Older people in Oslo

1
Older people in Oslo

• A presentation by students from Høgskolen i Oslo
  and York St John University.

2
Introduction

• Background
• Method
• Theory
• Findings
• Conclusion

3
Background

• Partnership between Høgskolen i Oslo and York st
  John University Module on Older People and
  Occupational Therapy

4
Method

• Worked in groups to devise interviews to
  investigate the experience of ageing within Oslo
• Carried out the interviews at Elderly centres
  around Oslo.
• Qualitative research, semi-structured interviews.
• Areas of interest, cultural attitudes towards
  ageing, role changes, equality and inequality.

5
What are Elderly Centres

• A meeting place for elderly people offering
  services and activities that reflect their
  experiences and skills responding to their
  diverse needs and interests. It should enhance
  their dignity, support their independence and
  encourage social engagement.
• (Dreksler J, 2007)

6
Background Theory
A lot of research, both national and
international, shows a clear relationship between
health condition and social position. The better
postition we are in according to employment,
income or education, the less mortality,
sickness, self reported health problems and
consequences of disease. The same pattern is
found for most factors that are considered to
affect occurence of sickness and death.
(Stortingsmelding nr. 16)
7
Continued...

• New research implies that diversity in health
  between income groups is increasing, at least
  when it concerns premature death. While the
  people with higher income have favorable
  development, the people with lower income can not
  take part of the health profit because they are
  standing still in their development.

(Stortingsmelding nr. 16)
8
Continued...

• International comparative research implies that
  the differences probably are not smaller in
  Scandinavia and Norway than in other western
  European countries- it appears to be to the
  contrary. There a is registered continuing
  indifference over many decades maybe even 100
  years, also in Norway even if both the clinical
  picture and the causation have changed.

(Stortingsmelding nr. 16)
9
Oslo

• Population of Oslo (2005) 548,617
• Older people from 67 (2005) 61,795
• There are 16 Elderly Centres in Oslo.
• West Oslo Average family income Kroner 508,000
  - 712,000
• East Oslo Average family income Kroner
  364,000 - 515,000
• West Oslo 2-5.4 receive social help
• East Oslo 5.2-13.7 recieve social help

(www.ssb.no)
10
Findings

• Some of the participants interviewed commented
  that they liked the elderly centres because they
  were able to participate.
• They said that feel respected by their
  environment when at the elderly centres.
• Most of the participants said that they went to
  the centres to socialise .

11
Findings continued...

• A contrast emerged between the East and the West

East West
-Lower income. -poorer living standards. -less participation. -less opportunities. -statistics showing death 10 years earlier than those who live in the west. -Higher income. -more opportunities. -better perceived sense of wellbeing. -more participation.
12
Findings continued...

• Attiudes seemed to differ towards ageing between
  the East and the West

East West
-Low Morale -Felt restricted by environment, -Felt there was a lack of resources. -Felt there was a lack of empowerment and support -took more initiative to start groups themselves, -had better resources, were easily enabled. -were motivated. -had a positive view of ageing.
13
Conclusion

• Older people in the socially deprived areas of
  Oslo appear to be at a disadvantage to those in
  more affluent areas.
• In line with the European year for Equal
  opportunities we think that Occupational
  Therapists should work to promote equal
  opportunities for participation in the community.
  This may mean promoting positive attitudes
  towards ageing and challenging environmental
  barriers such as lack of resources.

14
References

• www.ssb.no/emner/02/01/fobhusinnt/tab-2003-12-18-0
  1.html
• Dreksler, Jorunn (2007) Nasjonalforeningen for
  folkehelsen
• Stortingsmelding nr. 16 - Resept for et sunnere
  Norge (2002-2003)