Hearing is an example of the area in which it might have an impact, according to centre director and professor of gerontological nursing, Dr Debbie Tolson. She said research carried out by the charity RNID had revealed contradictions between older people's views and those of professionals about the best way of tackling hearing loss.
"Hearing difficulty is one of the most common age related problems. Older people said we want information before we go and see a specialist and we are happy to work in groups'. But professionals thought that too much choice might make older people confused, which is quite insulting, or that consultations needed to be one on one, which services couldn't afford."
The result can be frustration on both sides, Dr Tolson explains. "If we are not asking the right questions, we won't be investing in the solutions which are wanted by older people."
The aim of the Scottish Centre for Evidence Based Care of Older People is to support research in a wide range of areas such as nutrition, falls, dementia and infection control to deliver better patient care.
Using its international links, the centre will support the NHS, local authorities and care homes by drawing on best- practice from around the world to improve care for older people. The university will work with NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, Care Commission Scotland, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS board, Forth Valley NHS Board and HealthQwest, as well as care providers and older people themselves, to support research and ensure it is translated into higher standards for patients.
NHS Quality Improvement Scotland is paying for all its NHS staff to join the collaborating centre.
Meanwhile the centre will work directly with older people and indirectly through organisations such as Alzheimer's Scotland, to ensure their perspectives are central to its work.
Professor Alan Pearson, executive director of the Joanna Briggs Institute, and Penny Bond, of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, will be among the speakers at today's launch event.
Prof Pearson said: "I am delighted that this important new Joanna Briggs collaborating centre is reaching out to older people themselves. It will have a unique opportunity to play an important role in improving the care and the quality of life of older people as well as in the education of students."
Glasgow Caledonian University's Dr Tolson said the recognition by the Joanna Briggs Institute was a fantastic accolade for Scotland and added: "We want practitioners to work with us and learn with us to help us shape care for older people around the world."
For more, email D.Tolson@gcal.ac.uk
Copyright © 2009 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited
May 29, 2009
UK: Call for elderly to help shape health services
.
GLASGOW, Scotland / The Herald / Society / May 29, 2009
By Stephen Naysmith, Society Editor
Whatever the problems faced by older people in Scotland, a sense of powerlessness can only make them worse. But professionals can sometimes be part of the problem.
Now a new centre based at Glasgow Caledonian University will give older people the chance to improve they way they are cared for by the NHS, local authorities and care homes directly.
Today the university will launch Europe's first Joanna Briggs Institute Aged Care Collaborating Centre, which will draw on best practice from around the world to improve the care of older people.
The Joanna Briggs Institute is an international not-for-profit research and development organisation which aims to give healthcare professionals in nursing, midwifery, medicine and allied health the best advice on evidence-based practice.
The institute has more than 54 centres and groups working in 90 countries, but the Scottish centre will be the first in Europe to specialise in older people's issues.
Hearing is an example of the area in which it might have an impact, according to centre director and professor of gerontological nursing, Dr Debbie Tolson. She said research carried out by the charity RNID had revealed contradictions between older people's views and those of professionals about the best way of tackling hearing loss.
"Hearing difficulty is one of the most common age related problems. Older people said we want information before we go and see a specialist and we are happy to work in groups'. But professionals thought that too much choice might make older people confused, which is quite insulting, or that consultations needed to be one on one, which services couldn't afford."
The result can be frustration on both sides, Dr Tolson explains. "If we are not asking the right questions, we won't be investing in the solutions which are wanted by older people."
The aim of the Scottish Centre for Evidence Based Care of Older People is to support research in a wide range of areas such as nutrition, falls, dementia and infection control to deliver better patient care.
Using its international links, the centre will support the NHS, local authorities and care homes by drawing on best- practice from around the world to improve care for older people. The university will work with NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, Care Commission Scotland, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS board, Forth Valley NHS Board and HealthQwest, as well as care providers and older people themselves, to support research and ensure it is translated into higher standards for patients.
NHS Quality Improvement Scotland is paying for all its NHS staff to join the collaborating centre.
Meanwhile the centre will work directly with older people and indirectly through organisations such as Alzheimer's Scotland, to ensure their perspectives are central to its work.
Professor Alan Pearson, executive director of the Joanna Briggs Institute, and Penny Bond, of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, will be among the speakers at today's launch event.
Prof Pearson said: "I am delighted that this important new Joanna Briggs collaborating centre is reaching out to older people themselves. It will have a unique opportunity to play an important role in improving the care and the quality of life of older people as well as in the education of students."
Glasgow Caledonian University's Dr Tolson said the recognition by the Joanna Briggs Institute was a fantastic accolade for Scotland and added: "We want practitioners to work with us and learn with us to help us shape care for older people around the world."
For more, email D.Tolson@gcal.ac.uk
Copyright © 2009 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited
Hearing is an example of the area in which it might have an impact, according to centre director and professor of gerontological nursing, Dr Debbie Tolson. She said research carried out by the charity RNID had revealed contradictions between older people's views and those of professionals about the best way of tackling hearing loss.
"Hearing difficulty is one of the most common age related problems. Older people said we want information before we go and see a specialist and we are happy to work in groups'. But professionals thought that too much choice might make older people confused, which is quite insulting, or that consultations needed to be one on one, which services couldn't afford."
The result can be frustration on both sides, Dr Tolson explains. "If we are not asking the right questions, we won't be investing in the solutions which are wanted by older people."
The aim of the Scottish Centre for Evidence Based Care of Older People is to support research in a wide range of areas such as nutrition, falls, dementia and infection control to deliver better patient care.
Using its international links, the centre will support the NHS, local authorities and care homes by drawing on best- practice from around the world to improve care for older people. The university will work with NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, Care Commission Scotland, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS board, Forth Valley NHS Board and HealthQwest, as well as care providers and older people themselves, to support research and ensure it is translated into higher standards for patients.
NHS Quality Improvement Scotland is paying for all its NHS staff to join the collaborating centre.
Meanwhile the centre will work directly with older people and indirectly through organisations such as Alzheimer's Scotland, to ensure their perspectives are central to its work.
Professor Alan Pearson, executive director of the Joanna Briggs Institute, and Penny Bond, of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, will be among the speakers at today's launch event.
Prof Pearson said: "I am delighted that this important new Joanna Briggs collaborating centre is reaching out to older people themselves. It will have a unique opportunity to play an important role in improving the care and the quality of life of older people as well as in the education of students."
Glasgow Caledonian University's Dr Tolson said the recognition by the Joanna Briggs Institute was a fantastic accolade for Scotland and added: "We want practitioners to work with us and learn with us to help us shape care for older people around the world."
For more, email D.Tolson@gcal.ac.uk
Copyright © 2009 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited
