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The ageing population has become a global problem in which enhanced understanding on their activity-travel patterns is needed. In this paper, an analysis of retired and dual-earner couples is conducted to investigate how retirement would change their activity time use and patterns. In particular, intra-household interactions are considered, to explore the interdependencies among household members' choices, social-demographics and travel behaviours. Household survey data from Hong Kong are employed. Results show that retirement would substantially increase joint participations and durations in various out-of-home activities. In addition, the importance of walkability is emphasised for retired couples in a mixed-land-use and transit-dependent city, and a potential social exclusion issue is identified for the low-income retired population. Scenarios analyses including changes of built environment and lifestyles (e.g., telecommuting, online shopping and food delivery) are conducted, to investigate how couples would reallocate the saved travel time. In summary, this paper highlights the importance of considering the group decision mechanism in a household for activity generation and travel demand forecasting. It sheds light on policies to improve quality-of-life for couples before and after the retirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Globally, the population is ageing and the number of older people is increasing dramatically. These are challenges for healthcare systems because an increased need for medical assistance is related to ageing. The availability of health-related data and information is a main issue for assessing the health status of seniors, having an important impact on their quality of life. Due to Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, smart environment, and virtual machines, the traditional healthcare approaches are replaced by up-to-date (remote) health monitoring systems in smart environments. The paper presents the opportunities provided by such solutions for an appropriate management of older people health related information. RO-SmartAgeing, a remote health monitoring system based on IoT, is presented as a case study with the intention of revealing the rise of the efficiency and the decease of the response time in seniors remote monitoring systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social interaction, especially for older people living alone is a challenge currently facing human-robot interaction (HRI). There has been little research on user preference towards HRI interfaces. In this paper, we took both objective observations and participants' opinions into account in studying older users with a robot partner. The developed dual-modal robot interface offered older users options of speech or touch screen to perform tasks. Fifteen people aged from 70 to 89 years old, participated. We analyzed the spontaneous actions of the participants, including their attentional activities and conversational activities, the temporal characteristics of these social behaviours, as well as questionnaires. It has been revealed that social engagement with the robot demonstrated by older people was no different from what might be expected towards a human partner. This study is an early attempt to reveal the social connections between human beings and a personal robot in real life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aging population is a global phenomenon, which has affected almost all the EU states. The consequences are very important since it affects the socio-economic environment usually on the long run. Some of them could consist in increasing the public expenditure on pensions, social security and health services, which will raise the overall burden on the working population. Sometimes, a significant reduction of the labour force will even diminish the growth rate of an economy. Considering these aspects, the present paper intends to analyse the demographic situation from the EU states, the factors that have generated it and to identify the possible future trends. To determine the evolution of the ageing population phenomenon, we have analysed some demographic indicators included in various statistical reports and databases, such as the fertility rate, the median age, the percentage of population over a certain age and the age dependency ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for accessible housing is increasing. More people are expected to live longer and live more years with reduced functional capacity in ordinary multi-family housing. To address this, detailed knowledge of accessibility problems in the existing housing stock and systems that could contribute to efficient collaboration between housing industry and authorities concerned is needed. This paper introduces a project with the overarching aim to develop and evaluate a new decision support system (DSS) to inventory and support decision-making for improved accessibility in multi-family housing in Sweden. The specific aim is to describe the initial app development phase and to investigate the design-team interactions and their impact on the outcome. The app will constitute the core part of the new DSS. This phase involved co-design to fit the practice context at target and meet users' needs and expectations. The co-design process served to identify user requirements to guide the development. Housing Enabler (an internationally acknowledged instrument for assessment and analysis of accessibility problems) was the methodological starting point. The prototype app enables professional inventory of environmental barriers and registration of subsequent work for accessibility improvements. A fully functional prototype of an app including an example apartment database is ready for usability studies and further iterative refinements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ageing population is a natural and inevitable phenomenon that constitutes an opportunity for the development of the logistics services industry. This is related to the fact that a new demographic profile of the world is determined by a growing number of customers -- seniors - with special needs that generate the demand for services such as carriage and home delivery of food and medicines. Therefore, considering the growing demand for logistics services intended for older adults, there is a justified need to develop theoretical knowledge in this area. The paper aims to define a logistics service dedicated to an elderly person as the ultimate recipient as well as to identify the classification criteria of such services. The first part of the article is based on a literature review and presents definitions of a service and a logistics service according to various researchers. It also identifies different classifications of logistics services. These theoretical aspects provided a basis for authors to propose the notion of a logistics service and a catalogue of criteria for systemising logistics services dedicated to older adults. Logistics services for the elderly may be grouped according to classification criteria applicable to what is widely understood as logistics services in source literature. The classification criteria are the type of service, the immateriality of service, the frequency of contacting the customer, the type of purchaser market, the degree of service customisation, the type of a relationship between the service enterprise and the customer, and the place of service provision. Nonetheless, due to the customer-oriented approach in logistics, the authors proposed the classification criteria of these services with regard to age, financial situation, needs, health, expectations, hobby, skills and problems of older adults. Such an approach to classification is determined by considerable inherent diversification of the discussed group of customers as well as a specialised catalogue of logistics services. The classification of logistics services may contribute to the improved design of such services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to learn lessons from North America on housing an ageing population, both in terms of supporting people to "age in place", and available options for those who need/wish to move. The project, funded by the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, comprised a six-week travel fellowship to USA and Canada to meet with housing professionals from the public and private sectors and find out about best practice initiatives and efficient models for housing older people.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is in two parts, of which this is the second. Part 2 focuses on the links between housing and health and, recognising significant differences between the countries, draws out lessons which may be applied as similar challenges of austerity, an ageing population and the increasing interest in personal budgets are faced.Findings – There is no one size fits all approach to addressing the housing needs of the older population; a continuum of options across tenures is required. There are opportunities for growth in the private and non-profit sectors in terms of the provision of services for the ageing population. Large scale social change comes from better cross-departmental coordination and cannot be achieved by the isolated intervention of a single organisation. Originality/value – This was a unique opportunity to learn lessons from North America on how to effectively meet the needs of the older population, now and in the future. The findings are based on the personal observations and conclusions of a housing practitioner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aging population is a global phenomenon, which has affected almost all the EU states. The consequences are very important since it affects the socio-economic environment usually on the long run. Some of them could consist in increasing the public expenditure on pensions, social security and health services, which will raise the overall burden on the working population. Sometimes, a significant reduction of the labour force will even diminish the growth rate of an economy. Considering these aspects, the present paper intends to analyse the demographic situation from the EU states, the factors that have generated it and to identify the possible future trends. To determine the evolution of the ageing population phenomenon, we have analysed some demographic indicators included in various statistical reports and databases, such as the fertility rate, the median age, the percentage of population over a certain age and the age dependency ratio.

The 16th World Congress on Medical and Health Informatics (MedInfo 2017) was held August 21–25, 2017, in Hangzhou, China. It provided a valuable platform for sharing the latest medical and health informatics research and related applications to the scientists, medical practitioners, entrepreneurs, and educators as well as students. During this event, on August 23, 2017, an important related topic was presented in a panel discussion entitled “Wearable technologies: Advancing the healthcare in ageing population” by panelists Shabbir Syed-Abdul, Panagiotis Bamidis, Chun-Por Wong, and Xinxin Zhu. Recent advances in health technologies, focusing on the aging population, their benefits and challenges were discussed, and these topics are summarized in this paper. The need for technology to improve of the life of older population, influential and beneficial technologies, for delivering these technologies to patients are described in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Spain is an ageing country, and the present demographic burden is not homogeneously distributed across space. Will the aged population be evenly distributed in the future, or will disparities broaden over time? Identifying the spatial patterns of the aged population concentration and the existence of a demographic burden convergence/divergence process is a pertinent question in Spain after the regional devolution the country has undergone in the last decades and the coexistence of different regimes. In this paper, we use a non‐parametric approach (geographically weighted regressions) to identify the determinants of the ageing dynamics, checking for the existence of a convergence/divergence ageing process after controlling for the socio‐economic characteristics of the Spanish municipalities. Although global estimations support the convergence hypotheses posed, GWR results show a significant variability of the effects depending on the area considered, which calls for a careful treatment of the results both for analysis and policy purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term 'social tourism' has been ambiguously interpreted since its inception in the early 20th century, when the focus of tourism was mainly for the financially disadvantaged and socially excluded travellers. Such concept was indeed important to increase social participation in tourism through social and political interventions. Tourism today has transformed with several innovative business ideas, diverse stakeholder participation, new forms of tourism involving the ageing population and people with disability, decreased cost of travelling that allows the inclusion of more middle income groups in leisure trips, rapid growth of tourism in emerging economies, and the recognition of tourism as more than a luxury phenomenon. Literature rarely discusses the inclusive aspects of social tourism when new forms of tourism arise. This study attempts to describe three aspects of social tourism: (a) how social tourism is perceived in different sociocultural and geographical settings; (b) what are the excluded elements of social tourism; and (c) change in demography of potential socially excluded groups. The study also explains the trends of special forms of tourism and its relevance to social tourism inclusion. The paper offers a wider theoretical engagement and understanding of a growing shift in patterns of social tourism and touristic experience in the present and future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The built environment is essential for well-being at old age. The theory of salutogenesis, focusing on health, rather than the disease itself, provides evidence that space contributes to health and well-being. This has influenced healthcare architecture through facilities designed to support well-being. So, increasingly healthcare facilities aim to look like hotels to improve user experience. This retains conceptual and usage gaps between hospitality and healthcare but supports cross-fertilization of best practice. This paper explores possibilities of synergies between healthcare facilities and hospitality industry. Appropriate services and well-being across the lifespan is the ultimate objective, and the physical environment is critical in that provision. Examining the architectural typology of the dementia village as case study, it explores healthcare–hospitality hybrids. Learning from both domains can contribute to silver economy while providing the aging population with enhanced environment. Aging population and stakeholders in this ecosystem can benefit from these synergies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Inhalation of aerosols containing Legionella pneumophila, a water-borne bacteria commonly found in natural and manmade water systems, is the main causative agent of Legionnaires' disease (LD). Approximately 10–15% of all reported cases of LD result in fatality, with susceptibility to the disease being higher in immunosuppressed patients, men over 45 years of age, alcoholics, smokers and individuals with underlying diseases. The World Health Organisation (WHO), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and The United Kingdom (UK) Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have implemented a strict code of practice and guidelines to minimise the risk of the public from contracting LD. This paper provides a critical review of these three published guidelines. Evidence suggests that the current detection methods for Legionella, by culture and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), show large disparities in the detection and quantification of bacteria in water samples, raising concerns about the reliability of measures needed to safeguard public health. Moreover, a survey of 20 residential building complexes in different London boroughs highlights the need for a review of remedial action recommendations and a more inclusive risk assessment strategy that protects 'at risk' people in society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is becoming older, and aging in the developing countries of the ASEAN region is unfolding faster than most developed countries in the United States and Europe. This paper examined the effectiveness of old age income security programs mandated in selected ASEAN countries. These programs sought to address the aging problem to encourage the government to promote the aging labor force's efficiency and increase labor force productivity. Furthermore, the study examined the effect of old-age dependency, increase in the life expectancy, and GDP per capita on labor force productivity using a panel data set from selected ASEAN countries from various income brackets, specifically Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, which are also classified as yellow group nations that are in the process of the demographic dividend implementation. Using the Multiple Regression Model, the researchers found out that the Old-Age Dependency Ratio positively impacts Labor Force Participation Rate. However, GDP per Capita, Life Expectancy, and the Non-contributory fund decrease the Labor Force Participation Rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of research is to analyse the impact of population ageing process on labour force market, as well as economic factors on the transition from labour activity to pension in the Republic of Moldova. The change in the structure of labour force to wards elder ages, as well as interruption of active economic activity and retirement is one of the factors in economic growth slowdown, which is conditioned by a reduction of labour force reproduction and its growth. In this situation, in order to mitigate the negative consequences of labour force deficit, it is necessary to take effective measures to increase labour productivity not only to ensure economic growth, but also to ensure the welfare of the country's population and meet the necessities of an increased share of the population-dependents (both the elderly population and children under 15). Taking into account the relevance of the above-mentioned problem, the analysis of the relationship between economic factors and the transition from labour activity to pension in the conditions of demographic ageing was carried out, including the evaluation of the role of economic factors in making a decision to exit from the labour market to pension. In this context, the comparative quantitative and qualitative analysis of tendencies in the economically active and employed population was carried out, including pre- and pension ages and the phenomenon of precarious employment, the demographic coefficient of dependence on old age, the dependence of pension from the income level, and the financial stability of the Social Insurance Budget. The proposals to improve the effectiveness of government policies in regulation and harmonization the transition from the labour market to pension, including the continuation of active economic activity was elaborated in order to reduce the negative consequences connected with the process of population ageing and to ensure the stability of labour market development. The article is developed in the framework of the research Subprogramme "The demographic transition in the Republic of Moldova: particularities, socioeconomic implications and demographic resilience straightening" (2024-2027). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Annali di Igiene, Medicina Preventiva e di Comunità is the property of Societa Editrice Universo s.r.l. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Previously I have used qualitative data to develop a four-domain (physical, social, temporal, and psychological) model of attachment to place for older people in rural areas. Drawing on data for 920 older people (60+ years) living in rural areas of South West England and Wales, and utilising items developed from the initial qualitative analysis to represent each domain empirically, this paper uses exploratory factor analysis to identify the underlying factor structure of place attachment for older people in these rural areas. It examines the match between the resulting factor structure and an a priori conceptualisation of place attachment. I develop subscales and an overall scale of place attachment and tests for reliability and rating scaling assumptions (content validity). Using principal axis factoring three factors are identified: social attachment, aesthetic attachment, and appropriateness of resources and the environment. The three factors account for 23.5%, 11.6%, and 6.4% of the variance and good internal reliability is demonstrated (Cronbach's α 0.71, 0.72, and 0.72). The analysis suggests that this is a psychometrically reliable and valid instrument fit for the purpose of measuring attachment to place for older people in rural areas. However, further psychometric evaluations with other samples are required to confirm the model structure, and to develop a fourth domain representing an historical attachment to place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The level, as well as the structure of private consumption, is influenced by the age structure of the population. This is shown for Austria in the first part of the paper. Age-specific saving rates and consumption patterns on national and regional levels are identified through an analysis of household data of the Austrian consumer budget survey. In a second step, the gained data is used to simulate the future development of the private saving rate and consumption structure in Austria, based on the population projections up to 2050. According to the simulation results, an increase in the private saving rate is to be expected on a national, as well as on a regional level, due to the changing shares of age groups. Furthermore, consumption goods and services in the field of transport will lose significance in favour of expenditures for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, food and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as health products and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper aims to show how the ageing of the baby boomers will affect public mental health.Design/methodology/approach - Mental health in later life can be influenced by wealth, discrimination, relationships, physical health, and participation in meaningful activity. This literature review appraises each aspect in relation to baby boomers' lives; the review is neither systematic nor exhaustive.Findings - The baby boomers appear wealthier than their parents, but will live for longer in a state of poor physical health, and will have smaller families separated by greater distances. They also have a history of championing marginalized groups, and may challenge age discrimination.Social implications - Increased longevity has social implications; culturally, economically, politically. In the UK, there are now approximately 17 million baby boomers soon to reach later life, a varied and ethnically diverse generation. Mental health services, especially for dementia, need to adapt to meet their needs. Baby boomers now hold politically influential positions, making decisions affecting their own lives as they enter later life. Increased wealth inequalities mean that the more affluent may enjoy meaningful activity and afford better mental health care, but the less affluent may need to work in unrewarding jobs to pay for it. Recognition of these inequalities should be at the forefront of any decision regarding mental health care in older adults.Originality/value - This paper reviews a range of contextual literature while focusing specifically on mental health. It would be of interest for anyone wishing to read about protecting the mental health of an ageing population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the ageing of European populations and rising prevalence of age-related chronic diseases, access to affordable medical treatment will become increasingly important over the next decades. Promoting the use of generic medicines by the elderly can contribute to sustaining European health care systems. This paper aims to show how increased utilization of generic medicines can address the challenge of escalating health care costs due to population ageing. To this effect, the paper calculates the generic market share for common diseases affecting the elderly and computes the savings from increasing the generic market share for these diseases. Data on the off-patent retail market in the 27 European countries in 2009 were derived from IMS Health. The findings indicate that Europe does not realize the full potential of generic medicines to sustain affordable medical treatment for ageing populations: the generic market share ranged from 6% for osteoporosis to 71% for pain and inflammation. Increasing generic market shares could yield savings of €4–16 billion for the 27 countries studied. The size of savings varies widely between diseases, with the lowest savings to be achieved in cardiac rhythm diseases and the highest savings in cancer, pain and inflammation, and hypertension. Promoting the use of generic medicines by the elderly can enhance patient compliance with treatment, improve health outcomes and reduce health care expenditure, and thus is a cost-effective policy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The purpose of this paper is to provide the reader with evidence based-clinical guidance regarding assessing neuropathic pain. Persistent pain is a huge burden on health-care provision and the prevalence of persistent neuropathic pain is likely to increase owing to the ageing population. The provision of appropriate relieving interventions depends on accurate assessment. This paper sets out to provide the reader with simple neuropathic assessment tools that can be applied to community care. This will allow the community nurse to identify patients who have neuropathic pain and will therefore enable appropriate management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As Australia's population ages, housing is going to become an increasingly important issue for policy makers, developers, housing providers and service providers. Not only will there be demands for increasing numbers of houses but also increasing demands for greater choice, variety and greater expectations about the quality of that housing and the type of facilities associated with, or in close proximity to, that housing. Research emphasises an array of demographic, social, economic, personal and community factors along with cohort effects that influence the housing and living arrangement choices of older people. A clear understanding of these factors and the way they may interact in influencing housing decisions and transitions is essential if planning is to be effective. This paper provides an overview of our current understanding of the influences on the housing careers of the older population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionThis paper addresses the growing healthcare needs of an ageing population and the lack of advanced technologies with social capabilities that are cost effective, user friendly, and readily adopted. In response to this motivation, a socially assistive walker is designed to provide physical and cognitive support in activities of daily living for older adults.MethodsPhysical and cognitive support is provided by walker’s structure, sensors, and feedback interfaces to assist users daily living activities, as well as, in navigating environment safely and efficiently. The walker’s design arises from semi-structured interviews conducted with ageing experts, leading to the development of two levels or modes of social interaction, namely low and high interaction.Results and discussionIn a cohort of 14 adults, the study found the device easy to use regardless of the interaction mode, with 78.5% expressing a preference for the version featuring embodiment, verbal feedback, and more proactive cues (p< 0.05). The results also prompted ideas and suggestions for new designs based on insights gleaned from the user. This research contributes to the field of socially assistive robotics by offering an example of a user centred approach to address the healthcare challenges an ageing population poses.

Within the United Kingdom 19 million people, nearly half the electorate, are aged over 50 years, constituting a significant consumer group with a combined annual income of £166 billion (Nicholson, 2001). However, 'everyday products and services are designed in a way that ignores the needs of older people ... excluding them from a society that is youth obsessed' (Design and Innovation, 2000). Whilst designers have access to marketing and ergonomic data, personal perceptions based on negative stereotypes may prejudice the design process. Building on research into professional design practice and the ageing population, this paper proposes an inclusive design methodology to challenge ageist assumptions and contribute to curriculum developments in learning and teaching design in higher education. The research is timely as age discrimination legislation was agreed within the European Union in 2000 (European Union Directive, 2000) and is anticipated to be implemented within the United Kingdom by 2006 (Age Concern, 2002). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 17th century, the Slovak population began migrating from its motherland to the south and to the southeast of the Pannonian Plain. They settled in Vojvodina, and the settlements in which the Slovaks are still the most numerous are Kovačica and Bački Petrovac. The share of the Slovak ethnic group in Vojvodina grew until the mid-20th century, after which a noticeable decline was observed, especially in the last two censuses. The low fertility and migration of the young population reflected the change in the age structure, which in the long run is a key challenge for the sustainability of this ethnic group in Vojvodina, on which fact the goal and task of this paper are based. The focus of the paper is the ageing of the Slovak population, analyzed on the basis of age-sex structure, average age, ageing index, age ratio, age dependency ratio and age structure typology. The comparative analysis covered the period since the census in 1971 and it was established that the population of Bački Petrovac and Kovačica was shifting from the stage of the threshold of demographic ageing towards deep and deepest demographic ageing. These two settlements represent the anchors of the Slovaks in Vojvodina and the settlements of their largest concentration, so it is expected that the trends in other settlements, with a smaller share of the Slovak population, will only be even more unfavorable. The results are complemented by the demographic projections of this ethnic group at the level of Vojvodina, obtained in the DemProj Spectrum v5.47 software. According to the current trends and projections, the Slovak ethnic group has some of the most unfavorable age indicators, which could lead to a decline in the total number of this population by more than 30% by the middle of the 21st century, thus endangering its sustainability in this region.

Abstract: This paper explores energy use and behaviour of older urban Australians by identifying the key factors that shape their energy demand. As Australia is facing an aging population, understanding what structural and behavioural factors can help improve residential energy efficiency is key for developing effective policy initiatives to support the successful management of household energy costs, wellbeing and carbon emissions within this population. This paper reports on survey and electricity meter data collected for an energy efficiency program involving 1,647 older householders (aged 60 and above) living within the Brisbane City Council Local Government Area. The program was funded by the Australian Government Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program (LIEEP) and ran from November 2013 to February 2015. Brisbane is Australia’s third largest city and has a subtropical climate, with warm or hot weather for most of the year. The findings show that electricity consumption within the study’s sample population was influenced by both structural and demographic factors. These factors include range of energy sources used, number of bedrooms and number of people living in the household, as well as type of appliances used in the home. In terms of appliance use, high-energy consuming appliances such as water heating and space cooling systems, clothes-dryers and refrigerators were important predictors of energy consumption. Over two-thirds of the study participants were relying on cooling systems for thermal comfort, and such systems were typically not being used in an energy efficient way. The use of high-energy demand heating and cooling systems can account for around 40% of energy consumption in Australian households, and has a large impact on electricity peak demand. With the penetration of air-conditioning in seniors’ home expected to increase over time, it is important to better understand the range of low and high-energy demand practices that are currently employed by older Australians to achieve thermal comfort at home. Designing strategies that minimise the need for high-energy demand cooling practices will be key for managing household energy costs and wellbeing within this target audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining factors that affect healthcare utilization by the elderly is vital for the health system to be more responsive in providing care to this vulnerable group. The main objective of this paper is to identify the effect of the predisposing, enabling, and need factors on doctor visits and in-patient care for the elderly residing in the northern region of Malaysia. A multistage cluster sampling was used in selecting the sample for the study. A total of 1414 respondents aged 60 and over were interviewed face-to-face using a structured questionnaire. A probit model was used in estimating the utilization equations. At a significance level of 0.05, except for age, all predisposing and enabling factors were not statistically significant in affecting the doctor visits. On the other hand, being a male, smoker, medical insurance holder or had not actively involved in social interaction within the reference period increases the likelihood of being in-patient. Health-related variables remain the most significant factors that determine healthcare utilization, including both doctor visits and in-patient stays, in the area of study, which suggests that government policies to improve population health may influence the level of healthcare use in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australian providers of aged care are facing a rapidly ageing population and growth in demand for services. Beyond a sheer increase in consumers and major regulatory changes from Federal Government, many customers are becoming progressively discontented with a medically dominated model of care provision. This period of turbulence presents an opportunity for new entrants and forward-thinking organisations to disrupt the market by designing a more compelling value offering. Under this line of inquiry, the researchers conducted a qualitative content analysis study of over 37 Australian aged care organisations, clustering providers into six business model typologies. The study revealed that providers of aged care are becoming increasingly aware of emerging customer needs, and, in addressing these needs, are seeking to establish innovative models of care provision. This paper therefore presents a future model of care, along with implications for practice and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In 2050, it is predicted that 4.17bn or nearly 50% of the world's population will take an international holiday. In South Asian countries tourism is often prescribed as one of the most promising sectors for their economic development. By 2050 tourism sector will be dominated by the Asia-Pacific countries because of unparalleled natural beauty, unique cultural identity, and a significant number of historical and archaeological sites; and virginity of many of the destinations. To play the leading role in tourism sector in 2050 South Asian countries require to prepare plans particularly at the central level to guide tourism development, as they have recognized tourism as an important source of foreign currency earning and employment generation. India, being the largest country of this region and also one of the largest emerging economy of the world, has tremendous scope to explore and expand its tourism sector. Apparently, the whole of India is preparing to grab the big slice of the tourism pie in the next few decades. However, as tourism is a multidisciplinary phenomena, so it is imperative to analyze the negative impacts of tourism and find out the ways to combat with these negative factors for two reasons: one, how to minimize the negativity of the factors and two, establish herself in a respectable position in the world tourist map. This paper attempts to demonstrate some key characteristics of tourism in 2050 in order to gain a general understanding of future tourism in the region with special reference to India. Further, some strategies and policy issues have been identified and proposed to grab the opportunities to come by 2050 vis-a-vis the risk elements associated with the expansion of tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to highlight the need for a longer term view of how to address the needs of older people for suitable housing.Design/methodology/approach The author draws from his experience of meetings and discussions with numerous older people through his national and regional roles in the ageing sector.Findings There is a need to hear the voice of older people, to emphasise “rightsizing” rather than “downsizing”, to create self-supporting communities rather than building houses, to focus on care and repair services and finally to ensure that all new homes are built to enable occupiers to age in place.Originality/value The author draws on extensive experience of involvement in the older people’s movement to provide a challenging analysis of the housing situation as it affects older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rise in the ageing population is the current demographic challenge which is capable of pressuring the government to borrow more external funds in order to support domestic needs. This study aims to investigate the effects of the external debt of 36 upper-middle-income economies from 2000 to 2017 due to the increase in the ageing population. This study employed the system Generalised Method of Moments (GMM), where it revealed that the ageing population could increase the level of external debt if the population aged 65 and above was used as a proxy to represent the ageing population. However, the results were insignificant when the proxy was changed to the old-age dependency ratio. It illustrated that the increase in external debt occurs due to the increase in the population aged 65 and above because the government has to allocate more funds for healthcare, age-friendly infrastructure, social security and pensions. However, the dependency of the older people on government is minimal because of their long-term savings. Hence, the old-age dependency ratio has an insignificant relationship with the external debt level. For future research, it is suggested that the impact of the ageing population can be investigated on the domestic debt level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In prosperous nations like Ireland, home support workers (HSWs) play an increasingly vital role in providing person-centred care to ageing populations. However, challenges such as workforce shortages, role ambiguity, low pay, and limited career advancement, hinder workforce development and career building. Method: A scoping review using key terms for "HSWs" and "career pathways" was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute Methodology, examining electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PscyINFO, Social Care Online, Social Sciences Citation Index). Inclusion criteria were applied, and a thematic analysis followed and inductive-deductive approach. Results: The review encompassed 261 relevant articles from different countries. Four key themes were identified: (1) Data-driven decision-making on the future workforce, (2) Attracting and developing a competent and motivated home support workforce, (3) Enhancing working lives and retention at every stage of career pathways, and (4) Crafting career pathways to improve quality and impact. Discussion: Leadership, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making across policy, research and practice are pivotal for expanding and enhancing home support. Emphasising a shift towards preventative self-management models, supported by digitally skilled and regulated HSWs, could enhance independence and quality of care. Clear career structures, professional development, and inclusive organisational environments are essential to attract, retain, and empower a competent and motivated workforce, fostering quality and impact. Conclusion: This scoping review provides foundational evidence to establish career pathways for HSWs, identifying key areas for development such as data collection, care model transformation, career progression structures, and systems for safety and quality improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to provide an overview on loneliness in older people, with an emphasis on how insights from this body of literature can significantly contribute to the enhancement of care provided by community nurses. This review aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the factors contributing to loneliness, its impact on the physical and mental health of older individuals, and the role community nurses can play in mitigating and addressing loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Population ageing and rising poverty are two of the most pressing issues today, even in Western European nations, growing as a result of the recent global economic crisis and the COVID-19 containment measures. This study explores the relationship between long-term care (LTC) needs and risk of poverty at household level in eight European countries, representing the different European care regimes. Methods: The main international databases were scoured for study variables, categorized according to the following conceptual areas: home care, residential care, health expenditure, service coverage, cash benefits, private services, population, family, education, employment, poverty, disability and care recipients, and life expectancy. We initially identified 104 variables regarding 8 different countries (Austria, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania). Statistical analyses were conducted as described hereafter: analysis of the Pearson's Bivariate Correlation between the dependent variable and all other variables; a Multivariable Linear Regression Model between the Poverty Index (dependent variable) and the covariates identified in the preceding step; a check for geographical clustering effects and a reduced Multivariable Linear Regression Model for each identified European cluster. Results: The variables that addressed the risk of poverty pertained to the area of policy intervention and service provision. Rising private out-of-pocket health expenditures and proportion of "poor" couples with at least one child are two factors that contributed significantly to poverty increasing. Moreover, rising private out-of-pocket health expenditures for covering LTC needs (even in presence of public financial contribution to the family) is the main contributor to household poverty increasing in presence of ADL disability. Conclusion: The results reveal the existence of a clear correlation between the need for LTC and the risk of poverty in households across Europe. These results highlight the central relevance of LTC policies, which are often still treated as marginal and sectoral, for the future sustainability of integrated care strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To synthesize the evidence on the relationships between physical housing characteristics or housing accessibility and different aspects of health among community-dwelling people 60 years and older. Methods: A systematic review of recent evidence with a narrative synthesis was conducted. Results: We included 15 studies and found three themes covering physical housing characteristics or housing accessibility that are associated with aspects of health among community-dwelling older adults: (1) interventions by home modifications targeting housing features both at entrances and indoors; (2) non-interventions targeting indoor features; (3) non-interventions targeting entrance features, that is, the presence of an elevator or stairs at the entrance. The overall quality of evidence across studies was assessed as very low. Discussion: The findings highlight the need for studies with a stronger research design and higher methodological quality that address the physical housing environment in relation to health among older adults to strengthen the body of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Facilities in retirement villages form a supportive environment for older residents. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the provision of these facilities in retirement villages, which are regarded as a viable accommodation option for the increasing ageing population in Australia. Methods A content analysis of facilities in 124 retirement villages operated by 22 developers in Queensland and South Australia was conducted. Results The most widely provided facilities are community centres, libraries, barbeque facilities, hairdressers/salons and billiards/snooker/pool tables. Commercial operators provide more facilities than not-for-profit organisations, and larger retirement villages normally have more facilities due to the economies of scale involved. Conclusions The results of the study provide a useful reference for providing facilities within retirement villages that may support the quality lifestyles of older residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ageing population is presenting an economic challenge in the United Kingdom (UK). Electronic Assisted Living Technology (eALT) is purported to be one potential solution to this problem, as it offers an opportunity to help people remain independent and age in place. The provision of eALT within the UK has traditionally been dominated by statutory provision, leading to a lack of choice of commercial products and services for those whom it might benefit. With increased need for support for the ageing population, and rationalisation of statutory service provision, older people will increasingly be looking toward privately purchased eALT to support their health and independence. However, previous work has identified that there are numerous barriers to the development of a consumer eALT market. This paper describes a series of cocreation workshops which were held to explore solutions to these barriers with younger older people, aged 50-70 years old, which sought to explore the development of a consumer eALT market. A number of solutions were found for all stages of the eALT consumer journey, including how to help people recognise they have a need, how to find eALT information, how to help consumers make the decision to purchase, where to place eALT for consumer access and purchase, and how to encourage continued use of the product or service and repeat sales. The results of this study will be of interest to the UK, European and worldwide consumer eALT markets, to encourage older consumers to maintain their independence and lifestyle and offers insights for the eALT industry in how to reach these consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Funded by the EU, the German city networks DUVA and Urban Audit in cooperation with Dutch and Finnish cities, under the leadership of Freiburg University, engaged in the TooLS-project to build up a data base for cooperative learning focusing on the perceptions of the generation 50plus in Europe. This paper reports on the concept and the organisational set-up and describes the publicly available knowledge base with content data, methodologies and instruments built up from the citizens' surveys in more than 15 cities plus data from comparative European surveys and from the Urban Audit. It alsoinvites interested cities to join the emerging new KOSIS-Association TooLS and to participate in the next round of comparative perception surveys on the topic of the future of the generation 50plus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to interrogate the very assumption of “sociality” in social media at a conceptual level and substantiate it with the help of information collected on aged people’s use of conventional media vis-à-vis so called “social media” from the field work. Although global literature has written the obituary of mass media and promoted the “sociality” of social media, one needs to critically engage with such statement. Such statements have been an outcome of the established status of the “post broadcast” model of media where conventional media is in existence for some time and accessible to everyone in society. Further, this paper seeks to explore the interplay of new media in the life of the aged population in select areas of Kolkata city in the state of West Bengal, India. There are few studies on the ageing population’s use of new media in the Indian context. While many of the studies reveal the new media literacy among the youth, this is unimportant as both the new media and the youth are relatively young as a field of research in media studies in India. What is missed in the earlier studies is, how new media plays an important function in the life of the aged population. How do older adults engage with the skilling and deskilling process of media literacy in their everyday life? And finally, do new media provide an extension to their on-going social relations? With the help of substantive details, the present study addresses the aforementioned queries.

This paper examines the short-run and long-run relationships between an ageing population and economic growth in Bangladesh using time series data for the period between 1972–2015. We employed a bivariate endogenous growth model to investigate the relationship between the population aged 65 years and above and per capita gross domestic product (GDP). The study found that there is a long-run positive relationship between the ageing population and per capita real GDP. The relationship runs from an ageing population to per capita real GDP, given that there is an increasing capital formation process in the economy. Therefore, the elderly population is not a matter of concern for Bangladesh as long as per capita capital formation has been greater than that of per capita ageing population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Lateral control of mid-aged drivers is better than those of older drivers. • Age-related impairment on driving performance cannot be offset. • Contributing factors are different between professional & non-professional drivers. • Older general drivers have better steering performance in low traffic condition. Of the road crashes involving personal injury in Hong Kong, over 70% involved at least one commercial vehicle. Besides, the proportion of older drivers in the transport sector has been increasing due to the shortage of labor and ageing population. It is believed that increase in age can have adverse impact on driving performance, even that professional drivers may possess better driving skill than non-professional drivers and the age-related impairment can be offset by task familiarity of professional drivers. In this paper, a driving simulator experiment was conducted to address this question. Additionally, possible factors that affect the driving performance of professional drivers and that of non-professional drivers were examined. A total of 50 participants were recruited and 94 tests were completed. Driving performance was assessed in terms of standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP), standard deviation of heading error (SDHE), mean heading error (MeanHE) and standard deviation of speed (SDspeed). Results of random intercept models indicate that lateral and speed control performances of mid-aged drivers were better than those of older drivers. Then, disaggregated models were established for professional and non-professional drivers respectively based on the results of market segmentation analysis. It was found that lateral and speed control performance of mid-aged professional drivers were better than that of older professional drivers. In contrast, older non-professional drivers were more likely to have degraded steering performance under the high traffic condition. Results of this study are indicative to the driver management strategies of the transport operators for sustained safety improvement of commercial vehicle fleet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to a paper published in this issue is presented, in which the editors mention services for older people, well-being in older people, and social care and housing for older people.

Objective: This study investigated the prevalence of food security, and the association of food security with financial hardship and socio-demographic characteristics among the ageing population in Thailand. Methods: The study extracted data on 1,197 persons age 60 years or older from a nationally-representative sample survey of Thai households. The food security data were collected using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization. Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the association between financial hardship, socio-demographic characteristics, and food security. Results: Of the total sample, 71% had food security. The least probability of having food security was observed in the respondents who sometimes and often had income problems (p < 0.001), and felt dissatisfied with their financial situation (p < 0.001). The respondents who were female, at oldest-old age, with lower than primary school education and in the Northeast were less likely to have food security. Conclusion: These findings suggest the need for government assistance for those who are experiencing financial hardship to help them manage their finances and food security more effectively, taking into account different socio-demographic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is a common cause for visual impairment in the ageing population. An increasing number of nAMD patients causes significant health burden, although intravitreal anti-VEGF agents have revolutionized nAMD treatment during the past 15 years. We aimed to define incidence and prevalence of nAMD in different age-categories in the anti-VEGF era and to estimate the number of the individuals over 75 years of age in 2050. We conducted an epidemiological study of the nAMD cohort (n = 2121) in a Finnish population of 410,000 inhabitants. Demographic and clinical data were gathered from Oulu University Hospital's database during 2006–2020. The incidence and prevalence rates were calculated using population data from national registers. The three-year moving average of incidence of nAMD per 100,000 person years was estimated. Prevalence figures were calculated per 100,000 age-specific inhabitants. The average age at the diagnosis of nAMD was 78土8 years, and 62% of the patients were women. The incidence of nAMD was 71 (95% CI 55–90) and 102 (95% CI 88–118) per 100,000 person years in 2006 and 2020, respectively. During 2006–2020, 1.2- and 2.4-fold increases in nAMD incidence were noted in 75–84 and in 85–96 age groups, respectively. In the oldest 75–84 and 85–96 age categories the nAMD prevalence was 2865/100,000 (3%, 95% CI 2665–3079) and 2620/100,000 (3%, 95% CI 2323–2956), respectively. The proportion of the inhabitants >75 years old is estimated to increase from 10% in 2020 to 17% by 2050. Our results indicate constant 1.2- and 2.4-fold increases in nAMD incidence during the past 15 years in age groups of 75–84 and 85–96 years, respectively, and 3% prevalence of nAMD in 2020. An almost two-fold increase in the ageing population by the year 2050 may also predict the trends in nAMD. The results of the current population-based study indicate 1.2- and 2.4-fold increases in the incidence of neovascular AMD (nAMD) during the last 15 years in the Finnish population aged 75–84 and 85–96 years and 3% prevalence of nAMD in 2020. An almost two-fold increase in the number of individuals over 75 years of age by the year 2050 is estimated, which may also predict the trends in nAMD. Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF)- agents have revolutionized the treatment and prognosis of nAMD. Timely recognition and referral of nAMD patients to ophthalmologist can ensure vision-related functionality especially among the ageing population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper is aimed at studying and discussion on the extent of interest in Islam to looking after the ageing population as enshrined in the Qur’an and Sunnah. The ageing population nowadays is facing number of human rights problems including: problem of ʿAqīdah (religious belief), social, educational and economic as a result of the mistreatments mainly from family members of different communities towards this vulnerable group. The research paper seeks to find out the backgrounds of these problems, and to provide the appropriate solutions from the Quran and Sunnah perspectives. This will be done by explaining the Sharīʿah principles and ethical values prescribed by Islam in attending the welfare of the ageing population, and thus suggesting solutions that can be put into practice by our community order to reduce the problems facing the ageing population.

At any time of the year, and particularly in the colder months of the southern part of the Australian continent, many caravans and mobile homes can be seen on the roads of northern Australia, and Queensland, in particular. Mainly during June, July, August and September, Grey Nomads frequent the northern half of Australia, to escape the colder climate of southern Australia. The term Grey Nomad is applied to the section of the older Australian population who use their retirement years as a time to experience travel once freed from the constraints of work and family commitments. This paper draws on research conducted about the health and social needs of Grey Nomads holidaying in a Central Queensland, Australia, coastal location. Open-ended, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 20 participants. Contingency plans concerning wellness, wellbeing and medical conditions all formed a part of the Grey Nomads’ daily existence while travelling. Many important and lasting friendships and social support networks were formed during the journeying and sojourning phases of the travel. Many of the Grey Nomads interviewed felt the need to keep in contact with home, even though they willingly chose to leave it, and to be ‘away’. Just as the Grey Nomad cohort have concerns and solutions about their health and related issues, so too, they have concerns for social networks and family connectedness while travelling in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]