Purpose This study aims to synthesise the existing literature on healthy ageing among older LGBTQIA + adults to develop a conceptual framework and discuss ways of creating inclusive ageing systems. Design/methodology/approach An integrative literature review was conducted using peer-reviewed articles retrieved from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Following the removal of duplicate and non-relevant records, 82 studies were included in the review. A thematic synthesis was undertaken to identify key themes related to minority stress, resilience, healthcare access, social support and healthy ageing. The findings informed the development of a conceptual framework grounded in minority stress theory, life course theory and ecological systems theory. Findings The review indicates that cumulative minority stress contributes to poorer mental and physical health, social isolation, healthcare avoidance and reduced quality of life among older LGBTQIA + adults. However, resilience, chosen family, community connectedness and inclusive healthcare and policy environments act as protective mechanisms that mitigate these adverse effects. The proposed framework demonstrates that healthy ageing results from the interaction between cumulative minority stress, resilience and supportive ecological environments across the life course. Practical implications The framework provides guidance for developing LGBTQIA+-affirming healthcare services, inclusive ageing policies and community-based interventions that promote equitable healthy ageing. Originality/value This study integrates three complementary theories into a unified conceptual framework, offering a holistic understanding of healthy ageing among older LGBTQIA + adults and identifying directions for future research, policy and practice.
Purpose Population ageing has resulted in a growing number of older adults living with multiple long-term conditions, functional limitations, cognitive decline, mental health challenges and social vulnerabilities. These interconnected needs frequently transcend the boundaries of conventional health and social care systems, creating fragmented service experiences and inconsistent care outcomes. This study aims to develop and validate an integrated framework for understanding complex needs in later life by examining how person-centred care, multidisciplinary care coordination, social support and technology-enabled services contribute to the quality of life of older adults. Design/methodology/approach A sequential exploratory mixed-methods design is proposed. In Phase I, semi-structured interviews will be conducted with older adults, informal carers, healthcare professionals and social care practitioners to explore lived experiences of managing complex needs. Thematic analysis will identify the principal dimensions influencing integrated care delivery. In Phase II, findings from the qualitative phase will inform the development of a structured questionnaire administered to a larger sample of older adults and caregivers. Structural equation modelling will be employed to examine the relationships among integrated care, care coordination, technology utilisation, social support and quality of life. Integration of qualitative and quantitative findings will generate meta-inferences to explain how multidimensional care practices can better address complex needs in later life. Findings The study is expected to demonstrate that integrated person-centred care improves quality of life by strengthening care coordination, enhancing communication among stakeholders, increasing caregiver support and facilitating appropriate technology adoption. The qualitative findings are anticipated to reveal practical barriers related to fragmented services, while the quantitative analysis is expected to validate the pathways through which coordinated care contributes to improved physical, psychological and social well-being. Research limitations/implications The study is limited by its cross-sectional quantitative design and its focus on selected regions of India, which may restrict causal inference and the broader generalisability of the findings. Future research should use longitudinal and cross-cultural designs to examine the long-term effectiveness and applicability of the proposed integrated care framework across diverse healthcare settings. Practical implications The proposed framework offers evidence-based guidance for healthcare providers, policymakers and community organisations seeking to redesign services for older adults with complex needs. It provides practical recommendations for integrating health and social care, supporting caregivers and promoting ageing in place through collaborative service delivery. Social implications This study highlights the importance of integrated, person-centred care in improving the quality of life of older adults by strengthening collaboration among healthcare providers, caregivers and community services. The proposed framework supports the development of inclusive ageing policies, promotes caregiver participation and facilitates equitable access to coordinated health and social care, thereby contributing to healthy ageing and ageing in place. Originality/value The study advances current understanding of complexity in later life by integrating lived experiences with empirical model validation. Rather than focusing on individual diseases or isolated interventions, it conceptualises complex needs as a multidimensional phenomenon requiring coordinated, person-centred and context-sensitive responses. The proposed framework contributes to both gerontological theory and practical service innovation.
Purpose This study aims to examine how older adults in Vietnam manage complex care needs where formal care is limited and how informal support, reciprocity and loneliness intersect within these arrangements. Design/methodology/approach This paper draws on 90 semi-structured interviews with older adults, family carers and local stakeholders at urban and rural sites in southern Vietnam, conducted in 2024. Older-adult interviews formed the primary analytic data set, while carer and local-stakeholder accounts were used to triangulate participants’ experiences and clarify how care and local provision were organised. Reflexive thematic analysis combined case-based comparison with attention to contrary cases. Findings Complex needs became difficult to manage when functional limitations interacted with low income, transport barriers and discontinuous assistance. Older adults maintained recognised roles through work, care, advice, income and community participation. As their capacity to contribute declined, some restricted requests for help or withdrew from interaction. Loneliness reflected whether relationships were accessible, responsive and able to provide practical support and recognition, rather than living arrangements alone. Practical implications Assessment should identify specific care tasks, who can perform them and whether support can continue. It should also consider needs that remain unspoken because older adults fear burdening relatives. Support with transport, medicine collection, carer needs and coordinated follow-up may strengthen informal care without treating family presence as sufficient. Originality/value This study offers a relational-institutional interpretation of care complexity. It demonstrates how the limitations of formal provision dictate informal care capacity and reciprocity shapes help-seeking and how loneliness may arise when relationships no longer provide usable support or recognition.
Purpose This paper aims to offer a worked methodological demonstration of an integrated socioemotional selectivity theory (SST)–self-determination theory (SDT) reflexive thematic analysis (RTA), examining how urban, community-dwelling older adults in India are illustrated as using and emotionally experiencing generative AI and how this relates to autonomy, competence, relatedness and healthy ageing. Design/methodology/approach An RTA, organised using a Gioia-style structure, was conducted on an illustrative data set of 16 urban older adults (aged 61–83, mean 70.6) across 10 Indian cities: 5 full transcripts and 11 condensed summaries. As the data set was constructed for teaching purposes rather than collected under ethics-approved fieldwork, findings are a hypothesis-generating exercise rather than generalisable evidence. Findings Six aggregate dimensions were derived: everyday instrumental and cognitive integration; emotional relief primarily through reduction of uncertainty rather than direct companionship; differentiated relational meaning ranging from simulated companionship to explicitly non-relational, intellectual partnership; autonomy and competence gained through self-directed problem-solving; a near-universal positioning of AI as bounded against human relationships; and countercurrents of privacy unease, calibrated trust, literacy barriers and fear of overdependence. The integrated SST–SDT chain fit unevenly: several accounts were better explained by an informational, cognitive-appraisal pathway than an emotional one, and relatedness, unlike autonomy and competence, was not consistently reported. Originality/value This paper provides a transparent, reflexive worked example of applying an integrated SST–SDT framework with Gioia-structured RTA to a novel, under-researched population, and specifies what a genuine empirical study in this domain would require.
Purpose This study aims to examine the co-occurrence of physical, mental/emotional and social needs among people aged 65 and over across SHARE countries. Design/methodology/approach Cross-sectional data from SHARE Wave 9 were analysed for 41,437 respondents with complete information on three standardised need indices. Pearson correlations assessed associations between dimensions. Upper-quartile scores identified high need in each domain, enabling calculation of accumulated need and cross-country comparisons. Chi-square tests and Cramer’s V assessed territorial variation. Findings All three dimensions were positively associated. The strongest correlation was between physical and mental and emotional needs (r = 0.427), followed by mental and emotional and social needs (r = 0.273); the association between physical and social needs was weaker (r = 0.137). Overall, 19.3% of respondents had high needs in at least two dimensions and 4.6% had high needs in all three. The proportion with two or more high-need dimensions ranged from 5.9% in Denmark to 32.9% in Lithuania and Latvia. Country differences were statistically significant but modest in magnitude (Cramer’s V = 0.115). Research limitations/implications The cross-sectional design precludes causal inference and upper-quartile thresholds represent relative rather than clinical need. Practical implications Integrated assessment should combine functional, psychological and social indicators to identify older people whose needs may remain hidden within sector-specific services. Originality/value The study provides updated comparative evidence on the simultaneous accumulation of physical, mental and social needs across 28 countries using harmonised SHARE data.
Purpose This paper aims to present a real-world case study of an adult social care research–practice partnership, established in the UK, between university researchers, a local authority and third-sector organisations. Design/methodology/approach A literature review exploring developing research–practice partnerships highlighted that they originated in the education sector and have been operating for two decades in the USA. The literature was applied to frame a real-world case study and make recommendations to inform the development and implementation of such partnerships. Findings Research–practice partnerships are long-term collaborations between researchers and practitioners aiming to make practice-based improvement. The literature offers frameworks and guidance regarding how to establish and develop these partnerships and the factors required for success. Insights from the case study highlight the importance of adequate resourcing, open dialogue between partners, setting research goals and establishing terms of reference. Social implications Research–practice partnerships provide a platform in facilitating a range of partners in supporting the application of evidence into practice. The application of such partnerships has the potential to address current challenges by promoting evidence-informed practice. Originality/value The uniqueness of this paper is in highlighting research–practice partnerships can be implemented in adult social care and offering practical guidance. Research–practice partnership can raise practitioners’ awareness of research and the associated processes required. Similarly, the researchers gain better understanding of the challenges faced in adult social care practice.
Purpose Increased life expectancy has contributed to the growth of the elderly population. As this population has at least one chronic disease, more work needs to be done on illness management. This study aims to examine the relationships between self-management resilience and perceived nursing care within the society-to-cells resilience framework and explore the mediating role of perceived nursing care among older adults with chronic illness. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional, correlational study design was used. The study was conducted between April and September 2024 with 527 older adults receiving nursing care. Data were collected using the Chronic Disease Self-Management Scale, Brief Resilience Scale and Patient Perception of Hospital Experience with Nursing Care Scale. Pearson correlation and mediation analyses (PROCESS macro-Model 4) were performed. Findings Participants demonstrated above-average self-management and good levels of resilience and perceived nursing care. Significant positive correlations were identified among self-management, resilience and perceived nursing care (r = 0.447–0.563, p < 0.01). Self-management had a significant direct effect on perceived nursing care (β = 0.449, p < 0.01). Both self-management (β = 0.354, p < 0.01) and perceived nursing care (β = 0.393, p < 0.01) significantly predicted resilience. Mediation analysis showed that perceived nursing care partially mediated the relationship between self-management and resilience. Research limitations/implications These findings support the society-to-cells resilience theory by demonstrating that perceived nursing care is a key mechanism linking self-management and resilience in older adults with chronic illnesses. Strengthening patient-centered nursing care may enhance resilience and improve chronic disease outcomes in aging populations. Originality/value This study provides empirical support for the society-to-cells resilience theory by demonstrating that perceived nursing care plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between self-management and resilience among older adults with chronic illnesses. The findings highlight that both internal resources, such as self-management and external resources, particularly nursing care, are integral to fostering resilience in this population. Perceived nursing care not only directly supports self-management but also indirectly enhances resilience by strengthening patients’ adaptive capacities.
Purpose This paper aims to build a conceptual framework to consider the consequences of biological and occupational aging of sex workers. It determines the effects of aging on cultural inclusion, perceived dignity, economic security and societal stigma through considering the mediation of health vulnerability and the moderation of safeguarding mechanisms. Design/methodology/approach This paper reviews interdisciplinary literature to develop a theoretically based conceptual framework of aging of sex workers, mediating health vulnerability and aging outcomes. It combines recent theoretical approaches, such as life-course theory, structural vulnerability theory, syndemic theory and precarity theory, to develop a multidimensional framework with a comparative and critical approach. Findings The research indicates that the process of aging of sex workers aggravates the vulnerability of physical, mental and emotional health, which adversely impact dignity, inclusion and economic stability. It also points out that the safeguarding mechanisms including family support, community interventions, policy support and alternative employment are essential in counterbalancing these effects. Good supports would help decrease vulnerability and lack thereof increases marginalization. Originality/value This paper provides a conceptual framework that incorporates the subject of aging sex workers which is underresearched. It contributes to connection between aging, vulnerability to health and structural support, extrapolating the results to the management and social policy settings, and offering a basis to future research.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to formulate a conceptual framework to understand the role of cumulative structural exclusion of transgender older adults and discuss the ways to create inclusive ageing systems. Design/methodology/approach The research is based on the integrative review approach. Based on life-course theory and minority stress theory, the paper reviews interdisciplinary literature in the field of gerontology, public health and social policy to develop a theoretically based conceptual framework of structural exclusion, psychosocial mediators and subsequent outcomes later in life. Findings According to the review, structural exclusion (family rejection, discrimination in the labour market, inequities in healthcare and policy invisibility) accumulates throughout the life course and conditions the effects of ageing through psychosocial mediators such as psychological distress, social isolation, internalised stigma and healthcare avoidance. Inclusive policies, gender affirmative healthcare and community support networks might promote resilience. Practical implications The evidence demonstrates that multi-level interventions, such as inclusive ageing policies, culturally competent geriatric care and identification of various forms of support networks, are necessary. Originality/value The minority stress lens allows this paper to contribute to the overall understanding of gender disparity in ageing. By providing a more thorough, inclusive ageing system for transgender ageing. The framework forms the basis of any empirical study to be carried out in future, the policy and practice to promote inclusive ageing systems.
PurposeElderly is related to aging, which causes various health problems such as sarcopenia. In the aging process, physical and psychological changes contribute to the development of frailty. Older people with poor health conditions also affect their quality of life. This study aims to analyze the correlation between frailty syndrome and quality of life among elderly residents of Jember Nursing Home. Design/methodology/approachThis study used a cross-sectional design with a total sample of 73 respondents. This study used the Edmonton Frail Scale to assess frailty level and the WHO QOL-OLD to assess quality of life among the elderly. The Kendal Tau-C test analyzed data. FindingsThe results show that the majority of the elderly experience a vulnerable quality of life (35.6%) and a moderate quality of life (50.7%). Based on the result of this study, there was a correlation between frailty syndrome and quality of life among the elderly in Jember Nursing Home (p-value = 0.000; r = −0.539). It can be concluded that the higher the level of frailty syndrome, the lower the elderly’s quality of life. Research limitations/implicationsTherefore, the elderly need to be aware of the risks and impacts of frailty so they can maintain healthy behaviors. Practical implicationsIt is also important for nurses and caregivers to educate the elderly about frailty syndrome and to monitor their nutrition and health. Originality/valueThis paper addresses the identified need to study how frailty syndrome can be avoided and how quality of life can be improved for elderly residents of Jember Nursing Home.
Purpose This study aims to identify distinct profiles of life satisfaction social isolation depression and loneliness among community-dwelling older men and to examine their associations with sociodemographic characteristics. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional design was used using secondary data from a sample of 175 older men. Data collection encompassed sociodemographic variables alongside validated scales measuring social isolation, life satisfaction, depression and loneliness. Findings Cluster analysis revealed four profiles: mildly satisfied without loneliness (44%), moderately satisfied but lonely (25.1%), highly satisfied (20%) and poorly satisfied and depressed (10.9%). Significant associations emerged between clusters, marital status and living arrangements. Unmarried men and those living alone were more prevalent in the “moderately satisfied but lonely” group. Research limitations/implications The findings of this study underscore the need for further research on loneliness and social isolation in older men, particularly from a gender-sensitive perspective, to inform targeted interventions and support services. Originality/value This study contributes to a deeper understanding of male ageing by identifying four distinct psychosocial profiles among community-dwelling older men. This study highlights the complexity and diversity of factors influencing well-being in this population, dimensions that remain underexplored in the existing literature.
Purpose As populations around the world, including Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), continue to age, supporting the well-being of older adults has become increasingly important. Regular physical activity (PA) is a key contributor to healthy ageing and enhancing well-being. Fitness instructors play a crucial role in engaging older adults in ongoing PA; however, many trainers lack adequate training and support to work effectively with this population to sustain their long-term engagement. This study aims to explore the role of the therapeutic relationship (TR) in facilitating long-term and sustained engagement in PA among older adults. Specifically, it examines how fitness professionals (FPs) construct trust, negotiate power and foster adherence in ways that go beyond physical training alone. Design/methodology/approach In this case study, we focus on “expert voice” and interviewed two veteran trainers from the never2old exercise programme. We explore the aspects that contribute to the establishment of a TR, which is characterised by collaboration and trust. A Foucauldian discourse analysis approach is used to explain how power and trust can be co-constructed and shared. Findings The findings show how FPs construct trust, negotiate power and engage with older adults. The paper identifies concrete facilitators (self-disclosure, joint decision-making, communication strategies, innovation and autonomy), and makes practical recommendations to the current curricula for trainer education beyond creating a workout plan. Research limitations/implications This study highlights the need to reframe frailty discourse within FP education, moving beyond age-based deficit models towards strengths-based, self-determination approaches. It also shows that as NZ becomes more diverse in population, training needs to foster cultural awareness. While the research only contains expert interviews from two participants, their experience provided rich data to explore the case study. Further studies could draw on the older clients’ perspectives and co-design what is needed for the future curriculum. Practical implications Training should integrate motivational interviewing, intercultural competence and age-appropriate communication strategies to better support Aotearoa New Zealand’s super-diverse and ageing population. Institutional cultures that privilege narrow notions of “Kiwiness” require critical reflection to avoid exclusion. Promoting workplace autonomy and innovation may enhance practitioner engagement and client trust. The principle of the TR should be part of the curriculum. Social implications Socially, this study suggests that FP education can either reinforce or disrupt ageism and cultural exclusion. Reframing frailty as resilience challenges deficit-based views of older adults and supports dignity and participation. Strengthening intercultural competence is critical in Aotearoa New Zealand’s super-diverse context to ensure equitable access. Promoting autonomy and shared decision-making further enhances older adults’ agency, voice and social inclusion in later life. Originality/value This study presents a unique methodological approach, combining the theoretical lens of the TR with a Foucauldian approach, to offer evidence-informed implications for fitness trainers’ education.
Purpose This study aims to determine the prevalence and severity of loneliness among older adults in Indonesian nursing homes and examine its correlations with depression and frailty to inform holistic care. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study was conducted across three government-run nursing homes (Panti Sosial Tresna Werdha) in Jakarta and Bekasi, Indonesia. Using consecutive sampling, 250 older adults (aged = 60 years) completed the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale Version 3, Geriatric Depression Scale-15 and FRAIL Scale. Spearman’s correlation and subgroup comparisons were performed. Findings Moderate-to-severe loneliness affected 82.0% of participants (moderate 44.0%, severe 38.0%). Depression was present in 78.0% and pre-frailty or frailty in 76.0%. Significant moderate positive correlations emerged between loneliness and depression (ρ = 0.48, p < 0.001) and loneliness and frailty (ρ = 0.39, p < 0.001). Longer institutional stay, widowed or never-married status, lower education and multimorbidity predicted higher loneliness scores. Research limitations/implications The cross-sectional design precludes causal inference. Generalizability is limited to government-run facilities in Java excluding residents with severe cognitive impairment. Longitudinal and multi-site research is warranted. Practical implications Loneliness should be systematically screened upon admission, integrated into individualized care plans and addressed through staff training in relationship-centered care, structured psychosocial interventions, facilitated family engagement and environmental redesign. Brief screeners are feasible in resource-limited settings. Social implications The high prevalence of loneliness among institutionalized older adults signals a societal failure to maintain social integration in later life. Repositioning loneliness as a standalone mental health priority can drive policy reforms that shift long-term care from custodial models toward community-connected, relationship-centered environments. Such change may reduce ageist stereotypes, encourage intergenerational solidarity and lessen the burden on healthcare systems by addressing loneliness before it exacerbates depression and physical decline. Ultimately, fostering belonging in nursing homes contributes to more inclusive, age-friendly societies. Originality/value This large-sample, multi-institutional study from an underrepresented low-middle-income context repositions loneliness as a primary mental health target distinct from depression, simultaneously examining the loneliness–depression–frailty triad to guide targeted, holistic interventions.
Purpose This study aims to examine the community attitudes toward dementia and factors associated with dementia-related public stigma in Northwestern Italy. Design/methodology/approach An online survey using the Italian version of the Dementia Public Stigma Scale was administered to residents of several Italian communities. Findings A total of 1,329 participants completed the survey. Agreement with statements related to the behavioral component of stigma was low (6.2%–6.5%), while responses varied for the emotional (6.8%–23%) and cognitive (4.4%–83%) components. Adjusted analyses showed a significant association between overall stigma and age (+0.008 points), married status (+0.161 points), living in countries = 10,000 inhabitants (0.174 points), direct experience with dementia (−0.196 points) or social or healthcare volunteering (−0.206 points). At the component level, office work and personal experience with dementia, together with cognitive and behavioral stigma, predicted emotional stigma. Cognitive stigma was associated with older age, married status and higher emotional and behavioral stigma. Technical occupations, prior experience with dementia and emotional and cognitive stigma were linked to behavioral stigma. Social implications These findings suggest that reducing dementia-related stigma requires coordinated, multilevel strategies integrating national policies with local actions, including education for community stakeholders, dementia-friendly environments and accessible support services. Originality/value This study provides novel evidence on public stigma toward dementia by examining its emotional, cognitive and behavioral dimensions in an Italian community sample, highlighting the protective role of direct experience with dementia and small-community living in reducing stigmatizing attitudes.
Purpose This paper aims to propose the concept of relative social aging to provide a sociological framework for understanding how aging processes are shaped by social contexts and inequalities rather than chronological age alone. Design/methodology/approach This paper develops a conceptual framework based on a narrative review of sociological and gerontological literature on aging, inequality and the life course. The approach synthesizes key theoretical contributions to articulate a relational understanding of aging trajectories. Findings The concept of relative social aging highlights how aging experiences are structured by social position, institutional arrangements and relational environments. This perspective challenges individualized and biomedicalized understandings of aging and emphasizes the role of social determinants in shaping later life outcomes. Originality/value By introducing the concept of relative social aging, this paper contributes to sociological debates on aging and inequality and provides a conceptual tool for analyzing variations in aging experiences across different social contexts.
Purpose This study aims to evaluate a 12-week, twice-weekly progressive resistance-training programme for community dwelling adults > or over 65 years old who felt weaker, deconditioned, less fit, or declining in function. Design/methodology/approach In a single group pre–post study, 50 participants were enrolled and 40 completed an individualised resistance training programme in a university rehabilitation gym, with strength, physical performance, questionnaire ‘based sarcopenia risk, and bioimpedance body composition assessed before and after the inter-vention. Findings Sarcopeniarisk scores improved, the proportion of participants below established strength and performance thresholds reduced, and upper- and lower-limb strength and functional tests improved significantly, while changes in muscle and fat mass were small. Research limitations/implications The pre–post design without a control group limits causal inference and generalisability, and the modest sample with complete-case analysis further restricts external validity. Selection bias is also likely, as participants were motivated volunteers able to attend twice-weekly sessions, yet the findings are consistent with extensive prior research and therefore provide a pragmatic endorsement of such programmes in real-world settings. Practical implications This pragmatic, twice-weekly supervised resistance training programme for community-dwelling older adults produced large, clinically meaningful improvements in strength and physical performance, with parallel shifts away from sarcopeniarisk thresholds despite only modest changes in body composition. These findings support the integration and further evaluation of scalable resistance training pathways within routine community and rehabilitation services as a proactive strategy for sarcopenia and falls prevention. Social implications This project addresses a key gap between evidence and implementation, illustrating how effective RT interventions can be translated into real-world service delivery for older adults. The model demonstrated provides a scalable framework for developing routine, locally delivered rehabilitation pathways, aligned with implementation-science principles. This could inform population-level strategies that treat muscle strength as a proactive public-health priority rather than a reactive response to frailty, declined function, independence, and quality of life while reducing falls and associated healthcare costs. Originality/value This study demonstrates how an evidence-based resistance training programme can be implemented within a real-world community rehabilitation service.
Purpose This study aims to explore the relationship between sleep quality and loneliness among older adults residing in Indonesian long-term care facilities, with the objective of informing targeted non-pharmacological interventions for mental health and sleep hygiene in institutionalized elderly care. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted among 72 older adults (aged ≥ 60 years) across government-run nursing homes (Panti Sosial Tresna Werdha) in Indonesia. Sleep quality was assessed using a single-item sleep quality scale (SQS), and loneliness was measured using a single-item loneliness scale. Spearman’s rank correlation, Fisher’s Exact Test and Kruskal–Wallis H-test were used for data analysis. Findings A statistically significant moderate positive correlation was found between poorer sleep quality and higher loneliness levels (r = 0.351, p = 0.003). Participants with severe loneliness exhibited significantly worse sleep quality (mean SQS = 4.93, SD = 1.82) compared to those who were not lonely (mean SQS = 7.15, SD = 1.92; p = 0.002). Overall, 72.2% of participants experienced moderate-to-severe loneliness, while 47.2% reported fair sleep quality and 12.5% poor sleep quality. The association between sleep quality categories and loneliness categories was significant (Fisher’s Exact Test p < 0.001; Cramer’s V = 0.362). Research limitations/implications The cross-sectional design precludes causal inferences, and the use of single-item measures may limit psychometric precision. Future longitudinal and intervention studies are warranted to establish temporal directionality and evaluate integrated sleep and social engagement programmes in Indonesian long-term care settings. Practical implications The findings suggest that routine screening for both sleep quality and loneliness using brief single-item measures should be integrated into nursing home care protocols. Non-pharmacological interventions addressing sleep hygiene and social connectedness simultaneously may offer synergistic benefits for institutionalized older adults in resource-limited settings. Originality/value This is the first study to examine the sleep quality–loneliness relationship among institutionalized older adults in Indonesia, extending prior research on loneliness and depression in similar settings by identifying sleep as an additional modifiable correlate of psychosocial wellbeing in resource-limited long-term care environments.
PurposeThis preliminary case study aims to examine the experience and impact of elderspeak towards older people with dementia at a day care centre in Klang Valley, Malaysia Design/methodology/approachUsing a qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with three participants diagnosed with dementia. The study aimed to understand their subjective experiences of elderspeak and factors that shape their emotional and behavioural responses. FindingsFindings of the study reveal two experiential reactions of the participants towards elderspeak: mixed and positive. Main determining factors of their reactions are identified, such as the nature of their relationship with the speaker, forms of salutation, verbal and non-verbal cues, as well as past interpersonal experiences, all of which shaped how they perceived and responded to elderspeak. These factors contributed to the heterogeneous ways in which elderspeak was perceived and interpreted. Research limitations/implicationsConducting interviews with this population also presented methodological challenges, particularly instances of repetitive speech, which affected the flow and depth of data collection. This highlights the need for future studies to develop strategies that address communication repetition when engaging individuals with dementia in qualitative research. Originality/valueThis research makes a valuable contribution to the area of elderspeak by bringing forward the voices of older people with dementia, which are under-represented in the current literature. Although preliminary, the study offers a foundation for future research in multicultural dementia care contexts.
PurposeArchitectural innovation to enhance functionality and mental well-being in elder care buildings is a topic of this study, which is illustrated through the case study of Sheikh Baz Al Barzenji Elderly Center in Erbil. The majority of the buildings today are not developed with accessibility, flexibility and emotional well-being strategies. This paper aims to synthesize global innovations with local needs through pragmatic, culturally responsive solutions. Design/methodology/approachQualitative case study design involving semistructured interviews of residents, caregivers and architects. Field observation measured spatial organization, accessibility and environmental impact. Comparative analysis likened design strategies in other old-age care homes to establish best practices and areas for improvement. FindingsInnovative design features biophilic design, modular systems, smart solutions and sustainable materials − embellishing senior care environments. Results confirm that context-driven design interventions guarantee functionality and well-being, dignity and inclusivity for elderly residents of Erbil. Research limitations/implicationsThis is a single-case study, and generalizability is limited. Future studies should investigate varied facilities to test and extend the suggested design strategies. Practical implicationsThis study provides practical suggestions to policymakers and architects on how to improve elderly care facilities with better accessibility, adaptability and sustainability. Social implicationsAn enabling and inclusive care environment for older people encourages aging in place, social inclusion and improved quality of life, fostering cultural identity and social engagement. Originality/valueThis research adds to geriatric care architecture through the integration of the world’s best practice and cultural specificity. It offers an adaptable model for facilities in similar sociocultural and environmental contexts, and so makes Erbil a model city for inclusive and sustainable elderly care design.
Purpose This study aims to assess the challenges that older employees encounter while trying to cope with dynamism in technology. The study also assesses the effectiveness of reverse mentoring to address the generational technology gap between younger and older employees. Design/methodology/approach Given the rapidly changing business landscape, the authors conducted an extensive literature review to understand the challenges that older employees encounter in the context of the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and explore the need for reverse mentoring. For more focused and pertinent research, an integrative secondary search was conducted using primary databases, including Scopus, Google Scholar, Emerald Insight and Web of Science. Findings Based on the identified articles in line with the inclusion–exclusion criteria and data coding and theme generation process, major emerging themes comprised factors affecting the advancement of AI in organisational settings, challenges encountered in dealing with AI for Baby Boomers and Gen X and reverse mentoring as a potential strategy for equipping Baby Boomers and Gen X in the age of AI. Originality/value The findings advance knowledge in generational theory by synthesising generational differences with regard to technological adoption, enhancing the knowledge of generational trends on organisational learning and adoption of technology. Managers must also check that their human resource management policies are accommodative for all generations to create a progressive, elaborate and diverse workforce.
