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Objectives This paper examines whether perceived neighborhood disorder is associated with trajectories of cognitive functioning and whether religion mitigates this association among U.S. older adults. Methods Data are drawn from the 2006–2016 Health and Retirement Study (N = 12,669). Religious belief and religious attendance are assessed as potential moderators. Growth curve models are used to estimate trajectories of cognitive functioning over time. Results We find that perceived neighborhood disorder is associated with lower cognitive functioning at baseline; however, religious belief mitigates the impact of perceived neighborhood disorder on the level of cognitive functioning. For instance, individuals with high religious belief, despite experiencing high perceived neighborhood disorder, show better cognitive functioning at baseline compared to those with high disorder but low belief. While frequent religious attendance is associated with higher cognitive functioning at baseline, it does not moderate the impact of perceived neighborhood disorder on cognitive functioning. Discussion This study underscores the protective role of religious belief against cognitive aging in the face of neighborhood disorder, suggesting that personal faith may provide a cognitive reserve or coping mechanism. Our findings also imply that the absence of religious belief, combined with high perceived neighborhood disorder, may produce a compounded negative impact on cognitive aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) are geographical areas that have naturally become home to a large concentration of older adults. This density means that NORCs have the potential to become a pillar for aging in place strategies, but at present, there is limited data on residents and their health needs. Our objective was to describe and compare the health and healthcare use of older adults living in high‐rise NORC buildings to those in all other housing types in the community.We conducted a population‐based descriptive study of community‐dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years by linking a provincial NORC registry in Ontario, Canada with health administrative records. Individuals were classified as NORC residents if their residential postal code on January 1, 2020 matched the NORC registry. Sociodemographic, clinical, and healthcare use characteristics were compared by NORC status using standardized differences (STD) and stratified by rurality, and further by age and sex in urban settings.Overall, 219,995 (7.7%) of 2,869,706 older adults were NORC residents. Compared to community‐dwelling older adults, NORC residents were older (mean 77.4 vs 74.6 years; STD 0.34), and more were female (61.8% vs 52.2%; STD 0.19) and had low income (16.0% vs 9.3%; STD 0.11). NORC residents also had more active chronic conditions (mean 1.9 vs 1.5; STD 0.27), medications (mean 3.4 vs 2.8; STD 0.21), home care use (15.3% vs 9.8%; STD 0.17), and primary care visits (mean 9.7 vs 7.6 visits in prior 2 years; STD 0.22). Findings were robust across rurality, age, and sex.Our findings suggest that NORC residents have greater health needs than other older adults living in the community and underscore NORCs as important targets for equity‐focused strategies to support aging in place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Public Health Forum is the property of De Gruyter 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.)

Aim: This study aims to shift views away from negative perceptions towards aging by exploring the following research question: How are the multiple levels of the gerotranscendence theory influenced by the sustainable behavior and attitude toward the biophilic design of older adults? Background: Improving perceptions of aging is vital for positively impacting both the biological and societal aspects of the global aging phenomenon. Methods: The study utilized a mixed-method design. Initially, 300 older Turkish adults completed self-reported measures including the Gerotranscendence Scale (GS), Pro-environmental Behavior (PB), Environmental Identity Scale (EID), Biophilic Design Importance Level (BDI), and Inclusion of Nature in the Self Scale (INS). Subsequently, the second phase involved diary logs from 30 participants who volunteered during the initial phase. Results: Results indicated that a higher importance level placed on biophilic design was linked to a greater inclusion of nature in the self. Moreover, a stronger interest in nature correlated positively with the gerotranscendence experience. Conclusions: The results bring significant attention to biophilic design, especially its relevance in supporting sustainable environmental behaviors and positive aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Il progetto di allestimento sovrascrive lo spazio, tramite un ambiente esperienziale che plasma il contesto in cui è collocato, invitando i visitatori a rileggerne le componenti tramite il proprio movimento corporeo. Negli spazi culturali, la naturale mediale dell’allestimento innesca trasformazioni prossemiche e percettive, legando l’esperienza corporea all’esplicitazione della polifonia delle storie raccontate. Progetti riambientati tramite un adeguamento dialettico con lo spazio e attivati dall’imprevedibilità dei gesti dei visitatori invitano a riflettere sulla capacità del progetto di allestimento di costruire meccanismi comunicativi e narrativi, oltre lo strumento e il tempo.

Global population ageing will impact our communities. Increasing number of older adults live at home with physical, sensory, and cognitive challenges. Enhancing living solutions that support physical and social wellbeing of people with memory decline is important for their wellbeing. Various living solutions to integrate and support them in meaningful and active daily life are needed. The objective of this research was to develop diverse housing models to integrate older adults with memory decline and their families in their communities. The research question was: what kind of living environments and housing design solutions can support the wellbeing and daily life of people with memory decline? How to implement the research findings in design? The project used multiple case study and research by design methods to promote discussion and knowledge sharing with various stakeholders working with housing for older adults. The results of the project indicated that there is a need to increase the knowledge base of designers and architects about the needs of people with memory decline. Design solutions should focus on familiarity of the living environment, human scale, visual and sensory perception. Accessible solutions in the built environment that support social activity, sense of community but ensure the right to privacy will increase peoples' feeling of security and wellbeing. Through cross-sector collaboration and increasing participation of people with memory decline in the planning of housing we can provide better indoor and outdoor environments with current resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through the recognition of the qualities of plants that promote life, the study proposes these characteristics as necessary for the generation of living environments in education and research. Autopoietically, we identify relationships of sensitivity, collaboration, movement, travel, communication, memory and care. We value these qualities for the learning, change and transformation environments necessary in Education, which constitute dynamic, self-organized, changing and complex environments that are recognized as narrative environments. This work contributes to the understanding of life-research as an investigative and narrative experience, which from bioinspired research models, makes research possible as an experience of life itself that happens in its future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Extreme heat is an environmental health equity concern disproportionately affecting low-income older adults and people of color. Exposure factors, such as living in rental housing and lack of air conditioning, and sensitivity factors, such as chronic disease and social isolation, increase mortality risk among older adults. Older persons face multiple barriers to adaptive heat mitigation, particularly those living in historically temperate climates. This study measures two heat vulnerability indices to identify areas and individuals most vulnerable to extreme heat and discusses opportunities to mitigate vulnerability among older adults. Research Design and Methods We constructed two heat vulnerability indices for the Portland, OR, metropolitan area: one using area scale proxy measures extracted from existing regional data and another at the individual scale using survey data collected following the 2021 Pacific Northwest Heat Dome event. These indices were analyzed using principal component analysis and Geographic Information Systems. Results Results indicate that the spatial distribution of areas and individuals vulnerable to extreme heat are quite different. The only area found among the most vulnerable on both indices has the largest agglomeration of age- and income-restricted rental housing in the metropolitan area. Discussion and Implications Due to spatial variations in heat-related risk at the individual and area scales, measures addressing heat risk should not be spatially uniform. By focusing resources on older adult individuals and areas in particular need of assistance, heat risk management policies can be both highly efficient and cost effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In France, some peripheral and deprived neighborhoods suffer from objectively degraded urban and social environments. A specific public policy (known as Politique de la Ville) aims at reducing social and urban disparities at the national level, and improving people's quality of living in these neighborhoods. Many studies have demonstrated the limits of current analytical approaches in defining these deprived areas and the ways to renovate them. They also suggest new approaches should consider the territories as well as renovation projects from a dynamic and sociological perspective, starting from a human and social viewpoint. In this research, we attempt to explore and characterize the living conditions of people in such deprived areas, starting from their own experience of place, using ethnographic approaches to collect narratives of people living in these neighborhoods. We provide insights on the kind of data we were able to collect, and show the discrepancies between the way people actually experience their neighborhood, and the projected vision of these territories conveyed by experts (urban planners, Politique de la Ville analysts, public health engineers...) or decision-makers. We point at undertheorized aspects in current policies focusing on urban renovation that do not address properly affective, relational, and symbolic dimensions attached to the experience of living somewhere. We argue that collecting local residents' (historicized) experiences, while avoiding pre-established analytical categories, raises deep epistemological questions between naturalistic and anthropological approaches, and we suggest that this could open perspectives for urban planning and renovation, and research opportunities on citizen participation and the meaning we give to it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos de Trabajo Social is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid 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.)

The preservation and restoration of essential spaces encompassing production, living and ecological realms are critical for sustaining life on Earth. This article explores the significance of these spaces and advocates for a holistic approach to their conservation. By identifying key areas for preservation and restoration, society can mitigate environmental degradation, promote sustainable development and safeguard biodiversity. This article discusses the importance of agricultural lands, urban habitats and natural ecosystems, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human activities and the environment. Furthermore, it examines strategies for effective preservation and restoration efforts, highlighting the need for collaboration among stakeholders and the adoption of innovative solutions. Ultimately, prioritizing the conservation of these vital spaces is paramount for ensuring a harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Greater neighborhood cohesion is associated with better cognitive function in adulthood and may serve as a protective factor against cognitive impairment and decline. We build on prior work by examining the effects of perceived neighborhood cohesion across the life course on level and change in cognitive function in adulthood. Methods Utilizing longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998–2016) and its Life History Mail Survey , we leveraged data from 3,599 study participants (baseline age: 51–89) who participated in up to 10 waves. Respondents provided retrospective ratings of neighborhood cohesion at childhood (age 10), young adulthood (age at the first full-time job), early midlife (age 40), and concurrently at baseline (i.e. late midlife/adulthood); they completed the modified version of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. We fit a univariate latent growth curve model of change in cognitive function across waves and tested whether neighborhood cohesion during each recollected life stage predicted level and change in cognitive function. Results Greater neighborhood cohesion during childhood and late midlife/adulthood each predicted higher cognitive function at baseline but not the rate of cognitive decline. The final model showed that greater neighborhood cohesion in childhood and in late midlife/adulthood remained significantly associated with higher baseline cognitive function, even after accounting for one another. Discussion Findings provide insight into life-course neighborhood contextual influences on cognitive aging. Our results emphasize the need for more research to understand the life-course dynamics between neighborhood environments and cognitive aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telemedicine can provide benefits in patient affected by chronic diseases or elderly citizens as part of standard routine care supported by digital health. The GATEKEEPER (GK) Project was financed to create a vendor independent platform to be adopted in medical practice and to demonstrate its effect, benefit value, and scalability in 8 connected medical use cases with some independent pilots. This paper, after a description of the GK platform architecture, is focused on the creation of a FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource) IG (Implementation Guide) and its adoption in specific use cases. The final aim is to combine conventional data, collected in the hospital, with unconventional data, coming from wearable devices, to exploit artificial intelligence (AI) models designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a new parsimonious risk prediction model for Type 2 diabetes (T2D). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Using a large sample of Chinese older immigrants in Chicago, this study asked two questions: (1) Is living in Chinatown associated with better psychological well-being? (2) What is the role of social capital in such an association? Methods: Data were derived from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (N = 3,105). Depression and quality of life (QoL) were compared between those who lived in Chinatown and those who didn't. Negative binomial regressions (for depression) and logistic regressions (for QoL) were performed to examine the associations between Chinatown residence, social capital, and the two outcomes. Results: Net of social capital and the control variables, living in Chinatown was marginally associated with fewer depressive symptoms (β= −.137, p =.057), but a significantly lower likelihood of reporting good QoL (OR =.797, CI:.661–.962). Although various forms of social capital were projective of positive psychological well-being, given the overall low social capital of the Chinatown residents, they heightened the mental health risks of this population. Conclusion: The neighborhood context may function to reproduce social disadvantage among aging immigrant populations. The findings point to the importance of intervention at the mezzo level to improve the psychological wellbeing of this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The GATEKEEPER (GK) Project was financed by the European Commission to develop a platform and marketplace to share and match ideas, technologies, user needs and processes to ensure a healthier independent life for the aging population connecting all the actors involved in the care circle. In this paper, the GK platform architecture is presented focusing on the role of HL7 FHIR to provide a shared logical data model to be explored in heterogeneous daily living environments. GK pilots are used to illustrate the impact of the approach, benefit value, and scalability, suggesting ways to further accelerate progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Maintaining good cognition is crucial in later life. However, most existing research has focused on individual factors impacting cognition, and few studies have investigated the association between neighborhood built environment and older adults' cognition. This study examined the association between neighborhood built environment and cognition among community-dwelling older adults and identified variations in this association between different age groups in the older population. Methods: Data were derived from a cross-sectional survey of 1873 people aged 65 years and above in Hong Kong. We merged individual data from the survey with neighborhood built environment data based on community auditing and geographical information system. After controlling for individual covariates, we used multivariable linear regression to examine the association between neighborhood built environment and cognition. Results: Residents aged 80 and younger in neighborhoods with a higher land-use mix and more public transport terminals exhibited better cognition. Only the number of community centers in a neighborhood was positively associated with cognition for people older than 80. Conclusion: The built environment creates diverse impacts on different age groups among older adults. Our findings provide useful information for urban planners and policymakers for planning community facilities and built environments that consider the needs of different age groups within the older population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs), unplanned communities with a high proportion of older adult residents, offer a model to support older adults to age well in place. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive description of the methods used to identify and engage NORCs appropriate for the development of supportive service programming in Canada. Methods Three steps were used to identify and select NORCs in which to develop supportive service programming including: 1) identification of potential NORCs using Canadian Census Dissemination Areas, the Ontario Marginalization Index and Google Maps, 2) engagement of property owner/manager to determine the availability of common space for communal programming and willingness of the owner to support programming and, 3) engagement of older adult residents within the NORC to co-design programming. Results Four cities in the south-east, south-central, and south-west of Ontario, Canada were identified to develop NORCs with supportive service programming. Using the methods described, six NORCs were identified, landlords and older adult residents were engaged, and programs initiated between April 2018 and March 2019. The sites included two private high-rise apartments, a city-owned low-rise subsidized apartment complex, two multi-building private high-rise complexes and a mobile home community. An average of 35 (min 20, max 78) older adult members were engaged in an average of 20.5 unique activity sessions at each site per month. On average, social (54%) and physical activities (30%) were more common than nutritional (10%) and knowledge-sharing (8%). Conclusions The increased prevalence of unplanned, geographically-bound NORCs creates an opportunity for governments, social and health service providers and policy makers to support healthy aging in their communities. Our experience with the creation of six new NORCs with supportive service programming provides a tested set of methods that can be applied in other communities.

By 2020, there will be 2.36 million natural villages in China, with more than 500 million people living in them. Although China's 2018 "National Rural Revitalization Strategy" has clarified the importance of the rural environment, the sustainability of living environments in rural settlements is generally ignored. However, current renovation work is implemented as per the same set of standards and is not sufficient to reach the highest satisfaction levels and sustainable development because the optimal renovation indicators are not selected according to local conditions. To address these issues, this work carried out a series of literature reviews and expert interviews to propose indicators applicable to the sustainable renovation of living environments in rural settlements in China. The questionnaire survey was conducted in a typical Chinese village in order to verify the feasibility of this decision model. Furthermore, the Kano model was organically combined with the importance–satisfaction (IS) model from the villagers' point of view to establish a model analyzing the optimal indicators of the sustainable renovation. The results show that this model determines the priority of elements that need to be improved or maintained, based on which village administrators can make better management decisions and which government managers can invest limited government resources in key sectors, thus creating sustainable living environments in rural settlements and enhancing the satisfaction of villagers. It is suggested that the opinions of village administrators and planners be considered to optimize this model further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Neighborhood built environments (BEs) are increasingly recognized as being associated with late-life depression. However, their pathways are still understudied. This study investigates the mediating effects of physical and social activities (PA and SA) and functional ability (FA) in the relationships between BEs and late-life depression. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis with data from 2,081 community-dwellers aged 65 years and older in Hong Kong in 2014. Two road-network-based service area buffers (200- and 500-m buffers) adjusted by terrain and slope from participants' residences were created to define the scope of neighborhoods. BEs comprised population density in District Council Constituency Areas, urban greenness, land-use diversity, and neighborhood facilities within 200- and 500-m buffers. Multilevel path analysis models were used. Results More urban greenness within both buffers and more commercial facilities within a 500-m buffer were directly associated with fewer depressive symptoms. SA mediated the relationship between the number of community facilities and depressive symptoms within a 200-m buffer. Neighborhood urban greenness and the number of commercial facilities had indirect associations on depressive symptoms within a 500-m buffer, which were mediated by FA. Discussion Our findings have implications for the ecological model of aging. The mediating effects of SA and FA underscore the importance of promoting active social lifestyles and maintaining FA for older adults' mental health in high-density cities. Policy implications on how to build age-friendly communities are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By 2020, there will be 2.36 million natural villages in China, with more than 500 million people living in them. Although China’s 2018 “National Rural Revitalization Strategy” has clarified the importance of the rural environment, the sustainability of living environments in rural settlements is generally ignored. However, current renovation work is implemented as per the same set of standards and is not sufficient to reach the highest satisfaction levels and sustainable development because the optimal renovation indicators are not selected according to local conditions. To address these issues, this work carried out a series of literature reviews and expert interviews to propose indicators applicable to the sustainable renovation of living environments in rural settlements in China. The questionnaire survey was conducted in a typical Chinese village in order to verify the feasibility of this decision model. Furthermore, the Kano model was organically combined with the importance–satisfaction (IS) model from the villagers’ point of view to establish a model analyzing the optimal indicators of the sustainable renovation. The results show that this model determines the priority of elements that need to be improved or maintained, based on which village administrators can make better management decisions and which government managers can invest limited government resources in key sectors, thus creating sustainable living environments in rural settlements and enhancing the satisfaction of villagers. It is suggested that the opinions of village administrators and planners be considered to optimize this model further.

Aims: The current study aimed to explore differences in adverse outcomes between youth and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) living in child welfare care (i.e., foster care or group home) with those living with their biological parent(s) or with adoptive or other family member(s) in Canada. Methods: Data gathered from the Canadian National FASD Database were used for analysis. A total of 665 youth and adolescents with a clinical diagnosis of FASD under the age of 18 living in child welfare care, with biological, adoptive or other family members, were included in the sample. Key areas examined included living situation, legal problems, experience of sexual or physical abuse, mental health (anxiety, conduct disorder, mood disorder and post‐traumatic stress disorder) and suicidal ideation. Descriptive statistics and chi‐square comparisons were utilized to explore these differences. Results: Results revealed a significantly higher rate of reported sexual and physical abuse among individuals in child welfare care compared with those living with biological parents or with adoptive or other family member(s). Rates of difficulty with the law were also higher among those in child welfare care compared with adoptive/other family members. Conversely, the rate of mood disorders was significantly higher among those living with adoptive/other family members compared with child welfare care. Results highlight similar rates of reported suicidal ideation/attempts across all living situations, as well as mental health concerns. Conclusions: Results offer rare insight into the lives of youth and adolescents under age 18 with diagnosed FASD who reside in child welfare care in contrast to those living with biological parent(s) or with adoptive or other family members. These findings increase our awareness of the complexity of mental health concerns and suicide risk across all living environments. Results have further implications for policy, practice and clinical intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Investigate black-white disparities in older adults' moves to assisted living and nursing homes and draw from the Andersen Healthcare Utilization Model to test explanations for any disparities. Methods Data are from a nationally representative sample of older community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries from the 2015 (N = 5,212) National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS). We use stepwise multinomial logistic regression to examine black-white disparities in moves out of community housing to assisted living or a nursing home over 2 years, before and after adjusting for predisposing (age, gender), enabling (income, housing tenure, Medicaid, living arrangement) and need (activities of daily living [ADL] limitation, physical capacity, self-rated health, and dementia) factors. Results Black older adults are less likely to move to assisted living and are more likely to move to a nursing home compared to white older adults. Black-white disparities in moves to nursing homes are explained by black-white differences in enabling and need factors, whereas black-white disparities in moves to assisted living remain even after adjusting for enabling and need factors. Discussion Unmeasured factors related to systemic racism (e.g. residential racial segregation, racial discrimination) and/or black-white differences in care preferences might further explain black-white disparities in moves to assisted living and warrant further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

Residential relocation studies have become increasingly valuable tools for evaluating the effects of changing living environments on human health, but little is known about their application to multiple aspects of the living environment and the most appropriate methodology. This narrative review explores the utility of residential relocation as a natural experiment for studying the impact of changing urban exposures on cardio-metabolic health in high-income settings. It provides a comprehensive overview of the use of residential relocation studies, evaluates their methodological approaches, and synthesizes findings related to health behaviors and cardio-metabolic outcomes. Our search identified 43 relevant studies published between January 1995 and February 2023, from eight countries, predominantly the USA, Canada, and Australia. The majority of eligible studies were published between 2012 and 2021 and examined changes in various domains of the living environment, such as walkability, the built and social environments, but rarely combinations of exposures. Included studies displayed heterogeneity in design and outcomes, 25 involving only movers and 18 considering both movers and non-movers. To mitigate the issue of residential self-selection bias, most studies employed a "change-in-change" design and adjusted for baseline covariates but only a fraction of them accounted for time-varying confounding. Relocation causes simultaneous changes in various features of the living environment, which presents an opportunity for exposome research to establish causal relationships, using large datasets with increased statistical power and a wide range of health outcomes, behaviors and biomarkers. Residential relocation is not a random process. Thus, studies focusing on living environment characteristics need to carefully select time-varying covariates and reference group. Overall, this review informs future research by guiding choices in study design, data requirements, and statistical methodologies. Ultimately, it contributes to the advancement of the urban exposome field and enhances our understanding of the complex relationship between urban environments and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban regeneration is one of the important agendas of Turkey as a developing country. Rapid urbanization problems have been causing vital social and economic problems together with physical and spatial ones especially in big cities of Turkey. Thus, national and local governments handled urban regeneration as a practical method for solution of these problems. However, they unfortunately don’t implement urban regeneration according to its real requirements. Instead, this multi-dimensional and complex process is seen as a pull down and built up operation. Considering this situation and being in awareness of the responsibilities of architects throughout urban regeneration process, the authors think that urban regeneration should be discussed in the scope of architectural education. This paper presents the purpose, the process and the products of an undergraduate architectural design studio that was undertaken at Bursa Uludağ University, Faculty of Architecture. The architectural and urban design projects of the students of which aim was to offer a livable and sustainable mixed used living environments are discussed together with their conceptual backgrounds. Putting stress on the differences between theory and practice, the conclusion introduces a critical evaluation of urban regeneration and sustainable housing concepts in Turkey.

The European Project GATEKEEPER aims to develop a platform and marketplace to ensure a healthier independent life for the aging population. In this platform the role of HL7 FHIR is to provide a shared logical data model to collect data in heterogeneous living, which can be used by AI Service and the Gatekeeper HL7 FHIR Implementation Guide was created for this purpose. Independent pilots used this IG and illustrate the impact of the approach, benefit, value, and scalability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored trans women's experience and awareness of their vocal communication and voice use within sporting environments. Mixed methods study. Twenty trans women were interviewed about their voice use and vocal communication during sport and its impact on their level of participation. The participants also completed the Transsexual Voice Questionnaire for Male-to-Female Transsexuals. Three core themes emerged from analysis of the interview data. These were: importance of voice in a sport setting, voice production in sporting environments, and psychosocial moderators of voice within the sporting environment. Trans women perceived their voices to be the main barrier to their participation in sport. These women reported that the strong gendered environment of sport made them anxious that they would not be identified as women because their voice was not always congruent with their physical appearance. However, maintaining feminine voice was deemed less critical if participants felt comfortable at their sporting club and had strong relationships with their teammates and coaches. Findings from the Transsexual Voice Questionnaire for Male-to-Female Transsexuals supported the interview data as to the impact that voice has in the lives of trans women. Voice is critical for trans women who wish to integrate and be accepted as women in sporting environments. Participants suggested that voice training should target achieving a gender congruent voice and include minimalizing perceived barriers such as vocal fatigue and maintaining adequate breath support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2019, four major cities from Romania were included in the world quality of life ranking: Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Iasi and Bucharest (it is a ranking that includes 226 cities, in which the first place is positioned Canberra, while the last place is occupied by Caracas). The quality of life index used represents an estimate of the overall quality of life by using an empirical formula that takes into account eight indicators: the purchasing power index, the pollution index, the ratio of the price of housing and income, the cost of life index, the safety index, the health care index, the transport time index and the climate index. It should be stressed, however, that on the one hand, in any process of measuring the quality of life are used not only the objective indicators, which describes the conditions of life, but also the subjective indicators, which assess the state of life through a perception „filtered by expectations, aspirations, values", who rather targets the happiness, the satisfaction with life. On the other hand, the concept of quality of life is a multidisciplinary one, its definition being a wider one if we think about the multitude of indicators that should be used. The present article proposes only a description of the housing conditions in Romania in the European context, using the latest statistical data who directly affecting the living conditions of the Romanian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban regeneration is one of the important agendas of Turkey as a developing country. Rapid urbanization problems have been causing vital social and economic problems together with physical and spatial ones especially in big cities of Turkey. Thus, national and local governments handled urban regeneration as a practical method for solution of these problems. However, they unfortunately don't implement urban regeneration according to its real requirements. Instead, this multi-dimensional and complex process is seen as a pull down and built up operation. Considering this situation and being in awareness of the responsibilities of architects throughout urban regeneration process, the authors think that urban regeneration should be discussed in the scope of architectural education. This paper presents the purpose, the process and the products of an undergraduate architectural design studio that was undertaken at Bursa Uludağ University, Faculty of Architecture. The architectural and urban design projects of the students of which aim was to offer a livable and sustainable mixed used living environments are discussed together with their conceptual backgrounds. Putting stress on the differences between theory and practice, the conclusion introduces a critical evaluation of urban regeneration and sustainable housing concepts in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Maintaining offline social participation (i.e. face-to-face social interaction) is key for healthy aging, but older adults who experience pain tend to restrict their social activity outside of the home. The onset of pain may set off a downward spiral where lowered social participation increases the risk of depression and vice versa. This study thus assesses whether online social participation (i.e. the use of online social network sites) moderates the effect of pain on depression, possibly functioning as a compensatory mechanism for reduced offline social participation for those in pain. Method Logistic regression models with a lagged dependent variable were used with panel data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study. An interaction term was included to assess the moderating effect of online social participation. Results We find that online social participation buffers the detrimental effect of pain on depression. However, the effect of pain on online social participation was not statistically significant. Discussion Findings show that online social participation can alleviate the negative effects of pain on mental well-being, and suggest that online social participation can supplement attempts to maintain offline social participation in later life, especially for those whose social activity may be limited by pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Project GATEKEEPER aims to develop a platform and marketplace to ensure a healthier independent life for the aging population. In this platform the role of HL7 FHIR is to provide a shared logical data model to collect data in heterogeneous living, which can be used by AI Service and the Gatekeeper HL7 FHIR Implementation Guide was created for this purpose. Independent pilots used this IG and illustrate the impact of the approach, benefit, value, and scalability.

Justice has recently been deliberated in different spatial disciplines. Still, the question of its metrics remains unresolved. Accordingly, this article introduces a conceptual framework in which a metric notion of justice can be employed in different spatial contexts, drawing upon the theoretical conceptualization of Amartya Sen's 'capabilities' and Pierre Bourdieu's 'field', capital forms and 'habitus'. The main hypothesis assumes that capital resources, which are formed in an individual's living environment, determine their life chances, thus influencing spatial equality of opportunity (i.e. social justice). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper considers a process of developing evidence-based design guidelines to be used in environments where people with dementia and sight loss are living. The research involved a systematically conducted literature review and a series of consultations with people affected by dementia and/or sight loss who lived or worked in care homes or in domestic settings. Findings from the literature and the consultations were used in an iterative process to develop the guidelines. The process is outlined, providing examples from the guidelines about lighting and colour and contrast. In discussing the research findings and the development process, the authors consider implications of the work including the weakness of the evidence base, the challenges of improving this and the need for innovative approaches to understanding the complexities of design for people with dementia and sight loss. They highlight the emphasis in the literature on independence for people with sight loss and the focus on control of people with dementia, arguing that this falls short of a genuinely person-centred approach, which recognises the active participation of people with dementia and sight loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study examined how various living environments (child-headed households, orphanages, street children and foster homes), quality of care and demographic factors were associated with the psychosocial well-being of orphans in Rwanda by using a sample of 430 participants. Results indicated that children in orphanages exhibited higher levels of emotional well-being and lower levels of mental distress and risk-taking behaviour than others. Decision-making ability was the highest among child-headed households, while it was the lowest among those in orphanages. Quality of care, such as meal availability and length of time spent in a particular living environment, along with demographic factors, such as age and sex, were also important predictors of psychosocial well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper I retrieve some findings from a qualitative research conducted in the town of El Salto, Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, Mexico. My purpose is to show some of the contradictions that are implicit in how peripheral populations dwell dull and precarious spaces. From the peripheral situation of El Salto, I try to eluci - date how populations recuperate spatial and living proximities, the way as proximity and short trips influence the appropriation of the peripheral environment, or the maintenance of ephemeral life projects. The most important discovery is the purview of the periphery as a field strained by the polarity between the spatial and social distancing, and the endeavor to build sustainable living environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many researchers, environmentalists and economists have made tremendous efforts to enable polices and measures for waste recycling, to improve the quality of the public living environment and to achieve a better quality of everyday life. This study examined the quality of life (QOL) in high-rise buildings in relation to sustainability. It investigated household recycling behaviour and explored the QOL factors that affect such behaviour. Two models based on different types of recycling behaviour were estimated: 1) a model for the use of public recycling facilities (UPRF) and 2) a model for the use of private recycling sectors (UPRS). Data were collected through a survey of 505 residents in two old districts of Hong Kong. The assessment of QOL included consideration for the physical settings, the socio-demographic variables and the respondents' attitudes on recycling and living environments. The research methods involved questionnaires and interviews. Correlations and multiple regression analyses were conducted to interpret the data collected through the questionnaires. The findings indicated that UPRF can be significantly predicted by physical settings and by satisfaction with the location of facilities, with the residents' participation and with the quality of the neighbourhood and accommodation. UPRS can be significantly predicted by housing type, income and the availability of private recycling sectors. These findings also indicate some directions for researchers and policymakers to consider. These directions concern how environments and public facilities should be designed to encourage sustainable behaviour and enable a better QOL without compromising environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop an age-friendly society, it is a basic task to deeply understand what and how factors would affect elderly people's daily multiple-activity time-use patterns. In the literature, the impacts of built environments as the physical aspects of living environments have been widely studied. However, the impacts of social environments as the social aspects of living environments on multiple activity participation and duration constrained by time budgets have not been found. To fill this gap, this paper makes efforts to propose various social environmental indicators and incorporate them into a multiple discrete-continuous extreme value (MDCEV) model to test the significance of each variable and to explore the impacts of living environments on elderly people's daily multiple-activity time-use behaviours. In addition to socio-economic compositions, the social environmental indicators are extended to social ties of people, living pressure, social resources distribution, social safety and policy. Then a joint elasticity analysis for multiple activity participation and duration with constraints is proposed for deriving policy and practice implications. The specifications and joint elasticity analysis in Beijing of China which is a representative city affected by Confucian culture and faced with aging problem in Eastern and South-eastern Asia help find out significant factors and their impacts on elderly people's multiple-activity time-use patterns. Policy and practice implications are suggested to improve elderly people's out-of-home activity participation and duration so that an age-friendly society is expected. • Propose social environments indicators. • Integrate living environments into a MDCEV model. • Integrate living environments into a MDCEV model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies that analyse people's perceptions of their living environment as an explanatory factor for residential mobility are scarce at best. The study presented in this article addresses this deficit by investigating how people's perceptions of cities as living environments influence their relocation behaviour within metropolitan areas. After gathering information on relocation behaviour from 1,056 survey respondents in the Brussels Capital Region, we analysed the data using our self-developed 'resonance analysis' methodology. Our findings indicate that the variability of residential mobility is greatly influenced by people's perceptions of the city. They also demonstrate the ways in which qualitative data on people's perceptions and subjective experiences can be combined with quantitative data to improve statistical predictions of relocation behaviour. • Perceptions, as captured by resonance analysis, align with traditional indicators in explaining residential mobility. • Resonance analysis has an added predictive effect on moving behaviour on top of traditional explanations. • Resonance analysis methodology has the potential to expand its reach beyond the context of urban research and moving behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This paper examined whether or not closer proximity to local services and amenities was associated with maintenance of more frequent walking over time among urban-dwelling seniors over and above individual-level characteristics. Method. A sample of 521 adults who were part of the VoisiNuAge study and who resided in a large North American urban area reported on the frequency of walking outside the home over a 3-year period and on their health, sociodemographic characteristics, social support and resources, and perceptions of different features of their residential environment. Information about the distance between their home and 16 services and amenities was obtained from a geographic information system. Seniors were then classified into quartiles of proximity (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4). Results. Unadjusted and adjusted ordinal growth curve models showed that closer proximity to services and amenities was associated with greater likelihood of frequent walking at all times throughout the 3-year period. Discussion. Findings are consistent with the notion that environments may act as buoys for the maintenance of important health behaviors. Future experimental and quasi-experimental research is required to explore whether or not the environment can play a causal role in influencing patterns of walking over time. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Sustainability advocates see an immediate, pressing need to move beyond incremental improvements toward profound transformations on pressing economic, social and environmental issues. A framework called LENSES (Living Environments in Natural, Social, and Economic Systems) is presented that can address the type and scale of change necessary. This framework outlines a process to help communities and project teams create places where natural, social and economic systems can mutually thrive and prosper. LENSES is both a process and a metrics tool designed to help teams establish goals and to explore effectively relationships and interconnections in order to create restorative and regenerative places. The strength of LENSES lies in its ability to help groups consider concepts and elements often missing in other frameworks and tools such as inclusivity, financial sourcing, cultural resources, regional context, education, shared authority and governance, and on-going prosperity. LENSES provides a clear path to facilitate movement toward regenerative, place-based solutions in the built environment and beyond. Les défenseurs de la durabilité considèrent qu'il est d'une nécessité urgente, immédiate, de dépasser les améliorations progressives pour aller vers des transformations profondes concernant les problèmes économiques, sociaux et environnementaux pressants. Un cadre dénommé LENSES (Living Environments in Natural, Social, and Economic Systems – Cadres de Vie dans les Systèmes Naturels, Sociaux et Economiques) est présenté, qui est capable de traiter les types et les échelles de changement nécessaires. Ce cadre décrit un processus destiné à aider les communautés et les équipes de projet à créer des lieux où les systèmes naturels, sociaux et économiques peuvent assurer leur bon développement et leur prospérité réciproques. LENSES est tout à la fois un processus et un outil de mesure conçu pour aider les équipes à définir des objectifs et à examiner efficacement les relations et les interconnexions afin de créer des lieux capables de se restaurer et de se régénérer. La force de LENSES réside dans sa capacité à aider les groupes à envisager des concepts et des éléments qui sont souvent absents des autres cadres et outils, tels que l'inclusivité, le sourcing financier, les ressources culturelles, le contexte régional, la formation, l'autorité et la gouvernance partagées, et la prospérité en cours. LENSES indique clairement le chemin à suivre pour faciliter l'évolution vers des solutions régénératrices, adaptées au milieu, dans le cadre bâti et au-delà. Mots clés: bâtiments cadre de conception outils de conception LENSES cadres de vie lieu conception régénératrice flux de ressources conception durable [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]