scholarly journals A new old age?: Exploring the values, attitudes and expectations of baby boomers and their implications for policy and practice in an ageing society

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Kathy Glasgow
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Older People ◽  
Baby Boomers ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Ageing Society ◽  
Substantial Impact

<p>As a large age cohort, baby boomers needs, attitudes and behaviour can have a substantial impact on society. Despite international predictions that older boomers will behave in very different ways to current generations of older people little scholarly research has to date been done to explore „kiwi boomers‟ attitudes to ageing or the underlying values that may predispose them to behave in a particular manner as older workers, consumers, voters and family members.  This study explores boomers views about their own ageing and considers how their expectations, attitudes and beliefs and underlying values may influence their behaviour as they age. Policy implications are then considered. Discourse analysis reveals prevailing paradigms and the degree of disparity or congruence with boomers‟ views is considered.  Eleven focus groups were held in urban and semi-rural settings around New Zealand with boomers born 1946 – 1965, to explore participants' views on ageing, their expected lifestyle in future years, what forms of assistance they expected to give or receive, and what attitudes and values they felt baby boomers typically had that may influence their behaviour in older age. Results are triangulated with existing data on boomers in New Zealand. Where possible comparisons are drawn with boomers in other countries and with older and younger generations in New Zealand.  Results indicate these boomers have a sense of common identity. Many articulated and appeared to have internalised common discourses about the boomer generation, although differences between older and younger, urban and provincial, socio-economic and ethnic groups were apparent. Most believed they would age differently to current generations of older people.  These boomers are interested in new forms of work, more flexible, creative lifestyles and more supportive living arrangements. They have a strong work ethic, but they value work/life balance, choice, freedom and autonomy in decision-making. They anticipate working longer, but on their own terms. They believe they should provide for their families, but the state has a responsibility to reduce inequities and support those in need. Like their parents they value self-reliance and independence, but also inter-dependence and inter-generational care responsibilities. There was a desire for more innovative intra-cohort care and support.  Despite areas of commonality, a key feature of the boomer cohort is their diversity and this presents a major challenge for policy and service development. Boomers accept their status as change agents. They anticipate drawing on previous experience to collectively influence policy. While it remains unclear on which issues they may converge, findings suggest the boomer cohort has the potential and inclination to advocate for social change. Processes of policy development will need to adapt to effectively work, with and not against this cohort.</p>

scholarly journals A new old age?: Exploring the values, attitudes and expectations of baby boomers and their implications for policy and practice in an ageing society

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Kathy Glasgow
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Older People ◽  
Baby Boomers ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Ageing Society ◽  
Substantial Impact

<p>As a large age cohort, baby boomers needs, attitudes and behaviour can have a substantial impact on society. Despite international predictions that older boomers will behave in very different ways to current generations of older people little scholarly research has to date been done to explore „kiwi boomers‟ attitudes to ageing or the underlying values that may predispose them to behave in a particular manner as older workers, consumers, voters and family members.  This study explores boomers views about their own ageing and considers how their expectations, attitudes and beliefs and underlying values may influence their behaviour as they age. Policy implications are then considered. Discourse analysis reveals prevailing paradigms and the degree of disparity or congruence with boomers‟ views is considered.  Eleven focus groups were held in urban and semi-rural settings around New Zealand with boomers born 1946 – 1965, to explore participants' views on ageing, their expected lifestyle in future years, what forms of assistance they expected to give or receive, and what attitudes and values they felt baby boomers typically had that may influence their behaviour in older age. Results are triangulated with existing data on boomers in New Zealand. Where possible comparisons are drawn with boomers in other countries and with older and younger generations in New Zealand.  Results indicate these boomers have a sense of common identity. Many articulated and appeared to have internalised common discourses about the boomer generation, although differences between older and younger, urban and provincial, socio-economic and ethnic groups were apparent. Most believed they would age differently to current generations of older people.  These boomers are interested in new forms of work, more flexible, creative lifestyles and more supportive living arrangements. They have a strong work ethic, but they value work/life balance, choice, freedom and autonomy in decision-making. They anticipate working longer, but on their own terms. They believe they should provide for their families, but the state has a responsibility to reduce inequities and support those in need. Like their parents they value self-reliance and independence, but also inter-dependence and inter-generational care responsibilities. There was a desire for more innovative intra-cohort care and support.  Despite areas of commonality, a key feature of the boomer cohort is their diversity and this presents a major challenge for policy and service development. Boomers accept their status as change agents. They anticipate drawing on previous experience to collectively influence policy. While it remains unclear on which issues they may converge, findings suggest the boomer cohort has the potential and inclination to advocate for social change. Processes of policy development will need to adapt to effectively work, with and not against this cohort.</p>

scholarly journals Supported Independent Accommodation for Older New Zealanders: a Review of Current Policy and Innovative Practice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Maxwell F Reid
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Older People ◽  
Models Of Care ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Intersectoral Collaboration ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Care For Older People

<p>Existing research establishes a clear link between poor housing and poor health. There is also growing evidence that the physical, mental and social wellbeing of individuals and households can be improved by ensuring their access to suitable accommodation. Despite the growing body of research documenting the benefits of supported independent accommodation (SIA) as a means of maintaining the independence and wellbeing particularly of older people, there is little research evaluating the place of such accommodation within the New Zealand context. This thesis aims to address that gap. It reviews the existing body of literature surrounding this topic - exploring population and accommodation demographics, and analysing government policy in relation to both housing and health. It considers six New Zealand examples of SIA - each selected on the basis of their distinctiveness and innovation - documents these, and compares them using a case study approach. Adopting a general inductive methodology, each case study is then analysed against themes identified in the literature review, identifying any further trends, and the implications of these for ongoing policy and service development. Intersectoral collaboration is identified as having had particular bearing upon the development of SIA within the New Zealand context. This thesis concludes that SIA will play an increasingly important role in the continuum of accommodation and care for older people. It offers an alternative to more institutionalised models of care for older people, maintaining their independence and social integration within their own community. As demographic and economic factors drive up the cost of more traditional models of residential care, SIA offers government an equally important alternative. However, ongoing development in this area is not without it challenges. To this end, a number of policy implications are also identified and discussed.</p>

scholarly journals Supported Independent Accommodation for Older New Zealanders: a Review of Current Policy and Innovative Practice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Maxwell F Reid
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Older People ◽  
Models Of Care ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Intersectoral Collaboration ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Care For Older People

<p>Existing research establishes a clear link between poor housing and poor health. There is also growing evidence that the physical, mental and social wellbeing of individuals and households can be improved by ensuring their access to suitable accommodation. Despite the growing body of research documenting the benefits of supported independent accommodation (SIA) as a means of maintaining the independence and wellbeing particularly of older people, there is little research evaluating the place of such accommodation within the New Zealand context. This thesis aims to address that gap. It reviews the existing body of literature surrounding this topic - exploring population and accommodation demographics, and analysing government policy in relation to both housing and health. It considers six New Zealand examples of SIA - each selected on the basis of their distinctiveness and innovation - documents these, and compares them using a case study approach. Adopting a general inductive methodology, each case study is then analysed against themes identified in the literature review, identifying any further trends, and the implications of these for ongoing policy and service development. Intersectoral collaboration is identified as having had particular bearing upon the development of SIA within the New Zealand context. This thesis concludes that SIA will play an increasingly important role in the continuum of accommodation and care for older people. It offers an alternative to more institutionalised models of care for older people, maintaining their independence and social integration within their own community. As demographic and economic factors drive up the cost of more traditional models of residential care, SIA offers government an equally important alternative. However, ongoing development in this area is not without it challenges. To this end, a number of policy implications are also identified and discussed.</p>

scholarly journals Befriending and Re-ablement Service: a better alternative in an age of austerity

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 51-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris McGoldrick ◽  
Giles Andrew Barrett ◽  
Ian Cook
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Research Evaluation ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Great Success ◽  
Ageing Society ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to share the findings of a research evaluation into a Befriending and Re-ablement Service (BARS) which offers a host of positive outcomes such as reduced loneliness and keeping as well as possible for a growing segment of the world’s population. The recent increase in longevity is one of humanity’s great success stories. But ageing comes at a price, and decision takers worry about the stresses and strains of an ageing society. Design/methodology/approach Following a literature review, this paper presents the findings of an evaluation of an alternative innovative form of support for older people, namely BARS, that has been developed on Merseyside. Semi- and unstructured interviews were carried out with stakeholders including service users and carers. A cost-benefit analysis is also reported. Finally the theoretical and policy implications of this research are explored. Findings Befriending and re-ablement officers is both a socially and economically cost effective means of enhancing independent living among older people, reducing loneliness and isolation that can contribute to ill health. The research shows that funding for the BARS scheme should be sustained and expanded, despite or because of the current era of cutbacks in UK and international service provision. Originality/value The paper highlights the value, role and importance of both befriending and re-ablement in a time of acute public and voluntary sector funding pressures. The paper is of value to a range of stakeholder groups such as older people, local and central governments and health care commissioners.

scholarly journals Age discrimination in the workplace

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Davey
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Older People ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Age Discrimination ◽  
Stereotyped Attitudes ◽  
Survey Report ◽  
Discrimination In Employment ◽  
Mature Workers

Age discrimination is often cited as a barrier to participation in work by older people, and the workplace provides the most common grounds for complaints of this nature. Age discrimination predominantly affects older rather than younger groups (although the latter are not exempt), and is often based on myths and stereotyped attitudes about older people and older workers which can be easily refuted (Davey, 2007; Alpass and Mortimer, 2007; Gray and McGregor, 2003). Age discrimination as an issue in the workplace is not new. It was well documented in Janice Burns’ literature review on mature workers for the Department of Work and Income in 2001 (Burns, 2001) and by Justina Murray in her review of age discrimination in employment, commissioned by the New Zealand Human Rights Commission in 2002 (Murray, 2002). In 2006 the EEO Trust’s Work and Age Survey Report showed that 31% of respondents had experienced age discrimination at work (EEO Trust, 2006).

Population ageing in Europe

2017 ◽  
pp. 11-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily M. Grundy ◽  
Michael Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Family Support ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Population Ageing ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Demographic Changes ◽  
Current Century ◽  
Close Relatives ◽  
Older Populations ◽  
Twentieth Century Europe

Population ageing—the process leading to increases in the representation of older people in the total population—was a predominant trend in trend in twentieth-century Europe, which will intensify over the course of the current century. This chapter presents information on the past, current, and likely future size and demographic characteristics of Europe’s older populations over the period 1950–2050 and explains the demographic changes driving population ageing. Information on the availability of close relatives (spouses and children) related to these demographic changes is also provided together with consideration of variations across Europe in the living arrangements and family support of older people. Policy implications, and possible policy responses, to these changes are considered in the final sections.

scholarly journals Later life in rental housing: current New Zealand issues

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally Keeling
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Older People ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Home Ownership ◽  
Rental Housing ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Development Work ◽  
Policy Issues ◽  
Local Research

Historically, New Zealand has had relatively high rates of home ownership, with widely held aspirations for mortgagefree tenure in later life. As a consequence, examination of the small but growing numbers of older renters has been limited (Nana et al., 2009, p.20). This article draws together local research, commissioned policy development work and comparative evidence to identify the characteristics of older people in rental accommodation, current and projected issues and potential policy issues.

scholarly journals Living alone as a lifestyle of older people in New Zealand: policy implications

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peggy Koopman-Boyden ◽  
Sheena Moosa
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Older People ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Self Sufficiency ◽  
Societal Level ◽  
New Zealanders

In many societies adults of various ages are adopting a new lifestyle of living alone which is often characterised by independence, self-sufficiency, freedom and alternative living, yet is also seen as hedonistic, selfish and individualistic. No previous societies have supported so many people living alone, for living alone may not be a desired survival goal at societal level (Roseneil, 2006). In many modern societies a significant number of middleaged and older people are living alone as a result of smaller families, relationship break-ups or the death of a spouse or partner. This article examines the development of this phenomenon, including the possibility of it becoming a more dominant lifestyle for older people, while exploring the motivations of older New Zealanders (aged 65 and over) who live alone, and the strategies they adopt to make their solo lifestyle meaningful. 

Australian and New Zealand Biosolids Partnership: Collaboration for more effective biosolids management

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Speers ◽  
Allen Gale ◽  
Nancy Penney
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Community Consultation ◽  
Critical Research ◽  
Community Attitudes ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Sustainability Framework

This paper describes an international biosolids management initiative, known as the Australian and New Zealand Biosolids Partnership (ANZBP). The ANZBP - known formerly as the Australasian Biosolids Partnership – comprises 33 members dedicated to promoting the sustainable management of biosolids across the two nations. Two critical research projects are described, each of which contributes to the ANZBP goal of promoting the sustainable management of biosolids. The first is a review of community attitudes to biosolids management, the outcomes of which will be used to refine communication tools and methods of community consultation and which will provide input to policy development over time. The second is a review of regulations in place in Australia and New Zealand carried out to identify inconsistencies and improvements that could be made. An outcome of this initiative is potentially the development of a best practice manual. The relationship of the two projects to a sustainability framework adopted by the ANZBP is also described, as is the relationship of the two projects to each other.

scholarly journals The impact of living arrangements and intergenerational support on the health status of older people in China: are rural residents disadvantaged compared to urban residents?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-26
Author(s):  
Yazhen Yang ◽  
Maria Evandrou ◽  
Athina Vlachantoni
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Older People ◽  
Adult Children ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Urban Residents ◽  
Intergenerational Support ◽  
Rural Residents ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Research to-date has examined the impact of intergenerational support in terms of isolated types of support, or at one point in time, failing to provide strong evidence of the complex effect of support on older persons’ wellbeing. Using the Harmonised China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011, 2013 and 2015), this paper investigates the impact of older people's living arrangements and intergenerational support provision/receipt on their physical and psychological wellbeing, focusing on rural–urban differences. The results show that receiving economic support from one's adult children was a stronger predictor for higher life satisfaction among rural residents compared to urban residents, while grandchild care provision was an important determinant for poor life satisfaction only for urban residents. Having weekly in-person and distant contact with one's adult children reduced the risk of depression in both rural and urban residents. Older women were more likely than men to receive support and to have contact with adult children, but also to report poor functional status and depression. The paper shows that it is important to improve the level of public economic transfers and public social care towards vulnerable older people in rural areas, and more emphasis should be placed on improving the psychological wellbeing of urban older residents, such as with the early diagnosis of depression.

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