Social participation needs of older adults living in a rural regional county municipality: toward reducing situations of isolation and vulnerability

Abstract Background Social participation is restricted for approximately half the older adult population but is critical in fostering community vitality, promoting health, and preventing disabilities. Although targeted through interventions by community organizations, healthcare professionals and municipalities, little is known about the needs of older adults to participate socially, especially in rural areas. This study thus aimed to identify and prioritize the social participation needs of older adults living in a rural regional county municipality. Methods A participatory action research was conducted in a rural regional county municipality (RCM) in Quebec, Canada, with a convenience sample of 139 stakeholders, including older adults, caregivers, healthcare and community organization managers, healthcare and community organization workers, community partners and key informants. Results Facilitators and barriers to social participation are related to personal factors (e.g., health, interests, motivation), the social environment (e.g., availability of assistance or volunteers) and the physical environment (e.g., distance to resources, recreational facilities and social partners). Nine older adults’ needs emerged and were prioritized as follows: 1) having access to and being informed about transportation options, 2) being informed about available activities and services, 3) having access to activities, including volunteering opportunities, suited to their interests, schedule, cost, language and health condition, 4) being accompanied to activities, 5) having access to meeting places near home and adapted to their health condition, and 6–9 (no preferred order) being reached when isolated, being personally invited and welcomed to activities, having a social support network, and being valued and recognized. Differences emerged when prioritizing needs of older adults with disabilities (greater need for assistance, accessibility and adapted activities) and older adults living in a rural area (greater need for transportation). Conclusions To promote active participation in the community, the social participation needs of older women and men living in rural areas must be addressed, especially in regard to transportation, information, adapted activities, assistance and accessibility. The first part of this action research will be followed by community selection and implementation of initiatives designed to ultimately foster their social participation.

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Social participation needs of older adults living in a rural regional county municipality: Toward reducing situations of isolation and vulnerability

10.21203/rs.2.19631/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Melanie Levasseur ◽

Sonia Routhier ◽

Irma Clapperton ◽

Chantal Doré ◽

Frances Gallagher

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Action Research ◽

Social Participation ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Community Organization ◽

Health Condition ◽

Support Network ◽

Personal Factors ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

The Social

Abstract Background: Social participation is restricted for approximately half the older adult population but is critical in fostering community vitality, promoting health, and preventing disabilities. Although targeted through interventions by community organizations, healthcare professionals and municipalities, little is known about the needs of older adults to participate socially, especially in rural areas. This study thus aimed to identify and prioritize the social participation needs of older adults living in a rural regional county municipality.Methods: A participatory action research was conducted in a rural regional county municipality (RCM) in Quebec, Canada, with a convenience sample of 139 stakeholders, including older adults, caregivers, healthcare and community organization managers, healthcare and community organization workers, community partners and key informants.Results: Facilitators and barriers to social participation are related to personal factors (e.g., health, interests, motivation), the social environment (e.g., availability of assistance or volunteers) and the physical environment (e.g., distance to resources, recreational facilities and social partners). Nine older adults’ needs emerged and were prioritized as follows: 1) having access to and being informed about transportation options, 2) being informed about available activities and services, 3) having access to activities, including volunteering opportunities, suited to their interests, schedule, cost, language and health condition, 4) being accompanied to activities, 5) having access to meeting places near home and adapted to their health condition, and 6-9 (no preferred order) being reached when isolated, being personally invited and welcomed to activities, having a social support network, and being valued and recognized. Differences emerged when prioritizing needs of older adults with disabilities (greater need for assistance, accessibility and adapted activities) and older adults living in a rural area (greater need for transportation).Conclusions: To promote active participation in the community, the social participation needs of older women and men living in rural areas must be addressed, especially in regard to transportation, information, adapted activities, assistance and accessibility. The first part of this action research will be followed by community selection and implementation of initiatives designed to ultimately foster their social participation.

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Social participation needs of older adults living in a rural regional county municipality: Toward reducing situations of isolation and vulnerability

10.21203/rs.2.19631/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Melanie Levasseur ◽

Sonia Routhier ◽

Irma Clapperton ◽

Chantal Doré ◽

Frances Gallagher

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Action Research ◽

Social Participation ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Community Organization ◽

Health Condition ◽

Support Network ◽

Personal Factors ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

The Social

Abstract Background: Social participation is restricted for approximately half the older adult population but is critical in fostering community vitality, promoting health, and preventing disabilities. Although targeted through interventions by community organizations, healthcare professionals and municipalities, little is known about the needs of older adults to participate socially, especially in rural areas. This study thus aimed to identify and prioritize the social participation needs of older adults living in a rural regional county municipality. Methods: A participatory action research was conducted in a rural regional county municipality (RCM) in Quebec, Canada, with a convenience sample of 139 stakeholders, including older adults, caregivers, healthcare and community organization managers, healthcare and community organization workers, community partners and key informants. Results: Facilitators and barriers to social participation are related to personal factors (e.g., health, interests, motivation), the social environment (e.g., availability of assistance or volunteers) and the physical environment (e.g., distance to resources, recreational facilities and social partners). Nine older adults’ needs emerged and were prioritized as follows: 1) having access to and being informed about transportation options, 2) being informed about available activities and services, 3) having access to activities, including volunteering opportunities, suited to their interests, schedule, cost, language and health condition, 4) being accompanied to activities, 5) having access to meeting places near home and adapted to their health condition, and 6-9 (no preferred order) being reached when isolated, being personally invited and welcomed to activities, having a social support network, and being valued and recognized. Differences emerged when prioritizing needs of older adults with disabilities (greater need for assistance, accessibility and adapted activities) and older adults living in a rural area (greater need for transportation).Conclusions: To promote active participation in the community, the social participation needs of older women and men living in rural areas must be addressed, especially in regard to transportation, information, adapted activities, assistance and accessibility. The first part of this action research will be followed by community selection and implementation of initiatives designed to ultimately foster their social participation.

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Social participation needs of older adults living in a rural area: Toward reducing situations of isolation and vulnerability

10.21203/rs.2.19631/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Melanie Levasseur ◽

Sonia Routhier ◽

Irma Clapperton ◽

Chantal Doré ◽

Frances Gallagher

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Action Research ◽

Rural Area ◽

Social Participation ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Community Organization ◽

Health Condition ◽

Personal Factors ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

The Social

Abstract Background: Social participation is critical in fostering community vitality, promoting health, and preventing disabilities, but is restricted for approximately half the older adult population. Social participation involves social and leisure activities, such as visiting friends, bowling, etc., that meet fundamental needs for interaction, well-being and self-actualization. Although targeted through interventions by community organizations, healthcare professionals and municipalities, little is known about the needs of older adults to participate socially, especially in rural areas. This study thus aimed to identify and prioritize the social participation needs of older adults living in a rural area. Methods: A participatory action research was conducted in a rural regional county municipality (RCM) in Quebec, Canada with convenience sample of 139 stakeholders, including older adults, caregivers, healthcare and community organization managers, healthcare and community organization workers, RCM partners and key informants. Results: Facilitators and barriers to social participation related to personal factors (e.g., health, interests, motivation), the social environment (e.g., availability of assistance or volunteers) and the physical environment (e.g., distance to resources, recreational facilities and social partners). Nine needs emerged and were prioritized as follows: 1) having access to and being informed about transportation options, 2) being informed about available activities and services, 3) having access to activities, including volunteering opportunities, suited to their interests, schedule, cost, language and health condition, 4) being accompanied to activities, 5) having access to meeting places near home and adapted to their health condition, and 6-9 (no preferred order) being reached when isolated, being personally invited and welcomed to activities, having a social support network, and being valued and recognized. Differences emerged when prioritizing needs of older adults with disabilities (greater need for assistance, accessibility and adapted activities) and older adults living in a rural area (greater need for transportation).Conclusions: To promote active participation in the community, the social participation needs of older women and men living in rural areas must be addressed, especially in regard to transportation, information, adapted activities, assistance and accessibility. The first part of this action research will be followed by community selection and implementation of initiatives to ultimately foster their social participation.

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The Nordic @geing Online project: Co-creating a social application together with older adults

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz185.297 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

J Nordmyr ◽

A K Forsman

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Promotion ◽

Social Participation ◽

Rural Areas ◽

New Technologies ◽

Psychosocial Health ◽

Design Approach ◽

Online Services ◽

Online Application ◽

Development Fund

Abstract Background Online resources present various possibilities for health promotion, also in the growing older adult population. Tailored online services aiming to support social participation among users could potentially promote older adults’ psychosocial health. In the @geing Online project an online application is developed, focusing on access to meaningful social activities among older adults in rural areas in Finland and Sweden. The innovation project (2017-2020) is funded by the Interreg Botnia-Atlantica programme (European Regional Development Fund). Methods A collaborative, user-centred design approach is applied when developing the online application, allowing older potential users and personnel groups from the social and health care sector to evaluate application features in a step-wise process. The inclusion of personnel groups allows for the exploration of the feasibility of introducing the tool in home care services and similar relevant contexts from an organizational perspective. Further, the inclusion of regional IT-companies presents opportunities for them to develop their competence regarding eHealth tools and older adults as a target group. Results An advanced prototype of the application and its core features is presented. Promising approaches and outcomes regarding the co-creation methods applied to ensure the involvement of stakeholders in the development process are elaborated upon. Challenging issues related to the project theme, such as stereotypical and negative views of older adults’ competences and motivation related to application use are also discussed. Conclusions The project highlights possibilities - but also challenges - when co-creating a social application together with older adults, some of whom have no experience in internet use. The gathered project outcomes will provide lessons on the potential of new technologies for delivering health promotion initiatives among older adults. Key messages Tailored online services aiming to support social participation among users provide possibilities for promoting psychosocial health in the growing population of older adults. Application development utilizing a user-centered design approach can be implemented even if the end-users are not familiar with the internet or application use.

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Convoys of social support in Mexico

International Journal of Behavioral Development ◽

10.1177/0165025415581028 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 324-333 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Heather R. Fuller-Iglesias ◽

Toni Antonucci

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Relations ◽

Intergenerational Relationships ◽

Well Being ◽

Support Network ◽

Future Research ◽

Frequent Contact ◽

Gender And Education ◽

The Social

The Convoy Model suggests that at different stages of the lifespan the makeup of the social support network varies in step with developmental and contextual needs. Cultural norms may shape the makeup of social convoys as well as denote socio-demographic differences in social support. This study examines the social convoys of adults in Mexico. Specifically, it examines whether social network structure varies by age, gender, and education level, thus addressing the paucity of research on interpersonal relations in Mexico. A sample of 1,202 adults (18–99 years of age) was drawn from the Study of Social Relations and Well-being in Mexico. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated older adults had larger, more geographically proximate networks with a greater proportion of kin but less frequent contact. Women had larger, less geographically proximate networks with less frequent contact. Less educated individuals had smaller, more geographically proximate networks with more frequent contact and a greater proportion of kin. Age moderated gender and education effects indicated that younger women have more diverse networks and less educated older adults have weaker social ties. This study highlights socio-demographic variation in social convoys within the Mexican context, and suggests implications for fostering intergenerational relationships, policy, and interventions. Future research on Mexican convoys should further explore sources of support, and specifically address implications for well-being.

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Environmental Characteristics Associated with Older Adults’ Social Participation: The Contribution of Sociodemography and Transportation in Metropolitan, Urban, and Rural Areas

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17228399 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (22) ◽

pp. 8399

Author(s):

Mélanie Levasseur ◽

Daniel Naud ◽

Jean-François Bruneau ◽

Mélissa Généreux

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Participation ◽

Public Transportation ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Social Deprivation ◽

Metropolitan Areas ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Local Environment ◽

Environmental Characteristics

Although social participation fosters older adults’ health, little is known about which environmental characteristics are related to greater participation in social activities. The Canadian Community Health Survey (n = 2737), a transportation survey, and multiple secondary data sources were used to identify the environmental characteristics associated with older Quebecers’ social participation according to living area. Greater social participation was associated with: (1) a higher concentration of older adults (IRR = 2.172 (95% CI 1.600, 2.948); p < 0.001), more kilometers traveled by paratransit (IRR = 1.714 (95% CI 1.286, 2.285); p < 0.01), a lack of medical clinics (IRR = 0.730 (95% CI 0.574, 0.930); p = 0.01), and more funded home adaptations (IRR = 1.170 (95% CI 1.036, 1.320); p = 0.01) in large metropolitan areas; (2) larger paratransit fleets (IRR = 1.368 (95% CI 1.044, 1.791); p = 0.02) and a lower density of road intersections (IRR = 0.862 (95% CI 0.756, 0.982); p = 0.03) in regular metropolitan areas; (3) less social deprivation (IRR = 1.162 (95% CI 1.025, 1.318); p = 0.02) in urban areas; and (4) a higher concentration of older populations (IRR = 2.386 (95% CI 1.817, 3.133); p < 0.001) in rural areas. According to these findings, social participation interventions should target the local environment—for example, by providing more social interaction opportunities for older adults living in younger neighborhoods and by improving access to public transportation, especially paratransit.

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Pré-implantation de l’Accompagnement-citoyen personnalisé d’intégration communautaire (APIC): Adaptabilité, collaboration et financement, les déterminants d’une implantation réussie

Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement ◽

10.1017/s0714980819000059 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 38 (03) ◽

pp. 315-327

Author(s):

Laurie Piché ◽

Sophie Arsenault ◽

Mathilde Leblanc ◽

Nathalie Croteau ◽

Mélanie Levasseur

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Action Research ◽

Social Participation ◽

Research Study ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Leisure Activities ◽

Economic Context ◽

New Knowledge ◽

Facilitators And Barriers

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to identify the facilitators and barriers to as well as the feasibility of Implementing Personalized Citizen Assistance for social participation (IPCA) in older adults with disabilities living in the community. The IPCA is a three-hour, weekly follow-up achieved by trained and supervised non-professional assistants that aims to increase engagement in social and leisure activities of people living with disabilities. An action research study was conducted with 16 people from the community. The adaptability of the IPCA, the presence of scientific evidence, the acknowledgement of a need for such an intervention, as well as expertise and collaboration, were the main facilitators in implementation of the IPCA. Meanwhile, funding, associated with an unfavorable political and economic context, was a barrier. Overall, the majority of the participants perceived that the IPCA could be offered in the community by volunteers. This new knowledge will facilitate the implementation of IPCA or other similar interventions.

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MORE OR LESS? A DECADE’S TREND OF SOCIAL PARTICIPATION AMONG CHINESE OLDER ADULTS: BASED ON A LONGITUDINAL SURVEY

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.2348 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S630-S630

Author(s):

Chenxin Tan ◽

Yun Zhou

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Participation ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Latent Class ◽

The Elderly ◽

Health Condition ◽

Chinese Older Adults ◽

The Family ◽

Family Centered ◽

Over Time

Abstract Social participation is of great significance in healthy aging. While studies on social participation among Chinese elderly are growing, there is a lack of understanding the changes over time of the participation. Using datasets from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), this paper presents a comprehensive analysis on a decade’s trend of social participation among Chinese older adults. First, we use the method of Latent Class Analysis (LCA) to identify types of social participation; in this study, we concluded three types, no participation, the family-centered, and the society-oriented. Second, we examine the characteristics of the elderly by types of participation in terms of demographic, socioeconomic and health condition and analyze the changes in the characteristics over time. And third, we interpret the trend of social participation with broader social environment, or the fluctuant structural and institutional differences under the context of China’s unique social system. Our general conclusion is that while the overall level of participation holds relatively steady, there is a dynamic micro progress and complex mechanisms in this long period. In addition, although both the family-centered participants and the society-oriented possess broader scopes of social participation, the related attributes are different across time. This paper contributes to our knowledge of life of the elderly under the circumstances of fast aging process in China.

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