ESTABLISHING HEALTHY AND ACTIVE AGEING POLICIES IN POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND BULGARIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 556 (7) ◽  
pp. 18-26
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Sowa-Kofta
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Older People ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Active Ageing ◽  
Active Aging ◽  
Intersectoral Cooperation ◽  
International Projects

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.

scholarly journals POLICIES FOR PRESERVING THE WORK ACTIVITY OF PEOPLE IN RETIREMENT AGE IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN BULGARIA

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S647-S647
Author(s):  
Zaharina A Savova
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Older People ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Retirement Age ◽  
Active Aging ◽  
Work Activity

Abstract Demographically, aging of the world’s population is a fact that requires the implementation and development of integrated, active policies for the inclusion of older people in economic and social life. In response to this challenge, an international UN plan for active aging was adopted in Madrid in 2002. By adopting this plan, all EU member states are committed to contribute to active aging by integrating the rights and needs of older people into national economic and social policies. The European Commission formulates the concept of active aging as adopting a healthy lifestyle, longer labor market participation, later retirement, and retention after retirement. In recent years managers of higher education institutions in Bulgaria have been pursuing a policy of preserving the labor and intellectual potential of retired research and teaching staff. There are different practices and activities aimed at preserving this valuable resource built for decades. This paper outlines the main activities and evaluation of the effectiveness of the Mentoring Program for Shared Experience and Knowledge. This pilot program was implemented over a five-year period from 2012 to 2017. It involved teachers in pre-retirement and retirement age working in higher education institutions. Monitoring and evaluation of the different forms of activities included in the program were made. The benefits for all participants have been derived. The results and the analysis made support the initial suggestion that the program is an opportunity for gradual withdrawal from work activity, preserving social well-being and successful adaptation to retirement from active labor activity.

Punching Above its Weight: Current and Future Aging Policy in Malta

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (8) ◽  
pp. 1384-1391
Author(s):  
Marvin Formosa ◽  
Charles Scerri
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Active Ageing ◽  
Gender Inequalities ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Aging Policy

Abstract Malta has been at the forefront in aging policy and healthy aging development. It was the first country to highlight the need of a United Nations-led international action plan aimed at meeting the needs of an emerging global aging population. Through a number of initiatives, Malta has managed to put aging as a top priority on its national policy agenda. The country boasts of the longest life span spent in good health among all European Union countries with its inhabitants expected to live a significant portion of their life free of disability. Malta’s ranking in the Active Ageing Index experienced consistent improvements in the past decade, registering the sharpest progress in the European Union. In response to an increase in individuals with dementia, Malta was also among the first countries to adopt a national strategic policy for dementia. Notwithstanding such significant progress, Malta still lags behind in developing policy directions addressing gender inequalities and minority groups’ interests among its older population. Similar to other Southern European countries, Malta’s accelerated rate of population aging raises concerns with regard to economic growth, sustainability of effective health care and pension systems, and the well-being of older persons. Gender will also feature prominently in the future planning of long-term care policy as older women are projected to increase threefold in the foreseeable years with the high risk of poverty associated with older single and widowed women, implying that a few would be able to opt for private care.

scholarly journals Transitions in Loneliness Among Older Adults: A 5-Year Follow-Up in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 365-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise C. Hawkley ◽  
Masha Kocherginsky
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Functional Factors ◽  
Older Adult Population ◽  
Health And Well Being

A substantial portion of the older adult population suffers from frequent feelings of loneliness, but a large proportion remains relatively unscathed by loneliness. To date, research examining both protective and risk factors for loneliness has not included data from the United States. The present study used the first two waves of data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project to examine sociodemographic, structural, and functional factors thought to be associated with loneliness in older adults. Functional limitations and low family support were associated with an increase in loneliness frequency (as were more strained friendships) and with transitioning from nonlonely to lonely status. Better self-rated health, higher levels of socializing frequency, and lower family strain were associated with transitioning from lonely to nonlonely status. Interventions that target these factors may be effective in preventing and reducing loneliness and its effects on health and well-being in older adults.

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
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Continuous Process ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Active Ageing ◽  
Strict Sense ◽  
Promotion Strategy ◽  
Home Visitors ◽  
Bodily Experiences ◽  
Health Promotion Strategy

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.

scholarly journals The importance of a training program on active aging from the perspective of elderly individuals

2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (suppl 2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Gorete Mendonça Reis ◽  
Maria Vitória Casas-Novas ◽  
Isaura Serra ◽  
Maria Dulce Domingues Cabral Magalhães ◽  
Luís Manuel Mota Sousa
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Active Aging ◽  
Elderly Individuals ◽  
Program Impact ◽  
Textual Data ◽  
Physical Functions

ABSTRACT Objective: to assess the results of a training program focused on the well-being of elderly individuals from the perspective of users, through the opinion on the program impact on their active aging. Methods: a qualitative research, carried out from an intentional sample, consisting of 10 elderly women. Interview conducted by focus group, recorded and transcribed, which constituted the corpus of analysis. Lexical analysis of textual data was performed using the Alceste software. Results: from the analysis, three classes emerged: 1) Health-Activity; 2) Activity-Expectation; 3) Mind-Body Unit. The Activity-Expectation class stands out. Conclusions: the research revealed that elderly individuals consider it important to have expectation, which results in satisfaction and involvement with life as well as the ability to remain active in a perspective of mind-body unit. Future projects should focus on enhancing mental and physical functions to promote active and healthy aging.

scholarly journals Del envejecimiento activo a la ciudadanía activa: el papel de la amigabilidad / From active ageing to active citizenship: the role of friendliness

Aula Abierta ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Elena Del Barrio Truchado ◽  
Sara Marsillas Rascado ◽  
Mayte Sancho Castiello
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Central Component ◽  
Active Ageing ◽  
Demographic Ageing ◽  
Traditional Concept ◽  
Leading Role

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.

Providing Care Is Self-Care: Towards Valuing Older People’s Care Provision in Global Economies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samia C Akhter-Khan
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Care Provision ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Diverse Economies ◽  
Main Challenge ◽  
Future Work

Abstract Older people’s care provision is structurally undervalued, posing a threat to social connectedness and healthy aging. Thus, the question arises of how older people’s care provision can be valued in diverse economies. By addressing this question, this article proposes a novel perspective by shedding light on the value of contributions older people provide to society, which in turn promote their own well-being. By highlighting evolutionary and proximal motives for older people to provide care, this article advances the theoretical understanding of the benefits of caregiving in the global aging context, going beyond previous successful aging approaches. These new directions aim to center older people’s needs while accounting for their care provisions to fruitfully inform policymaking. Finally, the main challenge remaining for future work is to create adequate and valuable opportunities for older people to provide care as Homines curans.

Subjective well-being amongst community-dwelling elders: what determines satisfaction with life? Findings from the Dublin Healthy Aging Study

2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 316-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aine M. Ní Mhaoláin ◽  
Damien Gallagher ◽  
Henry O Connell ◽  
A. V. Chin ◽  
Irene Bruce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Older People ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Older Individuals

ABSTRACTBackground: Life satisfaction is a subjective expression of well-being and successful aging. Subjective well-being is a major determinant of health outcomes in older people. The aim of this study was to determine which factors predicted well-being in older people living in the community as measured by their satisfaction with life.Methods: The relationship between life satisfaction, as measured by the Life Satisfaction Index (LSI-A) and physical, cognitive and demographic variables was examined in 466 older people living in the community using a stepwise regression modelResults: Depression, loneliness, neuroticism, extraversion, recent participation in physical activity, age and self-reported exhaustion, were the independent predictors of life satisfaction in our elderly cohort.Conclusion: Subjective well-being, as measured by the Life Satisfaction Scale, is predicted by depression, loneliness, personality traits, recent participation in physical activity and self-reported exhaustion. The mental and emotional status of older individuals, as well as their engagement in physical activity, are as important as physical functionality when it comes to life satisfaction as a measure of well-being and successful aging. These areas represent key targets for intervention.

Sleep and autonomy in later life: the SomnIA project

2018 ◽  
pp. 17-34
Author(s):  
Sara Arber ◽  
Susan Venn ◽  
Ingrid Eyers
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Medical Profession ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Active Ageing ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Staffing Levels ◽  
Care Giving

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.

scholarly journals Is ageing becoming more active? Exploring cohort-wise changes in everyday time use among the older population in Sweden

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertil Vilhelmson ◽  
Eva Thulin ◽  
Erik Elldér
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Time Use ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Classification Model ◽  
Active Ageing ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Cohort Differences ◽  
Young Old

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.

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