Community-based social healthcare practices in China for healthy aging: a social prescription perspective analysis

Abstract

BackgroundThe global population is aging, and the number of people suffering from chronic diseases is increasing. In response to these trends, community-enhanced social healthcare practices are a novel paradigm of social prescribing that aims to improve both the community's and the individual's level of health by combining community involvement, organizational change, and individual-level practice.ObjectiveThe study examined the state of community-based social healthcare practices using the lens of social prescription in China with an eye on promoting healthy aging there.MethodThematic analysis approach was used in this investigation. A social prescription lens was used to conduct an open-ended theme study of China's community-based social healthcare practices for healthy aging. The research was conducted in Yiwu in Zhejiang Province, P. R. China. A sample of 24 “comprehensive evaluation team members (CETM)” was chosen using a purposive selection strategy.ResultsIn the context of the social prescription, we analyzed social healthcare practices for healthy aging at the community level. All the comprehensive evaluation team members described community social healthcare practices under the paradigm of social prescription. After analyzing the community social healthcare practices under the paradigm of social prescription, six main themes (E-Social Prescription, Nature-based Social Prescription, Healthy Living Social Prescription, Culture-based Social Prescription, Health Screening Social Prescription, and Health Education Social Prescription) emerged for healthy aging at the community level.ConclusionSocial prescribing links individuals to non-clinical services and activities, typically provided by the nonprofit and community sectors. Community-based social healthcare practices under social prescription can be an efficient and cost-effective way to assist patients with chronic diseases in managing their illnesses and enhancing their overall health and wellbeing.

The importance of regular physical activity in the mental health of the older adults

“…The mechanisms promoted by physical activity that result in improvements in mental health, although still somewhat unknown, seem to be related to three main aspects: neurobiological changes, through the release of substances such as brainderived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) that promotes neuroplasticity (neural capacity to adapt to changes) (Vecchio et al, 2018); psychophysiological, through changes in the autonomic nervous system and homeostatic return after stressful episodes (Salmon, 2001); psychosocial, through relationships with peers provided by physical activity, thus meeting the basic psychological need for social relationships (Menhas et al, 2023;Salvy et al, 2009).…”