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The forgotten age: understanding poverty and social exclusion in later life
- Authors:
- MCKEE Sara, (chair)
- Publisher:
- Centre for Social Justice
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 251p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
In this interim report the Centre for Social Justice Older Age Working Group presents an analysis of the nature and scale of the challenge the government faces in tackling poverty and social exclusion among older people in the UK. The review included analysis of statistics, gathered evidence from a range of stakeholders, and commissioned internet-based public polling. It identified several key indicators concerning the poorest older people in society which are used as core report themes. These are: money (including pensioner poverty, impact of the recession, the state pension and state benefits, and fuel poverty), community and lifestyle (including community and neighbourhoods, crime, transport, health, volunteering and digital exclusion), housing (including housing standards, design, adaptation and improvement, sheltered and retirement housing, and old age homelessness), and care (including social care, unpaid care, state provision of care, care at home, and care homes). The Working Group's second and final report, to be published in 2011, will set out a range of policy recommendations based on this analysis.
Elderly people's perspectives on health and well-being in rural communities in England: findings from the evaluation of the National Service Framework for Older People
- Authors:
- MANTHORPE Jill, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 16(5), September 2008, pp.460-468.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Addressing the problems of meeting the needs of ageing populations in rural areas is recognised as a political and service delivery challenge. The National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People (NSFOP) set out a series of service standards to raise quality, to redress variations in service use and to enhance the effectiveness of services across health and social care in England and alluded to the challenges of meeting such standards in rural communities. This paper reports findings from the consultations undertaken with 713 elderly people as part of the midpoint review of the NSFOP in 2006, presenting and analysing the views and experiences of elderly people from rural areas. The consultations to engage with elderly people employed a mixed methodology that included public events, focus groups and individual interviews. The data reveal participants' views of how different patterns of social change in diverse country areas in England influence health and well-being in later life. The costs and benefits of centralization of services, and the pivotal issue of transport are important themes. The findings raise questions about the unclear and contradictory usages of the term 'rural' in England and the portrayal of rural ageing as a homogeneous experience.
Neighborhood deterioration, religious coping, and changes in health during late life
- Author:
- KRAUSE Neal
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 38(6), December 1998, pp.653-664.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Research indicates that older adults who reside in deteriorated neighbourhoods experience more physical health problems than elderly people who dwell in more favourable living environments. Examines whether the effects of run down neighbourhoods are reduced for older people who use religious coping responses. Data from a survey of elderly people in the USA suggests that the noxious impact of living in a dilapidated neighbourhood on changes in self-rated health over time is offset completely for older adults who rely heavily on religious coping strategies.
Loneliness research and interventions: a review of the literature
- Author:
- ANDERSSON L.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 2(4), November 1998, pp.264-274.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This article describes and reviews concepts and studies in the area of social relations and health, with special emphasis on loneliness. Related concepts such as social networks and social support are also considered. The fundamental distinction between the objective manifestation of being alone and the subjective manifestation of experiencing loneliness is emphasised. The second part of the article consists of a description of various network interventions followed by an overview and discussion of loneliness interventions.
The state of ageing in 2020
- Author:
- CENTRE FOR AGEING BETTER
- Publisher:
- Centre for Ageing Better
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Place of publication:
- London
Through analysing nationally-available data, this report shows how people across England are ageing. It considers the state of health, finances and communities when COVID-19 hit and the impact it has had so far. The report warns that poor health, unsafe and low-quality housing, and a lack of social connections have exacerbated the impact of the pandemic particularly among the less well-off. Even before the pandemic, progress on improving life expectancy was stalling – and disability-free life expectancy was going backwards. The report also highlights a stark North-South divide in how people experience later life. It shows that people in the South of England have a longer life expectancy and spend more years in good health than those in the North. Key findings include: health – women in the wealthiest parts of the country are set to live 16 years longer in good health than those in the poorest; housing – more than two million people aged 55 or older are living in a home that endangers their health or wellbeing; work – in the year that the state pension age reaches 66, less than half of men and a third of women are still in work at 65; communities – lockdown has seen a surge in community activity – but in many cases the people who are struggling to get by are missing out. The report calls for urgent action by national and local governments, businesses and the voluntary sector to address the gap in disability-free life expectancy and to enable all of us to live longer healthier lives. This will require actions across society – to workplaces, homes and communities if we are to put people on a path to a happy and secure later life. (Edited publisher abstract)
Translating an evidence-based multicomponent intervention for older adults with dementia and caregivers
- Authors:
- TERI Linda, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 60(3), 2020, pp.548-557.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Effective community-based programs to maintain health and well-being of adults with dementia are needed. This article describes the translation, implementation, and effectiveness of a multicomponent exercise plus behavioral/psychosocial intervention (Reducing Disability in Alzheimer’s Disease-NorthWest [RDAD-NW]) conducted by staff in regional Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). Research Design and Methods: Staggered multiple baseline design was used; 10 AAAs, 20 case managers, and 255 community-residing persons with dementia (PWDs), and family caregivers were enrolled. RDAD-NW was conducted in-home over 6 weeks with aerobic/endurance, strength, and balance/flexibility exercises, dementia education, training to increase pleasant events, and activator-behavior-consequence problem-solving approach. Outcomes included case manager treatment fidelity, and caregiver/PWD physical activity, restricted activity days, physical functioning, quality of life, and affect.Results: RDAD-NW was successfully translated and implemented by AAA agency staff through their usual service provision mechanisms. Staff responded positively and delivered the program with a high degree of fidelity. Caregiver/PWD dyads also responded favorably engaging in both exercise and behavioral/psychosocial portions of the program. A total of 207 dyads (81%) completed the intervention and 140 (55%) completed the 13-month follow-up. PWD physical activity increased significantly pre- to posttreatment (p < .001, ES = .54), and 13 months (p < .01, ES = .21). Quality of life of PWD increased significantly pre- to posttreatment (p < .001, ES = .29); caregiver depression improved pre- to posttreatment (p = .01, ES = −.18). Discussion and Implications: RDAD-NW was successfully translated and implemented by AAA case managers and resulted in increased physical activity and improved behavioral and emotional outcomes of caregiver/PWDs. Results support continued dissemination and implementation of RDAD-NW.Clinical Trials Registration: NCT01708304 (Publisher abstract)
Planning for healthy ageing: how the use of third places contributes to the social health of older populations
- Authors:
- ALIDOUST Sara, BOSMAN Caryl, HOLDEN Gordon
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 39(7), 2019, pp.1459-1484.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on creating age-friendly cities to accommodate the changing needs of older people and to promote their overall health and wellbeing. This paper focuses on some of the urban planning implications related to maintaining the social health, as a main component of overall health and wellbeing, of older people. Specifically, this study looks at the role and accessibility of third places (popular public places where many people go to socialise) in relation to older people living in different neighbourhood built-form patterns, and how these factors impact on the formation of absent, weak and strong social ties. The data draw upon interviews with 54 older people living in different neighbourhood built-form patterns on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Our findings demonstrate the significant role third places have in affording older people opportunities to engage in the social lives of their local communities, thus contributing to their social health and overall wellbeing. This research supports previous studies relating to the accessibility of amenities by re-emphasising the importance of planning for the provision of third places that are conveniently located and easily accessible by older people. The paper concludes by arguing for the planning of transport and third-place interventions in Australia's sprawling suburban landscapes to allow older people more opportunities to be socially connected. (Edited publisher abstract)
Canadian policy perspectives on promoting physical activity across age-friendly communities: lessons for advocacy and action
- Authors:
- NYKIFORUK Candice I.J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 39(2), 2019, pp.307-339.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Population ageing combined with physical inactivity has critical implications for the public health of communities in the twenty-first century. In the last decade, the World Health Organization launched the age-friendly cities agenda, aiming to address population ageing through whole-systems, rights-based, health equity-focused approaches. An important intervention for age-friendly communities is modifying built environments to support population-level physical activity. Physical activity can help mitigate impacts of chronic diseases and social isolation on older adults. Need for advocacy and action in this area raises questions of how to develop supportive environments for physical activity across age-friendly community types. In Canada, a substantial proportion of older adults live outside large urban municipalities, for which scant research exists on fostering age-friendly built environments. To this end, qualitative research involving semi-structured interviews with 21 municipal policy influencers in Alberta, Canada was conducted to gather perspectives on development and early implementation of an age-friendly policy framework in the small urban and rural context. The findings are organised by three main themes providing key lessons for advocacy and action, namely pursuing comprehensive planning, promoting public engagement and prioritising the needs of older adults. This research informs advocacy and action priorities in promoting built environment modification for routine physical activity as part of an age-friendliness agenda for small urban and rural regions of Canada and other countries. (Edited publisher abstract)
Health and Wellbeing Innovation Commission Inquiry: built environment
- Author:
- BOWELL Sally
- Publisher:
- International Longevity Centre UK
- Publication year:
- 2018
- Pagination:
- 21
- Place of publication:
- London
This report explores the potential for innovation in the built environment to promote good health and wellbeing. It sets out examples of effective innovation, opportunities and barriers to further innovation, and recommendations for the future. It highlights the importance to a person’s health and wellbeing of having a home that is accessible if you have physical impairments, a local environment that can encourage physical activity and a transport system that allows you to access services and maintain social connections. The report is one of four publications from ILC-UK’s Health and Wellbeing Innovation Commission Inquiry, which examined the potential for innovation in the areas of health and wellbeing to ensure that services remain sustainable and contribute to positive experiences in later life. It is based on an oral evidence from expert witnesses and a review of relevant literature. (Edited publisher abstract)
Relevance of urban green space for physical activity and health-related quality of life in older adults
- Author:
- PETERSEN Evi
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 19(3), 2018, pp.158-166.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: Urban green space (UGS) shows to be a sustainable resource stimulating physical activity, health and quality of life in the general population. With regard to an ageing European population, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between UGS, physical activity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in community-dwelling older adults. Design/methodology/approach: Cross-sectional survey data were provided by a sample from Hamburg (Germany), consisting of 272 adults aged⩾65 years. Respondents answered questions regarding HRQoL (Short Form 12), physical activity (German-PAQ-50+) and exposure to UGS. The authors applied a linear regression to analyse the relationship between weekly duration of exposure to UGS and physical activity. While controlling for confounding factors, the authors used a multivariate linear regression model to detect effects on HRQoL. Findings: A significant effect (adjusted R2: 4.3 per cent; p-value⩽0.001) was found for weekly duration of exposure to UGS and weekly physical activity. Multiple linear regression showed significant positive effects of weekly duration of exposure to UGS (p=0.010) and weekly time of physical activity (p=0.017) on HRQoL. Age, sex and feeling of satisfaction were identified as relevant confounding factors. Research limitations/implications: Future research should continue to explore the indicators that mediate an increase of physical activity and HRQoL in the heterogeneous age band of older adults. Practical implications: Findings suggest that community-dwelling older adults are likely to benefit from higher amounts of time in UGS since it is positively associated with both physical activity and HRQoL. Therefore, urban planners should explicitly consider the demands of community-dwelling older adults towards UGS. Originality/value: This study is one of the first to examine the relationship between UGS, physical activity and HRQoL in older adults. (Edited publisher abstract)