Social Assistance in the Conditions of Population Aging: Comparative Analysis of Domestic and Foreign Experience

Since the second half of the twentieth century, humanity has increasingly begun to face the contradictory consequences of population aging. In our country, various practices of social assistance to aging citizens have also begun to expand, primarily related to their medical, social and material support, provision of social services at home, which were an alternative to living and servicing in homes for the elderly and disabled. It was during these years that the system of social assistance to the older generation (first of all, the lonely, those with chronic diseases and those in need of outside help), which is currently functioning, was laid. However, the domestic model was quite different from the foreign ones. Nevertheless, it made it possible to support various groups of people of late age and to develop certain socio-political approaches in the context of demographic aging.

Inclusive Design: An Approach to Adapt Homes for the Elderly

The aging trend of the world population has increased the number of elderly people. Older people prefer to spend most of their time at home. The problem is that today's homes are often unsuitable for the elderly and the disabled. Thus, problems of the current design approaches, which are based on percentiles as well as the tendency to involve the elderly and disabled people in society, have put the concept of inclusive design into consideration. Application of new design approaches, such as inclusive design allows designers to design products and services to meet the needs of a larger group of users regardless of their age and ability. Given the rapid aging of the world population, more research is needed to design specific products and environments for elderly people. Keywords: Home design, Aging, Ergonomics, Adaptation

Allocation of COVID-19 vaccination: when public prioritisation preferences differ from official regulations

As vaccines against COVID-19 are scarce, many countries have developed vaccination prioritisation strategies focusing on ethical and epidemiological considerations. However, public acceptance of such strategies should be monitored to ensure successful implementation. In an experiment with N=1379 German participants, we investigated whether the public’s vaccination allocation preferences matched the prioritisation strategy approved by the German government. Results revealed different allocations. While the government had top-prioritised vulnerable people (being of high age or accommodated in nursing homes for the elderly), participants preferred exclusive allocation of the first available vaccines to medical staff and personnel caring for the elderly. Interestingly, allocation preferences did not change when participants were told how many individuals were included in each group. As differences between allocation policies and public preferences can affect trust in the government and threaten the social contract between generations, we discuss possible strategies to align vaccination prioritisations.

The Difficult Balance between Ensuring the Right of Nursing Home Residents to Communication and Their Safety

The COVID-19 epidemic has had a profound impact on healthcare systems worldwide. The number of infections in nursing homes for the elderly particularly is significantly high, with a high mortality rate as a result. In order to contain infection risks for both residents and employees of such facilities, the Italian government passed emergency legislation during the initial stages of the pandemic to restrict outside visitor access. On 30 November 2020, the Italian President of the Council of Ministers issued a new decree recognizing the social and emotional value of visits to patients from family and friends. In addition, it indicated prevention measures for the purposes of containing the infection risk within nursing homes for the elderly. This article comments on these new legislative provisions from the medicolegal perspective, providing indications that can be used in clinical practice.

Allocation of COVID-19 vaccination: When public prioritization preferences differ from official regulations

As vaccines against COVID-19 are scarce, many countries have developed vaccination prioritization strategies focusing on ethical and epidemiological considerations. However, public acceptance of such strategies should be monitored to ensure successful implementation. In an experiment with N = 1,379 German participants, we investigated whether the public’s vaccination allocation preferences matched the prioritization strategy approved by the German government. Results revealed different allocations. While the government had top-prioritized vulnerable people (being of high age or accommodated in nursing homes for the elderly), participants deprioritized these groups and preferred exclusive allocation of the first available vaccines to medical staff and personnel caring for the elderly. Interestingly, allocation preferences did not change when participants were told how many individuals were included in each group. As differences between allocation policies and public preferences can affect trust in the government and threaten the social contract between generations, we discuss possible strategies to align vaccination prioritizations.

Computer professionals without borders

In November 2005, a group of Italian computer professionals decided to give their knowledge for bridging the digital divide and founded ISF, "Informatici Senza Frontiere" ("IT without borders") [1]. It is a non-profit organization with the goal of providing help to people living in situations of poverty and marginalization. With the main office in Treviso (in North-East Italy) now is present in most of the Italian regions with hundreds of members, men and women. Their activities span from Italy to developing countries, with courses, digitalization of hospitals and social centers, collaborating with schools, universities and prisons, retirement homes for the elderly and applications for people with disabilities. In May 2013 the UN invited ISF to Geneva for the World Summit on Information Society, recognizing its role and what IT can do for society.

Identification of Risk Psychosocial Factors as Predictors of Loneliness of Elderly in Nursing Homes During Social Isolation Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

The elderly is at bigger risk for getting COVID-19 virus, and a particularly vulnerable group are people placed in homes for the elderly and frail. The aims of the study were: (1) to examine differences in the respondent’s experiences of social isolation, loneliness and perception of social support, (2) to examine correlations between the dimensions of social isolation and the experience of social support with the experience of loneliness, and (3) to examine whether dimensions of social isolation and perceived social support are risky psychosocial significant predictors of loneliness. The cross-sectional study was conducted on 98 participants from three nursing homes in Croatia, EU. It used Social Provision Scale, the short- form Loneliness Scale and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. The results indicate that people who are single are lonelier, and if they do not have descendants are less likely to contact their family and at the same time they report a weaker social support experience. Loneliness is a statistically positive thing with a social provision dimension, information availability, and a significant negative correlation with the experience of social support. The dimensions of social provision, access to information and perceptions of social support contribute to the experience of loneliness. The constant exposure to negative information about the pandemic, the insecurity and anxiety of the people who communicate with them, make the users of homes for the elderly and infirm even more vulnerable to the development of loneliness.

Medgeneracijsko sodelovanje: interes mladih za delo in pomoč starostnikom

The aim of the research is to present an interest of young people in giving help to the elderly through institutional and non-institutional care. We live in a time when global and consequently also Slovenian society became strongly aware of importance of the elderly as one of its consisting part. So, it has to be stressed that additional study programmes should be introduced which will bring education in various fields of social gerontology. This need was particularly emphasized during the COVID-19 epidemic, when all homes for the elderly faced the lack of trained staff. The aim of the paper is examination of a topic summarized in a questionnaire which was used to find out how well present and future students know problems of older people and their ways of life. We also asked them, whether they would be willing to dedicate their professional career to dealing with ageing population. We realised that young people know that work with the elderly is strenous. They are acquainted with problems of ageing and ways of older people living. Furthermore, they are aware that dealing with the elderly requires much benevolence, empathy and personal respect to other people. It is recommended that offer of education in a field of elderly care gets improved and upgraded. It would lead to a higher number of young people who would decide to enrol into educational programmes of social gerontology.