Older People's Self–Selected Spaces of Encounter in Urban Aging Environments in the Netherlands

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 284-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rianne van Melik ◽  
Roos Pijpers

Using a narrative methodology involving 216 older people in six urban aging environments in the Netherlands, we examined how they use and experience (semi–)public spaces as spaces of encounter, and the meanings they derive from using and experiencing these spaces. The research shows that, first, older people prefer commercial spaces like shopping malls to planned and designed activity spaces in care homes or neighborhood centers. Second, older people struggle with the transformations that have taken place in urban social life since they were young adults. Third, especially frail older people derive meaning from a more passive experience of urban social life, in an observer role. The findings allow us to contribute to ongoing debates on the shifting boundaries between public and private space, and the moral implications of these shifting boundaries from the perspective of a diverse group of older users.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Wong

The creation of suburbs has led to segregated functional spaces that once helped nourish their growth, including the shopping mall. However, as the shopping phenomenon evolves, it is crucial to reexamine this building type to accommodate changing needs and their effect on the surrounding area. Shopping malls have been important contributors to social life and through transformation, street and square life can be recreated for suburban communities. This thesis explores the formation of a square within a mixeduse neighbourhood that intertwines public and private spaces to create opportunities for social connectivity. This enhances the existing community and strengthens the relational benefits between public and private realms, and strives to establish a balanced growth. Architecture mediates public and private spaces, and redefines boundaries so that underutilized private space can be optimized and reintegrated into the suburban environment, reestablishing the social life in the suburbs.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Wong

The creation of suburbs has led to segregated functional spaces that once helped nourish their growth, including the shopping mall. However, as the shopping phenomenon evolves, it is crucial to reexamine this building type to accommodate changing needs and their effect on the surrounding area. Shopping malls have been important contributors to social life and through transformation, street and square life can be recreated for suburban communities. This thesis explores the formation of a square within a mixeduse neighbourhood that intertwines public and private spaces to create opportunities for social connectivity. This enhances the existing community and strengthens the relational benefits between public and private realms, and strives to establish a balanced growth. Architecture mediates public and private spaces, and redefines boundaries so that underutilized private space can be optimized and reintegrated into the suburban environment, reestablishing the social life in the suburbs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 235-235
Author(s):  
Wytske Meekes ◽  
C J Leemrijse ◽  
J C Korevaar ◽  
L A M van de Goor

Abstract Falls are an important health threat among frail older people. Physicians are often the first to contact for health issues and can be seen as designated professionals to provide fall prevention. However, it is unknown what they exactly do and why regarding fall prevention. This study aims to describe what physicians in the Netherlands do during daily practice in regards to fall prevention. About 65 physicians (34 practices) located throughout the Netherlands were followed up for 12 months. When a physician entered specific ICPC-codes related to frailty and falls in the Hospital Information System, the physician received a pop-up asking if the patient is frail. If so, the physician subsequently completed a questionnaire. The physicians completed 1396 questionnaires. More than half (n=726) of the patients had experienced a fall in the previous year and/or had a fear of falling (FOF) and 37% of these patients received fall prevention. Physicians did not know of 20% of the patients if they had experienced a fall and of 29% of the patients if they had a FOF. The three most often treated underlying causes were mobility problems, FOF and cardiovascular risk factors. The results show that physicians are not always aware of a patient’s fall history and/or FOF and that only part of these patients receives fall prevention. Hence, it might be important to develop and implement strategies for systematic fall risk screening and fall prevention provision in the primary care setting to reduce falls among frail older people.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S46-S46
Author(s):  
Nienke Bleijenberg ◽  
Niek de Wit

Abstract Aging in place is an important goal for both older adults as well as many health policies worldwide, as it is in the Netherlands. Within an aging society, the number of frail older people with complex care needs living at home is increasing. Despite the various definitions of frailty, it is important to early identify who is at risk in clinical practice in order to prevent functional decline, enhance quality of life, and reduce health care costs. Furthermore, an important requirement is effective collaboration between primary care professionals. Various factors are associated with frailty. However, early detection of frailty and its risk factors such as oral health, nutrition and medication related problems is not part of routine care of professionals. To recognize frailty and its risk factors we started a large proactive integrated primary care program that successfully identified frail older people living at home based on routine care data in the Netherlands. After two-year follow-up, a reduction in acute visits at the emergency department was observed. Next, we performed additional studies focusing on early detection and prevention of risk factors of frailty such as oral health, nutrition, and medication related problems among older people living at home. During this symposium we will present the results of the program, followed by our studies that investigated frailty or frailty related risk factors. Additionally, we will show how we enhanced and evaluated the knowledge and skills of professionals working with frail older people in primary care.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
W M A Meekes ◽  
C J Leemrijse ◽  
J C Korevaar ◽  
L A M van de Goor

Abstract Background Falls are an important health threat among frail older people. GPs are often the first to contact for health issues and therefore they can be seen as the designated professional to offer fall prevention. At the moment, it is unknown what GPs in the Netherlands exactly do regarding fall prevention. This study aims to describe what GPs in the Netherlands do during daily practice in regards to fall prevention. Methods Thirty-four GP practices located throughout the Netherlands were followed for a period of 12 months. When a GP entered specific ICPC-codes related to frailty and falls in the Hospital Information System, the GP received a pop-up with the question “Is this patient frail?”. If according to the GP the patient was frail, the GP subsequently completed a short questionnaire. Results About 65 GPs completed 1396 questionnaires. More than half (n = 726) of the patients had experienced a fall in the previous year and/or had a fear of falling (FOF). Of 276 patients, GPs did not know if they had experienced a fall and of 408 patients if they had a FOF. Of the patients that had experienced a fall in the previous year and/or had a FOF, 37% received fall preventive care. Reasons for not offering such care were i) GP and patient did not think that the patient had a high fall risk (38%), ii) the patient finds treatment too intensive or too much of a hassle (21%) and iii) the patient was not convinced (s)he had a high fall risk and so treatment was not necessary (12%). The three most often treated underlying causes were mobility problems, FOF and cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusions The results show that GPs are not always aware of a patient's fall history or FOF and that only part of the patients that had experienced a fall and/or had a FOF receives fall preventive care. Hence, it is important to develop and implement strategies for GP practices to systematically screen for fall risk and to offer fall preventive care to reduce falls among frail older people. Key messages Thirty-seven percent of the frail older people that experienced a fall in the previous year and/or had a fear of falling, received fall preventive care. The three most treated underlying causes are mobility problems, fear of falling, cardiovascular factors.


Author(s):  
Tal Ilan

The women of the New Testament were Jewish women, and for historians of the period their mention and status in the New Testament constitutes the missing link between the way women are portrayed in the Hebrew Bible and their changed status in rabbinic literature (Mishnah and Talmud). In this chapter, I examine how they fit into the Jewish concepts of womanhood. I examine various recognized categories that are relevant for gender research such as patriarchy, public and private space, law, politics, and religion. In each case I show how these affected Jewish women, and how the picture that emerges from the New Testament fits these categories.


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