Isolated elderly – difficult access to a vulnerable group

The resources available to cope with different burden change and capacity for action is limited as people age. Therefore social inclusion in the neighbourhood is becoming increasingly important. The presented two studies are... [ view full abstract ]

The resources available to cope with different burden change and capacity for action is limited as people age. Therefore social inclusion in the neighbourhood is becoming increasingly important. The presented two studies are dedicated to elderly people in domestic care settings and elderly migrants, two particularly vulnerable groups about whose social integration little is known.
To understand the living situation of elderly migrants in their neighbourhood and their networking needs, personal interviews with elderly migrants were conducted and ideas for intervention to enhance social integration of elderly migrants in their neighbourhood were developed and implemented in a participatory process.
The study on elderly people cared for at home by relatives focussed narratives of family carers, of elderly who need care and of professional care givers about their experienced challenges in the specific situation of domestic care. Whereas findings from both a users’ and professionals’ perspective show that a relationship of dependence turns out to be a risk factor for violence in domestic care, isolation and not accepting help are specifically addressed by professionals.
By presenting the findings of both studies I would like to discuss the importance of including the perspective of elderly and the challenges to gain access to the particularly vulnerable group of isolated elderly.
Due to limited access to the target group in both studies data was collected only on well integrated people who accept help and support. At the workshop I would like to discuss the impacts on the results of the study and on the practical implementations when no data could have been gathered on people considered to be the main target group.