Innovation and Impact
Older Person Grant Payment Sites as an Innovative Strategy for Managing Hypertension in Older Population View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Francesc Xavier Gomez Olive, Jane Simmonds
South Africa has among the highest prevalence of hypertension in persons ≥ 60 years worldwide. Innovative interventions to reduce blood pressure (BP) are needed. Locations where older persons collect Older Persons Grants present a unique opportunity for such an intervention. We designed a study to determine if regular measurement and feedback of BP in grant queues, promoting hypertension knowledge and referring to care, will reduce BP among those measured. Monthly BP measurements were conducted at six grant collection locations in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. In the 12-month intervention, we measured BP, promoted hypertension knowledge, introduced a BP risk assessment card, and referred to care if hypertensive. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP (SBP) ≥140 mmHg or diastolic BP (DBP)≥90 mmHg or on hypertension medication. Linear quantile regression models were used to estimate the median intervention effect for SBP and DBP, using robust variance estimates. Binomial regression models were used to estimate intervention effect on measured hypertensive status and knowledge of hypertension status using difference between baseline and first three months of intervention. We performed 7066 measurements, 73% in women, average age 71.4 years, 39% of contacts being hypertensive. SBP dropped by 3.6 mmHg. DBP dropped by 0.83 mmHg [95%CI -1.53; -0.13]. Overall, there was a 17.9% reduction in measured hypertension over the intervention period [95%CI -24.7;-11.0] (p<0.001), adjusted for time, age, and sex. Measuring BP in grant payment sites together with hypertension knowledge and awareness is effective in reducing BP in older populations.
Intergenerational Bonds - Understanding the Impact of Grandparents in Urban Family Dynamics View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Anagha Tendulkar Patil
The traditional Indian joint family system is undergoing significant changes due to urbanization, nuclearization, and socio-economic shifts. The study reviews the evolving role of grandparents in modern urban Indian families. It focuses on the kind of participation of grandparents in family with reference to childcare, emotional support and transmission of family values to the younger generation. It reviews the joy and the sorrow of grandparenting in an urban family setup and present the challenges faced by grandparents in adapting to the changing family dynamics. Finally, it comments on the assumed ‘Mutuality of commitment among the two generations for care and wellbeing of family’ and the possible threats to the social equilibrium in the wake of the processes of rapid change. The methodology entails detailed study of published literature on grandparenting followed by informal interviews with six grandparents using a qualitative research paradigm. A thematic description of the perceived outcome of the rapidly transforming frames of relationships among the two generations in the family is the significant outcome of the study. This study contributes to the understanding of the dynamic role of grandparents in modern urban Indian families, informing strategies to promote healthy family relationships, intergenerational solidarity, and social support.
Welfare Regimes and Training Programs for Informal Carers: An Overview of the European Context View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Federico Sofritti
In European countries, Long-Term Care (LTC) systems heavily rely on informal care. However, the provision of LTC varies significantly across countries and welfare regimes. Against this backdrop, this paper examines training programs for informal caregivers in Europe, exploring the relationship between informal care and caregiver training in light of different welfare regime types. The study consists of two levels of analysis: grey literature analysis; policy analysis and mapping training provision in different countries. First, a document analysis of key international frameworks was conducted to assess how training for informal caregivers is addressed by major international institutions (EU, WHO, UNECE) and civil society organizations (Eurocarers). Second, policies related to caregivers’ training were analyzed in four countries, each representing a different welfare regime. In addition, an exploratory mapping of training courses offered in these countries was carried out to identify the main characteristics of the courses and uncover patterns that allow for cross-country comparison. Findings suggest that, although existing initiatives are highly fragmented and diverse, there is a relation between caregiver training provision and welfare regime type. In particular, the study highlights key patterns in training approaches and the roles played by public institutions, private actors and civil society in delivering these programs. Finally, the paper presents the features of two training programs launched in Italy as part of the “Safina” project.
It's a One-Off Thing - It's Not a Matter of HR Policy: Age-Diversity Practices and Older Worker Integration in Romania View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Laura Tufa, Rosa Maria Radogna, Iuliana Precupetu
Age-related diversity policies rarely exist in isolation; they are rather shaped by organizational cultures, dominant social identities, and institutional frameworks.This research, based on in-depth, structured interviews with employers in Romania, examines barriers and facilitators at the company level to career paths available to aging employees, from recruitment through establishment and exit or continuation of working life. Our approach focuses on age-diversity strategies and policies, both formal and informal, and often tacit understandings of age and aging, as well as how different forms of ageism are integrated in informal practices. Results indicate that the integration of aging workers is uneven across phases. Recruitment involves gatekeeping through job ad profiles often seen as young-oriented. In the establishment phase, companies promote integration across all ages and encourage cross-generational environments, yet support for older workers remains largely invisible. Exit strategies or extending older workers’ careers mainly focus on retention via mentoring programs, with less emphasis on specialized interventions tailored to their unique or distinct needs during this phase. Organizational policies and managerial practices related to age diversity are frequently embedded within broader diversity paradigms, which, while gaining traction, can be interrogated for their limited impact and occasional unintended consequences, like creating pockets of advancement in age diversity while at the same time reproducing various forms of ageist attitudes or ageist policies. Informal practices often demonstrate incongruent results in the integration and maintenance of aging workers. Recommendations for a coherent policy response are further discussed.
Intersecting Determinants of Retirement Intentions in Older European Workers: A MAIHDA Approach View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Marian Vasile, Elisabeth Ugreninov, Laura Tufa, Iuliana Precupetu
Our study seeks to understanding why and when older adults intend to retire requires looking beyond isolated individual characteristics and considering the broader social and structural contexts in which these decisions are made. In this paper, we investigate how intersecting social positions—defined by age, gender, health status, income, and care responsibilities—shape intentions to leave paid work. Drawing on the 9th wave from 2021/2022 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), we focus on adults aged 50 years and older who remain active in the labor market. To capture the combined and interactive influences of these social factors, we apply a Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA) framework. This innovative method allows us to model retirement intention as a binary outcome (yes/no) while simultaneously assessing both additive effects of single dimensions and any additional, unexplained variation that might emerge at their intersections. Our findings indicate that intentions to retire are predominantly driven by the additive contributions of age, gender, health, income, and caregiving responsibilities. While some minor intersection-specific deviations exist, the discriminatory accuracy of the intersectional strata is low, suggesting limited unexplained variation beyond the sum of individual factors. By integrating an intersectional perspective with robust multilevel modeling, our study provides a more nuanced understanding of retirement planning in later life. Results are questioning assumptions about strong synergistic effects. The findings carry practical implications for policymakers and employers seeking to design equitable retirement policies and support structures that acknowledge diversity in aging workforces.
