobiological brain substrates that modulate many aspects of subjective experiences, which is relevant to quality of life such as affect, mood, cognition, pleasure, reward responses as well as feeling of wellbeing and satisfaction has been explored and elucidated. Such increased interest in HRQL is highlighted by the large number of recent publications. Over the past 10 years at least 350 papers were published describing aspects of HRQL in the psychiatric and mental field. Among them 78% dealt with HRQL in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders, 21% with major depression, 14% with anxiety disorders and 4% with bipolar disorder. It is gratifying to witness the enhanced interest and popularity in HRQL research and publications, yet the field continues to suffer from conceptual inconsistencies as well as a good deal of methodological limitations. It is worrisome that we still do not have a clear understanding of the concept itself as applied to mental health and illness as well as the complex array of its determinants. Similarly there is a lag in the application of quality of life data in improving clinical practice.

This book explores vulnerability in many forms and among diverse understudied vulnerable populations worldwide from different perspectives, particularly from non-western contexts. It examines characteristics and profiles of vulnerable populations, intervention strategies, and recommendations for public policy actions in developing and emerging countries. As the world becomes increasingly connected and localities become more diverse, researchers and practitioners working to ameliorate human suffering cannot rely on one-size-fits-all solutions, especially when it comes to the most vulnerable members of society. The book argues the need for interdisciplinary research and action, and it challenges popular discourse on vulnerable groups and intervention strategies in Western societies and developed countries. In particular, it includes a Latin American perspective seldom considered in research about vulnerability worldwide. With interdisciplinary contributors from four continents, working in diverse fields such as social psychology, pedagogy, community psychology, medicine, sociology, clinical psychology, anthropology, and social work, this edited collection brings together theoretical and applied research evidence on three vulnerable population categories: physical vulnerability, psychological vulnerability, and social vulnerability. The book not only presents exhaustive solutions to any of the problems discussed therein, but it also offers examples of the considerations that should be afforded when working with groups who have unique vulnerabilities. Among the topics covered in the chapters: Poor Doctor-Patient Communication: How Social Vulnerability Turns into Physical Vulnerability Art Therapy: Focus to Decrease Vulnerability Condition and Increase Sense of Community Pedagogical Guidelines for Vulnerability in Postmodernity Working with Vulnerable Populations: Final Reflections and Implications Working with Vulnerable Populations: A Multicultural Perspective presents case studies, original research, and literature reviews that would engage students and professionals interested in social work, psychology, community organizing, public health, allied health professions, and other helping professions. Readers will gain insight into how work being conducted in various localities speaks to the challenges they may face in their own work or research. By exploring the unique issues facing vulnerable populations around the globe, we can apply those same considerations in our own communities.

Social Widerspiegelung is a central area of human life, however, it has been little researched for the theorization of social work. Otger Autrata and Bringfriede Scheu present the foundations of social Widerspiegelung and establish the essential connection between social Widerspiegelung and subjective quality of life. This makes an important contribution to the development of social work theory: The basic research on social Widerspiegelung is linked to the tasks of social work in discipline and profession.

This book explores key factors long-term care recipients have identified as impacting their quality of life and offers programmatic and policy recommendations to enhance well-being within long-term care communities. Leadership and staff who work in nursing homes and other residential care communities serve as gatekeepers to resident well-being, often without recognizing how residents'quality of life is impacted by their decision-making. This book takes a life domain approach to build on research-based studies that document key drivers of care recipients'quality of life, including relationships, autonomy and respect, activities and meals, environment, and care. Using a framework that enhances understanding of resident quality of life, it outlines practical, programmatic, and policy suggestions for long-term care stakeholders, such as administrators, managers, front-line staff, family members, and policy-makers, whose directives and actions impact the lived experience of long-term care residents. As such, this book serves as a roadmap for leaders and managers of long-term care communities, along with policymakers who regulate health and human services, to best structure care environments to maximize quality of life and well-being for long-term care recipients.

This training book is designed to help professionals enhance their knowledge of community quality-of-life indicators, and to develop viable community projects. Chapter 1 describes the theoretical concepts that guide the formulation of community indicator projects. Chapter 2 creates a sample community indicator project as a template of the entire process. Chapter 3 describes the planning process: how to identify sponsors, secure funding, develop an organizational structure, select a quality-of-life model, select indicators, and so on. Chapter 4 focuses on data collection. Finally, Chapter 5 describes efforts related to dissemination and promotion of community indicators projects. Written by a stalwart in the field of quality-of-life research, this book provides the tools of sound community project planning for quality-of-life researchers, social workers, social marketers, community research organizations, and policy-makers.

This volume continues the tradition now established since 2006, of compiling excellent research into the practice and application of community indicators in a single source volume. It focuses on the theme of the Community Indicators Consortium 2020 Summit, as a significant venue for the advancement of the practice and theory of community indicators work. It covers the conference's theme of “community resilience”, which is the capacity of all of a community's elements to survive, adapt, and grow no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience. In keeping with the practical, “best cases” emphasis of this book series, the editors incorporate a case-based approach to chapters discussing how specific indicators, indices or series of indicators can lead to better decisions and outcomes to help communities adapt and transform in the face of challenges, helping them prepare for both the expected and the unexpected to sustain and improve quality of life, including technology and open source approaches to data sharing and data-focussed collaboration; evolving approaches that use shared indicators to improve overall community well-being and quality of life; research related to community indicators and policy, application, research, and/or practice; and techniques and approaches to measure resilience. This volume is of interest to social scientists, management professionals, social workers and policy makers working on various aspects of community indicators of quality of life and well-being. Chapter “The Cost of Sea Level Rise for the Island Community of Vinalhaven, Maine: Spurring action through collaborative data analysis” is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). For further details see licence information in the chapters.

This book focuses on projects using child indicators outside of a research context and provides a user-friendly set of materials to help professionals or organizations start and sustain high-quality child indicator projects. The book is based on the fundamental idea that better data leads to better decisions regarding programs for children. The number of people with experience and expertise in developing child indicator projects is limited in many countries. This initiative provides critical information on the topic in a cost-effective manner, and thereby fills an important niche regarding the use of child indicators. To the extent that it promotes more and better child indicator projects, the book leads to more attention for children and better decision-making regarding public support for children. It is also likely to increase the number of such projects that exist and to improve the quality of such projects. This easy-to-use and practical guide is for all professionals and organizations working with child indicators data.

Nicht einmal zehn Prozent der knapp zweihundertdreißig Milliarden Euro, die sich die Deutschen ihre Krankenversorgung jährlich kosten lassen, fließen gegenwärtig in die Präventionspolitik und davon wiederum nicht mehr als zwanzig Prozent in die Förderung der Gesundheit. Die vorliegende Untersuchung setzt sich in kritisch-konstruktiver Manier mit den interventionsphilosophischen, systemischen und professionspolitischen Hindernissen auseinander, die der längst fälligen Beseitigung dieses Unterversorgungsdilemmas im Wege stehen. Sie bemüht sich, mit dem Irrglauben aufzuräumen, dass eine Gesundheitsförderungspolitik, die mehr sein will, als die bloße Verhinderung von Krankheit und Gebrechen, realisiert werden könne, ohne die bestehenden politischen, wirtschaftlichen und gesellschaftlichen Bedingungen grundlegend zu verändern. Und sie macht Vorschläge, in welche Richtung diese Veränderung gehen könnte.

This handbook presents an overview of studies on the relationship of active ageing and quality of life. It addresses the new challenges of ageing from the paradigm of positive ageing (active, healthy and successful) for a better quality of life. It provides theoretical perspectives and empirical studies, including scientific knowledge as well as practical experiences about the good ageing and the quality of later life around the world, in order to respond to the challenges of an aged population. The handbook is structured in 4 sections covering theoretical and conceptual perspectives, social policy issues and research agenda, methods, measurement instrument-scales and evaluations, and lastly application studies including domains and geographical contexts. Chapter 5 is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

This book offers critical insights into the thriving international field of community indicators, incorporating the experiences of government leaders, philanthropic professionals, community planners and a wide range of academic disciplines. It illuminates the important role of community indicators in diverse settings and the rationale for the development and implementation of these innovative projects. This book details many of the practical “how to” aspects of the field as well as lessons learned from implementing indicators in practice. The case studies included here also demonstrate how, using a variety of data applications, leaders of today are monitoring and measuring progress and communities are empowered to make sustainable improvements in their wellbeing. With examples related to the environment, economy, planning, community engagement and health, among others, this bookepitomizes the constant innovation, collaborative partnerships and the consummate interdisciplinarity of the community indicators field of today.

Wie erleben PflegeheimbewohnerInnen mit Demenz ihren Alltag im Heim? Welche Bedeutung kommt dabei Pflegepersonen zu? Und inwieweit nehmen Strukturen und Prozesse der Organisation „Pflegeheim“ darauf Einfluss? Im Rahmen einer Einzelfallstudie arbeitet die Autorin heraus, mit welchen Gefühlen, Wünschen und Phantasien das Leben und Arbeiten in einem Pflegeheim einhergeht und welche Konsequenzen für die Aus- und Weiterbildung hieraus gezogen werden können.

Empowerment of Women for Promoting Health and Quality of Life critically reviews the key theoretical and empirical foundations and policy options for Global Public Health (GPH). The author presents the lessons learned from a meta-analysis of 80 self-organized, successful women's empowerment case studies across the world that have enhanced the health and well-being of their families and communities. The information gleaned offers rare opportunities for understanding what works, how women empower themselves, and how others--professionals included--can help. Additionally, Dr. Kar designs an'EMPOWER'model for empowerment of women for GPH and human development. Using an ecological perspective, the model defines the domains, dimensions, and processes of empowerment, and is applied to a community-based women's empowerment-for-health-promotion initiative. The implications for empowerment and GPH policy, practice, and research are also discussed.

This multidisciplinary reference explores the concepts and realities of quality of life among cancer survivors in its physical, psychological, cognitive, social, and familial dimensions. Informed by a broad range of fields including genetics, psychiatry, nursing, dentistry, rehabilitation, and ethics, it addresses daily challenges of living for this population, from self-care to cultural concerns and from social interactions to experiences with providers. Family issues of pediatric, young adult, and elder survivors, caregiving parents, and siblings are a major area of concern. And contributors describe interventions for survivors as individuals, in family content, and as part of integrated care across primary and specialty settings. Included among the topics: Play, leisure activities, and cognitive health among older cancer survivors. Genetic mutations in cancer susceptibilitygenes: a family history of cancer. Cancer patients in a pediatric intensive care unit: a single center experience. The impact of childhood cancer on the quality of life among healthy siblings. When cancer returns: family caregivers and the hospice team. Experiencing cancer services: a story of survival and dissatisfaction. A significant addition to the cancer survivorship literature, Quality of Life Among Cancer Survivors is a practice-building resource for oncology and allied health professionals, health psychologists, and social workers, as well as researchers in these fields.

Hearing loss is a common chronic condition which is often poorly recognized but can have multiple negative impacts, not just on the lives of those directly affected, but also those living with them. People with impaired hearing may begin a long and uncertain journey involving a number of key stages, from emerging awareness and help-seeking, to diagnosis, adjustment, and self-evaluation.Based on a model of person-centered audiological rehabilitation, this book explains why it is important to understand both patients'own experiences, and those of their communication partners, over time. It focuses particularly on the human dynamics of hearing loss, exploring the broader consequences of hearing loss for the individual, family members, and wider society. In particular the book: gives insight into the patients'and their communication partners'experiences and perspectives through clear and telling first-hand narrative accounts; examines how people understand their own hearing loss, reflect on their experiences with hearing aids – both positive and negative – and evaluate treatment options; considers the changes needed to conversations in order to include all communication partners, whether with impaired hearing or not; and discusses consequences of hearing loss using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). With its explicit aim to increase awareness of the need to include the patient and close relatives in the process of rehabilitation, this new text makes an important contribution to further improve evidence-based practice in the field of audiological rehabilitation. An ideal text for audiology, ENT, and nursing students of all levels.

This book provides a critical review of the theory and practice of University Social Responsibility. In addition to addressing the nature of and concepts surrounding University Social Responsibility, as well as its ties to areas such as service learning or engaged scholarship, the book also presents effective practices from around the world. Dedicated chapters demonstrate how University Social Responsibility can manifest itself in different types (civic, moral, economic or global responsibility), levels (local, national, regional or international), and formats (partnership, venture or joint project), depending on local contexts and needs. The book also focuses on three areas of work – educating students to take on social responsibility, broadening access to education, and applying knowledge to societal problems – to highlight the potential and viable ways University Social Responsibility can be employed to promote quality of life in society. Offering a unique resource, it isintended to stimulate thinking and expand the repertoire of all educators, administrators, and organizations who wish to incorporate societal needs into their core mission and promote quality of life in different communities around the world.

Der Band sucht aus den Blickwinkeln der Sozialen Arbeit, der Sozialpolitik, der Verwaltungswissenschaften und der im Umbau der Sozialsysteme hereingeholten Wirtschaftswissenschaften eine Bilanz hinsichtlich der heutigen Steuerung der Organisationen im Sozialbereich zu ziehen. Was sich daraus für das Selbstverständnis des Sozialmanagements und seine zukünftigen Entwicklungen ergibt, wird kritisch beleuchtet und theoretisch zu begründen versucht.

With currently evolving dementia policy, how can we ensure that living well with dementia continues to be a primary aim for future national dementia strategies? This book looks at current policy and research to determine emerging challenges, and what they mean for practice, both nationally and within a global context.

Today, any regular newspaper reader is likely to be exposed to reports on manifold forms of (physical, emotional, sexual) child abuse on the one hand, and abnormal behavior, misconduct or offences of children and minors on the other hand. Occasionally reports on children as victims and children as offenders may appear on the same issue or even the same page. Rather seldom the more complex and largely hidden phenomena of structural hostility or indifference of society with a view to children are being dealt with in the press. Such fragmentary, ambiguous, incoherent or even contradictory perception of children in modem society indicates that, firstly, there is a lack of reliable information on modem childhood, and secondly, children are still treated as a comparatively irrelevant population group in society. This conclusion may be surprising in particular when drawn at the end of The Century of the Child proclaimed by Ellen Key as early as 1902. Actually, there exist unclarities and ambiguities about the evolution of childhood in the last century not only in public opinion, but also in scientific literature. While De Mause with his psycho-historic model of the evolution of childhood, comprising different stages from infanticide, abandonment, ambivalence, intrusion, socialisation to support, underlines the continuous improvement of the condition of childhood throughout history and thus rather confirms Key's expectations, Aries, with his social history of childhood, seems to hold a more culturally pessimistic view.

The field of transplantation has grown exponentially over the last few decades, and leaders in the field may argue that we have seen only the tip of the iceberg. Perhaps in no other discipline is there a need for multidisciplinary dialogue, debate, and approaches to patient care. In preparing this book, we have attempted to introduce readers to a few of the key clinical and ethical issues confronting the field of transplantation today. In so doing, we recognize that the face of transplantation may change dramatically in the years to come. Nevertheless, the issues raised throughout this book will serve as a useful introduction to important clinical issues and as a catalyst for clinicians and researchers to expand the horizons of transplantation. Health professionals involved in evaluating and treating transplant patients must be knowledgeable of the indications for transplantation and patient outcomes and the process of evaluation and management. Chapters 1 and 2, focusing on solid organ transplantation and blood/marrow transplantation, provide this important contextual information. The next two chapters address what is often considered the most significant issue facing the field of transplantation - organ donation. While the number of patients needing transplantation has risen dramatically in recent years, the rate of organ donation has remained relatively stable. Chapter 3 highlights the many ethical issues surrounding the more general concept of organ donation, while Chapter 4 focuses specifically on the burgeoning interest in living organ donation.

„Lebenslage“ und „Lebenswelt“ nehmen in der Diskussion zu theoretischen Verortungen Sozialer Arbeit seit Jahren eine herausragende Position ein. In dem Buch wird auf der Folie dieser theoretischen Konzepte das Alter(n) in den Blick genommen. Dabei geht es - am Beispiel unterschiedlicher Lebenslage- und Lebensweltdimensionen - um die Betrachtung von Partizipations- und Teilhabechancen einerseits und Gefahrenpotentiale sozialer Ausschließung andererseits. Im Zentrum stehen die Themen „Wohnen im Alter“, „Alter(n) und Geschlecht“, „Alter(n) und Interkulturalität“, „Alter(n) und Demenz“.

Globally, postnatal depression (PND) is a growing public health problem. PND affects 10 to 15% of women in Western society. It caused by a combination of biological, psychological and social factors. Two models have attempted to define and explain PND; the biomedical and the sociological models. The traditional biomedical model views PND as a medical condition which implies there is individual pathology and abnormality. Whilst the biomedical model has been the dominant model in treating PND, it has been criticized by feminist sociologists and psychologists for its rigidity in defining and explaining PND. In contrast, the psychosocial model of health acknowledges the biological factors that impact on emotional well-being, but places more emphasis on the personal and social factors that impact on emotional well-being, but places more emphasis on the personal and social factors that contribute to depressive symptoms such as gender, poverty, social disadvantage and social class. The central argument throughout this book is the importance of support before and after the birth for women's emotional well-being. This book will also include women's journeys through pregnancy, childbirth, motherhood, postnatal depression, and resolution. To date, literature has focused on women's lived experiences of PND rather than their personal journeys through pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood. Additionally, the adjustment to fatherhood has received less attention. For example, little is known about the impact of postnatal depression on the partner, what support partners offer when women with the intention to fill the gap in knowledge of cultural and social issues relating to pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood for woman who were diagnosed with, and had resolved, PND.

In 1998, Hallmark unveiled their new'One-Hundredth-Birthday'cards, and by 2007 annual sales were at 85,000. America is rapidly graying: between now and 2030, the number of people in the U.S. over the age of 80 is expected to almost triple. But how long people live raises the question of how well they live. Aging Our Way follows the everyday lives of 30 elders (ages 85-102) living at home and mostly alone to understand how they create and maintain meaningful lives for themselves. Drawing on the latest interdisciplinary scholarship on aging and three years of interviews with the elders, Meika Loe explores how elders navigate the practical challenges of living as independently as possible while staying healthy, connected, and comfortable. While most books on the subject treat old age as a social problem and elders as simply diminished versions of their former selves, Aging Our Way views them as they really are: lively, complicated, engaging people finding creative ways to make their aging as meaningful and manageable as possible. In their own voices, elders describe how they manage everything from grocery shopping, doctor appointments, and disability, to creating networks of friends and maintaining their autonomy. In many ways, these elders can serve as role models. The lessons they have learned about living in moderation, taking time for themselves, asking for help, keeping a sense of humor, caring for others, and preparing for death provide an invaluable source of wisdom for anyone hoping to live a long and fulfilling life. Through their stories, Loe helps us to think about aging, well-being, and the value of human relationships in new ways. Written with remarkable warmth and depth of understanding, Aging Our Way offers a vivid look at a group of people who too often remain invisible--those who have lived the longest--and all they have to teach us.

This book contains a series of articles, written by international experts in the fields of intellectual disability and quality of life, that explore a broad range of issues that impact on the quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. The book commences with a general discussion on defining quality of life and family quality of life and the appropriateness of using these constructs in the field of intellectual disability, and is followed by an analysis on the effects of living arrangements and employment on quality of life. The book concludes with discussions on the unique issues facing children with intellectual disabilities and people living in developing countries and the effect these issues have upon their quality of life.

Ailsa Cook reviews recent health and social care policy in Scotland and England in light of the growing body of empirical research into the experiences and perspectives of people with dementia. She draws on this evidence to consider the particular challenges associated with delivering four key outcomes to people with dementia identified by policy makers as fundamental to well-being.These are: independence, health, choice and social inclusion. In so doing the book contributes a much needed policy perspective to the field of dementia, as well as providing a fresh lens through which to consider the difference that proposed policies can make to a diverse range of service users.

By linking research findings to policy, practice, and program recommendations, Mui and Shibusawa create a vital resource that can be used in multiple disciplines, including social work, public health, nursing, geriatric medicine, social policy, and other helping professions. This text is a comprehensive and up-to-date portrait of the unique challenges facing Asian Americans as they age.'--BOOK JACKET.

This interdisciplinary book indicates the need to address well-being from individual, community and social perspectives in an integrated manner. The book complements the harm-based focus of much social scientific research into health. Chapters by a wide range of academics present a new dynamic view of well-being for the Twenty-First Century.

`The strengths of this text are many. It has breadth and diversity in its content yet is presented in bite-size chapters. For those wishing to know more, it offers signposts to the relevant literature. The contributors have been carefully selected for their specific perspective yet these have been skilfully inter-related by the editors. It is now some 11 years since the first edition of this text was published. In my view, this second edition was worth the wait'- SCOLAG Journal `This has been a ground-breaking book…and I whole-heartedly welcome a new edition'- Professor Len Barton, School of Education, The University of Sheffield `It is a really well-structured book which has been very popular and widely used by students…Its great qualities are accessibility and diversity of contributors'- Jenny Corbett, Institute of Education, University of London `This book would be a valuable resource to students of disability studies and to health and social care staff and other professionals who work with disabled people'- Disability and Rehabilitation The Second Edition of this landmark text has been revised to provide an up-to-date accessible introductory text to the field of disability studies. In addition to analysing the barriers that disabled people encounter in education, housing, leisure and employment, the revised edition has new chapters on: · international issues · diversity among disabled people · sexuality · bioethics. Written by disabled people who are leading academics in the field, the text comprises 45 short and engaging chapters, to provide a broad-ranging and accessible introduction to disability issues. Disabling Barriers, Enabling Environments is an invaluable resource for both students and practitioners alike. It is an ideal text for undergraduates and postgraduates taking courses in disability studies, as well as disability courses in social work, education, health studies, sociology and social policy.

The authors apply ideas about quality of life to the field of disability to assist front-line professionals, managers and policy-makers in effective service provision. They examine the historical context of the concept of quality of life and discuss the application of quality of life in the daily lives of people who have disabilities.