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Dementia friendly communities in Kingston upon Thames - Collaboration with partner organisations
73-74Views:137Alzheimer’s Society is the largest UK charity focusing on dementia and the only one to tackle every aspect of dementia. Currently 900,000 people are living with dementia in the UK. In the country it is estimated that 39% of people with dementia live in care settings, whereas 61% live in the community. This data highlights the importance and necessity of transforming our local communities and making them dementia friendly.
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Alzheimer's Café and Nursing Home collaboration - "Hand in Hand"
149-174Views:122The author reports on the launch of the Méliusz Alzheimer Café in Debrecen. She writes about the role and motivation of the participants in the initiative. She gives a detailed description of the events that took place in 2023 and 2024 and their possible outcomes.
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The Role of Health Cooperation in Building Aggregate Demand for Health Services
Views:95Working in a team greatly improves health cooperation and helps propose innovative solutions for health issues. Furthermore, a multidisciplinary team has more overlapping roles defined by communication and troubleshooting. However, Demand for health services is significant as it is related to the social aspect of citizens’ health status in a country. Since it is significant, the current study focuses on a very important problem, which is the possibility of estimating the total social demand for health services through public-private sector cooperation in third-world countries, represented by Syria. Moreover, it endeavors to propose a model for estimating the total social demand for health services in the public and private sectors. The descriptive analytical approach was used, and the data were collected through cooperation between a team of health experts in various fields, depending on the available secondary data, interviews, and the observation and estimation of the primary data. The model design includes dividing the total demand into six dimensions, which are (demand for hospitals, demand for health centers, demand for medical clinics, demand for dental clinics, demand for pharmacies, and demand for laboratories). The study has the following result: Health collaboration plays an important role in designing the proposed model and getting the missing health data needed.
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Decade of Healthy Aging 2020-2030: international and local arctic context
30-31Views:176Healthy aging has become an important policy issue at all levels of the society. The key international document is the World Health Organization’s (WHO) plan for a Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020–2030 which is the 2nd action plan of the WHO ‘s Global strategy on aging and health [1]. The Plan consists of 10 years of concerted, catalytic, sustained collaboration to improve the lives of older people, their families, and their communities. Older people themselves are at the core of this plan, and it brings together a variety of actors: governments, civil society, international agencies, professionals, media, and the private sector. The Plan also notes that healthy aging is not only a healthcare issue but also needs to engage many other sectors.
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Hungarian Gerontology 16 (Conference Issue) 2024 Full Issue
Views:40Dear Reader,
On October 10–11, 2024, we successfully organized the 17th International Scientific Conference and Professional Meeting of Gerontology Days. This year’s theme, “Cooperation,” served as the central thread connecting the numerous presentations delivered in both Hungarian and English. The conference itself exemplified this spirit of collaboration, as reflected in the event’s key highlights: · 5 Sponsors supported the event, enriching the conference with their contributions: Pasta of Tiszaörs, the Caring Watch Program, the Pécs Community Foundation (with the P-AGE Conscious Aging Program), the Rural Treasure Association, and the Association of Sarud. · 7 Partners contributed to the organization: o Hungarian Academy of Sciences Regional Committee (Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County) – Lifestyle and Health Research Interdisciplinary Working Committee o Hungarian Academy of Sciences Regional Committee – Medical Committee (Geriatrics and Social Gerontology Working Committee) o Hungarian Women’s Career Development Association o National Association of Doctoral Students, Department of Economics o Hungarian Association of Consumer Advocates o Economic Competition Advisory Office Network o Financial Navigator Advisory Office Network · 2 Conference Days: The first day featured Hungarian-language presentations, while the second day focused on English-language sessions. · 2 Organizing Institutions & Conference Chairs: o Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Debrecen – Dr. habil. Marianna Móré (Dean) o Faculty for Social Wellbeing, University of Malta – Dr. Maria Aurora Fenech (Senior Lecturer) · 4 Scientific Committee Members and 13 Organizing Committee Members, whose dedication ensures the event’s success year after year. · 7 Plenary Lectures (5 on the Hungarian day, 2 on the English day). 3 · 12 Thematic Sections (7 on the Hungarian day, 5 on the English day). · 92 Section Presentations (43 in Hungarian, 49 in English). A Special Issue of Hungarian Gerontology (Vol. 16, 2024) has been prepared based on these presentations. The research showcased the diverse realities of aging populations worldwide, including: · Self-determination challenges among Malta’s elderly · Slovakia’s pension system · Poland’s “silver economy” · Syria’s healthcare landscape · The status of Nigeria’s elderly population · Digital learning capabilities of older adults in Germany · Simulation model applications · Dementia home care challenges in Hungary (examined through literary works) · AI in doctor-patient communication · The Grany Adoption Foundation in Kyrgyzstan · Aging in the Philippines and other nations, highlighting both struggles and positive aspects of later life. We hope this collection offers you a profound and enlightening exploration of global aging perspectives.
With warm regards, Edina Molnár Plenary Chair, Hungarian Day
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Local community practices to improve healthy aging in the North
25-26Views:301The governments of Finland, Denmark, Norway and Russia have developed national programs to address population ageing. There are also successful practices in healthy ageing at the local level in different countries, but they remain unknown among the global professional community and governmental authorities.
Healthy ageing has become an important policy issue at all levels of the society. The key international document is the World Health Organization’s (WHO) plan for a Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020–2030 which is the second action plan of the WHO ‘s Global strategy on ageing and health. The Plan consists of 10 years of concerted, catalytic, sustained collaboration to improve the lives of older people, their families, and their communities. Older people themselves are in the core of this plan, and it brings together variety of actors, including governments, civil society, international agencies, professionals, academia, the media, and the private sector. The Plan also notes that healthy ageing is not only a healthcare issue but also needs to engage many other sectors.
The aim of research was to search and introduce local community practices according the priority areas of WHO Decade of Healthy Aging action plan for gerontological policy in arctic countries.
Examples of good practices for the Priority 1 of the Plan: Change how we think, feel and act towards age and ageing
Fostering of Healthy Ageing requires fundamental shifts from existing stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination towards older people. Older people should not be seen only as an economic burden for the welfare society, but as contributors to the state and communities, and as resourceful carriers of traditional values and wisdom. Governments eliminate age discrimination by variety of actions, such as legislative changes, and policies and programs which engage older people in decision-making.
Initiatives for Priority 2 of the Plan: Ensure that communities foster the abilities of older people
The environments which are built on decisions made not only by policy makers but involve citizens of all ages are better places to grow, play, live, work and retire. Even those people who have lost their capacity, shall be able to continue to enjoy everyday activities, to continue to develop personally and professionally, to participate and contribute to their communities while retaining their autonomy, dignity, health, and well-being.
Practices for Priority 3 of the Plan: Deliver person-centered, integrated care and primary health services to older people
Good-quality essential health services include prevention of diseases; promotion of healthy lifestyle; curative, rehabilitative, palliative and end-of-life care; safe, effective, good-quality essential medicines and vaccines; dental care; assistive technologies, while ensuring that the use of services does not cause the user financial hardship.
Local northern practices are mirrored against the recently released WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020-2030 Action Plan with paying attention to indigenous elders. Based on these practices the national, regional, and municipal level authorities of the Nordic countries and Russia were suggested to consider the policy recommendations based of the research.
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COVID -19 pandemic, surveys on elderly about vaccination. National and European perspectives
14-17Views:398A summary of Symposium titled COVID-19 pandemic, surveys on elderly about vaccination reserved in this abstract.
The severe cases of COVID-19 in Europe. A comparative analysis using SHARE data base
The paper focuses on the severe cases of COVID-19 in Europe and the predictors of these cases. The author used the secondary analysis of a large data base (SHARE) of persons aged 50 or more from the EU countries and the Switzerland. The data have been collected in the summer of 2020. In the first part the focus is on the theoretical starting point of the analysis. In the second part the main outputs are presented.
How to convince the undecided - communication with the elderly and attitudes towards vaccination COVID-19 in Poland
The pandemic has had its toll on the socio-economic life of most people. Governments and international organizations face new challenges in a situation of uncertainty. Social campaigns are designed to encourage as many people as possible to join the vaccination plan. Achieving population resilience requires a significant commitment of organizational, financial and communication resources.
Older people constitute a priority group in the vaccination system in Poland. However, despite the measures taken, there remains a significant share of seniors who remain reluctant to vaccination. The government is taking further pro-turnout measures targeted at the elderly. The shortcomings of the existing strategies should be eliminated for the benefit of society.
The aim is to summarize the research conducted in the field of the needs and possibilities of communication with the elderly, attitudes towards vaccinations and sources of influence on making purchasing decisions of seniors.
Vaccination attitudes – international project in Central and Eastern Europe
The beginnings of the project date back to 2020. The uncertainty that became commonplace in the times of the pandemic indicated new areas of previously unknown dependencies. Stress, uncertainty, attitudes towards the threat, protective behaviour, and soon also attitudes towards vaccination seemed the most important at that time. Examining the existing dependencies would allow a better understanding of the phenomenon of social responses to the pandemic and would support governmental and non-governmental, national and international actions that would be an important tool in the fight against the negative consequences of a spreading COVID-19.
Scientists from Central and Eastern European countries representing different disciplines (sociology, economics, communication, statistics, psychology and psychiatry) joined forces in a common international project investigating the relationship between attitudes towards vaccines and the level of perceived mental health, uncertainty, socio-demographic variables and the level of religiosity. Core aims of the project were to analyse the model of predictors concerning demographic, psychological, and social factors influencing the intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 and to provide the information to prepare and implement more effective and efficient health messaging strategies and campaigns targeting groups reluctant to COVID-19 vaccination in Eastern and Central European countries.
The project involved the development of a common research tool - a questionnaire, parallel research in four countries of Central and Eastern Europe (Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Hungary), more than 2000 respondents (unvaccined adults) and joint development of the results of the analysis, using the potential of all involved partners.
The project is still developed to next stages of investigation. Results will be published in high quality journals in years 2022 and 2023.Partners involved represent: University of Gdańsk (Poland), University of Oradea (Romania), University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), University of Debrecen (Hungary).
More information: k.balandynowicz@ug.edu.pl.
Survey on unvaccinated Hungarian elderly people during the COVID-19 pandemic
During the pandemic, we performed a comparative study of the Hungarian unvaccinated people, focusing on psychological and demographic aspects in our questionnaire. The survey data collection lasted from 27 August to 13 October 2021. Participants were over 18 years of age who have not yet received any vaccination against the COVID-19 virus.
The method used is an on-line questionnaire survey.
The survey is not for political but for scientific purposes, and we hope that its results will contribute to a more professional management of the COVID-19 epidemic. The survey of Hungarian team was conducted in collaboration with Polish, Slovenian and Romanian university researchers.
The test dimensions are as follows:
Well-being at the time of pandemic (happiness, health.)
Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS21)
Vaccination Attitudes Examination Scale (VAX)
Sources of information about vaccination
Religiosity level
Demographics (metrics)
The presentation focuses on the most important aspects of the first analysis of the Hungarian results. The study involved 478 people: 113 men, 363 women, and 2 people identified as “other”. It is worth highlighting from the first processing of the data that a large number of unvaccinated people do not believe that they are at risk of getting the COVID-19 virus. In our sample 42% of the unvaccinated are very sure that the vaccine will not work, and 30.6% are afraid that they will become infected because of the vaccine. They do not usually feel safe after vaccinations, they are afraid of the undiscovered consequences, and they trust more in their natural immunity. 61.8% definitely do not want a vaccine for themselves, nor in the future. 67.3% want to wait to see how vaccines work in other people. During processing, we could identify the ones with a definite anti-vaccination attitude. They were also analyzed on the basis of their political affiliation, religiosity, and place of residence. Regarding the DASS-21 depression subscale, the young age group scored significantly higher than the elderly. According to the DASS-21 stress subscale, the value belonging to young people is significantly higher than that of older people. On the Vaccination Attitudes Examination (VAX) Scale’s concerns about financial profiteering subscale, seniors scored significantly higher. Interpreting our results in the context of parallel international studies is also part of our objectives. Our results provide an opportunity to serve important aspects for the communication strategies with unvaccinated elderly. -
Hungarian Gerontology 16 (43) 2024 Full Issue
Views:42Dear Reader,
The 2024 issue of Hungarian Gerontology presents a collection of nine scholarly articles that reflect the journal’s continued commitment to the multidisciplinary exploration of aging and gerontological research.
In this issue, Dorina Markovics and colleagues investigate the association between multimorbidity in older adults and the corresponding prevalence of polypharmacy. Orsolya Savella and her co-authors explore the characteristics of menopause in later life and examine related aspects of health awareness. Also focusing on health sciences, Bassel Awnar Asaad and his research team discuss opportunities for improving healthcare systems in developing countries, using Syria as a case study.
A significant portion of the issue is dedicated to various dimensions of active aging. Melinda Bede and Orsolya Pachner analyze the role of social relationships in promoting activity among older adults living both independently and in institutional care settings. Viktória Virágh introduces a theoretical framework for educational programs aimed at successful aging, with implications for social services targeting the elderly. Mónika Beck-Zaja presents the Digital Wellbeing project, implemented within library settings to support digital inclusion among older populations.
This edition also features two book reviews. Andrea Toldi reviews Generations in Conflict: How Can We Understand Each Other? (2024) by Krisztián Steigervald, while Dalma Tóth offers a perspective on the book of Teri Szűcs’ The memory returned to me.
Finally, in our science communication section, Mónika Nagyné Mudra highlights a best-practice model of collaboration between a retirement home and the Alzheimer Café program, demonstrating effective community engagement in dementia care.
We hope that this issue provides valuable insights and contributes meaningfully to the field of gerontology.
Sincerely,László Patyán
Editor-in-Chief -
Interdisciplinary collaboration in geriatrics: implications for social work profession in Nigeria
68-70Views:180With age comes the rising demand for health care and even more peculiarities to care giving. In addition to biological changes are socioeconomic factors that impact the health and treatment of the elderly population. The dynamics involved in providing adequate care for the elderly population as seen in developed societies reveals that there is no watertight compartment to knowledge and the need for interdisciplinary collaborations.
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Proper Collaboration between Social Impact and ESG in Long-term Care
51-52Views:137New terminologies induce new solutions that affect long-term care actors. ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) provides globally new standards that stakeholders use to measure their impact on society and the environment. In this changing environment, long-term care facilities are no exception as well in this process. Social impact is one of the three pillars of ESG and refers to the positive or negative effects that a company's activity has on society affects the term of the social responsibility.