scholarly journals A Framework for Green Remodeling Enabling Energy Efficiency and Healthy Living for the Elderly

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung Park ◽  
Mi Kim
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Aging In Place ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Healthy Living ◽  
Critical Components

This study proposes a framework for green remodeling for the elderly that emphasizes the role of designers and the notion of aging in place. Energy efficiency is critical for older persons because many of them spend more time at home and are less likely to heat and cool their homes appropriately. Improving the energy performance of the elderly’s housing by green remodeling could promote energy efficiency and healthy living for the elderly. Based on remodeling components derived from related work, key factors to be considered regarding the remodeling for the elderly were investigated. A framework for green remodeling enabling energy efficiency was developed for home upgrades for the elderly. Identifying the area of application and critical components for energy efficiency helps improve the energy performance for the elderly. This study is significant because it considers the elderly’s characteristics and experiences in the development of a sustainable remodeling process rather than new-building construction.

scholarly journals A State of the Art of the Overall Energy Efficiency of Wood Buildings—An Overview and Future Possibilities

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 1848
Author(s):  
Matheus Roberto Cabral ◽  
Pierre Blanchet
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Hybrid Buildings ◽  
Wood Frame ◽  
Mass Timber

The main goal of this study was to review current studies on the state of the art of wood constructions with a particular focus on energy efficiency, which could serve as a valuable source of information for both industry and scholars. This review begins with an overview of the role of materials in wood buildings to improve energy performance, covering structural and insulation materials that have already been successfully used in the market for general applications over the years. Subsequently, studies of different wood building systems (i.e., wood-frame, post-and-beam, mass timber and hybrid constructions) and energy efficiency are discussed. This is followed by a brief introduction to strategies to increase the energy efficiency of constructions. Finally, remarks and future research opportunities for wood buildings are highlighted. Some general recommendations for developing more energy-efficient wood buildings are identified in the literature and discussed. There is a lack of emerging construction concepts for wood-frame and post-and-beam buildings and a lack of design codes and specifications for mass timber and hybrid buildings. From the perspective of the potential environmental benefits of these systems as a whole, and their effects on energy efficiency and embodied energy in constructions, there are barriers that need to be considered in the future.

scholarly journals Aging in Place, Housing Maintenance, and Reverse Mortgages

2019 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 1799-1836 ◽  
Author(s):  
João F Cocco ◽  
Paula Lopes
Keyword(s):  
Aging In Place ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Housing Wealth ◽  
Reverse Mortgages ◽  
The Government ◽  
Saving Decisions ◽  
Pareto Improving ◽  
The Impact

Abstract We study the role of housing wealth in financing retirement consumption. In our model retirees: 1. derive utility benefits from remaining in their home (aging in place); and 2. choose in each period whether to maintain their house. The evidence that we present shows that these features are important in explaining the saving decisions of the elderly. The costs and the maintenance requirement of reverse mortgages (RMs) reduce (or eliminate) the benefits of the loans for retirees who wish to do less maintenance. We evaluate the impact of different loan features on retirees’ utility, cash-flows to lenders, and to the government agency that provides mortgage insurance. We show that combining RMs with insurance against a forced home sale (e.g. due to a move to a nursing home) is Pareto improving and can lead to increased demand for the loans due to product complementarities.

Directions and Trends in Aging Services: A German-American Comparison

1988 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald E. Gelfand
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older People ◽  
Historical Development ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The United States ◽  
West Germany ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
Aging Services

Services for older people in many countries now appear to have strong similarities. There are, however, important differences in the directions and emphases of these services. This article examines factors related to differing trends in the development of services in the United States and West Germany, two countries that currently have major economic, social, and political commonalities. The differing historical development of these two countries is traced and related to the structure of services for the elderly, the role of professionals in developing these services, and the relative emphases on primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Predictions of future trends in services for older persons in the two countries are also explored.

scholarly journals COVID-19: In the Eye of the Cytokine Storm

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto de la Rica ◽  
Marcio Borges ◽  
Marta Gonzalez-Freire
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Immune Response ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Inflammatory Factors ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cytokine Storm ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Inflammatory State

The dysregulated release of cytokines has been identified as one of the key factors behind poorer outcomes in COVID-19. This ‘cytokine storm ‘produces an excessive inflammatory and immune response, especially in the lungs, leading to acute respiratory distress (ARDS), pulmonary edema and multi-organ failure. Alleviating this inflammatory state is crucial to improve prognosis. Pro-inflammatory factors play a central role in COVID-19 severity, especially in patients with comorbidities In these situations, an overactive, untreated immune response can be deadly, suggesting that mortality in COVID-19 cases is likely due to this virally driven hyperinflammation. Administering immunomodulators has not yielded conclusive improvements in other pathologies characterized by dysregulated inflammation such as sepsis, SARS-CoV-1 and MERS. The success of these drugs at reducing COVID-19-driven inflammation is still anecdotal and comes with serious risks. It is also imperative to screen the elderly for risk factors that predispose them to severe COVID-19. Immunosenescence and comorbidities should be taken into consideration. In this review, we summarize the latest data available about the role of the cytokine storm in COVID-19 disease severity as well as potential therapeutic approaches to ameliorate it. We also examine the role of inflammation in other diseases often comorbid with COVID-19, such as aging, sepsis, and pulmonary disorders. Finally, we identify gaps in our knowledge and suggest priorities for future research aimed at stratifying patients according to risk as well as personalizing therapies in the context of COVID19-driven hyperinflammation.

The Role of Medical Counseling in Secondary Prevention of Cancer in the Elderly

1993 ◽  
Vol 79 (5) ◽  
pp. 297-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Giunta ◽  
Lucio Piantartelli ◽  
Andrea Basso ◽  
Angelo Morresi ◽  
Riccardo Lanza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Prevention ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Clinical Investigation ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Medical Counseling ◽  
Prevention Of Cancer ◽  
Patient’S Will ◽  
Risk Of Cancer ◽  
Paternalistic Approach

In western countries the elderly are those who experience the major impact of cancer, as epidemiologic data clearly show. Thus, secondary prevention of cancer (SPC) in older persons deserves more attention than it has received until now. Target subjects, however, are often reluctant to enter SPC plans. The reasons range from the lack of knowledge about the importance of SPC to the underevaluation of the risk of cancer, or, even more often, to the anxiety and fear that may stem from such a clinical investigation. In this context, the intervention known as couseling finds its natural and essential role. In the paper some general considerations on the significance of medical counseling is given, with particular emphasis on its role in SPC in the elderly. The analysis herein reported points out the specific skills and methods that physicians can adopt to cope with the eventually adverse influences that may affect the participation of the elderly in SPC initiatives. However, such action should avoid any paternalistic approach and respect the patient's will and autonomy.

scholarly journals Some sociological aspects of the prevention of domestic violence and abuse of the elderly in Slovenia

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Danijela Lahe
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Governmental Institutions ◽  
Domestic Violence And Abuse

This paper addresses the issue of violence and abuse of older personswhich, due to an increased level of public sensitivity and continuingreminders from governmental and non-governmental institutions, isbecoming a subject of increased attention. The author focus on domesticviolence and abuse and present and describe various ways ofprevention from violence and abuse of older persons from the aspectsof the legislation, human rights and the role of the Slovenian police.

The Role of the SLP in Autism Spectrum Disorder Screening and Assessment

2008 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Philofsky
Keyword(s):  
Language Development ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Prevalence Estimates ◽  
Notable Increase ◽  
Screening Assessment ◽  
Critical Components

AbstractRecent prevalence estimates for autism have been alarming as a function of the notable increase. Speech-language pathologists play a critical role in screening, assessment and intervention for children with autism. This article reviews signs that may be indicative of autism at different stages of language development, and discusses the importance of several psychometric properties—sensitivity and specificity—in utilizing screening measures for children with autism. Critical components of assessment for children with autism are reviewed. This article concludes with examples of intervention targets for children with ASD at various levels of language development.

Effects of a Group Program to Increase Cognitive Performance Through Cognitively Stimulating Leisure Activities in Healthy Older Subjects

GeroPsych ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina A. Tesky ◽  
Christian Thiel ◽  
Winfried Banzer ◽  
Johannes Pantel
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Group Program ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Older Subjects

To investigate the effects of leisure activities on cognitive performance of healthy older subjects, an innovative intervention program was developed. Frequent participation in cognitively stimulating activities (i.e., reading, playing chess, or playing music) is associated with reduced risk of dementia. AKTIVA (active cognitive stimulation – prevention in the elderly) is an intervention program designed to enhance cognitive stimulation in everyday life by increasing cognitive stimulating leisure activities. The present study determines the effects of AKTIVA on cognitive function, mood and attitude toward aging in a sample of older participants from the general population. Several measurement instruments were used including the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-Cog), the Trail-Making Test (TMT), and the Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MAC-Q). Initially, the sample consisted of 307 older persons (170 female, 72 ± 7 years). The intervention was evaluated with a randomized, controlled pre-post follow-up design. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: AKTIVA intervention (n = 126), AKTIVA intervention plus nutrition and exercise counseling (n = 84), no-intervention control group (n = 97). The AKTIVA intervention consisted of 8 weekly sessions and two booster sessions after a break of 4 months. Participation in the group program resulted in positive effects on cognitive function and attitude toward aging for subassembly groups. Older persons (≥ 75 years) showed enhanced speed of information processing (by TMT Version A) (F = 4.17*, p < .05); younger participants (< 75 years) showed an improvement in subjective memory decline (by MAC-Q) (F = 2.55*, p < .05). Additionally, AKTIVA enhanced the frequency of activities for leisure activities for subassembly groups. The results of this study suggest that the AKTIVA program can be used to increase cognitively stimulating leisure activities in the elderly. Further research is necessary to identify the long-term effects of this intervention particularly with respect to the prevention of dementia.

Prospective Memory Development Across the Lifespan

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 162-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sascha Zuber ◽  
Matthias Kliegel
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Memory ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Present Model ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cognitive Factors ◽  
Everyday Functioning ◽  
Integrative Framework

Abstract. Prospective Memory (PM; i.e., the ability to remember to perform planned tasks) represents a key proxy of healthy aging, as it relates to older adults’ everyday functioning, autonomy, and personal well-being. The current review illustrates how PM performance develops across the lifespan and how multiple cognitive and non-cognitive factors influence this trajectory. Further, a new, integrative framework is presented, detailing how those processes interplay in retrieving and executing delayed intentions. Specifically, while most previous models have focused on memory processes, the present model focuses on the role of executive functioning in PM and its development across the lifespan. Finally, a practical outlook is presented, suggesting how the current knowledge can be applied in geriatrics and geropsychology to promote healthy aging by maintaining prospective abilities in the elderly.

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