Thesis (M. Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005.

Η εν λόγω διπλωματική εργασία πραγματεύεται ένα νέο και καινοτόμο θέμα που αφορά την εξέλιξη στο καθεστώς πρόνοιας και υγειονομικής περίθαλψης της τρίτης ηλικίας στο εξωτερικό και κατ’ επέκταση στην Ελλάδα. Εισαγωγικά, η επόμενη δεκαετία αναμένεται να παρουσιάσει σημαντική αύξηση στον αριθμό των ηλικιωμένων πολιτών με ταυτόχρονη μείωση του αριθμού των εργαζομένων στους τομείς φροντίδας των ηλικιωμένων καθώς, επίσης, και στους τομείς της υγειονομικής περίθαλψης. Η Ευρώπη αντιμετωπίζει ήδη τις προκλήσεις και τις απαιτήσεις που δημιουργεί η κατάσταση αυτή. Ένα από τα μέτρα που μπορεί να χρησιμεύσει για την αντιμετώπιση των ραγδαίων αλλαγών που παρατηρούνται, είναι η ανάπτυξη νέων τεχνολογιών με σκοπό την εξυπηρέτηση των ηλικιωμένων ατόμων στην καθημερινή τους ζωή. Ως “Ambient Assisted Living (AAL)”, λοιπόν, χαρακτηρίζεται το ευρωπαϊκό πρόγραμμα, κύριος στόχος του οποίου είναι η βελτίωση της ποιότητας ζωής των ηλικιωμένων πολιτών μέσω της ανάπτυξης ηλικιο-ευαίσθητων λύσεων ICT (ΤΠΕ) (ΤΠΕ: Τεχνολογίες Πληροφορίας και Επικοινωνιών). Η παρούσα εργασία πραγματεύεται το συγκεκριμένο ευρωπαϊκό πρόγραμμα, αναλύει την τεχνολογία που υιοθετεί και εξελίσσει το κάθε κράτος ξεχωριστά, αλλά και τη διακρατική συνεργασία, καθώς, επίσης, και τις αντίστοιχες ελληνικές προσπάθειες στο εν λόγω πεδίο της τεχνολογίας πρόνοιας. Αναφέρεται λεπτομερώς στη διακρατική συνεργασία κυρίως μεταξύ των ευρωπαϊκών χωρών σε σχέση με την τεχνολογία πρόνοιας (welfare technology), που είναι ήδη σε εξέλιξη, καθώς και σε πολλές νέες εταιρικές σχέσεις που ενδεχομένως θα δημιουργηθούν στο άμεσο μέλλον. Επιπροσθέτως, αναφέρεται στην προσπάθεια του ευρωπαϊκού οργανισμού AGE που εξελίσσεται στο ίδιο πλαίσιο με αφορμή το έτος 2012 ως Ευρωπαϊκό Έτος για την Ενεργό Γήρανση και την Αλληλεγγύη μεταξύ των Γενεών. Γίνεται συζήτηση με αναφορές στο κέρδος και την οικονομική εξέλιξη μέσω αυτού του τομέα σε άλλα ευρωπαϊκά κράτη. Εκτός της ανάγκης για εξέλιξη τεχνολογιών που θα κριθούν επιβοηθητικές στην ποιότητα ζωής της Τρίτης ηλικίας, ο συγκεκριμένος τομέας παρέχει σε άλλες χώρες, όπως για παράδειγμα στη Γερμανία, μία δυνητικά πολύ σημαντική δυνατότητα για την ανάπτυξη του εμπορίου και της βιομηχανίας. Το γεγονός αυτό αποτελεί έναν ακόμη λόγο για περαιτέρω συζήτηση στην εξέλιξη αυτών των τεχνολογιών που δεν μπορεί να παραβλέψει κανείς, ειδικά σε κρίσιμες οικονομικές περιόδους. Επομένως, οι παραπάνω κινήσεις, επιβάλλεται να είναι το αποτέλεσμα της στενής συνεργασίας μεταξύ του Ερευνητικών Κέντρων/Πανεπιστημίων, Υπουργείων, Δήμων και Περιφερειών. Εν κατακλείδι γίνεται μια σύγκριση στην παραγωγή και υλοποίηση των ΤΠΕ σε Γερμανία και Ελλάδα, ενώ παράλληλα παρουσιάζονται νεότερες ιδέες και προτάσεις μέσα από τις πιο σύγχρονες τεχνολογίες που εκθέτονται. / This thesis addresses new and innovative questions concerning the development status and health care in old age abroad and hence to Greece. The next decade is expected to show a significant increase in the number of senior citizens while the number of employees in the area of elderly health care is significantly reducing. Europe is already facing the challenges and demands that this situation creates. One of the measures that can be used to address the rapid changes is the development of new technologies able to serve the elderly in their daily lives. As "Ambient Assisted Living (AAL)", stands the European project, whose main objective is to improve the quality of life of senior citizens through the development of age-sensitive solutions ICT (ICT: Information and Communication Technologies). This work discusses this European project, by analyzing the technology adopted and developed by the individual countries, and the transnational cooperation, and refers also to the corresponding Greek efforts in this field of technology assistance. Detailed transnational cooperation is analyzed, particularly among European countries in terms of technology assistance (welfare technology), which is already underway, and also the new partnerships that will be created in the near future. Furthermore, the effort of the European Agency AGE in the same context is addressed, also in terms of the fact that the year 2012 is marked as the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. There is also discussion with reference to the profit and economic development through this area in other European countries. Besides the need for development of technologies that is already highlighting the quality of seniors’ life, this sector provides to other countries, like for example Germany, a very significant potential for development of trade and industry. This is another reason for further analysis on the evolution of these technologies, especially during the times of economic crisis. Thus, the above investments should become the result of close cooperation between research centres / universities, Ministries, Municipalities and Regions. In conclusion, a comparison is made in the production and implementation of ICT in Germany and Greece whilst presenting newer ideas and suggestions displaying today’s latest technologies.

This diploma thesis is concentrated on perception of seniors by primary children (aged six to eight years). How primary children imagine seniors, how they perceive them and what characters children think seniors have got. The theoretical part is divided to three chapters. At first there is defined a primary school age. There are described characteristics and relationships between children, with their parents and mainly with their grandparents. In the second chapter there is characterized the old age, the role of seniors in families and their relationship with grandchildren. Then there is described the attitude to the old age seen by society. The last chapter of the hteoretical part contains the way I collected information (through a drawing and an interview). The practical part is focused on the fact how children draw seniors and searching for attributes in children´s drawings. Children´s attitudes to the old people are searched through interviews.

Community nursing contribution to the support of active old-age In connection with the growing tendency of the number of seniors in the Czech Republic the necessity to keep the senior generation active and self-sufficient as long as possible arises. The activities of geriatric nurses have been currently conducted by nurses of general practitioners and nurses of home-care agencies. However, in the primary care, community nurses would be of use, as they are abroad. We have ascertained what seniors themselves, the younger public but also nurses and students expect from a community nurse in the support of active old age. In the qualitative part of the research we used the technique of a semi-structured interview while in the quantitative part we used the questionnaire technique. We have managed to find answers to the research questions set out at the beginning of the research: the public expects a community nurse to provide nursing and health care together with assistance in the social field; the public expects a community nurse to focus on education in the field of a healthy lifestyle and therapeutic regimen; seniors expect broader social assistance provided by a community nurse than the younger public; financial security, healthy diet and physical activity constitute a form of preparation of the younger public for their old age; the younger public wants to be informed by a community nurse about preparation for old age. We have also confirmed the hypotheses raised by us: 1) Nurses prefer a community nurse to undertake the role of a provider of (required) care rather than the role of an educator in the support of active old age. 2) Students of the 3rd grade of study branch ``General Nurse{\crqq} of the Faculty of Health and Social Studies of the University of South Bohemia (ZSF JU) prefer a community nurse to undertake the role of an educator in the support of active old age rather than the role of a provider of (required) care. The results may serve for further researches, may be the inspiration for educational programmes and courses in the field of community care of seniors or may serve for development of community planning in the support of active old age. They will certainly contribute to a change of the view of a nurse working with a senior community.

Abstract In the theoretical part of the thesis, there are explained the basic terms: old-age, senior, infancy, children and age, and later are described psychopathological problems, both physical and psychological. The author aims to focus on the terms of loss and decline, which are usually joined with the old-age. Nevertheless, the emphasis is put on the fact that old-age is not an illness but it is important to adapt to it, eventhough it is a period of serious losses. Later in the theoretical part of this work, the author describes the former and current approach of the society to the old-age, disadvantage of the retired people, their discrimination in the mass media and the consequential fear of the old-age. In the chapter called ``the perception of seniors by their family,`` there are explained the terms nuclear and extended family and the difference in the family´s approach to seniors in the past and nowadays. Then, there are described problems related to the current family, e.g. the lack of physical contact with elder people and the relationship between children and seniors. The chapter ``the relationship between children and grandparents`` deals first with the positive contribution, which is evident in the sufficiency of time, the transfer of traditions, the intervention of the historical background and gained experience, and second also with the negative influence such as boycotting of the parental authority, untrue stylization or the total lack of interest in grandchildren. The chapter ``children´s drawing`` was included in the work because it was later used in the practical part. Children´s drawing makes it easier to express the child´s feelings and their relations to their environment. The author also mentioned other available materials and researches about the same or similar topic. In the practical part, the author researched the artistic expression and verbalisation of the children´ s relationship with seniors. In total, there were interviewed twenty-nine pupils who attend the second and the third class of primary school. Children´s drawings and their answers were examined in a non-standardized questionnaire. The people in the drawings are mostly set into some environment, which is mainly nature. The seniors visible in the drawings are usually passive and they are illustrated with some tipical attributes such as a cane. The questionnaire included open, close and also spectrum questions. The answers are worked up in graphic charts in the appendix no. 2.

This thesis tries to show a view of current adolescents on older people. It focuses especially on attitudes and opinions which create an image of a senior in nowaday's society. The theoretical part which is divided into four chapters includes basic terms: these are widening general knowledge about discussed problematics. The most important terms appear in the first part - adolescence, old age and perception. They describe physical and psychical aspects and tendencies that are typical of both stages (relationship of an individual to himself or herself, adaptation to ageing, satisfaction in life and vitality in elderly). Attention is drawn to socialization process which allows larger integration of adolescents into social life. This area is strongly connected to the area of social relationships including both adolescents and seniors. Such relationships can be seen especially in families, among relatives, friends or peers and their intensity changes over time. Very important and highly debated topic is also discrimination of older people. This topic forms the final part of this thesis. The last chapter deals with meanings of children's drawing and follows units which form this meaning (colours, size of figure, quality of lines). This part also includes a research of perception of seniors which was made in the USA. The practical part shows seniors graphically pictured by students of the eighth classes. These pictures are completed by information obtained from questionaries. The conclusion compares results of both researches.

The current consumer lifestyle threatens the health of the Czech population.Regular physical activity of seniors can positively affect not only their health but also their social and mental well-being. Itprolongs their self-sufficient living and reduces health care expenditures.We see this area as a priority sphere of interest. To confirm the positive influence of physical activity of seniors it is necessary to establish the currentsituation. The main objective of this project is to analyze the physical activity behaviourof seniors dealing with regular active mental activity in an educational institution.The research was carried out for one week using a standardized questionnaireIPAQ-long (International Physical Activity Questionare) and monitoring with YAMAX SW 700 pedometer. The research using the questionnaire was attended by 120 probands. 30 probands attended the pedometre monitoring method. The resulting data were analyzed and concluded.

The diploma thesis deals with the issue of health literacy of seniors in the field of pharmacology. The aim of the work was to find out, which skills and abilities seniors have, to understand, search and use information, services, and tools related to pharmacology. Thanks to these social and cognitive skills, seniors can have greater control over their health, they can make good decisions about their health condition, and they can maintain and support their health in general. The second aim of this thesis was to find out what problems the seniors encounter in the daily use of medicaments and what aspects make them the most difficult. With today's overusing drugs, seniors face more than one problem and it is affecting their quality of life and whole drug therapy. To achieve my goals, I have used quantitative research, using questionnaires. The examined sample was male and female from the age of 65 and the total number of respondents was 120. I set 2 goals with eight related hypotheses. Based on the gained results, out of the eight hypotheses, two of them were accepted and six of them were rejected. Based on the gained information from the research, in collaboration with graphic designer Dominika Pýchová, I created a stylized illustration (Annex 2), which could be introduced in the packaging to simplify pharmacy's using by seniors and simplify the information from information flyers. The reason, why seniors don't read the information flyers is the fact, that printed letters are too small and not readable. I was present while filling out the questionnaires and that is why I found out, that seniors would welcome better and uniform drug list which would make them easier to use. That's why I redrew the American version of the drug list, which is listed in (Annex 3). Overall research shows that half of the seniors are using more than 5 drugs, they have bigger problem of knowing the effects of drugs than knowing their names. Almost nobody knows the side effects of the drugs, as well as a clinical pharmacist who would facilitate pharmacotherapy in many cases. Practitioners do not check their patients' medication, and in many cases, when hospitalized, practitioners find out that the patient is taking unnecessary medication or even those that have not been prescribed for a long time. As long as the seniors do not improve their knowledge with help from practitioner and nurse, or by introducing of drug list's regular checks, seniors will be in alarming danger and their health literacy will not improve but it will be further reduced.

Atualmente, percebe-se uma tendência acentuada no interesse de idosos pela inclusão digital. Em consequência disto, o envolvimento em novas práticas culturais referente ao universo digital surge em função da pressão social por se manter atualizado e, também, como forma de aproximação da família e amigos de gerações mais novas. O presente trabalho visa analisar a estruturação e organização dos processos de inclusão digital para que haja a apropriação de novas práticas culturais mediadas por tecnologias em rede com idosos. A partir desta diretriz, buscou-se analisar as mudanças que se evidenciam nas práticas culturais destes sujeitos quando mediadas pela tecnologia, bem como, analisar os processos de construção de intersubjetividade atravessados pelas práticas culturais mediadas pelas tecnologias centrado, especialmente, em uma comunidade virtual. Em se tratando da metodologia, desenvolve-se uma netnografia do tipo blended, que envolve, tanto a etnografia como a netnografia. O publico alvo desta pesquisa são 13 idosos que apresentam o interesse em apropriar-se das novas práticas culturais através do uso da tecnologia. O estudo se desenvolveu ao longo de dois anos e possibilitou a coleta de dados a partir da observação participante, diário de campo, entrevistas semiestruturadas, questionário com questões abertas e fechadas e registros on-line dentro da comunidade. Por meio destas, constatou-se a relevância da formação a longo prazo com planejamentos e encontros sistemáticos a fim de que sejam acompanhadas as mudanças na construção das novas práticas culturais e na intersubjetividade. Constatou-se que os letramentos mobilizados por alguns dos sujeitos participantes encontravam-se em níveis diferenciados e em contínuo desenvolvimento. A cerca dos processos intersubjetivos partiu-se das análises dos laços e dos capitais sociais, por meio destes identificou-se que os laços sociais fortes foram uma característica do grupo e a partir destes foram construídos os capitais sociais. Ainda com este enfoque, analisou-se os papéis dos sujeitos e suas modificações que ocorreram de modo processual. Concluiu-se, também, com esta pesquisa que a aprendizagem que envolveu os idosos foi compartilhada e fundamentada em histórias de vida, permeadas de dúvidas, conquistas, dificuldades e superações. No âmbito digital, a idade não se apresentou como um fator que definisse o acesso às possibilidades de possuir uma melhor qualidade de vida que surgiram com o computador. / Nowadays, it can be seen an increasing tendency in the interest of elderly people for digital inclusion. As a result of that the involvement in new cultural practices related to the digital universe arises due to the social pressure to keep up, and also as a way to become closer to family and friends of younger generations. This study aims to analyze the structure and organization of digital inclusion processes to provide appropriation of new cultural practices mediated by network technologies with older people. Based on this guideline, we attempted to analyze the changes that were revealed in the cultural practices of these subjects when mediated by technology, as well as analyze the processes of construction of intersubjectivity that are permeated by the cultural practices mediated by technologies and centered, especially, in a virtual community. In terms of methodology, a blended netnography was developed which involves both ethnography as netnography. The target audience of this research are 13 seniors who have an interest in appropriating the new cultural practices through the use of technology. The study was conducted over the period of two years and allowed the data collection from the participant observation, field journal, semistructured interviews, questionnaire with open and closed questions and online records within the community. Through this collected data, we realized the relevance of long-term training with planning and systematic meetings so that the changes in the construction of new cultural practices and intersubjectivity are accompanied. It is noted that the Literacies mobilized by some participants are at different levels and in continuous development. On the subject of intersubjective processes we start the analysis of ties and some types of social capital through these we identified that strong social ties were a feature of the group and from these were built social capital. Still on this goal we analyzed the roles of the subjects and identified that their changes occurred in a procedural way. We conclude, also, with this research that the learning process which involved the subjects was shared and based on life stories, permeated by doubts, conquers, difficulties and overcoming. In the digital field, age did not appear as a factor that defined the access to possibilities of having a better quality of life that came with the computer.

This diploma work is aimed at the basic information about the importance of the drinkable regime especially at elderly people and at the topic of the drinkable regime at seniors in collective facilities in general. The theoretical part contents information about the process of human organism ageing and about the importance of the drinkable regime in senior age. It solves health consequences while the drinkable regime is not being kept sufficiently and it specifies the drinkable regime in senior age during hot and colder periods of the year. In particular chapters there are specified different kinds of water, their elements, particular parts of beverages and their pertinence for the senior population. The practical part analyses the results of the research that was performed by means of anonymous questionnaires in the facilities for seniors and in hospitals for patients under long-term treatment. These questionnaires are aimed at the frequency, amount and the assortment of the consumed beverages in particular periods of the year and it should reveal if the seniors are well informed about the drinkable regime in connection with their health condition. The research has proved that seniors are sufficiently informed about the principles of the drinkable regime but they are often limited by the financial situation or by the level of their self-support.