Journal of Aging & Social Policy最新文献

Changes in policies that restrict early retirement have raised the retirement age for many low-skilled older workers in Denmark. This study examines the prevalence of adversities among these workers and their impact on mental well-being. Using latent class analysis on Danish survey data from 5,453 low-skilled workers aged 57-62 years, five distinct adversity profiles were identified: "poor health" (17%), "adverse working conditions" (11%), "dire financial situation" (11%), "poor health and adverse working conditions" (8%), and "no adversities" (52%). Workers facing adversities report significantly lower mental well-being, with a higher risk of depression and increased stress levels, compared to those without adversities. The risk of poor mental well-being is highest among those experiencing both health and work-related adversities. Additionally, "job lock" - when workers wish to retire but cannot afford to - emerges as a key factor associated with reduced mental well-being across all adversity profiles. The findings suggest that efforts to extend working lives by limiting early retirement opportunities could have unintended implications for the mental well-being of low-skilled older workers. Notably, the findings indicate that firms actively engaging in supportive practices can mitigate some adverse effects, underscoring the critical role employers play in safeguarding the mental well-being of older employees.

Long-term care insurance (LTCI) serves as a pivotal policy instrument in addressing long-term care needs globally, yet its impact on spousal caregiver's burdens remains underexplored. This study investigates China's LTCI pilot policy, focusing on its influence on co-residential spousal caregivers. Using data from four periods of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) spanning 2011-2018, LTCI pilots are employed as a natural experiment to evaluate changes in caregivers' emotional, physical, and social burdens. The quantitative results indicate that LTCI significantly reduces emotional and physical health burdens among spousal caregivers of people with disabilities in China, along limited effect on social burdens. Heterogeneity tests reveal that LTCI's effects are most pronounced in rural areas and among spouses with lower education levels. These findings underscore the need for policy refinements targeting spousal caregivers, with particular emphasis on socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.

Older formerly incarcerated individuals (OFIIs) face unique reentry challenges, particularly concerning housing and family reunification. Using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 19 individuals released from prison after the age of 50, the study explored their reentry experiences focusing on how they navigated housing and social support systems post-release. Results showed housing challenges are compounded by age-related barriers, stigma, and weakened social support networks. Targeted interventions are needed, including eliminating discriminatory housing policies, expanding Medicaid-funded supportive housing, and developing family-focused reentry programs. By highlighting the interconnectedness of housing and social support, this research emphasizes the need for age-specific policies and community-based assistance to improve reentry outcomes for older returning citizens.

Understanding how digital literacy affects the quality of life (QoL) of older adults is crucial in the context of growing digitization. Drawing on data from a survey of 2,238 community-dwelling older adults in Hunan province, China, this study investigated the association between digital literacy and QoL, including mediating mechanisms and the threshold effects of this relationship. The results indicate that digital literacy was positively correlated with QoL of older adults, and these findings remained robust after using double/debiased machine learning and instrumental variable approach. Moreover, the QoL-enhancing effect was more pronounced above a digital literacy score of 27, reflecting a threshold effect. Mediation analysis revealed that digital literacy indirectly improved QoL through two pathways: community participation and health checkup. Overall, the findings suggest developing targeted digital literacy policies for older adults, which should prioritize comprehensive digital literacy training that goes beyond basic skills. Furthermore, promoting digital literacy as a means to enhance social participation and health engagement can help support the well-being of older populations and foster active aging in an increasingly digital world.

With the expected rise in unpaid caregiving, many caregivers will have to combine care with employment. While most research finds negative spillovers between caregiving and employment, it is crucial to understand the factors under which caregiving has positive spillover effects. Analyzing Dutch retrospective data from the Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social science (3,543 caregiving situations of 2,042 caregivers), this study examined how factors from the work environment and the caregiving situation are related to two positive spillovers, namely learned skills from caregiving for paid work and employment being a relief from caregiving. Results from multilevel models show that a working environment with high flexibility compared to no flexibility was related to more skill learning and relief. Further, we found that more understanding of managers and colleagues was related to learning skills, while managers and colleagues knowing about caregiving was linked to feeling relief. More diverse caregiving tasks were associated with more skills learned for paid work and more relief felt. These findings can guide state or firm-based policies to not only prevent negative but also foster positive spillovers.

Aging well has become a critical topic among scholars and policymakers in the context of global population aging. In Australia, the growing aging population underscores the need for a comprehensive index to measure successful aging. However, challenges such as data limitations, contextual constraints, and the lack of a unified social consensus have hindered efforts to establish nationwide measurements. Inspired by the European Union's Active Aging Index and employing a consistent theoretical framework and calculation method, this paper develops an Australian aging well index comprising 21 indicators across four domains. The constructed index offers valuable insights into Australia's strengths and weaknesses in supporting older adults, while also enabling comparative evaluations across nations. Australia demonstrates strong performance in the domains of Independent, Healthy and Secure Living, and Capacity and Enabling Environment; however, improvements are needed in Employment and Social Participation and Relationships. Targeted policy interventions are recommended to enhance employment opportunities and promote social engagement, thereby fostering a more comprehensive approach to aging well.

Sustainability became a critical concern in the care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article defines and discusses the economic, social, environmental, and technological dimensions of sustainability in long-term care (LTC) in the pandemic context to expand the sustainability discourses in aging and care research. Economic sustainability shifted focus beyond expenditure control to encompass adequacy and stability in LTC financing and service delivery systems. Addressing moral distress of staff in care provision and social cohesion inside care-providing organizations were emphasized during the pandemic in terms of social sustainability. Minimal focus on environmental sustainability highlights the need for increased environmental awareness in LTC policy. Technology increasingly underpins economic, social and environmental sustainability in care by promoting older adults' autonomous lives. The article also highlights the role of government in strengthening multi-faceted sustainability in LTC policy. Technology for sustainable care depends on governments' capability to alleviate structural inequities. Transparent and interactive relationships between care providers and governments, particularly with the private sector, are necessary to produce sustainable care.

The Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Questionnaire (AFCCQ) is a tool for assessing and contributing to improving the urban living conditions of older citizens. The objective of this research is to validate the AFCCQ for Portugal's language and culture (AFCCQ-PT). The psychometric validation was conducted through a quantitative, cross-sectional study with a sample of 242 participants, living in Coimbra. Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported a nine-factor structure for the AFCCQ-PT and demonstrated strong internal consistency. Coimbra performed best on Housing accessibility and worst on Outdoor spaces and buildings. The AFCCQ-PT is a reliable and valid tool, useful for urban planning and social policy-making.

Social isolation poses significant challenges for older immigrants, particularly those who face cultural and linguistic barriers in their country of settlement. Despite these challenges, little is known about how older immigrants facilitate social connections. This study draws from the Inclusive Communities for Older Adults project to explore how Mandarin and Punjabi-speaking older immigrants utilize physical and digital spaces to mitigate social isolation. Data from semi-structured interviews with 20 older immigrants in Calgary, Canada, was analyzed thematically using deductive and inductive approaches. Findings reveal that physical spaces, such as community centers, facilitate social connections and recreational activities among older immigrants while providing volunteering opportunities that enhance meaningful community engagement. However, challenges such as transportation barriers and harsh winter conditions limit access to these spaces, highlighting the need for more localized and accessible facilities. To overcome these challenges, participants relied on digital platforms to maintain social networks, plan activities, and engage in virtual bonding activities. This study underscores the importance of hybrid approaches integrating community-driven physical and digital spaces to alleviate social isolation in older immigrant populations. Hence, the study recommends culturally and linguistically responsive programming, digital literacy initiatives, and policy measures to improve accessibility and inclusivity of physical and digital spaces.

The growing older population in Israel presents unique challenges for the healthcare system, particularly within geriatric hospitals that cater specifically to older patients. As the demand for specialized care increases, it becomes crucial to better understand the communication dynamics within these institutions. This study aims to examine how regulatory frameworks reflect values, specifically the value of communication and responsiveness in geriatric hospital care. Hence, the study seeks to discover how regulations specify communication instructions in geriatric institutions. To achieve this, a thematic analysis was conducted, focusing specifically on communication as a key organizational principle. The research thoroughly examined over 150 regulations pertaining to geriatric treatment in Israel. The findings reveal that formalized rules and regulations significantly specify aspects of communication. The study highlights the alignment of communication strategies with personal values, suggesting that core values can serve as a framework for improving interactions among healthcare providers, patients, and their families. The findings underscore the need for healthcare policies prioritizing communication strategies in geriatric care. By doing so, policymakers can foster better care outcomes and responsiveness.