Research
Fife Society for the Blind is committed to research as a means of quantifying and demonstrating user need, demonstrating the effectiveness of good practice and in disseminating information and good practice.
The Society works in partnership with others in commissioning and supporting research projects, many of which have be presented or published nationally and internationally.
Older Peoples’ Services, practising in Developing Countries (2005)
Alan J Suttie
This paper studies the impact of population change, particularly in developing
countries, that will lead to a significant increase in the numbers of older people and for whom serious sight will become an additional burden. Factors that will impact on individual need and service development are examined, together with an exploration of models of service delivery in the UK, Africa and India.
Methodology: The paper examines current population data together with an analysis of research looking at the plight of older people in both Africa and India. Individual case studies from India, Uganda and the UK are explored in terms of differences in service methodology.
Results: Analysis of population research concludes that the current 550 million older people worldwide will increase to 1.2 billion by 2025. Eighty percent of this increase will take place in developing countries where 61% of older people currently live. This shift is entirely predictable and results from a movement from high fertility and high mortality to low fertility and low mortality. It is no longer the case that we can talk of low life expectancy in developing countries, in India it is currently 62.5 years but by 2025 it is predicted to rise to 70.9 years!
Conclusions: The paper concludes by suggesting 3 important areas for service development: ensuring that older people are given a voice, maximising on inter-disciplinary working and dealing with the additional impacts of ageing.
·
Download MS Word version
Back to Top
Effective Rehabilitation for Ageing and Sight Loss (2007)
Alan J Suttie
This paper aims to bring together ongoing research within the working groups on elderly blind and partially sighted people conducted by the European Blind Union and the World Blind Union. Both groups are looking at the potential impact of growth in the numbers of older people and of age related sight loss. Few Governments and agencies in the industrialised countries have grasped this ‘time bomb’ and much less so those developing countries that lack basic health and social care infrastructures.
·
Download MS Word version
Back to Top