Background Understanding the needs and values of older people is vital to build responsive policies, services and research agendas in this time of demographic transition. Older peoples’ expectations and priorities for ageing, as well as their beliefs regarding challenges facing ageing societies, are multi-faceted and require regular updates as populations’ age. Objective To develop an understanding of self-perceptions of ageing and societal ageing among Canadian retirees of the education sector to define a meaningful health research agenda. Methods We conducted four qualitative focus groups among 27 members of a Canadian retired educators’ organisation. Data were analysed using an inductive thematic approach. Results We identified four overarching themes: (1) vulnerability to health challenges despite a healthier generation, (2) maintaining health and social connection for optimal ageing, (3) strengthening person-centred healthcare for ageing societies and (4) mobilising a critical mass to enact change. Participants’ preconceptions of ageing differed from their personal experiences. They prioritised maintaining health and social connections and felt that current healthcare practices disempowered them to manage and optimise their health. Although the sheer size of their demographic instilled optimism of their potential to garner positive change, participants felt they lacked mechanisms to contribute to developing solutions to address this transition. Conclusion Our findings suggest a need for health research that improves perceptions of ageing and supports health system transformations to deliver person-centred care. Opportunities exist to harness their activism to engage older people as partners in shaping solution-oriented research that can support planning for an ageing society.

中文翻译：

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老龄化观点：对加拿大两个省老年人的期望、优先事项、需求和价值观的定性研究

背景 了解老年人的需求和价值观对于在这个人口转变时期制定响应性政策、服务和研究议程至关重要。老年人对老龄化的期望和优先事项，以及他们对老龄化社会面临的挑战的信念是多方面的，需要随着人口年龄的增长而定期更新。目的 了解加拿大教育部门退休人员对老龄化和社会老龄化的自我认知，以确定有意义的健康研究议程。方法 我们在加拿大退休教育者组织的 27 名成员中开展了四个定性焦点小组。使用归纳主题方法分析数据。结果 我们确定了四个总体主题：（1）尽管一代更健康，但对健康挑战的脆弱性，(2) 保持健康和社会联系以实现最佳老龄化，(3) 加强以人为本的老龄化社会医疗保健，以及 (4) 动员关键群众实施变革。参与者对衰老的先入之见与他们的个人经历不同。他们优先考虑维持健康和社会联系，并认为当前的医疗保健实践使他们无法管理和优化他们的健康。尽管他们的人口规模之大让他们对他们获得积极变革的潜力感到乐观，但参与者认为他们缺乏机制来帮助制定解决方案来应对这一转变。结论 我们的研究结果表明需要进行健康研究，以改善对老龄化的看法并支持卫生系统转型以提供以人为本的护理。