Aging Experiences among Older People in Conakry/Guinea: Towards an Age-Friendly City and Community

Older people are a demographically significant group, who represent a vulnerable layer within conditions for active and healthy aging that may be lacking in both urban and rural areas. Objective: To identify the main barriers and opportunities for the establishment of age-friendly cities and communities in a low-income country. Methods: This was a qualitative study that involved focus group discussions with older people, and service providers (health and social services) in the city of Conakry. The older people were purposively selected with the support of older people associations, and men and women were equally represented in the sample. Results: The analysis focused on the experience of old age as well as the barriers and opportunities for active healthy aging specific to the sub-Saharan context. The results indicate that a good quality of life for older adults boils down to the acquisition of good health and decent housing. Other concerns frequently reported were food and education problems for their children and security. Conclusion: This study contributes to strengthening the understanding of the age-friendly cities and communities’ approach in the context of sub-Saharan African countries.

Research on Age-friendly Open Spaces Design in Residential Areas of Small Towns

Taking the accelerating aging and newly promoted urbanization as backdrops, this paper, on one side, analyzed the demands for parks, squares, fi tness facilities, chairs, etc. of elders in small towns from perspectives of unique physical, psychological and social features of elders. On the other side, it also tackled the inadequacies of open spaces in small towns. Moreover, it proposed strategies such as creating social activity spaces, cultivating therapeutic green landscapes, constructing diversely secure fi tness spaces and building age integrated environments, etc. for designing age-friendly open spaces in small towns.

Age-Friendly Communities: Creating a Conducive Environment for the Elderly in India

India is one of the nations in the world where the population is undergoing anomalous demographic changes.The increase in longevity and decrease fertility lead to the boom of older people aged 60 and above both in relative and absolute terms.Due to the rise in number,it creates pressure not only on the family but the responsibility shifts to the government also.This issue becomes a significant social problem not only in India but across the globe.The government had taken action by creating policies and programs to provide services to them.Still,the majority of the elderly population is lacking behind in these areas like health facilities,infrastructure,living arrangements suffering from isolation,loneliness,abuse,crime.Nowadays,smart city initiatives are taken by the government across the country but still in process.To involve and facilitate more cities for“age-friendly”,the World Health Organization develop the Global Age-Friendly Cities Guide and a manual“Checklist of Essential Features of Age-Friendly Cities”.Cooperating with 35 urban communities from developed and developing nations,the WHO oversees eight highlights for age-accommodating urban areas in the space of urban life.This paper had an objective to study and understand exiting literature on age-friendly communities in developed and developing countries and draw attention to the need to create age-friendly cities in India.The realization of the needs and demands of older people,the Indian government should give attention to promote and implement more age-friendly communities all over the country.This initiative till now taken in 3 states,i.e.,Delhi,Udaipur,and Kolkata-which involved in age-friendly community initiatives collaborated with WHO.In this era of a rapid aging sphere,the communities have to enhance in such a manner where the older population can meet their needs quickly without any conflicts and problem.To conclude,the government and policymaker should emphasize the policies into practices to build age-friendly communities across the country and make better living conditions for“allages”.For timely action and productive recommendation,it is an urgent need on the part of the government,policymakers,researchers,social workers to develop and enhance the community’s facilities,which can gain confidence and wellbeing of the elderly in India.

Perspective of Elderly on Age-Friendliness of Services Provided in Primary Healthcare Centers of Dubai Health Authority: Focus Groups Discussions

Primary Health Care Services Sector (PHCSS) of Dubai Health Authority (DHA) provides many services dedicated to seniors. However, there have been no studies to date that consulted the seniors themselves regarding these services. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the age-friendliness of outpatient clinic’s services provided in PHCSS from perspective of elderly service recipients. Methods: Three focus groups were designed. The focus groups included receivers of care (senior patients and caregivers for senior patients) and healthcare providers (physicians, nurses, administrators and medical record officers). The discussed topics in the focus groups were based on WHO’s recommended three domains of improvement for an age-friendly Primary Health Care (PHC): Information, education and training, community-based health care management systems, and the physical environment.

Measuring the Needs for Medical Service in the Retirement Residential Community in Korea

Medical facilities in retirement residential areas provide diverse medical and health-related services to retirees, and they are equipped and programed with various medical services for enhancing retirees’ daily activities. To find out the current status of using medical facilities by retirees, this study surveyed retirees in their fifties, sixties, and seventies, who live in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. The survey data was sorted by the types of medical facilities they visit, reasons for their visit, and the types of medical facilities in a retirement residential area they would prefer to visit. The pros and cons of using private and general hospitals can be evaluated further to set up the right strategy to reconcile them;and each type of hospital can be improved by adding those missing elements that the interviewees mentioned. In the broad perspective, this indicates the need to suggest the direction of preparing residential areas that are technically planned for retirees on the basis of the analysis of Korean retirees’ needs.