Aging Population Research Articles

Excimer laser coronary angioplasty combined with drug-coated balloon in the treatment of in-stent restenosis.

The aim of this study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) combined with drug-coated balloons(DCBs) in the treatment of in-stent restenosis (ISR), and to explore whether the contrast injection technique would improve the neointimal tissue ablation of ELCA. We studied patients diagnosed with ISR between January 2019 and October 2022 at two medical centers. These patients underwent DCB angioplasty guided by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Based on whether ELCA was performed before DCB treatment, patients were categorized into two groups: the ELCA + DCB group and the DCB group. All patients underwent clinical follow-up 1 year after the procedure. The primary endpoint was the 1-year rate of target lesion revascularization (TLR), which was defined as any repeat percutaneous intervention or bypass surgery on the target vessel conducted to address restenosis or other complications related to the target lesion. The secondary endpoints including immediate luminal gain (ΔMLA, defined as the difference in minimum lumen area before and after the intervention). A total of 85 lesions in 75 patients were included. The mean age of the study population was 64.2 ± 12.0 years, with 81.3% male. Baseline clinical characteristics were well-balanced, and procedural success was 100% in both groups. The ELCA + DCB group (n = 24) exhibited a greater ΔMLA compared to the DCB group (n = 61) (3.57 ± 0.79 mm² vs. 2.50 ± 1.06 mm², [95% confidence interval,CI: 0.57-1.69], p < 0.001), The reduction in 1-year TLR was more frequently observed in patients from the ELCA + DCB group compared to the DCB group (hazard ratio 0.33 [95% CI: 0.11-0.99]; log-rank p = 0.048). The exploratory analysis showed that ELCA with contrast infusion is associated with greater acute lumen gain compared to ELCA with saline infusion (p < 0.001). The combination of ELCA and DCB is a safe and effective treatment strategy for in-stent stenosis. Additionally, compared with saline injection, ELCA with contrast injection is associated with greater acute lumen gain. However, the optimal contrast agent concentration and long-term outcome of the contrast injection technique need confirmation through larger sample sizes and prospective studies.

Strategic technological processes in hospitals: Conflicts and personal experiences of healthcare teams.

Global health systems operate amid dynamic factors, including demographic shifts, economic variations, political changes, technological progress, and societal trends that lead to VUCA reality (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity). To address these challenges, healthcare organizations are increasingly turning to Strategic Technological Processes and digital transformation. Against this background, the current study examined the personal experiences, conflicts, difficulties, and moral dilemmas attendant upon accommodating this digital transformation of healthcare professionals. The study involved 27 healthcare professionals working in Israeli hospitals, whose experiences and perspectives were central to understanding the impact of digital transformation in healthcare settings. The study methodology rested on in-depth interviews, which were analyzed through the prism of the Listening Guide analytical technique. The research obtained pre-approval from the Ethics Committee at the researcher's institution. The study revealed that the healthcare professionals are indeed facing ethical conflicts and personal challenges related to digitalization (such as providing the best quality of care, being the best caregiver, and acting for the betterment of the hospital). It also identified dilemmas resulting from conflicts between the needs and demands of the health system and the healthcare professionals' values and resources. The study findings highlight the impact of ethical and moral challenges accompanying strategic organizational and digital transformation changes implemented by healthcare organizations worldwide. These challenges arise as healthcare institutions adapt to the demands of the 21st century, potentially leading to burnout and moral distress among healthcare professionals, further exacerbating the already stressful reality they face. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the critical necessity for comprehensive support strategies to alleviate stress and burnout among healthcare professionals. As healthcare organizations and personnel navigate significant organizational changes to address contemporary challenges, prioritizing the well-being of healthcare workers through effective support mechanisms becomes imperative.

EADV Task Force Pruritus White Paper on chronic pruritus and chronic prurigo: Current challenges and future solutions.

Chronic pruritus (CP) is frequent in general medicine and the most common complaint in general dermatology. The prevalence of CP is expected to rise in the future due to the ageing population. The clinical presentation, underlying aetiology and treatment strategy of CP are heterogeneous. Also, individual treatment aims and physical, psychic and economic burdens of patients might vary. Chronic prurigo (CPG) is the most severe disease in the chronic pruritus spectrum, being associated with long-standing scratch-induced skin lesions and a therapy refractory itch-scratch-cycle. It is thus important to raise disease awareness for CP and CPG in the general public and among decision-makers in the health system. Further, there is a need to support a rational clinical framework to optimize both diagnostics and therapeutics. Currently, there is still a shortcoming regarding approved therapies and understanding CP/CPG as severe medical conditions. Therefore, the EADV Task Force Pruritus decided to publish this white paper based on several consensus meetings. The group consented on the following goals: (a) ensure that CP is recognized as a serious condition, (b) increase public awareness and understanding of CP and CPG as chronic and burdensome diseases that can greatly affect a person's quality of life, (c) clarify that in most cases CP and CPG are non-communicable and not caused by a psychiatric disease, (d) improve the support and treatment given to patients with CP to help them manage their disease and (e) publicize existing therapies including current guidelines. We aim to point to necessary improvements in access and quality of care directed to decision-makers in health policy, among payers and administrations as well as in practical care.

The Concerns of Community-Dwelling Older Women Living with Urinary Incontinence: Qualitative Research.

The world including Iran is facing population aging. Urinary incontinence (UI) is one of the most common health concerns of older women that can be accompanied by an increased sense of loneliness, social restrictions, and disruption in activities of daily living in addition to the regular challenges of old age. This study was aimed at explaining the concerns of community-dwelling older women living with UI. This study used the conventional, qualitative, content analysis approach with purposive sampling. Twenty interviews were conducted with 18 participants, including 15 community-dwelling older women with UI and three family members (a husband and two daughters), over the span of 14months (from August 2021 to October 2022). The data were collected via semi-structured, face-to-face interviews until data saturation was achieved, and were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman's method. The findings revealed that the concerns of older women with UI include the impasse of UI, being powerless in life, distorted social identity, and marital frustration, which fell under the main theme of sense of inadequacy. Recognizing the concerns of older women with UI can make health care teams more sensitive to the importance of resolving these concerns and can offer some insight into how best to provide targeted training, support, and counseling services at individual, family, and society levels, to eventually resolve the older adult's sense of inadequacy.

Economic evaluation of automated external defibrillator deployment in public settings for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a systematic review.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a major issue in aging populations. The use of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in public places improves cardiac arrest survival rates. The purpose of this study is to review economic evaluation studies of the use of AED technology in public settings for cardiac arrest resuscitation. Our search covered 1990-2021 and included PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. We included studies that analyzed cost-effectiveness, cost-utility and cost-benefit of the AED technology. Also, we performed the quality assessment of the studies through the checklist of quality assessment standard of health economic studies (QHES). Our inclusion criteria were met by 25 studies. AEDs are found to be cost-effective in places with a high occurrence of cardiac arrest. In addition, proper integration of drones with AEDs into existing systems has the potential to significantly improve OHCA survival rates. The present study found that putting AEDs in high-cardiac arrest and crowded areas reduces average costs. Despite this, the costs associated with acquiring and maintaining AEDs prevent their widespread use. Further research is needed to evaluate feasibility and explore innovative strategies for AED maintenance and accessibility.

Population aging, human capital accumulation, and coordination of policies

Population aging, human capital accumulation, and coordination of policies

Health Problems Faced by Elderly and Services Offered by Old Age Home/Aafiat, Lahore, Social Welfare Department, Punjab

The demand for increased physical as well as psychological healthcare facilities is driving up concerns about an ageing population, especially in resource-constrained countries. Older adults in Pakistan experience insecurity due to a number of social and economic causes. In such situations, when conventional family care is unavailable or the elderly lack resources like housing, old age homes offer services to the elderly. The present quantitative study aimed to ascertain the demographic profile of the elderly population residing in an old age home or Aafiat, investigate the factors that contribute to their residence in an old age home, examine the physical and mental health challenges experienced by those receiving residential care, and find out the elderly population's satisfaction level with the services provided by the old age home. However, this article merely addressed the issues with older people's physical and mental health and how satisfied they were with the services and facilities the old age home offered. It was a cross-sectional study, and in order to gather data, interviews were conducted with each of the 25 inmates who were present at the Lahore old age home/Aafiat. According to the findings, the majority of respondents expressed high satisfaction with the level of services received; however, the data revealed that the elderly in the old age home experienced several challenges linked to their physical and mental health.

Multinational Medical Care Evaluation Concerning Aging Populations

Multinational Medical Care Evaluation Concerning Aging Populations

Association of low muscle mass with cognitive function and mortality in USA seniors: results from NHANES 1999–2002

BackgroundSarcopenia and cognitive impairment have been linked in prior research, and both are linked to an increased risk of mortality in the general population. Muscle mass is a key factor in the diagnosis of sarcopenia. The relationship between low muscle mass and cognitive function in the aged population, and their combined impact on the risk of death in older adults, is currently unknown. This study aimed to explore the correlation between low muscle mass and cognitive function in the older population, and the relationship between the two and mortality in older people.MethodsData were from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002. A total of 2540 older adults aged 60 and older with body composition measures were included. Specifically, 17–21 years of follow-up were conducted on every participant. Low muscle mass was defined using the Foundation for the National Institute of Health and the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia definitions: appendicular lean mass (ALM) (< 19.75 kg for males; <15.02 kg for females); or ALM divided by body mass index (BMI) (ALM: BMI, < 0.789 for males; <0.512 for females); or appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) (< 7.0 kg/m2 for males; <5.4 kg/m2 for females). Cognitive functioning was assessed by the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). The follow-up period was calculated from the NHANES interview date to the date of death or censoring (December 31, 2019).ResultsWe identified 2540 subjects. The mean age was 70.43 years (43.3% male). Age-related declines in DSST scores were observed. People with low muscle mass showed lower DSST scores than people with normal muscle mass across all age groups, especially in the group with low muscle mass characterized by ALM: BMI (60–69 years: p < 0.001; 70–79 years: p < 0.001; 80 + years: p = 0.009). Low muscle mass was significantly associated with lower DSST scores after adjusting for covariates (ALM: 43.56 ± 18.36 vs. 47.56 ± 17.44, p < 0.001; ALM: BMI: 39.88 ± 17.51 vs. 47.70 ± 17.51, p < 0.001; ASMI: 41.07 ± 17.89 vs. 47.42 ± 17.55, p < 0.001). At a mean long-term follow-up of 157.8 months, those with low muscle mass were associated with higher all-cause mortality (ALM: OR 1.460, 95% CI 1.456–1.463; ALM: BMI: OR 1.452, 95% CI 1.448–1.457); ASMI: OR 3.075, 95% CI 3.063–3.088). In the ALM: BMI and ASMI-defined low muscle mass groups, participants with low muscle mass and lower DSST scores were more likely to incur all-cause mortality ( ALM: BMI: OR 0.972, 95% CI 0.972–0.972; ASMI: OR 0.957, 95% CI 0.956–0.957).ConclusionsLow muscle mass and cognitive function impairment are significantly correlated in the older population. Additionally, low muscle mass and low DSST score, alone or in combination, could be risk factors for mortality in older adults.

Millet based Nutritious Powder for the Geriatric Population

Objective: This study aimed to utilize finger millet as a primary ingredient for creating nutritious millet powder suitable for hot beverages. Desiccated coconut was incorporated for color enhancement. The optimization process involved sensory evaluation and trials on a laboratory scale. Three variations of millet products and two recipes were developed: one for a beverage made by mixing millet (Ragi/ Finger millet) nutritious powder with hot water, and another for millet nutritious halua powder fortified with nutrients. Additionally, a millet nutritious powder based on Pearl millet was formulated for easy consumption by the ageing population.  Methods: The study involved the preparation and experimentation of three types of millet nutritious powder, derived from finger and pearl millet, targeting the nutritional needs of ageing individuals. Age-related challenges such as esophagus stenosis were taken into account during formulation. The viscosity graphs were utilized to refine the texture of the food, ensuring ease of swallowing. Laboratory-scale trials and benchtop sensory evaluations were conducted to optimize the formulations. The acceptability of the beverages was assessed using a 9-point hedonic scale.  Results: The formulated millet nutritious powders demonstrated excellent nutrient composition, with calcium content exceeding three times that of a cup of milk. The halua powder exhibited low viscosity, high solubility, and excellent swallowing properties. The optimized beverages achieved a total acceptability score exceeding 7 on the hedonic scale, indicating favourable consumer reception. The study successfully developed three variants of millet nutritious powder tailored for aging individuals, addressing concerns related to swallowing difficulties and offering a comfortable dietary option.  Conclusion: In conclusion, this study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing finger and pearl millet to create nutritious powders suitable for hot beverages, particularly catering to the dietary needs of the aging population. The formulations offer a convenient and easily consumable option for individuals facing challenges with chewing solid food. Moreover, the affordability and widespread accessibility of the developed food products make them suitable for diverse populations, highlighting their potential for addressing nutritional needs on a broader scale.

Availability of family care resources, bathing assistance and toileting assistance among older adults with functional limitations: an evidence-based study from China

BackgroundAn aging population has contributed to an increasing prevalence of functional limitations among older adults. Family support plays a crucial role in toileting and bathing assistance. Yet, the relationship between availability of family care resources and such actual assistance remains insufficiently explored. Our study aims to describe availability of family care resources and identify the association between availability of family care resources and toileting assistance or bathing assistance.MethodsThis study employed a cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2018 National Survey of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The availability of family care resources was assessed using measurements of spouse availability, adult child availability, and living arrangement. Bathing assistance and toileting assistance were measured based on self-reported receipt of such assistance. Descriptive statistics were used to depict the overall and subgroup situation of availability of family care resources. Multivariable logistic models were employed to investigate the relationship between availability of family care resources and the receipt of toileting assistance or bathing assistance.ResultsAmong the sample of older adults with functional limitations, 69% had a spouse, 63% had at least one adult child, and 80% resided with family members. Among those with bathing disability, 13% reported lacking bathing assistance, and among those with toileting disability, 54% reported lacking toileting assistance.Participants with 1-2 adult children had lower odds of receiving toileting assistance (OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.91, p= 0.034) compared to those with three or more adult children. Spouse availability and living arrangement did not exhibit statistically significant associations with toileting assistance. Participants without a spouse had lower odds of receiving bathing assistance (OR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.09-0.78, p= 0.016) in comparison to those with a spouse; however, adult child availability and living arrangement did not display statistically significant associations with bathing assistance.ConclusionThe present findings suggest a gap in family commitment when it comes to assisting older adults with functional limitations in bathing/toileting. To address this, policymakers are encouraged to prioritize the implementation of proactive mechanisms for identifying family caregivers, alongside incentives to enhance their engagement in practical caregiving activities. Furthermore, it is crucial to emphasize the prioritization of affordable and easily accessible formal toileting/bathing assistance options for older adults who lack sufficient family care resources.

Rola i wykorzystanie badań wysokoprzepustowych w poszukiwaniu związków chemicznych o działaniu terapeutycznym

With the development of medicine and the aging population, the demand for more effective therapies is escalating. A tool that facilitates the discovery and introduction of new therapeutic drugs is High-Throughput Screening (HTS). These tests, consisting of a wide set of various assays, allow testing hundreds of thousands of compounds in a short period of time. The aim is to accurately identify active compounds that could become potential therapeutic candidates in the pharmaceutical industry. HTS is the first step in the quest for potential drugs, therefore it is one of the crucial tests that determine whether a particular drug candidate will be discovered. In this review, different stages of high-throughput screening studies will be described, as well as methods utilized in these studies. The necessary steps in the optimization of these tests, selection of equipment, automation and key quality control parameters for reliably performed screening will also be presented.

Implementation of a geriatric in-reach service improves acute surgical unit outcomes; a retrospective before-and-after study.

Australia's ageing population is challenging for surgical units and there is a paucity of evidence for geriatric co-management in acute general surgery. We aimed to assess if initiating a Geriatric Medicine in-reach service improved outcomes for older adults in our Acute Surgical Unit (ASU). The Older Adult Surgical Inpatient Service (OASIS) was integrated into ASU in 2021. We retrospectively reviewed all patients over age 65 admitted to ASU over a 12-month period before and after service integration with a length of stay (LOS) greater than 24 h. There was no subsequent truncation or selection. Primary outcomes were 30-day mortality, LOS, and 28-day readmissions. Secondary outcomes were discharge disposition, in-hospital mortality, and hospital-acquired complications (HACs). 1339 consecutive patients were included in each group, with no differences in baseline characteristics. There was a significant decrease in 28-day readmissions from 20.2% to 16.0% (P < 0.05), greatest in patients undergoing non-EL operative procedures (21.9% pre-OASIS vs. 12.6% post-OASIS; P < 0.05). Trends towards reduced 30-day mortality (7.17% vs. 5.90%; P = 0.211), in-hospital mortality (3.88% vs. 2.91%; P = 0.201), permanent care placement (7.77% vs. 7.09%; P = 0.843) and HACs (8.14% vs. 7.62%; P = 0.667) were seen, although statistical significance was not demonstrated. LOS remained unchanged at 4 days (P = 0.653). The addition of a geriatric in-reach service to a tertiary ASU led to a significant reduction in 28-day readmissions. Downtrends were seen in mortality, permanent care placement, and HAC rates, while LOS remained unchanged.

Kombinasi Metode Webqual 4.0 dan Importance Performance Analysis pada Pengukuran Kualitas Website Stock Exchange

Interest in stock investment in Indonesia is still relatively low compared to other countries, data shows that the population of productive age has reached 189 million, but there are only 4.16 million retail investors in the capital market with an involvement ratio of around 2.2 percent. This shows that the participation ratio of the Indonesian population in investing in shares is less than 5 percent, which is far behind other countries such as the United States (55 percent), Singapore (26 percent) and Malaysia (9 percent). The lagging interest in investing is due to a lack of understanding of digital literacy in investing. This needs to be overcome by increasing the digital literacy understanding of the Indonesian people regarding investing in shares. The webqual 4.0 method is a method used to measure the quality of the stock exchange information system website in Indonesia, namely IDX.co.id, through the use of three measurement variables, namely in terms of usability, information quality, service interaction quality. In addition, the Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) method is applied to carry out performance assessments on expectations of website quality. It can be measured to identify indicators according to user preferences, then the results of these measurements are used to identify indicators that need to be improved on the IDX information system so that can improve user experience, as well as increase digital literacy of stock investment in Indonesia. This research collects information from users through questionnaires which are processed using the linear regression analysis method. The research results show that users are satisfied with the current IDX Website in terms of Usability, Information Quality and Service Interaction Quality, indicated by the T-Statistics value which is higher than the T-Table. So that the public's understanding of digital stock investing literacy facilitated by the idx.co.id website is good. However, based on the Importance Performance Analysis analysis, improvements still need to be made to indicators in quadrants I and III which have low performance. Recommended improvements include improving site navigation, implementing SEO, site redesign, increasing credibility, reorganizing menus, content audits, and increasing user interaction.

Association of dietary selenium intake and all-cause mortality of Parkinson’s disease and its interaction with blood cadmium level: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundParkinson’s disease (PD) is a slowly progressive neurodegenerating disease that may eventually lead to disabling condition and pose a threat to the health of aging populations. This study aimed to explore the association of two potential risk factors, selenium and cadmium, with the prognosis of Parkinson’s disease as well as their interaction effect.MethodsData were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2006 to 2015–2016 and National Death Index (NDI). Participants were classified as Parkinson’s patients by self-reported anti-Parkinson medications usage. Cox regression models and restricted cubic spline models were applied to evaluate the association between PD mortality and selenium intake level as well as blood cadmium level. Subgroup analysis was also conducted to explore the interaction between them.ResultsA total of 184 individuals were included. In full adjusted cox regression model (adjusted for age, gender, race, hypertension, pesticide exposure, smoking status and caffeine intake), compared with participants with low selenium intake, those with normal selenium intake level were significantly associated with less risk of death (95%CI: 0.18–0.76, P = 0.005) while no significant association was found between low selenium intake group and high selenium group (95%CI: 0.16–1.20, P = 0.112). Restricted cubic spline model indicated a nonlinear relationship between selenium intake and PD mortality (P for nonlinearity = 0.050). The association between PD mortality and blood cadmium level was not significant (95%CI: 0.19–5.57, P = 0.112). However, the interaction term of selenium intake and blood cadmium showed significance in the cox model (P for interaction = 0.048). Subgroup analysis showed that the significant protective effect of selenium intake existed in populations with high blood cadmium but not in populations with low blood cadmium.ConclusionModerate increase of selenium intake had a protective effect on PD mortality especially in high blood cadmium populations.

Research on China's End-of-Life Care Policy from the Perspective of Aging Population: A Textual Analysis of 30 Policies from 2017 to 2022

As the proportion of elderly population increases and the level of social development continues to rise, the issue of end-of-life care for the elderly has gradually gained societal attention. End-of-life care, as an emerging field, relies crucially on optimizing top-level policy design for its healthy development. This study focuses on 30 national-level end-of-life care policy texts from 2017 to 2022. Utilizing analysis tools such as ROST CM 6 software, NLPIR Chinese word segmentation system, and SPSS, the research employs a three-dimensional framework of keyword frequency analysis, semantic network analysis, and "policy tools-policy time-policy intensity" to comprehensively explore the current state of China's end-of-life care policy. The study reveals existing issues in the policy's practical operability, uneven application of policy tools, neglected funding and information technology support, and weak regulatory aspects. It emphasizes the need to prioritize a people-centered approach, enhance the overall balance in policy tools, promote the standardization of end-of-life care, and improve a diversified service system. These findings broaden the research perspective in the field of end-of-life care, providing insights for optimizing policy design and advancing nationwide end-of-life care efforts.

DEVELOPMENT OF SMART TOILET SYSTEM FOR OLD AGE AND SPECIALLY ABLED PERSON

This research paper presents the development of a novel smart toilet system designed to the unique needs of elderly individuals and persons with disabilities. The primary objective of the project is to monitor the health conditions of users while inside the toilet, this system incorporates advanced sensors, user-friendly interfaces, and automation to provide a seamless and dignified toileting experience for individuals with diverse mobility challenges. Integral to the system is a comprehensive health monitoring component. Utilizing sensors, the system measures the user's body temperature and heartbeat. This real-time health data is crucial for timely detection of potential health issues, promoting preventive healthcare and immediate response if needed. This research contributes to the evolving field of assistive technologies, specifically addressing the needs of aging populations and individuals with disabilities. The integration of mechanical design, health monitoring, and cloud-based connectivity exemplifies a holistic approach to smart healthcare solutions, fostering independence and improved quality of life for users. Key Words: Smart and healthy living, Emergency assistance, Care, Health.

Towards Green Development: Identifying the Impact of Population Aging on China’s Carbon Emissions Based on the Provincial Panel Data Analysis

Towards Green Development: Identifying the Impact of Population Aging on China’s Carbon Emissions Based on the Provincial Panel Data Analysis

Treatment outcome of elderly patients (≥ 78 years) with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A single center experience.

Patients older than the expected age of the local population generally have limited life expectancy. The optimal treatment approach for very elderly patients with head and neck cancer remains uncertain. This study retrospectively analyzed patients over 78 years old, the expected age in 2019 for Chinese individuals, who underwent treatment for head and neck cancer at a tertiary cancer center in China. The study compared the overall survival rates among different treatment groups. The findings revealed that among patients eligible for surgery, radical resection yielded better outcomes compared to radiotherapy-based treatments, with a hazard ratio of 0.362 (95% CI 0.160-0.819, P = 0.015). Among patients who received radiotherapy, those who received a total dose exceeding 60 Gy had a significantly longer survival compared to those who received palliative doses, with median survival time of 31 months versus 14 months (P = 0.003). Among 78 patients who underwent conventional fractionated radiotherapy (CFRT), 15 patients (19.23%) experienced unscheduled treatment breaks with a median duration of 12 days. However, these treatment breaks did not appear to impact survival (P > 0.1). The study also suggested that altered fractionated radiotherapy, including hypofractionated radiotherapy (hypo-RT), could be a viable alternative to CFRT, offering similar survival outcomes with reduced treatment duration. In conclusion, eligible patients should be treated with curative intent, even if they are older than the expected age of the local population. When radiotherapy is indicated, altered fractionation, particularly hypo-RT, may be a favorable option to consider.

Understanding housing preferences and challenges of older adults in Kalisz, Poland

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the demographic, economic, and social factors that influence the housing demand of older adults in Kalisz, Poland, and assess their preferences and challenges in meeting their housing needs. Methodology: A quantitative survey was conducted among individuals aged 50 and above in Kalisz. The survey questionnaire covered various aspects, including current housing conditions, housing preferences, knowledge of senior housing options, and willingness to relocate to such housing. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. Results: The findings revealed that while most respondents were satisfied with their current housing situation, they acknowledged the need for housing options tailored to older adults. However, there was a lack of interest in relocating to designated senior housing due to concerns about affordability, accessibility, and amenities. Respondents expressed a preference for independent living arrangements with access to medical, care, and rehabilitation services. Theoretical contribution: The study contributes to the understanding of the housing needs and preferences of older adults in the context of a medium-sized city in Poland. It highlights the importance of considering demographic shifts and adapting housing policies and urban planning strategies to meet the diverse requirements of an aging population. Practical implications: The findings can inform policymakers, urban planners, and housing developers in designing and implementing housing solutions that cater to the specific needs of older adults, ensuring accessible, affordable, and supportive living environments. The study also emphasizes the need for public awareness and education regarding senior housing options.