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Who are those active older adults? Demographic and health characteristics of Dutch older adults who combine paid work, voluntary work and/or informal care: Maaike van der Noordt.
Noordt, M. van der, Zantinge, E.M., Broese van Groenou, M.I., Klerk, M.M.Y. de, Meulenkamp, T.M., Eysink, P.E.D. Who are those active older adults? Demographic and health characteristics of Dutch older adults who combine paid work, voluntary work and/or informal care: Maaike van der Noordt. European Journal of Public Health: 2014, 24(suppl. 2)
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Background
In the near future older adults are more needed in societal participation such as paid work, voluntary work and informal care. Being healthy makes it easier for older adults to participate in these types of participation. Demographic factors such as sex, age and socioeconomic status influence societal participation as well. It is yet unknown, which demographic and health determinants characterize the older adults who combine two or more types of societal participation or those who participate many hours per week.
Methods
In a pooled database constructed by three Dutch databases (LASA, AVO and NPCD), logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the demographic and health characteristics of older adults, aged 55 to 75, who combine types of societal participation or participate in different intensities. The combinations of participation consisted of paid work, voluntary work and/or informal care (8 combinations) and the intensity of participation was categorized in 0, 1-8, 8-28 and >28 hours per week.
Results
The majority of older adults participate in paid work, voluntary work and/or informal care. Demographic characteristics of older adults differ depending on the type of participation, not by the number of types in which they are involved. Older adults, who are healthy in mental, physical and self-rated terms, participate more often in all combinations of participation, except for the combination of voluntary work and informal care. Having a chronic disease does not influence participation at all. Being a man, aged 55 to 65 and higher educated, increase the likelihood to participate more hours per week. These relationships become stronger when the total intensity of participation increases. Good self-rated and physical health increase the likelihood to participate more hours as well. Finally, mental health and the presence of a chronic disease have no effect on the intensity of participation of older adults.
Conclusions
Older adults, who combine two or more types of participation, differ in demographic and health characteristics. The results provide starting points for policy to stimulate societal participation by older adults. Policy makers could support older adults in their health limitations to create more opportunities for participation.
Key messages
- Having a chronic disease does not affect the participation patterns of older adults. However, the consequences of these diseases, such as physical limitations, do.
- Higher education and good physical and self-rated health enhance the intensity of societal participation of older adults.
In the near future older adults are more needed in societal participation such as paid work, voluntary work and informal care. Being healthy makes it easier for older adults to participate in these types of participation. Demographic factors such as sex, age and socioeconomic status influence societal participation as well. It is yet unknown, which demographic and health determinants characterize the older adults who combine two or more types of societal participation or those who participate many hours per week.
Methods
In a pooled database constructed by three Dutch databases (LASA, AVO and NPCD), logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the demographic and health characteristics of older adults, aged 55 to 75, who combine types of societal participation or participate in different intensities. The combinations of participation consisted of paid work, voluntary work and/or informal care (8 combinations) and the intensity of participation was categorized in 0, 1-8, 8-28 and >28 hours per week.
Results
The majority of older adults participate in paid work, voluntary work and/or informal care. Demographic characteristics of older adults differ depending on the type of participation, not by the number of types in which they are involved. Older adults, who are healthy in mental, physical and self-rated terms, participate more often in all combinations of participation, except for the combination of voluntary work and informal care. Having a chronic disease does not influence participation at all. Being a man, aged 55 to 65 and higher educated, increase the likelihood to participate more hours per week. These relationships become stronger when the total intensity of participation increases. Good self-rated and physical health increase the likelihood to participate more hours as well. Finally, mental health and the presence of a chronic disease have no effect on the intensity of participation of older adults.
Conclusions
Older adults, who combine two or more types of participation, differ in demographic and health characteristics. The results provide starting points for policy to stimulate societal participation by older adults. Policy makers could support older adults in their health limitations to create more opportunities for participation.
Key messages
- Having a chronic disease does not affect the participation patterns of older adults. However, the consequences of these diseases, such as physical limitations, do.
- Higher education and good physical and self-rated health enhance the intensity of societal participation of older adults.
Background
In the near future older adults are more needed in societal participation such as paid work, voluntary work and informal care. Being healthy makes it easier for older adults to participate in these types of participation. Demographic factors such as sex, age and socioeconomic status influence societal participation as well. It is yet unknown, which demographic and health determinants characterize the older adults who combine two or more types of societal participation or those who participate many hours per week.
Methods
In a pooled database constructed by three Dutch databases (LASA, AVO and NPCD), logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the demographic and health characteristics of older adults, aged 55 to 75, who combine types of societal participation or participate in different intensities. The combinations of participation consisted of paid work, voluntary work and/or informal care (8 combinations) and the intensity of participation was categorized in 0, 1-8, 8-28 and >28 hours per week.
Results
The majority of older adults participate in paid work, voluntary work and/or informal care. Demographic characteristics of older adults differ depending on the type of participation, not by the number of types in which they are involved. Older adults, who are healthy in mental, physical and self-rated terms, participate more often in all combinations of participation, except for the combination of voluntary work and informal care. Having a chronic disease does not influence participation at all. Being a man, aged 55 to 65 and higher educated, increase the likelihood to participate more hours per week. These relationships become stronger when the total intensity of participation increases. Good self-rated and physical health increase the likelihood to participate more hours as well. Finally, mental health and the presence of a chronic disease have no effect on the intensity of participation of older adults.
Conclusions
Older adults, who combine two or more types of participation, differ in demographic and health characteristics. The results provide starting points for policy to stimulate societal participation by older adults. Policy makers could support older adults in their health limitations to create more opportunities for participation.
Key messages
- Having a chronic disease does not affect the participation patterns of older adults. However, the consequences of these diseases, such as physical limitations, do.
- Higher education and good physical and self-rated health enhance the intensity of societal participation of older adults.
In the near future older adults are more needed in societal participation such as paid work, voluntary work and informal care. Being healthy makes it easier for older adults to participate in these types of participation. Demographic factors such as sex, age and socioeconomic status influence societal participation as well. It is yet unknown, which demographic and health determinants characterize the older adults who combine two or more types of societal participation or those who participate many hours per week.
Methods
In a pooled database constructed by three Dutch databases (LASA, AVO and NPCD), logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the demographic and health characteristics of older adults, aged 55 to 75, who combine types of societal participation or participate in different intensities. The combinations of participation consisted of paid work, voluntary work and/or informal care (8 combinations) and the intensity of participation was categorized in 0, 1-8, 8-28 and >28 hours per week.
Results
The majority of older adults participate in paid work, voluntary work and/or informal care. Demographic characteristics of older adults differ depending on the type of participation, not by the number of types in which they are involved. Older adults, who are healthy in mental, physical and self-rated terms, participate more often in all combinations of participation, except for the combination of voluntary work and informal care. Having a chronic disease does not influence participation at all. Being a man, aged 55 to 65 and higher educated, increase the likelihood to participate more hours per week. These relationships become stronger when the total intensity of participation increases. Good self-rated and physical health increase the likelihood to participate more hours as well. Finally, mental health and the presence of a chronic disease have no effect on the intensity of participation of older adults.
Conclusions
Older adults, who combine two or more types of participation, differ in demographic and health characteristics. The results provide starting points for policy to stimulate societal participation by older adults. Policy makers could support older adults in their health limitations to create more opportunities for participation.
Key messages
- Having a chronic disease does not affect the participation patterns of older adults. However, the consequences of these diseases, such as physical limitations, do.
- Higher education and good physical and self-rated health enhance the intensity of societal participation of older adults.