• Should the state encourage seniors to remain in the labor market? Economic and social perspectives
    The article presents the benefits of professional work of people in retirement age and the barriers to their employment. Against this background, the possibilities of state action supporting the work of seniors are considered.
  • The state of health of seniors and their participation in social life
    The beginning of the third decade of the 21st century was the time that was dominated by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic, affecting, inter alia, on the life and functioning of the elderly. The restrictions at that time often prevented normal functioning, and the increased risk of contracting the disease and the potentially severe course of the disease, especially when there were no vaccinations, caused anxiety, with its health consequences. Moreover, social relations were violated or even broken. And yet the participation of older people in various types of activities delays the aging process, preventing exclusion and loneliness. Therefore, it affects the physical and mental condition, and most of all human health. The aim of this article is to present the health situation of seniors during a pandemic and their daily functioning and participation in social life on the basis of a fragment of research carried out under the research project "Mitigating the effects of a pandemic among high-risk groups - people 60+". These studies show that the most frequently experienced problems were those related to limited access to health care and the inability to continue the lifestyle to which the respondents were used to. There were especially noticeable limitations in terms of social activity. The respondents indicated that before the pandemic they felt better mentally and were more willing to organize their free time. They were accompanied by a sense of freedom and a sense of greater openness to people, free from any fears and fears related to the potential risk of infection. Currently, respondents emphasize the importance of vaccines in preventing a potential disease. The possibility of using this type of support has a very positive effect on their functioning in society.
  • Needs of seniors in the area of social activity
    The aim of the article is to define the needs of seniors that can be met through various types of activity. The text combines theory with the results of empirical research. The main assumption is based on the conviction that satisfying a person's needs forces him to take necessary actions. So every action is aimed at meeting the needs and must be consistently implemented, so that this need can actually be satisfied. The results of the research confirm our belief that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the quality of life of the elderly, and the process of meeting their needs has unfortunately been disrupted.
  • Cultural centers in local communities - norms and praxis. Institutions and their stakeholders
    The article describes the institutional role of community centers in a local government community. It analyzes key actors and critical factors important in creating local cultural policies, as well as the way of building a specific vision of a community center in the interaction between local authorities, the community and employees of the institution. It shows how institutions themselves build relationships and find their role in the local community. It also points to the social context of the functioning of community centers, resulting both from historical conditions and the institution's self-identification. The article also refers to the context of the possibility of using the model of work of a community center in the social revitalization of the elderly in the project "Mitigating the effects of a pandemic ...".
  • The economic situation and activity of elderly people during the COVID-19 pandemic - Polish experiences compared to European countries
    The aim of the article is to discuss the quality of life, economic situation and professional activity of elderly people during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis is based on data from an international survey carried out one year after the outbreak of the pandemic by Eurofound. Research results indicate a significant reduction in the quality of life during a pandemic, difficulties in coping with everyday life situations and a sense of social exclusion. Despite a worse assessment of well-being during the pandemic, seniors in European countries had financial security, and their situation on the labor market did not deteriorate. Thanks to legal regulations on employment of people in pre-retirement age and interventions within the framework of national policies, it was possible to maintain the positive trend of increasing the employment rate of older people. Working from home, although it required broadening digital skills, it facilitated the reconciliation of home and work responsibilities for a significant group of older people.
  • Risk and uncertainty during a pandemic and ways of counteracting it in local environments
    Risk and uncertainty have been the subject of researchers' interest for years. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused this interest to increase even more. Often, both concepts are understood synonymously, which, in my opinion, should be considered a mistake. The text is devoted to considerations about the meaning of both concepts, in which the key role is assigned to the uncertainty of uncertainty. In the era of a pandemic, uncertainty is of particular importance, as are the methods of reducing it.

Polityka Społeczna (Social Policy) - the whole list