Keeping older people mobile through a new philosophy for a new ageing population

2020 ◽  
pp. 368-377
Author(s):  
Charles Musselwhite
2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
XUE BAI

ABSTRACTIt is noteworthy that while modernisation, together with population ageing, has happened in Western countries for a rather long period of time, China must confront the challenges of an ageing population before it really becomes an advanced industrial society. Facing rapid societal changes, citizens may react differently to this process. By conducting questionnaire surveys with 445 elders in Wuhan, China, this study examines Chinese older adults' individual modernity modes and reveals its socio-demographic correlates. The results show that facing rapid changes in societal modernisation, participants have reacted differently to this process, with 23.8 per cent of Chinese older participants using an accommodation mode, 27.0 per cent using a resistance mode, 13.3 per cent using a withdrawal mode and 36.2 per cent using a coping mode. In addition, socio-demographic factors such as urban–rural residence, age, gender, socio-economic status, living arrangement and daily activities have been identified as significant correlates of Chinese older participants' individual modernity modes. It is further suggested that governments at all levels should allow for options and opportunities for older people to align themselves in the modernisation process by removing the barriers that may hinder their integration and empowerment efforts. While it is important to respect older adults' different responses in the face of modernisation, their participation in societies should be encouraged and respected by the wider society in the context of modernisation.


Author(s):  
Helianthe S.M. Kort

By 2050, 70% of the population will live in cities. The majority of the persons living in cities will be 60 plus years old. Ageing cities demands for cities environments to adapt to an ageing population. Modern cities though, don’t anticipate fast enough and in an adequate manner to face the challenges due to population-related transitions. Modifying and adapting the built environment with a focus on the aged population could help to support older people facing functional and cognitive decline.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 33-32
Author(s):  
Monika Szewczyk

Corporate social responsibility is a concept responding to climate change, environmental problems and the needs of stakeholders. Business makes an effort to act in the changing conditions, thus adapting to the expectations of the stakeholders and following the principles of sustainable economic development and social responsibility. One of the changes taking place in the current economic and social world is the change in the demographic structure of the population. The subject of the ageing population is often discussed, usually as a negative aspect in the context of changes in the pension system, health care costs or the employment conditions of older people. The principles of corporate social responsibility, such as social inclusion, anti-discrimination, and facilitating access to products and services create the basis for the development of the economy, focused on the use of the purchasing potential of older people. Thus, the perception of the demographic changes in this context becomes the ground for the formation of perspective solutions and the development of the silver economy. This model of the economy can be understood as a system which is based on adapting the production and distribution of products and services to older people. The main aim of this article is to present the challenges for companies in terms of the problems connected with an ageing population, as well as to present the main features of the concept of the silver economy in the context of corporate social responsibility. Moreover, considering the development of the silver economy, characteristics of older people as consumers should be taken into account. In this context, there are many stereotypes associated with the activities of the elderly. The article also notes the profile of potential customers of the silver economy, with a particular emphasis on the approach of the elderly to innovation, tradition and a broadly understood sense of security.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S373-S374
Author(s):  
Mary Pat Sullivan

Abstract Media campaigns play a critical role in framing public perceptions or ‘public talk’ around social issues. The media’s role in characterizing the loneliness ‘problem’ is, however, an under explored area. This paper presents the language of loneliness and loneliness representations in the media in Canada and England over a 10-year period (2009-2018) and their relationship with key policy initiatives specific to an ageing population. Using qualitative content analysis, the findings illustrate the use of skilled marketing techniques and highly stigmatizing discourse. These media approaches act to: (1) reinforce the threat of an ageing population; (2) endorse responsibilization and governmentality of the body; and (3) promote individual and/or family shame and morally responsible actions by charities and volunteers. We conclude that there is a need for a critical analysis of loneliness from the perspective of social and cultural constructions of ageing, the positioning of older people in society, and neo-liberalist ideology


2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 1062-1070
Author(s):  
Chaochao Ma ◽  
Liangyu Xia ◽  
Xinqi Chen ◽  
Jie Wu ◽  
Yicong Yin ◽  
...  

Abstract Background the ageing population has increased in many countries, including China. However, reference intervals (RIs) for older people are rarely established because of difficulties in selecting reference individuals. Here, we aimed to analyse the factors affecting biochemical analytes and establish RI and age-related RI models for biochemical analytes through mining real-world big data. Methods data for 97,220 individuals downloaded from electronic health records were included. Three derived databases were established. The first database included 97,220 individuals and was used to build age-related RI models after identifying outliers by the Tukey method. The second database consisted of older people and was used to establish variation source models and RIs for biochemical analytes. Differences between older and younger people were compared using the third database. Results sex was the main source of variation of biochemical analytes for older people in the variation source models. The distributions of creatinine and uric acid were significantly different in the RIs of biochemical analytes for older people established according to sex. Age-related RI models for biochemical analytes that were most affected by age were built and visualized, revealing various patterns of changes from the younger to older people. Conclusion the study analysed the factors affecting biochemical analytes in older people. Moreover, RI and age-related RI models of biochemical analytes for older people were established to provide important insight into biological processes and to assist clinical use of various biochemical analytes to monitor the status of various diseases for older people.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 326-332
Author(s):  
Kanyanat Supaporn ◽  
Sang-arun Isaramalai ◽  
Wandee Suttharangsee

Background: Older people in Thailand receive general medical and social care at the end of life, and many rarely access palliative services. In light of this, improving the quality of care for the ageing population relies on addressing the needs of family caregivers, who provide the majority of care in a home setting. Understanding caregivers' perspectives when caring for a friend or relative will help to improve the quality of care that they provide. Aim: To explore caregivers' perspectives on improving care for older people in Thailand in the palliative stage. Methods: A qualitative study using in-depth interviews and observation of 10 older people in the palliative stage and their caregivers was undertaken. Data were analysed using content analysis. Findings: Data analysis revealed three themes: caregivers cared to repay the older person's previous kindness, caregivers cared and changed their caregiving behaviour to minimise the older person's perception of being abandoned or being a burden, and to follow Thai ancestral traditions, so that the older person could die peacefully. Conclusion: This study provides specific instructions for those who provide care for older Thai people in the palliative stage. Finding ways to address caregivers' perspectives on improving care quality could enhance the experience of care recipients.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Suvi-Maria Saarelainen ◽  
Anna Mäki-Petäjä-Leinonen ◽  
Reino Pöyhiä

Abstract Earlier studies show that experiencing life as meaningful in old age promotes holistic wellbeing and health among older people. As more and more people are living with reduced capacities in their own homes, there is an urgent need to find new ways of promoting holistic wellbeing of the ageing population. Analysing data gathered from existential discussion groups on Service TV (STV), we show how strongly relationality and meaning in life are intertwined for older people. Our findings indicate that respect and support for the autonomy of older people is very important: in order to continue living at home, and prepare for a future with reduced capacities, they need family members for support. Autonomy of ageing becomes relational as choices and wishes are negotiated with family members. Relationships also contribute to loss of meaning. When older people felt that they were not close enough to their family, longed for friends of the same age, were bereaved or widowed, the relational gap caused a violation of meaning. In contrast, participation and activities with peers brought deep joy and connectedness to the lives of the participants. STV provided a new channel for participants to find and form meaningful relationships. Therefore, it is concluded that relationality can be supported by technological means of care.


Author(s):  
Charles Musselwhite ◽  
Theresa Scott

Driving a car meets older people’s needs, providing utility (getting from A to B), psychosocial (providing identity and roles and feelings of independence and normality) and aesthetic (mobility for its own sake) mobilities. Giving up driving is related to poorer health and wellbeing. This paper addresses how older people cope when they give up driving, using Bourdieu’s theory of capital as a way of categorising different barriers and enablers to managing without a car in a hypermobile society. Older people are most likely to mention barriers and enablers to mobility relating to infrastructure capital (technology, services, roads, pavements, finance and economics), followed by social capital (friends, family, neighbourhood and community). Cultural capital (norms, expectations, rules, laws) and individual capital (skills, abilities, resilience, adaptation and desire and willingness to change) are less important but still significantly contribute to older people’s mobility. Implications for policy and practice suggest that provision for older people beyond the car must explore capital across all four of the domains.


2003 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 125-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacki Liddle ◽  
Kryss McKenna

Driving is a complex and valued instrumental activity of daily living, which is associated with a person's freedom, independence and autonomy. With an ageing population and various cohort effects, the number of older drivers is increasing at a nearly exponential rate. While drivers over the age of 65 years have attracted media and research attention because of accident statistics, research has also begun to focus on the outcomes for older people giving up driving. The outcomes of older people driving or giving up driving need to be considered by occupational therapists because of the potential impact on quality of life, life roles, independence and safety. Occupational therapists must be aware of legislation pertaining to older drivers and health professionals, although this is complicated by the fact that it differs between and within countries. This literature review aims to investigate the issues associated with older drivers and with driving cessation and the implications for occupational therapists.


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