Åldrande i ett mångkulturellt samhälle : En kvalitativ studie av äldre invandrares tillgång till samhällsinformation och deras deltagande i aktiviteter riktade till äldre medborgare.

• Main Author: Hallgrimsdottir Strandberg, Elsa
• Format: Others
• Language: Swedish
• Published: Högskolan Kristianstad, Sektionen för hälsa och samhälle 2012
• Subjects: multicultural; elderly immigrants; senior citizens; information; active aging; Social work; Socialt arbete
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hkr:diva-9822

In light of the European Union`s 2012 theme year: Active aging and solidarity between generations I wished to gain an understanding of weather elderly immigrant are provided with equal possibilities and access to local community information as the majority population and their participation in activities arranged for senior citizens in the municipality where they live. I have done this by meeting with those who work in this capacity. I also chose to meet with representatives for immigrant organizations in the local community to enquire of their work with senior citizens within their own ethnic group. This is a qualitative study on a phenomenological ground based on nine interviews and four observations. I have had two theories to help me analyze my empirical material. Globalization theory is a good groundwork to understanding the changes in modern multicultural societies where I have looked at the work of Anthony Giddens first at hand. The theory of KASAM by Aaron Antonowsky explains how the sense of coherence helps people to remain positive and satisfied in old age despite their failing health and unfavorable circumstances at times. I have found that the municipality where this study is preformed has a multicultural focus in their manor of spreading information. Yet many ethnic groups seek information verbally from friends and family rather than seek it through the official channels which may be more common among the majority population and immigrants that have established themselves in the society. Still all those whom I interviewed agreed that spreading information through direct contact always is the most effective way to get information across to people. I found that the local community meeting places for senior citizens have no immigrants attending on a regular basis. I did meet a group of senior migrant citizens with their origin in various nationalities that gather under the supervision of a cooperation project that has integration and public health as its main goal. All the participants in their activities for senior citizens started coming through personal invitation from the project leader or other group participants. With regards to the theme year those working with senior citizens were aware of it but haven’t had any specific focus on it in their work except for a few that participate in a regional public health project. They all agree that a theme year for active ageing and solidarity is an important milestone to recognizing the needs for recreation and showing respect to those who are beyond the age for retirement.