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• Active, Creative Aging II. – Flow

  52-65

  Views:

  298

  Background and aims: In our research, we examined the flow and antiflow experience that older people experience in different life situations (loneliness, time with family and friends, domestic work, leisure or creative activity).
  Methods: In our study, we used a questionnaire examining flow and antiflow experience (anxiety, boredom, apathy) by Oláh A.
  Results an discussion: Overall, creative activity and other leisure activities provide greater flow and less antiflow experience than doing housework. The flow experienced in the family circle is higher in the elderly than in the group of friends. Those engaged in creative activity reported higher flow and lower antiflow experience during loneliness than the control group engaged in other leisure activities.

• Active, Creative Aging I. - Coping

  14-28

  Views:

  460

  Background and aims: In our research, we examined how the last stage of their lives is experienced by older people who engage in creative activity (handicraft, fine arts, textile art) aimed at creating a lasting work at this stage of their life.
  Methods: In our study, we used questionnaires examining proactive coping, life satisfaction, geriatric depression, and the meaning of life.
  Results and discussion: The higher level of search for meaning measured by creators may be related to the complex nature of the search, which may involve the mental stress associated with life cycle change and the ability to cope with it and the possibility of development, so that creative activity can be interpreted as a kind of protective factor. In the group of creators, reflective coping (exploring and analyzing several solution options and the resources needed for the solution) showed the highest value, which may result from the creativity and divergent thinking of those engaged in creative activity.

• Ageless quarantine yoga - Escape to Yogaland in the time of pandemic

  12-14

  Views:

  98

  Nowadays it is expansively recognised that practicing yoga can improve the quality of life by providing appropriate physical training exercises which can be performed by every age group. Yoga practitioners of the older generations beside maintaining their physical activity can heal  their sense of balance which decreases the hazard of off-balance and fall.

  During the years of my yoga teaching I met the representatives of every age group at my classes. I led kids yoga courses for preschool children, dynamic flow sequences for trained yoga practitioners, but I did have students over 70 years old who insisted to join an intermediate level hatha yoga class even if they had gone through serious illnesses and operations in the past and they were not able to hold each postures.

  I have experienced that the elderly people are very grateful for the healing that yoga gives them and for the careful attention whereby the yoga instructor tailors the yoga asanas and sequences according to the physical condtitions, state of health and capabilities of each individual.

  At the yoga instructor courses the contraindications of asanas and defining the anatomic and physiological backround of injuries and the physical limitations of each practitioner are emphasized intensively. This comprehensive teacher training and the continuous monitoring guarantee the safety. The instructor faces the mutations and the loss of physical and psychical balance in the the reality, at the yoga classes. Practice makes the master! It is more than true is yoga. Gaining practical experience the instructor can handle the special situations and needs with growing confidence applying yoga props (strap, yoga blocks, chair etc.), modifying the asanas, and using the power of words to motivate the students.

  Supported by my friends I created The Force Yoga Group Facebook site in April , where I have been leading yoga classes since then. It is a great place to meet my yoga practitioning friends, my family members, my elderly parents and in defieance of quarantine and lockdown to practice yoga together, at the same time. Our magical yoga carpet is a tranquil island to where we can escape from the raging pandemic, where we can start our inner journey in the time of the outer movelessness.

  The online practice team has already more than 100 members. It is an intercultural and intergenerational group. I knew I had no information of the health conditions, the perfection of yoga practice of each group member, and with many of them I had not practiced together in person (offline), so I had to call their attention to the rules of safe yoga practice constantly and acutely. At the beginning and at the end of the online sessions I dedicate some sentences to it, during practice I try to instruct precisely to protect them from the injuries. The verbal correction playes here a very important role.

  My online students can be informed about the topic from the scientific articles I share on our page from time to time.

  I am aware of the fact that an avarege home is not a well-equipped yoga studio, so  I show online how to use the furniture, fixtures and everyday objects as yoga props.

  A shorter, 30-45 minute Chair Yoga Class is the part of our weekly program as well, especially for those members who struggle with balance poses or get weak easily.

  In private messages the students send me their observations, remarks, questions  and requests. Some of them experience pain or tension in certain asanas, so we try to find out together the reason of it and to correct and to set the posture. A 75 year-old student of mine asked me to build a yoga sequence of simple breathing exercises and stretching asanas which can be performed by anyone.

  Many feedbacks speak about how big inspiration is to watch my everyday practice and my enthusiasm is pushing the spectators to their yoga mat. There are older practitioners who perform the breathing and warm up exercises sitting on a chair, and it means already 15-20 minutes of  physical training.

  During lockdown there are 4-5 online yoga sessions weekly, the videos are available anytime. The regular practice becomes a sure point in the life of the members, there is something to look forward to, even if there is no stimulus to receive from the outer world. In this online yoga space you can get new friends, through the comments you can share your ideas and suddenly you belong to a yoga community.

  The stress relieving classes I close with  Yoga Dream (yoga nidra) relaxation which is an at least 20 minutes of visualization, an imaginery journey interlarded by positive affirmations while body and mind are calming down.  Such a mini meditation does not require any intensive physical activity but breathing. I could mention many other positive increments that occured creating The Force Yoga Group, but quoted the great yoga master, B.K.S. Iyengar:

   “Words cannot convey the value of yoga – it has to be experienced.”

• Will Autonomous Vehicles address impediments to the mobility of ageing populations?

  6-7

  Views:

  59

  Background/Aims

  Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) have been touted as a ‘mobility panacea’ for ageing populations. The hopes invested in such technocentric solutions can be understood with reference to the spatial-temporal context of the Global Demographic Transition. The geography of ageing culminates in growing levels of social isolation of older populations in rural, regional and suburban areas. This spatial trend is superimposed on a temporal landscape of recurring economic crises, creating fiscal constraints impeding the efficacy of conventional solutions including scheduled and demand-responsive transport. To what extent can AVs respond to the mobility needs of older people at a time of fiscal crisis?

  Methods

  To address this knowledge gap, I undertook a systematic literature review with two academic colleagues from Curtin University in 2019.  We reviewed the AV related papers and the wider transportation planning and gerontological research inclusive of factors known to influence the mobility of older people. The research informed a critical perspective exploring possible impacts, inclusive of risks and opportunities through the methodology of scenario analysis.

  Results

  We found the technology had the capability to address some aged mobility needs such as those resulting from declining driving ability, and might provide a framework supportive of ‘ageing in place’ solutions.

  Conclusions

  The ability to realise the full potential of this ‘socio-technical transition’ and effectively manage unintended impacts, will be informed by society’s institutional capacity inclusive of the State’s ability to implement timely interventions in mobility markets and provide an integrated approach to transport and land use planning.

• Growing Ageing Population and European Policies

  27-28

  Rehana Sindho Kabooro

  Views:

  74

  Introduction to Social change due to aged population

  Increased elderly population in Europe has many factors, it took decades what is happening now. Europe’s low fertility rate, Europe’s migration from developing to developed country, high life expectancy and immigration laws. The developmental strategies of G20 countries are significantly interlinked with the economic and population development policies. The recognition of ageing population is followed by the Japan’s ageing population process which is also mentioned in most of the Eu data on comparison for the ageing population strategies. It is a visible change that social and economic developments causes higher life expectancy and better health in Europe.
  The average middle age is increasing, and it is predicted about 4.5 years by 2019 to 2050 it may reach 48.2 years as European middle age. In the most developed parts of the world, elderly population was discussed long ago, and serious steps were taken for global improvements for older people. As the life expectancy increases dependency increases that creates pressure to fulfil the needs of elderly for health, socially, and economically. Increasing number of elderly populations, is actual rise in social, cultural, and economic responsibilities for welfare systems, health care systems and individuals. More elderly people, more reliance needed number of old age homes, elderly rehabilitation centers and Palliative care centers are increased.

  Population ageing is not a sudden change in population, but it took decades to consider about the population phenomenon. The European social change has major cause of ageing population that may has dark impact to the future perspective. In current situation birth rate is low, mortality rate is also low and life expectancy is high which is creating a lot pressure on the economic growth and to run the economic cycle the labour force is insufficient, health care systems are updating each year since COVID pandemic and system failure was visible in many OECD countries as well in such condition there is a lot more pressure on the women to balance birth ratio at the same time women is considered as “Sandwich Generation” by some of the European researchers, women cares for the both younger and the older generation nowadays.

  Such ageing population determinants push the policy makers to design such policies and laws to combat this situation to secure future generations. Some of the EU policies to promote Active ageing and solidarity between generations, Silver Economy project to provide elderly jobs to decrease dependency ratio and Healthy ageing programs are running but still there is long way to show up positive results if migration policies will not be softened at certain points to keep achieving sustainable development goals in Europe.