August 8 – 10, 2018 | Concurrent Sessions | Chelsea Hotel – Select Meeting Rooms
Given the steady increase in the number of aging adults in our society, postsecondary institutions face the urgent challenge of preparing a considerable number of new social work and social service professionals to work competently with an aging population in a variety of community and healthcare settings. In Ontario, social workers and social service workers are governed by the same regulatory body, the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
Both will be expected to meet the increasing gaps in service delivery and supports for older adults. Related challenges include to carefully defining the role of gerontological social workers/social service workers, mobilizing strategies to engage students, and advancing their interest in gerontological practice, while increasing community capacity building. However, current research has barely begun to explore the extent to which ageist views of older adults and social stereotypes may contribute to a lack of interest in students to enter this much needed field of practice.
The purpose of this study is to explore social work and social service work students’ attitudes toward older adults and aging in the course of their field learning in gerontological settings. Methods: We used an arts-based research methodology to document the development of two artistic tapestries of twenty undergraduate students completing their field practicums in gerontological social service agencies, and long term care settings.
This research explores ways to encourage people to think about their health goals for retirement in the same way that they currently prioritize their wealth goals for retirement. The ultimate aim is to determine effective behavior change initiatives to shift the mindsets of younger baby boomers into engaging in current health and social activities that will establish a healthier – and not just wealthier – retirement. Academic literature in this area has focused heavily on the work and income aspects of retirement planning with little attention concerning the health and social care aspects for retirement planning. Previous research has revealed that people are reluctant to make long-term plans as they are more attached to their ‘current self’ and not their ‘future self’. We manipulate this time orientation in 20 scenario-based semi-structured interviews with people 50 to 60 years old to explore ways to encourage more proactive attitudes towards health and social planning for retirement.
Objective: The aim of this study was determining the risk factors of abuse in cognitive impaired elderly (Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia) by family caregivers.
Method: participants were 60+ years, with dementia diagnosed (n=236) who living with their caregivers selected by random sample in two groups (dementia and MCI) from outpatient neurology clinics. Abuse was measured by Caregiver Abuse screen (CASE). Dementia was rated by Global Deterioration Scale (GDS). Burden of family caregivers determined by Zarit scale, and functional dependency in dementia elderly was measured by Bayer-ADL criteria.
Results: There were significant relations between elder abuse with caregiver burden (0.936, P≤0.001), severity of dementia (0.652, P≤0.001), and Bayer-ADL dependency (0.495, P≤0.001).
Conclusion: Elder abuse had growth with increasing caregiver burden. In this study, the abuse of elderly had a direct correlation with caregiver burden, so that the severity of dementia and functional dependency increased the amount of abuse.
Our world is in the era of aging and aging is becoming one of the defining feature of contemporary society. With unprecedented growth of the older population, crosscutting issues concerning this segment of the society arise. Collaborating with other disciplines and professions, Social Work as a profession and academic field has a stake in the provision is expected provide solutions and theoretical underpinnings for quality aging. Quality aging vary across countries since the issue of aging is addressed differently across different cultures. Though it is difficult to compare, this particular contribution provides a comparative analysis on quality aging of Slovenia and Ethiopia in light of the available literatures regarding quality aging. Most importantly, the nature of intergenerational solidarity, institutionalization and De-institutionalization, long-term care, and the role of Social work in the in the whole process is emphasized. Generally speaking, it was found that both countries are handling quality aging in their own way and important lessons were drawn.
In Quebec, a Canadian province, the responsibility of responding to abuse against older persons, here called mistreatment of older adults (MOA), is shared between public services, community services and the private sector. Public policy also focuses on strengthening the continuum of services which includes prevention, detection, accompaniment and coordination roles for each type of organizations involved in countering MOA, within which non-profit organizations (NPOs) specialized in MOA or offering a MOA program including employees and volunteers, are considered essential partners.
Although NPOs are often referred as key actors, there has been little scientific work on their contribution, whether it is from salaried employees or volunteers, and on the effects on older adults who receive their services. The research project on Volunteering to Counter Material and Financial Mistreatment of Older Adults (ABAM-MF) (2015-2018), financed by the Social sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, aims to document the roles of NPOs in countering MOA.
This study aims to identify the hindering and facilitating factors when older adults request help (RH) in a situation where they have been a witness or have been the target of mistreatment (MT) or bullying (BG). Older adults do not have to have experienced a situation of mistreatment in order to participate.
Action research project conducted in partnership with a community organisation to counter MT of older adults. Multi-method estimate: group interviews (n = 17 representing 144 older adults) and questionnaires (n = 305). Interviews transcribed and coded through an inductive thematic approach using N’Vivo software. Descriptive statistics via SPSS. Analysis of quantitative and qualitative data according to: gender, language, age group and living environment of the participants.
Within the United Kingdom, the population of older people is rapidly increasing. Whilst increased life expectancy will mean that many older people can expect to live longer, healthier lives, there will also le a large proportion of the older population who will experience longer periods of chronic illness along with multiple complex health and social care needs. Located upon a long-term landscape of austerity, partnership and collaboration achieved through interprofessional and collaborative working between health and social care sectors have become central.
With the emerging demographic shift in our aging population in the mid-twentieth century, humanity is facing a marked change in the age structure of our global population. Currently there are more than 600 million people over 60 years of age in the world (WHO, 2010), and it is anticipated that this number will increase to two billion by 2050 (United Nations, 2013). Advances in medicine, new technologies, as well as social and economic development have increased longevity, but longevity is not everything; we must think about the importance of living longer with a good quality of life. Older adults’ health and well-being will have more of an impact for all generations overtime. The challenge is to consider how to increase the quality of life, years and independence for an individual while combatting ageism. This ethnographic study explores how older adults in Canada and Brazil perceive education that has been designed specifically for them and how they understand it to be linked to healthy living and well-being. The purpose of this study was: a) to learn more about and be better able to describe the overall impact of education in the lives of older adults; b) to better understand what older adults imagine the future potential impact of education is for them, including the concepts of healthy living and well-being; and c) to delineate recommendations for curriculum development, as well as broader institutional and policy-related strategies, to expand and develop the state of education for older adults focusing on healthy living and well-being.
As they age, many seniors leave their homes to live in a seniors’ residence. The experience of moving into such a residence is often accompanied by an accumulation of losses (Wiersma, 2012). Seniors can move into residence precisely because they are experiencing physical or cognitive losses, or because they are grieving their spouse and life at home is no longer possible or safe (Oswald and Rowles, 2007; Strohschein, 2011). Therefore, many seniors who move into residence are grieving. Since those residences are both living environments and environments where death happens from time to time, seniors who live there will be confronted to the loss of other residents, often accompanied by the awareness that this residence may be their last home before death (Wiersma, 2012). Our results show that although death and grief are realities present in all residences, they are not given the same space and consideration everywhere. In fact, in some residences, a sense of discomfort seems to hang over those realities, relegating the experiences of the bereaved to the realm of the unspoken. This silence, while appreciated by some, causes suffering to others. We will discuss the ways in which our participants felt their grief was considered by others in the residence. We will reflect on the role that perceptions of old age and death might play in this process and examine the possibility that the silence surrounding death may lead to subtle forms of social exclusion for bereaved seniors.
The impact of demographic ageing (populations aged 65 years and over is estimated to increase in Europe from 16% (2010) to 25.6% by 2040, according to Eurostat) on employment in Europe is widely recognized as one of the main challenges facing the EU. In addition to pension reforms, the European Commission has recommended to the member States to raise participation of older workers, to promote access to training and stimulating lifelong learning to avoid skills obsolescence for older workers, and to improve working conditions to provide an attractive, safe and adaptable work environment throughout working life. Moreover, ageism is a current issue on the labor market, and older workers are facing low self-esteem, low work motivation, reduced training opportunities, unemployment challenges and early retirement options.
End-of-life (EOL) care, which is provided to “people in decline who are deemed to be terminal or dying in the foreseeable future,” has been shaped by both curative medicine and palliative care practices. In Canada, providing such care to frail older adults is uniquely challenging due to the way frail older adults fit poorly into curative medicine and palliative care models. Many frail older adults have complex co-morbidities and social challenges, and they experience poor response to life-prolonging medical interventions. Nonetheless, the use of curative treatments for frail older adults is increasing, often causing prolonged physical and psychological distress. Palliative care in Canada is characterized by a focus on palliating physical suffering and promoting well-being through patient autonomy. It is designed for patients with specific life-threatening conditions and their families, thus leaving it out of reach for the many frail older adults who do not have a diagnosable terminal condition or prognosis. In this sense, frail older adults are abandoned by both curative medicine and palliative care, as neither is able to address their needs and suffering. Overall, EOL care requires reform, which will likely demand a public health approach that promotes and protects health and prevents illness for people and their communities. Public health approaches to EOL care include the collaboration of a variety of actors in the private and public spheres, which support community networks that better address the needs of the dying and the bereaved. This poster will discuss how curative medicine, palliative care and public health initiatives to EOL care intersect and will describe emerging ideas about how public health policy and programs may improve EOL care for frail older adults.
“Leave no one behind “says the UN Secretary General on launching of the SDG’s but the reality of the elderly in India is far from it..According to the Census of India in 2011 the numbers of elderly were 103 million and currently 108 million in 2015. According to a report titled “Situation Analysis of the Elderly in India ” by Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, Government of India, the elderly population accounted for 7.4% of total population in 2001 but less than 20% of elderly women and majority of elderly men were economically independent. Nearly 40% of persons aged 60 years and above (60% of men and 19% of women) were working. In rural areas, 66% of elderly men and more than 23% of aged women were still participating in economic activity. A recent report released by the Ministry of Statistics said that the %age of citizens over the age of 60 has jumped 35.5 per cent — from 76 million in 2001 to 103 million in 2015 , at the launch of the SDG’s. In the MDG’s from 2000 to 2015 there was no mention or focus for older persons in the goals in spite of the UN sponsored Madrid Plan of Action and the Madrid Declaration. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages is another goal of the SDG .The National Programme for health care of the elderly (NPCHE) launched in 2008. The Government of India launched the “National Program for Health Care of the Elderly” (NPHCE) during the year 2010-11 for providing dedicated health care facilities to senior citizens (above 60 years of age) at primary, secondary and tertiary health care delivery system. The basic aim of the NPHCE is to provide separate and specialized comprehensive health care to the senior citizens at various levels of state health care delivery system including outreach services. This programme under the Ministry of Health was to cover 100 poorest districts by 2013. . Health care financing in India is low in terms of total public spending and as a proportion of the gross domestic product. Less than 10 percent of the population has health security in terms of access to employer provided services or through private insurance. India’s health and ageing interventions are excluding millions of Indians from health care . Older persons exclusion from health services and long term care are becoming crucial for the future. The paper examines what steps we need to make in order to make it a decade of healthy ageing if we are to leave no one behind.
Existential suffering is one type of refractory symptom that may be experienced as a result of treatment for, or suffering from a terminal illness. It may include – but is not limited to – feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, fear of death and loss of dignity. Like refractory physical and psychological symptoms, a treatment option for existential suffering currently includes palliative or terminal sedation. Using palliative sedation to treat existential suffering in terminally ill patients poses great ethical and methodological dilemmas for health care professionals. Though this practice is legal in Canada, there are many questions about policies and guidelines as there is little-to-no recognized framework outlined at a federal level. This lack of guidance is highlighted due to the fact there is very little research pertaining to palliative sedation specifically to treat existential suffering. A scoping review was undertaken to highlight the gaps in the research, work towards creating a better understanding of the progression of the practice, and succinctly outline the ethical implications. Once these gaps were highlighted, the information found was used to suggest how it may inform future practice, policy and research in Canada. How does palliative sedation effect the experience of existential suffering in older adults, aged 65 years and over?
Marijuana – a Global change affecting communities and the ageing population. While Canada, as a nation is readying itself for the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana, the debate rages on in this country, and indeed will be interpreted differently across Canada, by Provinces and Municipalities, as to where the burden of implementation is indeed transferred to when it comes to the cost and benefits of implementing this new impending legislation. The matter is affecting communities across Canada and communities must be ready for that change. Equally so, the affect on the ageing population must be evaluated and studied. Many countries around the world are facing marijuana legislation questions and many have in place legislation that is varying to say the least; from Spain to the Netherlands to different states within the United States. Canada, it appears will have the most liberal legislation in the world beginning perhaps as early as July, 2018. Since permissive marijuana legislation is relatively new, and exists mostly for medicinal purposes throughout the world, little research exists on the use, costs and benefits of recreational marijuana with older adults. Some of the early Colorado, USA, anecdotal experience is indicating reasonably high usage amongst baby boomers and indeed the affects on hospitals, schools, parks and streets are what communities must deal with as everyone learns from the Colorado experience. Then there is the use amongst isolated seniors, lonely ageing adults, drivers of all ages, usage within seniors’ lodges and institutions and more. Policy considerations for these areas and the affects at the community level will be covered. So, this topic will cover some of the implications, in a balanced view, of the upside and downside of the apparent legislation, what communities need to track and report, and indeed how the affect on the older population manifests itself. The paper will challenge policy makers and community leaders on what to watch out for and what to track as Key Performance Indicators. Finally policy considerations for communities in general will need to consider will be covered.
Knowledge translation (KT) has become the “holy grail” for research organizations, with more than 10 years of international attention focussed on KT, with limited progress. A potential barrier is the many frameworks that have been developed under which sit a plethora of theories and models. Some frameworks are quite complex and many have not been empirically tested. Over 100 different theories are reportedly being used across a range of disciplines, including health behaviour, organizational studies, sociology, and business. The challenge of selecting from this vast array has likely led to the underuse, superficial use and misuse of implementation theories. Bolton Clarke is Australia’s largest non-faith based aged care provider in Australia, delivering services to over 23,000 people every day of the year. It operates across the residential and health care services continuum, including personal care and domestic support, chronic disease management, sub-acute care and hospital substitution. Bolton Clarke provides services based on individual needs with the aim of improving health, wellbeing and independence. The Bolton Clarke Research Institute studies issues in primary, community and aged healthcare to support the aims of the organisation. The Bolton Clarke Research Institute Knowledge Translation and Exchange (KTE) program was designed for communicating health services research into tangible deliverables that shape the social and health services provided by Bolton Clarke and can also influence outside services and policy makers from regional to international locations. The KTE program comprises activities that are undertaken to develop, implement and communicate the Institute’s research projects and findings. This presentation will showcase the methods and activities the Research Institute implements to achieve the greatest KTE, drawing upon examples of current projects on Diversity and understanding the health and wellbeing needs of older women living alone.
Over half (54%) of individuals in the Australian Defence Force (ADF), experience a mental health diagnosis during their lifetime. In addition to being slightly higher than the rate reported for the general community (49%), their mental health profile differs. ADF members are more likely to experience depression, alcoholism and post-traumatic stress disorder. There is evidence that ADF family members also experience distress in response to these mental health issues, and that optimizing family functioning is an integral part of maintaining or improving a veteran’s mental health. This project will fill a gap in the support services available to aging veterans and their families. This is a high priority considering the impact of mental health issues on family functioning and the impact of family functioning on treatment success. The outcome will be the co-creation of an evidence-based family resource, that could be made available nationally and internationally, which fosters wellbeing and builds resilience within family units.
Considerable research has identified what motivates existing older adult volunteers (OAVs). The purpose of this study was to ask new older adult volunteers about their expectations of their volunteer experience and volunteer management (VM), and then to interpret these results in terms of existing models of older adult VM. Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 43 incoming OAVs who defined their expectations about volunteering and VM. The main themes regarding older adults’ expectations were extracted using qualitative content analysis. Results: Older adults identified six practice expectations they considered essential to develop and effectively manage older-adult volunteer programs: a) create a new vision for effective inclusion of OAVs; b) develop complex, engaging roles; c) assess lifelong competencies to ensure job matching; d) balance autonomy and support in orientation, training, supervision, and evaluation; e) ensure volunteer recognition, retention, and quality communication; and f) document OAVs’ contribution to the organization and society. Implications: These results advance knowledge and practice in professional volunteer-management fields and gerontology by suggesting amendments to VM structures to meet the personal and social expectations of older adults. Some of the OAVs’ expectations align with existing volunteer management best practices (valuing the role of volunteers; defining rules and expectations; developing volunteer management skills; reducing client and group risk; creating clear assignments; reaching beyond the circle; orienting and training volunteers; providing supervision; making volunteers feel they belong; and recognizing volunteer contributions) but others advance our understanding of the unique needs of OAVs. Policy changes that support government funding for internal organizational assessments may help smaller and less well financed organizations to explore adaptations needed to best meet the expectations of a growing OAV base. Cost-effective measures, built on strong empirical support for best practices in senior VM, will need to be available for organizations to feel secure and motivated to make changes. Smaller organizations could potentially begin by engaging in lower cost activities, carefully examining their own priorities and current VM practices, and make changes to organizational policies and practices. Organizations that incorporate the insights of older adults on their expectations of VM may maximize OAVs’ engagement and retention in volunteering, help reduce negative social attitudes toward aging, and benefit from older adults’ skill sets and full potential.
Definitions of elder abuse vary according to the person asked, the setting and the purpose. Definitions for the purpose of research are different from those for legal or service provider purposes. This study sought to determine an Australian definition of elder abuse for the purpose of research in the context of an Australian government commitment to funding a prevalence study. Building on previous definitions, including those used in the UK, USA and Australia and the World Health Organization definition, the study sought to determine a wide range of views on the following five elements: the person who experiences the abuse; the abuser/s; the acts or failures to act involved; the pre-conditions; and the impact of abuse. This paper sets out the findings of the first component of the Australian Elder Abuse National Research—Stage One: Strengthening the Evidence Base, which has been commissioned and funded by the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department. Seven workshops were conducted with 78 participants who were professionals and representatives from peak bodies and four focus groups were conducted with 35 older people and people representing specific groups, including culturally and linguistically diverse older people, older people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders. Consultations were conducted in every state and territory in Australia. This paper presentation outlines the findings from workshops, focus groups, and interviews with both professional and lay stakeholders from around Australia. We bring together the diverse range of views and understandings of the abuse of older people in an Australian context, and subsequently proposes a definition reflecting these views and understandings. It is hoped that this national definition will guide and facilitate research about the occurrence and consequences of a range of different acts and omissions that may constitute abuse of older people, and which will in turn support further thinking about policy, practice and legal responses.
Older women experience certain forms of abuse disproportionately and differently as compared to older men, and may need specific services and supports that take into account the impact of gender, age, and other factors such as poverty. Despite this, the elder abuse and violence against women sectors have largely worked in isolation from each other. This has often resulted in a failure to provide older women with the full complement of resources needed to prevent and mitigate the occurrence and harmful health and social consequences of victimization. To address this problem we brought together interdisciplinary and international experts already working at the cutting edges of the elder abuse and violence against women sectors to identify research priorities to advance knowledge, practice, and knowledge mobilization in relation to violence against older women.
Most of the people want to stay home when as the grew old. They want to stay somewhere they know, seeing every morning the flowers they have planted in their garden, chatting with the postman and eventually dying in their own bed surrounded by friends and family and the laughter of their grandchildren. It is the ideal way of leaving. But when they become dependent, things start to get hard. They can’t make themselves diner anymore, They can’t drive to their doctor’s appointment, they fall, hurt themselves sometimes really badly, they can’t remember things, and sometimes they can’t even remember their own children. And for family, most of the time children, things get complicated: Seeing your parents losing their strength, their mobility and sometimes, their mind is a huge deal. And then, without any warning you have to choose a path for them. Institution or Home Support. But this choice isn’t completely yours. It’s also your parents’ choice, and many other people choices. Yes, for economical, religious, cultural, and various others reasons sometimes the choice is made for you. Sometimes your dependent parent stay home, even if he’s sick, even if he needs constant support. When you have to take care of your dependent relative, your whole world is changed. This is a new life schedule. In many families, whether it’s the husband, the wife, the son, the daughter, the niece, the nephew or even a friend, the one who helps the dependent relative has to quit his job thanks to the lack of time, gives up on his relationships with lovers or friends and put his relative’s health in front of his own. In this presentation, we will see how care of a dependent relative can change a life. We will also see the relationship that grows between the family caregiver and the professionals (medical’s staff, administrations, organizations) during this journey. We will see the ups and downs of the challenge of taking care of an elderly dependent person through the life of French caregivers whether they are family or professionals. This will be a sociological approach and based on interviews and observations made for my thesis.
As populations age across the globe, the role of older workers is of increasing interest to many jurisdictions. Older workers are often underrepresented in the labour force (defined as people employed plus those looking for work). Their increased participation may be important to ensuring economic and fiscal stability. Meanwhile, many older adults want to work and/or need to work for their own financial security. Nova Scotia is at the leading edge of Canada’s demographic shift. Populations projections suggest that in this province of less than one million people, 100,000 fewer people of working age (18-64) will be in the labour force by 2042. However, data released from the 2016 Census of Canadian Population indicate that older adult employment (65 and older) continues to increase, a trend not expected to change. In 2017, the Government of Nova Scotia launched SHIFT: Nova Scotia’s Action Plan for an Aging Population. The goals of this plan are to value, promote and support older adults. Through SHIFT, the provincial government commits to working with employers and the public to promote the value of older workers and encourage their participation in the labour market; and, to encourage employers to create age-friendly, inclusive and intergenerational workplaces. In support of this work, the Government of Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Centre on Aging at Mount Saint Vincent University have embarked upon a research collaboration to understand the barriers to employment of older workers and how to create age-friendly, inclusive workplaces. This presentation will focus on the findings of this government-university collaboration and some related initiatives underway in Nova Scotia. In particular, key learnings will be shared from a review of current literature on barriers, including ageism, to older worker employment. Examples from the literature that support older worker employment will be highlighted as well as examples of work being done to engage/re-engage older Nova Scotians in the workplace. Overall, the presentation will provide participants with insights into the importance of retaining and rehiring older adults in the workplace, and strategies to support these aims.
Ageist assumptions about the cognitive, physical and social limitations of older persons often result in their exclusion from participating in the design, delivery and evaluation of health and social care services. This ageism is detrimental to both patient experience and health outcomes in geriatric care, as tools and services tend to represent a very narrow and mainly clinical view of the goals, needs and preferences of this population. Recognition and meaningful inclusion of older adults as experts in their own experience in geriatric care planning has the potential to prompt more integrated, person and family-centred care. This study aimed to meaningfully engage older adults, their family/friend caregivers and health care providers as experts in the development of a more integrated geriatric care planning approach in home care. A sequential transformative mixed methods design was applied. A web-based survey of geriatric care assessment practices was developed with and completed by home care nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists (n=350) to explore their experiences planning home care for older adults. Solutions-focused interviews were completed with older adults and their family/friend caregivers (n=24) to leverage their expertise in developing ideas to improve person-centred goal setting in geriatric home care. Survey and interview results were applied in a workshop with older adults, their family/friend caregivers and health care providers (n=19) to co-design solutions for more integrated geriatric home care planning through collaborative brainstorming, empathy mapping, and role play.
The schema of the older person as frail and as a burden is pervasive in our society. Older adults are framed as “unabContext Matters: Age-Friendly Initiatives across Diverse New Jersey Communities le-to-care-of-themselves” and the background for this schema is the current Canadian society as influenced by neoliberal values, especially individuality and independence. This ageist schema has led to the marginalisation of this population and to the internalising of these messages by older adults. However, certain factors may be protecting some individuals from this influence. In this presentation, we report on a research project where we examined the experience of 90+ year old individuals who live “in place” (e.g., their own homes) in New Brunswick. We interviewed thirty-five Acadian Francophone and Anglophone individuals and documented the daily lives of individuals and histories. A comparison of the lived experiences of these two groups reveals how culture and social support networks intersect with the “burden” schema. Acadians revering of family connections appears to shield both the older adults and their family from the influence of this schema. Social support agencies, whether provincial or community based, need to understand and adapt policies and practices to the differing cultural realities and perceptions of the older adults that they serve.
ABSTRACT COMING SOON
There is a lack of research with the aim of understanding the contextual variables that influence engagement in normative risky sexual practices and the strategies for preventing sexual infections among older people. Twelve focus group discussions with vignettes were conducted on a gender basis among older Yoruba men and women in three age categories (60-to-69 years, 70-to-79 years and 80 years and above). In addition, 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted with elderly men and women who were 60 years and above. Normatively, the elderly men could express their sexual desires and engage in multiple sexual relationships. Incisions, amulets and aseje (a traditionally prepared concoction) were mentioned as being effective traditional medical measures for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Normative expectations and cultural beliefs were found to influence the perceptions of risky sexual practices and the prevention of sexual infections in old age. Thus, efforts are required to address risky sexual practices and to promote the responsible prevention of sexual infections among older people.
Malaysia is estimated to become an ageing nation in 2030. Ageing population is a world known phenomenon due to the link of ageing and the increasing risk of morbidity and disability, the feminization ageing scenario that exposed the older women to social isolation and development of mental illness, and the older person are at risk of poverty and elder abuse. The Malaysian government is aware of these situations and has included the ageing issues into the national agenda with the ultimate goal is to ensure the quality of life as the population grow older. However, less is known about the ability for active ageing at the population level, particularly the future older person. The objective of this study is to predict the ability for active ageing among adult population and to determine the factors that associated with it.
Reducing vulnerability and building resilience in developing countries cannot be accomplished without the management of disease, particularly mental illness. Managing Dementia is especially key to achieving several of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which affect older persons. Dementia has the double impact of creating a vulnerable subgroup of persons with mental illness out of an already vulnerable, older cohort. It also carries a socio-economic burden beyond any other chronic illness due to the long-term care required; affects women more than men, and in many communities has hampered the earning potential of families due to the need for informal care.
Frailty has important implications for influenza vaccine effectiveness and outcomes of acute illness. In this session, we will focus on four main issues of frailty in relation to ‘flu: Nutritional status changes are a health concern for older adults as they transfer from a community dwelling environment to a long term care facility. Changes in nutritional status occur as a result of the older adult’s having to adjust their dietary patterns to the standards set out in facilities. Although a large body of research exists on the nutrition status of seniors who are already institutionalized, there is little information on how nutrition status changes following admission.
Active and healthy aging is central to enhancing the quality of life for older adults, but its conceptualization is not made explicit for Asian elders. In particular, eastern societies are traditionally shaped by a moral value of filial piety, which places a strong reliance on a range of espoused obligations including mutual respect, care and love between parents and children. The endorsement of filial piety is considered crucial to the well-being of older adults in Asia. However, the filial expectations from older parents and filial practices of younger generations have suffered from cultural transitions in the modern societies, including Hong Kong. This presentation will report the findings of a mixed method research study to uncover whether the attributes of filial piety influence the views and preferences of the older adults towards active and healthy aging, and whether the actions and activities of the older adults align well with the key concept of active and healthy aging emanated from the World Health Organization and the United Nations.
The path toward healthy aging is a complex one that requires multidisciplinary and multisectorial strategies to be successful. Public health surveillance – the continuous, systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of health-related data needed for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice (WHO) – can contribute to this process in various ways. Cognitive health is one of the key challenges facing an aging population. As of 2016, the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System (CCDSS) supports the national surveillance of diagnosed dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. This presentation will showcase the most recent Canadian data on dementia incidence, prevalence, and all-cause mortality. The CCDSS is a pan-Canadian partnership, led by the Public Health Agency of Canada, that uses linked health administrative databases to collect data on more than 15 chronic conditions. A validated algorithm identified cases of diagnosed dementia among Canadian seniors (aged 65+) when they had: Dementia incidence and prevalence counts, crude rates and aged-standardized rates for the latest year of available data (2015/16) will be presented. Data will be disaggregated by 5-year age groups (65-69 to 90+) to quantify the increasing burden of the disease with aging. Data will also be presented by sex to illustrate the gender differential, which tends to increase with age as well. All-cause mortality among individuals with versus without dementia (rates and rates ratios) will provide information on the higher mortality rates faced by a population affected by dementia, regardless of the cause of death. For each of these three indicators, trends from 2002/03 to 2015/16 will be shown. As the prevalence of the disease is directly associated with the number of new cases and its duration (age at onset and at death), analysing these three indicators jointly, from a single data source, will enable a better understanding of dementia epidemiology in Canada. Dementia is a growing public health concern in Canada, as acknowledged by the recent adoption of the National Strategy for Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias Act. CCDSS data will be used to monitor the epidemiological burden and trends of diagnosed dementia to help support a more efficient and equitable planning of health resources, the development and implementation of evidence-based health policies, and program evaluations.
Active and Healthy Ageing (AHA) is the process of optimizing opportunities related to health, participation, and safety in order to improve quality of life. The most often model used for measuring is Rowe and Kahn’s Satisfactory Ageing model. Nonetheless, this model has limitations. One of the strategic objectives of the WHO Global Strategy and Action Plan (2016) consists in improve measurement, monitoring and research on Healthy Ageing. Our objectives are to compare two models of assessing AHA and further compared the results by country and sociodemographic variables. This was a cross-sectional, observational analysis of a representative sample of the general population aged 50 years and older in Europe. The data analyzed were obtained by the Study of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The dependent variable was AHA and its dimensions, measured using the Rowe and Kahn AHA model (AHA-RK) and a model based on the WHO definition (AHA-WHO). A descriptive analysis and multivariate models of binary logistical regression were developed.
The ageing of the world’s population has significant consequences in multiples areas, which can be seen as a threat to the level of well-being provided by the modern welfare state. Nonetheless, elderly people represent an economic, social and cultural capital for the society. Health will be a determinant factor of whether or not the demographic transition represented by the ageing of the population can be beneficial for people and society. Therefore, a comprehensive response is urgently needed to promote healthy ageing. The WHO Global Strategy and Action Plan (2016) urges the establishment of the required evidence and collaborations in order to support a Decade of Healthy Ageing from 2020-2030. One area of needed evidence is the improvement of Active and Healthy Ageing (AHA) monitoring and research. The aim of the present ongoing project is to analyse and compare the opinions, values, preferences and intrinsic capacity as well as the aspects of the environment according to elder people, family caregivers and healthcare providers of the region of Girona in relation to healthy ageing at home.
The ‘aWake Before Death’ (ABD) project came about through a collaborative partnership process based on existing relationships between: Clarence City Council’s Positive Ageing Network (PAN) for service providers, the Clarence Positive Ageing Advisory Committee (CPAAC), and the Clarence Community Volunteer Service; Fairway Rise Retirement Living Village; Salmutations – Music Therapy; Community Conversations; and the Warrane Mornington Neighbourhood Centre (WMNC) With the Warrane Mornington Neighbourhood Centre as the auspice organisation, the partnership group applied for and received a grant from the Better Access to Palliative Care Program through the Tasmanian Association of Hospice and Palliative Care (TAHAPC) Inc. Council also contributed funds from its Positive Ageing Plan towards the project. The aim of ABD is to engage people of all ages in Clarence in the promotion and education of end-of-life planning, through the use of stories, music and the arts, to help build knowledge, awareness and capacity across the community in a sustainable way. aWake Before Death was planned and led by a partnership group within the Clarence area of Tasmania, Australia. The group worked together with local residents over seven months conducting conversations on death and dying, grief and bereavement and end-of-life planning. A very moving film clip was produced with some residents. The film is part of a suite of flexible resources to promote awareness of death and dying and to encourage other communities to have conversations about end-of-life planning. The film can be uploaded on websites and social media and used globally in a variety of settings for education and training. This paper presentation will outline the project as positive health promotion leading up to palliative care where the motto is: Share your stories; Celebrate life and living; Let’s start the conversations; and Let’s talk about death.
Caregivers of older adults often have poorer quality of life (QoL) as compared to non-caregivers. With a global ageing population, the proportion of caregivers of older adults is expected to rise rapidly. Hence, there is a greater need to understand what could help caregivers succeed in their role. Current studies suggest that caregivers’ perceived mastery and caregiving competence may potentially protect against depression and low QoL for caregivers of person with chronic diseases, but there is no study exploring these relationships for caregivers of older adults. This study aims to investigate the influence of mastery and caregiving competence on the QoL of caregivers of older adults.
Based on the 2011 survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the prevalence of retinopathy in diabetics who seek medical attention was31.1% i.e. every 3 out of 10 diabetics had retinopathy. In 2014, there were 154,556 patients diagnosed with diabetes in Taoyuan City. In the same year, the examination rate for retinopathy was 33.08%.Since diabetics have high risks in retinopathy, early examination and treatment can reduce 50% of the risks of vision loss. However, due to the high cost of fundus cameras, lack of ophthalmologist in clinics that provided diabetic care and long waiting time for ophthalmologist at larger hospitals, the examination rate for retinopathy in diabetics are low.
Diabetes is a global health problem, where a majority of diabetes patients are older adults suffering from Type 2 diabetes. Regular self-monitoring of blood glucose level is essential for diabetes management. However, the conventional finger pricking approach is invasive and could lead to tissue damage, infection or mental stress. Salivary glucose test offers a non-invasive alternative. Studies have shown that glucose level in saliva is correlated with that in blood. Increase in salivary glucose level is also observed in patients with diabetes. To this end, this study evaluated the acceptance of a salivary glucose test device among elderly people. A commercially available test device called “Kiss and Tell glucose meter” was adopted in the study. The device is a small hand-held test cassette of about 3 inches in length. It has a round collector at one end where saliva is delivered. The saliva sample was then gradually absorbed by a test strip in about 5 minutes. The strip’s color may change from white (normal) to light pink or pink to indicate that the salivary glucose level is high or very high respectively. Subjects were recruited by convenience sampling. They were first demonstrated the usage of the device and then required to use it independently. Rinsing mouth with water was needed before the delivery of saliva sample. The subjects then responded to a 13-item 7-point Likert questionnaire designed with reference to the Technology Acceptance Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior, with “7” indicating most positive.
What is the bottom line when it comes to healthy behaviors that impact aging and longevity? Why do the recommendations on healthy habits change so rapidly? How can we cut through the fads and the hype and focus on what’s sensible and effective? Based on the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest study of aging to date, this talk will provide a coherent summary of what behaviors really matter for health and longevity, and positively influence the “compression of mortality.” Because emotional health and physical health are inextricably linked, the talk will draw on my 25 year long experience as a psychotherapist exploring the psychological challenges of the third chapter with clients. It will also highlight the unique benefits and advantages of being over 50. Stress reduction will be emphasized. Participants will leave with actionable tools to enhance their short term and long term health, and those of the people they care for.
Age Concern New Zealand’s role in providing national coverage for an evidence based health promotion project that improves the lives of older New Zealanders. Falls are common in older adults and are a major concern for individuals and health care funders. The consequences following a fall can be detrimental to an older person’s health; falls may result not only in physical injury, but can also lead to psychological costs (e.g. loss of confidence, decreased quality of life, or fear of falling), potentially resulting in loss of independence and early admission to residential care. Interventions addressing strength and balance have been shown to be effective in fall prevention. Steady As You Go (SAYGO) is a community-based falls prevention exercise class developed by Age Concern. It has been operating since 2003, and there will be 229 classes operating throughout New Zealand by June 2018. Previous research has shown that SAYGo reduces falls incidence and severity, and leads to improvements in balance, leg strength, flexibility, general fitness, and overall wellbeing. SAYGo has a strong culture of ongoing evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the programme for each participant. SAYGo operates on a sustainable community development model. The programme is delivered in a community setting on a weekly basis for 10 weeks by a trained instructor. Following the initial 10 weeks, a potential Peer Leader from the group is identified and approached to continue and lead the class. Peer Leaders are then attend training that focuses on understanding that falls are a major public health problem for older people, recognising the risk factors leading to falls, recognition of which factors have the potential to be modified, and the importance of long-term exercise. Additionally, prospective peer-leaders are taught to develop observational skills to ensure safety and correct performance of the programme, how to hold the classes, what exercises to do, and how to administer those exercises. This means ownership of the group is passed directly to the community members, with Age Concern supporting the classes as needed. Recently we have focused on increasing engagement in SAYGo programmes in indigenous Maori, ethnic minority, immigrant, and refugee communities. This has meant developing strong relationships with key stakeholders, both organisations and community leaders and change makers, developing resources that are appropriate to bridge language and cultural barriers, and fostering a more flexible approach to facilitation to respect non-Pakeha worldviews and models of health.
Although the Constitution of Pakistan contains sections granting equality to women, a recent worldwide survey found that Pakistan is the fourth worst country in terms of discrimination against women. The situation is improving somewhat for educated younger women, but for older women, the patriarchal system of male dominance that prioritizes the rights, needs, and desires of men and subordinates those of women is very much a fact of life and has been for their entire lives. Building on data collected in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017 in different parts of Pakistan, this new analysis supports findings consistent with the worldwide study. This researcher found that gender affects many aspects of the every day social determinants related to health. Older women feel less included in family decision-making, are less able to make decisions relating their own autonomy, have little control over money for their own needs, and report feeling isolated more often than older men. Older women get out of the house less often than men, have less social interaction with peers, get less exercise out of the house, and are more likely to require someone else’s permission to go anywhere.
Diseases related to old age are responsible for 90% of deaths in Western countries and 70 % of deaths worldwide. Heales raises awareness of new developments in the area of biogerontolgy. We also promote and support anti-aging research. Every day 100,000 people die of the effects of old age. Aging doesn’t just cause innumerable deaths, it is also the source of many debilitating illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular diseases, muscle wasting, decline of vision and hearing, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis. The only way to prevent these illnesses linked to aging is to attack the root cause – that is aging itself. It is time to start working towards solutions to this universal human tragedy. A longer and healthier life is enjoyed by the citizens who can benefit from it. Longevity is one of the most important scientific questions of the next decades. It is potentially useful for a sustainable environment, for a peaceful society, for the level of well-being in the society.
Réseau Sélection, a leader in the development and management of stimulating living environment for senior citizens, will be contributing, once more, to improve the customer experience and the quality of the care provided in its complexes by launching GUSTAV, a platform for the coordination of health services. The Web base application simplifies the work of the healthcare teams allowing them to manage efficiently the resources in comparison to the needs, the creation of healthcare standardized or personalized menus according to individual needs, optimizing the effectiveness, the efficiency and the quality of care to clients as well as monitoring and managing the risk of incidents and accidents for a better prevention program. The use of this platform improves not only the cost-effectiveness of the clinical services, but the management of human resources. Performance indicators reflected by the use of GUSTAV targets the holistic needs of the clients, not to mention the know-how of clinical professionals. As for clients and their families, the deployment of such a platform means a standard of quality of care, not to mention a sustained continuum of care. Communication with our external and internal partners are not neglected. The impact of the deployment of GUSTAV in our residences reflects significantly the day-to-day activity of our staff. The automation of several administrative and clerical tasks, the reduction of paper documentation and unique entry of clinico-administrative information allow an increase in the efficiency of our staff. GUSTAV Mobile allows the healthcare provider to update tasks of their routine in real-time and report non-planned activities for clients. Signalling a problem, a particularity or an observation by the staff through GUSTAV generates optimal follow-up as well as a better knowledge of the clients, as a whole, by their healthcare team. The platform connection in the client’s record allows the consolidation of policies and procedures, clinical notes, forms and methods of care as well as best practices guidelines overview of each activities and needs of the client. GUSTAV offers in a single glance the assignment of health, the routine of health care professionals and the available inter-quart report for all of the multidisciplinary team. It is a built-in tool that is available to our clinical-administrative team. This platform keeps track of the changes of the health of our clients while providing a more enjoyable customer experience.
Globally, populations are aging due to sustained increases in longevity and falling birth rates. At the same time, economic development in low and middle income countries is raising the issue of better health for whole populations. These developments are placing unprecedented strains on healthcare systems globally. Many infectious diseases can be prevented by existing vaccines or the severity of the course of disease can be attenuated even if the vaccination does not prevent infection entirely. The benefits of pediatric vaccination programs can no longer be doubted, both for improving health and boosting productivity. As a result, significant strides have been made in improving coverage of children over the last two decades. It is also clear that preventive medicine can play a major role in preserving the health and independence of older adults. Vaccination can thus contribute to healthy aging, alongside healthy diet and physical exercise. The available evidence indicates that dedicated programs can achieve substantial improvements in vaccination coverage among older adults – however, for older adults the preventive potential of widespread vaccination is rarely realized. The reasons for the failure to fully implement life-course vaccination; the consequences and potential solutions are all discussed.
Poliomyelitis (polio) was one of the most notorious diseases of the 20th century, yet its impact and devastating consequences are a distant memory for many Canadians. Less commonly known and understood is Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS). PPS occurs after 20 to 40 years of stability in polio survivors and manifests as new weaknesses, central and peripheral fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and atrophy of previously unaffected muscles. The interaction of disability and aging within a person with PPS is unique, as they experience early disability, a period of recovery and/or stability, and then new weakness occurs many years later. This research project aimed to understand what constitutes “quality of life” for individuals aging with post-polio syndrome. For this qualitative study, a focus group methodology with a grounded theory approach was used. Participants were recruited through Post-Polio Canada. Three separate focus groups occurred for a total of 24 participants. Participants ranged in age from 59 – 97. The focus groups were recorded, transcribed and coded using NVivo. The data was then analyzed for themes. A Social Ecological Model of Health was used to interpret the findings. Findings demonstrated that participants define quality of life as being able to engage in activities of daily living, even if it means with assistive devices or with support. Many participants shared that they struggle with declining physical health and mobility as compared to their aging peers who do not have PPS. In general, the participants reported significant hope and resiliency for their current life situation. Family members and friends were often reported as a source of support. Participants advocated that health professionals become more educated on PPS and how to provide care. A desire for more funding for home modifications and equipment, as well as support services was also referenced by participants. This research is important as it builds an understanding of the lived experience of an marginalized aging group. This research also informs health and social service systems required to support this unique population.
Jamaica, a small island state is experiencing population ageing at the same time as it experiences economic and financial challenges. More than eleven percent (11%) of the population is over age sixty (60) and recent survey data show a picture of chronic disease similar to developed countries with seventy two percent (72%) having at least one chronic disease but remaining functional active. As a follow-up to the 2012 Study of Older Persons in Jamaica (2012 Study), a sub sample of 301 respondents were selected from 2943 for further examination with regard to dementia. This intervention was in keeping with a 2015 Pan American Health Organization resolution that urged member states to develop a ‘Strategy and Plan of Action on Dementia in Older Persons’.
Canada is in the need of development policies and strategies to promote eye health to prevent sight loss. The Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) has as one of the objectives to meet the mandate: ‘to promote measures for the conservation of sight and the prevention of blindness for all’. Vision loss is a difficult condition to manage, as it has no boundaries with respect to gender, income, ethnicity, culture, ability level, or age. What is alarming to us is that in many instances, vision loss is easily preventable and sometimes is simply symptomatic of other health issues that can be controlled. This is why as an organization, CCB is committed to a proactive integrated health approach for early detection ─ improving the quality of life for all Canadians. Vision loss is the most feared disability among Canadians, and it is expected to cost us more than $30 billion annually by 2032. Patients receiving treatment for conditions such as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO), or Choroidal Neovascularization in Pathological Myopia (CNV) need to be fully informed of their choices in which drug to have injected. Treatment cost should not be the deciding factor. Eye diseases can have a major impact on a person’s career, independence, family responsibilities, quality of life, and daily living. Early detection of disease process can potentially decrease the effects of vision loss on patients and their families. The CCB Mobile Eye Clinic (MEC) provides on-site eye exams at retirement homes and schools. This increased access enables seniors to be assessed and referred for appropriate treatment. The evidence supports that Canadians do not currently have their vision at the forefront of their health. Not only should patients have a choice in treatment but they should also have a choice in their quality of life. Creative and powerful ways to tackle the problem need to be found. There are a variety of programs that aide in physical, social, mental well-being, and peer mentoring for seniors. CCB sponsors a program – Get Together With Technology (GTT) for people with sight loss of all ages to learn new technology so they can stay in touch with family. The CCB’s offers other programs to assist people living with vision loss, increase accessibility in all areas of life and bring awareness of vision issues to the public and government.
ABSTRACT COMING SOON
In a long-term care hospital with high risk older people, screening and assessment are extremely important to understand a patient’s situation and care needs. To determine the appropriate care needs, the information gathering process can be difficult and sometimes long. This is because it demands accuracy and the caregiver needs to understand all aspects of the caregiving situation of a patient. Three years ago, our hospital began a research work aimed at developing a systematic information gathering process that provides the rationale needed to develop service plans. We came up with an assessment tool that uses seven categories to identify the situation and needs of a patient and most likely to achieve the desired caregiving goals. This presentation will examine the earlier approach in comparison with our new assessment tool. It will show that before, the process of conducting an assessment was time consuming that required unnecessary work process of writing down a patient’s information so that it can be used to understand the caregiving needs. As opposed to the new assessment tool where we use mostly figures and graphs which is easy and effective for needs identification. It will further discuss our research findings based on the study of two elderly patients showing the success rates as well as challenges. Although this research is work in progress, our aim is to create a tool that is more effective in screening a patient and can be recommended as a model of good practice in caregiving.
There is growing recognition of the implications of caring for a family member while employed. Nevertheless, studies in Israel have found that there is no structured organizational policy addressing this issue. Thus, Caregiver Israel & JDC-ESHELl launched an innovative workplace program for family caregivers to raise awareness of their needs, help them construct an organizational action plan, and directly serve employees as needed. Over the past two years, the program began in 9 organizations: 4 – industrial, 1 hi-tech, 3 NGOs, 1 government ministry, employing 120-1,200 people. After receiving managerial approval for the program, the first stage consisted of an employee survey to raise awareness and map the phenomenon. Results revealed that 25%-33% of the employees serve as caregivers. Most, reported schedule disruptions (85%) and absenteeism (81%). Some 20% reported considering a change of employment, some 10% said they had declined promotion. The findings were presented to Human Resource Directors and senior management, and an action plan was formulated tailored to organizational needs.
The dramatic increase in life expectancy and number of older adults living in the community with limited functional ability has contributed to a significant rise in the need for rehabilitation and reablement services among older adults. Many countries are investing resources to develop effective policies, strategies and models to meet the growing needs of older adults, in varying states of functional decline, for services that support physical, social and cognitive functional ability. One strategy focuses on the synchronization of different service systems and providers on a regional basis. This leads to improved quality of treatment; greater access to and utilization of services; optimizing functional ability potential; and prevents decline. In Israel, several factors lead to low utilization of rehabilitation services within the community. These include a complex and splintered bureaucratic process, lack of collaboration between service providers, and low client awareness and motivation. Therefore, JDC Israel Eshel and the Ministry of Health piloted the Regional Approach to Geriatric Community Rehabilitation program. Increase the utilization of existing rehabilitation and reablement services within a given geographic area by strengthening collaboration and efficient planning, through a GIS database of services and needs, among all regional rehabilitation resources.
Working effectively in age-friendly communities requires political and technical help contexts as well as knowledge of the environment and the population in which the project will be developed. Also to increase the transversal approach of the project, the involvement and collaboration of different agents and administrations of the city are required. Igorre is a 4200 inhabitants town, located in a rural area of the Basque Country, north of Spain, that has 25% of people > 60 years. At the initiative of the Senior Citizens Association of Igorre and with the collaboration of the Town Council, several projects have been developed since 2015 to promote active aging and empower the elderly in health and other subjects. Although, it is true that belonging to a small community in a rural area means having less economic resources, technical facilities or even a greater geographic dispersion. We believe that the accessibility of local “agents”, empathy, or knowledge over other citizens favors the involvement of different groups in the friendliness project. Furthermore, we objectify that the lack of material and technical means can be an opportunity to sharpen their imagination and make them engage in a way that they feel the project as their own. In short, the peculiarities of small rural communities encourage the active, direct and transversal participation of society.
The confluence of rapid population aging and the overwhelming desire of older adults to age-in-place begs the question: do our cities support the health and wellbeing of older adults? In Ontario, research has shown that cities with the greatest projected demographic share of older adults are the least likely to have started age-friendly planning (Hartt & Biglieri, 2017). Targeted policy intervention is crucial – how can we build AFCs without knowing where the most vulnerable live? Research shows that certain types of neighbourhoods – ones that are walkable/have good public transport with easy access to services/family/friends – increase physical activity and levels of social capital for older adults. This paper explores the ‘double risk’ that many older adults live with – the potential of being disadvantaged by social determinants of health and by living in a non-supportive built environment (BE). We ask, where are older adults with more health risk factors (poverty, living alone) living? And do those places have supportive or non-supportive BEs? The relationship between vulnerability and neighbourhood typologies have been studied in the past, however these social epidemiological pieces tend to link singular factors to aspects like residential density.
During 2017 – 18, 3Bridges has been co designing the Reframing Aging strategy with the input of the RAGE (Reframing Ageing Group Enablers). This group of well networked older people are participating in the design of the reframing aging strategy. This paper will focus on the outlining how the following challenges are being met It is accepted that social contacts with family and friends and the social support drawn from these social contacts are positively associated with the quality of life of older people. Maintaining this social connectedness however can be challenging. With globalisation family and friends may no longer be geographically close and, if health and mobility decline so may the ability to travel. The online world offers new options for older people. Online world in this sense is the combination of devices, interfaces and people that create a world (or community) in ‘internet space’. There is still some debate around the value of online relationships, including that younger internet users may experience more social isolation however research also has found that online connectedness leads to decreased loneliness and depression. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between older people’s use of the online world and the physical world. Ethical approval was obtained from Bournemouth University. The study adopted a generic qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews with 20 participants aged over 65, and a thematic analysis was carried out. The study found that people were using the online world in three different ways.
There continues to be a dearth of research focused on the perceptions of assistant personal, or care aides in long-term residential care (LTRC). Care aides provide upwards of 90% of the direct care for residents in LTRC and thus hold great potential in improving residents’ quality of life. It has long been established that most residents in LTRC are persons living with dementia. This doctoral dissertation examines the perceptions held by care aides towards their role as carers to residents in LTRC, especially persons living with dementia, across the contexts of personal, interpersonal, and organizational levels, while considering the broader social-political-economic context of LTRC. Data sources for this qualitative, multi-method study include 70 hours of semi-structured interviews with 36 Care Aides working in one LTRC setting in British Columbia, Canada. Group workshops, participant observations and interviews with the management team were additional sources of data.
The Ontario Retirement Communities Association (ORCA) represents 95% of the retirement community (RC) sector in Ontario. ORCA contains 610 members homes and provides accommodation and services to more than 55,000 seniors. RCs are an attractive option for aging-in-place because they allow older adults to remain independent while still receiving minimal assistance, as well as have access to activities and socialization opportunities. The average age of residents in RCs is 85 years and because of this the rates of dementia within this sector is greater than the general public. Stigma related to dementia within RC has yet to be evaluated. This present study offers preliminary findings on the state of dementia related stigma within RC as well as offering viable solutions to reducing stigma through the development and implementation of ORCA’s Dementia Inclusive Program. All aspects of this study have and will continue to involve the participation and guidance of individuals who are currently living with dementia, including the expertise from the Ontario Dementia Advisory Group. The following research questions are guiding this study: The province of New Brunswick is recognized as a rural province in Atlantic Canada with a relatively stable population of 756,780 of which there are 147,929 seniors aged 65+ (19.9%, highest in Canada). The government of New Brunswick manages seniors’ care and services via two distinct departments, the department of Health and the department of Social Development under the leadership of three Ministers. Currently there are more than 3,000 seniors living in private households who suffer from some form of dementia and approximately 400 in patients who have been medically discharged and waiting for residential placements. Most seniors have expressed the desire to remain in their own homes and live independently for as long as possible. By 2038, current trends project that 31.3% of New Brunswick population will be seniors and the Government of New Brunswick is faced with a institutional bed crisis and is seeking solutions to ensure safe and quality living in one’s home for as long as possible. The goal of this presentation is to demonstrate how the self-determination conceptual/theoretical model (autonomy, competence and sense of belonging) impacts the wellbeing of seniors living with dementia, family caregivers and communities; and, how this model can influence social policies and practices for improved outcomes. Also, new innovative housing models will be presented as part of an integrative and more comprehensive health and social system in New Brunswick.
Undertaking an assessment of the local community is an essential step in creating an age- friendly community. Such assessments seek to identify areas of strength within the community as well as create a baseline to measure changes in the areas the community agree need further work. The WHO Age Friendly Cities and Communities Checklist is regularly used by communities to audit features of the community across the multiple dimensions that impact on the functional ability of older people to live well in later life. This work sought to build on the Canadian Rural and Remote Age Friendly Checklist developed with communities of less than 5000 people. Through an iterative process we developed an audit tool for rural communities in northeast Victoria. The process comprised a review of academic literature, local government-led community consultations, peer review of a draft Checklist by academics, service providers and policy practitioners, and focus groups with older people, This presentation discusses the steps used to develop the tool, its evaluation by older people, and presents the final checklist.
Germany, as many other developed countries, is characterized by a rapid aging population. The growing proportion of elderly people and the declining size of the working population have a major impact on the domestic labor market. One approach to compensate for the shrinking workforce is prolonging the employment of present employees by either increasing the mandatory retirement age (from former 65 to 67 years) or by increasing their intrinsic motivation to promote post retirement employment. The paper shows that individual attributes as well as job and organizational factors have a significant effect on workers’ willingness to work post retirement age. In addition, the significant influence of factors such as company size, employee gender, and occupational group will be highlighted. These findings, which refer to a certain point in time, are complemented by the integration of temporal movements which deliver important insights on cause-and-effect relationships in the past and allow therefore recommendations for the future. Finally, suggestions for environments in SME which are truly age-friendly will be given.
Participatory processes and a bottom-up approach has rapidly emerged in the discussion about ageing in place, as well as when understanding, planning and designing age-friendly neighbourhoods. This study aims to use architecture and design to improve the health and well-being among older people of low socio-economic status (SES) in a deprived area of Copenhagen through actively engaging them in co-designing their own new neighbourhood spaces. Our findings show that there is a great potential in involving disadvantaged older people in a co-design process if the format is flexible and works around their daily rhythms and routines. Furthermore, design activities with very simple tasks and a visual dimension proved to be efficient when motivating the age group and enhancing a democratic process giving voice to both the fragile and agile. This presentation unfolds the iterative co-design process from recruitment, immersion, ideation, prototyping and implementation of three urban scale design solutions built in Copenhagen in Autumn of 2017.
As the population aging become an inevitable trend globally, improving the well-being of elderly people in urban areas has been a challenging task for all urban planners. Recent studies of ageing trend have also expended to explore the relationship between the built environment and mental condition of elderly people. This paper intends to first explore the relationship between specific built environment attributes of the built environment (such as residential space with high density or high mix-use rate) and individuals who suffer from depression, under different socio-cultural and networking circumstances. Quantitative method of questionnaire will be conducted in order to explore the above relationship from a person-environment perspective. We argue that the Person-Environment (P-E) fit is critical to older people’s quality of life. Through this imperial study, we can have more understanding of the interactions between older people and place in order to pursue Age-friendly cities in a higher density urban area.
Every year, around 22,000 people who suffer from stroke discharge to home or institutional care in Hong Kong. While stroke survivors receive professional acute care in hospitals, transition of care is inadequately supported. Existing community services targeting stroke are mostly patient-centred, such as rehabilitation, home modifications, and home-help service. Support for caregivers and the stroke family is limited and under-developed. Stroke causes profound impact not only on the patient, but also on the whole family. It often disrupts existing family roles, affecting each of the family members. WeRISE Project: Sau Po Centre on Ageing, with the generous support by Lee Hysan Foundation, initiated “WeRISE: Stroke Family Empowerment Project” through an integrated partnership with local hospitals and non-governmental organizations. WeRISE Project adopts a capacity building approach that employs trained care managers and young-old volunteers to implement the intervention. They form two tiers of supporters who help stroke families to enhance family functioning and caregiving capacity.
To promote healthy ageing, it is essential to equip elderly people with adequate health literary, thereby enhancing their self-care ability. Conventionally, health care education is delivered to elderly people face-to-face by domain experts through health talks or workshops. While this is a direct and intuitive approach, cost-effective methods are necessary to adapt to the ageing population. Information and communication technologies can play an important role here. Video conference (VC) has been a commonplace for business nowadays. It enables participants at different locations to meet online through telephone or computer network. Travelling time and cost for meetings are thus avoided. By leveraging VC systems, this study explored an innovative and effective approach to promote primary healthcare in the community. A one-hour health workshop was conducted for elderly people using VC system. The workshop introduced health-enhancing light exercises from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) perspectives. It involved three geographically separated parties, including a TCM practitioner and two groups of 15 elders in two elderly centres. The three parties were connected using a VC system which allowed them to interact via real-time audio and video signals. Through the system, TCM concepts relevant to the exercises were introduced. The elderly people were also guided by the remote practitioner to do exercises. They could also talk to the practitioner during the question-and-answer session. A questionnaire using 5-point Likert scale (1=worst, 5=best) was administered at the end to evaluate the acceptance and quality of the workshop.
Today, Japan hold on to its position as the world’s most aged society with one in four people aged 65 and over. The changing demographic combined with citizens expectations create a looming need for environmental and other changes that make life suitable, comfortable and age-integrated. Akita is one of many cities in Japan that has successfully applied the ‘barrier free’ in its environments to facilitate accessibility and mobility, usability and independence. Measure have been taken to remove barriers focused on living environments that include buildings, facilities, roads, public parks and spaces. This presentation will describe several steps taken by the city to reinforce its ‘barrier free’ policy such as all pedestrian sidewalks, radiated sidewalks, access to public buildings and spaces. As the first city in Japan to join the WHO Global Network, the paper will illustrate how Akita City is using the WHO guidelines to build on the ‘barrier free’ concept, improving current approaches to create age-friendly communities and boost independent living for seniors. It will highlight the significant progress to-date including the 100 yen coin bus project, expansion of heated sidewalks and senior volunteer scheme.
As a university researcher and leader of a national organization dedicated to the human-animal bond, I bridge two realms. In the proposed paper, I make a four-part presentation that will provide: 1) the research backdrop to ElderDog Canada–a national non-profit focused on supporting the relationship between ageing people and ageing dogs; 2) an overview of ElderDog Canada and its programs to support seniors and their canine companions; 3) narrative snapshots of some of the seniors and their dogs supported by ElderDog; and 4) key issues and challenges faced by seniors who benefit from and are committed to canine companionship. The complexity of issues related to preserving the animal-human bond for seniors, revealed in the presentation, will contribute to a conversation about the need for cross-sectoral strategies to include the human-animal bond as part of a broader strategy for the development of age-friendly communities.
Dogs visit seniors in long-term care facilities. They prompt responses that humans seem to be incapable of soliciting. A person at end of life visibly relaxes with every long, slow stroke of a dog’s coat. Someone with dementia, who has not spoken in months, inexplicably finds not only her voice but also the capacity to clearly articulate phrases that imply recognition and association with dogs past. Studies abound that show the many and varied ways that dogs improve the physical, social, and emotional well-being of seniors. While there is a rich literature on the many benefits of dogs for people with dementia, most of this research stops at naming these benefits. In this paper I explore in greater depth the role of dogs in person-centred care and as an important part of well-being for persons with dementia. In the session, I explore the varied roles that dogs play in the caregiving experience for people with dementia or other forms of cognitive decline. To do so, I use Kitwood’s (1998) theory of the kinds of interactions conducive to personhood and well-being for those with dementia: recognition, negotiation, collaboration, play, timalation, celebration, relaxation, validation, holding, and facilitation. Kitwood’s theory has particular relevance to the role of companion animals within the context of dementia care because each type of caring interaction does not require verbal communication. As one family caregiver so poignantly stated, “You don’t have to talk to care.” In the paper, I define each kind of interaction and describe how a dog is able to and might provide the kind of caring interaction in a way that a human caregiver is unable to achieve. In the time-limited presentation, based on the paper, I provide an overview of the caring interactions and a selection of examples.
Communities in Northern Ontario face unique challenges related to the realities of being rural, remote and disproportionately older, relative to the rest of the province. Specific issues faced by the community of Temiskaming Shores can be viewed on a continuum of positive to negative attributes through the lens of Age Friendly readiness. The City of Temiskaming Shores has a population of 9,920 with 23.5% of the population over 65 and 45.8% over 50. This differs significantly from 16.7% of Ontarians over 65 years and 38.2% over 50. Temiskaming Shores finds itself on a growing list of small & rural communities with a climbing percentage of older adults. The eight pillars represented through Age Friendly environments have resonated with the local population as an appropriate system to determine a strategic direction moving forward. An Age Friendly survey was conducted in 2015 with close to 300 respondents and an Age Friendly committee formed with the involvement of local organizations and older adult representatives. Following the aggregation of the data collected from the survey, a local ‘Age Friendly Plan’ was developed and received support from municipal council with the passing of By-law No. 2016-151 to adopt the Age Friendly Community Plan for the City of Temiskaming Shores.
Seeking, interpreting, managing and sharing information (examples of activities considered as information work) are key components of care provision. Information work saturates every facet of caregiving, providing tools for coping, problem solving and dealing with uncertainty through knowledge and support. Despite findings that extensive unmet caregiver needs persist, family caregivers’ information work is increasing in intensity given trends towards the informatization of care, that is, the provision of information used as a means to gradually marginalize care.To develop new insights into how family caregivers understand and perform the information work needed for care provision to community-dwelling older adults living with dementia, a mapping exercise based on Sonnenwald’s information horizons (1999) was appraised. The concept of information horizons involves the creation of a map of information sources and services based on an identified information need. Thirteen family caregivers of community-dwelling older adults living with dementia drew maps of their information worlds, graphically representing the information resources (people, agencies, texts and websites) they access within their care context.
The reality of increased longevity has resulted in an emphasis on a strengths-based approach to aging, with a renewed focus on creativity. Participation in arts-based programming shows exciting promise for older adults in both community-based and congregate-living (e.g., retirement homes, long-term care homes) environments. Arts activities including music, dance, and creative writing, have all shown benefits for older adults’ cognitive abilities (e.g., attention, memory), physical abilities (e.g., reduced stress, increased strength and mobility), and social interactions. Although the evidence for the benefits of participating in the arts is compelling, there are no data to suggest how well these types of activities are being integrated into recreation and leisure programming for individuals living in communal settings such as retirement and long-term care homes. An environmental scan of recreation calendars from January 2017 was conducted for 10 homes with a population of approximately 3000 residents. We examined the number and type of arts-based activities offered to the residents. On average, 22% of the programming offered in the recreation calendars was arts-based and, of these programs, approximately 70% were related to musical enjoyment or performance. These results suggest that, despite the convincing evidence for the benefits of the arts for older individuals, much remains to be done in terms of integrating arts-based programming into the daily lives of residents of retirement and long-term care homes.
It is well known that the majority of older adults want to stay in their home for as long as possible; however, services may not always be available and person-centred. In order to counter some of the challenges related to services for aging in place, the notion of nursing homes providing services to older adults’ living at home in their local community is currently being explored. Nursing homes would provide services that would allow older adults to remain at home while reducing early admission to long-term care and eliminating visits to the Emergency Department in a state of crisis. The overall goal of this research is to develop a new service delivery model for aging in place titled Nursing Homes Without Walls. The project has three objectives: 1) Understand the perceptions of members of the community towards their local nursing home providing services for aging in place; 2) Identify the needs of seniors and their families for aging in place; and 3) Identify the means by which the local nursing home can offer services for aging in place.
Long term exposure to Ambient fine particulate pollution has been associated with respiratory disease and cause of mortality, however The association between long term exposure to PM2.5 and lung function in older Chinese adults, a vulnerable population in highly polluted country is unclear and under investigated. We interviewed 12,116 random participants aged 50 years and older from 64 Chinese cities, data obtained from WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health wave 1 in China. Annual average PM2.5 levels were estimated for each township using satellite data. We applied multilevel linear regression to examine the association between PM2.5 and (forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1-sec (FEV1) and FEV1/FVC ratio separately We found that ambient PM2.5 is associated with decreased lung function in older adult. Each 10 µ/m3 increase in PM2.5 corresponded to reduction of 42.8 ml in FEV1 (95% CI: -74.0, – 11.6) and 52.9 -29.9 ml in FVC ((95% CI: -63.4, 3.6). higher estimate was observed between ex-smokers, men and older age group >60 years. Association with FEV1/FVC ratio was weak or absent. Findings suggest that long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 at relatively high levels, was associated with lower FEV1 and FVC and has suggestive obstructive effect on lung function in older adults. Policy implications of the finding: Decrease in FEV1 has been associated with all-cause mortality in population studies, suggesting that even small decrease in FEV1 may result in small increase in all-cause mortality. We highlight the evidence of this negative health effects in Chinese older adult population, which impose great cost on national budget and healthcare spending, especially in rapidly industrialising middle-income country like China. Population ageing is one of the major contributors to absolute increased numbers of deaths from pollution-related diseases, therefore high-quality evidence highlighting the poor health outcomes in ageing population can help regulators and decision makers craft more-effective policies to address health and environmental disparities and promote environmental justice among ageing communities.
Recreation is playing an increasingly important role in keeping older adults healthy, active and engaged in their communities. Service providers in recreation, sport and other areas are recognizing the need to enhance their programs and services to better meet the needs of this population. The need for responsive, tailored training and program tools that fit the wide variety of service providers for this age cohort is higher than ever. In this session, participants will learn about a new evidence-based training and tools from HIGH FIVE that support a quality framework and standard for older adult recreation. HIGH FIVE is a national quality standard for children’s programs that reaches more than one million children. Learn how the HIGH FIVE principles, design guidelines and tools are being validated and adapted for older adult recreation programs and how you can implement them to enhance participant experiences and outcomes in your programs. Be ahead of the curve and experience this next phase of quality assurance.
Street name signs are usually found on poles, on walls, sometimes on a shop awning, and sometimes on the pavement. But, wherever they are, they cannot be found, or read, by a significant proportion of the population. When we approach an intersection controlled by traffic lights we intuitively reach for the audio-tactile button to change the lights to “Walk”, so an accessible street name sign at that location is helpful. In 1990 I developed tactile street name signs for the City of Sydney, Australia, for people who are blind or vision impaired. The white lettering on black rubber signs carried street names and property numbers in Braille and raised lettering. They were placed adjacent to the audio-tactile buttons where they could be touch-read by people who are blind, or read at close range by people who are vision impaired. The signs served the City well for more than 20 years but have now been replaced with more durable aluminium signs, to the original design. Although originally developed for people with vision impairment, history has shown that the signs assist in navigation for many other sections of the community as well.
Our societies are getting older and older, and at the same time, there are great processes of differentiation taking place in old age: Different economic possibilities, health conditions and resources, interests and lifestyles characterize old age. This results in a variety of needs and opportunities. Age is multifaceted and there is no one right environment, form of living or life plan that is appropriate for all old people. For this reason, cities are required to develop concepts of ageing in place. Inasmuch a place is not simply accommodation, the relevance of community-sensitive neighbourhoods will evidently become more important for a self-determined and pluralised ageing. Up to now, hardly any scientific research has been carried out to determine how the planning of the lifeworlds of older people is carried out. In particular, there is scarcely research on the role of internalised age-related stereotypes. The fact is that experts involved in planning, architecture, administration and politics are usually under 65 years of age – but they plan and design for the over 65s. Our research project (2016-2018) aims to analyse stereotypes (and ageism) inherent in current concepts of ageing in place. Based on a theoretically derived understanding of Henri Lefebvre, two case studies are conducted in two neighbourhoods in Basel (Switzerland). We are using a wide range of qualitative methods. We include “experts” (planning professions), «today’s older people» (70 to 80 years old) and «tomorrow’s older people» (50 to 60 years old) in our research.
Osteoporosis is a common orthopedic condition mostly in elderly women which potentially could lead to many clinical problems such as increased risk of vertebral fracture, hyperkyphosis, poor balance, and decreased functional mobility and quality of life. Most often, different spinal orthoses are prescribed for rehabilitation after vertebral fracture and spinal kyphosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of three widely used orthoses on postural stability and gait in people with post-osteoporosis thoracic kyphosis. 29 women (aged between 55 to 75) were voluntarily participated in this study. Two force platforms (KISLER) were used to collect data. Outcome measures included center of pressure (COP) medio-lateral and posterior-anterior displacement, step length, step width and cadence. Tests were performed in four conditions in random sequences including using 1- no orthosis, 2- Spinomed orthosis, 3-Posture training support (PTS), 4-Posterior shell thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO). Results: All orthoses resulted in decreased COP displacement in medio-lateral and anterior-posterior directions and increased step length, step width and cadence in participants (P<0.05). Also, no significant difference was seen in gait characteristics while patients used three types of orthoses (P>0.05). However, COP displacement in both directions was significantly less using posterior shell TLSO compared to Spinomed orthosis and PTS.
The purpose of this research is to examine the function of age-friendly sustainable communities as a setting for aging in place, within the model of affordable government housing. The study included three Salt Lake County housing communities: Kelly Benson (KB), Hi-Rise Senior Housing (HRSH), and Wasatch Commons (WC), which are in the United States within the western state of Utah. KB is a government public housing complex for previously chronic homeless older adults. Both communities have a majority of residents who qualify as low income. WC is a private cohousing community of diverse residential occupancy with respect to age segregation and soci-economics. The study compares and contrasts three housing communities, assessing them through three common themes: socialization, safety, and domestic economics. Analysis of qualitative observational data suggests that the three themes, when taken together, serve to develop social capital. More importantly, depending on the amount or balance of each theme, will determine the levels of social capital that will increase an older adult’s sustainability to age in place. Results of this study can be used to implement a housing model, Corporation for Supportive Housing that has provably achieved self-sufficiency for Kelly Benson’s older adult residents because of their high levels of social capital and it permitted them to age at home. Current research is adding the dimension of well-being to the three themes in order to factor in the psychological benefits from social activity. The participants will be able to understand the importance of social capital in order to form age-friendly sustainable community. The participants will discover three themes that are needed to develop social capital and learn how to achieve high levels of social capital in order to implement it within a community to age in place.
AGE-WELL Canada and the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation collaboratively established the first national research innovation hub on advancing policies and practices in the effective use of technology to support the independence of seniors throughout the aging process. Housed in New Brunswick’s largest senior care facility, York Care Centre, this hub draws on the expertise of a wide variety of professional, public and individual stakeholders to engage in research and dialogue on evolving policy, program and service challenges related to existing and emerging technologies. The hub’s agenda is to create and shape effective solutions to these challenges to maximize the health and well-being of our aging citizens. In bringing together a wide range of stakeholders – policymakers, service providers, researchers, inventors, entrepeneurs, and users – this innovation hub fosters comprehensive engagement, collaboration, and inquiry across disciplines, agencies, age groups, and authorities in seeking solutions, designing meaningful policies, and supporting effective implementation to maximize the independence and quality of life of persons during the aging process. In this paper, we will discuss the evolution of this novel approach, some of the unanticipated challenges that tested assumptions and that shaped new perspectives as the project and research process matured.
The involvement of leaders of Health and Social Services (HSS) organizations as active collaborative members of Age-Friendly steering committees and respective action plans is highly desired and valued. This cross-sectorial engagement approach intends to enrich the national level programming of Age-friendly cities and communities in Quebec. This networking model holds promising innovative initiatives and applications, yet, it is still difficult to stimulate a provincial-wide partnership between HSS and municipalities. A multiple case study (Yin, 2009) of social innovations generated by Age-friendly cities and communities allows us to illustrate operating models or innovative projects and their corresponding contributing factors. Two samples (A and B) have been selected (19 cases), including some municipalities that have developed innovative projects, whereas six others were facing challenges preventing innovation. Data reported here were collected through individual and dyad interviews (n=27), focus groups (n=10), participant observations (n=2) and working groups meetings (or workshops) (n=10). All of these were supplemented by documentary data such as diagnosis and action plans, meeting reports, working documents, etc.). The concept of social innovation selected is the one discussed in detail by Andrew and Klein (2010). One of the cases is a regional county municipality (RCM) which aimed to do an early identification of seniors facing a reduced autonomy. This initiative was led by practitioners of the HSS with the goal of improving professional interventions in community home support services. The second project was completed by an experienced team with an adult education approach. The project was intended to demystify health promotion by offering a range of various activities to seniors. By comparing the two cases, we could see how a participatory and community based approach had more impact on senior citizens of remote territories even with important transportation deficiencies. We identified many reaching out strategies that could be used in other contexts.
In partnership with the Center for Urban Research at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, The New York Academy of Medicine (the Academy) has created IMAGE: NYC, an open-source, interactive map of the current and projected aging population in New York City through 2030 with overlays of age-friendly resources, services, and amenities, that can be adapted by different localities. The project is an initiative of Age-friendly NYC, a 10-year partnership between the Academy, the New York City Council, and the Mayor’s Office, working to maximize the social, physical, and economic participation of older people to improve their health and wellbeing and strengthen communities. IMAGE: NYC is overseen by the multi-sector Age-friendly NYC Commission, appointed by the Mayor and comprised of leaders from government (administrative and legislative) and from fields including business, education, health care, law, architecture, transportation, urban planning, housing, and social work.
The challenge of long term care is a significant economic and social issue facing Australia. The Australian aged care sector has traditionally been complex, often fragmented, with different funding and management strategies. Similar to other parts of the world, Australia has a rapidly growing older population. Data suggests that approximately 80 per cent of people will use age care. Services need to adapt to cater for the increase demand and evidence suggests that innovative models with greater uses of shared resources and a combined approach to workforce and care delivery will be required. The concept of integrated care is not new. It has been highlighted as a strategy to improve care coordination, quality outcomes and efficiency across different cohorts. However, there are few practical examples of integrated models in work targeting aged care services generally. A model combining a residential and community aged care program in regional Australia demonstrates the successful concept of integrated care. The purpose is to provide insight on the structure and working of the model and the lessons learnt from the long-term data collection. A three-phase model was applied to enhance the integration of the aged care service and deliver a true continuum of care. The first phase of the initiative focused on identifying and understanding local consumer demand and exploring innovative models to address and sustain these needs in line with policy. The second phase included a review and restructure of the service governance. The third phase of the initiative involved implementation and evaluation.
ABSTRACT COMING SOON
Since the establishment of our organization in Costa Rica, we have made efforts to strengthen visibility, recognition, and respect towards Older LGBT Citizens and their sexual expression by implementing a three-year project in three countries which started in 2016 and is estimated to end in 2019. This project is based on a series of investigations carried out between 2014 and 2015 in each of the involved countries, with the objectives of identifying: 1) The needs of attention and nursing care of LGBTI seniors as well as their main concerns facing their elder age, 2) the accessibility of care services and the level of commitment by the facilities to create a non-discriminatory environments and 3) the legal barriers that exist, to assure equal recognition and protection by law of the LGBT seniors.
Brenda Appleton is a leading advocate for trans and gender diverse communities in Victoria, Australia. She brings over 20 years of experience working directly with community groups in Melbourne, including LGBTI communities. Brenda is the Co-Chair of the Victorian Government’s LGBTI Taskforce, Chair of Transgender Victoria, a member of the Victorian Mental Health Expert Taskforce and a member of the Victorian Government’s Elder Abuse Roundtable. Brenda utilises her deep understanding of LGBTI communities and her lived experience to raise awareness about issues effecting trans and gender diverse people, deliver essential training and education and advocate for the improved health and wellbeing of trans and gender diverse Victorians. Brenda will discuss a range of issues facing LGBTI elders in Australia, with a particular focus on the Victorian context. The Victorian Government has allocated unprecedented funding to projects and services dedicated to LGBTI inclusion. The Victorian Government has established Australia’s first Minister for Equality, Commissioner for Gender and Sexuality, LGBTI Taskforce and Equality Branch- inclusive LGBTI ageing and aged care is one of its key priorities. Brenda will discuss a variety of health and service provision topics such as social isolation, complex family relationships, fear of prejudice when accessing aged care and other health services, the impacts of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in the LGBTI elder community and comparing research and best practice internationally, planning for end of life, Rainbow Tick LGBTI inclusion accreditation, non-binary identities as a growing aspect of trans and gender diverse identities, and Australia’s National LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Strategy- the first of its kind.
Building inclusive communities starts with building understanding and respect between generations. The ‘Our Shared Space’ (OSS) Program was created 6 years ago in response to the community identifying personal safety as an issue, in particular, issues of safety between the younger and older generations. The program was developed by council’s Youth Network Advisory Group (YNAG) and Clarence Positive Ageing Advisory Committee (CPAAC) consisting of representatives from across the City, and of varying ages (from 15 to 86 years old). OSS has evolved into a key program tackling more than issues of safety, to include intergenerational divides and ageism. By working together, YNAG and CPAAC create a place where conversations and ideas are shared, culminating in a series of regular activities and events contributing to building inclusive communities. The group focuses on what draws people of all ages together (rather than apart), and how they can showcase this by involving the wider community. This approach has seen a schedule of regular activities being held such as: sport and recreation days, craft and gaming; and a series of ‘Generation’ activities focused on trivia nights/days; walking, Tai Chi and activities. Additionally, YNAG representatives were key note speakers at the 2nd National Age Friendly Cities Australia Forum, hosted by council and CPAAC in 2017. This paper presentation will highlight how the program was developed, the challenges and the benefits, and how the program contributes to breaking down the barriers of ageism by being inclusive.
The traditional joint family system in a culturally diverse Pakistani society shows great respect and care for older population by the families and their generations. However, in the recent years the phenomenon of population aging in Pakistan is rapidly increasing due to demographic shift influencing life expectancy, along with changes in socio-cultural values. This transition has resulted in institutionalization of the elderly as an emerging shelter alternative. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of the elderly people and to identify the reason which compelled them to reside in these shelter homes. Furthermore, the research aimed to identify the reasons which caused them to spend the last phase of their lives in these old age homes. This study intended to answer the following questions: 1. What circumstances and experiences compel the Pakistani elderly population to reside in shelter homes? 2. What are the challenges faced by the elderly, based on their experiences in life? 3. How do they cope with such a situation?
Canada’s current population is living longer and well into later life than previous generations. In fact, the number of older adults is expected to double over the next twenty years. Following these trends, there is also an increasing number of older adults who are immigrants or who experienced international migration throughout their life course. Older adults are a heterogeneous group in Canada, which in turn affects the ways they build social connections and engage with others to support their health and well-being. This ageing demographic faces many complex challenges, and with its exponential growth there is a critical need to explore immigrant older adults’ experiences of ageing and to deepen our understanding of how they make sense of their lives through social connections. The objective of this study was to understand what it means to be an ageing, Muslim Lebanese immigrant in Canada by exploring their experiences of social connectedness and social engagement. Constructivist narrative inquiry was used to gain direct insight into the diverse lived experiences of two men and two women who came to Canada during the 1960s. Participants engaged in two in-depth narrative interviews in which they storied their experiences of connecting with others now and over time. ‘Past shaping present experiences’ and the importance of ‘finding place’ were two key themes that emerged from the four narrative accounts. The four stories provided rich understanding of the quality and quantity of their social ties and how culture, religion, ageing, family and immigration experiences developed throughout their life course and shaped their social connections and engagement during old age.
Malignant tumors are the leading cause of death in Taoyuan City. Currently, in all types of female cancer, the average ages of onset for breast cancer and cervical cancer are 53.6 and 57.1 years of age, and their incidence rates came first and seventh of all cancer types in Taoyuan, respectively. Primary screening using mammography and pap smear test are proven to be effective in finding asymptomatic patients of these two types of cancer. Early detection and treatment can prevent late-stage cancer at an older age and poor recovery. Hence, to promote cancer screening for women, Taoyuan City started providing annual pap smear test for women over 30 years of age since 1995, and bi-annual mammography for women between the age of 45 and 69 since 2004.
This paper, based on the author’s ongoing criminological and socio-legal research in the UK, will draw on interdisciplinary perspectives in order to explore the potential for building prisons and prison communities which are inclusive not just in relation to ageing prisoners but also in relation to ageing family members and other visitors. Questions of age, ageism, inequalities and well-being are under-researched, as research which focuses on older prisoners has tended to focus on prisoners with little awareness of their family members, and conversely research on the impacts of imprisonment on prisoners’ family, kin and friends has usually focused on young people.
Across Latin America, population aging and associated epidemiological changes are occurring very quickly. An increasing probability of survival into very old age is desirable both for individuals and for societies, but it has important consequences for health and long-term care. Many of the problems facing health systems in LAC are unrelated to population ageing, and resolving these wider problems can do much to promote good health at a low cost for people of all ages. That said, this paper acknowledges that rising numbers of Latin Americans at old ages poses specific challenges. “Universal Health Coverage by 2030” is now a global commitment under the Sustainable Development goals set by the United Nations as part of the new development agenda established in 2015. UHC is defined by WHO as “all people are entitled to quality essential health services, without having to suffer financial hardship to pay for health care”. During the last three decades, Latin American countries have made great strides at advancing towards universal health coverage. Much of this was done with an emphasis on reproductive and child care, which successfully led to a reduction in fertility and infant mortality. Less progress has been achieved in relation to the health care needs of older populations. The paper will show that in almost all countries, older populations are at substantially higher financial risk than the rest of the population, exhibiting higher out-of-pocket expenditures, facing more frequent catastrophic expenditures, and becoming impoverished at a higher rate than the rest of the population. Possible policy options to deal with this issue and achieve SDG3 will be explored.
GLHV@ARCSHS, La Trobe University in collaboration with Quality Innovation Performance (QIP) have developed a set of six lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) inclusive practice standards. The Rainbow Tick standards provide a benchmark for LGBTI-inclusive practice and service delivery in Australia. Agencies that gain Rainbow Tick accreditation will have met a minimum set of competencies against each of the six standards. Through achieving the Rainbow Tick, services can genuinely communicate to stakeholders that LGBTI people can be confident to receive LGBTI-inclusive services and care. Older LGBTI people in both North America and Australia share a history of widespread discrimination and social stigma. For many their only protection was concealment, or avoidance of services that may possibly discriminate. That was a world many knew how to navigate to feel safe. However, with ageing and diminishing capacity and resources, lack of informal supports, and a likelihood of social isolation, there may be a greater need for LGBTI elders to access community or residential aged care services. In needing to will they face a new world that will either discriminate or fail to understand their needs and the impact of history on their access to and use of necessary support services? This paper explores the practical application of the six Rainbow Tick Standards as a framework for the provision of LGBTI-inclusive aged care in Australia. In translating the Standards in to practice there are key aspects that need to be considered when providing care and support to LGBTI elders. In particular services and individual staff need an understanding of the ongoing impact of historical discrimination on the lives of LGBTI elders, their needs and access to services. This paper will examine the complex, layered histories of LGBTI elders and how utilising the Rainbow Tick Standards and/or undergoing formal accreditation can communicate and provide safe and inclusive services.
Older women make up more than half the adult population in most communities, hold up their communities and families through their caregiving and other labour, and yet disproportionately face poverty, violence, and discrimination. The needs of older women are often ignored by otherwise rigorous feminist work to advance the rights of women and girls, and gender neutral policy efforts aimed at addressing quality of life for older adults often fail to recognize the unique barriers to well-being older women face. In 2012 the Canadian Centre for Elder Law (CCEL) developed the Older Women’s Dialogue Project (OWDP) to address the invisibility of older women in law reform and policy work. The project identifies and documents barriers to quality of life for older women from diverse cultural communities in Vancouver, Canada in order to enhance capacity for further law, policy, and practice reforms aimed at improving older women’s lives. This community engaged research initiative has resulted in two substantive reports on law and policy reform, five tool development initiatives lead by older women, and one promising practices tool to support governments and community agencies to better include older women in their own work. Over the years the CCEL and project partner West Coast LEAF have met with over 500 women, holding consultation focus groups in ten different languages. The thrust of the work has been to reach older women who are particularly socially or politically marginalized. Activities have thus included diverse women, such as Indigenous older women and Elders, LGBTQ2 women, and immigrant and refugee older women. In this oral presentation the speaker will outline the CCEL’s community engaged research process, highlight key barriers to well-being identified by older women, and offer potential strategies for system and legal change to improve quality of life for older women.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender older adults are thrice hidden, invisible as older adults, members of a sexual and gender minority, and as a community compelled to adopt self-protective measures against severe discrimination and sexual harassment. A widespread lack of LGBTQ+ supports and services also exacerbates the problem of not being seen and heard. Consequently, LGBTQ+ seniors can experience disparities in care and support, have unmet social and health care needs and be subject to potential health risks, which challenge the capacity to age while maintaining social, mental and physical well-being. Inequalities, therefore, exist in the ongoing care and support of LGBTQ+ older adults. Lumacare, a Toronto-based service agency for seniors, is committed to enhancing, engaging and empowering Canadian older adults with diverse and equitable strategies that are essential to attaining or maintaining an acceptable quality of life. In 2017 Lumacare’s focus on addressing inequalities and supporting individual senior needs initiated the development of a cross-agency LGBTQ+ inclusivity toolkit. This toolkit provides Toronto-based Community Support Services with the tools to identify discrepancies in LGBTQ+ inclusivity affecting the day-to-day lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender seniors.
The Australian Government’s “Living Longer, Living Better” reform package was announced in April 2012. As part of that announcement the Government committed to providing funding to assist older Australians with diverse needs, their families and carers to access information and aged care services that are sensitive to their backgrounds. These funds covered people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless; people who are care leavers; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. In addition, the National LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Strategy and the National Ageing and Aged Care Strategy for People from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds were released. On the 30 June 2017 both Strategies will end. As well, there is no current Ageing and Aged Care Strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders. The National LGBTI Health Alliance, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Federation of Ethnic Community Councils and the Australian Association of Gerontology met and put a proposal to the government for the creation of a Diversity Framework to ensure the ongoing inclusion of elders from these, and other special needs groups, continues and that their unique, and sometimes overlapping needs, are met by the ageing and aged care sector. This proposal was accepted and the Aged Care Sector Committee Diversity Sub Group, consisting of these organisations and others, was created to drive the development and delivery of the Framework. The Framework is intended to assist providers, and enhance the sector’s capacity, to better meet the diverse needs, circumstances and life experiences of older people thereby ensuring inclusive aged care services. The Framework was developed in a co-design process with all parts of the aged care sector – consumers, providers, professionals and government. This presentation will explore the development of the Diversity Framework, including the challenges and issues faced in creating a broad reaching diversity document and how these were addressed. It will consider the consultation processes and how older people from diverse groups and life experiences were engaged and how information provided from consultations was incorporated into the Framework. It will also look at the key parts of the Framework – Vision, Imperatives and Priorities, how these have been implemented and any initial evaluation of the Framework.
On the 30 June 2017 the Australian LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Strategy ended and no commitment was made to continue the Strategy. The National LGBTI Health Alliance, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Federation of Ethnic Community Councils and the Australian Association of Gerontology (representing a combined number of 1324 organisations nationally) met with the relevant Government Ministers, Shadow Ministers and political representatives to propose the development of a Diversity Framework and the creation of specific action plans for each of the diversity groups – Aboriginal, LGBTI and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. This is especially important in a sector that is moving to a consumer-focused market driven sector, where those that do have specific needs could find themselves unintentionally excluded or ageing and aged care services could struggle to create a fully inclusive environment. This presentation will follow the journey from an idea that we advocated to our Government through to the development and delivery of the LGBTI Aged Care Action Plan. It will discuss the challenges that had to be overcome, the rewards of engaging directly with LGBTI older people (especially where we had a blank document and could say “you help us create what will work for you”) and the work that goes into creating a national document on behalf of the Government.
This presentation will explore and celebrate the enormous contribution that grandmothers make in pursuing the United Nation’s goal of “ending HIV/AIDS for good”. Grandmothers in sub-Saharan Africa are at the centre of the pandemic—both in terms of their own vulnerability to the disease and in their roles as caregivers to millions of young people orphaned by AIDS. Yet they are rarely counted, recognized or included in efforts addressing HIV/AIDS. There is an urgent need to collect and analyze data and information on the experience of HIV/AIDS after the age of 49 in Africa and other developing areas. Without this, older persons are left out of policies and practices to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. Older women deserve to be counted and counted in. This paper/presentation will explore how: Grandmothers in Canada and in sub-Saharan Africa work in solidarity to lead the fight to end HIV/AIDS. This session will include a description of some key activities of the Canadian Grandmothers Advocacy Network and the grandmothers in sub-Sharan Africa. It acknowledges the “profound love and unbearable bond grandmothers have with their grandchildren,” as well as the “tenacious nature of older women’s organizing power,”
Older adults comprise a small segment of the global refugee population. However, they are equally or potentially more at risk for having their human rights and needs overlooked or under addressed. There is a significant gap in the literature that provides guidance for appropriate response to the age-specific needs of older refugees. Over the last two years the NGO Committee on Ageing, Geneva (United Nations (UN)) has worked to increase the visibility and recognition of older refugees’ right to age appropriate response and care. The NGO Committee has also worked to draw attention to older refugees as a valuable resource. The purpose of these activities was to inform and increase awareness within the UN community that older refugees have specific age-related needs that are often not included under disabilities, are at risk of discrimination and their human rights being violated but that they are also a valuable resource for displaced and host communities more broadly. In return, the increased awareness of the issues around older refugees will ideally improve a coordinated response to refugee situations, including by government, UN, NGOs, the private sector, academia and affected communities themselves. This paper will focus on the work conducted by the NGO Committee including sessions held at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and oral and written recommendations submitted to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to inform the development of the new Global Compact on Refugees; a new framework for refugee response. The paper describes the process and outcomes from the work conducted at the UN and offers recommendations for further actions.
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Housing alternatives for persons living with dementia in the rural province of New Brunswick, Canada
