Promoting Active Aging In Older Adults Miranda.pdfOBJECTIVES •Learn the effects of providing...
Transcript of Promoting Active Aging In Older Adults Miranda.pdfOBJECTIVES •Learn the effects of providing...
Promoting Active Aging
In Older Adults
Miranda Hanchett
Ghent, Belgium
OBJECTIVES
• Learn the effects of providing activities that encourages
independence in older adults
• Encourage active aging and health promotion
• Increase the quality of life of local residents in all aspects of life
• Provide a range of services in order to promote active aging
• Provide financial means and transportation to promote the
utilization of these services
BACKGROUND
• Belgium:• Population: 11,276,910
• Population ages 65 and above: 18% (~2,029,844)1
• A Western European liberal democracy
• A mixed economic system: private-enterprise system
combined with centralized economic planning and
government regulation2
• Focus on quality of life
BACKGROUND
• Attended the International Program on Palliative and End-of-Life Care
(IPPE) Event at Cohere Academy at Arteveldgehogeschool in Ghent,
Belgium• Program also focused on quality of life, complementary therapies, and resources
in the community that promote an active life
• Various site visits • One site included a community health center that focused on the older
population and improving their quality of life
SPECIFIC LEARNING OBJECTIVE
• Primary Issue: Enhance quality of life for older adults• “Old age is not synonymous with disease, however, advancing
age can cause reduced functional capacity, causing the elderly
lose their autonomy and independence, thus compromising
their quality of life.”3
• How can we promote active aging among older adults in
order to increase their quality of life?
INTERVENTIONS
• Individual:• Individual commitment to active aging
• Family commitment for aging family members
• In-patient and home care for older adults
• Utilization of complementary therapies• Massage, art/music therapy
INTERVENTIONS
• Community:• Community Centers
• Ten Hove, in Belgium, is a community center that provides a range
of activities to the community in order to promote activity and a
higher quality of life
• System:• Government funding for programs that promote active aging
• Public transit or easily accessible transportation to programs
TEN HOVE
• Residents can choose from options that will help one stay fit and
healthy to options that develop creativity and encourages
interaction• Aqua gym, Zumba, yoga, qi gong, dance
• Courses that promote lifelong learning: self-paced
• Creative activities
• Surplus activities: parlor games, shopping trips
• Provides transportation
• For the residents of Bruges Gate, Princes, Begijnhofdries,
Papegaaistraat, and Malem Ekkergem with special attention to
the seniors and the most vulnerable of them
CONCLUSION
• With a loss of independence comes a diminished quality of life.4
• “Innovative population-level efforts are required to address physical
inactivity, prevent loss of muscle strength, and maintain balance in
older adults.”5
• In order to improve quality of life, we must promote activity and
independence in the older population• Includes advocating for policies that would allow funding for these types of
programs
PROFOUND CLINICAL
& ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE• Belgium strongly focuses on the
quality of life rather than the
quantity of life
• It is imperative to provide activities
and outlets for the older population
to promote healthy living and active
aging
• Non-verbal communication speaks
volumes
PROFOUND
CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
• Language barriers
do not stop
relationship building
• Miles apart, still
several similarities
between cultures
and different
countries
REFERENCES
1. The World Bank. (2015). Population ages 65 and above. Retrieved from
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS?locations=BE
2. Belgian Federal Government. (2016, June 17). A statistical overview of the Belgian population.
Retrieved from https://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/country/Population
3. Ilha, S., Argenta, C., Silva, M. R., Cezar-Vaz, M. R., Pelzer, M. T., & Backes, D. S. (2016).
Envelhecimento ativo: Reflexão necessária aos profissionais de enfermagem/saúde Active aging:
necessary reflections for nurse/health professionals. Revista de Pesquisa: Cuidado é Fundamental
Online,8(2), 4231. doi:10.9789/2175-5361.2016.v8i2.4231-4242
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). The state of aging and health in America.
Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/aging/pdf/state-aging-health-in-america-2013.pdf
5. Bauman, A., Merom, D., Bull, F. C., Buchner, D. M., & Singh, M. A. (2016). Updating the evidence
for physical activity: Summative reviews of the epidemiological evidence, prevalence, and
interventions to promote “active aging”. The Gerontologist, 56(2). doi:10.1093/geront/gnw031