Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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Ageing, income and living standards: evidence from the British Household Panel Survey
- Authors:
- BERTHOUD Richard, BLEKESAUNE Morten, HANCOCK Ruth
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 29(7), October 2009, pp.1105-1122.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
In Britain, older people have lower average incomes and a higher risk of income poverty than the general population. Older pensioners are more likely to be in poverty than younger ones. Yet certain indicators of their living standards suggest that older people experience less hardship than expected, given their incomes. A possible explanation is that older people convert income into basic living standards at a higher rate than younger people, implying that as people age they need less income to achieve a given standard of living. Much existing evidence has been based on cross-sectional data and therefore may not be a good guide to the consequences of ageing. Longitudinal data was used on people aged at least 50 years from the British Household Panel Survey to investigate the effects of ageing on the relationship between standard of living, as measured by various deprivation indices, and income. It was found that for most indices, ageing increases deprivation when controlling for income and other factors. The exception is a subjective index of ‘financial strain’, which appears to fall as people age. Evidence of cohort effects were also found. At any given age and income, more-recently-born older people in general experience more deprivation than those born longer ago. To some extent these ageing and cohort effects balance out, which suggests that pensions do not need to change with age.
Incomes and living standards of older people: a comparative analysis
- Authors:
- WHITEFORD Peter, KENNEDY Steven
- Publisher:
- HMSO
- Publication year:
- 1995
- Pagination:
- 173p.,diags.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Research study providing an empirical analysis of the incomes of older people in 11 countries. Also presents the results, for a narrower range of countries, of an analysis of living standards, defined to include the value of government provided health and education services, as well as disposable cash income. In addition, looks at the role of owner-occupied housing and liquid wealth.
Perceived usefulness and easiness of information and communication technologies and volunteering among older adults
- Authors:
- CHO Joonyoung, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 63(5), 2020, pp.428-446.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This study investigates the association between older adults’ perception of usefulness and easiness (PUE) of Information Communication and Technologies (ICTs) and volunteering, and if this association differs across their income status. Data were obtained from the 2012 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), and the sample was restricted to respondents aged between 60 and 84 (N = 901) and who completed the 2012 HRS technology module. Multinomial logistic regression was employed to examine the independent and joint influence of PUE of ICTs and of low-income status on volunteering. The results show that only people with high PUE engaged in more than 100 hours of volunteering among older adults after controlling for covariates. The positive effect of high PUE was found to be more significant in the low-income group. This is the first known research to investigate the PUE of ICTs and volunteering among older adults. This study expands the knowledge of volunteering among older adults by exploring ICTs which can be considered as one of the most influential macrosocial changes in the current society. Moreover, our findings provide some insights and an empirical foundation in volunteering programs for older adults of different PUE levels. (Edited publisher abstract)
‘Growing old’ in shelters and ‘on the street’: experiences of older homeless people
- Authors:
- GRENIER Amanda, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 59(6), 2016, pp.458-477.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article reports thematic results of qualitative interviews with 40 people aged 46 to 75, carried out as part of a mixed-methods study of older people who are homeless in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Participants included people with histories of homelessness (n = 14) and persons new to homelessness in later life (n = 26). Interviews focused on experiences at the intersections of ageing and homelessness including social relationships, the challenges of living on the streets and in shelters in later life, and the future. This article outlines the 5 main themes that capture the experience of homelessness for participants: age exacerbates worries; exclusion and isolation; managing significant challenges; shifting needs and realities; and resilience, strength, and hope. Together, these findings underscore the need for specific programs geared to the unique needs of older people who are homeless. (Edited publisher abstract)
Cross-country performance in social integration of older migrants: a European perspective: working paper
- Authors:
- BERCHET Caroline, SIRVEN Nicolas
- Publisher:
- Institut de recherche et documentation en économie de la santé
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 30p.
- Place of publication:
- Paris
This paper presents empirical evidence on the relationship between migration and social integration. Using SHARE data and macroeconomic series, it first analyses the influence of immigrant length of stay in the host country on social integration indicators. It then examines the role institutional characteristics play on cross-country differences in speed of social integration. Findings indicated that the immigrant population presents a lower likelihood than the native population to get involved in social activities and to trust other people. Nevertheless, the more immigrants have spent time in the host country, the more they take part in social activities. The analysis also reveals significant cross-country differences in immigrants’ speed of social integration. Macroeconomic series like the GINI coefficient of income inequality and the Corruption perceived index could explain these differences. From a public policy perspective, the results suggest that immigrants’ social integration is more rapidly achieved in “fair” countries, with a more favourable social environment, where the levels of income inequality and perceived corruption are lower.
Social isolation among older Londoners
- Author:
- CLIFTON Jonathan
- Publisher:
- Institute for Public Policy Research
- Publication year:
- 2001
- Pagination:
- 23p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
London faces a particular challenge in addressing social isolation among older people. The city has higher rates of population churn and pensioner poverty and less intergenerational contact than other areas of England. Its social care system is under pressure, with higher staff turnover and a greater reliance on migrant workers than other parts of the country. Given these challenges, how can public policy help to reduce social isolation among older people in London? This paper argues that while the state is good at tackling many problems, it is not currently equipped to tackle the issue of social isolation, which has its roots in wider changes to the way we live our lives. Based on primary research with older service users and service providers in London, it identifies four conditions that enable social ties to flourish and sets out what policymakers can do to promote them: support the development of places in which people can interact; design services around relationships, rather than fixed institutions and procedures; create a community information infrastructure, based on face-to-face contacts, peer support, web technology and a single point of access; and make sure that the first point of contact a person has with any service results in their wider needs being assessed and provided for.
Poverty, wealth inequality and health among older adults in rural Cambodia
- Author:
- ZIMMER Zachery
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 66(1), January 2008, pp.57-71.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Little research exists on health determinants among adults living in economically deprived regions despite the fact that these areas comprise a good part of the world. This paper examines the distribution of wealth then tests associations between wealth inequality and a variety of health outcomes, among older adults, in one of the world's poorest regions—rural Cambodia. Data from the 2004 Survey of the Elderly in Cambodia are employed. Using a disablement framework to conceptualize health, associations between four health components and a wealth inequality measure are tested. The wealth inequality measure is based on an index that operationalizes wealth as ownership of household assets and household structural components. Results confirm difficult economic conditions in rural Cambodia. The lowest wealth quintile lives in households that own nothing, while the next quintiles are only slightly better off. Nevertheless, logistic regressions that adjust for other covariates indicate heterogeneity in health across quintiles that appear qualitatively similar, with the bottom quintiles reporting the most health problems. An exception is disability, which presents a U-shaped association. It is difficult to determine mechanisms behind the relationship using cross-sectional data, but the paper speculates on possible causal directions, both from wealth to health and vice-versa. The analysis suggests the ability to generalize the relationship between wealth inequality and health to extremely poor populations as a very small difference in wealth makes a relatively large difference with respect to health associations among those in meagre surroundings.
The Bulgarian pension reform: post-accession issues and challenges
- Authors:
- ASENOVA Darinka, MCKINNON Roddy
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of European Social Policy, 17(4), November 2007, pp.389-396.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Focusing on the social impacts of the 2000—2 pension reform in Bulgaria, the article examines how Bulgarian pensioners cope with income risk in old age. Reporting that old-age pensions are frequently inadequate to household consumption needs, the authors argue for more generous tax-financed social pensions alongside contributory pension provision, to combat old-age poverty. As the poorest country to date to achieve European Union accession, the article concludes by suggesting that Bulgaria's pursuit of fuller integration and development within the EU cannot be divorced from better meeting the social security needs of its ageing population.
Older labour migrants' well being in Europe: the case of Switzerland
- Authors:
- BOLZMAN Claudio, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 24(3), May 2004, pp.411-429.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Examines several aspects of the social situation of the older immigrant population in Switzerland. Reviews their demographic history and characteristics and provides profiles of their health and well being, their material standard of life and access to social security and related benefits. It reports selected findings from an original survey of older Italian and Spanish citizens who are resident in the country, which show relatively high rates of disadvantage and poverty. The determination of a large proportion of the immigrant population to remain in Switzerland after they have ceased work demonstrates that the minorities who entered the country as labour migrants will become a permanent element of the Swiss population and its society. Neither the politicians nor the general public in Switzerland have yet accepted the reality of this new diversity. Concludes by discussing the social policy and attitudinal options that face the governments and the population of Switzerland and many other European countries.
The role of non-governmental organizations for the welfare of the elderly: the case of HelpAge India
- Author:
- SAWHNEY Maneeta
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 15(23), 2003, pp.179-191.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Since there has been a gradual increase in the population aged 60 and older, a developing country like India is unable to cope with the needs and problems of its aged populations. While the government continues its efforts to introduce programs for the elderly, the nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have played a key role in bringing to the forefront the socioeconomic and health problems of older people in the society at large. This paper looks at the role of the NGOs through their various welfare activities and beneficial programs in carving out a place for the elderly in India. The work of HelpAge India is highlighted to examine how voluntary organizations have worked in the field of aging in India and made an impact on the lives of the senior citizens, especially those below the poverty line who are economically and socially deprived.