 Subjects -> SOCIAL SERVICES AND WELFARE (Total: 224 journals)
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- Editorial Board and Table of Contents
Authors: Eugenijus Dunajevas
Pages: 1 - 7
Abstract: -
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Front Matter
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Ageless Assets: Social Investment and Active Aging Profiles in Lithuania
Authors: Violeta Vilkoitytė
Pages: 23 - 38
Abstract: This article argues that the aging population significantly affects the welfare state. Social investment strategies could respond to a changed economic and social order by enhancing active aging. While the social investment perspective has been a topic of discussion for decades, certain aspects remain underexplored. This study, therefore, aims to assess the impact of social investments on active aging. The study, based on the social investment approach and active aging model, analyzes quantitative data from Wave 8 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The Lithuania sample included 1437 participants. In the analytical phase, Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis were utilized (SPSS ver. 26). The findings unveil four active aging profiles (low activity, moderate activity, balanced activity, and high activity). The two groups are distinguished by aging conditions, such as poor health, lack of social investment, and high reliance on social benefits. The positive impact of social investment is underscored by the improved aging conditions outlined in the last two profiles. This study enriches the social investment research domain by providing valuable insights into the influence of social investment policies on the lives of older individuals and their potential to age actively.
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Articles
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Over-indebtedness – a Harbinger of Financial Exclusion
Authors: Daiva Skučienė, Viktorija Buržinskaja
Pages: 71 - 85
Abstract: The article explores the link between financial exclusion and the problems of social exclusion and the at-risk of poverty and highlights relevance in the context of social policy. The study seeks to analyze the problem of over-indebtedness as a threat to financial exclusion. The purpose of the study is implemented by disclosing the concept and causes of financial exclusion, analyzing over-indebtedness measurement and management. The tendency to over-indebtedness is determined by a whole palette of factors: social, demographic, economic, psychological, behavioral. It examines which groups of society are most likely to face financial difficulties in fulfilling their financial obligations and other household payments and to be over-indebted. Assessing gross debts of households and the scope of over-indebtedness, links with the socio-economic environment and available demographic data of debtors in Lithuanian municipalities are established. Over-indebtedness figures are analyzed using a secondary analysis of the Centre of Registers (database of open bailiffs’ files, 1995–2023), the Official Statistics Portal, and the Employment Service for 2022. The data are analyzed using descriptive statistics, also Pearson correlation and linear regression were performed. The result of the study shows alarming increase in the amount of over-indebtedness in Lithuania. Over-indebtedness arrears are unevenly distributed among the population of different ages. The situation is not homogeneous between large and small municipalities. Results show that in large municipalities there is strong positive link between debts per person, poverty rate and amount of average salary. The problem of financial exclusion, and especially over-indebtedness, requires further extended research and increased attention in the political agenda.
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Exploring Theories and Social Policy Changes During COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Päivi Mäntyneva
Pages: 118 - 133
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to the capacity of developed welfare states to meet emerging needs. In its initial year, the pandemic prompted a wave of new social policy programmes and modifications to existing ones. This study empirically investigates the applicability of various social theories in elucidating the dynamics of social policy changes during the COVID-19 crisis. Reflective analysis employs Hegelian dialectics as a methodological framework on established theories, including welfare regime theory, path dependence theory, path creation, and incorporates contemporary perspectives such as capability theory. The aim is to reflect and discern what these approaches explain and how these theoretical paradigms account for the observed shifts in social policy dynamics. The paper builds on previously published studies focused on the dynamics of persistence and change, mitigation and prevention, divergence and convergence, and continuity and irruption in social policies implemented in response to the pandemic. The article also contributes at developing a theoretical and methodological reflective approach to examine social policy changes in multiple contexts.
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Articles
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Editor’s word
Authors: Eugenijus Dunajevas
Pages: VIII - XI
Abstract: -
Keywords:
Front Matter
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Editorial Board and Table of Contents
Authors: Eugenijus Dunajevas
Pages: 1 - 7
Abstract: -
Keywords:
Front Matter
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Editorial Board and Table of Contents
Authors: Eugenijus Dunajevas
Pages: 1 - 7
Abstract: -
Keywords:
Front Matter
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Challenges and Dilemmas Faced by Labor Market Integration Support
Providers in Portugal
Authors: Ana Luisa Martinho
Pages: 182 - 199
Abstract: This research delves into the challenges and dilemmas faced by both professionals and people in vulnerable situations in the process of social and professional inclusion. Grounded in a theoretical framework that underscores the persistent rates of labor exclusion among specific social groups and the fragmented social policies in Portugal, the study aims to understand the structural framework and practices in this field. This research adopts a qualitative approach to investigate the challenges of the social and professional integration of people in vulnerable situations. For this purpose, the study employs nine in-depth case studies within the context of social economy organizations in Portugal. The findings illuminate the complex challenges faced by professionals supporting people with complex needs, including the nonlinearity and multifaceted nature of the inclusion process, resource inadequacies, the need for specialized training and guidance, and a labor market unaligned with the needs and abilities of the clients. The study underscores the necessity for a more holistic, supportive, and inclusive approach to address the intricate dynamics of social and professional integration for people in vulnerable situations.
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Articles
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COVID-19 Emergency: Boosting Digitalization and a Missed Opportunity for
Acquiring Digital Literacy in the Old Population
Authors: Simone Carlo, Sara Nanetti
Pages: 200 - 216
Abstract: The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated the adoption of digital content and services, particularly in Italy, a country historically slower in embracing communication technologies (European Commission, 2023). Mobility restrictions have hastened the digitalization of daily life, including communication, entertainment, and utility services (Auditel & Censis, 2022). Older individuals, traditionally less digitally proficient, have faced challenges adapting to this rapid digitalization (Rolandi et al., 2020, NIHR, 2022). However, early evidence suggests that this digital acceleration may not be sufficient to bridge the digital divide, especially among older populations (Litchfield et al., 2021, Colombo et al., 2023). This paper explores the changes occurring in the relationship between older people and new technologies based on data provided by longitudinal qualitative research, which involved a panel of 40 over-65 residents in the Lodigiano region, the first red zone – affected by the pandemic and its restrictions – in Europe. This contribution aims to highlight how active seniors have experienced a transformation in their approach to technology from the onset of the pandemic (2020) to the present day. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and then imported into the NVivo application for content analysis. Grounded Theory (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) was utilized, involving several stages. The analysis also aimed to formulate ideal types for interpreting the diverse approaches to digital adoption among the older population. From the present study, it emerged that the rapid process of digitalization during the COVID-19 pandemic has not effectively bridged the digital divide, but rather widened it. The swift digitalization of public services highlights the challenges in ensuring inclusivity, especially for older individuals. While digitalization can benefit those with support networks, it further marginalizes isolated seniors. Policy-makers need to consider existing caregiver networks to promote digital inclusion among older individuals.
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