Forms of community participation among older people luana valletta
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Transcript of Forms of community participation among older people luana valletta
Forms of Forms of community community
participation participation among older among older
peoplepeopleTrajectories and paths
RIHSC ~ Research Institute for Health and Social Change – Manchester Metropolitan University
JUDITH SIXSMITH
LUANA VALLETTA
RIHSC CONFERENCE - 1 st July 2011
THEORICAL THEORICAL BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND
Silent Revolution> Populations are growing older in most of the countries around the world: this trend has characterized the age structure of developed countries for well over a century.At present, over 60s represent the 20,1% of the Italian population and ¼ of the voting people. It is estimated that in 2040 31,3% of italian population will be composed of people aged 65 and over characterized by good qualitiy of life, health and less disability then the past. In the UUKK it is estimated that by 2034 23% of the population will be aged 65 and over (see figure below).
UK population projections for 2034 are ONS National Population Projections (NPP) 2008 based.
FORMS OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AMONG OLDER PEOPLE: TRAJECTORIES
AND PATHS Preliminary findings
A thematic analysis of interview
transcripts form the ENABLE-AGE
project (UK, 2003);
Qualitative data from an Italian research
(Trajectories of over 60s’ social and
political participation in Cesena; 2010);
An ongoing literature review of current debates on older
people’s community
participation
A lot of authors associate A lot of authors associate successful aging successful aging withwith social participationsocial participation, i.e. , i.e. active engagment in active engagment in social and community life social and community life (Rowe, Khan, 1987; Freund, Baltes, (Rowe, Khan, 1987; Freund, Baltes, 2002; Gerstorf, Smith, Baltes, 2006). 2002; Gerstorf, Smith, Baltes, 2006).
Social participation Social participation the process by which the the process by which the community is actualized, negotiated and eventually community is actualized, negotiated and eventually modified modified (“(“actualization of the community”actualization of the community” Campbell and Jovchelovitch, 2000)Campbell and Jovchelovitch, 2000)
TheThe community participation community participation in volunteer in volunteer activities is an activities is an important predictor important predictor of older of older people`s people`s life satisfaction, quality of life and life satisfaction, quality of life and well being well being (Harlow, Cantor, 1996: Cotterill et al, (Harlow, Cantor, 1996: Cotterill et al, 2001) 2001) with benefits for both physical and with benefits for both physical and psychologicalpsychological health health andand higher levels in the higher levels in the perception of social support. perception of social support. (Freedman, 1999; (Freedman, 1999; Carstensen, 1995; 2004).Carstensen, 1995; 2004).
OLDER PEOPLE PARTICIPATIONOLDER PEOPLE PARTICIPATION
Key for a SAKey for a SA: having an active role in the society, keeping and : having an active role in the society, keeping and experiencing a high sense of competence and control over lifeexperiencing a high sense of competence and control over life. . (Midlarsky, 1991; Herzog, 1998). (Midlarsky, 1991; Herzog, 1998).
PROACTIVEPROACTIVELeading a group; coordinating Leading a group; coordinating
organization and designates either organization and designates either direct and personal contributions to direct and personal contributions to
civil society with important and civil society with important and proactive roles for promoting change proactive roles for promoting change and improving the quality of life of and improving the quality of life of
others in the communityothers in the community
ACTIVEACTIVEMembership in various group, Membership in various group,
associtations and socially oriented associtations and socially oriented sharing of time. Resources. And sharing of time. Resources. And
ideas. Usually taking place in ideas. Usually taking place in organized structures.organized structures.
PERIPHERALPERIPHERALBeing in and around , where Being in and around , where
shopping, sitting in the park or shopping, sitting in the park or watching the “world going by” are watching the “world going by” are
mentioned in terms of personal mentioned in terms of personal involment in community eventsinvolment in community events
En
gag
em
en
tEn
gag
em
en
t
PRELIMINAR PRELIMINAR FINDINGSFINDINGS
Active and Proactive ParticipationActive and Proactive Participation•Ageing does not exist (or is just one of the phases of the adulthood).•Ageing starts when you stop participating in social life.•Ageing starts when you feel old and useless.
SENIOR RESOURCESSENIOR RESOURCESBeing an important resource for their families and communities (experience, social capital
and knowledge)
SOCIAL REPRESENTATIOS OF AGEING SOCIAL REPRESENTATIOS OF AGEING ::
Peripheral ParticipationPeripheral Participation
•Feeling old, without energy and not useful•“I reached the expiration date”
MOTIVATIONSMOTIVATIONS
More spare More spare time available, time available, the the necessity to look for a new necessity to look for a new social role.social role.
The need to “be out there”, The need to “be out there”, to give to give a a social contribution, to help, to social contribution, to help, to feel feel usefuluseful
BENEFITSBENEFITSNew New relationships, frienships relationships, frienships Feeling useful, socially Feeling useful, socially valuedvalued,, alive alive Relativization of one’s own Relativization of one’s own problems problems New competences, knows-New competences, knows-out , skillsout , skillsChallengesChallenges
TO VOTETO VOTETool ~ Right ~DutyTool ~ Right ~Duty
TO BE INFORMEDTO BE INFORMEDA tool for: A tool for: •Understand ingbetter,Understand ingbetter,•Remaining involved and Remaining involved and integrated in the societyintegrated in the society
is associated with
is associated withis associated with
is cause of
is associated with
is associated with
is associated with
is associated with
is associated with
is associated with
is associated with
CF:Rappresentante di quartiere
spronata nel fare di più e meglio
sentirsi vivi
aiutato a continuare a vivere
pregresse esperienze di volontariato
maggiore tempo libero
i partiti devono stare tra le gentedisgregazione sociale- problema nelcontesto
vedovanza
relazione con la gente
iscrizione partito
continuare qualcosa che facevo con miomarito
simpatizzante di un partito
gratitudine della gente
figli grandi
accettazione
Example of transition to proactive political Example of transition to proactive political participationparticipation
previous volunteer experiences
Sympathetic of a political
party
widowhood
continue a shared
passion with her late husband
More More time time
availableavailable
Join in political party
District representative
Political party need to stay with the
people
Social problem
Help to continue live
Feel aliverelationship
Gratitude of the people
social acceptability
spurred in making better
Sons grown up
CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION
Preliminary findings show that several physical, psychological, social and environmental factors can influence the different ways in which older people experience community participation.
Among the physical, psychological and social factors: people’s bodily changes, self-efficacy, experience, time available, requirement to redefine social roles and their need to feel useful. Environmental factors include the presence of public transportation. The presence of organization particular policy for promote or help the process of participation.
Civic engagementCivic engagement can promote the construction of new sociael can promote the construction of new sociael
roles, goals, interpersonal and cognitive stimula, such as becoming roles, goals, interpersonal and cognitive stimula, such as becoming
a source of psychological and physical health and for the a source of psychological and physical health and for the
community at large.community at large.
THANKSTHANKS!!For the attentionFor the attention
Questions Questions &&
suggestionssuggestions
• 20th Semi-structured qualitative qualitative interviewsinterviews
• AnalyzedAnalyzed with with ATLAS.ti ATLAS.ti Software Software • Themes coded in six broad Themes coded in six broad
categoriescategories
Partecipants: Average age 67.5 Partecipants: Average age 67.5 Still active in volunteering and political Still active in volunteering and political
activities. activities.
• Social representations of ageing and ideas for projects
• Social & political participation• “Glocal “context• Social network and perceived social support• Life satisfatcion and future planning• Perceived health
OTHER INFOOTHER INFO: Only the : Only the 45% 45% had done volunteer work even before retirement.
OVER 60S’ SOCIAL AND POLITICAL OVER 60S’ SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN ITALY AND THE UK: PARTICIPATION IN ITALY AND THE UK:
SAMPLES AND METHODSSAMPLES AND METHODS
ENABLE~AGE PROJECT UK, 2003ENABLE~AGE PROJECT UK, 2003
PARTICIPANTSPARTICIPANTS20 th old people 20° very old people??20 th old people 20° very old people??
““Very old” people with different kinds of participation living alone at homeVery old” people with different kinds of participation living alone at home
Trajectories of social participation in Trajectories of social participation in Italy, 2010Italy, 2010
The aim of the ENABLE-AGE project was to explore the relationship between home and healthy ageing. The in-depth studies approached this task from the perspectives of 40th
KEY CONCEPTSKEY CONCEPTShome, independence, participation,health and well-being and societal supports