Contribution Of Older People Research Articles

FACILITATORS ABD BARRIERS OF ACTIVE AGING AMONG EGYPTIANS: A COMMUNITY BASED STUDY IN CAIRO GOVERNORATE, EGYPT

Background: Active aging can be achieved, when people are free of diseases, have intellectual capabilities, possess high physical fitness and can actively be engaged with others. In developing countries, most of which do not have comprehensive policies on aging, big challenges are faced including double burden of disease, increased risk of disability and feminization of aging. It is important to promote the concept of active aging in the population. Objective: To understand the Egyptians perception and attitudes towards the elderly, the contribution of older people in their workplaces, societies and determine the most important actions required to ensure an actively aged Egyptian population. Subjects and methods: A community based study was conducted in eastern Cairo by applying simple random sample to select between 4 main divisions, a sample of 1000 participants yielded a power of approximately 99%. All age groups above 18 years old were included. Subjects were divided into two groups: below 60 years and those equal to or above 60years. Data was collected using interview questionnaire, which was adopted from the special Active Aging questionnaire EUROBAROMETER 378 questionnaire. Results: The majority of the participants feel that a person is considered old at the age of 66, and 51% of participants less than 60 years assured that elderly play a big role towards their family. Workplace age discrimination was highly reported, being unable to adapt to modern workplaces is found to be the main obstacle stopping people aged 60 years and over from working. Conclusion: Flexibility at work and financial rewards for elderly are recommended. More attention must be given to institutions as older people’s organizations and religious organizations that have a positive role in tackling the challenges of aging in population.

Professor Hal Kendig's Legacy: A fierce advocate for the rights and contributions of older people

Professor Hal Kendig's Legacy: A fierce advocate for the rights and contributions of older people

Intergenerational Support Contributions of Older People in Iceland to Their Families and Society

ABSTRACTOld age is often linked to weakness and a need for support from family members and society. The focus in this article is on intergenerational support, in which older individuals offer support to younger generations. Results from two telephone surveys executed in 2006 and 2016 are reported. The participants were individuals aged 67–85 years old. About 62% of the participants in 2006 and 73% in 2016 had provided help with child care, with the biggest difference in the increase in accompanying or driving children between places. About 20% of the participants had helped family members or others because of serious illnesses or disabilities.

The Changing Capabilities of Cohorts of the Elderly in Russia during 1990\u20132020: Measurement using a Quantitative Index

Russia has had a high elderly share of its population like the OECD countries, but has had a more turbulent history over the past 100 years, which has caused fluctuations in the capabilities of those turning 60 (measured by education and training, income, enabling environment, medical care, and health status). This article analyses the life experiences and capabilities of five Russian birth cohorts turning 60 over the period 1990–2020. It presents relevant concepts, reviews past research, and evaluates the importance of health factors (health environment, health-related behaviours, medical care, health status) in determining the activities and contributions of older people in Russia. A Human Capabilities of the Elderly in Russia Index (HCERI) with 22 indicators is developed. Russian data are used in the calculation of the HCERI for the cohorts turning 60 in 1990, 1995, 2000, 2010 and 2020. The article then presents evaluations of the experiences and changes in capabilities for each of the five selected cohorts of the elderly in four periods of life: Childhood (1–15 years), Young Adult (16–49), Mature Adult (50–59), and Early Elderly (60–69). The implications of changes in the characteristics of the elderly for Russian government policies are discussed.

Gender Differences in Attitudes to Ageing among Norwegian Older Adults

Increased life expectancy has led to policy interest in adding quality to years of life and in related concepts such as attitudes to ageing. Improving attitudes to ageing is regarded as one means of improving the participation and contribution of older people within society. In considering age- related attitudes in the dynamic nature of social identity, age is not just one social category that may or may not constitute a part of one’s identity. Other identities such as gender may be more salient in attitudes to ageing. The purpose of this study was to explore Norwegian gender differences in attitudes to ageing among 282 females and 200 males living in the community. Attitudes to ageing were measured using the Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire (AAQ; Laidlaw, Power, Schmidt, & the WHOQOL-OLD Group, 2007). Both genders in this study had positive attitudes toward their ageing, in spite of acknowledging loss with problems of exclusion, making friends and talking about difficult feelings. Compared to men, women perceived ageing as a time of greater loss, however, they felt more strongly that ageing brought wisdom and that their life had made a difference. On the other hand, men felt more strongly that physical problems did not hold them back from doing what they wanted to do and believed more strongly that they passed on their experiences to others. Both genders felt that their identity was not defined by age, they didn’t feel old, aging was a privilege, and appraised the importance of exercising. Attitudes to ageing are becoming increasingly important in ageing societies. Such positive attitudes should be regarded with importance to health professionals, leaders and policy makers in planning interventions to buffer the detrimental aspects of ageing.

Thirty years of the United Nations and global ageing: An Australian perspective

Over the past three decades, the United Nations (UN) has slowly devoted increasing attention to global ageing. Concern for individually based welfare or health-care programs for older people in developed countries has progressed to also consider the contributions of older people and implications of ageing for socioeconomic advancement in developing countries, including those in Asia Oceania. These shifts are evident in the International Plans of Action on Ageing from Vienna in 1982 to Madrid in 2002; recent 10-year reviews of the Madrid Plan; and current advocacy for inclusion of ageing in the influential UN Millennium Plan post-2015. Australia has demonstrated progressive policies and contributed to ageing developments by the UN, International Federation on Ageing the World Health Organization and the International Association of Gerontology. Key ideas driving further action are the importance of valuing people at all ages, addressing inequalities over the life-course and implementing human rights approaches to ageing.

The socio‐economic contribution of older people in the UK

Purpose – The paper aims to highlight the contributions and opportunities offered by an ageing society to their local communities and wider society.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is set out in six sections: an overview of WRVS; challenges of an ageing society; the “grey pound”; provision of social care; volunteering and non‐financial and other contributions of older people. This paper draws on research published by WRVS in March 2011 while providing more detail on the contribution of, and opportunities for, older volunteers with supporting case studies.Findings – The paper shows the benefits of an ageing population, the contributions currently made by the UK's pensioners, and the inevitable increase in their provision to society.Social implications – In the UK, over 65s are often seen as a burden on society's resources. In many other cultures older people have an elevated status and respect. Older people make a huge contribution to the UK's society but their potential is not always realised. This...

Enhancing the contributions of older people to interface design

A large part of the design of a recent successful email application for older users came from carefully managing the designer’s interactions with the older people who participated in requirements gathering, prototype development and interface testing. The application is briefly described and the results of usability testing are reported to support the claim that the application is successful. The ways of working with older people that made useful contributions to the project are then discussed with the aim of making these ap-proaches available for other designers interested in interface design for older users.

The contribution of older people to society: evaluation of participatory research methodology employed in studies in Ghana and South Africa

Participatory research methodology offers a powerful tool for policy-oriented research on ageing because of its emphasis on evidence-based views of older people and recognition of inequalities in older peoples access to resources and services. Research undertaken by HelpAge International and partners in Ghana and South Africa in 1998/99 adapted and employed the methodology to study livelihood strategies and contributions of older people, and to bring these findings to bear in policy debate within the two countries. The studies found that although the significant contributions of older people are largely ignored, they constitute a vital element of their livelihood strategies, since the ability to contribute can enhance their ability to access social support and increase social inclusion. While the findings have been utilised to support policy discussion, the research process has assisted in the identification of linkages that need to be strengthened for effective policy development in each country.

The ageing and development report. Poverty, independence and the world’s older people: A HelpAge International repo, edited by Judith Randal, Tony German and Deborah Ewing

This volume is a timely reminder ofthe significance of global ageing for the new millennium. The report has a strong message: Poverty and exclusion remain the greatest threats to the well-being of older people all over the world. Both the rights and the contributions of older people need to be recognised.

Ageism: a factor in the nutritional vulnerability of older people?

Unlike other population groups, the rights, needs and contributions of older people in developing countries are not well understood. With the absence of information about how to assess the nutritional status and vulnerability of older people, HelpAge International joined forces with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the early 1990's to launch a research programme. Seven years later some of the basic questions can now be answered but there remains much more to do. Although older people are increasingly acknowledged as a vulnerable group in emergencies, NGO responses often fail to meet their needs. The question is whether there are real difficulties in service adaptation or whether ageism is one of the greatest barriers to the provision of appropriate services for older people.

Exercise, Health and Well-Being in Older Australians

Exercise can be an effective medicine for many of the health problems of older Australians. Although older adults are the major consumers of health care services they are among the most physically unfit of our community and represent the group least likely to exercise. Exercise has substantial physical and psychological benefits for older people, particularly older women. A review of the literature has indicated that older people are deterred from exercise activities by environmental barriers (poor weather, lack of appropriate facilities), personal beliefs (inaccurate perceptions about their needs or abilities to exercise), and health obstacles (fear of injury, discomfort from conditions such as arthritis). The limited research on why older Australians exercise has suggested that motives such as 'to improve my fitness', 'to get exercise', 'to be fit' and 'I like the company' are likely to be rated highly. Encouraging older people to exercise has clear advantages, not only to the health and wellbeing of the individual, but also, to the community through possible savings to the health care system, and the contributions of older people.