How Can the Lived Environment Support Healthy Ageing? A Spatial Indicators Framework for the Assessment of Age-Friendly Communities

The Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Guide was released by the World Health Organization over a decade ago with the aim of creating environments that support healthy ageing. The comprehensive framework includes the domains of outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, social participation, respect and inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, and community and health services. A major critique of the age-friendly community movement has argued for a more clearly defined scope of actions, the need to measure or quantify results and increase the connections to policy and funding levers. This paper provides a quantifiable spatial indicators framework to assess local lived environments according to each Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (AFC) domain. The selection of these AFC spatial indicators can be applied within local neighbourhoods, census tracts, suburbs, municipalities, or cities with minimal resource requirements other than applied spatial analysis, which addresses past critiques of the Age-Friendly Community movement. The framework has great potential for applications within local, national, and international policy and planning contexts in the future

Evaluating the Co-design of an Age-Friendly, Rural, Multidisciplinary Primary Care Model: A Study Protocol

In the context of increased rates of frailty and chronic disease among older people, there is a need to develop age-friendly, integrated primary care models that place the older person at the centre of their care. However, there is little evidence about how age-friendly integrated care frameworks that are sensitive to the challenges of rural regions can be developed. This protocol paper outlines a study that will examine how the use of an age-friendly care framework (the Indigo 4Ms Framework) within a co-design process can facilitate the development of models of integrated care for rural older people within the Upper Hume region (Victoria, Australia). A co-design team will be assembled, which will include older people and individuals from local health, aged care, and community organisations. Process and outcome evaluation of the co-design activities will be undertaken to determine (1) the processes, activities and outputs that facilitate or hinder the co-design of a 4Ms integrated approach, and (2) how the use of the Indigo 4Ms Framework within a co-design process contributes to more integrated working practices. This protocol contributes to the development of a field of study examining how rural health and aged care services can become more age-friendly, with an emphasis on the role of co-design in developing integrated approaches to health care for older adults

'Feats of fancy' and 'marvels of muscle' : a social history of swimming in late colonial Melbourne

The history of competitive swimming in nineteenth century Australia has been relatively well documented, with several publications dedicated to the social, cultural and statistical dimensions of the sport. However, little academic attention has been directed toward the manner in which swimming was promoted to the public, and the cultural influences surrounding this endorsement. In order to address such a deficiency, this thesis examines how the activity of swimming was represented in the Melbourne press at the end of the nineteenth century. Through a systematic analysis of selected metropolitan, suburban, sporting and specialist newspapers, a number of factors are identified as integral to the development of competitive swimming in Melbourne specifically, and in the colony of Victoria more generally

'A Utilitarian Pursuit': Swimming Education in Nineteenth-Century Australia and England

This paper builds on two doctoral studies conducted as socio-historical analyses of the development of swimming in late nineteenth and early twentieth-century Australia [Victoria] and England. Within each study the progress of swimming education was a particular focus and it is this aspect that will underpin the approach taken in this comparative analysis. The central purpose of the paper is to re-examine the historical findings from each study and to explore the similarities and differences in the rationale for swimming education, the availability and provision of swimming education in each location, and to present initial comparisons in the status and value placed on swimming during this period. This is a qualitative, historical study and data have been gathered from a variety of sources including government papers, curriculum and Board of Education documents, swimming governing body reports, newspaper articles and nineteenth-century texts and journals

The Role of Volunteering in an Era of Cultural Transition: Can It Provide a Role Identity for Older People from Asian Cultures?

In western countries, one of the challenges facing ageing populations is an absence of social roles. One response to this is to volunteer, with evidence suggesting that this assigns meaning to the lives of older people and enhances health and well-being. This holds potential significance for older people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and particularly those from Asian cultures, where there is evidence that cultural erosion is diminishing older people’s traditional roles. However, while volunteering can create role identities for older people, it may also further challenge existing cultural values. This paper debates these issues, drawing on a growing body of evidence relating to volunteering within Asian cultures

The future for Meals on Wheels? Reviewing innovative approaches to meal provision for ageing populations

The global phenomenon of population ageing is impacting on how community care is delivered, and a key component of health and social care services for the frail elderly is Meals on Wheels (MOW), a service that has traditionally encompassed delivering meals to older people in their homes. However, aspects of this conceptualisation of MOW are being redefined in order to address challenges posed by tightening global financial contexts, a reliance on volunteers and increasing social isolation among ageing populations. Through a review of the literature and websites from selected countries (UK, USA, Canada, Australia), this article explores and critically evaluates models of MOW delivery addressing these challenges. Findings suggest that MOW services are utilising a marketised approach, moving outside of the home and incorporating diverse volunteer roles. These findings demonstrate how services such as MOW can develop sustainable approaches to service delivery in a contemporary context

A 'Spirit of Emulation': Press Perspectives on the Development and Governance of Competitive Swimming in Late Colonial Melbourne

The heat of the antipodean climate, along with its status as a 'beach-bound' country, has ensured that aquatic sporting activities have always been popular in Australian society. Swimming is but one example, and its iconic position in national culture has resulted in a great deal of research on the activity in a variety of locations, across different time periods and from numerous perspectives. Significantly, the beach has been romanticized in art and literature as an integral part of national culture, and this is reflected in the numerous publications on beach-based aquatic activity. However, despite the attention paid to beach culture, the research conducted on competitive swimming in Australia is not extensive, with a comprehensive national history of the sport only published in recent years. Moreover, little attention has been paid to the socio cultural factors underpinning the development of the sport. As Phillips points out, developments that have occurred in competitive swimming have not been well contextualized, and the majority of publications have focused on times, records and medals, as well as key figures in the sport. While a select number of writers have sought to address the context behind these achievements and individuals, such works are few and far between. Additionally, the majority of research completed in this regard has been largely Sydney-based, and even those that profess to be nationally-based focus almost exclusively on this location. Therefore, there is a need for contributions to be made to the national history of the sport by means of an exploration of neglected areas of inquiry, and by an examination of the sport from alternate perspectives. In response to these needs, and to address the contextual deficiency in the existing literature, this chapter critically explores the development of competitive swimming in nineteenth century Melbourne by means of a qualitative content analysis of selected Melbourne metropolitan, suburban and sporting newspapers. In particular, it examines the watershed period of 1893-1900. Key milestones of this period include the inauguration of the state governing body for competitive swimming in Melbourne, the Victorian Swimming Association (VSA) in 1893,6 and the hosting of Melbourne's first Australasian championships in 1900. Phillips has established that the role of colonial swimming associations in standardising and organising competitive swimming ensured that regular competitions were held

"Although we're isolated, we're not really isolated': The value of information and communication technology for older people in rural Australia

ObjectiveDrawing from a larger study that identified the supports and services that facilitate wellness among older people from rural communities, this study examined the specific contribution made by information and communication technology (ICT)

Building social inclusion for rural older people using information and communication technologies : Perspectives of rural practitioners

The literature identifies rural, older people as at risk of social exclusion, as a result of rural disadvantage. In this context, improved access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) has potential to build social inclusion, yet current evidence shows that rural, older people are the lowest current users of technology. This paper draws on the practice and local knowledge of rural practitioners from one Victorian region in order to explore: (a) the practice issues associated with ICT use among rural, older people; and (b) the characteristics of effective practice models in the rural, social work context. An analysis of findings highlights the need to respond to the diverse skills, needs, and learning styles of older people, to demonstrate the benefits of ICTs, involve users, and build confidence. Major barriers include poor ICT usage by many rural agencies and low practitioner capacity, as well as access and resources