From Active Aging to Active Citizenship: The Role of (Age) Friendliness

Barrio, Élena del; Marsillas, Sara; Buffel, Tine; Smetcoren, An Sofie; Sancho, Mayte

doi:10.3390/socsci7080134

Cited by 47 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…The sense of community ownership and involvement in site planning and management, social activities [7,32,39,42,65,79,80,83,86,[103][104][105][106] Social class [23] Social support/ community life facilities and services [40,51,54,63] Education, learning, employment and volunteering, [40] Social capital/ social trust/ Social cohesion [63] Cultural Environment…”

Section: Placementioning

confidence: 99%

Comprehensive 5P framework for active aging using the ecological approach: an iterative systematic review

et al. 2020

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Background: "Active aging" is an inclusive term and has been defined from a variety of aspects in different domains throughout the literature. The aim of this review was to identify those aspects that play significant roles in building this concept using an ecological approach. Methods: In this study, seven online databases, including JSTOR, Pub-Med, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ProQuest, EBSCO, and Scopus, were searched from 2002 to 2018 for both qualitative and quantitative articles published in English. Two reviewers independently found the related articles using the search terms "active aging" and "built environment" and included both "ageing" and "aging". Results: Of 1500 records which passed the screening stage, 92 were eligible for inclusion in the review. A total of 15 subthemes were derived: (1) personal characteristics, (2) behavioral attitude, (3) land use, (4) access, (5) physical form, (6) cityscape/city image, (7) public open spaces, (8) housing, (9) social environment, (10) cultural Environment, (11) economic environment, (12) good governance, (13) physical health, (14) mental health, and (15) social health. Ecological themes of active aging can be defined as the 5P model: person, processes, place, prime, and policymaking. Conclusions: The results of this study can shed light on different aspects of active aging. Also, the results emphasized the significance of the multidimensional nature of active aging, micro (person), meso (process), and macro systems (place and policymaking), based on health (prime) environments. Moreover, the results were based on the relationships between the person and the environment at the individual, interpersonal, and environmental levels, which can be used to conduct future studies and develop policies on aging populations.

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Section: Placementioning

confidence: 99%

Comprehensive 5P framework for active aging using the ecological approach: an iterative systematic review

et al. 2020

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“…Based on the paradigm of AFCC [ 5 , 7 ], the theoretical approach of AA [ 3 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 ] was referred to in 54.5% of studies [ 60 , 61 , 65 , 66 , 68 , 70 ], and the approach of healthy ageing [ 4 ] was referred to in 54.5% of cases [ 60 , 61 , 63 , 66 , 68 , 69 ]. Additionally, in 36.4% of retained publications [ 60 , 61 , 66 , 68 ] the theoretical approaches of AA and healthy ageing were cited together [ 75 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The academic literature shows that a lack of consensus as to the conceptual and methodological definition of interventions has affected the viability of broader practical implementation and the potential benefits of interventions [ 26 , 34 ]. In this respect, the retained studies have not specifically contributed to progress in defining the concept of intervention, or to the production of theoretical models under the AFCC and AA paradigm [ 7 , 72 ]. In fact, one third of articles did not refer to the theoretical approaches of active and healthy ageing [ 62 , 64 , 67 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental and Psychosocial Interventions in Age-Friendly Communities and Active Ageing: A Systematic Review

Sánchez-González

Rojo-Pérez

Rodríguez-Rodríguez

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Background: The academic literature contains little information regarding the interventions that create age-friendly cities and communities in order to promote active ageing. Objectives: A systematic review was carried out to determine the available empirical evidence in relation to the characteristics, content and effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving environmental and psychosocial risk factors for older people, from the perspective of age-friendly communities and the promotion of active ageing. Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, the studies retained in this review were identified through a systematic search of the academic literature in selected electronic databases including Web of Science and Scopus. Independent critical appraisal and data extraction were conducted by two reviewers. The checklist was used to assess the quality of the articles. Findings: The search identified 1020 potentially eligible documents, of which 11 satisfied the established criteria. Non-exhaustive practices prevailed over rigorous investigations, with a high proportion of studies observed to be of low methodological quality and at high risk of bias. This reflected the predominance of uncontrolled interventions. Environmental interventions were focused on reducing risk and adapting the everyday environmental setting, while psychosocial interventions prioritised social strategies (behavioural changes, promotion of participation) and training. Interventions were more effective in certain domains of age-friendly cities and communities such as transportation and housing, followed by increased participation as a lifestyle-related behavioural change. The inferred changes were associated with providing information and enhancing skills; modifying access, barriers, exposures, and opportunities; enhancing services and support; continuity and effectiveness of changes over time; and modifying policies based on the bottom-up approach of age-friendly cities and communities (AFCC). Discussion and conclusion: Interventions focused on personal and organisational aspects might have positive effects in the longer term. However, fewer changes would be observed in interventions revolving around changing lifestyles owing to the impact of complex multi-causal factors. The relative effectiveness in terms of health calls into question the design of interventions and the supposed “friendliness” of certain communities. There is a need to encourage sound longitudinal research aimed at providing key knowledge for the implementation and evaluation of public policies, and to encourage age-friendly community programmes to promote active ageing.

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“…Both European and Croatian Gerontological findings have confirmed that one cannot neglect the codependence of an elderly person and their health preservation regarding the community one lives and is productive in. Functionally, capable older persons are extremely productive community members [36]. They can be used to share and transfer their knowledge, skills, and work experience onto the younger, but also older generations Old age is a time when life is characterized by new spiritual dimensions and advantages that did not exist in one's youth.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They can be used to share and transfer their knowledge, skills, and work experience onto the younger, but also older generations Old age is a time when life is characterized by new spiritual dimensions and advantages that did not exist in one's youth. Active healthy aging also includes one's ability to adjust to new circumstances, knowledge and constant learning and discovering of the advantages of the aging process and old age itself [36].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive Functioning and Life Quality of the Elderly: A Cross-sectional Study

Kralj-Vasilj

Mikšić

Farčić

et al. 2020

Open Access Maced J Med Sci

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BACKGROUND: According to the Gerontological Health Statistics for Croatia, the number of elderly people in Croatia is increasingly growing. The UN classification ranks the Republic of Croatia as the country which belongs to group four of the European countries with elderly population. AIM: The aim of this paper is to examine cognitive functioning and life quality of the elderly. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 156 participants took part in the study. The cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2016 to October 2016 in the Osječko-baranjska County, Croatia. The World Health Organization quality of life (QOL)-BREF scale was used to test the QOL; cognitive functioning was tested using mini-mental state examination (MMSE) questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 156 subjects were tested during the study. The MMSE questionnaire for cognitive abilities and dementia assessment: 83 (53%) participants scored 24 or more which indicates a normal result. The participants whose results indicate the presence of disorders also have notably lower life quality in all domains. The participants suffering only from a physical illness exhibit significantly lower values in the environmental domain (Mann–Whitney U-test, p = 0.010) when compared to those suffering both from physical and mental illness whose results show extremely low values in practically all the segments regarding the QOL. The values of the cognitive functioning questionnaire are related to the life quality domains; the strongest connection relates to mental health (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient Rho = 0.493 p < 0.001) and the weakest connection refers to social functioning. CONCLUSION: After reaching a certain age, the elderly seems to exhibit the lowering in cognitive functioning which consequently reflects on lowering of the life quality as well. The problems regarding the QOL occur as a direct consequence of the gap between the possibilities of the elderly and the demands and conditions set by modern life.

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From Active Aging to Active Citizenship: The Role of (Age) Friendliness

Cited by 47 publications

References 65 publications

Comprehensive 5P framework for active aging using the ecological approach: an iterative systematic review

Comprehensive 5P framework for active aging using the ecological approach: an iterative systematic review

Environmental and Psychosocial Interventions in Age-Friendly Communities and Active Ageing: A Systematic Review

Cognitive Functioning and Life Quality of the Elderly: A Cross-sectional Study

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