Agency, social practices and everyday life of the elderly

The aim of this research is to further develop a sociology-based theoretical and methodological approach for 1) the study of everyday life situations of the elderly 2) practices in gerontological social work and services, and 3) gerontechnological applications in different everyday situations. The aim is too to build a new action research model for evaluating and developing social practices and situations in old age care.

Three doctoral dissertations are currently on-going in conjunction to the project. These concern early stage dementia (Elisa Virkola), “family care” in old age care institutions (Riitta Koivula) and the agency of parents with disabled children (Kirsi Pollari).