Older people, solo living and social exclusion

Monografijoje atskleidžiamos Lietuvos vyresnio amžiaus (60 m. ir vyresnių) gyventojų demografinės tendencijos (jų skaičiaus dinamika ir sociodemografinės charakteristikos) ir šios gyventojų grupės socialinės įtraukties klausimai. Ypatingas dėmesys skiriamas tiems vyresnio amžiaus žmonėms, kurie gyvena būste vieni. Kiek gyvenimas po vieną gyvenimo antroje pusėje yra susijęs su asmens rizika patirti socialinę atskirtį, izoliaciją ir vienatvę? Kaip patys vieni gyvenantys vyresnio amžiaus žmonės interpretuoja savo laisvę, vienatvę, socialinį dalyvavimą, senatvę? Šie ir kiti klausimai nagrinėjami atsispiriant nuo mokslinės literatūros analizės ir naudojant plačius statistikos bei originalaus sociologinio tyrimo (kiekybinio ir kokybinio), finansuoto Lietuvos mokslo tarybos (sut. Nr. GER-001/2017), duomenis. Monografijos tikslinė auditorija pirmiausiai yra mokslo bendruomenė, tačiau tekstą rengėme atsižvelgdamos taip pat ir į plačios ir mišrios auditorijos – tyrėjų, studentų ir doktorantų, nevyriausybinių organizacijų ir politikos formuotojų – poreikius. Tikimės, kad knygos tema sudomins ne tik įvairių sričių profesionalus ir būsimuosius specialistus, dirbančius / ketinančius dirbti vyresnio amžiaus žmonių gerovei, bet ir plačią visuomenę.The increasing number of older adults living alone, the characteristics of their social inclusion, and their authentic stories about social inclusion, isolation and loneliness have not yet been researched in Lithuania from the sociological and demographic point of view. Therefore, the target group of the research are older people who live alone in private dwellings in Lithuania. The value of researching this group lies in providing useful information through the concentrated reflection of social exclusion challenges that older people face in general. This information can be used for changing Lithuanian society in such a way that older people could play a full part in society and achieve their full potential of social inclusion both by contributing to the creation of public goods and by receiving support from society when this is necessary. The first chapter highlights the demographic trends of older people in Lithuania, shows the spread of living alone among older adults and contributes to the identification of the phenomenon of older people living alone. The empirical basis of this chapter consists of multiple data sources: demographic statistics, micro-sample from the Population and Housing Census 2011, and data from the original qualitative research of older adults living alone in Lithuania. [...] The second chapter of the book discusses theoretical discourse of social exclusion studies, highlighting achievements, discussions and drawbacks with a focus on the specific features of older-people social exclusion. The empirical basis of this chapter consists of studies of scientific literature and social policy documents. [...] The third chapter of the book aims to describe social exclusion risks for older adults living alone in Lithuania by analysing single elements of it on the basis of available statistics, micro-sample from the Population and Housing Census 2011, findings of the original quantitative survey 60LGA, as well as data from the original qualitative research of older adults living alone in Lithuania. [...] The fourth chapter of the book analyses social activity of older people in Lithuania and the risk of their social isolation, revealing the socially inclusive activities they participate in and the circle of people they maintain relationships with. This analysis is based on the data of the original representative 60LGA sociological survey as well as on the original qualitative research of older adults living alone in Lithuania. [...] The fifth chapter of the book presents for the first time the analysis of the level of social and emotional loneliness of older people in Lithuania by making a distinction between people living alone and those living with others. This analysis is based on the data of the original representative 60LGA sociological survey as well as on the original qualitative research of older adults living alone in Lithuania. [...