The prevailing culture of care for older adults is predominantly system-directed rather than person-directed. The system-directed approach is problematic as it fundamentally treats older adults as non-persons/tasks needing to be managed rather than individuals who decide and manage their own lives.
This special issue calls for culture change and transformation research in line with the goal of Activities, Adaptation & Aging to enable and support dignified and purposeful living for older adults. The coverage of the special issue includes but is not limited to the following areas:
- Submissions showcasing the practices of the international culture change and transformation movement, including those reflected in the Artifacts of Culture Change (https://www.pioneernetwork.net/artifacts-culture-change/).
- Submissions reflecting the shift from institution to home and person-centered care to person-directed living.
- Submissions demonstrating the implications of various normal life activity on quality of life, overall health, and life satisfaction for older adults.
Submissions illustrating how normal life practices support health and wellbeing, such as:
- Honoring sleep and being well rested;
- Natural awakening and open dining times;
- Restaurant, family, buffet style dining;
- Choices and increased decision-making;
- Personalized med pass, flexible scheduling, and living life not attending contrived activity programs;
- Focus on life interests and individual meaningful engagement, purposeful and dignified living, not the medicalization of normal life;
- Benefits of real animals (not robotic), real people of all ages including babies (not baby dolls);
- Value of going outside;
- Any other areas reflecting that life is not programmable but to be lived; and
- Any other approaches reflecting normal enhancements to quality of life rather than impersonable interventions.
