One world is not enough: the structured phenomenology of lifestyle migrants in East Asia.

The paper is based on original empirical research into the lifestyle migration of European migrants, primarily British, to Thailand and Malaysia, and of Hong Kong Chinese migrants to Mainland China. We combine strong structuration theory (SST) with Heideggerian phenomenology to develop a distinctive approach to the interplay between social structures and the lived experience of migrants. The approach enables a rich engagement with the subjectivities of migrants, an engagement that is powerfully enhanced by close attention to how these inner lives are deeply interwoven with relevant structural contexts. The approach is presented as one that could be fruitfully adopted to explore parallel issues within all types of migration. As is intrinsic to lifestyle migration, commitment to a better quality of life is central to the East Asian migrants, but they seek an uncomplicated, physically enhanced texture of life, framed more by a phenomenology of prosaic well-being than of self-realization or transcendence. In spite of possessing economic and status privileges due to their relatively elite position within global structures the reality for a good number of the lifestyle migrants falls short of their prior expectations. They are subject to particular kinds of socio-structural marginaliszation as a consequence of the character of their migration, and they find themselves relatively isolated and facing a distinct range of challenges. A comparison with research into various groups of migrants to the USA brings into relief the specificities of the socio-structural positioning of the lifestyle migrants of the study. Those East Asian migrants who express the greatest sense of ease and contentment seem to be those who have responded creatively to the specific challenges of their socio-structural situation. Often, this appears to have been achieved through understated but active involvements with their new settings and through sustaining focused transnational connections and relationships.

Frequency of outbreak investigations in US hospitals: results of a national survey of infection preventionists.

BACKGROUND: A survey of infection preventionists was conducted to determine the frequency of outbreak investigations in US hospitals. METHODS: A 2-part electronic survey was sent to Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc, members in US hospitals in January 2010. Part 1 of the survey tool involved hospital demographics and the infection prevention/control program. Part 2 explored specific outbreak investigations allowing responses for up to 8 investigations within the previous 24 months. RESULTS: A final sample of 822 responses was analyzed representing 386 outbreak investigations in 289 US hospitals. Nearly 60% of the outbreaks were caused by 4 organisms: norovirus (18%), Staphylococcus aureus (17%), Acinetobactor spp (14%), and Clostridium difficile (10%). Norovirus occurred most often in behavioral health and rehabilitation/long-term acute care units, whereas the other organisms occurred in medical/surgical units. Unit/department closure was reported in 22.6% of investigations and most often associated with norovirus. Outbreak investigations are triggered by unusual organisms, rate above baseline for specific site of infection, and rate above baseline for specific unit. Investigations were most frequently conducted in community/nonteaching hospitals and facilities with 201 to 300 beds. Mean number of confirmed cases was 10; mean duration was 58 days. CONCLUSION: Norovirus is emerging as an increasingly common hospital-associated organism causing outbreaks in nonacute settings and may lead to unit/department closures.

No place called home: the causes and social consequences of the UK housing 'bubble'.

This paper examines the key causes and social consequences of the much debated UK 'housing bubble' and its aftermath from a multidimensional sociological approach, as opposed to the economic perspective of many popular discussions. This is a phenomenon that has affected numerous economies in the first decade of the new millennium. The discussion is based on a comprehensive study that includes exhaustive analysis of secondary data, content and debate in the mass media and academia, primary data gathered from the monitoring of weblogs and forums debating housing issues, and case histories of individuals experiencing housing difficulties during this period. This paper is intended to provide a broad overview of the key findings and preliminary analysis of this ongoing study, and is informed by a perspective which considers secure and affordable housing to be an essential foundation of stable and cohesive societies, with its absence contributing to a range of social ills that negatively impact on both individual and collective well being. Overall, it is argued that we must return to viewing decent, affordable housing as an essential social resource, that provides the bedrock of stable individual, family and community life, while recognizing that its increasing treatment as a purely economic asset is a key contributor to our so-called 'broken society'.

On loss of activity and independence, adaptation improves life satisfaction in old age--a qualitative study of patients' perceptions.

The purpose was to improve the understanding of factors are perceived by elderly people as important for their life satisfaction, during and after rehabilitation. Fifteen persons aged 80-94 years were interviewed while in hospital and on two follow-up occasions after discharge. Assessment of motor function using the General Motor Function assessment scale was used for descriptive purposes. Three themes emerged as important for life satisfaction: activity, independence and adaptation. Activity and independence were considered significant for life satisfaction. Basic activity preferences were related to care of one's own body and to social contacts. Control and influence over help and services were regarded as important. Different strategies for adaptation to the consequences of disease were used: reorganisation, interaction with caregivers, mental adaptation and mental activities (used as pastime and escape). Those with declined motor functions limited their activity preferences. A key finding was that pleasant past memories were actively recalled in an effort to achieve current life satisfaction. This adaptation strategy created a sense of life satisfaction, however with a potential risk for concealing dissatisfaction with conditions that might otherwise be correctable. Strategies for improving life satisfaction among old people in rehabilitation are suggested.

Continuity of the self in later life: perceptions of informal caregivers.

The authors explore perceptions of informal caregivers of extremely elderly (80+) relatives or friends regarding the purpose of caregiving, including factors they considered important for the life satisfaction of the care recipients. They collected data mainly through qualitative interviewed and employed symbolic interactionism. The results revealed a general purpose of the informal caregiving: protection of the care recipient's self. This purpose was a significant aspect of the identified caregiving categories--social-emotional, proxy, and instrumental care--and the authors consider all four factors important for the care recipients' life satisfaction: activity, independence, and environmental and adaptive factors. Some informal caregivers gave forceful encouragement to care recipients in an attempt to get them to accept formal care and move to sheltered accommodation. This study underscores the value of informal caregiving and that the caregiving interaction should be balanced by reciprocity.