Exploring Daily Activity Patterns on the Typical Day of Older Adults for Supporting Aging-in-Place in China’s Rural Environment

Severe aging in rural China is prompting communities to promote support for older people to age in place. The study of the daily life of older adults in rural areas is conducive to understanding their real life and demands, as well as the way they interact with their environment, to develop feasible strategies. In this study, 171 older adults over 60 years old in two different types of villages in Northern Zhejiang Province were investigated and analyzed in terms of the temporal and spatial features of daily activities, as well as their relationship with population attributes, personal competence, and subjective demands. The results show that: (1) significant association can be seen between working hours and the demand for health services, housework hours and gender and age, as well as leisure hours and ADL and the demand for recreational services. (2) The older adults appear to have inter-group homogeneity in some aspects: basic living activities, leisure hours, the gender difference in housework hours, and recreational preference, while they have higher average paid work hours and fewer leisure alternatives than their urban counterparts. Their definitions of paid work, housework, and leisure activities are vague. (3) The definition of home by the older adults in rural places sometimes seems to go beyond the scope of their own house, and the extensive definition of home may change their recognitions of some activities. They also inclined to assign meaning to a place through frequent use rather than through external definitions. (4) The weak consciousness on buying services and deteriorated financial situation hinders the older adults in rural communities from expressing their real demands. Unspoken demands include economic security, recreational choices, and assistance in housework. The results will help to provide references for the improvement of eldercare services and the community environment.

Download Full-text

Sex disparities in cardiovascular health metrics among rural-dwelling older adults in China: a population-based study

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-021-02116-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Xiaolei Han ◽

Ziying Jiang ◽

Yuanjing Li ◽

Yongxiang Wang ◽

Yajun Liang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Rural China ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Population Based ◽

Baseline Survey ◽

Chinese Older Adults ◽

Face To Face ◽

Sex Disparities

Abstract Background Cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics among Chinese older adults are poorly understood. We investigated sex disparities in CVH metrics and their management among rural-dwelling older adults in China. Methods This community-based study included 5026 participants (age ≥ 65 years; 57.2% women) in the baseline survey of a multimodal intervention study in rural China. In March–September 2018, data were collected through face-to-face interviews, clinical examinations, and laboratory tests. We defined six CVH metrics (three behavioral factors—smoking, body mass index, and physical activity; three biological factors—blood pressure, total cholesterol, and blood glucose) following the modified American Heart Association’s recommendations. We performed descriptive analysis separately for men and women. Results Of all participants, only 0.8% achieved ideal levels in all six CVH metrics. Men were more likely than women to have ideal levels in all CVH metrics but smoking. Women had higher prevalence of ideal global (9.7% vs. 7.8%) and behavioral (18.3% vs. 9.5%) CVH metrics (p < 0.001), whereas men had higher prevalence of ideal biological CVH metrics (5.4% vs. 3.5%, p < 0.001). The prevalence of ideal global and behavioral CVH metrics increased with age in both women and men (p for trend< 0.001). Women were more likely to be aware of their hypertension and diabetes, and to receive antihypertensive treatment, while men were more likely to achieve the goal of high cholesterol treatment (p < 0.05). Conclusions The CVH metrics among older adults living in the rural communities in China are characterized by an extremely low proportion of optimal global CVH metrics and distinct sex differences, alongside poor management of major biological risk factors. Trial registration ChiCTR1800017758 (Aug 13, 2018).

Download Full-text

Evaluation of Community Resilience in Rural China—Taking Licheng Subdistrict, Guangzhou as an Example

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18115827 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (11) ◽

pp. 5827

Author(s):

Jianhong Fan ◽

You Mo ◽

Yunnan Cai ◽

Yabo Zhao ◽

Dongchen Su

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Rural China ◽

Social Resilience ◽

Learning Abilities ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Guangzhou City ◽

Local Sustainability

Resilience of rural communities is becoming increasingly important to contemporary society. In this study we used a quantitative method to measure the resilience regulating ability of rural communities close to urban areas—in Licheng Subdistrict, Guangzhou City, China. The main results are as follows: (1) Rural systems close to urban areas display superior adapting and learning abilities and have a stronger overall resilience strength, the spatial distribution of which is characterized by dispersion in whole and aggregation in part; (2) the resilience of most rural economic subsystems can reach moderate or higher levels with apparent spatial agglomeration, whilst the ecological subsystem resilience and social resilience are generally weaker; the spatial distribution of the former shows a greater regional difference while the latter is in a layered layout; (3) some strategies such as rebuilding a stable ecological pattern, making use of urban resources and cultivating rural subjectivity are proposed on this basis, in order to promote the sustainable development of rural areas and realize rural revitalization. This work also gives suggestion for the creation of appropriate and effective resilience standards specifically targeted for rural community-aiming to achieve the delivery of local sustainability goals.

Download Full-text

Social Integration and Depression of Older Adults in Rural China: Do Family or Friendship Ties Make a Difference?

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1932 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 580-580

Author(s):

Dan Zhang ◽

Zhiyong Lin ◽

Shuzhuo Li

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Integration ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Important Determinant ◽

Rural China ◽

Later Life ◽

Social Contexts ◽

Limited Data ◽

Family Ties ◽

Relevant Evidence

Abstract Despite increasing acknowledgement that social integration/isolation is an important determinant of health in later life, relevant evidence for older adults in less developed social contexts is still limited. Data derived from 2015 and 2018 waves of a longitudinal study of 976 older adults, aged 60 and older, living in rural areas of Anhui Province, China. We analyzed how the level of social integration/isolation (measured as family and friendship ties) impacted depressive symptoms of older adults. Our results showed that more than half of older adults in our sample were either isolated from family or friends. Further analysis demonstrated that older people who were isolated from friends were more depressed in comparison with those who were closely integrated into friendship ties, while no such association was found in relation to family ties. Assessments of social integration among older adults should account for both family and friendship ties.

Download Full-text

A Systematic Review on Advancements in Drinking Water Disinfection Technologies: A Sustainable Development Perspective

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques ◽

10.47277/jett/9(2)360 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 349-360

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Drinking Water ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Literature Review ◽

Rural Areas ◽

New Technologies ◽

Real Life ◽

Free Water ◽

Water Disinfection ◽

Science Data

The Sustainable Development Goal 2015-30, which is the blueprint to achieve a better and sustainable future for all includes goal number six, aiming at the provision of clean water and sanitation by 2030 worldwide. But still the rural areas in developing nations are predominantly facing the scarcity of pathogen-free drinking water, which creates an urgent need for research in the area of water disinfection. The paper presents a systematic literature review of the conventional and novel water disinfection techniques supported by a bibliometric analysis based on the data from Scopus and Web of Science data from the year 1980 to 2020 for all the disinfection techniques. The novel and latest water disinfection technology in the literature studied by few researchers are also discussed and it can be concluded that the research related to these latest technologies is fewer and real-life usage is very scanty. The detailed literature review indicates the need for novel, decentralized, low-cost water disinfection technology for providing clean and pathogen-free water to all, overcoming the problems related to access of safe drinking water to rural communities. The paper also identifies the research gaps related to new technologies for water disinfection which needs to addressed in further studies.

Download Full-text

FALL RISK BEHAVIORS AND INTRINSIC RISK FACTORS FOR FALLS IN INDIGENOUS AND NON-INDIGENOUS RURAL OLDER ADULTS

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.1758 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S471-S472

Author(s):

Andre G Bouweraerts ◽

Justus Ortega

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Older Adults ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Risk Behaviors ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Future Studies ◽

Fall Risk Factors ◽

Fall Rates ◽

Risk Factors For Falls

Abstract Within California, older adults living in rural counties have reported higher rates of falls than urban dwelling older adults. Although many Indigenous people live in rural areas, it is unclear whether the rate of falls among Indigenous older adults is similar to that of non-indigenous older adults living in rural areas. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine fall risk behaviors and intrinsic risk factors for falls in rural dwelling Indigenous (N = 89), and non-Indigenous (N = 68) older adults 60-95 years of age living in California. Results showed that both Indigenous and non-Indigenous older adults share similarly high fall rates, but there are a much greater number of Indigenous older adults falling multiple times a year. Moreover, fall risk behaviors and intrinsic fall risk factors were significantly different between Indigenous and non-Indigenous rural-dwelling older adults. Future studies should investigate falls and fall risk factors in different tribes/locations of Indigenous older adults to better understand whether these risk factors differ among tribes. Moreover, it would be beneficial for future studies to assess the effectiveness of fall prevention exercises on fall risk in these communities. Information gained from this study helps to inform clinicians and researchers alike about the prevalence of falls and factors contributing to falls among Indigenous older adults living in rural communities; and helps to influence decisions in the future of programs for reducing fall risk in this often neglected population.

Download Full-text

Community-Engaged Older Adult-Led Policy, Systems, and Environment Interventions in the MS High Obesity Program

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.1620 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 420-420

Author(s):

Masey Smith ◽

Katie Halfacre ◽

Megan Holmes ◽

David Buys

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Food Systems ◽

Community Gardens ◽

Community Based Participatory Research ◽

Poor Outcomes ◽

New Policies ◽

Policy Systems ◽

Work Done

Abstract Older adults in rural areas are at unique risk for poor outcomes due to social isolation and limited access to resources. The Mississippi High Obesity Program (HOP) aims to enhance access to social connections and resources like community gardens, food pantries, and physical activity as part of its broader objective to prevent and reduce obesity. Through policy, systems and environment strategies, development of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between aforementioned entities, and community based participatory research approaches, Mississippi HOP efforts enhance food systems improvement efforts; grow multi-sectoral collaboration; and evaluate the effectiveness of new policies, and specifically MOUs, in reaching these goals. Older adults represent more than 40% (n=27) of all coalition members and stakeholder leaders (n=61); they are essential for the success of these initiatives. This presentation will highlight the work done during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of and benefits to older adults, especially ones in rural communities.

Download Full-text

Do Age-Friendly Rural Communities Affect Quality of Life? A Comparison of Perceptions from Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18147283 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (14) ◽

pp. 7283

Author(s):

Jingyu Yu ◽

Guixia Ma ◽

Shuxia Wang

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Public Transportation ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Test Reliability ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Aged People ◽

Outdoor Spaces

The aging population in rural areas of China faces serious challenges due to urban–rural disparities. In order to improve the active aging of rural older adults, the establishment of age-friendly communities is encouraged. However, globally, the focus is on age-friendly communities in urban areas, not reflecting rural communities. Hence, we addressed the importance of age-friendly rural communities (AFRCs) and aimed to investigate their impact on the quality of life (QoL) of older adults. We examined different perceptions of AFRCs among older adults (aged over 60) and middle-aged people (45–60) in rural communities with questionnaire surveys (n = 470 and 393, respectively). Several statistical methods, such as Chi-squared test, t-test, reliability test, and multiple regression, were adopted to investigate and compare the perceptions of these two. The results indicated that (1) middle-aged people were more satisfied with AFRC components and had a higher QoL than older adults; (2) the QoL of middle-aged people was predicted by housing, accessibility, and outdoor spaces; (3) the QoL of older adults was affected by housing, outdoor spaces, social participation, and public transportation. These findings aid in our understanding of rural communities and the QoL of rural residents. They are helpful for urban planners and policymakers to improve the planning of AFRCs and supplement research on age-friendly communities in rural areas. Practical implementations are proposed for the planning of AFRCs, such as the passive design of residential housing, grouping of community facilities together, and improvement in the hygiene of outdoor spaces in rural areas.

Download Full-text

Elevated blood pressure level based on 2017 ACC/AHA guideline in relation to stroke risk in rural areas of Liaoning province

BMC Cardiovascular Disorders ◽

10.1186/s12872-019-1197-x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yanxia Xie ◽

Mingfeng Ma ◽

Zhao Li ◽

Xiaofan Guo ◽

Guozhe Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Rural China ◽

Blood Pressure Level ◽

Liaoning Province ◽

Stroke Incidence ◽

Cox Proportional Hazard ◽

Cox Proportional Hazard Models ◽

New Guidelines ◽

Definition Of

Abstract Background The new ACC/AHA hypertension guideline lower the definition of hypertension from 140/90 mmHg to 130/80 mmHg and eliminate the category of prehypertension thus increasing the prevalence of hypertension. A purpose of this study is to explore the applicability of the new guidelines in rural China. Methods In total, 3229 participants aged ≥35 years and free of stroke at baseline were followed for up to 4.8 years during 2012 to 2017 in a rural community-based prospective cohort study of Xifeng County. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% Confidence interval (CI) of different blood pressure (BP) levels for risk of incident stroke were analyzed by multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. Results During the follow-up, 81 new strokes occurred among the 3229 participants. Compared with normal BP (Systolic BP (SBP)<120 mmHg and Diastolic BP (DBP)<80 mmHg), stage 2 hypertension (SBP ≥ 140 mmHg or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg) had approximately 2.1 greater risks for stroke (HR: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.13 to 3.91, P = 0.020). However, there was no significant association between elevated (SBP:120-129 mmHg and DBP<80 mmHg), stage1 hypertension (SBP:130-139 mmHg or DBP:80-89 mmHg) and stroke incidence (HR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.33 to 2.61, P = 0.888; HR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.46 to 2.02, P = 0.920, respectively). An increase of the SBP by 1-SD increases the risk for stroke by 56% (HR: 1.56, 95%CI: 1.29 to 1.88, P < 0.001). An increase of the SBP by 20 mmHg increases the risk for stroke by 51% (HR: 1.51, 95%CI: 1.27 to 1.80, P < 0.001). Conclusions Compared with normal BP, the stage 2 hypertension based on 2017 ACC/AHA guideline significantly increases the risk of stroke incidence, but this association was not observed between elevated, stage1 hypertension and stroke incidence in Chinese rural adults.

Download Full-text

The revitalization of “Osekkai”: How the COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the importance of Japanese voluntary social work

Qualitative Social Work ◽

10.1177/1473325020973343 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 147332502097334

Author(s):

Ryuichi Ohta ◽

Akiko Yata

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Social Connections ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Social Connection ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

Rural People ◽

Japanese Word ◽

The Face

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused worldwide panic, and rural areas are no exception. In Japanese rural areas, many older people live alone and lack access to reliable sources of information. During the pandemic, older adults were initially isolated from their communities because of the recommended social isolation measures, even when there were no cases in rural communities. However, various formal and informal caregivers went beyond their usual roles and tried to reconnect the older rural population with their communities and nurtured their social connections; Japanese community workers mitigated the stress and fear experienced by the rural elderly in the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, this pandemic encouraged rural Japanese customs. One such custom is “Osekkai.” The Japanese word Osekkai describes actions that someone considers useful and meaningful to perform for others. Osekkai involves both formal and informal care, and as social gatherings began to disappear, Osekkai allowed individuals to deal with the various social problems created by the pandemic. Conferences based on Osekkai can strengthen rural people’s connections and improve their social capital. Activities of rural people that are constructed through Osekkai conferences are not only evidence-based but also based on reliance. This unprecedented pandemic has taught us not only the importance of usual healthcare and precautions against infection but also that nurturing social connection in communities is crucial in the face of social turbulence.

Download Full-text

Age-Friendly Online Training Programs for Long-Term Services and Supports Staff to Improve Care for Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1719 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 532-532

Author(s):

Linda Edelman ◽

Kara Dassel

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Online Training ◽

Team Leadership ◽

Educational Opportunities ◽

Opioid Use ◽

Term Care

Abstract The purpose of our Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program is to provide geriatric and primary care education and training to long-term care (LTC) providers and staff, health professions students and community members. Our LTC partners and the communities we serve are often very rural and travel to urban areas for training can be difficult. Therefore, we have developed four online training that are offered free to our partners and rural communities statewide. These programs are designed to integrate the aims of the Age-Friendly 4M’s model (i.e., What Matters, Mobility, Medication, Mentation). The LTC nurse residency program provides gerontological nursing and inter-professional leadership training (all 4M’s), in a synchronous online environment. The asynchronous Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias training modules educate LTC staff and family caregivers about types, diagnosis and care of older adults with dementia (Mentation and Medication). The asynchronous Opioid Use in LTC modules were developed with partners to deliver live at LTC staff trainings about opioid stewardship (Medication). The LTC Learning Communities are monthly tele-health sessions for inter-professional LTC teams to discuss current issues and propose solutions (all 4M’s). We have successfully leveraged different synchronous and asynchronous online modalities to increase educational opportunities for formal and informal caregivers, including those in rural areas whose educational opportunities are geographically limited. To date our programs have reached over 500 individuals across our state, increasing knowledge about geriatric concepts, communication and team leadership. Moving forward, we will continue to develop and refine educational programs that promote the Age-Friendly geriatric-focused health care.

Download Full-text