Shifting Realities (Asynchronous - Online Only)
The Role of Digital Media on Aging Consumers' Sustainable and Healthy Eating Practices View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Isin Yazicioglu, Lana Repar, Joe Bogue
Population aging, technological developments and the sustainability challenge are some of the defining issues of the twenty-first century. The aging population is forecast to reach over 20% of the global population by 2050 and there is increasing technology adoption within this population. The number of internet users among aging US consumers showed a 59% increase between 2000 and 2019. The aging population is a core focus of the sustainable development goals with its potential impact on consumption trends, health systems, economic growth and the environment. Digital media marketing tools are promising means of reaching aging consumers and triggering their healthy eating behaviours. However, from a theoretical and practical perspective, digital marketers are less prepared to target aging consumers to promote sustainable and healthy food solutions. This research examined the efficacy of digital marketing strategies for stimulating sustainable and healthy eating behaviours in the aging population. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify what role digital media could play on aging consumers' sustainable and healthy eating practices to develop future strategies. Findings revealed the varying effects of digital media tools with a general positive tendency to encourage sustainable and healthy diets. Web-based e-coaching programmes and mobile apps offered great potential for triggering healthy dietary behaviours among the aging population. Social media showed evidence in transforming food choices but research focused on younger consumers. Through targeting aging consumers and raising their awareness with digital marketing, it may be possible to support healthy aging and sustainable behaviours in this cohort.
Featured Adjustment to Retirement in Portugal: A Qualitative Study View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Ana Teresa Pedreiro, Helena Loureiro
The relationship between transition to retirement and individual state of health has been the subject of investigation in several disciplines, and, more recently, in Public Health. The effects of retirement on health and health behaviors will be different depending on the moment and the way the individual retires. The target population of this study was composed of individuals enrolled in 18 randomly selected health units in Portugal, who fulfilled the condition of being retired for less than 5 years. Focus group was used as a data collection methodology with simultaneous collection of quantitative information of sociodemographic characterization. The average age of the 146 participants was 63.7 years. 43.5% were male. Participants had been retired, on average, for 2.76 years. With regard to active life, 8.25% of the participants worked in the primary sector, while 22.68% worked in the secondary sector and the vast majority, 67.01%, worked in the tertiary sector. In relation to the themes that emerged from the focus groups, these were related to the moment Before Retirement, the moment After Retirement and the Perspective of the Future. The transition to retirement is an event associated, in most Western countries, with the onset of aging. The demographic evolution makes middle aged individuals an increasingly significant group of the population. Health promotion programs must pay attention to this period of life, which is also part of the life cycle and which has been frequently disregarded by health policies.
Capable Aging: The Application of the Health Capability Model View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Leyi Zhou
Understanding the aging process and aging life is an area of great interest for both scholars and society. Scholars have developed and applied aging models to the understanding of aging-related issues (e.g., health conditions, social life, social policy). The goal of this article is to offer a new approach to define aging and manage aging-related issues. We first explore the strengths and weaknesses of existing aging models. We then develop a Capable Aging Model, based on the Health Capability Model, as well as describe Capable Aging Profile, based on a Health Capability Profile. Finally, we validate the application of Capable Aging in helping people cope with aging-related health issues. We employ a thematic analysis to explain how Capable Aging supports people in dealing with complicated health issues throughout their aging lives. This article provides a theoretical and empirical basis for Capable Aging and represents the first attempt to employ the Health Capability Model to construct an aging model and create an index to measure people’s capabilities throughout the aging process.
Experience Counts: A Comparative Analysis between the EU and USA on Ageism and Digitalization View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Caroline Van Dullemen
A comparative analysis between the EU and USA on ageism and the way older people are encouraged to participate in the ‘’online democracy’’. The accelerated digitization - specifically because of the Corona crisis - threatens to increase the gap between young and old. Prejudices with regard to age (discrimination) play a major role. In an inclusive society, everyone should have equal opportunities to participate. The relevance of this study is to identify best practices that may give impetus to new initiatives (towards legislation). Main topics to be covered: 1. Democratic Representation - Age distribution in Europe and USA of elected politicians as well as the electorate on national resp. regional and local level. Discriminatory measures - Legal provisions regarding age. 2. Participation in digital society - Communication governments-citizens; Influence of age categories on political 'online democracy'; Influence of digitization on (democratic) participation of older people; Ethical dilemmas (privacy). 3. Lifelong Learning – (In)formal forms of learning; Importance of (digital) education for the over-50s; Interactive learning through own networks (community-based learning).
Active Ageing in the Technological and Innovative Era: The Role of Information and Communication Technologies in Promoting the Wellbeing of Future Older People View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Vincent W. P. Lee
The literature clearly points to the positive effects of using the information and communication technologies (ICT) among the elderly, including the improvement of social connections, instilling a sense of empowerment, enhancing access to information and entertainment. Nonetheless, a significant proportion of older people cannot directly benefit from technological advancements. With a sample of Hong Kong older adults who had participated in the co-creation activities on developing an online platform for accessing social services and the “Elder DJ” programme, this qualitative study aims to examine what factors could lead to the hurdles that prevent or drive them in better use of the Internet, thus more favourable outcomes related to their wellbeing could be promoted. By using the constructivist grounded theory, focus group and in-depth interviews were conducted with 34 older people aged 65-80 who were affiliated with the abovementioned activities, and also 19 professionals and consultants involved. Through the interviews with the key informants, we found that motivation is the most critical element to enable older people to acknowledge how their daily living, social life, and health are closely related to ICT, so that they are willing to learn and utilize the technologies more intensively. The learning pace, cognitive abilities, specific health and social needs and preferences of the older people are also found to be the important attributes and areas of “age-friendliness” for designers, manufacturers and service providers to consider when they aim to provide ICT-related training programmes, devices, software or applications to elder persons.
Community Engagement Strategies to Promote Environmental Public Health for All Ages View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Shannon Doherty Lyons
Reducing environmental exposures, improving the built environment and keeping a ‘healthy home’ are proven sustainable environmental health strategies. The New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYU GSoM), Department of Environmental Medicine's Community Engagement Program (CEP) has partnered with two NJ communities- the City of Garfield and Boro of Fair Lawn- to engage residents around the concept of age friendly environmental health. They are two similarly-sized, although demographically different, communities that have grant-funded age friendly initiatives working to better understand community needs. Aging-in-place is one of the most common requests made by older adults, and a healthy, sustainable ‘built environment’ is vital to their ability to do so. In other words, accessible transportation, good housing, nutritional food options, adequate community space and healthcare. A community needs assessment survey was developed with residents and the NYU CEP. In Garfield, the 55+ Community Survey was offered both online and in-person. One hundred fifty-two responses were collected in 3 months. The Fair Lawn for All Ages Community Survey was administered online via Redcap, and 447 responses were collected over 4 months. Results from both IRB-approved surveys were reported back to the communities to outline future goals for their respective age-friendly initiatives. Integrating practical solutions to self-reported needs of older adults into the goals for the age-friendly initiatives, and also the community at large, reflects the commitment of community leaders to a healthy environment that is welcoming, engaged, and prioritizes well-being. S Doherty Lyons, D Reveille, J Stewart, C Cutrone, L MacClements, JT Zelikoff
Are You Over 55?: Forget about Appearing in Television Ads View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Miriam Ramirez
This study consists of 601 ads issued over two nonconsecutive weeks on three commercial TV channels in Puerto Rico. It comprises one week prior to the proclamation of a state of emergency due to pandemic events (March 2020) and the second week after the reopening phase in July. We found that only 14.6% of the ads consisted of images of people over 55+ as a talent accompanied by people under 54 (of this only 1.16% were exclusive of elderly images). We use quantitative and qualitative methodology. The Nielsen Company and Publimedia provided the ads. The analysis was made with two templates constructed to collect data. The first template is based on an authorized adaptation of the Global Media Monitoring Project, and the second template consisted of a table containing forty-four stereotype variables. The sub representation of elder women in TV commercials was patent. The elder presence on television promotions is not related to the percentage of the population over 55 in Puerto Rico. Positive traits, negative traits, themes privileged by advertisers, images, frequency, and contradictions are considered.
