Walking the talk for dementia: A unique immersive, embodied, and multi-experiential initiative.

Coping with dementia requires an integrated approach encompassing personal, health, research, and community domains. Here we describe "Walking the Talk for Dementia," an immersive initiative aimed at empowering people with dementia, enhancing dementia understanding, and inspiring collaborations. This initiative involved 300 participants from 25 nationalities, including people with dementia, care partners, clinicians, policymakers, researchers, and advocates for a 4-day, 40 km walk through the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Spain. A 2-day symposium after the journey provided novel transdisciplinary and horizontal structures, deconstructing traditional hierarchies. The innovation of this initiative lies in its ability to merge a physical experience with knowledge exchange for diversifying individuals' understanding of dementia. It showcases the transformative potential of an immersive, embodied, and multi-experiential approach to address the complexities of dementia collaboratively. The initiative offers a scalable model to enhance understanding, decrease stigma, and promote more comprehensive and empathetic dementia care and research.

Science-based policy: targeted nutrition for all ages and the role of bioactives.

Globally, there has been a marked increase in longevity, but it is also apparent that significant inequalities remain, especially the inequality related to insufficient 'health' to enjoy or at least survive those later years. The major causes include lack of access to proper nutrition and healthcare services, and often the basic information to make the personal decisions related to diet and healthcare options and opportunities. Proper nutrition can be the best predictor of a long healthy life expectancy and, conversely, when inadequate and/or improper a prognosticator of a sharply curtailed expectancy. There is a dichotomy in both developed and developing countries as their populations are experiencing the phenomenon of being 'over fed and under nourished', i.e., caloric/energy excess and lack of essential nutrients, leading to health deficiencies, skyrocketing global obesity rates, excess chronic diseases, and premature mortality. There is need for new and/or innovative approaches to promoting health as individuals' age, and for public health programs to be a proactive blessing and not an archaic status quo 'eat your vegetables' mandate. A framework for progress has been proposed and published by the World Health Organization in their Global Strategy and Action Plan on Ageing and Health (WHO (2017) Advancing the right to health: the vital role of law. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/252815/9789241511384-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y . Accessed 07 Jun 2021; WHO (2020a) What is Health Promotion. www.who.int/healthpromotion/fact-sheet/en/ . Accessed 07 Jun 2021; WHO (2020b) NCD mortality and morbidity. www.who.int/gho/ncd/mortality_morbidity/en/ . Accessed 07 Jun 2021). Couple this WHO mandate with current academic research into the processes of ageing, and the ingredients or regimens that have shown benefit and/or promise of such benefits. Now is the time for public health policy to 'not let the perfect be the enemy of the good,' but to progressively make health-promoting nutrition recommendations.

[Case fatality rate of COVID-19: absence of epidemiological pattern]. / Letalidad de la COVID-19: ausencia de patrón epidemiológico.

Objective: Analyze a set of indicators to understand the variability of the evolution and impact of the COVID-19 epidemic in a set of selected countries. Method: Ecological study of a group of countries with more than 200 reported cases. Demographic variables, health expenditure variables, and variables about characteristics of health services were included as explanatory variables. and incidence, mortality and fatality rates have been analyzed as response variables. In addition, a relative fatality index has been created. Data are from international organizations. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to estimate the magnitude of the associations. Results: Number of tests and of medical professionals are associated with a higher incidence rate. Mortality and case fatality rate are not associated with demographic, health expenditure, or health services variables. Conclusion: Differences suggest a general underestimation of the magnitude of the epidemic. Improvement of case identification and effectiveness of epidemiological surveillance systems is necessary.

Towards global age-friendly cities: determining urban features that promote active aging.

At the same time as cities are growing, their share of older residents is increasing. To engage and assist cities to become more "age-friendly," the World Health Organization (WHO) prepared the Global Age-Friendly Cities Guide and a companion "Checklist of Essential Features of Age-Friendly Cities". In collaboration with partners in 35 cities from developed and developing countries, WHO determined the features of age-friendly cities in eight domains of urban life: outdoor spaces and buildings; transportation; housing; social participation; respect and social inclusion; civic participation and employment; communication and information; and community support and health services. In 33 cities, partners conducted 158 focus groups with persons aged 60 years and older from lower- and middle-income areas of a locally defined geographic area (n = 1,485). Additional focus groups were held in most sites with caregivers of older persons (n = 250 caregivers) and with service providers from the public, voluntary, and commercial sectors (n = 515). No systematic differences in focus group themes were noted between cities in developed and developing countries, although the positive, age-friendly features were more numerous in cities in developed countries. Physical accessibility, service proximity, security, affordability, and inclusiveness were important characteristics everywhere. Based on the recurring issues, a set of core features of an age-friendly city was identified. The Global Age-Friendly Cities Guide and companion "Checklist of Essential Features of Age-Friendly Cities" released by WHO serve as reference for other communities to assess their age readiness and plan change.

Moving Toward a Global Age-Friendly Ecosystem.

The designation of "age friendly" has clearly engaged the attention of scholars and leading experts in the field of aging. A search of PubMed references citing the term produced 15 results in the 5-year period from 2006 to 2011; that number increased to 572 in the period from 2015 to 2019. The work, notably led by the World Health Organization with the initiation of age-friendly cities and age-friendly communities, has now sparked a movement for the creation of age-friendly health systems and age-friendly public health systems. Now more than ever, in an era of pandemics, it seems wise to create an ecosystem where each of the age-friendly initiatives can create synergies and additional momentum as the population continues to age. Work of a global nature is especially important given the array of international programs and scientific groups focused on improving the lives of older adults along with their care and support system and our interconnectedness as a world community. In this article, we review the historical evolution of age-friendly programs and describe a vision for an age-friendly ecosystem that can encompass the lived environment, social determinants of health, the healthcare system, and our prevention-focused public health system.

Meeting the complex challenge of health and social care provision for rapidly-ageing populations: introducing the concept of "avoidable displacement from home".

The increasing numbers of people at very old ages pose specific policy challenges for health and social care and highlight the need to rethink established models of service provision. The main objective of this paper is to introduce the concept of "avoidable displacement from home" (ADH). The study argues that ADH builds on and adds value to existing concepts, offering a holistic, person-centered framework for integrated health and social care provision for older people. It also demonstrates that this framework can be applied across different levels, ranging from macro policymaking to organizational and individual decision-making. The paper pays attention to the Brazilian context but argues that ADH is a universally applicable concept.

Pessoas idosas que moram sozinhas: análise de demanda para os serviços sociais e saúde / Older adults living alone: demand analysis for social and health services / Personas ancianas que viven solas: análisis de la demanda de servicios sociales y de salud

Objetivo: Analisar as condições sociais, demográficas, econômicas, de vida e saúde, de apoio social e cuidado de pessoas idosas que moram sozinhas. Método: Estudo transversal com abordagem quantitativa por meio de uma entrevista com questionário semiestruturado com idosos. Utilizou-se uma análise univariada a partir do teste qui-quadrado, de análise de correspondência múltipla e de cluster pelo procedimento não hierárquico. Resultados: Foram encontrados quatro principais agrupamentos de pessoas idosas que moram só, sendo eles: o primeiro, dos mais longevos com comorbidades respiratórias e que precisam de ajuda regularmente; o segundo, de idosos sem apoio a que recorrer; o terceiro, composto por homens com mais apoio; e o quarto, de mulheres mais independentes de apoio e cuidado. Conclusão: Esse diagnóstico da situação de pessoas idosas que vivem sozinhas evidencia um impacto direto e indireto nos serviços sociais e de saúde, subsidiando reformulações e implantações de políticas públicas de apoio e cuidado

Objective: To analyze the social, demographic, economic, living, and health conditions, social support, and care of older adults who live alone. Method: Cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach using a semi-structured questionnaire interview with older adults. A univariate analysis was carried out with the chi-square test, multiple correspondence analysis and cluster analysis with a non-hierarchical procedure. Results: There was statistical significance among the variables sex (p=0.013), marital status (p<0.001), financial head of the household (p<0.001), contribution to family support (p=0.038), indebtedness (p=0.034), kidney disease (p=0.009), and all the social support and care variables (p≤0.05). Four groups were found in which longest-lived adults have comorbidities (pulmonary and respiratory disease) and need help regularly, older adults have no support, men have more support, and women are more independent of support and care. Conclusion: This diagnosis of the situation of older adults living alone supports the implementation of public support and care policies

Objetivo: Analizar las condiciones sociodemográficas, económicas, de vida y de salud, de apoyo social y cuidado de las personas mayores que viven solas. Método: Estudio transversal, con enfoque cuantitativo, que utilizó entrevista con cuestionario semiestructurado aplicado a adultos mayores. Se utilizó un análisis univariante basado en la prueba de chi-cuadrado, análisis de correspondencia múltiple y análisis de clústeres mediante un procedimiento no jerárquico. Resultados: Se encontraron cuatro principales clústeres de personas mayores que viven solas, que son: el grupo de los más longevos con comorbilidades respiratorias y que necesitan de ayuda regularmente; el de las personas mayores que no tienen a quien les asista; el grupo de hombres que tienen más apoyo; y el de las mujeres independientes de apoyo y atención. Conclusión: Este diagnóstico de la situación de los ancianos que viven solos muestra un impacto directo e indirecto en los servicios sociales y de salud, lo que apunta a la necesidad de reformulaciones e implementaciones de políticas públicas de apoyo y cuidado

Does health status explain gender dissimilarity in healthcare use among older adults?

This study investigates the extent to which gender dissimilarity in healthcare use in later life is explained by variation in health and social-economic statuses. It is based on a nationwide sample in Brazil of 12,757 men and 16,186 women aged 60+ years. Individuals with great difficulties or unable to perform at least one daily living activity and/or to walk 100m were classified as "established disability". Those who had interrupted their activities in the previous 15 days because of a health problem were regarded as "temporarily disabled". The remaining we classified as "healthy". These categories were analyzed by multinomial logistic regression, taking "healthy" as the reference category. Prevalences of established disability were 6% among men and 11% among women. Temporary disabilities were 7.9% and 10.1%, respectively. Poor health status was associated with increased use of healthcare among men and women, but men and women differed significantly in relation to use pattern after adjustment for age, health status, and income. Older women were greater consumers of outpatient services and older men of inpatient care.

Meeting the complex challenge of health and social care provision for rapidly-ageing populations: introducing the concept of "avoidable displacement from home" / O enfrentamento do desafio complexo da prestação de serviços de saúde e sociais para populações com envelhecimento rápido: a introdução do conceito de "deslocamento residencial evitável" / Resolver el complejo desafío para la salud y atención social en poblaciones que envejecen rápidamente: introduciendo el concepto de "desplazamiento evitable desde el hogar"

Abstract: The increasing numbers of people at very old ages pose specific policy challenges for health and social care and highlight the need to rethink established models of service provision. The main objective of this paper is to introduce the concept of "avoidable displacement from home" (ADH). The study argues that ADH builds on and adds value to existing concepts, offering a holistic, person-centered framework for integrated health and social care provision for older people. It also demonstrates that this framework can be applied across different levels, ranging from macro policymaking to organizational and individual decision-making. The paper pays attention to the Brazilian context but argues that ADH is a universally applicable concept.

Resumo: O número crescente de indivíduos muito idosos cria desafios específicos para as políticas de assistência social e de saúde. Os desafios incluem a necessidade de repensar os modelos assistenciais atuais. O artigo tem como objetivo principal introduzir o conceito de "deslocamento residencial evitável" (DRE). Argumentamos que o conceito de DRE elabora e contribui para os conceitos existentes, oferecendo um arcabouço holístico e centrado na pessoa para a assistência de saúde e social para os idosos. Demonstramos que esse arcabouço pode ser aplicado em diversos níveis, desde a formulação de políticas macro até as decisões organizacionais e individuais. O artigo aborda particularmente o contexto, mas sustenta que o DRE é um conceito universalmente aplicável.

Resumen: Un número creciente de personas con edad muy avanzada plantea desafíos específicos para las políticas de salud y atención social. Esto implica la necesidad de repensar los modelos establecidos de provisión de servicios. El objetivo principal de este artículo es introducir el concepto de "desplazamiento evitable del hogar" (DEH). Nosotros planteamos que el DEH se basa y añade valor a conceptos existentes, ofreciendo un marco de trabajo holístico, centrado en la persona para la provisión integrada de salud y atención social a personas mayores. Demostramos que este marco de trabajo se puede aplicar a través de diferentes niveles, que van desde la elaboración de políticas macro a la adopción de decisiones por parte de organizaciones e individuos. Este trabajo fija su atención en particular sobre el contexto brasileño, pero plantea que el DEH es un concepto aplicable universalmente.

Vested rights, active aging and resiliance: the importance of such concepts throughout life / Direitos adquiridos, envelhecimento ativo e resiliência: a importância desses conceitos ao longo da vida

Mostra a influência da crise econômica brasileira do ano de 2016 e da expectativa da reforma da previdência social na qualidade de vida da pessoa idosa. Orienta sobre a importância de se programar políticas públicas que abracem os princípios do Envelhecimento Ativo e suscita que a academia, as instituições da sociedade civil, o setor privado e a mídia sejam facilitadores desse processo. Conclui que os idosos são vulneráveis, mas também resilientes.

It shows the influence of the Brazilian economic crisis of 2016 and gives expectation of reform of the social offer of quality of life. This guides the importance of programming public policies that encompass the principles of Active Aging and the creation of academia, such as civil society institutions or the private sector, to facilitate the development of facilitators of this process. They concluded that the good are vulnerable but also resilient.

Making communities age friendly: state and municipal initiatives in Canada and other countries.

To promote healthy, active aging, the age-friendly community initiative has evolved in Canada, Spain, Brazil and Australia, among other countries. An age-friendly community provides accessible and inclusive built and social environments where older adults can enjoy good health, participate actively and live in security. The rapid expansion of the initiative in all states can largely be explained by common key activities undertaken by the state, municipal and -in the case of Canada- also federal, governments. These initiatives include strategic engagements and policy action in all states, and knowledge development and exchange in Canada in particular. Strategic engagements involve creating or strengthening collaborative intersectoral relationships to access multiple arenas of decision-making, and addressing all areas that constitute an age-friendly community. With variations across states, policy actions have included the following: declaring the initiative as an official policy direction; establishing model cities to be emulated by other cities; funding community projects; implementing consistent methodology; evaluating implementation, enhancing public visibility, and aligning age-friendly community policy with other state-level policy directions. To stimulate knowledge development and exchange, Canadian efforts have included the creation of a community of practice and of a research and policy network to encourage the development and translation of scientific evidence on aging-supportive communities. These activities are expected to result in a strong and durable integration of older persons' views, aspirations, rights and needs in municipal, as well as state, planning and policy.