Handbook of Disabled Children's Childhoods: Building Understandings: Child, Youth, Family and Disability. Palgrave Macmillan:Disabled Children in Out-of-Home Care: Issues and Challenges for Practice Kelly, B., Sandra, D. & Winter, K. 2016

This chapter provides an overview of some of the key findings from a large mixed methods study regarding disabled children in care in Northern Ireland

The effects of day care at the kindergarten level : day care centre versus in-home care

Two groups of nonmaternal day care providers, one made up of in-horne caregivers, and the other of providers of day care in centres, were asked to focus on their goals for the children in their care. A group of kindergarten teachers was asked to consider any differences they noticed in children in· the two types of day care mentioned above. It was found that in-horne caregivers, through flexibility, meet the developmental goals of the children in their care. Providers of tlay care in centres used a more structured and social program in order to meet the overall developmental goals for the children in their care. It was found that the kindergarten teachers noticed differences in the children in their classes in terms of their attitude and social behaviour. The type and quality of care were seen as possible influences on this outlook of young children in kindergarten. The one common element that each group highlighted with respect to the effects of day care at the kindergarten level was the important role of the family in the child's development not only in day care, but also in kindergarten class. There is still a strong need to determine the effects of various types of day care at all levels, and specifically at the kindergarten level. The more the kindergarten teacher is able to understand about the child's day care experience, and his or her own life,the better off these children in day care will be. This study confirmed both the importance of quality in child care, and the important role of the family in the child care decision.

Understanding older people’s experiences of home care through the capability approach

The core concepts of CA In the theoretical framework of CA, well-being is constituted by a person’s unique way of functioning and capabilities. This means that a person's well-being is personal and involves freedom of choice which in turn means they have a number of options. Although many people may have the same resources, it is of importance to study how these resources are converted into how they function. Thus, wellbeing is about the person's freedom to achieve in general and the capabilities to function in particular (Sen, 1995). Strength of the capability approach The capability approach is a useful tool for matching objective evaluations with subjective metrics. Furthermore, although one’s individual abilities are in focus, contextual factors, and subjective perceptions and experiences, are taken into consideration. Critiques against the CA The capability approach has been criticized for being too individual-centered and not taking sufficient account to social structures in society. It is difficult to know what a person would choose to do if other options were available. Therefore, to operationalize abilities involves uncertainties.

A longitudinal evaluation of nursing home care quality in Taiwan

Aging populations worldwide have important implications for elderly care composition and quality, particularly with regard to care provided by nursing homes. Our study investigated quality of nursing home care in Taiwan using resident satisfaction and clinical outcomes as indicators.
We randomly recruited 306 residents in 13 nursing homes and assessed them at initial, 3, 6, and 12-months follow-up. The outcomes of the nursing home care in the 12-month follow-up period showed significant decreases in pressure sores and moderate satisfaction of nursing home care, but increases in physical restraints and psychological loneliness. Study results suggest that longterm nursing home care may improve residents' quality of life. However, to achieve this, nursing homes must provide improved psychological support for residents and decrease the use ofphysical
restraints.

Obesity in children in out-of-home care : a review of the literature

Children placed in out-of-home care are a particularly disadvantaged group in society, who have often been exposed to trauma and socioeconomic disadvantage. As a result, they experience poorer health outcomes than children in the general population, especially mental health outcomes. One health outcome that has yet to be researched thoroughly is overweight and obesity of children placed in out-of-home care. Hence, the overall goal of this paper was to review the extant literature over the last decade on weight-related issues for children in out-of-home care, with particular emphasis on overweight and obesity. The findings of the review revealed that there is a lack of rigorous Australian research in relation to prevalence rates of overweight and obesity in children in out-of-home care; there is a lack of strategies or interventions designed specifically to combat overweight and obesity in children in out-of-home care; and one of the major limitations of Australian research to date is the use of self-report measures to assess the weight status of children in out-of-home care. It was concluded that prevention and intervention strategies are needed that target children as they enter out-of-home care.

Addressing risk factors of overweight and obesity among adolescents in out-of-home care : the Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) study

Rates of overweight and obesity increase significantly whilst children and young people are in out-of-home care. This paper provides the protocol for a study, funded by the Australian Research Council (2012–2014), being conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a Healthy Eating and Active Living intervention programme for adolescents who live in out-of-home residential care. This randomised trial will be conducted with 118 adolescents aged 13–17 years of age in out-of-home residential care and the residential staff who look after them. Adolescents' eating habits, physical activity levels, psychological well-being, body dissatisfaction and weight status will be assessed at baseline, immediately post the programme (which runs for 6 months), and again 12 months post baseline. Similar measures will be obtained from residential carers (across the same time points). If effective, this programme could be implemented as usual care to modify levels of obesity amongst these vulnerable young people.

Unmet needs of palliative home care patients and carers

This thesis focused on the unmet needs of patients, carers and nursing staff from a private palliative home care service in Victoria. Study results showed that participants were reluctant to disclose their unmet needs, despite having clearly identifiable problems in physical and psychosocial domains.

Problematic eating and food-related behaviours and excessive weight gain : why children in out-of-home care are at risk

Emerging evidence suggests that abuse and neglect in childhood may play a role in subsequent development of obesity. One population group particularly at risk is children and young people living in out-of-home care (OOHC). Given this population is already a vulnerable group, identifying potential mechanisms by which childhood abuse and neglect increases risk for obesity is essential. A possible explanation is that problematic eating and food-related behaviours (i.e., emotional eating, compulsive eating, overeating, binge eating, stealing or hoarding food) might mediate the association between adverse childhood experiences and obesity. Hence, the overall goal of this paper was to provide a narrative review of eating and food-related difficulties for children in care and their possible association with unhealthy and excessive weight gain. This review revealed a shortage of existing empirical papers and signalled particular need for further examination of the mediating effects of problematic eating.