Healthy Aging and Care in the Global Communities: Models & Challenges

Dear Colleagues,

We are in one global aging community with an increasing number of countries entering the super-aged societies. It is critically important to understand the roles of our environments in keeping older adults healthy and cared for. As we have seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults living alone in homes, even safely, can experience isolation and loneliness. As populations are rapidly aging around the globe, we must identify models and creative ways to help older adults better “aging in community”.

How can we make our communities more age-friendly to support healthy aging and care, not only in our built environment but also in the social and healthcare network environment?  How can we better respond to global aging needs so that older adults can continuously stay at homes and communities before some move into institutional care?

Emerging and creative models are developed around the globe with tremendous lessons learned that warrant sharing. This Special Issue aims to highlight some of this current research, not limited to healthy aging and care in communities across the globe, innovative age-friendly community models/programs and challenges, integrated person-centered care framework to support family caregivers and older adults (especially those with dementia), and community-based long-term-care models/services.  Both empirical and evidence-based conceptual articles related to these Special Issues areas are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Su-I Hou
Guest Editor

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• aging in community
• healthy aging
• global community
• integrated person-centered care
• community-based dementia care
• home and community-based services
• community-based long-term care
• age friendly city/community
• community models
• frameworks
• programs

Title: Healthy aging in villages - Physical activity and social relationships on social engagement among community-dwelling village older adults
Authors: Su-I Hou
Affiliation: School of Global Health Management & Informatics, College of Community Innovation and Education, The University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA
Abstract: This study examined physical activity (FITNESS) and social relationships (FRIENDS) on social engagement among community older adults. Members from two Florida aging-in-village programs participated. Three five-point Likert scales were used: A 5-item FITNESS (weight, endurance, strength, flexibility, health), 4-item FRIEND (family, friends, neighbors, communication), and a 3-item social engagement scales (social-leisure activities, stay involved, healthy independent) (Cronbach alphas: .82~.92). Among the 96 participants, 79% were females, 91% were whites, 56% were married, 86% had a college education, and 46% living alone. Mean age was 70.7 (SD=10.10). Participants reported at least 30-min. physical activity about 4.2 days per week. Overall, social engagement was high (mean=4.38), FITNESS was median (mean=3.46), and FRIEND was high (mean=4.19). FITNESS was significant to over 30-min. physical activity. Yet, higher FITNESS, FRIENDS, age, and volunteers were all significant to social engagement. Results have implications on promoting social engagement among older adults participating in aging-in-community programs.

Title: The role of place attachment between attitudes toward aging and psychological well-being among community dwelling older adults in Taiwan
Authors: Li-Fan Liu
Affiliation: National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine, Tainan, Taiwan
Abstract: We aim to explore whether place attachment mediated the relationship between attitudes toward aging and psychological well-being among community dwelling elderly in Taiwan. A faced-to-faced interview of 1,190 individuals aged ≥ 50 was analyzed. The World Health Organization Five Well Being Index (WHO 5) was used to assess psychological well-being. The attitudes toward aging and place attachment were adapted from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging. The associations and mediation effects were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM). After controlling for the covariates, the SEM findings demonstrated attitudes toward aging were significantly positively associated with well-being. A higher level of positive attitudes toward aging was positively related with place attachment and consequently predicted better well-being. We found that improving attitudes toward aging is an effective intervention leading to a better sense of well-being by enhancing place attachment to empower civil society.