Ageing Modernity: Growing old in the EU in the 21st Century. EU Centre in Singapore Background Brief No. 7, December 2012

How do urban growth and an ageing population affect or inform planning at the national and regional level in the European Union? At a time when economic stagnation, environmental concerns and demographic changes are affecting social and political discourses, they are also influencing urban form and development. Furthermore, as people are living longer, they still have much to contribute in their later years to their communities and to the economy. As a result, the policy and urban design paradigm is shifting as the relative importance of older people grows. By looking at the connections between ageing, design and the environment, and the role of policy and planning strategies, this brief seeks to understand how the EU plans for an ageing population and attempts to reshape communities in an increasingly challenging socioeconomic context. This brief looks at some of the regional initiatives and guidelines and highlights the role the EU is playing in influencing some of the development trends, particularly those in urban centres.

Bioethical perspectives for ageing: the documents produced by the Ethics Councils

Aging attracted keen interest in research, health, education as well as cross-sectors approaches. We researched what has been produced by the National Bioethics/Ethics Councils in the form of opinions or other documents, relating to aging and elderly people. In the websi-tes of the 28 EU councils and 12 other countries, we identified 4 documents relating to aging and 8 opinions, which we analyse. The Councils have proposed to draw the attention and reflection of public opinion to the elderly condition; all agree that the age has its own traits and that matters revert to a “culture of old age”, respect and promotion of a positive aging. Enhance the diversity of modes of aging and the importance of preparing all, promoting literacy for aging, creating social and legal protective elements (Elderly Statute, Observatory of the Elderly Conditions). From the analysis, a set of principles and bioethical elements: [1] respect for human dignity, regardless of the stage of life; [2] recognition of the person’s situation uniqueness to aging; [3] freedom of one’s own decision, which is materialized in respect for autonomy; [4] recognition of the vulnerabilities of the elderly, [5] ethical commitment and social responsibility in monitoring the elderly, [6] non-discrimination by age and [7] the guidance to the conditions of the integral good and quality of life. Aging is an existential step for which we can prepare, on the assumption that human life in its longevity, interweaves those who are older and those younger, on the crucial issue of human existence.

The aging of the U.S. population [microform] : planning for the retirement and employment needs of older Americans : hearing before the Subcommittee on Retirement Income and Employment of the Select Committee on Aging, House of Representatives, One Hundredth Congress, second session, July 15, 1988, South Burlington, VT.

"Comm. pub. no. 100-686."

Hip fracture outcomes in people age 50 and over : mortality, service use, expenditures, and long-term functional impairment /

"PB94-107653"--Cover.

Impact of the federal budget on the future of services for older Americans [microform] : joint hearing before the Select Committee on Aging, House of Representatives and the Special Committee on Aging, United States Senate, Ninety-seventh Congress, second session, April 1, 1982.

"Comm. pub. no. 97-339."

New views on older lives : a sampler of NIMH-sponsored research and service programs /

Bibliography: p. 176-181.

Needs of Massachusetts' older citizens, with special reference to State programs and services. [Report]

Bibliography: p. 212-222.

Social indicators for the aged; a study of the status and needs of older Mississippians,

Field work: Oct. 1971-Jan. 1972.

A program in employment of older workers, preparation for retirement, and retirement.

Includes bibliographical references.

Emerging employment options for older workers : practice and potential /

"Spring 1983."

Factors affecting the participation of older Americans in employment and training programs /

Bibliography: p. 22-23.

Eligibility and participation rates of older Americans in employment and training programs /

Bibliography: p. 24-25.

The adaptability of older workers to technological change; performance of older and younger workers in industrial retraining courses

"Organizational Behavior and Change Programs, February, 1961."

Transfer of resistance training to enhance rapid coordinated force production by older adults

The purpose of this study was to examine the capacity of resistance training to enhance the rapid and coordinated production of force by older people. Thirty adults (greater than or equal to 60 years) completed a visually guided aiming task that required the generation of isometric torque in 2 df about the elbow prior to and following a 4-week training period. Groups of six participants were allocated to two progressive ( 40 - 100% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC)) resistance-training (PRT) groups, to two constant low-load (10% MVC) training groups (CLO) and to one no-training control group. Training movements required the generation of either combined flexion and supination (FLESUP), or combined extension and supination (EXTSUP). In response to training, target acquisition times in the aiming task decreased for all groups; however, both the nature of the training load and the training movement influenced the pattern and magnitude of improvements (EXTSUP_ CLO: 36%, FLESUP_ PRT 26%, EXTSUP_ PRT 22%, FLESUP_ CLO 20%, CONTROL 15%). For one group that trained with progressively increasing loads, there arose a subsequent decrease in performance in one condition of the transfer task. For each group, these adaptations were accompanied by systematic changes in the coordination of muscles about the elbow joint, particularly the biceps brachii.