scholarly journals Programming the physical activity of seniors in local social policy

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 123-139
Author(s):  
Ryszard Majer ◽  
Jarosław Rodzik
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
Older People ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Social Problems ◽  
National Level ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Physical Activation ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations

Extensive processes of aging naturally should arouse interest in local social policy wizards older people and keeping them in good health what undoubtedly contributes to physical activity. The aim of the study: The aim of the study was to assess the extent of physical activity of older people is of interest to local government decision-makers in the process of programming of local social policy. Research methods and materials: The research was conducted on the basis of local social policy program documents, which should be compulsorily developed in each commune long-term strategies for solving social problems and (non-obligatory) local senior policy programs from the area of the Silesian Voivodeship. 155 strategies for solving social problems were analyzed (167 communes in the voivodship). Results: In the documents dominated inclusion of seniors in the diagnostic part (94 cases) and planning (85 cases) and only in the case of 11 local governments developed a separate program for senior citizens. Despite a number of indications regarding the physical activation of older people resulting from program documents undertaken at the European and national level, local documents deal with this issue marginally and it is clearly underestimated at the level of program declarations. Conclusions: Deficits in the activity of seniors at the level of program declarations seem to result from two basic factors, the lack of knowledge among the creators of local social policy, incl. social workers, who should be made sensitive to the above issues through properly profiled training, and the lack of effective lobbying which should be carried out by senior councils and non-governmental organizations.

scholarly journals Challenges and lessons learnt from the ENJOY project: recommendations for future collaborative research implementation framework with local governments for improving the environment to promote physical activity for older people

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pazit Levinger ◽  
Jeremy Dunn ◽  
Maya Panisset ◽  
Briony Dow ◽  
Frances Batchelor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older People ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Interactive Systems ◽  
Trial Registration ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Lessons Learnt ◽  
Exercise Equipment

Abstract Background The physical environment has been shown to have a positive effect on the promotion of physical activity of older people. Outdoor environments that incorporate specialised exercise equipment suitable for older people are uniquely placed to promote physical activity and social connectedness amongst older people. The ENJOY project included the installation of specialised outdoor exercise equipment (the Seniors Exercise Park) and the delivery of a physical and social activity program for older people as part of a prospective pre-post research design. The installation of the specialised equipment in public sites and an aged care facility was also aimed at increasing usage of the equipment by older people from the wider community and to increase physical and social activities. Method A conceptual framework for implementation and several engagement methods were utilised to guide the research and to support the participating partners throughout the project. This paper is a reflective narrative describing the collaborative process and approach utilised to engage local governments and community, and reports the challenges and the lessons learnt to inform future strategies for implementation. Results The conceptual framework for the implementation process that guided the conduct and delivery of the ENJOY project included the core elements of the Interactive Systems Framework and the ecologic framework. These models incorporate elements of research-to-practice and community-centred implementation to accommodate the unique perspectives of a range of stakeholders. Conclusion Partner characteristics such as local governments’ structure and policy as well as community factors can impact on implementation. Partnership with local governments with effective communication, strategic planning and community and seniors engagement approaches are recommended for successful implementation. The lessons learnt can further assist public health research design around changes to the built environment to positively impact on older people’s physical activity levels. Trial registration Trial registration number ACTRN12618001727235. Date of registration 19th October 2018, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=375979

Complex Needs and Wicked Problems: How Social Disadvantage Became Multiple

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
kylie valentine
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Social Problems ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Wicked Problems ◽  
Social Disadvantage ◽  
Half Century ◽  
Complex Needs ◽  
Policy Responses ◽  
Research And Policy ◽  
The Way

This article traces changes in the descriptions of entrenched social disadvantage, and changes in the way that social description is conceptualised and measured. The article is also an analysis of the importance of categories and categorisation to social policy research; an importance which is recognised relatively rarely. Its focus is on the growing importance of multiplicity as a mode for measuring and conceptualising disadvantage. It argues that multiplicity has become important in social policy, and traces distinct trends in research and policy over the last half-century, and their convergence at particular moments. The rise of multiplicity as a trope for understanding social disadvantage has the effect of rendering social problems as more ‘wicked’ and intractable than they were previously understood to be. The strengths of this are in the sophistication of theoretical, multidisciplinary conceptualisations of disadvantage and the disadvantaged. There may be costs to this, however, in policy responses to addressing people's needs.

scholarly journals Lithuanian physical activity strategy: The culture of the body or the body cult?

Medicina ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasa Jankauskienė
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Image ◽  
National Level ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Good Health ◽  
The Body ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Health Related

The article is devoted to disclosure of the tendencies in the promotion of Lithuanian physical activity. During the Soviet times, Lithuanian sports politics was oriented to elite sport and it is still. The attempts to foster physical activity of the population lie on the movement “Sport for all,” but the results of the movement are not effective enough, because only a small part of the population (approximately 6%) took part in it. No one governmental institution has full and clear responsibility for the results of physical activity promotion. The poor environment of physical activity results in poor possibilities to be physically active in leisure domain. Differently, the huge expansion of the private sport, health, and beauty industries fosters the adoration of the body and overemphasizes the meaning of body image in the society. Physical activity is represented as the measure to achieve ideal body image or good health, but not as the measure of the overall culture of the human or society. Conclusions. The long-lasting, health-related physical activity-oriented national strategy is essential to foster physical activity, health, and quality of life at the national level. The multiplicity of possibilities in the physical activity would foster lifestyle activity instead of adoration of body image and would improve the psychological and physical well-being of the population.

scholarly journals INSTITUTIONAL PROVISION OF SOCIAL INNOVATIONS IN THE CONDITIONS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

2020 ◽  
Vol 1(13) ◽  
pp. 11-16
Author(s):  
J.V. Buy ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
National Level ◽  
Institutional Support ◽  
Institutional Development ◽  
The Social ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Social Innovations

The article considers the main forms of social security and social guarantees at the national level, in accordance with the current legislative and regulatory support, state target programs and existing infrastructure. The aim of the article is to represent modern directions of institutional support of social innovations for balanced development of social and economic systems. It has been determined that one of the main directions that contribute to the processes of generation, production and dissemination of social innovations is the institutional support of innovation. Accordingly, the basic bases of state support for these processes are ensuring the institutional development of innovation infrastructure and the interaction of civil society with state and regional authorities and local governments. The coordination of the activity of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine by areas of activity, the most significant world tendencies of support of social innovations and institutional support of social innovations by leading educational institutions through the implementation of educational programs have been analyzed. It has been established that a necessary prerequisite for intensifying social development and implementation of social innovations is institutional support at the national level, which will coordinate the implementation of social initiatives, which can be further produced as social innovations. Therefore, the imperatives for the development of the social component are social innovations, which are characterized by non-standard, but effective solutions to social problems, the priority of which is the social (qualitative) rather than economic (financial) effect. The diversity of social activities of the Ministry of Social Policy and the diversity of ways of its interaction with civil society, but program-targeted conceptual areas, measures and programs to promote social innovation at the national, regional and local levels are currently absent, but the main interest in a wide range manifestations of social innovations and opportunities to raise funds for their financing belong to the initiatives of non-governmental organizations and social entrepreneurship. Accordingly, the main institutional structure that can provide support for the generation, production and dissemination of social innovations is the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, respectively, at the regional level, such structures may be local state administrations. Key words: innovative activity, innovations, social innovations, sustainable development, institutional support, social and economic system.

THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SELF-REPORTED HEALTH IN OLDER ADULTS: LESSONS IMPLIED BY LIFESTYLE FACTORS

2020 ◽  
pp. 289-298
Author(s):  
N. Asiamah ◽  
C. Petersen ◽  
K. Kouveliotis ◽  
R. Eduafo ◽  
R. Borkey
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Lifestyle Factors ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Reported Health

Доказано, что физическая активность (ФА) связана с самооценкой здоровья, но в исследования, подтверждающие эти данные, не были включены некоторые существенные независимые переменные, особенно те, которые относятся к африканской выборке. В этом исследовании изучали связь между ФА и самооценкой здоровья, с соответствующими факторами образа жизни, сопутствующими заболеваниями и индивидуальными характеристиками, которые рассматривали как независимые переменные в ходе данной оценки. В исследование были включены люди, которые уже вышли на пенсию, а также те, кто продолжают работать в возрасте 60 лет и старше (Аккра, Гана). В общей сложности на анкету-опросник ответили 686 человек. Для представления результатов использовали критерии Пирсона и бинарную логистическую регрессию. Наши данные показали, что люди пожилого возраста, которые занимались умеренной ФА более 60 мин за 7 занятий (OR=7,41; р =0,000), с большей вероятностью сообщали о хорошем здоровье по сравнению с теми, у которых ФА занимала менее 30 мин. Точно так же, те, кто занимался активной ФА в течение 60 мин или более за 5 занятий (OR=4,52; р =0,003), с большей вероятностью сообщали о хорошем здоровье по сравнению с теми, у которых ФА занимала менее 30 мин. Был сделан вывод, что ФА улучшает самооценку здоровья, если люди пожилого возраста стараются избегать сидячего образа жизни, снижают частоту курения и изменяют свой рацион питания, но наша независимая переменная корректировка предполагает, что употребление алкоголя обязательно ухудшает самооценку здоровья. Physical activity (PA) has been evidenced to be associated with self-reported health, but studies providing this evidence have failed to incorporate some relevant covariates, especially those pertinent to an African sample. This study examined the association between PA and self-reported health, with relevant lifestyle factors, comorbidities, and personal characteristics treated as covariates in this assessment. The study population was retired and working older people aged 60 years or more in Accra, Ghana. A total of 686 individuals responded to self-reported questionnaires. Pearson’s chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used to present findings. Our data indicated that older adults who participated in moderate PA for more than 60 minutes were 7 times (OR=7,41; p =0,000) more likely to report good health compared with those who were active for less than 30 minutes. Similarly, those who participated in vigorous PA for 60 or more minutes were 5 times (OR=4,52; p =0,003) more likely to report good health compared with those who were active for less than 30 minutes. It is concluded that PA is likely to better enhance self-reported health when older people avoid sedentary behaviour, reduce their frequency of smoking, and modify their diet, but our covariate adjustment suggests that alcohol intake does not necessarily mar self-reported health.

scholarly journals Active Aging Governance and Challenges at the Local Level

Geriatrics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Alexandre Fernandes ◽  
Teresa Forte ◽  
Gonçalo Santinha ◽  
Sara Diogo ◽  
Fernando Alves
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Level ◽  
National Level ◽  
Active Aging ◽  
Governance Mechanisms ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Southern European Country ◽  
Local Actors ◽  
The Way

International and national guidelines have been promoting active aging while creating the necessary means for decision-makers and other relevant actors to work together (governance mechanisms) to implement local and active aging policies. This is especially important in the present COVID-19 pandemic context, posing greater challenges on older people who tend to be self-isolated. How are local actors conceptualizing active aging? What are their priorities related to a healthy life for older people? Which governance mechanisms are used to implement such policies? These are some of the questions addressed in this paper, targeting Portugal, a southern European country. A mixed-methods sequential explanatory design combining a survey conducted at a national level and interviews with key actors in the NUTS III Aveiro Region was employed to identify and understand the underpinning governance mechanisms. Findings confirm the ‘passive organization type’ in which European politico-territorial studies tend to place Portugal, as there are gaps in the way policies are formulated, implemented and evaluated, as well as a lack of coordination. Results of this study have important impacts on the way local governments and other stakeholders will prepare themselves in the post-pandemic period to design and implement policies addressing active aging.

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