By 2050, 70% of the population will live in cities. The majority of the persons living in cities will be 60 plus years old. Ageing cities demands for cities environments to adapt to an ageing population. Modern cities though, don’t anticipate fast enough and in an adequate manner to face the challenges due to population-related transitions. Modifying and adapting the built environment with a focus on the aged population could help to support older people facing functional and cognitive decline.
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Our ageing population is the result of two demographic trends: decreasing fertility levels and higher life expectancy. As a corollary to these demographic trends, the working population is ageing and shrinking at the same time. This development will affect the performance of organizations in the next decades. As today‟s economy and the performance of organizations is mainly based on knowledge, the ageing workforce will mainly affect the organizations ability to be knowledge productive. As current knowledge management (KM) and intellectual capital (IC) literature hardly addresses the issue of ageing, the aim of this paper is to explore this topic in order to formulate an agenda for further KM/IC research. Combining the temporary consequences of ageing (brain drain and talent gap) and the false assumptions about the capabilities of older workers (older workers contribute negatively to a firm‟s performance), the current ageing of the working population reveals two main risks for organizations and management: underutilization of older employees, and loss of knowledge. Based on the exploration of these two risks in this paper, several issues are proposed for further research. These issues focus on the specific competences of the older knowledge worker, the implications for talent development programs, the benefits of inter-generational learning, and effectiveness of knowledge retention strategies. Today, the main fear is that large scale retirement will lead to a shortage of skills, talents, knowledge. Although acknowlegding the risks and threats of this brain drain, the current temporary ageing of our workforce might also contribute to a structural better valuation of the potential of the older knowledge worker and its specific contribution to the process of knowledge creation. In an ageing knowledge economy, increased understanding about the abilities and distinct qualities of older workers will provide opportunities for organizations to enhance knowledge productivity and thus gain competitiveness.
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In this contribution to the book “Human rights and social equality: challenges for social work" Nol Reverda is creating a society in which the quality of life experienced by seniors is improved by asking them to continue contributing their qualities and talents to society. The focus is then no longer on their shortcomings and their needs for care but rather on seniors ’capacities and contribution to society – in short, a grey society without waste.
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The crossroads of living in cities on the one hand and ageing of the population on the other is studied in an interdisciplinary field of research called urban ageing (van Hoof and Kazak 2018, van Hoof et al. 2018). People live longer and in better health than ever before in Europe. Despite all the positive aspects of population ageing, it poses many challenges. The interaction of population ageing and urbanisation raises issues in various domains of urban living (Phillipson and Buffel 2016). According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD 2015), the population share of those of 65 years old is expected to climb to 25.1% in 2050 in its member states. Cities in particular have large numbers of older inhabitants and are home to 43.2% of this older population. The need to develop supportive urban communities are major issues for public policy to understand the relationship between population ageing and urban change (Buffel and Phillipson 2016). Plouffe and Kalache (2010) see older citizens as a precious resource, but in order to tap the full potential these people represent for continued human development (Zaidi et al. 2013), the world’s cities must ensure their inclusion and full access to urban spaces, structures, and services. Therefore, cities are called upon to complement the efforts of national governments to address the consequences of the unprecedented demographic shift (OECD 2015). Additionally, at the city level there is a belief to understand the requirements and preferences of local communities (OECD 2015). An important question in relation to urban ageing is what exactly makes a city age-friendly (Alley et al. 2007, Lui et al. 2009, Plouffe and Kalache 2010, Steels 2015, Moulaert and Garon 2016, Age Platform Europe 2018)? Another relevant question is which factors allow some older people in cities to thrive, while others find it hard to cope with the struggles of daily life? This chapter explores and describes which elements and factors make cities age-friendly, for instance, on the neighbourhood level and in relation to technology for older people.
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Population ageing has been a focus of research since the 1960s (Michael et al. 2006), and it has become a domain of international discussions, debates and research throughout a myriad of disciplines including housing, urban planning and real estate (Buffel and Phillipson 2016, van Bronswijk 2015, Kort 2017). Kazak et al. (2017) described how the ageing population has a profound impact on the real estate market, which is transforming in terms of availability of retirement accommodation for older people including accessibility, adaptability, and the availability of single-floor dwellings. Older people usually have a strong connection with the environment they understand and know well (van Hoof et al. 2016), enabling them to spend the latter years of their life in a familiar setting, which, in turn, influences their self-confidence, independence and the potential to successfully age in place. Older people are encouraged to continue living in their homes a familiar environment to them, instead of moving to an institutional care facility, and this is referred to as “ageing-in-place” (van Hoof 2010). This can be supported by creating a functional and spatial structure of cities that are friendly to older people (van Hoof et al. 2018, van Hoof and Kazak 2018). In the domain of environmental design, a series of home modifications can be identified. The most frequently encountered measures in and around the home are adaptations to improve the accessibility of the home (i.e., removal of barriers such as thresholds, installation of stair lifts in multi-storey homes, and the replacement of bath tubs by walk-in showers,). Separately from these expensive measures and adaptations, simple handgrips can improve the accessibility, safety and mobility of older people (van Hoof et al. 2010, van Hoof et al. 2013). A further concern that should be considered within the living environment is the lack of storage space for wheeled walkers and mobility scooters (including a place to charge batteries) whilst living in an apartment block with limited space to manoeuvre on corridors (Kazak et al. 2017). However, with increasing demands for care, it is not always possible to remain living in one’s own home and moving into a residential or nursing facility is the only remaining option; whereby, specialist and/or nursing care can be accessed and provided in these living environments (van Hoof et al. 2009). Policy principles within long-term care aim to provide a home from home environment for their residents (Moise et al. 2004). Several specialised housing models have been developed in order to facilitate this person-centred care approach, as more traditional institutional settings often do not match with the new holistic and therapeutic goals (Verbeek 2017). Radical alterations have been made in comparison with traditional nursing homes, implementing changes in the organisational, physical and social environment of settings (Verbeek et al. 2009, van Hoof et al. 2009). For example, smaller groups of older people (six to seven persons) form a household, with nursing staff having integrated tasks, including assistance with activities of daily living, preparing meals, organising activities and doing household chores together with residents. Daily life is mainly determined by residents and nursing staff, and the physical environment resembles an archetypal house. With this distinct increase and popular notion of the role real estate plays in ageing-in-place and living well in old age, there is also a shifting focus regarding participation, activation, and helping each other. Home modifications and the home environment itself have a profound influence on the care provided and received at home. In short, the fewer barriers there are at home, the easier and less onerous responsibilities placed on the family carer(s) (Duijnstee 1992). Family carers themselves need such environmental interventions that support care, and a sense of community and belonging. Enabling one to age-in-place and to successfully age requires more than a simple occupational therapeutic approach of environmental interventions. It requires innovative new housing encompassing suitable technology arrangements that can facilitate and enable older adults to live comfortably into old age, preferably with others and offer family members (i.e., children, grandchildren and spouse). Furthermore, interconnecting technology into such environments can offer family members the option and opportunity to monitor their loved one remotely whilst all actors know there are additional safety barriers in place. This chapter discusses and provides innovative examples from a Dutch social housing association and their practices, which illustrates a new approach to environmental design that focuses more on building new communities in conjunction with the building itself, as opposed to the occupational therapeutic approaches and environmental support. First, we take a closer look at why we care for each other, which is the basis of the participation society, in which we must look after people who are near to us. This should ideally be at the basis of new housing arrangements -in which people are stimulated to meet, engage, survey and care- that social housing associations are developing, retrofitting and developing.
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Ook uit internationaal wetenschappelijk onderzoek blijkt dat er verschillen zijn tussen ouderen in de stad en op het platteland [3-5]. In de rijke delen van de Europese Unie hebben ouderen in de landelijke gebieden een hogere levenstevredenheid dan in de stad. Mensen lijken tevreden in een dorp, wellicht omdat het verwachtingspatroon geringer is. Als het op veroudering aankomt, biedt de hogere dichtheid van de stad een grotere nabijheid tot allerlei diensten die de kwaliteit van leven van ouderen vergroten. Door specifieke economische factoren kunnen deze diensten niet in dezelfde mate worden aangeboden in landelijke gebieden [6]. Woonomstandigheden, zo blijkt uit onderzoek [7], zijn beter voor onze ouderen in de stad dan op het platteland, hoewel de verschillen niet zo uitgesproken groot zijn. En dan heb je nog de gesegregeerde woonwijken voor ouderen, zoals in de Verenigde Staten. Denk daarbij aan Sun City Arizona en The Villages in Florida [8, 9]. Deze wijken bieden een eenheidsworst en zonderen ouderen af in een cocon van geboden comfort, waarbij zij verdwijnen uit het reguliere straatbeeld van omliggende steden. Een in vrijheid gekozen gevangenschap. Een echte seniorvriendelijke stad is een generatievriendelijke stad zoals u wilt, waar niet alleen ruimte is voor één generatie, maar voor alle generaties: van wieg tot graf.
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Europeans are living longer than ever in history, because of the economic growth and advances in hygiene and health care. Today, average life expectancy is over 80, and by 2020 around 25% of the population will be over 65. The increasing group of older people poses great challenges in terms of creating suitable living environments and appropriate housing facilities. The physical indoor environment plays an important role in creating fitting, comfortable and healthy domestic spaces. Our senses are the primary interface with the built environment. With biological ageing, a number of sensory changes occur as a result of the intrinsic ageing process in sensory organs and their association with the nervous system. These changes can in turn change the way we perceive the environment around us. It is important to understand these changes when designing for older occupants, for instance, care homes, hospitals and private homes, as well as office spaces given the developments in the domain of staying active at work until older age.
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As societies age, the development of resources and strategies that foster healthy ageing from the beginning of life become increasingly important. Social and healthcare professionals are key agents in this process; therefore, their training needs to be in agreement with societal needs. We performed a scoping review on professional competences for social and health workers to adequately promote healthy ageing throughout life, using the framework described by Arksey and O’Malley and the Joanna Briggs Institute Guidelines. A stakeholder consultation was held in each of the participating countries, in which 79 experts took part. Results show that current literature has been excessively focused on the older age and that more attention on how to work with younger population groups is needed. Likewise, not all disciplines have equally reflected on their role before this challenge and interprofessional approaches, despite showing promise, have not been sufficiently described. Based on our results, health and social professionals working to promote healthy ageing across the lifespan will need sound competences regarding person-centred communication, professional communication, technology applications, physiological and pathophysiological aspects of ageing, social and environmental aspects, cultural diversity, programs and policies, ethics, general and basic skills, context and self-management-related skills, health promotion and disease prevention skills, educational and research skills, leadership skills, technological skills and clinical reasoning. Further research should contribute to establishing which competences are more relevant to each discipline and at what level they should be taught, as well as how they can be best implemented to effectively transform health and social care systems.
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The ageing population demands designing environments while considering their functional needs, desires and wishes. The ICF framework together with the gerontechnological principles can help to have focus on how to adjust or to (re)design the environment for this population. This paper focuses on building-related environmental factors including eHealth solutions. Knowledge and understanding of how the environment is perceived by older people help to set the building performance requirements and gives direction to improve our research to create healthy environments for future users.
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Urban ageing is an emerging domain that deals with the population of older people living in cities. The ageing of society is a positive yet challenging phenomenon, as population ageing and urbanisation are the culmination of successful human development. One could argue whether the city environment is an ideal place for people to grow old and live at an old age compared to rural areas. This viewpoint article explores and describes the challenges that are encountered when making cities age-friendly in Europe. Such challenges include the creation of inclusive neighbourhoods and the implementation of technology for ageing-in-place. Examples from projects in two age-friendly cities in The Netherlands (The Hague) and Poland (Cracow) are shown to illustrate the potential of making cities more tuned to the needs of older people and identify important challenges for the next couple of years. Overall, the global ageing of urban populations calls for more age-friendly approaches to be implemented in our cities. It is a challenge to prepare for these developments in such a way that both current and future generations of older people can benefit from age-friendly strategies. CC-BY Original article: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15112473 https://www.dehaagsehogeschool.nl/onderzoek/lectoraten/details/urban-ageing#over-het-lectoraat
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