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Objectives. To review the prevalence of loneliness (during/after COVID-19) in older people. Design. Scoping review using Medline and PsycInfo for worldwide prevalence estimates (white published literature search) and Google for prevalence data inside the Euregio Meuse-Rhine (grey literature). Setting. Worldwide prevalence estimates and a focus on the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. Participants. Papers published between 2016 and 2022 and a mean age of minimum of 65 years. Measurements. Prevalence estimates for older people. Results. The white literature search yielded 37 articles. Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, loneliness estimates were the highest in Nigeria (46%) and the lowest in Australia (5%) (mean prevalence was 25.6%). Loneliness was reported to be higher in specific populations, for example, people living in specific communities such as senior housing communities or with impairments, than in the general population, with a mean prevalence estimate of 47.8%. During COVID-19, the prevalence of loneliness was higher than that before the pandemic: we observed a mean prevalence of 39.4%, in comparison to 25.6 before COVID-19. The grey literature search showed that, compared to Belgium and the Netherlands (13.5% and 36.5%, respectively), loneliness estimates were the lowest in Germany, with a mean prevalence of 7.7%. Conclusion. Large international differences in the prevalence of loneliness were observed between countries and populations studied. Several hypotheses could explain such differences, including sociocultural or historical-political characteristics. Without surprise, the pandemic and associated measures were linked to a higher level of loneliness. Furthermore, recommendations for addressing loneliness, including interventions, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The progressive population ageing observed in Western countries determines a growing need for long-term care for older people. At the same time, migrants and refugees often have integration difficulties in regards to the hosting country society and labour market, with one reason being the lack of EU recognition of the educational degrees obtained in their native country. Creating educational opportunities in elderly care for migrants may facilitate their social inclusion, increase their employability, and constitute a response to the growing labor demand. The HERO project moved in this direction by planning, designing, and carrying out an original training curriculum targeted to migrants and refugees from African and Middle Eastern countries, piloted in four Mediterranean countries (Cyprus, Greece, Italy, and Portugal). The impact of the training on migrants and refugees' quality of life was assessed through the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, while social inclusion was assessed through semistructured interviews and participant observation carried out during the internship in elderly care facilities. Eighty-two migrants (70.7 percent women) were involved in the study. The results showed that despite the fact that the training did not have an impact on the trainees' quality of life, it was associated with social inclusion. Four ideal types of migrant learners were drawn: "ex-professional trainees," "fall-back trainees," "care-oriented trainees," and "nonprofessional care workers," based on which as many possible educational pathways were drawn to optimise the trainees' learning process. The study results shaped the formulation of suggestions on migrants' education in elderly care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this rapid scoping review is to provide an overview of studies from northwest Europe that describe and evaluate community care delivered by a nurse practitioner (NP) in a team of healthcare professionals. In particular, we explore the roles of NPs within community care, the perceived impact at the patient and informal caregivers levels, and influencing factors (facilitating and impeding). This rapid scoping review was performed in accordance with Prisma RR guidelines. Data were collected from online databases between October and December 2020 and an update in March 2023. Medline was used for the search string, and the following databases were searched: Cinahl, Cochrane, Embase, Medline, and Web of Science (WoS). All studies described the roles of NPs, including their tasks and responsibilities in community care. The main findings about the roles were that NPs in community care diagnose, treat patients, and support and advise informal caregivers. They refer and perform case management for (frail) older people. They train DNs and take on project and strategic management roles. The results showed that the NP meets the increasing and complex care demands in patients' homes. The main findings about the perceived impacts were that patients and informal caregivers were generally satisfied with the deployment of the NP. Healthcare professionals experienced the benefits of NPs working in community care. Some healthcare professionals were sceptical when the role was first introduced, but attitudes improved after they worked alongside NPs. Other influencing factors were the competences of the NP, i.e., have a pioneering mentality, a clear vision, and a job profile from community care organisations, and having to collaborate with allied healthcare professionals. However, implementation of the NP in community care is still in its infancy in northwest Europe. This review will help policy makers and professionals understand the potential impact of this role and enhance it in the context of community care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spouse caregivers report lower levels of life satisfaction. However, social participation generates life satisfaction. The main goal of this study is to analyse the contribution of social participation to the life satisfaction of European and Israeli spouse caregivers aged 65 plus. The study uses cross‐sectional data from 17 European countries, plus Israel, which are part of wave 6 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The sample was limited to individuals aged 65+, who were classified as non‐caregivers (N = 25,313) or spouse caregivers (N = 1977). The mean scores of life satisfaction by country and caregiver status were calculated and tests for a two‐group comparison and multilevel logistic regressions were performed. The spouse caregiver group reported lower levels of satisfaction with life. Tests for a two‐group comparison show that the group of spouse caregivers reports fewer social activities than the non‐caregivers group. Moreover, multilevel linear regressions allowed us to conclude that providing spousal care at older ages (65+) is related to lower life satisfaction but that providing spousal care and reporting having social participation is related to higher life satisfaction than in the group of spouse caregivers who are not involved in social activities, and non‐caregivers. Social participation is a key issue in the life satisfaction of spouse caregivers aged 65 years and older. The social participation of spouse caregivers should be a concern to relatives, communities, social and health professionals, as well as public policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Helping professionals are at high risk of being affected by the negative aspects of helping such as compassion fatigue. To date, no study has provided a comprehensive overview of compassion fatigue and compared the prevalence among different helping professions. Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and differences in compassion fatigue among different helping professions. We also wanted to explore the relationship between compassion, self‐compassion, self‐criticism and compassion fatigue. Methods: Six hundred and seven participants working in the helping professions were recruited. The sample consisted of 102 nurses, 44 doctors, 57 paramedics, 39 home nurses, 66 teachers, 103 psychologists, 40 psychotherapists and coaches, 76 social workers, 39 priests and pastors and 41 police officers. The data were collected using an online questionnaire battery measuring levels of compassion, self‐compassion, self‐criticism, compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction. Results: We found significant differences in compassion fatigue levels among various helping professions. No large differences were found in the compassion and self‐compassion levels exhibited by professionals with medium versus low compassion fatigue scores. However, participants with higher levels of compassion fatigue scored higher in self‐criticism. Self‐criticism was found to be the best predictor of compassion fatigue. The effect of profession on compassion fatigue as mediated by self‐criticism and self‐compassion was significant. Conclusions: Based on the results, we recommend designing programs to combat compassion fatigue that teach helping professionals to better manage their work time and workload (hours per week with clients/patients) and learn healthier inner talk (less self‐critical and more self‐compassionate). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Spain, regional health systems (universal access) depend on each Autonomous Communities (ACs). The management of the 2008 economic crisis has been different in the ACs, which may have led to an increase in inequities in the use of health services. The objective of this study was to analyse the impact of individual and regional characteristics on public hospitalisation inequities in Spain for the period 2003–2017. We developed a repeated cross‐sectional study through Spanish National Health Surveys (2003, 2006, 2011 and 2017) and the Spanish European Health Survey (2014; n = 118,499 subjects). Multilevel and Oaxaca decomposition analyses were conducted to analyse the effect of individual and regional factors in hospitalisation inequities. The results showed that the prevalence of hospitalisation was higher for women (2003: 11.2%; 2017: 9.0%) than for men (2003: 10.7%; 2017: 8.8%) and it decreased with time. Multilevel analyses showed that, after adjustment for variables related to healthcare demand, there were inequities in the probability of hospitalisation, mainly in women. The decomposition analyses showed a higher effect of the number of hospital beds available on hospitalisation in men than in women. There is a direct relationship between the number of hospital beds and the probability of hospitalisation in both sexes. In conclusion, a progressive decrease in hospitalisation use was observed in Spain in the context of the economic recession. Individual‐level and regional‐level factors were associated with hospitalisation inequities. It is necessary to guarantee equitable access to health services according to the need even in recession times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnant refugees and new mothers are at high risk of developing mental health problems. Previous research has highlighted an increase in adverse pre‐, peri‐ and postpartum outcomes in refugee women and their newborns. This descriptive study aimed to present the characteristics and needs of refugee women who attended a psychosocial walk‐in clinic addressing pregnant refugees' and new mothers' maternity mental healthcare needs in a state registration and reception centre in Germany. We assessed all patients that consulted the clinic and received interventions during the first 28 weeks after it opened, collecting information on symptoms, diagnoses, attitudes towards and experience of pregnancy, birth, obstetric care and applied psychosocial interventions during consultations. Between November 2017 and May 2018, N = 120 pregnant refugees and new mothers attended the clinic. Most patients were diagnosed with post‐traumatic stress‐, adjustment‐ or depressive disorder. While 69.6% of the women reported physical and mental health problems during pregnancy, 87.4% experienced obstetric complications. Trauma‐informed and psychoeducational interventions were primarily used during counselling sessions. Our data underpin the glaring disparities in refugee maternal healthcare in Germany. Maternal care designed to meet the specific needs of pregnant refugees and mothers is essential. More targeted, evidence‐based and cost‐effective interventions are needed. Our psychosocial walk‐in clinic is a first step towards ensuring primary care delivery for refugee women during the particularly vulnerable period of pregnancy and early motherhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]