Promoting Active Aging

In Older Adults

Miranda Hanchett

Ghent, Belgium

OBJECTIVES

• Learn the effects of providing activities that encourages

independence in older adults

• Encourage active aging and health promotion

• Increase the quality of life of local residents in all aspects of life

• Provide a range of services in order to promote active aging

• Provide financial means and transportation to promote the

utilization of these services

BACKGROUND

• Belgium:• Population: 11,276,910

• Population ages 65 and above: 18% (~2,029,844)1

• A Western European liberal democracy

• A mixed economic system: private-enterprise system

combined with centralized economic planning and

government regulation2

• Focus on quality of life

BACKGROUND

• Attended the International Program on Palliative and End-of-Life Care

(IPPE) Event at Cohere Academy at Arteveldgehogeschool in Ghent,

Belgium• Program also focused on quality of life, complementary therapies, and resources

in the community that promote an active life

• Various site visits • One site included a community health center that focused on the older

population and improving their quality of life

SPECIFIC LEARNING OBJECTIVE

• Primary Issue: Enhance quality of life for older adults• “Old age is not synonymous with disease, however, advancing

age can cause reduced functional capacity, causing the elderly

lose their autonomy and independence, thus compromising

their quality of life.”3

• How can we promote active aging among older adults in

order to increase their quality of life?

INTERVENTIONS

• Individual:• Individual commitment to active aging

• Family commitment for aging family members

• In-patient and home care for older adults

• Utilization of complementary therapies• Massage, art/music therapy

INTERVENTIONS

• Community:• Community Centers

• Ten Hove, in Belgium, is a community center that provides a range

of activities to the community in order to promote activity and a

higher quality of life

• System:• Government funding for programs that promote active aging

• Public transit or easily accessible transportation to programs

TEN HOVE

• Residents can choose from options that will help one stay fit and

healthy to options that develop creativity and encourages

interaction• Aqua gym, Zumba, yoga, qi gong, dance

• Courses that promote lifelong learning: self-paced

• Creative activities

• Surplus activities: parlor games, shopping trips

• Provides transportation

• For the residents of Bruges Gate, Princes, Begijnhofdries,

Papegaaistraat, and Malem Ekkergem with special attention to

the seniors and the most vulnerable of them

CONCLUSION

• With a loss of independence comes a diminished quality of life.4

• “Innovative population-level efforts are required to address physical

inactivity, prevent loss of muscle strength, and maintain balance in

older adults.”5

• In order to improve quality of life, we must promote activity and

independence in the older population• Includes advocating for policies that would allow funding for these types of

programs

PROFOUND CLINICAL

& ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE• Belgium strongly focuses on the

quality of life rather than the

quantity of life

• It is imperative to provide activities

and outlets for the older population

to promote healthy living and active

aging

• Non-verbal communication speaks

volumes

PROFOUND

CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

• Language barriers

do not stop

relationship building

• Miles apart, still

several similarities

between cultures

and different

countries

REFERENCES

1. The World Bank. (2015). Population ages 65 and above. Retrieved from

http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS?locations=BE

2. Belgian Federal Government. (2016, June 17). A statistical overview of the Belgian population.

Retrieved from https://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/country/Population

3. Ilha, S., Argenta, C., Silva, M. R., Cezar-Vaz, M. R., Pelzer, M. T., & Backes, D. S. (2016).

Envelhecimento ativo: Reflexão necessária aos profissionais de enfermagem/saúde Active aging:

necessary reflections for nurse/health professionals. Revista de Pesquisa: Cuidado é Fundamental

Online,8(2), 4231. doi:10.9789/2175-5361.2016.v8i2.4231-4242

4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). The state of aging and health in America.

Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/aging/pdf/state-aging-health-in-america-2013.pdf

5. Bauman, A., Merom, D., Bull, F. C., Buchner, D. M., & Singh, M. A. (2016). Updating the evidence

for physical activity: Summative reviews of the epidemiological evidence, prevalence, and

interventions to promote “active aging”. The Gerontologist, 56(2). doi:10.1093/geront/gnw031