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Within the active ageing framework, this study was carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic on older volunteers, in order to explore the possible relation between, on the one hand, changes in their health, social relationships and quality of life due to the pandemic and, on the other hand, volunteers’ motivations and (direct or indirect) experience of the COVID-19 contagion. Although various active-ageing-related issues have been studied during the pandemic, the studies did not cover the topic of the present study. Therefore, the results of this study advance the knowledge on the matter. A sample of 240 older volunteers was surveyed in Italy in July–August 2021. Bivariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression models were performed. The results highlighted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, for older people, volunteering in order to avoid thinking about personal problems was related to worsened health, while volunteering for social reasons was inversely related to a worsening quality of life. Having indirectly (by acquaintances) experienced the COVID-19 contagion was protective against the worsening physical health of older volunteers. The discussion includes the policy implications of the results.

Cilj istraživanja je dobiti uvid u perspektivu starijih osoba glede njihovog iskustva sudjelovanja u grupi za aerobik starijih osoba. U kvalitativnom istraživanju sudjelovalo je 10 sudionica, članica jedne grupe za aerobik, koje su odabrane namjernim uzorkom. Podaci su prikupljeni polustrukturiranim intervjuom, a potom obrađeni postupkom tematske analize. Prema dobivenim rezultatima, starije osobe svoja iskustva sudjelovanja u aerobnom vježbanju opisuju kroz motive za bavljenje aerobikom, značaj aerobika u svakodnevnom životu, obilježja grupe za aerobik, teškoće vezane uz bavljenje aerobikom, odnose među članicama grupe za aerobik, doprinos voditeljice grupe osobnom iskustvu, iskustvo bavljenja aerobikom za vrijeme Covid-19 pandemije, reakcije okoline na bavljenje aerobikom te navode određene preporuke na temelju iskustva sudjelovanja u grupi za aerobik. Doprinos aerobika unaprjeđenju kvalitete života starijih osoba očituje se kao doprinos sudjelovanja u aerobiku fizičkom i mentalnom zdravlju, kognitivnom funkcioniranju, društvenom životu te kvaliteti slobodnog vremena. Može se zaključiti kako aerobik predstavlja poželjan i vrlo koristan oblik tjelesne aktivnosti u starosti, kojeg je potrebno razvijati i promovirati u društvu kroz povećanje njegove dostupnosti za stariju populaciju te osvještavanje društva o važnosti aerobika za zdravo i aktivno starenje., The goal of the research is to gain insight into the perspective of the elderly regarding their experience of participating in an aerobics group for the elderly. 10 participants, members of an aerobics group, participated in the qualitative research and were selected using purposive sampling. The data were collected through a semi-structured interview, and then processed through thematic analysis. According to the results obtained, elderly people describe their experiences of participating in aerobic exercise through the motives for doing aerobics, the importance of aerobics in everyday life, the characteristics of the aerobics group, difficulties related to doing aerobics, relationships between the members of the aerobics group, the contribution of the group leader to personal experience, experience of doing aerobics during the Covid-19 pandemic, environmental reactions to participation in aerobics and their certain recommendations based on the experience of participating in an aerobics group. The contribution of aerobics to the improvement of the quality of life in old age is manifested as the contribution of participation in aerobics to physical and mental health, cognitive functioning, social life and the quality of free time. It can be concluded that aerobics is a desirable and very useful form of physical activity in old age, which needs to be developed and promoted in society by increasing its availability for the elderly population and making society aware of the importance of aerobics for healthy and active ageing.

Este artigo pretende dar um contributo para a discussão crítica da política de envelhecimento ativo. A análise realizada permite concluir que existem diferentes conceções de envelhecimento ativo, que a ideia geral de “envelhecer ativamente” tem um suporte teórico limitado, e que o ideal de “ser produtivo”, presente nas diferentes conceções de envelhecimento ativo, tem uma fraca correspondência na realidade. Conclui-se, ainda, que a política de envelhecimento ativo tem diversas potencialidades, entre as quais se destaca a promoção do empoderamento das pessoas idosas, mas tem o “idadismo” como um grande obstáculo, ao qual se acrescentam diversos riscos, como por exemplo os riscos de moralismo, etnocentrismo político e irrealismo., Análise Social, Vol. 49 No. 210 (2014)

This article intends to make a contribution to the critical discussion of the active ageing policy. The analysis undertaken allows to conclude that there are different conceptions of active ageing, that the general idea of “ageing actively” has a limited theoretical support, and that the ideal of “being productive”, which is present in the different conceptions of active ageing, has a weak fit in the reality. It is also possible to conclude that the active ageing policy has several potential positive effects, such as the possibility to promote the empowerment of the older people, but it has “ageism” as a serious obstacle, to which we can add several risks, for example the risks of moralism, policy ethnocentrism and unrealism., Este artigo pretende dar um contributo para a discussão crítica da política de envelhecimento ativo. A análise realizada permite concluir que existem diferentes conceções de envelhecimento ativo, que a ideia geral de “envelhecer ativamente” tem um suporte teórico limitado, e que o ideal de “ser produtivo”, presente nas diferentes conceções de envelhecimento ativo, tem uma fraca correspondência na realidade. Conclui-se, ainda, que a política de envelhecimento ativo tem diversas potencialidades, entre as quais se destaca a promoção do empoderamento das pessoas idosas, mas tem o “idadismo” como um grande obstáculo, ao qual se acrescentam diversos riscos, como por exemplo os riscos de moralismo, etnocentrismo político e irrealismo.

The current approach to stimulating elderly physical activity mostly uses medical rehabilitation methods or popular forms of outdoor recreation. In the context of an ageing population, there is a growing demand for innovative rehabilitation methods that use information technology. In this article, we present the Urban Health Path as an innovative form of activation for older people using urban therapy, where the architectural elements, such as details, façade features, and urban furniture, inspire movement and attentiveness in the experience of space. The concept is supported by a mobile application that takes into account the specific preferences of older users. Our concept of the physical and cognitive activation of older people was the result of a user-centred design approach and it was tested as a prototype solution. At the same time, the aim of this article is to identify opportunities and limitations for the implementation of this type of solution in other urban spaces. The article presents the process of developing a solution using the Design Thinking method. The process was focused on the needs and preferences of older people. The results of the research project indicate the main important guidelines for implementing the Urban Health Path as a new form of urban facility in the city space.

As older people have accumulated more developed networks, stronger financial positions and a greater ability to leverage resources and create more credible businesses, they are better placed to start new and more successful businesses than the younger generation. This paper presents the research that has been conducted for the ENTRUST project, which aims at designing an entrepreneurship training programme for people aged 50+ who are interested in creating new businesses to foster the sustainable development of rural areas and to provide services to tourists or other businesses that support tourism in rural areas. The results of the surveys for potential 50+ entrepreneurs (72 respondents) and experts in rural development and tourism organizations (100 respondents) show that there are perceived business opportunities in rural areas for experienced 50+ professionals. There is also a high demand for training targeted at rural tourism entrepreneurs. The interviews of experienced 50+ entrepreneurs (8) who work in cooperation with the rural community show that 50+ entrepreneurs find their work meaningful and that they want to continue working “as long as their health allows”. They greatly value the opportunity to develop the rural area and to be involved in preserving its historical and cultural heritage.

Society is immersed in a process of demographic transformation of great relevance: the ageing of the population. During the ageing stage, relevant changes occur, such as age-related losses, lack of formal and informal support or changes in social roles, which can cause situations of isolation or loneliness in older people. After the Spanish government decreed a state of alarm throughout the national territory in response to the arrival of SARS-CoV2, the confinement of the entire population was established, and only essential services and authorized persons could continue to carry out their daily activities and professional tasks. In addition, since the beginning of the pandemic, older people were considered high-risk people, a circumstance that increased their isolation situation. Objective: Understand, organize and systematically analyse the scientific evidence generated in relation to the impact that the COVID−19 pandemic has had on the processes and feelings of isolation and loneliness of the elderly population, from the beginning of the health crisis until the date of search. Materials and methods: a scoping review was conducted using the methodology of Arksey and O’Malley, which included a review of the studies available in the online databases Proquest, Scopus and WOS. From the search, information related to the isolation and collective of elderly people during the pandemic was extracted. Results: a total of 32 articles were included, from which three fundamental areas of analysis emerged and three issues emerged: older people and institutionalisation during the pandemic, ageism and hospitalisation of the elderly during the pandemic, and loneliness and isolation of older people throughout the pandemic. Discussion: the lack of material resources and infrastructures to be able to face the problem of isolation in institutions was evident. The importance of acquiring, on the part of the elderly, competences, knowledge and skills in new technologies in order to continue with contact with their peer group and family was also observed. Conclusions: this study identifies areas already understood, as well as knowledge gaps, that allow for determining opportunities for future research and thus the ability to improve in situations similar to the one that occurred.

Background: The participation of older adults in population health interventions constitutes a key factor in their physical, mental and social health. The aim of this study was to determine variables considered as enablers and barriers to participation in health programmes. Methods: The conceptual framework of the study was developed and population health interventions were operationalised as health programmes. A total of 805 older adults participated in a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire included questions about socio-demographic, health and social connectedness-related factors as well as participation in population health interventions/programmes. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between respondents’ characteristics and participation in the intervention. Results: Participation in health programmes was declared by 316 respondents. The enablers of participation were general practitioner’s affability (OR = 2.638 [1.453–4.791], p = 0.001), three or more social activities (OR = 3.415 [1.477–7.894], p = 0.004), taking part in support groups (OR = 4.743 [1.255–17.929], p = 0.022) and involvement in Universities of the Third Age (OR = 2.829 [1.093–7.327], p = 0.032). The barriers were primary education (OR = 0.385 [0.215–0.690], p = 0.001), infrequent general practitioner’s appointments (OR = 0.500 [0.281–0.888], p = 0.018) and lack of social activity (OR = 0.455 [0.299–0.632], p < 0.001). Conclusion: The enablers of participation appeared to solely include variables regarding health service utilisation, patient experience and social activity, i.e., interpersonal and community relationships, not intrapersonal factors.

The need to provide culturally sensitive care for older adults with immigrant backgrounds has been expressed by care professionals. Meanwhile there is a lack of consensus about how this should be done, and critical perspectives in research highlight the danger of causing this group to be viewed as problem bearers. This thesis explores the possibility of using the welfare theory of health to achieve cultural sensitivity while limiting the risk of othering. It uses a goal-oriented perspective of health that could be useful in an active ageing context. Study I used a mixed-methods design and the Delphi method. Study II used a quantitative design and survey method. Study III used a qualitative design and semi-structured interviews. Study IV used a qualitative design and vignette method. Study I showed that municipal decision-makers in eldercare find it hard to agree on what cultural sensitivity entails. They prefer to consider individual preferences in less complex cases, but look for fixed cultural categories in more complex cases. Study II showed that the welfare theory of health can be used as a viable, personal, holistic approach to health among older adults, and that it can be measured with the HACT questionnaire. Study III built on the questionnaire in Study II, expanding it to include immaterial capital theory. It elucidated how immaterial resources of older adults with immigrant backgrounds, such as social capital, influence their goals related to good ageing. Study IV showed that assistant nurses could use the welfare theory of health to increase cultural sensitivity in their work. However, like the decision makers, they looked for fixed cultural categories in more complex cases. The thesis shows how the welfare theory of health can be used to conceptualize cultural sensitive care with a starting point in the personal goals of older adults with immigrant backgrounds. With the help of immaterial capital theory, the thesis can shed light on the importance of immaterial resources, such as social capital, both in forming those goals and as resources to achieve them. With this knowledge, decisions and practices aiming to provide culturally sensitive care could be based on assessments of needs and resources without relying on preconceived and fixed ideas about other cultures.

Sexuality and intimacy of the elderly have been the focus of increasing attention of international research and everyday care in recent years, and as such it more commonly appears even in Czech institutionalized aged care. This thesis aims to create a tool that may be used for the evaluation of the as-is state regarding sexuality the of the elderly. It focuses mainly on the attitudes, and competencies of the staff of aged care, and their support in the organizational structure. The tool is based on factors identified in the literature review and may be used by different organizations providing aged care to evaluate itself and identify possible interventions regarding the sexuality of its clients. Key words: active ageing, aged care, evaluation tool, person-centered approach, quality of life, sexuality of the elderly

The active ageing approach supports a set of roles or activities that are supposed to be beneficial for older adults. This paper reassesses the benefits of activities for the quality of life by (a) analysing many activities at the same time to control each other, (b) using panel data to detect the effects of activities over time, and (c) performing separate analyses for four European regions to test the context-specificity of the effects. The effects of roles in later life are tested on panel data from three waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) project. The results of fixed-effects regression show that only some activities – volunteering, participating in a club and physical activity – increase the quality of life, and that care-giving within the household has the opposite effect. Moreover, the beneficial effects are much weaker and less stable than the other types of regression suggest; they are beneficial only in some regions, and their effect is much weaker than the effects of age, health and economic situation. Therefore, the active ageing approach and activity theory should reflect the diverse conditions and needs of older adults to formulate more-context-sensitive and less-normative policy recommendations.

Active ageing is agreed as the national agenda by the Thai Government to sustain the older population to live well in society as a valued resource. Activities to promote active ageing are often provided in group formats, initiated by health providers, and often without promoting capacity and responsibility to enhance active ageing by older adults themselves. Therefore, a model which encourages this capacity and responsibility in older adults and suits Thai healthcare traditions is needed. This thesis aims to explore and describe older Thai adults’ experiences of enhancing active ageing by implementing the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle. The cycle was applied to group meetings named Lomwong Saangsook (LS) meetings. Study I explored how older Thai adults experience and describe active ageing through its basic pillars of health, participation, and security based on individual interviews which were analysed with qualitative content analysis. Active ageing was described related to local culture and living context. Health was described as the ability to maintain daily living and an adaptive mindset. Participation was described as maintaining social networks, being valuable and respected. Security was described in relation to children and having manageable living conditions as well as managing to finalize life well. Study II explored interactions among older adults during participating in LS-meetings. Participant observation with thematic analysis was used. The PDSA cycle supported them to reach their individual goals of lifestyle change to enhance active ageing in group contexts. Study III explored experiences of applying the PDSA cycle among older Thai adults through focus group interviews which were analysed with thematic analysis. The PDSA cycle provided the environment to learn in a group dynamic with the support of moderators. Study IV described older adults´ experiences of lifestyle changes six months after finishing carrying out the meetings. Individual interviews were conducted and analysed with qualitative content analysis. Some older Thai adults kept their individual goals and adjusted the routes to reach these goals so they were suited to their own context. They also formed other new goals inspired by knowledge gained during the LS-meetings and the success of other members. Older Thai adults have their own perspectives on active ageing through its three basic pillars. They have capacity and responsibility to take the initiative to enhance their own active ageing by applying the PDSA cycle. Findings can be applied to create practices to support enhancing active ageing for the older Thai population. Keywords: Active ageing, lifestyle change, PDSA cycle, qualitative, Thailand

Artikkelen undersøker hvordan ensomhet blant eldre er forsøkt motvirket ved bruk av digital teknologi: Kommunikasjonsløsningen Komp er en skjerm med kun én knapp og en tilhørende app man kan bruke til å sende bilder, meldinger og opprette videosamtaler med skjermen. Den er utviklet spesielt for eldre brukere uten digital kompetanse og skal motvirke ensomhet gjennom økt digital sosial kontakt. Utviklerne kaller den en «varm teknologi» fordi de mener den knytter folk sammen. Vi bruker skriptteori til å undersøke samspillet mellom teknologiens utforming, brukernes erfaringer og sentrale normer i demokratiske samfunn. Analysen viser at Komp kommer med «innskrevne» forventninger om velfungerende familier med digitalt inkompetente eldre og kompetente pårørende. Når brukerne godtok forventningene, uten videre eller gjennom tilpasning, fikk Komp være en varm teknologi og skape digitalt mediert familienærvær. Men det kunne også oppstå friksjon, enten fordi brukerne avviste forventningene, eller fordi teknologien aktualiserte motsetningsfylte normer knyttet til medborgerskap og selvbestemmelse på den ene siden, og omsorg og myndighetsoverføring på den andre. Artikkelen bidrar til å forstå de sosiomaterielle forutsetningene for at digitale teknologier kan bringe folk sammen og derigjennom redusere ensomhet. The article examines an attempt to reduce loneliness among the elderly using digital technology: The communication solution KOMP is a screen with only one button, and an app you can use to send pictures, messages and make video calls to the screen. It was developed specifically for older users without digital skills and is intended to counteract loneliness through increased digital social contact. The designers call it “warm technology” because they believe it connects people. We use script theory to examine the interplay between technological design, user experience, and key norms in democratic societies. The analysis shows that Komp comes with “inscribed” expectations of well-functioning families with digitally incompetent elders and competent relatives. When the users accepted the expectations, without further ado or through adaption, Komp was able to be a warm technology and create digitally mediated family presence. But friction could also arise, either because users rejected the expectations or because the technology brought to light contradictory norms related to citizenship and self-determination on the one hand, and care and transfer of authority on the other. The article helps to understand the socio-material preconditions for digital technologies to bring people together and thereby reduce loneliness.

Background Older people are projected to make up almost one third of the European population by 2060. Healthy and active ageing (HAA) is a key to maximising the opportunities that the increasingly older demographic presents. A multinational survey was conducted to inform a new online EU-based master’s programme in active ageing, and a fundamental initial issue to explore was stakeholders’ understanding of the concept of ‘active ageing’. Methods An anonymous online survey, in five partner countries (Ireland, Greece, Austria, Slovenia and Greece) asked senior undergraduates and recent graduates; future employers; relevant academics; and other key stakeholders (e.g. advocacy groups, policy makers, and ‘expert’ older people): ‘What does the term active ageing mean to you?’. Content analysis of their replies ensued. Results Within the first 473 responses, the most common concept (at nearly 50%) was active participation in society, including social engagement and other gainful activities, while hobbies and activities were also mentioned. The other main concept was that active ageing means favourable personal life qualities. This encompassed a broad range of aspects such as dignity, and physical, psychological, and social wellness. Health (physical and psychological), living longer in good health, and health promotion were often specified, while positive self-esteem, self-image, and self-respect were mentioned occasionally. Independence, including autonomy, ability to self-care, and decision-making and financial independence, was another key concept. Service provision in health and social care, and policy and rights were frequently mentioned. Most concepts were similarly reported in all five countries, but there were some nuances, such as Irish participants citing autonomy and service provision less often. Conclusion This European data highlights the understanding, among a range of stakeholders, of the concept of ‘active ageing’, as occurring at both a societal/service level, and at a personal level, with health, wellness and independence being key elements of the latter.

In the course of demographic change, the notion of age(ing) seen as something unavoidable has changed into something more adaptable. Through a healthy lifestyle, which aims at the self-responsible management of physical risks through fitness and discipline, individuals can expand their independence. However, the chances of doing so depend largely on one’s social position. In addition, the shift in health ideology towards the individual and the trend towards active ageing may lead to social pressure for some individuals. This qualitative interview study attempts to shed more light on this field of tension: What are the benefits and constraints of working on the body in the gym? Furthermore, what similarities and differences can be identified in identity constructions in the two samples with regard to the different underlying healthcare systems? The evaluation of the interviews was based on qualitative content analysis and was carried out with technical support (MAXQDA). It appears that for the respondents creating a fit body results primarily in self-empowerment gains. At the same time, submissions to Western body and fitness norms are also evident. Inequalities in health opportunities exist in both countries: While the respondents in the German sample (26 interviews) rely on public health services, the privileged American women (14 interviews) are covered by private insurance. They indicate that claiming government benefits appears as a stigmatisation of one’s own way of life. Consequently, a lack of resources in the form of cultural and economic capital prevents successful age(ing).

The author analyzes the state policy of the Russian Federation oriented toward using and developing the potential of senior citizens, in particular its administration in library and information services. She reviews the documents on active ageing and senior citizen participation in economic and socio cultural development, i. e. federal laws, decrees, presidential messages, strategies, concepts, national programs, etc. Special attention is given to the related government programs and legal acts adopted in St. Petersburg. The priorities of the national and regional policy in the area are analyzed. The accomplished projects of Russian and, in particular, St. Petersburg public libraries are characterized. Personality orientation, humanism and social viability make the principles of library senior user services. The key vectors and formats of services are reviewed.

This study explored the complex relationships between immigration, volunteering, and life-long learning among older adults. It investigated adult teaching and learning and active ageing from the pe...

В начале XXI в. в научной и популярной литературе заметно возрос интерес к старости. В практику вошло употребление термина «стареющая Европа». Основная причина – рост доли пенсионеров от общего числа населения Европы. Цель данной статьи – изучить как этот социальный процесс в Европе переосмысляется в современном кинематографе. Авторами проанализировано несколько десятков кинокартин, сериалов и отдельных кинообразов 2000–2010-х гг., из которых подробно мы остановились на самых показательных и типичных. Хронологические рамки обусловлены рекомендацией Еврокомиссии от 2010 г. рассмотреть возможность повышения пенсионного возраста и началом пенсионных реформ во многих странах Европы. На сегодняшний момент теоретической основой европейской политической практики в отношении проблемы старения населения являются концепции активного старения и социальной сплоченности. Это дало основание взять за основу анализа набор индикаторов, используемых для расчета индекса активного старения: занятость, участие в общественной жизни, здоровье и безопасность, подходящая для активной старости среда. Выделены основные темы, затрагиваемые в фильмах о стариках: любовь, дружба и внутрисемейные отношения; здоровье и когнитивные расстройства; забота со стороны родственников и знакомых; самореализация и досуг; рефлексия прожитой жизни и ожидание смерти. Сделаны следующие выводы: кинематограф отражает актуальные для современной Европы тенденции изменения отношения к старости; формирует ее образ как полноценного, наполненного разнородным опытом этапа жизни; старость на экране не исключает радости от жизни, освоения новых профессиональных и личностных социальных ролей. Образы стариков из фильмов последних двух десятилетий демонстрируют изменение роли, которую играют пенсионеры в современном европейском обществе. Она диктуется демографической ситуацией, общественным мнением, политическими решениями, обусловлена экономическими процессами и социальными тенденциями. Современный кинематограф стал зеркалом, которое отобразило новое отношение к пожилым, и инструментом, выстраивающим у зрителя образ активного, включенного в жизнь общес­тва пожилого человека.

Objectives Sleep quality plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of older people and has become a major public health concern throughout the world. Social engagement, as a core component of “Active Ageing”, is one of the key determinants of health outcomes of older adults. This study estimated the relationship between social engagement and sleep quality among older adults living in rural China, and to determine whether there is a sex difference in these associations. Design A cross-sectional design. Multilevel, multiple linear regression models were used to examine the independent associations between each type of social engagement and sleep quality. All standard errors were clustered at the community level. Setting and Participants Data were from 3243 adults age 60 years or older from rural areas in China. Methods Sleep quality was measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Social engagement was measured by 3 types of social groups’ activity in this study, including participation in hobby groups, community-related organization, and sports groups. Results Participating in hobby groups, community-related organization, and sports groups with high frequency are all associated with better sleep quality. In addition, the positive relation between participating in community-related organization and sleep quality is stronger for older male than female adults, and the positive association between participating in hobby groups/sports groups is stronger for older female than male adults. Conclusions and Implications Older adults with high-frequency of social engagement may have better sleep quality. This study offers new insight for the sleep quality from the perspective of social engagement among older people, implies that encouraging targeted social engagement in older people with different sex may be effective in promoting sleep quality in rural China.

© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/), Ageism promotes the exclusion of older people from society by generating a negative image that they also internalize. The aim of this article is to investigate older people’s social self-image, through statements broadcast on a national Spanish radio program aimed at this group. A qualitative analysis was conducted for a random sample from the sound archive for the Radio Nacional de España program Juntos Paso a Paso (Together, Step by Step) (2008–2021), using codes based on the pillars and determinants of active ageing and the three dimensions of ageism. Intercoder agreement was calculated. There were significant findings regarding ageism, gendered ageism and ageing in place, with differences according to size of municipal area. The program in question can be considered a viable secondary source for the research aim. Ageism is most commonly manifested through implicit opinions and invisibilization in family and social contexts. Care activities play a notably central role in responses related to gendered ageism. In relation to ageing in place, older people prefer their habitual environment when they have moderate care needs and accept moves to nursing homes when their needs increase., R&D Activities Program ENCAGEn-CM: “Active Ageing, Quality of Life and Gender. Promoting a positive image of old age and ageing, against the ageism” (Ref. H2019/HUM-5698. Funded by Ministry of Science, Universities, and Innovation, Program of R&D Activities between research groups of the Madrid Region, and co-financed by the European Social Fund. encage-cm.csic.es

Active ageing is a multidimensional process for achieving the potential quality of life and meaning in the life cycle. In the context of the Andalusian region in Spain, where the majority of the population is over 60 years old and lives in rural areas, it has become a key challenge. That is why the European projects within the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, such as Pharaon - Pilots for Active and Healthy Ageing, promote technologies adapted by and for our elders. In the case of the Andalusian pilot, part of this project, we have selected a social network adapted to them, enabling them to communicate with the community at home and share their experiences. In addition, to improve their physical fitness, a device to count active minutes and steps is included, which provides users and caregivers with a visible and objective metric of daily health status. The technology has been evaluated following a well-defined methodology, which is described in this work to promote the deployment of technology in large-scale pilots. A specific architecture (Information System for Active Ageing in Andalusia - ISA3) and the components evaluated within a common ecosystem (Pharaon Project) are presented.

This paper elucidates the relationship between possible changes in volunteering experienced by older people during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their motivation to volunteer, as well as the direct or indirect experience of COVID-19 symptoms. Given the well-known positive benefits of volunteering in older age both for individuals (in terms of improved health and wellbeing) and society at large, there is a paucity of studies on older volunteers in the time of COVID-19. In this context, older people’s volunteering was highly challenged due to age-based physical and social restrictions put in place by national governments, which have been considered as ageist by a large part of the gerontological scientific community. This study was carried out on a sample of 240 Italian older volunteers. The results suggest that during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially older volunteers driven by social goals (e.g., opportunities to have relationships with others) were able to continue volunteer activities without needing to change them. The study also clarified that having directly or indirectly experienced COVID-19 symptoms did not influence changes in voluntary activities of older people. These results have important policy implications, given the indication that through volunteering, older individuals may try to counter the undesired calls by the governments for self-isolation and physical distancing. It is important that in emergency situations involving older people, policy makers should not treat them as only recipients of health and social care, but also as useful providers of help in the community.

Significant changes are taking place in the structure of tourism participants. Due to the ageing of societies, the tourism sector has to respond to the increasing tourist activity of seniors. The main aim of our research was the recognition of the needs of senior tourists from selected regions of Poland, considering their health and financial situation as well as their physical activity. The study shows how to combine the knowledge of assumptions of active ageing with the actual views of senior tourists on tourism and active leisure. An additional objective was to determine the reasons why seniors gave up tourism and to compare the reasons why seniors from selected regions of Poland and seniors from other European countries did not participate in tourism. Based on Eurostat data, we identify the most common reasons for people not participating in tourism who are over 65 years of age. In 2020, we surveyed seniors. The respondents for the sample were selected as 65 years and older. In order to compare countries due to exclusion and non-participation of seniors in tourism, the results classification was used. To analyse the touristic behaviours of Polish seniors, we used correspondence analysis. As indicated by analysing the reasons for the non-participation of Europeans aged 65 and over in tourism, in most countries, financial and health reasons are ranked first or second in 2016 and 2019. In a survey of Polish seniors, except for the financial reasons responsible for non-participation in tourism, an additional obstacle was the language barrier in foreign tourism. The analysis of physical and tourist activity showed that non-participation in tourism is associated with low physical activity. Women reported that they were satisfied with their financial independence and most often used the opportunity of short-term tourism. The people who are fully or largely involved in organising their trips also willingly change their locations during their next travels.

Background Social day centres can support active and healthy ageing amongst older people. However, little is known regarding the importance of social day centres. Aims/Objectives The aim of this study was to explore how older people visiting social day centres perceive the day centres social influence on their health and well-being. Material and methods Twenty older persons attending social day centres on a regular basis were interviewed regarding activities at the day centre and their importance for active and healthy ageing. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results The social day centres were described as arenas to provide a structure (and something to do) in the visitors everyday life. By attending a day centre, the participants created a social context with other visitors. Staff acted as facilitators for visitors, helping them to interact with other visitors and to experience the feeling of being needed by others. Conclusions The findings suggest that social day centres are important arenas for creating a sense of context and belongingness amongst older people. Significance This study provides knowledge on how doing and being contribute to healthy and active ageing.

Background Social participation concerns the possibility of engaging in activities in interaction with others or society at large and contributes to the health and well-being of older adults. In contrast, a lack of social participation is associated with loneliness. It is, therefore, important to understand what strategies older adults use to maintain social participation. Aim To explore and describe older adults' experiences of maintaining social participation. Materials and methods Nine older adults, aged 69-92 years, participated in interviews that were analysed through qualitative content analysis. Results The overall findings reflect how older adults create opportunities for social participation by developing strategies and striving to adapt to changing situations, emphasizing how maintaining social participation is an active process. Preserving social participation requires motivation and an effort to take initiative to cultivate social relations, maintain community bonds, engage in social events and activities and stay connected with society. Conclusions and significance These results may extend our understanding of strategies that older adults use, as well as the challenges they face when striving to adapt to new circumstances. This study may have implications for the practice of how to support older adults' social participation.

The speed of population ageing is among the fastest in ASEAN countries. For policy learning, this trend requires a high-quality, independent comparative evidence base. The demographic change has strong implications for sustainable development, especially in the view of the commitment to “leave no one behind” made in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The new Asian Active Ageing Index, which is presented in this paper, quantifies the extent to which older people have been able to and can realize their socioeconomic potential. Using the two most populous member States of ASEAN as examples, Indonesia and Thailand, the Index is sensitized to the Asia-Pacific cultural norms, such as the role of older persons in the society and the informal nature of contributions of older persons to their families and communities.

The submitted study has a theoretical character, and it approaches the preparation for (active) aging and (active) old age from three perspectives - its forms, the process of its management, and the orientation of its contents. Several sources confirm that this preparation can have manifold forms, it can take place in many types of the environment in various subjects, and it can be related to all age groups. The submitted study exclusively focuses on the educational preparation for (active) aging and (active) old age. The author presents its contents according to the age of learners.

Trends in the world population are shown to favor the increase market of elderly people aged 65 and over. This creates a new and promising market with many peculiarities and a variety of needs to be satisfied in terms of improving quality of life. The proposed solution to this problem which is investigated in this paper comes from technology. Especially, smart phone technology can lead to the creation of innovative products and services facilitating the elderly in their daily lives. The purpose of this study is to explore how a smart phone application (Active Ageing), could upgrade the quality of life of the elderly people and how to motivate them by making them feel safe and comfortable to go out for a walk. Further, the proposed app development takes a stakeholder’s approach where the society, the state, local actors and private investors, are involved. In this way opportunities can be seized and be a deterministic factor in this new market with many economic, social and environmental benefits. At the same time, the study examines the conceptual framework of an innovative business model which will contribute to the sustainable development of the application in the Greek society by taking a social entrepreneurship approach. Going through a critical literature review in relation to Active Ageing, the benefits and risks of walking, social entrepreneurship, market research methods and smart cities, an appropriate survey instrument was developed for evaluating the potential of the envisioned Active Aging app. Elements in the survey examined key issues that concern the elderly. Specifically, market needs have been identified regarding the necessary information to create confidence, safety, enjoyment and high quality of life in a framework of sustainable mobility.

Age-friendly built environments have been promoted by the World Health Organisation (WHO, Geneva, Switzerland) under the Global Age-friendly Cities (AFC) movement in which three domains are related to the built environment. These are: housing, transportation, outdoor spaces and public buildings. The aim is to foster active ageing by optimising opportunities for older adults to maximise their independent living ability and participate in their communities to enhance their quality of life and wellbeing. An age-friendly built environment is inclusive, accessible, respects individual needs and addresses the wide range of capacities across the course of life. Age-friendly housing promotes ageing in familiar surroundings and maintains social connections at the neighbourhood and community levels. Both age-friendly housing and buildings provide barrier-free provisions to minimise the needs for subsequent adaptations. Age-friendly public and outdoor spaces encourage older adults to spend time outside and engage with others against isolation and loneliness. Age-friendly public transport enables older adults to get around and enhances their mobility. For achieving an age-friendly living environment, a holistic approach is required to enable independent living, inclusion and active participation of older adults in society. The eight domains of the AFC movement are not mutually exclusive but overlap and support with one another.

The demographic landscape of European countries is rapidly changing because of population ageing; in this context, societies are called to offer older people opportunities to age actively. Although ‘active ageing’ has been broadly explored, there is still room to further our knowledge on the individual conditions that may favour or hinder activity in later life. This study aims to contribute to the literature in this field by focusing on the role of social capital. Specifically, it explores, through logistic regression models, how social capital and changes in social capital are associated with engagement in, the initiation of and continued participation in various domains of activity: volunteering and charity work, active participation in political or community-related organisations, informal care-giving and paid work. The data analysed stem from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). We focused on people aged 55+ participating in Waves 4–6. The key findings are: (a) having a larger social network is positively associated with participation in and the initiation of activities; (b) receiving social support (rarely) may stimulate reciprocity and thus care-giving; and (c) an increase in social network size is positively associated with initiation and maintenance of activities during later life.

As the country with the largest population of older people, while still being a developing one, China is confronted with huge challenges in seeking an optimum response, which is high on the agenda ...

The rapidly ageing population, the growing rate of divorce, and the longer life expectancy of women compared with men have resulted in a large proportion of older Chinese women being alone. The sexual health and intimacy needs of this group of women are ignored due to traditional Chinese cultural values that undermine older adults’ needs for sex and intimacy, and the subordinate position of women in society. The present study used a quantitative survey method to investigate bio-psycho-social factors associated with divorced and widowed older Chinese women’s sexual health and intimacy needs in two cities in Shanghai and Wuhan. The conceptual framework of this study was guided by cognitive stress theory, attachment theory, gender theory, socioemotional selectivity theory, objectification theory, and activity theory. We adopted a model involving demographic, biological, psychological, and social factors to unearth the mechanism influencing divorced and widowed older Chinese women’s sexual health and intimacy needs. Data were collected between October 2020 and March 2021 via face-to-face surveys. A convenience sample of 278 (N = 278) divorced and widowed older Chinese women was recruited (166 in Shanghai and 112 in Wuhan). Sexual health and intimacy needs were associated with current relationship status, financial status, physical health, attachment style, neuroticism, mental health, social support, prior marital conflict, and gender norm attitude. Sexual behaviour was associated with age, number of children, financial status, physical health, attachment style, neuroticism, prior marital conflict, gender norm attitude, sexual knowledge, sexual attitude, and intimacy attitude as predictors. Most participants in this study seemed to have found new intimate partners with whom to continue participating in sexual activities after their divorce or widowhood. The present study is one of the first examples of empirical research to examine the sexual health and intimacy needs of older Chinese women who are divorced or widowed. The findings generated by this study will inform the design and implementation of appropriate social programs for this demographic, and provide invaluable insight for social workers, educators, sex therapists, healthcare professionals, community workers, and policymakers working with this population.

This chapter analyses self-image among older adults, taking into account their different residential settings (family dwelling, cohousing, nursing homes), the relationship with pillars and determinants of active ageing, and the implications for the development of more inclusive settings for older adults. There is a qualitative analysis of discourses obtained during in-depth interviews and discussion groups held in 2017 with the older adult population in Spain. The findings showed that older adults construct different images of themselves according to their living environment, their social participation, and the availability of inclusive spaces. As a result, a public policy that is based on promoting age-friendly cities and communities (AFCCs), particularly seeking to reinforce the areas of social participation, respect and social inclusion and civic engagement and employment, could help to improve self-image among older people and facilitate their social and community inclusion., Research funded by: (i) R & D ENCAGEn-CM (CM, ESF-EC, ref. H2019/HUM-5698); (ii) R & D ENCAGE-CM (CM, ESF-EC, ref. S2015/HUM-3367); (iii) R & D & I ENVACES (MINECO-FEDER, ref. CSO2015-64115-R); (iv) R & D & I Long-Term Care Facilities and the COVID-19 Pandemic (Ref. 202010E158); (v) R & D & I QASP (AESI, PI18CIII/00046, ENPY 392/18).

Strength recommendations have been embedded within the UK’s Chief Medical Officers’ physical activity guidelines since 2011. In 2019, they were given a more prominent position in the accompanying infographic. However, there is limited evidence that these recommendations have been successful in their population-wide dissemination. This study aimed to explore the engagement of community-dwelling older adults with the guidelines to date and to gain a nuanced understanding of the awareness, knowledge, and action that older adults take to fulfil strength recommendations. A total of fifteen older adults living in the UK participated in one online interview. A general inductive approach was used to generate themes from the data. There were four major themes that were found. 1. The strength component of the physical activity guidelines, 2. Barriers, 3. Motivators, and 4. Solutions. No participants were aware of the strength guidelines. When they were asked what activities they used to fulfil the ‘build strength on at least two-days-per-week′ criteria, walking, yoga, and Pilates were the most common responses. Ageism and strength training misconceptions were major barriers to participation in strengthening exercise. Older adults were much less aware of the benefits of building strength and strength training participation when compared to aerobic activities, so motivators to participation were generally not specific to strength training. Finally, there are several ways that practitioners can overcome the barriers to strength training participation. Solutions to improving the uptake and adherence to strength training participation are likely to be more successful when they include opportunities for social interaction, ability-appropriate challenge, and provide both short- and long-term benefits.

Strength recommendations have been embedded within the UK’s Chief Medical Officers’ physical activity guidelines since 2011. In 2019, they were given a more prominent position in the accompanying infographic. However, there is limited evidence that these recommendations have been successful in their population-wide dissemination. This study aimed to explore the engagement of community-dwelling older adults with the guidelines to date and to gain a nuanced understanding of the awareness, knowledge, and action that older adults take to fulfil strength recommendations. A total of fifteen older adults living in the UK participated in one online interview. A general inductive approach was used to generate themes from the data. There were four major themes that were found. 1. The strength component of the physical activity guidelines, 2. Barriers, 3. Motivators, and 4. Solutions. No participants were aware of the strength guidelines. When they were asked what activities they used to fulfil the ‘build strength on at least two-days-per-week′ criteria, walking, yoga, and Pilates were the most common responses. Ageism and strength training misconceptions were major barriers to participation in strengthening exercise. Older adults were much less aware of the benefits of building strength and strength training participation when compared to aerobic activities, so motivators to participation were generally not specific to strength training. Finally, there are several ways that practitioners can overcome the barriers to strength training participation. Solutions to improving the uptake and adherence to strength training participation are likely to be more successful when they include opportunities for social interaction, ability-appropriate challenge, and provide both short- and long-term benefits.

Situated learning involves learners in collaborative learning activities, where they are challenged to use their critical thinking and kinaesthetic abilities. While immersed in the experience, learners reflect on previously held knowledge and by challenging the assumptions of other learners, Programme: Erasmus+ Key Action: Partnerships for cooperation and exchanges of practices; Cooperation partnerships in adult education; Project Reference: 2021-1-PL01-KA220-ADU-000033465

More and more studies indicate that leisure plays a fundamental role in active ageing. Our study describes the current leisure patterns of older adults, comparing them with other age groups. Consequently, 445 adults, stratified by age (young, middle-aged and older adults), were selected and subsequently administered a set of tests. The results indicate that older people claim having more time for their leisure activities; however, the diversity of activities performed is lower, showing a negative gradient based on age. The leisure patterns of older people reflect a predominance of passive leisure, little cultural leisure time and moderate levels of social and physical leisure activities. Older people’s leisure seems to be influenced by ageist stereotypes and attribution biases. Our findings imply that these results could be used to design and implement programs aimed at promoting leisure styles that contribute to increase active ageing. Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUG

Social participation amongst older adults is considered generally beneficial and is supported by active ageing policies in Europe. However, efforts to increase the quality of life and enhance the ageing experience may have the unintended consequence of increasing later life inequalities. This study uses six waves from SHARE to illustrate how social participation develops over time and how it is structured by education, financial situation and health status in the context of five European welfare regimes. The level of participation slightly increases over time for the population 55+, whilst the inequalities in access to these activities and their outcomes remain stable. Therefore, support of these activities does not strengthen or reduce inequalities amongst older adults – it may rather legitimise the inequalities in its emphasis on individual responsibilities. These findings suggest that the active ageing approach needs to become more context-sensitive or replaced by other social policy approaches.

Population ageing is a rapidly emerging policy and planning challenge for cities around the world. Physical activity is one important piece of this puzzle, linked to benefits to quality of life, ph...

Mobility or physical movement contributes to health and wellbeing in later life. Most studies have focused on the contribution of outdoor mobility to active ageing, but physical and cognitive impairments restrict the mobility of many older adults. This article aims to explore the gaps in the current literature on mobility in later life, and identify required innovations in the field through laying out key areas for future research. It discusses two, largely separate, areas of research, namely on mobility patterns and mobility experiences. The first focuses on quantitative and spatial research on outdoor mobility patterns in terms of routes, timing and transport modes. The second mainly concerns qualitative research on how older adults perceive mobility in their everyday lives. This article identifies three areas for future research on mobility in later life: (a) beyond outdoor movement; (b) diversity in mobility; and (c) the role of time in mobility. To conclude, addressing these areas jointly will contribute to further unpacking the concept of mobility as meaningful practice and to integrating quantitative and qualitative methods when studying mobility in later life. This will result in policy inputs on the mobility and wellbeing of our ageing population.

Increasing life expectancy has led to a global rise in late-life diseases. Quality of Life (QOL) is important for healthy life expectancy. The active ageing framework serves as a guide for policymakers to design policies that enhance the QOL of older people. This study aims to determine the association between awareness of active ageing and QOL. The Malay version of the 26-item WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was utilised along with the 14-item Active Ageing Awareness Questionnaire (AAAQ). A total of 532 participants had a mean (SD) age of 50.2 (5.9), were largely ethnic Malay (96.2%), female (52.8%), and comprised largely of low-income households (65.4%). The median (IQR) AAAQ score was 71.4 (19.1). The hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed significant positive association between AAAQ and the QOL domains of physical (β = 0.154, p < 0.001), psychological (β = 0.196, p < 0.001), social relationship (β = 0.175, p < 0.001), and environment (β = 0.145, p < 0.001) after adjusting for all covariates. Awareness of active ageing was found to have a positive effect on all domains of QOL among pre-elder employees, and thus, we recommend that policies to improve active ageing awareness should be implemented for healthy life expectancy in ageing populations.

Treball Final de Grau en Psicologia. Codi: PS1048. Curs: 2021/2022 The term active ageing was coined at the 2nd United Nations World Assembly on Ageing, and it was defined as "the process of optimising opportunities for health, participation and security in order to improve the quality of life as people age" (WHO, 2002). Disability was included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. The aim of this study is to find out to what extent active ageing of people with disabilities is promoted and whether it is in line with the 2030 Agenda. Method: we conducted a systematic review according to the PRISMA convention. Four databases were consulted: scopus, pubmed, google scholar and scielo; the key words were: active ageing, disability and older people, Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals. The review was carried out on papers published between 2002 and February 2022. Results: A total of 9 publications fulfilled both the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of these articles reviewed, they were grouped into active ageing and disability; SDGs and active ageing; and SDGs and disability. For each study, the objective, approach and outcomes were analysed. Conclusions: The works found on active ageing of persons with disabilities in the framework of the 2030 Agenda are scarce. The publications which have been analysed reveal the importance of Active Ageing of persons with or without disabilities and the benefits of the SDGs. There are comprehensive initiatives by the WHO for older people, which take into account diversity and promote personal autonomy and icluding them in the SDGs. More research on ageing of persons with disabilities is needed because we are still in the implementation period of the SDGs. El término de envejecimiento activo se acuñó en la II Asamblea Mundial de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Envejecimiento, y se definió como “el proceso de optimización de las oportunidades de salud, participación y seguridad con el fin de mejorar la calidad de vida a medida que las personas envejecen” (OMS, 2002). La discapacidad se incluyó en los Objetivos del Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) en el año 2015. Este trabajo se propone con el objeto de conocer en qué medida se promueve el envejecimiento activo de las personas con discapacidad y si éste se enmarca en la Agenda 2030. Método: realizamos una revisión sistemática según la convención PRISMA. Se han consultado cuatro bases de datos: scopus, pubmed, google scholar y scielo; las palabras clave fueron: envejecimiento activo, discapacidad y personas mayores, Agenda 2030 y Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible. La revisión se ha realizado de los trabajos publicados entre el 2002 y febrero de 2022. Resultados: Un total de 9 publicaciones cumplieron tanto los criterios de inclusión como los de exclusión. De estos artículos analizados, se agruparon en envejecimiento activo y discapacidad; ODS y envejecimiento activo, y ODS y discapacidad. En cada estudio se analizó el objetivo, el enfoque y los resultados. Conclusiones: Los trabajos encontrados sobre el envejecimiento activo de las personas con discapacidad en el marco de la Agenda 2030 son escasos, revelando los analizados la importancia del Envejecimiento Activo de personas con o sin discapacidad y los beneficios de los ODS. Existen iniciativas integrales por parte de la OMS para las personas mayores, que tienen en cuenta la diversidad fomentando la autonomía personal, incluyendo estas en los ODS. Es necesario investigar más sobre el envejecimiento de las personas con discapacidad porque todavía nos encontramos en un periodo de implantación de los ODS.

This article presents an analysis of research results on two categories of workers and job candidates - the youngest (under 25 years old) and the oldest (retired and pre-retirement). These age group cohorts are under the greatest pressure in the Russian labour market: the greatest difficulties in getting a job, age discrimination, etc. Paradoxically, these groups show not a difference but rather a similarity in their value orientations. They often experience latent and obvious discrimination from HR managers. As a result, in many respects these groups tend to have similar views about the labour market and their "life chances" to build a career and maintain income stability. The younger and older age groups are ready to interact with each other, but stereotypes about old age (prevalent in the country) make this process difficult. State policies that support certain age groups in the labour market often intensify intergenerational conflicts rather than hinder them. The Corona Virus pandemic has significantly affected the position of the youngest and oldest people in the labour market, putting them in a situation where they cannot apply for good jobs and have to accept any work.

The study examined changes in active ageing among 65/66- and 75/76-year-olds in northern Sweden and western Finland. Data were retrieved from a repeated cross-sectional survey conducted in 2005 and 2016. Logistic regression was used to estimate the probability of ageing actively in terms of employment, social and political participation, confidence in healthcare, economic situation, self-rated health and social contacts. The results showed no significant changes in employment, social participation or economic situation. However, the level of political participation and self-rated good health was significantly higher in 2016 compared with 2005, whereas confidence in healthcare and social contacts was lower. Considering that the implementation of active ageing policies relies heavily on municipal and/or regional level in our study region, our results could be used as a framework for regional policymaking.