Active ageing index at a municipality-level in western Finland: results from GERDA
Fredrica Nyqvist1, Mikael Nygård1, Fredrik Snellman2 1. Åbo Akademi University, Social Policy Unit, Finland 2. Umeå University, Department of Social Work, Sweden
Work in progress. Please do not cite
GERDA GErontological Research Database
Health and living conditions of older adults in the Bothnia region
Structured interviews and assessments (85+) Postal questionnaire (65, 70, 75, 80, 85)
Postal questionnaire, themes of interest . Background data . Social contacts, social support . Activities, interests, voluntary work . Views of ageing (attitudes, discrimination) . Political engagement, participation in associations . Health and diseases . Economy, autonomy and dependency . Well-being, crisis, loneliness
GERDA GErontological Regional DAtabase
2005 (65 and 75) 2005 (65 and 75) n=2560/1825 (71%) n=2323/1547 (67%)
2010 (65, 70, 75 and 80) 2010 (65, 70, 75 and 80) n=5425/3779 (70%) n=5271/3059 (58%) Repeated cross-sectional Repeated cross-sectional
2016 (65, 70, 75, 80, 85) 2016 (65, 70, 75, 80, 85) n=4375/6222 (71%) n=5011/8583 (58%) Cross-sectional, Cross-sectional, longitudinal longitudinal
Also Seinäjoki region
included
Österbotten/Pohjanmaa: bilingual region
. 52% Swedish-speakers, 48% Finnish-speakers . 16 municipalities: 3 unilingual Finnish, 2 bilingual with Finnish as the majority language, 11 bilingual with Swedish as the majority language . E.g. Larsmo municipality (92%, n=2765, Swedish-speakers, Seinäjoki (0.2%, n=125, Swedish-speakers)
Aim . To assess the AAI-EU methodology on older people in Finland by using survey data collected in western Finland in 2016 RQ1. What measurements of active ageing can be applied at municipality level in western Finland based on survey data? RQ2. Are there differences in active ageing between unilingual (solely Finnish-speakers) and bilingual municipalities (both Finnish- and Swedish-speakers) in western Finland?’ RQ3. Are there differences in active ageing on an individual- level between Swedish- and Finnish-speakers? RQ4. Are there gender differences in active ageing?
Methods
. Corresponding to the AAI-EU instruments as closely as possible . Covered four domains: employment; participation in society; independent healthy and secure living; capacity and enabling environment for active ageing . Reduced the weights for the employment domain (35 10%)
Results RQ1. What measurements of active ageing can be applied at municipality level in western Finland based on survey data?
Table 1. Indicator selection for the AAI-Western Finland.
Domain indicator AAI-EU Domain indicator AAI-Western Identical (++), Close Finland (+), alternative (data source: GERDA, 2016) indicator (0) or excluded (-) due to missing indicator 1. Employment 1. Employment 1.1 Employment rate 55-59 1.1 Employment rate 65 + 1.2 Employment rate 60-64 1.2 Employment rate 70 + 1.3 Employment rate 65-69 1.3 Employment rate 75 + 1.4 Employment rate 70-74 1.4 Employment rate 80, 85 + 2.Participation in society 2.Participation in society 2.1 Voluntary work 2.1 Voluntary work + 2.2Providing care to children, 2.2 Providing informal care to + grandchildren children, grandchildren 2.3 Providing care to older 2.3 Providing informal care to + adults older adults 2.4 Political participation 2.4 Political participation + 3.Independent and healthy 3.Independent and healthy living living Identical indicator (++), although the data 3.1Physical exercise 3.1 Physical exercise + source is different, the measure is 3.2 Access to health care 3.2 Confidence in health care 0 identical; 3.3 Living independently 3.3 Living independently + Close indicator (+), close content although 3.4 Financial security: relative - the measures are different; median income Alternative indicator (0), due to missing 3.5 Financial security: no 3.5 Financial security: high 0 indicator, proxy measures from GERDA poverty risk for older persons income (>1000 €) has been used; 3.6 Financial security: no 3.6 Financial security: getting 0 Excluded indicator (-), due to missing severe material deprivation for by economically indicator in GERDA. older person 3.7 Physical safety 3.7 Physical safety + 3.8 Lifelong learning 3.8 Lifelong learning 0 4.Capacity and enabling 4.Capacity and enabling environment for active and environment for active and healthy ageing healthy ageing 4.1 Remaining life expectancy - at age 55 4.2 Share of healthy life 4.2. Self-reported good health 0 expectancy at age 55 4.3 Mental well-being 4.3. Absence of depressive 0 symptoms 4.4 Use of ICT 4.4 Use of ICT + 4.5 Social connectedness 4.5 Social connectedness + 4.6 Educational attainment 4.6 Educational attainment + Note: identical indicator (++), although the data source is different, the measure is identical; Close indicator (+), close content although the measures are different; Alternative indicator (0), due to missing indicator, proxy measures from GERDA has been used; Excluded indicator (-), due to missing indicator in GERDA. RQ2. Are there differences in active ageing between unilingual (solely Finnish-speakers) and bilingual municipalities (both Finnish- and Swedish-speakers) in western Finland? RQ4. Are there gender differences in active ageing?
Independent Capacity and Participation Overall Overall Overall Overall Municipality Employment and healthy enabling in society AAI AAI AAI AAI living environment Gender ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL Men Women gap Malaxa 7.3 26.5 75.0 74.5 44.6 45.8 36.8 -9.0 Korsholma 4.8 25.0 76.2 72.6 43.2 44.7 35.1 -9.6 Pedersörea 3.6 25.7 73.6 71.3 42.8 41.8 37.3 -4.5 Kronobya 4.6 25.8 72.7 71.1 42.8 44.7 34.7 -9.9 Nykarlebya 7.4 24.0 74.7 71.2 42.5 44.3 34.4 -9.8 Vöråa 6.5 23.6 73.9 70.8 42.0 42.5 34.7 -7.8 Korsnäsa 6.5 22.3 75.2 71.4 41.7 39.8 36.0 -3.9 Larsmoa 6.6 22.1 74.7 70.1 41.2 42.9 32.4 -10.5 Vaasab 4.9 21.6 72.1 72.8 41.1 41.6 34.1 -7.5 Närpesa 6.5 21.7 75.6 69.4 40.9 41.9 32.3 -9.7 Isokyröc 3.7 21.4 75.8 70.4 40.8 40.6 33.5 -7.1 Laihiac 4.8 20.0 73.6 71.8 40.3 41.0 32.3 -8.7 Kaskinenb 3.6 18.7 76.3 72.5 40.1 35.6 34.8 -0.9 Jakobstada 3.9 20.8 71.8 70.6 40.0 40.5 32.8 -7.7 Kristinestada 5.2 18.5 74.1 69.7 39.1 41.4 29.2 -12.2 Seinäjokic 4.0 17.2 74.7 70.4 38.6 38.8 30.7 -8.1
Note: a. Malax, Korsholm, Pedersöre, Kronoby, Nykarleby, Vörå, Korsnäs, Larsmo, Närpes and Jakobstad - bilingual municipalities with Swedish as the first language; b. Vaasa and Kaskinen - bilingual municipalities with Finnish as the first language; c. Isokyrö, Laihia and Seinäjoki - unilingual Finnish municipalities
RQ3. Are there differences in active ageing on an individual- level between Swedish- and Finnish-speakers? Domain score and overall AAI score for Swedish- and Finnish-speakers in Western Finland.
Independent Capacity and Language Participation Gender Employment and healthy enabling ALL Men Women groups in society gap living environment Swedish 5.4 25.7 74.1 72.5 43.4 44.2 42.6 -1.7 Finnish 4.3 17.8 73.5 70.8 38.8 39.1 38.7 -0.4 Indicator score for the participation in society domain according to language groups.
Language Voluntary Care to children, Care to older Political groups activities grandchildren adults participation Swedish 33.3 4.7 13.4 61.1 Finnish 24.5 2.4 9.8 40.5 Discussion
. Regional AAI could be calculated, although comparability is limited . Bilingual municipalities with Swedish as the first language ranked in general higher . Swedish-speakers ranked higher . Women ranked lower on the AAI, different pattern when looking at the indicators separately Discussion
. AAI do not capture preferred activities, e.g informal caregiving . Higher values do not always indicate better ageing outcome . Knowledge on active ageing in minority/majority contexts . To be used in policy making? For more information