In the face of a warming climate and an ageing population, developing age-friendly urban areas is increasingly important. This study investigates the impact of the urban environment and socio-demographic factors on older adults’ perceptions of indoor heat and outdoor activity during warm summers and heatwaves. The study takes a novel approach, incorporating survey data from older adults (age 64–92, n = 348) living in southwestern Sweden, with data on tree canopy coverage, building volume, and distance to water from geographical information systems (GIS). We further examine older adults’ preferences for different types of urban environments during heatwaves and desirable environmental features during warm days.

Results show that older adults living in areas with higher tree canopy coverage, close to parks, or with access to summer residences are less bothered by indoor heat during warm weather. Those living in urban areas with higher tree coverage and those having acess to a summer residences are less likely to avoid outdoor activity during heatwaves. Shade is the most desirable feature during warm days, with a majority seeking it in green areas. These findings highlight the importance of urban greenery and proximity to parks in ensuring outdoor activity, health, and well-being among older adults during warm summers and heatwaves.

Background

Heat waves impact the health of older adults, and occupations are important for health. An overview of research focussed on older adults' occupations in heat waves can be useful for occupational therapy practice.

Objective

To identify what the literature shows about older adults' experience and performance of, and participation in, occupations in heat waves.Material and methodThis scoping review included a literature search in five academic databases, four databases for grey literature, and a manual search. Literature in English regarding older adults 60+ and their occupations in heat waves were eligible.

Findings

Twelve studies were included. Findings showed that older adults adapt their occupations using bodily, environmental, and social interaction strategies and by changing their daily routines. Personal, environmental, social, and economic factors facilitate and maintain occupations in heat waves.

Conclusion

Older adults adapt their occupations in heat waves and different factors impact how they can be adapted. Future research is needed to explore how older adults experience their occupations in heat waves, and to deepen the knowledge about their heat-adaptive strategies.

Significance

The findings support the role of occupational therapists in the design and practice of interventions managing the impact of heat waves in daily life.

This study aimed to explore the experiences of older migrants' (70+) access to and participation in different meeting places. Qualitative interviews were conducted with participants originating from Finland and four countries in the Western Balkans: Bosnia- Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia. The participants used everyday places in the neighborhood, which were not primarily meant to be meeting places, to create and uphold social contacts. These meeting places contributed to experiences of community and trust. Both everyday meeting places and organized meeting places were used to establish and develop relationships that could result in an exchange of both practical and emotional support. Perceptions of "not belonging", limited proficiency in Swedish, and a strained financial situation created barriers to accessing some meeting places. The results of this study demonstrate the significance of meeting places that are not purposefully aimed at older people in general or older people from a specific country.

This chapter presents the ICECAP-O, a measure of capability tailored for older people. It briefly presents the original version of the ICECAP-O. In addition, it describes the work that has been done concerning the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the ICECAP-O to the Swedish context. Finally, the chapter contains arguments for the use of the Swedish version of the ICECAP-O in health and social care, and in the evaluation of interventions and longitudinal research studies where older people’s capabilities are a focus.

Background: Welfare Technology (WT) can contribute to occupational justice. The implementation of WT products and services therefore needs to be promoted in order to benefit end-users.

Objective: To evaluate an interactive showroom of WT.

Material and method: Municipal employees (n=217) filled in a questionnaire before and after they visited an interactive showroom of WT - an occupational therapist-led group intervention

Findings: The number of participants confirming WT’s potential to contribute to municipal operation areas increased in seven out of eight areas after their visits (p<0.05). A statistically significant increase was also found regarding knowledge of and confidence in WT, and its potential value. Fifty-six percent indicated they had no plan for a follow-up after their visit.

Conclusion: A visit to the interactive showroom increased the perceived knowledge and appreciated value of WT. The perception of the possibility of implementing WT in various municipal operation areas also increased, which may contribute to the pursuit of occupational justice.

Background

Earlier research regarding immigrants has shown that lifestyle and environmental factors are of importance for the risk of developing certain diseases. Food habits are one of these factors. As there is little research concerning immigrants and food habits, the aim of the present paper was to explore food habits operationalised as meal frequency and vegetable intake among a group of older immigrants in Sweden. Specifically, the following questions were explored: changes in food habits when migrating, missing food from the native country, gender differences in food habits and association between food habits and self-rated health and well-being.

Method

A total of 131 persons from the health-promoting study “Promoting Aging Migrants’ Capabilities” (PAMC) conducted in Gothenburg, Sweden, 2011–2014, were included in this exploratory secondary analysis of questionnaire data. Participants were 70 years or older, cognitively intact, and living in ordinary housing. They had all migrated to Sweden from Finland or the Western Balkan Region (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia). Descriptive statistics as well as binary logistic regression were used to answer the research questions.

Results

Forty-eight percent of the participants in PAMC reported that they had changed their food habits when migrating, and 17% considered that they missed certain foods from their native country. Most of the participants migrated to Sweden more than 20 years ago. There was a significant difference in self-rated health in favour of the male participants (p = 0.02), but food habits, operationalised as meal frequency and vegetable intake, were not associated with self-rated health or life satisfaction.

Conclusion

Men rated their health as better than women did, but food habits operationalised as meal frequency or vegetable intake, were not associated with self-rated health or life satisfaction. Results from this secondary analysis were affected by methodological shortcomings. Further studies to understand the role of food habits in relation to health in a migration context are desired.

Background: Welfare Technology (WT) can promote participation in activity. Thus, initiatives to support the implementation of WT products and services in municipality care settings needs to be developed and evaluated to benefit end-users. Objective: To evaluate an interactive showroom of WT. Material and method: Municipal employees (n = 217) filled in a questionnaire before and after they visited an interactive showroom of WT. Findings: The number of participants confirming WT’s potential to contribute to municipal operation areas increased in seven out of eight areas after their visits (p < 0.05). A statistically significant increase was also found regarding general knowledge of and confidence in WT and its potential value. Conclusion: A visit to the interactive showroom increased the perceived general knowledge and appreciated value of WT. The perception of the possibility of implementing WT in various municipal operation areas also increased, which may contribute to the implementation of WT in municipal care settings.

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of a full-scale implementation of a care process programme on life satisfaction among frail older people, as compared with those receiving usual care. Design: The study includes participants from a full-scale care process programme (N = 77) and participants from a historical control group (N = 66). The care process programme establishes a comprehensive continuum of care through components including case management, interprofessional teamwork and care-planning meetings in the older people's own homes. Methods: Questionnaires were used and data were collected at baseline, with follow-ups at three, six and 12 months. Results: The implementation of the full-scale care process programme had a positive effect on life satisfaction among frail older people. From 6-month–12-month follow-ups, a higher proportion of participants in the care process programme had positive life satisfaction outcomes, as compared with the historical control group. 

Bakgrund: Möjligheten att påverka utformningen av sin lokala miljö är särskilt viktig för äldre personer eftersom åldersrelaterade problem, i kombination med en mindre stödjande miljö, kan förhindra utförandet av meningsfulla aktiviteter. Det är oklart hur man bäst går tillväga för att delaktiggöra äldre personer i utformningen av deras lokala miljö. Digitala verktyg kan vara en möjlig metod att främja delaktighet. Life filming genom att använda surfplatta användes som metod i ett WHO-projekt där målet var att förbättra åldersvänligheten i stadsmiljön. Syfte: Att beskriva Life filming som metod för att delaktiggöra äldre personer i utformningen av deras lokala miljö. Material och metod: En beskrivande fallstudie. Data samlades in genom observationer, samtal och nedskrivna erfarenheter samt sammanställdes genom tematisk analys. Deltagarna i WHO-projektet har validerat resultaten. Resultat: Analysen resulterade i fem teman vilka beskriver centrala aspekter av Life filmning i det givna sammanhanget: Förankring av begreppet delaktighet, Praktisk tillämpning av Life filming, Filmen som produkt, Att göra verklig skillnad och En identitet som kapabel äldre person. Slutsats: Life filming gynnade delaktighet i WHO-projektet, både som en process och ett resultat. Metoden hade fördelar på flera nivåer: för personen själv, för äldre personer som grupp och för kommunen/samhället. Life filming kan utgöra ett användbart digitalt verktyg i praktiken när delaktighet för äldre personer i utformningen av deras lokala miljö eftersträvas.