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REPRINTS: Effects of an intergenerational health promotion program for older adults in Japan
- Authors:
- FUJIWARA Yoshinori, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 7(1), March 2010, pp.17-39.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia
It is argued that rather than focusing on the economic burden that may fall on the younger generation because of the expected growth in demand for welfare and health care among the older generations, Japan should be prioritising the social participation of older adults for the benefit of society as a whole. This article describes one such intervention research project, REPRINTS (REsearch of PRoductivity by INTtegrated Sympathy), in which senior volunteers read picture books to children. Sixty-nine volunteers and 72 controls, all aged 60 years and over, living in three urban locations, underwent a baseline health check. After completion of a three-month training seminar, volunteers visited public elementary schools and kindergartens in groups of 6 to 10 for an 18 month period. They were assessed by a follow-up health check. Social network scores (frequency of contact with grandchildren and others around the neighbourhood) and self-rated health improved or was maintained at a significantly higher rate for the 37 individuals volunteering most intensively compared to those who did not volunteer or volunteered minimally. Some effects were also seen on physical performance but these attenuated over the latter part of the study, possibly because both groups were healthy and active at baseline. The authors suggest this warrants further study.
Intellectual activity and likelihood of subsequently improving or maintaining instrumental activities of daily living functioning in community-dwelling older Japanese: a longitudinal study
- Authors:
- FUJIWARA Yoshinori, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 24(6), June 2009, pp.547-555.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study aimed to test the a priori hypothesis that increase or maintenance of the level of cognitive activity would be independently associated with a subsequent beneficial impact (i.e. improvement or maintenance) on instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) functioning. An observational study was carried out using 4-year longitudinal data from 1477 community-dwelling Japanese who were 66 years and older and living in Yoita town, a rural community located in the northwest along the Sea of Japan. Baseline assessment occurred in November 2000. Intellectual Activity and IADL were evaluated using the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (TMIG) Index of Competence. Results showed that an Increase or maintenance of exposure to intellectual activities over a period of 2 years was associated with increased likelihood of better IADL functioning trajectory (i.e. improvement or stability) over the subsequent 2 years, even after adjustment for major confounders. The authors conclude that this study documented a longitudinal, independent association of exposure to intellectual activities with better IADL functioning over time. These findings provide preliminary support for promotion of exposure to intellectual activities among older adults as an opportunity to prevent disability in the older segment of the population. Assessment of public health programs targeting such an opportunity is warranted.