scholarly journals Negotiating a healthy body in old age: preventive home visits and biopolitics

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lene Otto

The study discussed in this article sheds light on how a specific publichealth policy, the preventive home visit (PHV) aimed at senior citizens, is implemented at the local level in Denmark. Empirically the article calls attention to what is actually going on in a preventive practice, based on participant observations, interviews and ten years#&8217; worth of visitation records. Theoretically, the article applies a Foucauldian biopolitical approach that understands the visits as an implementation of the active ageing scheme, as the notion of prevention is practised as a continuous process, which is utilised to train people#&8217;s gazes and sensitivity, and teach them to recognise ‘activity’ as closely linked to future well-being and longevity. An important finding is that the intervention is not normalising in a deterministic way but rather negotiable. Even though the home visitors represent a health regimen where activity is interpreted as bodily exercise, they try to avoid the tendency to prescribe for older people. Rather than prevention in the strict sense, it seems to be a health promotion strategy that encourages older people to articulate their needs. The meeting between the health visitor and the older person is characterised by conversations and negotiations about health, autonomy and bodily experiences.

Aula Abierta ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Elena Del Barrio Truchado ◽  
Sara Marsillas Rascado ◽  
Mayte Sancho Castiello

RESUMENEl concepto envejecimiento activo apareció por primera vez en 1999 recogiendo la tradición científica del paradigma positivo del envejecimiento. Este unifica las nociones de participación, salud, independencia y buen envejecer, siendo la participación el componente central. Este paradigma fue asumido como la gran respuesta política al envejecimiento demográfico tratando de cambiar el concepto tradicional de vejez, dotando a las personas mayores de nuevos roles. La iniciativa “Age-Friendly Cities and Communities” lanzada por la OMS en 2005 se planteó con el objetivo de llevar a la práctica en lo local este paradigma. Su finalidad última es promover un movimiento de participación ciudadana protagonizado por las personas mayores como generadoras de bienestar, traspasando las barreras del envejecimiento activo hacia un concepto más amplio de ciudadanía. Además, es necesario que se adapte a la época actual en la que las nuevas generaciones reclaman un espacio donde poder desarrollarse y contribuir en procesos con grupos y comunidades con las que se identifican, independientemente de su edad. La revolución de la longevidad plantea retos, que podemos y debemos aprovechar para construir una sociedad mejor, más igualitaria y capaz de reconocer el valor de cada persona con independencia de su edad y condición social, cultural o racial.Palabras Clave: Envejecimiento activo, ciudades amigables, participación, personas mayores, ciudadanía.ABSTRACTThe concept of active ageing first appeared in 1999, including the scientific tradition of the positive paradigm of ageing. Active ageing unifies the notions of health, independence, good aging and participation, being this last one the central component. This paradigm was assumed as a broad political response to demographic ageing, which tries to change the traditional concept of old age, providing older people with new roles. The initiative “Age-Friendly Cities and Communities”, launched by the WHO in 2005, was raised with the aim of applying this paradigm into practice at the local level. Its purpose is to promote a movement of citizen participation where older people have the leading role as generators of well-being, transcending the barriers of active aging towards a broader concept of citizenship. Additionally, it should be adapted to the current era in which the new generations demand a space where they can develop and contribute to processes with groups and communities which they are identified with, regardless of their age. The revolution of longevity poses challenges, which we can and must take advantage of in order to build a better, more egalitarian society and able to recognise the value of each person regardless of their age and social, cultural or racial condition.Keywords: Active ageing, friendly cities, participation, older people, citizenship.


2020 ◽  
pp. 152483992097638
Author(s):  
Deinera Exner-Cortens ◽  
Alysia Wright ◽  
Marisa Van Bavel ◽  
Kathleen C. Sitter ◽  
Debb Hurlock ◽  
...  

Gender-transformative approaches (i.e., approaches that support male-identified individuals to critique and resist stereotypical male gender role norms that negatively affect health and well-being) are increasingly recognized as a key health promotion strategy. However, there is limited evidence to date on gender-transformative interventions for male-identified adolescents. In addition, given the dynamic and socially constructed nature of gender, methods beyond quantitative data collection are needed to gain a holistic understanding of promising gender-transformative health promotion approaches. One newer method to capture lived experiences with adolescents is photo-based evaluation, where youth program participants take pictures to represent their knowledge, attitudes, and/or behaviors before and after a program. The present study presents findings from the photo-based evaluation of a gender-transformative health promotion program called WiseGuyz. WiseGuyz is offered to mid-adolescent, male-identified youth in school and community settings, and is designed to promote mental and sexual health and prevent violence. Six youth photographers from a rural Canadian setting took part in this evaluation, taking photos to represent what being a guy in their world meant before and after WiseGuyz. Youth then participated in an individual visual storytelling interview and a group-based photovoice process. Key themes in relation to masculinities that emerged from these data were around changes to (1) social norms and (2) emotionality following program participation, and the need for a safe program space to support these changes. This study adds to literature demonstrating the promise of gender-transformative approaches with adolescents, with implications for future health promotion research and practice with male-identified youth.


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 523-534
Author(s):  
Darunnee Limtrakul ◽  
Krongporn Ongprasert ◽  
Pisittawoot Ayood ◽  
Ratana Sapbamrer ◽  
Penprapa Siviroj

PurposeChildcare is an essential part of early life environment that has a significant influence on lifelong physical and mental health. This study aimed to examine the relationship between development, growth and frequency of illness in different types of care.Design/methodology/approachThis cross-sectional study recruited 177 children aged 30–36 months and their caregivers. Of these 66 were being cared for at home and 111 were attending out-of-home day-care facilities. An interview form, growth measurement and the Denver Developmental Screening Test II were collected. The association between child developmental, growth and illness variables was analyzed with Chi-square, Fisher's exact and Mann–Whitney U tests.FindingsThis study found that the development and growth results did not show statistically significant differences between the home-care and day-care groups. The number of minor illnesses was significantly lower in home-care children than in day-care children (OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.15-0.72).Research limitations/implicationsThis study indicated that the risk of infection is increased in the children attending day care. Provision of a healthy and safe childcare environment needs to be an essential health promotion strategy to improve family and child well-being.Originality/valueAs the number of women's participation in the labor market has increased rapidly over the past decades, so did the number of children in nonparental care. The study findings reflect that the development of a day-care center for children was unclear, whereas the risk of infection was increased. Therefore, provision of a healthy and safe childcare environment needs to be an essential health promotion strategy to improve family and child well-being.


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 543
Author(s):  
Pedro Miguel Fernandes Almeida ◽  
Maria De Fátima Sousa Batinas ◽  
Maria Araújo Leão Rita

ABSTRACTObjective: to reflect on active ageing as a strategy designed for the health promotion of the elderly population. Method: this article aims at reflecting on active Ageing. It is grounded on a selection of on-line literature, namely from the Virtual Health Library (Lilacs, Medline, Scielo). The descriptors used for the research were the following: Ageing, Quality of Life; Strategies, Health Promotion. Results: this study focuses on the importance of active ageing as a health promotion strategy, in order to enhance the active participation of the elderly in society. Final considerations: health promotion enhances both the quality of life and the independence of the elderly as well as of all those who are undergoing the ageing process. Hence, the need to implement health promotion strategies directed at this target group, within the framework of active ageing. Descriptors: ageing; quality of life; strategies; health promotion.RESUMOObjetivo: refletir sobre o envelhecimento ativo como estratégia de promoção da saúde da população idosa. Método: trata-se de um artigo reflexivo sobre o envelhecimento ativo. A selecção das publicações foi feita por meio eletrônico, na Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (Lilacs, Medline, Scielo). Os descritores utilizados para a pesquisa foram os seguintes: envelhecimento; qualidade de vida; estratégias; promoção da Saúde. Resultados: o estudo situa a importância do envelhecimento ativo como estratégia de promoção da saúde, de modo a proporcionar a participação ativa dos idosos na sociedade. Considerações finais: é importante promover a saúde de forma a alcançar a qualidade de vida e independência dos que envelheceram ou daqueles que estão no processo de envelhecimento. Considera-se então necessária a implementação de estratégias dirigidas a este grupo etário visando a promoção da saúde, numa perspectiva do envelhecimento ativo. Descritores: envelhecimento; qualidade de vida; estratégias; promoção da saúde.RESUMENObjetivo: reflectir sobre el envejecimiento activo como estrategia de promoción de la salud de la población anciana. Método: se trata de un artigo reflectivo sobre el Envejecimiento Activo. La seleción de las publicaciones se há realizado por medio electrónico, en la Biblioteca Virtual de Salud (Lilacs, Medline, Scielo). Los descriptores utilizados para la búsqueda han sido los siguientes: envejecimiento; calidad de vida; estrategias; promoción de la salúd. Resultados: el estudio situa la importancia del envejecimiento activo como estrategia de promoción de la salud, de forma a proporcionar la participación activa de los ancianos en la sociedad. Consideraciones finales: es importante promover la salud de forma a atingir la calidad de vida e independencia de los que han envejecido o de aquellos que estan en el proceso de envejecimiento. Se considera por ello necesario la implementación de estrategias dirigidas a este grupo etario com el objetivo de promover la salud, en una perspectiva de envejecimiento activo. Descriptores: envejecimiento; calidad de vida; estrategias de promoción de la salud.


Author(s):  
Sara Arber ◽  
Susan Venn ◽  
Ingrid Eyers

This chapter discusses how the sleep of older people is linked to issues of autonomy and active ageing. For older people living in the community, this chapter demonstrates how the strategic use of napping is related to the goal of active ageing, discusses the reluctance of older people to take prescribed sleeping medication, and examines how care-giving can adversely affect the sleep of older people. For older people living in care homes, care home routines, staffing levels at night and night-time monitoring by staff can compromise the sleep of care home residents, which has implications for their daytime functioning. This chapter argues that poor sleep is often ignored by both the medical profession and by the general public, yet is fundamental in terms of optimising health and well-being in later life, and enabling older people to achieve independent and active lives.


Author(s):  
Bertil Vilhelmson ◽  
Eva Thulin ◽  
Erik Elldér

AbstractThe time older people spend on various daily activities is critical for their health and well-being. New generations of older adults are increasingly expected to participate in ‘active’ activities. We explore shifts in active time use among upcoming cohorts of older people in Sweden. Recognizing the diverging meanings associated with the active ageing concept, we develop a classification model comprising the spheres of work, social engagement, and active leisure. We observe differences in time use of the ‘older middle-aged’ (pre-retirement), ‘young old’, and ‘older old’ observed in 2000/2001 and 2010/2011. We draw on two cross sections of Swedish time-use survey data covering 120 activities related to people’s everyday lives. We measure between-cohort differences in mean time use and employ covariate analysis to control for the influence of group-wise changes in socio-demographics. Linear regression is used to explore social differentiation, e.g. the influence of gender. Comparisons between new and previous generations indicate substantial increases in overall active ageing activity: increases by 7 h per week among the older old and 3.5 h among the young old and older middle-aged. New generations spend more time on work, paid or unpaid, and leisure digital interaction; for some, this is counteracted by less free time spent on social engagement. The new generation of the older old group spends more time on outdoor activity and exercise. These time-use patterns are gendered and dependent on education, mainly due to changes in cohort composition.


Author(s):  
Kristin Skeide Fuglerud ◽  
Siv Tunold ◽  
Kristin Kjæret

Older people with visual impairment are more prone to feeling lonely than their seeing peers. Research suggests that learning to use smartphones can improve psychological well-being in older adults. We seek to further explore and find solutions to three barriers for increased use and mastery of smartphones by older people with visual impairment, namely how to a) reach and motivate this group to learn to use a smartphone; b) improve the provision of training for this group, and c) organize support after training to increase the possibility for continued use. Data is collected through interviews and meetings with various stakeholders on a national and local level in Norway. Based on the results we provide some recommendations for future work to lower the barriers and to improve inclusion of older people with visual impairment into the information society.


2020 ◽  
Vol 556 (7) ◽  
pp. 18-26
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Sowa-Kofta

Central and Eastern European populations are entering a period of rapid aging. Older people are experiencing numerous problems associated with deteriorating health and functional limitations, creating pressure for adequate response from the state’s health and social policy. The article is based on information collected in the two international projects: CEQUA LTC Network and Pro-Health 65+ and its goal is to review policies on healthy and active aging formulated in recent decades in three countries: Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Poland. The health promotion programs in these countries are aimed at improving the health and well-being of the population, referring to the concept of healthy aging in relation to health risks, prevention of chronic diseases and disability in old age. At the same time, in the social sector, strategies and programs were brought to life referring to the concept of active aging, underlying the need for participation of older people in social life, creation of an elderly friendly environment and development of services supporting older people. Implementation of these policies and programmes is affected by limited financial resources, low awareness of the problems of the older population in local communities, and lack of local resources to create the appropriate infrastructure. The effectiveness of programs’ implementation is also influenced by the sectoral nature of programmes and poor intersectoral cooperation.


2010 ◽  
pp. 136-153
Author(s):  
Maria Antonia Modolo

Objective. An analysis of the essential perspectives that will integrate the consumption of alcohol into the promotion of the concept of well being and health and yet serve as a premise for reducing the risk of alcohol abuse. Method. To analyse the meaning of risk and the paradoxes associated with its prevention, the meaning of the sense of "health" and how the concept is constructed, the meaning of "health promotion strategy" as indicated by international consensus and its implementation by the institutions, the connotations linked to the "pursuit of well being" inherent in these strategies. Results. Analysis has indicated that the phenomena of alcohol abuse be inserted in a context of a balanced approach to the pursuit of well being particularly amongst adolescents recognizing that it has a determining value in contributing to the satisfaction of their needs at an individual, family and collective level. For High Schools the disaggregation of the notions of health education acquire a single vision. Only the satisfaction of their needs will allow adolescents to overcome their sensations of insecurity and desperation instead of seeking satisfaction in excessive or anti-social behavior through the excessive consumption of alcohol, which in Western society is inextricably associated with manifestations of joyful celebration.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document