AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Acquisition of the basic concepts of prevention and health promotion. In a context of changing demographics, where the mean age of the population is increasing, it is necessary to make students understand the need to activate prevention programs dedicated to the elderly in order to promote healthy aging and improve quality of life.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The main conceptual framework is the concept of healthy ageing, defined by the World Health Organization as the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older age. The course is also aligned with the WHO’s work on the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030), a global initiative aimed at improving the quality of life of older people, their families, and the communities in which they live.

The proposed approach integrates primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention; health promotion; empowerment; action to reduce inequalities; prevention of frailty; and the design of community-based interventions.

By the end of the course, students will be expected to be able to:

Understand ongoing demographic change and analyze the main current and future health challenges in a world characterized by social, environmental, and healthcare transformations.

Define and distinguish the concepts of active ageing, healthy ageing, longevity, and frailty, and use them appropriately in the assessment of the needs of the older population.

Identify the individual, social, environmental, and healthcare determinants that influence the health and well-being of older people, also considering the role of social inequalities, access to services, lifestyles, and family and community contexts.

Understand the main prevention and health promotion strategies aimed at reducing the risk of chronic diseases, frailty, cognitive decline, social isolation, and loss of autonomy.

Design health promotion interventions for older people in different settings, including healthcare, local, and community contexts, taking into account the specific needs of individuals, families, and communities.

Critically evaluate national and international programmes, policies, and good practices for active and healthy ageing, also with reference to the guidance of the World Health Organization and the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030.

PREREQUISITES

None

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal lessons and group activities to develop the subjects dealt with during the class lessons.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Concept of health and its evolution over time. Determinants of health. Definitions of prevention and health promotion. Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Demographic change worldwide and in Italy. Demographic indicators: life expectancy, healthy life expectancy, and ageing index. Deprivation indices and population ageing. Impact of ageing on healthcare, social, and long-term care systems. Epidemiology and prevention of the main infectious diseases in adults and older people. Vaccination in adulthood and older age. Epidemiology and prevention of chronic diseases. Prevention of frailty: physical activity, healthy dietary patterns, healthy lifestyles, sleep, cognitive stimulation, and social relationships. Surveillance systems targeting the population aged 65 years and over. Health literacy and risk communication. Design of a health promotion intervention for people aged 65 years and over. European and national policies for active ageing.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The teaching materials will be provided by the Professor and published on AulaWeb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Second semester. Classes begin last week of Febrary 2027.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Mandatory written exam. The test consists of 30 multiple-choice questions with only one correct answer (1 point for each correct answer, 0 points for each incorrect or unanswered question) and 1 open-ended question. In the open-ended question, the level of knowledge achieved, the degree of in-depth understanding, and the ability to use appropriate terminology will be assessed. An oral exam may be taken at the student’s request in order to improve the grade obtained in the written exam.

Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD/DSA), or Special Educational Needs (SEN/BES) are reminded that, in order to request exam accommodations, they must first submit their certification to the University Office for Inclusion Services for Students with Disabilities and with SLD/DSA.

Subsequently, in order to request exam accommodations, students with a disability or SLD/DSA must complete the form available on the following page: Services for students with disabilities or with SLD/DSA | UniGe | University of Genoa. Students with SEN/BES, instead, must send an email to the Professor, copying the School Contact Person for the inclusion of students with disabilities and SLD/DSA (laura.traverso@unige.it) and the “Student Inclusion Office”: inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it.

The email must specify:

the name of the course

the date of the exam session

the student’s surname, first name, and student ID number

the compensatory tools and dispensatory measures considered appropriate and requested.

For all students, requests for accommodations must be submitted well in advance of the exam date, that is, at least 7 working days beforehand. Late requests may not be accepted.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Mandatory written exam. The written format ensures the impartiality of the assessment and makes it possible to test the achievement of the course aims across the entire program covered. This method is considered suitable for properly assessing the student’s achievement of the general and specific learning objectives.

An oral exam may be taken at the student’s request in order to improve the grade obtained in the written exam. In the oral exam, the level of knowledge, the quality of the presentation, and the ability to use terminology appropriate to the subject matter will be assessed.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The course page will be activated on AulaWeb. The materials presented during lectures will be regularly uploaded to this page. Additional materials for further study will also be uploaded to AulaWeb.

The Professor will publish all information relating to the course on the course page.