Innovative methods on territorial vulnerability study for the preparation of emergency plans

In recent years, we have witnessed natural events that have had impressive effects on the city and its inhabitants, highlighting a great vulnerability of the territories. In this context, the National Civil Protection has forced local administrations to adopt an Emergency Plan based on risk analysis. The proposed contribution illustrates the application of an innovative methodology that focuses, for the estimation of the vulnerability, on the urban / construction analysis and the operation of emergency health care facilities

El entorno para el cuidado de personas con demencia

Populations in many countries are ageing at a rapid pace which is expected to rise over the coming years. Health and social care provision and infrastructure need to respond to the ageing population and its related conditions such as dementia. The healthcare built environment can impact on people with dementia and the care pathway is highly relevant to quality of life, patients, residents, family, staff and carers. Evidence-based design solutions and best practice can help to improve the quality of life and deliver value for money during a period of rapid change where long term solutions relating to the healthcare environment are requrired. Research and pilot studies can help to demonstrate the benefits of evidence-based design and best practice for integrated care delivery. This paper explores the current trend and future oportunities to deliver dementia-friendly environments and integrated care through gathering of evidence, development of best practice guidance and integration of care delivery

Measuring Age-Friendly Housing: A Framework

An ageing population raises the question of providing adequate housing that enables older people to age in place without losing autonomy and independence. Except for the issue of accessibility, no framework exists that specifically outlines a standard to achieve and, as a result, interventions on existing or on new buildings may be inconsistent without leading to a desired rise in living standards. This research addresses this issue by presenting a framework for the assessment of the age-appropriateness of housing through a number of metrics that detect and identify physical and non-physical features of a home environment to enable ageing in place. The study combines data from a qualitative systematic literature review of 93 papers and qualitative data from structured interviews with four experts in the field. As a result, 71 metrics were identified, divided into eight main domains, to describe the framework. This paper provides an improved understanding of the housing features that enable ageing in place. The tool categorizes and rates qualitative and quantitative aspects that contribute to the age-friendliness of housing, resulting in an easy to adopt assessment framework. This is a valuable means for stakeholders engaged in improving the current housing stock or in constructing new buildings for older people

Current Uptake of Technology Related to the Built Environment to Support Older Adults to Live Independently in Their Community

Current forecasts predict that, in line with increasing global populations and extended life expectancy, older adults will dominate the population structure. To accommodate this demographic shift, governmental policies point to ‘ageing in place’ as key. This article outlines research findings of an initial investigation into the uptake of technology to support ‘ageing in place'. The study sets out to identify both incentives and barriers to the uptake under four key activity criteria - medical, monitoring, mobility and social - at three built environment scales - home, street and neighbourhood, for urban, semi-urban and rural locations - to support older adults to live independently in their community. Results show that whilst there are significant and justified concerns over the limitations of physical conditions to support 'ageing in place', most physical conditions along with age are not barriers to the uptake of technology, as uptake is high regardless of circumstances. However, the study revealed that uptake is dependent on level of training, if shown to lead to increasing independence, includes a level of ‘enjoyment of use’, and does not replace existing physical relationships. The study also identified that there is limited research around the use of technology for either mobility or social activities outside the home; rather, research focus is concerned with medical monitoring in the home. Finally, research overlooks the role of geographic demographics to support 'ageing in place'. The results of this research can provide useful guidelines co-created with older adults for the development of new policies to 'ageing in place'

Integration of resilience and sustainability: from theory to application

Purpose – This study aims to explore the challenges associated with the integration of resilience and sustainability, and propose a workable solution that ensures resilient and sustainable buildings. Recent research outcomes suggest that the number of natural hazards, both environmental and geophysical, will increase due to the effect of global warming. Various approaches have been investigated to reduce environmental degradation and to improve the physical resilience to natural hazards. However, most of these approaches are fragmented and when combined with cultural barriers, they often result into less-efficient assessment tools. Design/methodology/approach – The primary source of information used to develop this paper has been research publications, policy papers, reports and tool guidelines. A set of questions were developed to guide the review which was complemented with information distilled from the HFA 2005-2015 to develop an integration process to evaluate 10 international sustainability appraisal tools. Findings – The major finding of this research is that, from a technical point of view, resilience and sustainability could be integrated. However, it requires a long and thorough process with a multidisciplinary stakeholder team including technical, strategic, social and political parties. A combination of incentives and policies would support this process and help people work towards the integration. The Japanese model demonstrates a successful case in engaging stakeholders in the process which led to the development of a comprehensive appraisal tool, CASBEE®, where resilience and sustainability are integrated. Practical implications – Although data have been sought through literature review (i.e. secondary data), the research is expected to have significant impact, as it provides a clear theoretical foundation and methods for those wishing to integrate resilience within current sustainability appraisal tools or develop new tools. Social implications – This paper provides original concepts that are required to reduce fragmentation in the way resilience and sustainability are addressed. It sets up a new research agenda which has the potential to have a strong impact due the fact that sustainability and resilience are getting higher on the political priority scale. Originality/value – This paper provides findings of an original idea to reduce fragmentation in the way resilience and sustainability are addressed. It sets up a new research agenda which has the potential to have a strong impact due the fact that sustainability and resilience are getting higher on the political priority scale

Healthcare emergency planning and management to major hazards in the UK

In response to the financial climate, the UK healthcare system is undergoing major restructuration in which many organisations are ‘disappearing’ or re-integrating to create new organisations. These will play a role in the delivery of healthcare in major emergencies. This study aims to examine the challenges and opportunities that the UK healthcare emergency planners and responders have in coping with major hazards. The study followed a qualitative research methodology where data was collected from a comprehensive literature review, an international workshop and interviews. The findings established that the UK healthcare emergency planning process needs to: consider the integration of soft and hard resources (e.g. processes, staff and infrastructure) in planning; involve independent experts (e.g. academics) for further support; and use IT systems innovatively to develop a comprehensive emergency model, predict vulnerabilities and optimise effectiveness and efficiency. The major recommendations are to: identify and evaluate risks more accurately; enhance opportunities and reduce risks associated with multi-agency approaches; ensure that soft and hard resources are well integrated in planning; involve and integrate more with independent parties such as academia for extra support; and innovatively use IT systems to develop a comprehensive emergency model, predict vulnerabilities and optimise effectiveness and efficiency

Hospital resilience to natural hazards: classification and performance of utilities

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to: explore major and potential challenges facing healthcare facilities operation specifically those related to utility supplies; and quantify the impact of utility supplies interruption on the operation of healthcare facilities through the development of an estimation model. Design/methodology/approach – A pluralistic qualitative and quantitative research approach benefiting from an online computer program that applies the discriminant function analysis approach. Information was collected from 66 hospitals following three major earthquakes that struck northeast Japan in 2003. Findings – Analysis demonstrated that healthcare utilities face three major challenges: vulnerability of infrastructure to natural hazards; low performance of alternative sources; and lack of consideration of healthcare utility supplies in resilience codes and legislations. The study also proposed a method to estimate the impact of utility interruption of healthcare facilities. A model has been developed for the case study hospitals in Northern Japan following three major earthquakes in 2003. Practical implications – The findings are expected to raise the awareness of the critical role utilities play for the operation of healthcare facilities which will potentially lead to upgrading resilience codes and legislations. The findings are also expected to pool the literature with more information about the resilience of healthcare utility publications. Originality/value – The topic and issues discussed in this research are original based on authors’ investigations following three major earthquakes that took place in northeast Japan. The study followed a statistical approach in addressing the inter-relationship between the utility systems post disasters to develop an innovative unique index to predict the impact of utility shortage on healthcare

Evaluation of factors and approaches affecting emergency department space planning

Purpose – This paper aims to evaluate emergency department (ED) design space planning approaches and draw lessons for developing more resilient and integrated ED guidelines. Two key objectives have been set; these include: exploring potential factors affecting the ED performance, and investigate how ED space planning is addressed internationally through the evaluation of international case studies and design guidelines. Design/methodology/approach – A robust research method has been adopted including comprehensive literature review in addition to 76 case studies from Italy and the USA. Findings – Findings show that the important factors in defining ED space requirements are attendance variability, vulnerable groups and mass casualty events. The study concludes that current design guidelines and approaches need to be updated to meet with the current and future demand by taking into account design performance: effectiveness, efficiency and resilience, to avoid underestimating ED space; and that the US EDs are in a better position, than Italian EDs, to increase capacity when needed. Originality/value – The contribution of this study is in providing a tangible “understanding” of factors influencing ED design and prepares a firm ground to develop more resilient and integrated design guidelines, able to meet current, exceptional and long-term needs of EDs. The study also shows that research can provide a valuable contribution to improve ED design which needs to feed more inpractice to improve design process and guidelines

Evaluation of factors and approaches affecting emergency department space planning

Purpose – This paper aims to evaluate emergency department (ED) design space planning approaches and draw lessons for developing more resilient and integrated ED guidelines. Two key objectives have been set; these include: exploring potential factors affecting the ED performance, and investigate how ED space planning is addressed internationally through the evaluation of international case studies and design guidelines. Design/methodology/approach – A robust research method has been adopted including comprehensive literature review in addition to 76 case studies from Italy and the USA. Findings – Findings show that the important factors in defining ED space requirements are attendance variability, vulnerable groups and mass casualty events. The study concludes that current design guidelines and approaches need to be updated to meet with the current and future demand by taking into account design performance: effectiveness, efficiency and resilience, to avoid underestimating ED space; and that the US EDs are in a better position, than Italian EDs, to increase capacity when needed. Originality/value – The contribution of this study is in providing a tangible “understanding” of factors influencing ED design and prepares a firm ground to develop more resilient and integrated design guidelines, able to meet current, exceptional and long-term needs of EDs. The study also shows that research can provide a valuable contribution to improve ED design which needs to feed more inpractice to improve design process and guidelines

Présentation : Cadrage sur la variation, le changement lexical et le changement grammatical en français actuel

Aperçu du domaine La variation a constitué, pendant longtemps, le champ d’étude de prédilection des dialectologues et des sociolinguistes (p. ex. Langue et société 2015, no 154) qui s’attellent, entre autres, à déterminer les causes de l’existence des variétés de langue en les mettant en rapport avec le milieu social des locuteurs, avec leurs parcours personnels (dans l’espace et dans le temps), avec leurs rapports à l’interlocuteur, avec leur sensibilité aux registres de langues. Grâce aux n..