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Social dancing and older adults: playground for physical activity
- Authors:
- ROBERSON Donald N., PELCLOVA Jana
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing International, 39(2), 2014, pp.124-143.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
This research focuses on social dancing and its relationship to well-being in the later stage of life. While dancing as a form of physical exercise for seniors has been studied, social dancing has not been as thoroughly investigated. This popular cultural and social activity can contribute to the life of older adults in a variety of ways. The purpose of this study is to identify the ways in which social dancing contributes to the well-being of seniors. To this end we observed, surveyed, and formed a focus group from two dance locations in Olomouc, Czech Republic. As a result of participant observation, questionnaires, and a focus group there were three main findings. 1). Social dance can be a health enhancing physical activity. 2). As opposed to a dance class, social dance promotes a playful and spontaneous atmosphere. 3). This weekly scheduled event of dancing adds a positive reconnection and continuation with one’s memory, youth, and history. Communities should be encouraged to establish social dance as an option for all ages, especially older adults. (Publisher abstract)
‘Women are just more active’: gender as a determining factor in involvement in senior centres
- Author:
- MARHANKOVA Jaroslava Hasmanova
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 34(9), 2014, pp.1482-1504.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
A three-year ethnographic study was conducted at two centres in the Czech Republic which offer seniors-only leisure-time activities strongly grounded in the idea of active ageing. The method of participant observation was used, and 47 in-depth interviews were conducted with the centres' clients and employees. The higher participation by women in the centres and the role they attribute to such organisations in their lives is analysed in the context of their previous gendered biographies. Gender patterns embedded in the way daily activities at the senior centres are organised, as well as in the idea of active ageing itself, are highlighted. Despite the seeming invisibility of gender as a principle that structures the way these centres are run, they are in fact gendered organisations, where gender emerges as a basic principle affecting the chances of participating in active ageing as presented by the centres. (Edited publisher abstract)
Emerging age asymmetries in the research relationship: challenges of exploring transition to the fourth age
- Authors:
- SEDLAKOVA Tatiana, SOURALOVA Adela
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 39(2), 2019, pp.409-433.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This article opens the discussion on age asymmetries within the research relationship between researchers who are young and able-bodied and research participants who are much older and have acquired impairments in later life. Based on the knowledge of age relations, a conceptualisation of power imbalances based on age is prevented. Asymmetries are seen as co-existing with other forms of power imbalances between researchers and participants, and it is argued that these asymmetries are not the results of the limitations of the older adults but rather the consequences of different constellations of possibilities for researchers and participants. Moreover, taking these asymmetries into account is a necessary step when conducting research with people with acquired impairment in later life. As researchers, reflecting on age asymmetries helped us to avoid othering our research participants and prevented us from marginalising their life experiences. Drawing upon research, the authors reflect upon the network of cognitive, physical and social asymmetries that emerged in research relationships and identify the main challenges that were faced. In the presence of some of these age asymmetries, the research relationship were approached through the roles which the researchers played vis-a-vis the participants. Reflecting and addressing these asymmetries is a necessary step in creating and maintaining a research relationship based on equality. Only a reflexive and transparent approach to these power imbalances can ensure that data collection and analysis do not contribute to their reproduction. This article presents some general insights on research practices and contributes to the debate on power imbalances in qualitative research. The article also contributes to gerontology and provides new insights about the lives of those individuals with acquired impairment in later life, a topic that has so far received inadequate research attention. (Edited publisher abstract)
The potential of domiciliary care service in the Czech Republic to promote ageing in place
- Authors:
- KUBALCIKOVA Katerina, HAVLIKOVA Jana
- Journal article citation:
- European Journal of Social Work, 18(1), 2015, pp.65-80.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Due to population ageing, the need for long-term care is increasing. In many European countries, there is now a firm policy preference for care in the home as opposed to institutional care and policies at the local level support this preference. The purpose of this study is to report on the position of domiciliary care service within the Czech social services for the elderly and to explore its potential to promote ‘ageing in place’. The aim of the research was to perceive this issue from the viewpoint of the different parties: service users, service workers, service managers as well as policy-makers. Therefore, the qualitative methodology (case study method) was used. The results revealed that users considered domiciliary care as the only service in the Czech Republic that allowed them to remain at home despite their worsening capacity to manage the activities of daily living. On the part of the domiciliary care service, however, the authors found that this was strong in the provision of practical help, as well as assistance with users' self-maintenance, whereas their supervision and care management were not explicitly included either in the concept or the practice of this type of service. (Edited publisher abstract)