SummarySocial scientists emphasize the importance of elucidating the factors that influence the quality of life of elderly people, especially those in need of social assistance. Aim: to present ...findings of an empirical theory-grounded research on the factors of the quality of life of socially dependent elderly people living in long-term care institutions. Methods: The data were collected in half-structured interviews and analysed by the constructivist version of the grounded theory methodology by K. Charmaz. Elderly people (aged 60–92), living in residential care institutions, were interviewed.Results and conclusions. While analysing 21 semi-structured interviews with assisted elderly people, the following main factors of the quality of life were identified: (1) independence and self-sufficiency;(2) re-creating the important life moments; (3) sustaining lively social connections with important social actors; (4) acceptance of assistance services; (5) vitality (both physiological and psychological). Also, two latent factors were identified: (6) eventuality which manifests as a catalyst of all processes; (7) financial decisions which are fundamental for sustaining the desired level of the quality of life.
Vilniaus universitetasFilosofijos fakultetasSocialinio darbo katedraUniversiteto g. 9/1, LT-01513 VilniusEl. paštas: urte.orlova@fsf.vu.lt Straipsnio tikslas yra: pristatyti ir atskleisti vyresnio amžiaus asmenų gyvenimo ilgalaikės socialinės globos įstaigose kokybės veiksnius. Tyrimas atliktas taikant kokybinę metodologiją. Empiriniai duomenys surinkti pusiau struktūruoto 21 interviu metu ir analizuoti konstruktyvistinės grindžiamosios teorijos metodu (Charmaz 2006).Rezultatai ir išvados. Vyresnio amžiaus socialiai globojamų asmenų gyvenimo kokybės vertinimo veiksniai yra savarankiškų sprendimų priėmimas, vitališkumo išlaikymas, gyvybingo ryšio su svarbiais asmenimis puoselėjimas ir pagalbos priėmimas. Taip pat aptikti du latentiniai veiksniai – atsitiktinumas, kuris veikia kaip visų socialinių procesų katalizatorius, ir priimami finansiniai sprendimai. Atlikto kokybinio tyrimo rezultatai galėtų būti naudingi kuriant vyresnio amžiaus socialiai globojamų asmenų gyvenimo kokybės užtikrinimo programas ir individualiai dirbant su socialiai globojamais vyresnio amžiaus asmenimis.Pagrindiniai žodžiai: gyvenimo kokybė, vyresnio amžiaus asmenysThe Quality of Life Factors of Assisted Elderly People Urtė Lina Orlova Summary Social scientists emphasize the importance of elucidating the factors that influence the quality of life of elderly people, especially those in need of social assistance. Aim: to present findings of an empirical theory-grounded research on the factors of the quality of life of socially dependent elderly people living in long-term care institutions. Methods: The data were collected in half-structured interviews and analysed by the constructivist version of the grounded theory methodology by K. Charmaz. Elderly people (aged 60–92), living in residential care institutions, were interviewed. Results and conclusions. While analysing 21 semi-structured interviews with assisted elderly people, the following main factors of the quality of life were identified: (1) independence and self-sufficiency; (2) re-creating the important life moments; (3) sustaining lively social connections with important social actors; (4) acceptance of assistance services; (5) vitality (both physiological and psychological). Also, two latent factors were identified: (6) eventuality which manifests as a catalyst of all processes; (7) financial decisions which are fundamental for sustaining the desired level of the quality of life.
Research subject: The concept of the quality of life.
Research objectives: To conduct an analysis of the development of the concept of quality of life and to review the multidimensional theoretical ...and empirical domains in which the social construct of quality of life is analysed. The article aims to discuss ideas derived from the findings of theoretical and empirical research on the quality of life and, also, to reveal opportunities for the analysis of quality of life from new perspectives (i.e., analysing ethical/moral values of an individual in addition to objective and subjective factors).
Research methods: systematic literature analysis and synthesis; research into contents.
Conclusions: Based on our analysis of theoretical material, we can say that historically the concept of quality of life was developing as a multidimensional concept incorporating both objective facts/conditions and subjective assessments. The tradition of research into quality of life appears to have been actively developed in Lithuania, particularly in regard to the domain of health-related quality of life. To generalise, we can say that, as a result of its multidimensional nature, the content of the concept of quality of life does not have a single and absolute definition. Therefore, researchers, on the one hand, have been developing the field of quantitative research by adapting certain standardised criteria of quality of life to different groups of individuals, and, on the other hand, they aim to objectify the assessment of quality of life by adding thereto new variables that objectify the concept of quality of life. The material presented in the article represents the latter trend suggesting that ethical and moral values of an individual should be assessed and taken into account while judging on quality of life.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, former Soviet countries inherited a widely developed network of residential social care institutions intended for persons who have intellectual ...disabilities. Monitoring inspections carried out by disability and human rights organizations in these regions reveal fundamental human rights violations at the institutions concerned. The aim of this article is to analyze one of the most severe and under-reported human rights violations experienced by women who have intellectual disabilities, while residing in social care institutions: the violation of their sexual and reproductive rights. Authors of this article employ Foucault’s viewpoint with regard to disciplinary society and understanding of control of sexuality as an expression of power. The institutional culture that prevails in residential care institutions and allows room for hiding serious human rights violations is also discussed in this article. Restrictions imposed on sexuality in care institutions are not merely limited to a number of individual cases, but they are connected with broader systematic issues. Above all others, the system of residential care institutions itself allows for violations of most of its residents’ rights to occur, including violations of sexual and reproductive rights. None of these rights can be safeguarded and promoted sporadically or partially; therefore, systematic changes are needed, as well as shifts in public mentality and amendments in mental health policy.
The turn of the 21st century was marked by the rise of formal democracy in Lithuania. Classical democracy perceived and understood mainly through elections and citizen participation in the political ...and policy processes has been extended to more instruments and more levels. Residents can now actively participate in decision-making at all levels: at the macro level as a part of electorate, as well as at the micro level as users of public services. The objective of the article is to analyse the process towards democracy in Lithuania from the perspective of residential care and user-involvement. The empirical part of the article provides an analysis of the results of the sociological research on residential care institutions, which reveals how significant co-participation and empowerment in the organization of social services and the provision of them are for ensuring subjective well-being. Co-participation and empowerment in the provision of services should be considered in a methodological way and perceived as some of the most significant examples of the manifestation of modern genuine democracy.
The turn of the 21st century was marked by the rise of formal democracy in Lithuania. Classical democracy perceived and understood mainly through elections and citizen participation in the political ...and policy processes has been extended to more instruments and more levels. Residents can now actively participate in decision-making at all levels: at the macro level as a part of electorate, as well as at the micro level as users of public services. The objective of the article is to analyse the process towards democracy in Lithuania from the perspective of residential care and user-involvement. The empirical part of the article provides an analysis of the results of the sociological research on residential care institutions, which reveals how significant co-participation and empowerment in the organization of social services and the provision of them are for ensuring subjective well-being. Co-participation and empowerment in the provision of services should be considered in a methodological way and perceived as some of the most significant examples of the manifestation of modern genuine democracy. Key words: democracy, empowerment, co-participation, co-production, social services, social care. Prijelaz u 21. stoljece obiljezio je uspon formalne demokracije u Litvi. Klasicna demokracija koju se uglavnom poima putem izbora i sudjelovanja gradana u politickim procesima prosirila se na vise instrumenata i na vise razina. Gradani sada aktivno sudjeluju u odlucivanju na svim razinama: na makro razini kao dio izbornog tijela, kao i na mikro razini kao korisnici javnih usluga. Cilj je ovog rada analizirati proces demokratizacije u Litvi iz perspektive rezidencijalne skrbi i sudjelovanja njezinih korisnika. Empirijski dio rada donosi analizu rezultata socioloskog istrazivanja o institucijama rezidencijalne skrbi koja pokazuje koliki je znacaj sudjelovanja i osnazivanja u organiziranju socijalnih usluga i njihovom pruzcanju za osiguranje subjektivne dobrobiti. Sudjelovanje i osnazivanje u pruzanju usluga trebalo bi razmotriti na metodoloski nacin i smatrati jednim od najznacajnijih primjera manifestacije prave moderne demokracije. Kljucne rijeci: demokracija, osnazivanje, sudjelovanje, koprodukcija, socijalne usluge, socijalna skrb.
Atsižvelgiant į Lietuvos gyventojų amžiaus struktūros pokyčius ir prognozuojamas tendencijas ateityje – vyriausiųjų gyventojų gausėjimą, vidurinės ir jauniausios dalies mažėjimą – Lietuvą galima ...priskirti prie labiausiai senėjančių šalių pasaulyje, taip pat galima prognozuoti vyresnio amžiaus asmenų ilgalaikės socialinės globos poreikio augimą. Tyrimas, analizuojantis socisaliai globojamų vyresnio amžiaus asmenų gyvenimo kokybę institucinės socialinės globos kontekste, atliktas laikantis konstruktyvistinės grindžiamosios teorijos nuostatų (Charmaz, 2006). Sukurta grindžiamoji teorija atskleidžia socialiai globojamų vyresnio amžiaus asmenų, gyvenančių ilgalaikės socialinė globos įstaigose, subjektyvios gyvenimo kokybės veiksnius. Siekiant suprasti lietuviškos ilgalaikės socialinės globos specifiką, buvo tiriama, kaip kinta gyvenimo kokybės vertinimas gyvenant ilgalaikės socialinės globos įstaigoje, kaip yra išgyvenama krizės patirtis, susijusi su gyvenimo vietos ir būdo pasikeitimu. Grindžiamojoje teorijoje atskleisti septyni gyvenimo kokybės veiksniai. „Galėjimas“ yra ašinė kategorija, suprantama kaip galėjimo atlikti svarbias veiklas, galėjimo palaikyti santykius su reikšmingais asmenimis reali išraiška ar pojūtis. Rezultatus lyginant su artimos metodologijos rėmuose atliktais tyrimais užsienio šalyse, nustatyta, kad kai kurie atskleisti gyvenimo kokybės veiksniai iš dalies sutampa, tačiau taip pat buvo atskleisti gyvenimo kokybės elementai, išskiriantys Lietuvos atvejį iš... toliau žr. visą tekstą
Lithuanian society is aging and need for social services is contsanly increasing. Therefore it is important to understand the increasing role of care services for elderly people, which allows living longer and enjoying better quality of life. Elderly people (+65) who become socially dependent have possibility to move to the residential care institution. The scenario of moving into long-term care institution has big impact on life quality of elderly person. Constructivist grounded theory methodology (Charmaz, 2006) allows to reach field of long-term residential care and analyse subjective quality of life, values and attitudes of elderly socially dependent residents. In the process of constructing grounded theory seven factors of life quality were identified. In the process of data analysis three models of adaptation to new status of socially dependent person and resident of residential home were identified. Research participants experience crisis while changing the living place and moving into residential care home. “Capability” is the main analytical category. Social care institutions and care professional should be aware of the need of methods and skills to effectively manage crises. Results show that such factors as are found in most foreign research areas despite of cultural and social contexts. In Lithuanian society specific factors of life quality is identified.
Prijelaz u 21. stoljeće obilježio je uspon formalne demokracije u Litvi. Klasična demokracija koju se uglavnom poima putem izbora i sudjelovanja građana u političkim procesima proširila se na više ...instrumenata i na više razina. Građani sada aktivno sudjeluju u odlučivanju na svim razinama: na makro razini kao dio izbornog tijela, kao i na mikro razini kao korisnici javnih usluga. Cilj je ovog rada analizirati proces demokratizacije u Litvi iz perspektive rezidencijalne skrbi i sudjelovanja njezinih korisnika. Empirijski dio rada donosi analizu rezultata sociološkog istraživanja o institucijama rezidencijalne skrbi koja pokazuje koliki je značaj sudjelovanja i osnaživanja u organiziranju socijalnih usluga i njihovom pružanju za osiguranje subjektivne dobrobiti. Sudjelovanje i osnaživanje u pružanju usluga trebalo bi razmotriti na metodološki način i smatrati jednim od najznačajnijih primjera manifestacije prave moderne demokracije.
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