Selfie Aging Index: An Index for the Self-assessment of Healthy and Active Aging

Abstract

IntroductionGovernments across Europe want to promote healthy and active aging, as a matter of both public health and economic sustainability. Designing policies focused on the most vulnerable groups requires information at the individual level. However, a measure of healthy and active aging at the individual level does not yet exist.ObjectivesThis paper develops the Selfie Aging Index (SAI), an individual-level index of healthy and active aging. The SAI is developed thinking about a tool that would allow each person to take a selfie of her aging status. Therefore, it is based entirely on self-assessed indicators. This paper also illustrates how the SAI may look like in practice.MethodsThe SAI is based on the Biopsychosocial Assessment Model (MAB), a tool for the multidimensional assessment of older adults along three domains: biological, psychological, and social. Indicators are selected and their weights determined based on an ordered probit model that relates the MAB indicators to self-assessed health, which proxies healthy and active aging. The ordered probit model predicts the SAI based on the estimated parameters. Finally, predictions are rescaled to the 0–1 interval. Data for the SAI development come from the Study of the Aging Profiles of the Portuguese Population and the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe.ResultsThe selected indicators are BMI, having difficulties moving around indoors and performing the activities of daily living, feeling depressed, feeling nervous, lacking energy, time awareness score, marital status, having someone to confide in, education, type of job, exercise, and smoking status. The model also determines their weights.ConclusionResults shed light on various factors that contribute significantly to healthy and active aging. Two examples are mental health and exercise, which deserve more attention from individuals themselves, health-care professionals, and public health policy. The SAI has the potential to put the individual at the center of the healthy and active aging discussion, contribute to patient empowerment, and promote patient-centered care. It can become a useful instrument to monitor healthy and active aging for different actors, including individuals themselves, health-care professionals, and policy makers.

Research on the Evaluation Index System of the Construction of Communities Suitable for Aging by the Fuzzy Delphi Method

“…In view of the difficulties in examining the health and active aging of individuals, Judite and Maria offer an index of spontaneous aging (SAI), that is, policies aimed at the most vulnerable groups require information at the individual level (Judite and Maria, 2017) [26]. SAI is based on a conceptual framework that attempts to capture the health and active aging of individuals.…”

O Envelhecimento Ativo E a Promoção Da Saúde

“…45 Physical exercise and mental health are listed as two examples that contribute to healthy active aging, deserving more attention from individuals, health professionals, and public policies. 46 A study is added to this category that addresses the lack of health promotion actions in Primary…”

Active aging awareness and well-being among older adults in Portugal

“…This principle is highlighted in the plan to improve functional ability in older adults in Portugal, through meaningful engagement with older people and the importance of delivering person-centered and integrated care in these age groups (15). Some studies have been developed in Portugal to assist in the assessment of active aging and explore priorities that support adequate policies (16)(17)(18), but this might not be enough to get a clear understanding of people's true needs and perceptions about active aging. Based on our understanding, older adults' knowledge about active aging has never been explored in Portugal with older adults, even though it might provide important information to move active aging policies and action plans forward.…”