Ecological Aging: The Settings Approach in Aged Living and Care Accommodation

Abstract

As the proportion of older people increases within populations, financial demands related to the cost of health service delivery threaten global stability. This population trend challenges the traditional approach to health service delivery to older populations. This article presents the Australian context as a case study to argue that the application of a health promoting settings approach to aged care may lead to improved well-being for older people to the extent that the periods of chronic morbidity often associated with aging can be compressed into an ever shorter period of time. Promoting an ecological perspective to aged care suggests that there is no need to manage older people in isolation, as is common practice, but as integral to the way society lives, works, and plays. The article maps parallels between characteristics of health promoting settings such as Health Promoting Schools and the aged living and care industry, arguing that the setting encompassing services for the elderly is a prime location for the establishment of a new health promotion setting. Supporting life opportunities for our aged is central to such an approach. More broadly, an ecological approach orients us toward the connection between environment and health, and encourages increased attention and action within the aged living and care sector on reducing environmental impacts of this growing population. As such, the application of this approach to the aged living and care sector has the potential to reduce the threat that a dependant older population has on global sustainability.

Physical activity promotion in care homes

“…Traditionally, CHs are considered to have a tradition of providing residents with organised group exercise activities (Harris et al, 2008). However, such activities have been criticised for being 'repetitive' and lacking in meaning for older adults (Gibson & Singleton, 2012).…”

Sustainability within the Academic EcoHealth Literature: Existing Engagement and Future Prospects

“…Five articles used the Adaptive Methodology for Ecosystem Sustainability and Health to engage conceptually with ecosystem sustainability [37,52,[59][60][61][62]. One article argued that "situating human health within a theoretical framework of ecological thinking enables health professionals to see that the determinants of health are components of a complex adaptive system" which, in turn, allows "the potential for ecological thinking and settings approaches to be applied to understand, advance, and indeed maintain both population health and ecosystem sustainability" [63]. One argued that an EcoHealth approach is the most appropriate way to address communicable diseases because the EcoHealth approach "strives for improved human health and well-being, based on sustainable ecosystems, with more equitable development and less poverty" [64].…”

“…One article argued that the International Association for Ecology for Health's focus is "to promote sustainable health through scientific discovery and understanding at the confluence of disciplines" [80]. Harris et al argued that the settings approach to health promotion is one way to ensure sustainable health gains for the elderly, thereby reducing local and global burdens of disease [63]. The settings approach is described as "an ecological model of health promotion that focuses on the whole system or organization as the context for introducing changes that promote health" [63].…”

“…Harris et al argued that the settings approach to health promotion is one way to ensure sustainable health gains for the elderly, thereby reducing local and global burdens of disease [63]. The settings approach is described as "an ecological model of health promotion that focuses on the whole system or organization as the context for introducing changes that promote health" [63]. Leung et al argued that community engagement strategies are essential in the creation of "sustainable health outcomes that could be replicated across neighborhoods and communities" [33].…”

“…The term was used to look at the aspects that benefit ecosystem sustainability, such as the recognition of the interdependence between long-term human existence and the health of ecosystems, as well as the aspects needed for ecosystem sustainability including scientists and the interconnections between them [63,67,69]. The coverage of ecosystem sustainability also highlighted many applications and programs including the Adaptive Methodology for Ecosystem Sustainability and Health (AMESH) [59], The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment [65], and The Network for Ecosystem Sustainability and Health [96], which utilize or work towards ecosystem sustainability.…”