Despite ongoing population aging, older adults remain underrepresented in educational and digital media research, particularly individuals from the fourth and fifth ages. Available data suggest a decline in participation in formal education, as well as decreasing numbers of internet users with advancing age. However, detailed information on very old adults’ perspectives on learning and digital devices remain limited, especially regarding informal learning activities. This study aims to examine attitudes toward and the perceived relevance of informal and digital learning among individuals aged 90 years and over. In total, seven interviews with older adults aged 90 years and older were conducted using a combination of biographical-narrative and problem-centered interview methods. Data were analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Two overarching themes, consisting of a total of seven themes, were developed: perspectives on learning developed over the course of life and current perspectives on learning. Results indicate that the aging process itself becomes a salient learning process. Although age-related stereotypes such as ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ persist, nursing homes were identified as environments that support learning. This study sheds light on informal learning processes in advanced age.

Der Beitrag nimmt die Perspektiven von Bewohner:innen des Betreuten Wohnens (BBW) auf Digitalität, Sozialraum und Biographie in den Blick und trianguliert sie. Inwiefern wird Digitalität in der Darstellung sozialer Räume und in biographischen Erzählungen thematisiert und zueinander in Beziehung gesetzt? Der Vergleich zweier Fälle aus einem Sample von 10 Personen im höheren und im hohen Lebensalter (w = 8, m = 2; 77–95 J.) bildet die Ergebnisgrundlage für die Analyse subjektiver Landkarten (SL) und deren begleitenden problemzentrierten Interviews (PZI) sowie biographisch-narrativen Interviews (BNI). Entscheidend für die Triangulation der Daten sind die Leitperspektive der Durchdringung von Sozialräumen durch Digitalität und die Rekonstruktion von narrativen Identitäten. Im ersten Fall zeigt sich über den gesamten Lebensweg der befragten Person hinweg eine enge Verflechtung sozialräumlicher und biographisch prägender Aspekte. Im anderen Fall sind die biographischen Narrationen deutlich vergangenheitsbezogener, und die sozialräumliche Orientierung der befragten Person ist stärker in der Gegenwart verortet. In Bezug auf die Digitalität beider Fälle resultiert, dass eine sozialräumliche und biographische Verankerung die Nutzung digitaler Geräte in deren Nachhaltigkeit stärkt. Die Verknüpfung der Perspektiven schafft einen erweiterten Zugang zur Lebenswelt und dem subjektiven Erfahrungsschatz der Zielgruppe. Die Kombination der Erhebungszugänge ermöglicht einen erweiterten Einblick in die Ressourcen und Bedarfe der Interviewten und schafft Anknüpfungspunkte für Fachkräfte im BTW.

BACKGROUND:Digital transformation is increasingly shaping the lives of older adults. Progress in the use of digital services can also be observed in senior housing arrangements and long-term care facilities. OBJECTIVE:This article discusses theoretical and conceptual approaches from gerontology, remedial education and educational science regarding the specificity of digitality in advanced age. MATERIAL:The reflections are based on case studies of two vulnerable women in advanced age from the DiBiWohn project which reveal developments in digitality. RESULTS:Forms of digitality can also be found in geriatric care settings that go beyond compensatory functions for social and physical losses and demonstrate potential for forms of participation, relationship maintenance and transformative education. DISCUSSION:Classical gerontological concepts tend to emphasize the deficit compensatory functions of technology. In contrast, perspectives from remedial education and educational science may offer impulses for aging research that also capture the potentials of digitality in advanced age.

Autonomie im Alter möglichst lange zu erhalten und zu verwirklichen, prägt in einer Gesellschaft des langen Lebens zunehmend sowohl gesellschaftliche Debatten als auch individuelle Bemühungen um ein gelingendes Altern. Versteht man Autonomie als Recht des Individuums, über das eigene Leben zu bestimmen, entstehen im Pflege- und Versorgungsalltag jedoch häufig Beschränkungen der persönlichen Freiheit durch Interventionen, die der Sicherheit Älterer dienen sollen – ein oft unauflösbares Dilemma.

BACKGROUND:The article focuses on the perspectives of residents in assisted living facilities (BBW) on digitality, social space and biography and triangulates them. OBJECTIVE:To what extent is digitality addressed in the representation of social spaces and in biographical narratives and placed in relation to each other? MATERIAL AND METHODS:A comparison of 2 cases from a sample of 10 people in old and very old age (female = 8, male = 2; 77-95 years old) forms the basis for the analysis of sociospatial maps and the accompanying problem-centered interviews and biographical narrative interviews. Crucial to the triangulation of the data is the guiding perspective of the pervasion of social spaces by digitality and the reconstruction of narrative identities. RESULTS:In the first case, there is a close interconnection between sociospatial and biographical aspects throughout the entire life course of the person interviewed. In the other case, the biographical narratives are much more focused on the past and the sociospatial orientation of the person interviewed is more strongly rooted in the present. With respect to digitality, in both cases the result is that a sociospatial and biographical anchoring strengthens the sustainable use of digital devices. CONCLUSION:The combination of both perspectives provides an in-depth approach to the living environment and subjective experiences of the target group. Combining both survey approaches provides greater insight into the resources and needs of the interviewees. This creates valuable points of reference for experts in assisted living facilities.

Biographies have a strong impact on current mindsets and attitudes toward education. We hypothesize that biographical experiences, therefore, may have an influence on current educational activities such as engaging with ICT (information and communication technology). For older adults, being confronted with digital devices poses a challenge. However, identifying biographical driving factors may support the educational process. Thus, we conducted a biographical study to collect life stories in biographical and problem-centered interviews with older adults who were chosen from a sample of a German research project. Our goal was to analyze biographical narrations in order to reconstruct narrative identities and draw conclusions about biography, education, and ICT use. It results that biographically acquired strategies consolidate in biographical patterns that influence ICT use. For instance, longing for social interaction over the life course later leads to education and ICT being used to connect with others. If no link between biography and ICT use can be depicted, ICT use is feasible. In conclusion, focusing educational activities on biographical patterns and relevance supports sustainable effects of older adults' education.

PurposeTo understand the reasons for the inconsistent and often arbitrary access to low vision care for people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), this article examines the challenges of access to low vision care from the perspectives of people with AMD, ophthalmologists, opticians and low vision professionals.MethodsThis article is based on a mixed-methods study that incorporated narrative semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of individuals diagnosed with AMD, as well as online surveys to evaluate ophthalmologists' and opticians' knowledge of low vision services and expert discussions with low vision professionals. An integrated synthesis approach was employed.ResultsChallenges in accessing low vision care can be categorized into four levels: individual, social, infrastructural, and provider. Individual challenges included information needs, perceptions of support services as stigmatizing or unhelpful, and immobility of the affected individuals. Social networks play a crucial role in supporting or hindering access to care. Limited service availability poses a significant infrastructural challenge. Provider-level issues include communication barriers, knowledge gaps, and insufficient collaboration among low vision providers.ConclusionsOur study emphasizes the need for a structured, interdisciplinary rehabilitation approach to improve care for individuals with AMD.

How can older adults participate equally in digitisation processes across Europe, and what inclusive research strategies are needed? This Zine summarizes findings from a “Research Innovation Lab on Ageing in a Digital Age”, funded by the VolkswagenStiftung, aiming to bring together 29 docs and postdocs anchored in 26 different disciplines coming from 11 countries, at all stages of their work, to address cutting edge questions relating to ageing in a digital age. Five groups worked together over five days in Frankfurt, Germany, in July 2023 in a creative and interactive hackathon, specific to developing non-technical solutions to social issues of this topic. Moreover, four distinguished experts presented keynote speeches and proposals from various conceptual, methodological and empirical perspectives.

In the aging population of Western societies, an increasing number of older adults have multiple chronic diseases. As multifaceted health problems imply the involvement of several healthcare professionals, multimorbid older people frequently face a fragmentation of health care. Addressing these challenges, we developed a local, collaborative, stepped, and personalized care management approach (LoChro-Care) and evaluated its effectiveness. A two-group, parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted comparing LoChro-Care recipients (IG) to participants with usual care (CG). Patients aged 65 + with chronic conditions were recruited at inpatient and outpatient departments of the Medical Center, University of Freiburg. Participants were allocated using block randomization (nIG = 261, nCG = 263). LoChro-Care comprised individualized care provided by chronic care managers with 7 to 13 contacts over 12 months. Questionnaires were given at 3 time points (T0: baseline, T1: after 12 months, T2: after 18 months). The primary outcome was the physical, psychological, and social health status represented by a composite score of functional health and depressive symptoms. Secondary outcomes were the participants’ evaluation of their health care situation, health-related quality of life (HRQL), and life-satisfaction (LS). The data were analyzed using linear mixed modelling. We analyzed N = 491 participants (nIG = 244, nCG = 247), aged M = 76.78 years (SD = 6.35). For the composite endpoint, neither a significant difference between IG and CG (p = .88) nor a group-time interaction (p = .52; p = .88) could be observed. Participants in both groups showed a significant decline on the primary outcome between T0 and T2 (p < .001). Post hoc analyses revealed a decline in both functional health (p < .001) and depressive symptoms (p = .02). Both groups did not differ in their evaluation of their health care situation (p = .93), HRQL (p = .44) or LS (p = .32). Relevant confounding variables were female gender and multimorbidity. Supporting patients’ self-management in coordinating their individual care network through LoChro-Care did not result in any significant effect on the primary and secondary outcomes. A decline of functional health and depressive symptoms was observed among all participants. Potential future intervention adaptations are discussed, such as a more active case management through direct referral to (in-)formal support, an earlier treatment initiation, and the consideration of specific sociodemographic factors in care management planning. German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS): DRKS00013904 (02.02.2018), https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00013904

Purpose The unexpected and rapid outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic increased the vulnerability of forcibly displaced (migrant) women, who were a social group already at risk of health inequities and poorer health outcomes. This study aims to examine the health literacy of forcibly displaced (migrant) women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany using a multidimensional health literacy model as a framework. Design/methodology/approach A grounded theory methodology was implemented including interviews with 33 forcibly displaced (migrant) women from July to September 2021. An experienced female researcher interviewed all forcibly displaced (migrant) women, and apart from one telephone interview, all interviews were conducted in person. Findings Following data analysis, the category, “Use of health information in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic of forcibly displaced (migrant) women”, was identified as a core category. The findings provide valuable insight into the health literacy of forcibly displaced (migrant) women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Societal and environmental determinants, personal determinants and situational determinants were identified as factors impacting health literacy. Furthermore, health literacy was distinguished as competence to make informed decisions in the health domains “health care” and “disease prevention”. Originality/value Although previous research often focuses on the deficits of forcibly displaced (migrants), this study highlights the resources forcibly displaced (migrant) women use to deal with health-related difficulties, especially during a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Importantly, such resources were available even if the study participants did not speak the language of the immigration country.

This qualitative biographical case study presents the case of 79-year-old Mrs. Blade and her attitude toward education and ICT (information and communication technology) use. A biographical-narrative interview with additional PCI questions was conducted. Material was analyzed using the approach of 'reconstruction of narrative identity,' . The case itself is portrayed with a focus on biographical, educational and learning patterns. Results indicate that biographical relevance is an individual key factor for not only educational but also lifelong decision-making. If the relationship between biography, education, and learning is put into perspective with ICT use and if no biographical link can be found, it results that there is no further engagement with ICT. This leads to the hypothesis that by linking biography, education, and learning, predictions on technology use can be made. Future research should address whether this biographical pattern represents a specific type of technology nonuse and therefore can be expanded and what other patterns exist.

This qualitative study aims to display a case of 80-year-old Mrs. Blade and her attitude towards technology and education. A biographic-narrative interview with PZI questions was conducted. The approach of reconstructing narrative identity was used for step-by-step analysis. After a brief explanation of Mrs. Blade's biography, the case itself will be portrayed. Biographical aspects regarding education and technology will be shown. Results yielded that fear of mis-takes prevent Mrs. Blade to further using or engaging with technology. However, high educational interest may serve as an amplifier of technology use. Additionally, contextual conditions may force individuals to interact with technological devices.

Mit der wachsenden Zahl älterer und alter sowie von Multimorbidität, kognitiven Einschränkungen und Frailty betroffener Patient*innen im Krankenhaus und der Ausweitung der Langzeitpflege steigen die Herausforderungen in geriatrischen und gerontologischen Versorgungssettings. Sich verändernde Familienstrukturen lassen soziale Netzwerke und Ressourcen brüchig werden. Diese Entwicklung erfordert eine starke interprofessionelle Teambildung und Vernetzung der relevanten Akteure im Gesundheitswesen. In einem Qualifizierungsprogramm für Studierende der Medizin, der Sozialen Arbeit und pflegerelevanten Studiengänge sollen Teilnehmende gemeinsam lernen, sich fallbezogen mit Bedarfen geriatrischer Patient*innen zu beschäftigen sowie geeignete Behandlungs- und Interventionspläne zu entwickeln.

Mit der wachsenden Zahl älterer und alter sowie von Multimorbidität, kognitiven Einschränkungen und Frailty betroffener Patient*innen im Krankenhaus und der Ausweitung der Langzeitpflege steigen die Herausforderungen in geriatrischen und gerontologischen Versorgungssettings. Sich verändernde Familienstrukturen lassen soziale Netzwerke und Ressourcen brüchig werden. Diese Entwicklung erfordert eine starke interprofessionelle Teambildung und Vernetzung der relevanten Akteure im Pflege- und Gesundheitswesen. Ein Qualifizierungsprogramm für Studierende der Medizin, der Sozialen Arbeit und pflegerelevanter Studiengänge wurde etabliert. Teilnehmende sollen hierin gemeinsam lernen, sich fallbezogen mit Anliegen und Bedarfen geriatrischer Patient*innen zu beschäftigen sowie geeignete Behandlungs- und Interventionspläne zu entwickeln. Das Qualifizierungsprogramm zur interprofessionellen Teambildung wurde in der Förderphase als Pilotvorhaben erprobt und mithilfe des Freiburger Fragebogen Interprofessionelle Lernevaluation (FILE) wissenschaftlich evaluiert (n = 78). Bei rund 98 % der Befragten erfährt das Programm eine hohe Zustimmung. Die Veränderungsmessung zeigt verbesserte Teamkompetenz und -fähigkeit. Studierenden unterschiedlicher Fachrichtungen und Professionen bereits im Studium ein Lernfeld für interprofessionelles Lernen und Arbeiten zu eröffnen, schafft eine gute Basis für eine gelingende interprofessionelle Teambildung in der Fach- und Berufspraxis. Das vorgestellte hochschulübergreifende und interprofessionelle Lehrprojekt ist inzwischen mit dem Lehrmodul „Der geriatrische Patient“ an den beteiligten Hochschulen curricular fest verankert. Es ist damit ein mögliches Modell für ähnliche Vorhaben.

ZusammenfassungDie Beratungslandschaft für ältere Menschen mit Sehbeeinträchtigung ist noch weit davon entfernt, flächendeckend verfügbar zu sein. Insbesondere im ländlichen Raum sind Angebote häufig (noch nicht) verfügbar. Zudem besteht noch ein Defizit im Hinblick auf empirische Daten im Bereich der Versorgungsforschung für ältere Menschen mit Sehverlust.Das Projekt „AugenBus“ wird als Kooperation der Blinden- und Sehbehindertenstiftung Südbaden, dem Blindenheim Freiburg, dem Augennetz Südbaden sowie der Klinik für Augenheilkunde des Universitätsklinikums Freiburg und der Katholischen Hochschule Freiburg durchgeführt. Der AugenBus ist auf seinen Fahrten durch ländliche Gebiete des Schwarzwaldes ausgestattet mit Hilfsmitteln und ophthalmologischen Untersuchungseinrichtungen; personell mit einem Augenarzt, einem Sozialberater und einer medizinisch-technischen Assistentin. Somit können bei den Untersuchungsterminen mehrere Ebenen der Beratung angeboten werden: medizinische Beratung, Hilfsmittelberatung und Sozialberatung. Das Angebot findet einmalig statt. In der Begleitevaluation konnten N = 114 Personen zu dem Angebot befragt werden. Der Fokus der Befragung lag auf Lebensqualitätsparametern und Aspekte der Alltagsbewältigung. Es konnten keine direkten Verbesserungen im Hinblick auf die Lebensqualität beobachtet werden, jedoch wird die weitgehende Stabilität der Werte aufgrund der häufig progredient verlaufenden, alterskorrelierten Augenerkrankungen als positives Signal gewertet. Insgesamt wäre es für eine Weiterentwicklung des AugenBusses aus unserer Sicht empfehlenswert, wenn die Angebotsstruktur noch durch einen psychosozialen Baustein ergänzt bzw. die Sozialberatung durch nachfassende Termine erweitert werden könnte. Das Projekt bedient damit zweierlei Desiderata: Zum einen möchte es eine neue Versorgungspraxis etablieren und zum anderen soll das Projekt einen Beitrag zur Verbesserung der Datenlage über Versorgungsinfrastrukturen liefern.

Kirsten Aner und Ute Karl legen mit der 2., überarbeiteten und aktualisierten Auflage des Handbuchs ein umfassendes Kompendium zu Sozialer Arbeit und Alter vor. 76 Autoren beleuchten in 58 Beiträgen das Feld auf 820 Seiten. Das Handbuchstelltmehrdarals einLexikon; es hat den Anspruch gleichermaßen als Einführung,Nachschlagewerk undReferenzmedium für in der Praxis Tätige zu fungieren.Dies gelingt, indemdieBeiträgemit ca. 15 Seiten/Beitrag sowohlÜberblickswissen anbieten, aber auch genug Raum für ersteVertiefungen lassen. Zielgruppen des Handbuches sind sowohl Studierende, Lehrende wie auch Vertreter in kommunalen, pflegerischen oder klinischen Zusammenhängen. In 4 Teilen umreißt das Handbuch das Thema desSozialendesAlternsaufdifferenzierte Weise.