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Enhancing the Sustainability of Healthy Ageing and Long-Term Care through Innovations

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Health, Well-Being and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 October 2023) | Viewed by 12630

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Shereen Hussein

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Guest Editor

Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK
Interests: ageing; long-term care; workforce; policy; inequities; wellbeing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

One of the greatest successes of science and medicine is the increased life expectancy across the globe. Longer lives bring many individual and societal opportunities. However, ageing is happening with parallel demographic forces such as declining fertility rates and significant population mobility. Furthermore, on average, the gained extra years in life expectancy are only sometimes healthy. While populations and individuals perceive ageing and the expectations of ageing differently, there are clear areas where further progress and development are required to make the most of this phenomenon worldwide.

While there are some commonly accepted definitions of healthy ageing, the exact meaning and application of this concept are likely to be diverse. They are subject to several individual, cultural, social and economic contexts. Healthy ageing also reflects the facilitators to living well with long-term conditions and disabilities. With the increased prevalence of various conditions as we age, long-term care needs also increase with several social and financial challenges. Innovations, technologies including artificial intelligence and new ways of thinking are needed to enhance the quality of life of older people and broader societies. Conceptualising healthy ageing throughout the life cycle and creating opportunities across generations are also needed to improve individuals' health and social outcomes across different age groups.

Globally, we have seen several strides forward in improving life expectancy at birth and later ages and adapting new long-term care models. However, there remain gaps in long-term care models and provisions and in understanding the meaning of healthy ageing among different groups and individuals. At the same time, there is increased attention regarding the potential value of innovations and technologies as a means of sustaining health and effectively addressing some of the long-term care demands. This Special Issue welcomes articles that address the intersectionality of ageing, health, care and innovations. Papers might focus on two or more aspects and can be either conceptual, implementational or evaluating. We welcome articles that examine and present new concepts or theoretical models, evaluate innovative interventions or policies or discuss the challenges and facilitators of implementing different approaches. This Special Issue particularly welcomes articles that address the diversity, inequalities and unmet needs of various groups of older people across the globe.

Prof. Dr. Shereen Hussein
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

global ageing
long-term care
innovations
inequalities
unmet needs
older people
healthy ageing

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 3776 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Global Research on Care-Related Burden and Quality of Life of Informal Caregivers for Older Adults: A Bibliometric Analysis

by Aliya Zhylkybekova, Gulbakit K. Koshmaganbetova, Afshin Zare, Nadiar M. Mussin, Asset A. Kaliyev, Shabnam Bakhshalizadeh, Nurgul Ablakimova, Andrej M. Grjibovski, Natalya Glushkova and Amin Tamadon

Sustainability 2024, 16(3), 1020; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031020 - 25 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1425

Abstract

As global populations continue to undergo demographic aging, the role of caregivers in providing essential support and assistance to older adults has become increasingly prominent. This demographic shift has led to a growing reliance on informal caregivers, often family members, who take on the responsibilities of caring for older adults. This not only affects immediate family dynamics but also holds broader implications for societal sustainability. The primary objective of this bibliometric analysis is to comprehensively examine the worldwide research output related to the quality of life and caregiver burden among individuals providing care to older adults. By understanding the worldwide research output related to caregivers and their quality of life and burden, we can assess the long-term sustainability of caregiving practices. We retrieved studies with titles containing the terms “caregivers”, “burden”, “quality of life”, and “aged” from the Web of Science (WOS) database. The collected publications were then subjected to analysis using the “bibliometric” package in the R programming environment. A total of 44 publications from 2006–2023 were included in the analysis. Spain emerged as the leading contributor in terms of the number of publications, accounting for 21.9%, followed by the USA at 16.5% and China at 13.6%. The most prolific institution was Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan, responsible for 25% of the publications. Among the authors, Cura-Gonzalez I.D. had the highest number of articles, contributing four publications, or 9.1% of the total output. An analysis of co-occurring keywords revealed that the predominant focus of the research revolved around caregiver burden, quality of life, health, care, stress, and impact, reflecting enduring areas of interest within this field. This bibliometric analysis may serve as a tool to provide insights into the current state of research on caregiver burden and quality of life among those caring for older adults. The results of this study can contribute to the assessment of research strategies and the encouragement of global cooperation in the field of care for older adults. By considering the multidimensional nature of caregiving challenges and promoting international cooperation, strides can be made towards sustainable caregiving practices that ensure the wellbeing of both caregivers and the aging population, thus safeguarding the sustainability of healthcare systems worldwide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing the Sustainability of Healthy Ageing and Long-Term Care through Innovations)

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20 pages, 345 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Networks, Use of Communication Technology, and Loneliness of Frail Older People Ageing in Place in Italy: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Maria Gabriella Melchiorre, Stefania Cerea, Marco Socci and Giovanni Lamura

Sustainability 2023, 15(20), 15073; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152015073 - 19 Oct 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1038

Abstract

The study explored how the lockdown, following the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy (February–May 2020), impacted frail older people needing Long-Term Care (LTC) and living alone at home in Brescia and Ancona. These two urban cities were differently affected by the pandemic, with a major degree of infections and deaths in the former. In July–September 2020, a follow-up study of the IN-AGE research project (2019) was carried out in both cities, involving 41 older respondents by telephone, to detect the impact of the health emergency on their social networks, use of communication technology, social isolation, and loneliness. Findings showed that the use of communication tools was overall expanded, and seniors increased telephone (TEL) contacts, especially in Ancona. In both cities, fears for the infection emerged too, and mainly in Ancona than Brescia, several cases of worsened perceived loneliness were detected. Despite the exploratory/descriptive nature of the study, with a not-representative sample of the population and notwithstanding some differences among cities, the findings stressed the risk of isolation and loneliness for seniors living alone. This risk was buffered by the use of communication technology during the lockdown, but more interventions allowing sustainable healthy ageing (HA) in place and enhancing healthy behaviours, especially in emergency situations, are needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing the Sustainability of Healthy Ageing and Long-Term Care through Innovations)

15 pages, 323 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Risk of Household Socioeconomic Deprivation Related to Older Long-Term Care Needs: A Qualitative Exploratory Study in Italy and Spain

by Georgia Casanova, Mirian Fernández-Salido and Carolina Moreno-Castro

Sustainability 2023, 15(20), 15031; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152015031 - 18 Oct 2023

Viewed by 880

Abstract

Background: Older individuals with long-term care (LTC) needs represent a risk factor for poverty and socioeconomic deprivation (SED) for households. This challenge threatens the overall sustainability of health and social care systems. Spain and Italy have a robust family-based care regime with a high level of informal long-term care. Aims: This qualitative study aims to provide empirical evidence of the socioeconomic risks for Spanish and Italian households related to long-term care needs by identifying the phenomenon’s main characteristics and suggestions for innovative policies and solutions. In particular, this qualitative study examines the opinions of experts and stakeholders from both countries to: (a) explore the relationship between LTC needs and household SED risk in Spain and Italy; (b) identify key associations between words and concepts, highlighting their specific characteristics in both countries; and (c) perform an in-depth analysis of the interviewees’ views on designing innovative policies to support households, aimed at coping with the SED risk arising from the challenges posed by meeting the LTC needs of older people and their relatives Methods: National experts and stakeholders were involved in interviews and focus groups in both countries. A linguistic and content analysis of the transcriptions produced was performed and supported by T-LAB. Results: The SED risk for households was confirmed in both countries. Informal carers, often women, contend with a higher risk of material and social deprivation. To improve the coordination and integration strategy of public LTC, policies should contrast the SED risk of households. Moreover, an innovative integrated welfare model should consider valorizing different existing resources (e.g., informal care, neighbors, and NGOs). Conclusions: Long-term care policies aimed at promoting ageing need to pay more attention to such a risk as a structural component to be addressed and tackled with more specific and effective strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing the Sustainability of Healthy Ageing and Long-Term Care through Innovations)

16 pages, 312 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Connectedness and Successful Aging of Older Adults in Croatia

by Jadranka Plužarić, Ivana Barać, Vesna Ilakovac, Robert Lovrić, Nikolina Farčić, Željko Mudri, Marija Barišić and Ivana Pavlić

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 10843; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151410843 - 11 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1117

Abstract

Connectedness is a multidimensional human experience that is essential to successful aging. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to assess connectedness and self-perception of successful aging in older people, to examine whether there are differences in relation to basic characteristics, and to examine whether there is a connection between connectedness and self-perception of successful aging. The respondents were elderly people in the Republic of Croatia. Data were collected using two validated scales: Croatian versions of the Register–Connectedness Scale for Older Adults and the Self-Assessment Scale of Successful Aging. The study included 824 respondents, of which 319 (38.7%) were men and 505 (61.3%) were women. The median age was 72 years. The median connectivity of the respondents was 8.9 (IQR= 7.6–10.2), and the median rating of successful aging was 3.25 (IQR = 1–5). Spearman’s correlation coefficient ρ (p value) was 0.585 (<0.001). Connectivity was rated better by respondents with a higher level of education, who were married, resided in their own homes, used modern technologies, and were active in the community. There is a significant positive association between connectedness and the self-perception of successful aging overall, as well as in all individual connectedness domains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing the Sustainability of Healthy Ageing and Long-Term Care through Innovations)

19 pages, 905 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Social Contacts on the Uptake of Health Innovations among Older Ethnic Minorities in the UK: A Mixed Methods Study

by Mohamed Ismail

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 10839; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151410839 - 11 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1283

Abstract

Several studies have highlighted specific views on ageing among older migrants in Europe that tend to be outdated or more pessimistic than the general population. However, the current literature does not provide explanations for such observations. This mixed methods study considers the diffusion of innovation among older migrants as a possible explanatory factor. A critical component of the diffusion of innovation theory is how information is accessed, exchanged, and communicated through social contacts. This study employs the fundamental mathematical model of diffusion to examine the differential effects of diffusion of innovation based on the social contact rates among migrant groups compared to the overall UK population. As there is no direct information on social contact rates among migrants in the UK, the analysis uses the equivalence from the migrants’ home countries as proxies. This study utilises social matrices of contact data for the UK based on publicly available information from a European survey and other publications for the contact rate for three sending countries where there are large migrant groups in the UK and Europe (India, Pakistan and Turkey). The analysis shows that, when controlling for other factors, migrants are likely to suffer considerable delays in the diffusion of innovations compared to the majority UK population. The findings have several policy implications concerning promoting inclusive public health and disease prevention interventions, which are essential components of a sustainable healthcare system for an increasingly diverse UK older population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing the Sustainability of Healthy Ageing and Long-Term Care through Innovations)

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22 pages, 1884 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Active Are European Seniors—Their Personal Ways to Active Ageing? Is Seniors’ Activity in Line with the Expectations of the Active Ageing Strategy?

by Klaudia Przybysz and Agnieszka Stanimir

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10404; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310404 - 1 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1778

Abstract

The study is directed towards the growing importance of active ageing (AA). Active ageing is a concept proposed in 1990 to recognise not only factors related to health care but also other factors influencing the ageing of individuals and populations. In the following years, as the needs of the ageing societies and the possibilities of meeting these needs increased, Healthy Ageing was defined. Active ageing is one of the areas of care for older people in the Decade for Healthy Ageing. In the study, we referred to the pillars of the AA strategy and the active ageing index (AAI) guidelines. Research on active ageing is gaining momentum in conjunction with pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2030 Agenda), especially in social inclusion. The aim of our study was to compare EU countries in terms of seniors’ subjective assessment of AA-related activities and to check whether the similarities and differences in the ratings of seniors from different countries changed in 2020 compared to 2018. As we did not want seniors to participate in a survey directly focused on AA, we chose the European Social Survey database (ESS is a cross-national, representative survey conducted every two years across Europe since 2001), ensuring that the sample was representative. We used questions not directly related to AA. We conducted the analysis by gender and two age groups (65–74 and 75+). In the analysis, we used Kaufman–Rousseeuw normalisation and Ward’s method for clustering. Our analysis resulted in four classifications in each study run. We identified groups of countries where respondents’ assessments are similar. In addition, we identified recurring patterns of behaviour corresponding to AA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing the Sustainability of Healthy Ageing and Long-Term Care through Innovations)

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17 pages, 299 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measuring Activity—The Picture of Seniors in Poland and Other European Union Countries

by Klaudia Przybysz and Agnieszka Stanimir

Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9511; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129511 - 13 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 874

Abstract

Three interconnected and mutually supporting priority areas of “Europe 2020”, which will continue as priorities until 2030, constitute the idea of sustainable development based on three pillars—economic, environmental and social. The third pillar, related to social inclusion, aims to protect the interests of various social groups, including the growing group of elderly individuals. In this context, the activity of seniors becomes one of the key elements of sustainable development. For many years, it has been advocated that seniors have to be active, not only in terms of their physical activity, but also in terms of the so-called digital/technological inclusion or exclusion. This article attempts to answer the question of whether seniors’ activity in various areas of life (for example, taking into account the components of the Active Aging Index) can translate into a better assessment of their lives. We compare the activity of Polish seniors with their peers from EU countries. By identifying the differences, we try to pinpoint the causes of inactivity and indicate the areas of action necessary to stimulate their activity. Pointing out the disadvantages of the AAI’s construction, which are related to the cultural schemes, traditions, and social conditions of EU countries, we propose an original active aging indicator, which was created using Hellwig’s method and which is based on the results of a pilot study conducted with Polish seniors in 2020. The values of both indicators (AAI and the original) were also used to examine the impact of seniors’ activity on their general life satisfaction. In this part of the study, we used a comparative analysis and a classification method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing the Sustainability of Healthy Ageing and Long-Term Care through Innovations)

14 pages, 6364 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Visualizing Benefits of Case Management Software Using Utility Effect Chains

by Tim Arlinghaus, Kevin Kus, Patricia Kajüter Rodrigues and Frank Teuteberg

Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 4873; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15064873 - 9 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1174

Abstract

Labor shortages lead to crucial investment decisions, such as selecting software supporting work processes. The healthcare sector stands out because of additional restructuring due to demographic changes. This is particularly true for the care sector; hence, customized case management software (CMSW) solutions for healthcare professionals are being developed. In an increasingly profit-oriented healthcare system, sustainability, cost-effectiveness and quantification of benefits of investments play a major role. We analyzed research dealing with the benefits of case and care management software and, additionally, interviewed case managers who use recently developed CMSW within a case study. We used utility effect chains to visualize and quantify the gathered benefits of an information system (IS) investment along with the healthcare system in Germany. The findings show that benefits from care management software need to be seen more holistically. Utility effect chains can serve as a helpful instrument for the visualization of indirect benefits in healthcare. The most significant benefits of CMSW were found to be various cost savings for each of the participating stakeholders, a reduction in redundant entries of patient data and the prevention of cost-intensive revolving door cases. Additionally, the insight into patient records reduces time-consuming communication among health experts and family caregivers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing the Sustainability of Healthy Ageing and Long-Term Care through Innovations)

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Other

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28 pages, 732 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

The Relationship between Physical Fitness and Cognitive Functions in Older People: A Systematic Review

by Maria Antonieta Tinôco, Marcelo de Maio Nascimento, Adilson Marques, Élvio Rúbio Gouveia, Salvador Miguel, Francisco Santos and Andreas Ihle

Sustainability 2023, 15(23), 16314; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152316314 - 25 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1971

Abstract

The ageing process is associated with vulnerabilities, such as cognitive decline. Physical activity and exercise are key for preserving cognitive health in older age. This systematic review aims to analyse the effects of physical fitness programs on healthy older adults’ cognitive functions. An electronic search was performed in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. It included observational and experimental studies published between February 2017 and March 2023. Of the 1922 studies identified, 38 met the inclusion criteria. The findings show the positive effects of physical training on cognitive function in older adults. The most examined cognitive domains were executive function, memory function, and global cognition. Aerobic training prevailed, followed by resistance strength training and exergames. There was high variability in the characteristics of the protocols. The average length of interventions was 3–6 months; the frequency varied in the range of 1–4-times a week and 30–90 min sessions. The findings of this systematic review emphasise that physical fitness programs positively improve the specific domains of cognitive function in healthy older adults. These results can contribute to planning future interventions to improve the mental health of the older population and strengthen the development of policies for healthy ageing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing the Sustainability of Healthy Ageing and Long-Term Care through Innovations)

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