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• Action for smart healthy age-friendly environments

  47-48

  Willeke van Staalduinen

  Views:

  168

  Smart, adaptable and inclusive solutions can help improve and support independent life throughout the course of life, regardless of age, gender, disabilities, cultural differences and personal choices.
  A holistic approach that optimizes social and physical environments, supported by digital tools and services, allows to provide better health and social care, promoting not only independent living, but also equity and active participation in society. This approach follows the United Nations' line-up, with the Sustainable Development Goals (in particular Objectives 3 and 11), stating that sustainable environments for all ages represent the basis for ensuring a better future for the entire population.
  The challenges of different sectors, such as ICT, the building industry and urban planning and the health and social care, as well as those of citizens and their communities are interlinked. Responding to these challenges will foster awareness and support for the creation and implementation of smart, healthy and inclusive environments for present and future generations.
  From this insight, a new concept was developed and well received: Smart Healthy Age-Friendly Environments (SHAFE). The by the EC approved Thematic Network of 2018 evolved into a Stakeholders Network of about 170 organisations and it is represented in several European projects and networks. COST Action NET4Age-Friendly brings together over 320 researchers from 46 countries. Capacity building to support the implementation of SHAFE is present in Erasmus+ projects.

  The presentation will give an overview of relevant development and insights to support the building of smart, inclusive societies.

• Assessment tools of ageism – Literature review

  48-50

  Milos Caklos

  Jarmila Kristová

  Martina Solárová

  Views:

  65

  Ageism refers to stereotypes, prejudices and discriminatory expressions or attitudes towards older people. The World Health Organization defines ageism as a multidimensional, social phenomenon and considers it a public health problem.

• COVID-19, lockdown, elderly. Experiences of the follow up research among active older adults 2020- 2021.

  40-42

  László Patyán

  Ágnes Bene

  Ivett Stumpf-Tamás

  Views:

  427

  Introduction, aims:
  The COVID-19 pandemic caused invaluable harms on the World during last two years. Among all economic and societal consequences the negative effects for elderly people was also apparent. Researches - among others - focused on the age related inequalities for accessing and using services, economic disadvantages, the decline of psychical, physical and mental conditions, reduced quality of life, increased level of loneliness, stress and depression, such as the increase and new faces of ageism.
  This research focused on the individual and organizational consequences of COVID – 19 pandemic and the effects of the state interventions followed by. The target group were identified as active seniors who have leading positions in different local and regional senior’s associations. These people were affected individually as a member of the age group and as an experts with organizational responsibilities as well.

  Research method:
  We chose a qualitative follow up (longitudinal) research method that was committed by semi structured phone interviews, recorded and anonymised. The time of the two data record focused and followed the main Hungarian waves of the pandemic: May – June in 2020 and June – July in 2021. Sample were collected from all districts of Hungary (n=42).

  Main research topics were:
  - The situation of the older adults (experiences about the local older people, daily life, problems, issues, social connections)
  - The life in the organization (activities, new initiatives, problems, issues)
  - Individual experiences (fears, daily life, social connections, shopping habits, use of ICT, vaccination).

  Results:
  We found significant differences on the personal life situation and the perception of pandemic and related interventions during the two waves. Pandemic situation may influenced these results. The age related “stay at home campaign” made more difficulties for the older people during the first wave, meanwhile related interventions weren’t so strict during the second wave by introducing shopping timeline for older people and night curfew for all in the late nights. Even first wave did not cause such harm like the second one in Hungary.
  During the first wave we found older people as a rule following citizens. They followed all the restrictions and regulations strictly. Life situations mainly were determined by the living conditions, that is means the ones who lived in the countryside mainly a house with garden experienced less negative effects than those, who lived in the housing estate area (first wave mainly fall on March – May).
  Older people reported increased importance of the local authorities. With the lack of central supporting interventions, local authorities played main role for local support, care and security. If the local government took care of older people they felt safety. Less interventions and coordination made older people insecured.
  The second wave made new situations for people. Older adults became one of the first target groups in vaccination and people started to cope with the pandemic.
  Older adults became more critical with governmental interventions.
  Critics focussed on the
  - pandemic related communication, the vaccination (older people mainly got Shinofarm vaccine that was not accepted in the EU at that time),
  - difficulties with the availability of health services, and
  - they experienced increased economic problems.
  The life in the organization: during the first wave we found frozen life of the seniors organization, cancelled and delayed programmes. Some initiatives were also reported. People preferred to keep contact via phone instead of using another ICT tools. Some of the answerer worried about the community life, how they can restart after the pandemic, others preferred the forthcoming chance for personal meetings.
  Seniors organisations may play an important role of the senior’s life by organizing free time and social activities, advocacy, and many other aspects of active ageing. As we made a first extract of this research further analyse will focus more on the good examples and new initiatives on the social, community and organizational levels.

• Supporting ageing with a positive psychological framework and tools

  32

  Agota Kun

  Views:

  97

  In the classical literature, but also in the everyday approach, ageing is mostly associated with decline, deterioration of various skills, abilities, capacities, mental dysfunction, increasing inactivity, shrinking relationships and similar, more negative characteristics. We think of ageing as if it were a necessarily negative, unavoidable and unavoidable deterioration - but one that we must accept passively, at the same time - at the physical, mental and psychological levels. The presentation will focus on the reinterpretation offered by a positive psychology approach, pointing out that the second half of life is not necessarily about decline, mental problems, dissatisfaction or bitterness, but can also be about fulfilment, happiness, discovering and exploiting new potentials and strengths, new goals and living a truly fulfilling life. What is at stake to make this happen? How can we support this with the tools of positive psychology? The presentation will not be about anti-ageing tips, but about how to promote mental health in later life so that we can live ourselves and our lives to the full in this period of life with a positive outlook. The focus will be on the how, so the knowledge and a possible toolkit of interventions will be presented.

• A telemedicina szolgáltatás térhódítása a pandémia idején

  127-137

  Barbara Paulikné Varga

  Views:

  333

  During the pandemic, the role of information and telecommunications in health care became particularly important. An alternative way of communicating between the doctor and his/her patient has been through online forms of communication and the tools commonly used in everyday cases where a face-to-face meeting is not absolutely necessary, or in an emergency, a face-to-face meeting may be preceded by a remote consultation. In this situation, diagnosis is a huge responsibility and an ethical burden for the physician. Although this can be facilitated by the findings of the laboratory, the previously completed imaging diagnostics, and the online systems that create direct communication, there are also conditions for the development of a new diagnosis that can be confirmed by perception. During the coronavirus pandemic, efforts were made to minimize the number of personal doctor-patient encounters in the primary and outpatient care systems to curb the epidemic, in order to curb the epidemic. In cases where a personal relationship between the doctor and the patient has already been established, the patient’s relationship between the doctor and the patient has already been established, the patient’s medical history is known and they are forced to use telemedicine, they are practicing their profession in the best sense. The usefulness of telemedicine during the pandemic has been demonstrated, and its further development is a major challenge for both informatics and medicine.

• Applied Digital Well-being Programme in the library

  118-144

  Mónika Beck-Zaja

  Views:

  73

  Thanks to the Digital Wellbeing Programme, the Vachott Sándor Library in Gyöngyös has been running a digital assistance service (Smart Grandma's Club) since 2018, which aims to help the older generation learn the basics of IT, how to use computers, the internet, word processing and smartphones. (Kápolnai, 2022) The results of the research programme "Older people as ICT learners" ÚNKP-23-3 conducted here have confirmed the relevance of digital competence development for older people, the areas of use, the possibilities for effective learning through the conscious use of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) devices, and the current device and network access data. 
  In addition to factually identifying the areas of use of ICT devices by older people, a learning motivation chart for the development of digital competence in old age was prepared in the framework of the project ÚNKP-23-3.
  Further gerontological research confirms that older people who are mobile, active, open, and who maintain or even enrich their social contacts can expect a more fulfilling old age. Creativity, intelligence and literacy do not necessarily or uniformly decline with age. The degradation of neurons during the ageing process can be compensated by strengthening and renewing the connections between them through learning (Bene-Móré-Zombory, 2020).Learning is one of the most effective ways to stay active in old age (Bene, 2017). 
  Successful learning in old age depends on the unity of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, which, alongside social integration, contributes to maintaining and improving active life.
  The importance of digital literacy in old age is widespread. However, in addition to digital skills, flexibility, autonomy and problem-solving competence can also contribute to the future effective management of older people's lives and even their work (Kristóf-Győri, 2021).
  Digital competence development can create a bridge between generations and social classes, "knowledge" can be available to anyone. Still, in old age, motivation is a prerequisite for a successful learning process.
  The current study is supported by the ÚNKP-23-3 New National Excellence Program of The Ministry for Culture and Innovation from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund.

• Családi (informális) gondozást segítő rendszerek Magyarországon

  34-48

  László Patyán

  Views:

  412

  The member states of the European Union have to face the challenge of demographic aging. Taking the demographic characteristics of the member states, there are no essential differences in either the current or in the expected future development of the proportion of elderly people. Ageing affects several areas of the welfare regimes, but it is usually the health and pension systems and personal services that are highlighted. This paper deals with a special area of personal services, the family (informal) care and the support of carers in Hungary. The study introduces definitions of the informal care, welfare policies on family caregivers, the systematization attempts of the care policy in the member states, it analyzes the recent past and currently perceived care policy processes and ideologies, and finally describes the specific situation in the former Communist countries through an example of a Hungarian care policy. The basic idea of the article is that although the demographic challenges are similar, but the service policy and the development of the institutional systems show significant differences in each country. In addition to the underdeveloped institutional service system in the different countries, the post-Communist countries lack the supporting tools of the caring family members.

• Changes in digital skills of seniors during and after covid-19

  115-125

  Klára Bajusz

  Views:

  149

  Since 2014, the Senior Academy of Pécs helps people over 60 with tools for active and successful aging. The activity of the academy was cut short by the COVID-19 epidemic, our work was relegated to the online learning space. Our research examined how the digital skills of our seniors changed during and after the quarantine, in 2021 and 2022. The study was carried out by online questionnaire (n=118, n=123). The survey revealed that the digital skills of 45% of the respondents improved, mostly in online shopping and administration. Most of the seniors learn ICT knowledge from their family members or friends. During the quarantine our students spent their time mainly reading and learning online, watching TV takes only 4%. 10% of them clearly experienced the epidemic situation as a loss: "the daily rhythm is missing". 6% of the respondents considered the current situation to be an advantage: their attitude towards learning improved, they were more forced to self-directed learning. The advantages of online education: flexibility in space and time, participation is safe, lectures can be watched any time. The most typical negatives are: the lack of community and discussion, and the fact that online education does not reduce loneliness.

• Primary aspects of the elderly and information communication technologies

  138-160

  Zsolt Kristóf

  Anita Győri

  Views:

  717

  In this article, we will briefly review information and communication technology (ICT), the most typical characteristics of the elderly age group, and finally, we will look at how and in which areas the elderly can connect to ICT solutions. It is not easy to navigate in a world of rapidly evolving technology even for those who do not have to think about how to learn using ICT. In a rapidly evolving world of technology, it is not easy for those who does not need to think about how to learn how to use ICT to adapt. Those who have not been in touch with ICT for a third or half of their lives start from a serious disadvantage, and this disadvantage can increase in old age. Today it is increasingly difficult to distinguish between the online and offline worlds, and this is unlikely to become easier in the future. Welfare states are characterized by an aging society, and the resulting problems have long been present in all areas, from health to economy. In our study we will examine and bring together relevant literature closely related to this topic, covering quality of life, overcoming loneliness, social inclusion and the health of the individual. Our aim is to explore the potential of ICT for quality ageing of older people, the factors that motivate them to use the tools, the difficulties that hinder their use and learning, and the future prospects. Our study covered the English and Hungarian language literature, publications published in Europe or research conducted in European countries, among people aged 65 and over, between 2011 and 2021.