Access and Inclusion
Increasing Job Seeking Success among Older Unemployed Population by Expanding Personal Social Networks
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Moshe Sharabi, Tal Shahor, Javier Simonovich
One of the most significant changes in the developed world over the past thirty years has been a quickening transition from a primarily industrial to an increasingly service-based economy. This rapid structural change have been disproportionately adverse for unqualified older workers who have lost their jobs as the skill content of blue-collar work increased due to skill-based technological changes. For these unqualified older unemployed people, there is low chance to find a suitable job via internet-based systems. They may have low education levels, less technological skills, and low self-esteem as a result of long-term unemployment; therefore, their relevant job opportunities diminish. This paper describes a successful pilot project among 108 chronically unemployed Jews and Arabs, in five employment centers in Israel. By sharing each other's list of acquaintances under the guidance of professional consultants, 41% of them found a job. The results have strengthened our assumption that educating people to use expanded weak personal networks (non-internet) to find jobs is both effective and beneficial.
Evaluation of Third Age Learning: Policy and Practice in Hong Kong
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Maureen Tam
Facing the challenges of a fast-growing ageing population – amidst the worldwide trends of declining birth rates and longer lifespans – the Hong Kong government has for two decades developed and implemented policies and plans for senior adults in Hong Kong to engage in third age learning, both formally and informally. This paper first argues for a critical need to evaluate the efficacy, adequacy, and value of the policy and provision of third age learning in Hong Kong. It then discusses the choice between the functionalist approach and the critical educational gerontology (CEG) approach for a critical evaluation of the content and purpose of education for older adults. CEG is conceived to be more comprehensive and robust than the functionalist approach that focuses primarily on learning for self-fulfillment and adjustment to older age. More broadly though, CEG views third age learning from a socio-political perspective and takes into account the empowering and liberating nature of learning for and by senior adults.
Estonian E-health System and the Elderly
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Marianne Paimre
Estonians are known for their innovative e-solutions and digital access to all public services. E-health is a prime example of such state-of-the-art programmes set out to improve public health by offering new preventive measures and increasing the awareness of patients. The people who need health-related information the most are the elderly. But do they have access to the internet and can they find relevant information and cope with e-health solutions? Acquiring a computer or subscribing to internet service could present a major financial challenge for them. My research focuses on the ability of senior citizens in Estonia to benefit from the highly acclaimed national e-health system. A pilot study, which is the initial step to more comprehensive research, based on a focus group interview and in-depth interviews with seniors revealed they often lack the skills and experience necessary to search for online health information as well as cope with e-health solutions. Thus, the wholesome public image of Estonia’s e-success does not always correspond to reality. This paper puts the much-appreciated IT solution into a broader perspective and, instead of the lavishly praised e-health applications, focuses on outlining the serious drawbacks of the digital divide and exclusion of seniors from the digital services market.
Digital Engagement and Health Management among Older People in the UK: Understanding the Barriers to Digital Inclusion for Ageing in Place from Two Datasets
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Yuhua Wang, Peter Bath, Laura Sbaffi
In the UK, ‘Ageing in Place’ has exerted pivotal influences on policies and practices concerning older people and their well-being. It is built on a premise that older people can live an autonomous and independent life at their homes. Nonetheless, previous studies have found that it is not without negative impacts. Older people could potentially become isolated and experience loneliness. Digital technology has been increasingly recognised as an important instrument to alleviate such adverse feelings, and furthermore, to facilitate an active and healthy later life. With 36% older people over 65 reported to be offline and more to be limited users, it is imperative to understand what the barriers are. This study collaborates with a leading digital inclusion charity in the UK and analyses two survey datasets of digital skills learners collected between 2015 and 2017 (n=1217, older people n=124; and n=1153, older people=275). Chi2 test, Kruskal-Wallis test and binary logistic regression were used for data analysis. Findings suggest that older learners (aged 65+) have gained beneficial outcomes from the Internet, ranging from general feeling such as self-confidence to the management of their daily life in health, housing, and finance. However, these outcomes are not safeguarded, but rather fluid, as results suggest that barriers can emerge in aspects from motivation, access, and skills to a meaningful engagement of the Internet. Policy makers and service providers should ensure a sustained access to and use of digital technologies for older people ageing in place.
Grandparents' Lullaby: Wisdom of the Elderly for Early Child Development through Northern-Khmer Child Rearing Cultural Transmission Process in Community Way of Life, Surin Province, Thailand
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Tipchutha Subhimaros Singkaselit, Rueshu Singkaselit
The objective of this research is to study the elements of the process of transmission of the Khmer language wisdom and culture of grandparents through lullaby. Culture shows beliefs, values, morals and social aspects, lifestyle, customs, language, daily living and activities of people in the community. The qualitative study was conducted with in-depth interviews of three Northern-Khmer elders and included the study the lullaby songs of the elderly in the community of Surin Province. The results of this study found that the elements of the process of cultural transfer of the elderly through lullabies include five aspects, namely 1) content 2) knowledge transfer 3) characteristics of the transmitters and receivers 4) methods and media and 5) evaluation. In addition, it was found that learning of young children from lullaby songs absorbed the love and the warmth that the elders gave them. When children developed into the age that can communicate by language, the lullaby song played a role in interpreting the teachings, conveying ideas, beliefs from adults to children. Therefore, we conclud that the transmission of the culture of the elderly through lullaby songs was to promote the development of self-understanding, language, and descent from recognition stage, comparison stage, evaluation stage, and the process of transferring knowledge to children.
