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Policy and practices relating to the active engagement of older people in the community: a comparison of Sweden and Australia
Author(s) -
Leonard Rosemary,
Johansson Stina
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
international journal of social welfare
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1468-2397
pISSN - 1369-6866
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-2397.2007.00497.x
Subject(s) - legislation , active ageing , face (sociological concept) , older people , work (physics) , public relations , community engagement , economic growth , political science , sociology , social policy , social welfare , public administration , gerontology , social science , economics , medicine , law , mechanical engineering , engineering
This article compares policy and practices for engaging older people in community life in Sweden and Australia. Barriers and support for active engagement through paid work, social activism, volunteering and aged services are compared. Both countries face issues of ageing populations, services for rural areas and people with small needs. Issues for Sweden were the absence of age discrimination legislation, availability of funds and lack of recognition of the growing levels of volunteering. Issues for Australia concerned the new managerialist approach to services, with associated complexities of access and limited social activism.