Blindness and visual impairment in Central Europe

Purpose To assess the prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness in a Central European country. The findings may have implications for the planning of further research and development of therapies in order to prevent blindness. Setting Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz, Austria. Design Retrospective, epidemiological study. Methods The database of the Main Confederation of Austrian Social Insurances was searched for patients with visual impairment, legal blindness or deaf-blindness. This database gathers data from patients of all insurance providers in the country who receive care due to visual impairment and blindness. To determine the prevalence of these conditions, the number of all entries recorded in February 2019 was evaluated. Additionally, all new entries between (January 1st,) 2017, and (December 31st,) 2018, were analysed for distinct characteristics, such as sex, the cause of blindness/visual impairment, and age. Since health care allowances can provide a considerable source of income (459.90€-936.90€ per month), good coverage of practically all patients who are blind and visually impaired in the country can be assumed. Results On February 2nd, 2019, 17,730 patients with visual impairments, blindness or deaf-blindness were registered in Austria, resulting in a prevalence of these diagnoses of 0.2% in the country. During the observational period from 2017 to 2018, 4040 persons met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 2877 were female (65.3%), and 1527 were male (34.7%). The mean age was 75.7 ± 18.0 years (median 82). Most patients (n = 3675, 83.4%) were of retirement age, while 729 (16.6%) were working-age adults or minors. In total, an incidence of 25.0 (95% confidence limit (CL) 24.3–25.8) per 100,000 person-years was observed from 2017 to 2018. A higher incidence was observed for females (32.2, 95% CL 31.0–33.3) than for males (17.7, 95% CL 16.8–18.5). Incidences where higher for males in lower age groups (e.g. 10–14 years: rate ratio RR = 2.7, 95% CL 1.1–6.8), and higher for females in higher age groups (e.g. 70–74 years: RR = 0.6, 95% CL 0.5–0.8). In total, the most frequent diagnoses were macular degeneration (1075 persons, 24.4%), other retinal disorders (493 persons, 11.2%) and inherited retinal and choroidal diseases (IRDs) (186 persons, 4.2%). Persons with IRDs were significantly younger compared to persons with macular degeneration or retinal disorders (IRDs: median 57, range 2–96 vs 83, 5–98 and 82, 1–98 years, p<0.001). For persons of retirement age, macular degeneration, other retinal disorders and glaucoma were the three most frequent diagnoses. In contrast, among working-aged adults and children, IRDs were the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness (103 persons, 14.1%). Conclusion These data show that IRDs are the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in working-aged persons and children in Austria. Thus, these findings suggest to draw attention to enhance further research in the fields of emerging therapies for IRDs.

Trends in Partial Disability-Free Life Expectancy between the Ages of 45 and 70 in Canada, 2000–2014

To better evaluate the benefits of a possible increase in the normal retirement age, this article proposes to examine recent trends in the health status of Canadians between 45 and 70 years of age. Using the Sullivan method, trends from 2000 to 2014 in partial disability-free life expectancy (PDFLE) between the ages of 45 and 70 years are computed. Disability is estimated using attributes of the Health Utility Index correlated with the capacity to work, and is looked at by level of severity. Data from the Canadian Community Health Survey were used to estimate the prevalence of disability. Results reveal a slight increase in partial life expectancy between the ages of 45 and 70, and a larger number of those years spent in poor health since the beginning of the 2000s. Hence, this study brings no evidence in support of the postponement of the normal retirement age if this policy were solely based on gains in life expectancy.

Proposing a Diversity Intelligence Training Framework for Leaders and Managers to Attract, Maintain, and Balance Mature Workers

The workforce is becoming more diverse with the increasing number of mature workers delaying retirement and working beyond the legal retirement age. Retaining mature workers in organizations can be challenging. Training leaders and managers in diversity intelligence (DQ) has the potential to lead to better and more effective supervision of diverse employees. Competent and skilled managers and leaders who are trained in DQ will be more able to help in the attracting, retaining, and balancing mature workers. The chapter proposes using the three learning processes of enactive, iconic, and symbolic from Bruner's discovery learning theory to teach leaders and managers DQ. The learning outcome is that managers will become mentors and coaches who are equipped to use goal-oriented and transformative processes to supervise the independent, motivated, and proactive adult workers.

RETIREMENT AGE: JUSTIFIED DIFFERENTIATION OR DISCRIMINATION? COMMENTS ON THE EVOLUTION OF THE JURISPRUDENCE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL TRIBUNAL

The article deals with the issue of the differentiation of the retirement age in the Polish pension system. As part of it, the reasons for the differentiation of the retirement age among women and men were analyzed, as well as the justification for its continued maintenance in the pension system. The considerations primarily take into account the evolution of the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Tribunal in this area and non-national regulations. Attention was also drawn to the doubts that may arise from the differentiation of the retirement age in the context of the inequalities observed against this background, and stressed the need for constant monitoring of the circumstances supporting the differentiation of the situation of women and men in this respect

Features of Primary Ocular Disability in the Krasnodar Region in 2016–2018

Purpose: to study the state and dynamics of changes in primary ocular disability in the period 2016–2018 by nosological forms. A complete retrospective study was made based on the data of the MSE (medical and social expertise) Bureau’s reporting documents. The following indicators of primary disability (per 10 thousand population) were registered from 2016 till 2018: among the adult population (18 years and older) 69,0–70,7–68,6 respectively; among the able-bodied population 42,8–44,1–41,1 respectively; among the population of retirement age — 125,1–126,4–124,6 accordingly. In the structure of primary disability of the adult population by severity for the period 2016–2018, the dynamics recorded an increase in the proportion of 1 group and 3 group with a decrease in the share of disability of 2 group. In the nosological structure of primary disability of the adult population in 2016–2017–2018, eye diseases account for 3 %, 3 % and 3.2 %, respectively, of all first recognized as disabled. There has been an increase in first-time applicants to the MSE Bureau. In the nosological structure of primary disability, the percentage of glaucoma patients over the past period is 47–33–32.5 % of the total number of primary disability for eye diseases, which determines the 1st rank. There is a progressive increase in the number of people with disabilities due to glaucoma of group 1 and group 2 throughout the study period. In the nosological structure of primary disability for 2016–2018 the percentage of patients with retinal diseases is 25–23–23.8 % of the total number of primary disability for eye diseases, which corresponds to the 2nd rank. There is a progressive increase in the number of disabled people in group 2. A low proportion of persons of working age in the structure of primary ocular disability was noted. A consistently high share of primary disability and a progressive increase in severe disability combined with an increase in persons of retirement age in the Krasnodar region forms an unfavorable forecast for an increase in the number of blind and visually impaired residents of the region.

Where do overseas Filipinos intend to retire? The case of Filipinos in Chugoku region, Japan

Migrants nearing retirement age face issues and challenges distinct from those of migrants in their working age. Yet, their well-being has not been fully addressed because of lack of data. Drawing from the results of a survey of Filipinos residing in the Chugoku region in Western Japan ( n = 481), this study contributes to the literature on the aging-migration nexus by exploring migrants’ anxiety toward retirement and intended country of retirement. The results have crucial implications not only on migrants’ plans for retirement but also on the provision of social protection in both the host and the origin countries.

Personal factors of biological aging in working and non-working respondents in late maturity period

The aim was to study the influence of personal factors on the index of individual biological aging in men and women of mature age who continue to work and those who no longer work. The participants were 347 people, including 212 women aged 56-65 years and 111 men aged 61-69 years. Measurement of biological age, relative biological aging index, assessment of subjective psychological age, expected retirement age, life path questionnaire. Biological age was estimated using a formula that included indicators of metabolism, the work of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and balance organ systems; a psychological health questionnaire was also used. The lowest index of relative biological aging was found in people who continued to work part-time. There is a relationship between the index of relative biological aging and one's characteristics. For men, the index was lowered by the following factors: changing the place of residence, continuing to work after retirement, a high indicator of the expected retirement age, and increased by living in a large city. For women, the index was lowered by the following factors: changing the place of residence, continuing to work after retirement, a high indicator of the expected retirement age, higher education, creative hobbies, studying after retirement.

Wellbeing of Russian Professionals: Dynamics and Specificity

The paper is devoted to the issue of Russian professionals' life changes in the 2010s and the role of human capital in these processes. Life changes are analyzed by identifying mobility cases within three social stratifications by income, presence of signs of privilege or deprivation, and subjectively perceived position in society. For these purposes, we use panel data of RLMS HSE research for 2014-2018 yy. Trajectories of mobility are revealed by using of «Group based trajectory modeling» method. The results show that life stability dominates over mobility. Professionals still have risks of chronic poverty and chronic deprivation, although these risks are rare for them. They also have chances of objectively measuring sustainable well-being by income and privilege criteria. However, even those who have stayed rich and privileged over the years do not feel that they occupy the highest positions in social structure. It is shown that human capital plays a high role in life chances on sustainable privilege and a high-income level. An obstacle on the path to wealth is the dependency burden. The highest risks of poverty characterize young and middle-aged professionals, while professionals who reach retirement age have the highest chances to be rich. Thus, it is a good strategy to continue labor activity in retirement age. It was revealed that parental education significantly increases chances to achieve privilege position in Russian society. These odds are heavily influenced by composite rents. It is also shown that one of the major factors that create unequal chances of gaining high position in society (both in terms of income and privilege) is settlement inequalities. Despite a quite prosperous life dynamics measured by objective indicators, every third professional feels chronically poor or felt a sharp impoverishment during these years. These subjective assessments are weakly correlated with the quality of human capital and observed in all age categories. We associate this phenomenon with two factors: 1) "negative stabilization" in the 2010s and 2) with the fact that chances for objective well-being are confined mainly to the structural factor of settlement inequality. The position of professionals is often contradictory. The groups of privileged and wealthy professionals have little overlap in composition. In modern Russia, wealth does not imply a privileged position in society and vice versa. The same is true for poverty and deprivation. Absolute well-being, i.e., stable occupation of the highest positions in all three structural positions, is practically unavailable to Russian professionals.

How Sticky Is Retirement Behavior in the U.S.?

We study how increases in the U.S. Social Security full retirement age (FRA) affect benefit claiming behavior and retirement behavior separately. Using long panels of Social Security administrative data, we implement complementary research designs of a traditional cohort analysis and a regression-discontinuity design. We find that while claiming ages strongly and immediately shift in response to increases in the FRA, retirement ages exhibit persistent “stickiness” at the old FRA of 65. We use several strategies to explore the likely mechanisms behind the stickiness in retirement and find suggestive evidence that employers play a role in workers' responses to the FRA.