Promoting Healthy And Active Ageing

This book demonstrates the efficacy of a multidisciplinary intervention strategy for promoting active and healthy ageing, with the assistance of dedicated technological resources. Taking an applied approach, this book promotes active and healthy ageing through the implementation of an intervention model based on the comprehensive geriatric approach (AGA). The proposed AGA model, entitled AGA@4life, is based on a holistic and multidisciplinary individual assessment protocol, with the consequent design and implementation of intervention strategies tailored to each individual, aimed at preventing frailty and functional, cognitive and social decline of the elderly. Intervention actions focus on personalized exercise programs, nutrition education, cognitive stimulation, co-morbidity monitoring, therapeutic counselling, and overall promotion of well-being. This book will be of interest to researchers, professionals, and students working in ageing and health, gerontology, and preventative and holistic approaches to well-being.

Increased life expectancy and the ageing of the population have been the subject of attention in Western countries, and particularly in Europe, for some years now. The challenge of 'squaring the circle' between ends and means – as well as between personal aspirations and systemic constraints – in health and social care continues to be a major concern for policymakers and all those involved in the delivery of services. This book, Active Ageing and Healthy Living: A Human Centered Approach in Research and Innovation as Source of Quality of Life, presents the results of a number of research projects from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - the largest private university in Italy and in Europe - with a strong commitment to the areas of medicine and health sciences, economics, business, international relations, political science, psychology and communications. Visions and research directions for the future are also presented and discussed. The introduction to the book addresses the challenges posed by an increasingly ageing population and the way in which multidisciplinary research can contribute to positive outcomes. The remainder of the book is divided into two sections. The first proposes promising research directions for future focus, and includes papers on demographic change; frailty in the elderly; the role of diet in healthy ageing; active ageing; and positive technology. The second section deals with recent developments in research into active ageing and healthy living (AA&HL). It addresses numerous topics, including: mechanisms to shift the balance from unhealthy to healthy ageing; nutrition; the role of ICTs for older people; work, retirement and health; and empowering skills for AA&HL.

This book demonstrates the efficacy of a multidisciplinary intervention strategy for promoting active and healthy ageing, with the assistance of dedicated technological resources. Taking an applied approach, this book promotes active and healthy ageing through the implementation of an intervention model based on the comprehensive geriatric approach (AGA). The proposed AGA model, entitled AGA@4life, is based on a holistic and multidisciplinary individual assessment protocol, with the consequent design and implementation of intervention strategies tailored to each individual, aimed at preventing frailty and functional, cognitive and social decline of the elderly. Intervention actions focus on personalized exercise programs, nutrition education, cognitive stimulation, co-morbidity monitoring, therapeutic counselling, and overall promotion of well-being. This book will be of interest to researchers, professionals, and students working in ageing and health, gerontology, and preventative and holistic approaches to well-being.

"This book demonstrates the efficacy of a multidisciplinary intervention strategy for promoting active and healthy ageing, with the assistance of dedicated technological resources. Taking an applied approach, this book promotes active and healthy aging through the implementation of an intervention model based on the comprehensive geriatric approach (AGA). The proposed AGA model, entitled AGA@4life, is based on a holistic and multidisciplinary individual assessment protocol, with the consequent design and implementation of intervention strategies tailored to each individual, aimed at preventing frailty and functional, cognitive and social decline of the elderly. Intervention actions focus on personalized exercise programs, nutrition education, cognitive stimulation, co-morbidity monitoring, therapeutic counselling, and overall promotion of well-being. This book will be of interest to researchers, professionals and students working in ageing and health, gerontology, and preventative and holistic approaches to well-being"--

One of the most pressing questions facing society today is how to care for its burgeoning elderly population. By the year 2050, experts predict that one-third of the world’s population will be over 60 years old. Health promotion for the elderly is therefore becoming an increasingly important topic in public policy and planning. This book examines the challenges presented by an ageing global population, our varying expectations of healthy ageing, and the importance of exercise and physical activity for the elderly. Drawing on empirical research from around the world, it considers the factors that influence health and well-being in later life and compares practices and policies designed to promote healthy ageing. It presents case studies from 15 countries spanning Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia, and sheds light on how attitudes to physical activity differ across nations, regions and cultures. Ageing, Physical Activity and Health: International Perspectives is important reading for all students, researchers and practitioners with an interest in physical activity, public health, exercise science or gerontology.

The WHO World report on ageing and health is not for the book shelf it is a living breathing testament to all older people who have fought for their voice to be heard at all levels of government across disciplines and sectors. - Mr Bjarne Hastrup President International Federation on Ageing and CEO DaneAge This report outlines a framework for action to foster Healthy Ageing built around the new concept of functional ability. This will require a transformation of health systems away from disease based curative models and towards the provision of older-person-centred and integrated care. It will require the development sometimes from nothing of comprehensive systems of long term care. It will require a coordinated response from many other sectors and multiple levels of government. And it will need to draw on better ways of measuring and monitoring the health and functioning of older populations. These actions are likely to be a sound investment in society's future. A future that gives older people the freedom to live lives that previous generations might never have imagined. The World report on ageing and health responds to these challenges by recommending equally profound changes in the way health policies for ageing populations are formulated and services are provided. As the foundation for its recommendations the report looks at what the latest evidence has to say about the ageing process noting that many common perceptions and assumptions about older people are based on outdated stereotypes. The report's recommendations are anchored in the evidence comprehensive and forward-looking yet eminently practical. Throughout examples of experiences from different countries are used to illustrate how specific problems can be addressed through innovation solutions. Topics explored range from strategies to deliver comprehensive and person-centred services to older populations to policies that enable older people to live in comfort and safety to ways to correct the problems and injustices inherent in current systems for long-term care.

This book focuses on the nutrients and nutraceuticals that promote active and healthy ageing – recently defined by the WHO as the process of development and maintenance of functional capacity that allows well-being at an advanced stage of life. There has been a rapid rise in the use of nutritional interventions as well as specific nutraceuticals in the management of multifactorial aspects of clinical health outcomes. Written by leading experts this book comprehensively discusses the various ageing phenotypes and age-related diseases. It also assesses the nutritional status of the elderly and the various epidemiological factors that influence it. It reviews the role of dietary fiber in disease-free and fully functional ageing. Further, the book explores the benefits of polyphenols, which are secondary plant metabolites, in protecting against cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and various neurodegenerative diseases.

The WHO Falls Prevention for Active Ageing model provides an action plan for making progress in reducing the prevalence of falls in the older adult population. By building on the three pillars of falls prevention, the model proposes specific strategies for: 1. Building awareness of the importance of falls prevention and treatment; 2. Improving the assessment of individual, environmental, and societal factors that increase the likelihood of falls; and 3. For facilitating the design and implementation of culturally appropriate, evidence-based interventions that will significantly reduce the number of falls among older persons. The model provides strategies and solutions that will require the engagement of multiple sectors of society. It is dependent on and consistent with the vision articulated in the WHO Active Ageing Policy Framework. Although not all of the awareness, assessment, and intervention strategies identified in the model apply equally well in all regions of the world, there are significant evidence-based strategies that can be effectively implemented in all regions and cultures. The degree to which progress will be made depends on to the success in integrating falls prevention strategies into the overall health and social care agendas globally. In order to do this effectively, it is necessary to identify and implement culturally appropriate, evidence-based policies and procedures. This requires multi-sectoral, collaborations, strong commitment to public and professional education, interaction based on evidence drawn from a variety of traditional, complementary, and alternative sources. Although the understanding of the evidence-base is growing, there is much that is not yet understood. Thus, there is an urgent need for continued research in all areas of falls prevention and treatment in order to better understand the scope of the problem worldwide. In particular, more evidence of the cost-effectiveness of interconnections is needed to develop strategies that are most likely to be effective in specific setting and population sub-groups.