Active ageing - perspectives on health, participation, and security among older adults in northeastern Thailand - a qualitative study

Status of age-friendly city indicators in Iran cities: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

The global phenomena of an increasing older population within the total population and the rise in urban older residents have prompted numerous studies on the indicators of an age-friendly city in various Iranian cities. The insights obtained from these studies can aid policymakers in promoting social justice for older adults. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the status of age-friendly city indicators across different cities in Iran.

METHOD/DESIGN

A systematic review was conducted by searching for studies in Persian and English databases until March 2024, including Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, using keywords such as "age-friendly", "elderly-friendly", "cities", "older adults", "aging", "elderly", "indicators", "components", "criteria", "features", "characteristics", "indexes", "Iran", and "urban space", along with their MeSH equivalents, employing "AND" and "OR" operators. Additionally, Persian databases such as Magiran and SID were extensively searched using keywords like "elderly-friendly", "city", "urban spaces", "Iran", "indicators", "components", "features", and "criteria". The references of the final articles were also examined to ensure search accuracy. The results from the studies on the indicators of an age-friendly city were reviewed, summarized, and ultimately reported.

RESULTS

The initial search yielded 2857 articles, of which 34 were included in the systematic review. Only two studies addressed the indicators based on the needs of the older adults, with the majority reporting unfavorable urban conditions for the older adults. Despite these unfavorable conditions, the index of open spaces and buildings received the highest rank among the examined indicators. However, two indicators-respect for older adults, social acceptance, civic participation, and employment- did not perform well in any study.

CONCLUSION

The findings indicated that Iran failed to meet the required standards for age-friendly cities. Therefore, it is recommended that policymakers in the field of geriatric health take measures to identify and mitigate environmental risk factors for older adults.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This systematic review was registered on the Prospero database with the number CRD42023475657 on date 8 November 2023.

Active and productive ageing in India: evidence from the time use pattern of ageing adults

BACKGROUND

With the increasing proportion of older adults in India, it becomes essential to get an insight into the various influencing factors of successful ageing. However, the literature on successful ageing is minuscule in the Indian context. The present study attempted to understand successful ageing in terms of active and productive ageing by exploring their determining factors.

METHODS

The data were extracted from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave-1 (2017-2018). We utilized self-reported time use information from the experimental module of the LASI. A total of 7837 ageing adults were included in the study. We employed descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis and a multinominal logistic regression model to examine the prevalence and the determinants of active and productive ageing.

RESULTS

The prevalence of inactive ageing was higher among the Indian ageing population (57.47%), followed by active ageing (29.59%) and productive ageing (12.94%). Poor sleep quality and the prevalence of morbidity and disability limited the ageing population from attaining active and productive ageing. Engagement in physical activity was significantly associated with active and productive ageing (β = 0.83, 99% CI: -0.72-0.94 and β = 0.82, 99% CI: 0.66-0.98), respectively. Rural ageing adults were more likely to attain active ageing and less likely to attain productive ageing.

CONCLUSION

Engagement in physical activities among the ageing population shall be promoted to attain active and productive ageing. Since the rural ageing population were less likely to attain productive ageing than their urban counterparts, opportunities to participate in more formal economic activities in rural areas could be promoted for the wellbeing of the second demographic dividend.

In-home environment and happiness among older adults in Thailand

Background

The fact that housing can play a critical role in maintaining the health and independence related to happiness of the older population has been studied in more developed countries. However, research on the effect of housing conditions on happiness is rare in less developed countries. This study aimed to construct and test a structural equation model describing the structural relationship among personal aspects (living alone and physical disability), in-home environment (sleeping place and toilet/bathroom), and happiness among older adults in Thailand.

Method

The data on the population age 75 years or over were extracted from the 2017 national Survey of Older Persons in Thailand (n = 7,829).

Results

The median age of the sample population was 79. Almost 60 percent were women. The structural equation model showed a good fit with the data. Living alone did not directly influence happiness. Physical disability had a statistically significant negative direct effect on happiness. In-home environment not only had an impact on happiness directly, but also moderated the relationship between physical disability and happiness.

Conclusion

The research suggested that interventions to improve happiness of older adults, particularly those with physical disability, should aim to adapt their housing, including sleeping place and toilet design.

“Even though we are elders living alone”: has social support reshaped the care of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Purpose

This study aims to explore how social support has reshaped the care of older adults living alone in northeast Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a qualitative method using a narrative gerontological perspective with a descriptive design. Purposive sampling was conducted from 20 in-depth narrative interviews between November 2021 and February 2022 in Maha Sarakham province, northeast Thailand. Data transcriptions were performed using a narrative analytical process.

Findings

The in-depth narrative interviews indicated that older adults living alone during the coronavirus pandemic valued a comfortable life, a sense of place, favourable living arrangements, self-reliance, life goals and meaningful life. The gerontological analysis showed that social support for older adults living alone included a social safety net, networking, supporting needs, physical care and mental health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first qualitative narrative gerontological study to explore how social support reshaped the care of older adults living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic in northeast Thailand.

Active ageing profiles among older adults in Spain: A Multivariate analysis based on SHARE study

Background

Following the active ageing model based on the Health, Lifelong Learning, Participation and Security pillars, this research has a twofold objective: i) to classify older adults according to active ageing profiles, taking into account the four pillars, and ii) to ascertain the relationship between the profiles and personal and contextual factors, as well as well-being and quality of life in old age.

Methods

A study sample of 5,566 Spanish older adults who participated in wave 6 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) was included. Data were analysed in different steps applying several statistical analyses (Principal Component, Cluster, Discriminant, Multiple Correspondence and bivariate analysis with Pearson chi-square and ANOVA).

Results

Five older adult profiles were obtained (I: with moderate activity; II: quasi-dependents; III: with active ageing-limiting conditions; IV: with diverse and balanced activity; V: with excellent active ageing conditions). The first three profiles were characterised by subjects with a high average age, low educational level, who were retired or housewives, and who perceived a moderate level of loneliness, satisfaction with the social network and quality of life, as well as having a larger family network, but living in small households or alone. In contrast, the latter two profiles showed better personal and contextual conditions, well-being and quality of life.

Discussion and conclusions

The multidimensional approach to active ageing followed in this article has revealed the presence of several older adult profiles, which are confined to groups with better or worse active ageing conditions. In this context, if ageing is a process that reflects the previous way of life, intervention priorities will have to consider actions that promote better conditions during the life cycle.

Sustainable and Active Program—Development and Application of SAVING Methodology

The SAVING project aimed to create a sustainable and active aging program to promote the transition to sustainable aging in residential structures for the elderly (RSEs), developing research activities to apply the best strategies and good practices regarding the promotion of an active, healthy, and sustainable aging regarding social, economic, environmental, and pedagogic aspects. All this innovative methodology was built on a living-lab approach applied in one RSE, that was used as a case study. The results showed that the creation of the SAVING Brigade allowed not only increased reflection and mutual learning, but also created better conditions to face uncertainties and obstacles. Moreover, the use of indicators supported the basic themes and enabled comparison with other studies, between institutions or programs. Finally, the Action Plan acted as a tool for the development of previously defined strategies. It is possible to conclude that the breadth of the concept of quality of life encompasses the physical health of the individual, their psychological state, their social relationships, their perceptions, and the relationship with the characteristics of the context in which they are inserted. Therefore, active, sustainable, and healthy aging should be the goal.

Psycho-Religious Therapy improving the Quality of Life of the Elderly in Nursing Homes

Abstract BACKGROUND As people get older, body functions in the elderly will decrease so that it will affect their quality of life. One way to improve the quality of life of the elderly is to meet the basic needs of the elderly through a spiritual approach (Islamic psychotherapy).    AIM: This study aims to determine the effect of Zikr on the quality of life of the elderly in nursing homes.    METHODS: This study used a quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design. The sampling technique used purposive sampling , a total of 10 respondents from the intervention group and 10 respondents from the control group. Quality of life score using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). The research analysis used paired t-test and Wilcoxon test for differences in quality-of-life scores of each group and for differences in quality of life between the intervention group and control group using unpaired t-test and Mann-Whitney test.    RESULTS: The effect of psycho-religious therapy (Zikr) on the quality of life of the elderly in the intervention group before and after doing Zikr (p = 0.000), there were differences in 3 domains of quality of life, namely the psychological domain ( p = 0.000), the domain of social relations (p = 0.027), and the environmental domain.  p = 0.010).    CONCLUSION: Psycho-religious therapy (Zikr) affects the quality of life of the elderly in the nursing home and suggests Nursing homes to provide guidance with a religious approach, especially Zikr to improve the quality of life of the elderly.  

Applying the PDSA cycle to a group activity promoting lifestyle change for the active ageing of older Thai adults - a focused ethnography

Background

The proportion of the older Thai population is increasing rapidly. Lifestyle may impact active ageing in later life. Interventions that empower older Thai adults to initiate and carry out lifestyle changes are needed. This study applied the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, a tool for improving lifestyle changes, with the aim of exploring interactions among older Thai adults when participating in group activities.

Method

Focused ethnography was used based on participant observations, field notes and video recordings of 15 older Thai adults aged 62–78 years.

Results

Older Thai adults faced difficulties at the beginning since they were unfamiliar with initiating and carrying out lifestyle changes according to the PDSA concept. This provided a learning opportunity enabling older Thai adults to reach their individual goals of lifestyle change.

Conclusions

The PDSA cycle has the potential to empower older adults in group contexts to promote lifestyle changes related to active ageing.

Understanding the Perspectives and Experiences of Employed Older People on Active Ageing in Their Later Working Life (Biographical Narrative Approach)

This thesis aims to understand the perspectives and experiences of older people regarding the concept of active ageing in their later working life with biographical narratives. This research adopted a biographical narrative interview for data collection. A total of 15 employed older people were interviewed by the researcher. The collected data were analysed using the biographical narrative analysis of Schütze (1983). The research findings are the following: in the first theme, the driving force to enable older people to choose active ageing in the workplace was their confidence in their work ability to include a challenging attitude at work. In the second theme, another driving force to enable older people to participate in economic activity that was considered was the individual workability of active older workers, including health rather than their chronological ageing in the labour market. However, in the third theme, research participants believed that the barrier of active ageing is a negative social prejudice on the working ability of older people. From this point of view, the research participants suggested that negative social prejudice for older workers should be overcome by active ageing experiences in age-friendly working environments as the fourth theme.