Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE GER2025

 
TITLE Implementing Active Ageing Policies in Later Life

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 8

 
DEPARTMENT Gerontology and Dementia Studies

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit ‘Implementing Active Ageing Policies in Later Life’ underlines that active ageing does not merely imply the ability of an older person to be physically active or to participate in the labour force. Rather, 'active' refers to the older persons' continuing participation in the social, economic, cultural, spiritual and civic affairs. Active ageing embraces the frail, vulnerable older person and the active and physically fit person. Active ageing is a right of older persons and older population groups alike, irrespective of whether the older person is living with dementia, is frail, or disabled or in need of care. The concept focuses on maximising older persons’ potential for physical, social and mental wellbeing throughout the life course. Activity empowers the older person to participate in society according to the person's particular needs, desires and capacities. This study-unit also encourages students to 'think outside the box', to come to terms how dominant discourse in active ageing is hindered by biases such as social class, gender, ethnicity, disability, cognitive status and disease, or what gerontologists term as ‘third ageism’.

Study-Unit Aims:

The study-unit 'Implementing Active Ageing Policies in Later Life' aims to bring together all the study-units and practice placements within the 'Higher Diploma in Geriatrics and Gerontology.' It seeks to pave the way for the students to collate all the information, and develop strategic plans and programmes for older persons within community dwellings, University of the Third Age Centres, Active Ageing Hubs, Dementia Activity Centres, and long-term care facilities. At this unique and final stage of the Higher Diploma, this study-unit aims to sensitise the student with the challenges associated with implementing active ageing within today's society, and which can be potentially solved, through innovative planning, leadership qualities and effective communication skills. This study-unit also endeavours to demonstrate how older persons, irrespective of their physical and cognitive capacities and capabilities, are not mere passive welfare recipients. Thus, it expounds on the concept of 'Active Ageing' to exfoliate the paradigms of successful, productive and positive ageing.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- define Active Ageing with particular inference to participation, security and health;
- explain the concept of ‘active ageing’ as a paradigm that regards the older person as an active participant in an age-integrated society, where older persons are active contributors as well as beneficiaries;
- recognise how active ageing arises as a ‘human right’ rather than a ‘need’;
- identify the relationship between active ageing on one hand, and autonomy, healthy lifestyle (including nutrition), quality of life, independence, participation, dignity, care, self-fulfilment, control, positive outlook, goals, self-esteem and adaptability on the other;
- illustrate the policies of the United Nations and World Health Organisation on active ageing;
- describe the Maltese journey in active ageing policy, whilst also identifying the nation’s success and failures;
- report on research that provides evidence that active ageing is a lifelong and lifewide policy perspective.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- administer active ageing programmes suited for all older persons in care homes, irrespective of their physical and cognitive heath status;
- plan wellbeing information campaigns for middle-aged and older persons;
- assist older persons to choose which the various services in a spectrum of civic amenities are best suited to his/her needs;
- apply an empowerment outlook when working with older persons living in the community;
- consolidate communication interaction between older persons and service providers;
- argue that a happy and successful ageing is not simply the absence of disease but a process that hinges on that interface between social wellbeing and personal empowerment.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Fernández-Mayoralasa, G. (2015). Active ageing and quality of life: Factors associated with participation in leisure activities among institutionalized older adults, with and without dementia. Journal of Aging and Mental Health, 19(11), 1031-41.
- Ma Mendoza-Ruvalcaba N. & Arias-Merino, E.D. (2015). “I am active”: Effects of a program to promote active aging. Journal of Clinical Intervtions in Aging, 10: 829-37.
- Menichetti J. et al (2016). Engaging older people in healthy and active lifestyles: A systematic review. Ageing & Society, 36(10), 2036-60.
- Parliamentary Secretariat for Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing. National strategic policy for active ageing: Malta 2014-2020. Malta: Parliamentary Secretariat for Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing.
- Van Malderen L. et al (2013). The Active Ageing concept translated to the residential long-term care. Quality of Life Research, 22(5), 929-37.
- Van Malderen L., et al (2016). Active ageing within the nursing home: A study in Flanders, Belgium. European Journal of Aging, 13(3), 219-230.
- World Health Organization (2002). Active Ageing: A Policy Framework. Geneva: World Health Organization.

Supplementary Readings:

- Azzopardi, R.M. (2011). Social policies in Malta. London: Commonwealth Secretariat and United Nations Research Institute for Social Development.
- Bowling, A. (2008). Enhancing later life: How older people perceive active ageing? Journal of Aging and Mental Health, 12(3), 293-301.
- Ekdahl, A., Fiorini, A., Maggi, S., Pils, K., Michel, J-P., & Kolb, G. (2012). Geriatric care in Europe - the EUGMS Survey Part II: Malta, Sweden and Austria. European Geriatric Medicine, 3(6): 388-391.
- European Commission. (2012a). Guiding Principles for Active Ageing and Solidarity between generations. http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=89&newsId=1743. Accessed 14 June 2017.
- European Commission. (2012b). European Barometer 378: Active Ageing. http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_378_en.pdf. Accessed 14 June 2017.
- Formosa, M. (2015). Ageing policy in Malta: Issues, policies and future trends. Malta: Book Distributors Limited.
- Scerri, C. (2012). Challenges of developing a dementia strategy: The case of Malta. In A. Innes, F. Kelly & L. McCabe, (Eds.), Key issues in Evolving Dementia Care (pp. 150-172). London: Jessica Kingsley.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES This study-unit is only offered to students following the Higher Diploma in Gerontology and Geriatrics course.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment See note below Yes 50%
Presentation (20 Minutes) See note below Yes 50%
Note: Assessment due date will be notified by the Faculty/Institute/Centre/School.

 
LECTURER/S Claudette Gauci

 

 
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The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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