The point of departure for this study is a need of more knowledge about to which extent and in what way organized meeting places can have a meaning for older persons as a place for social networking.

The study was performed with use of interviews and participant observations at two different meeting places run by the municipality.

As a first step a content analysis was made based on the empirical data. This analysis showed that visits on a more or less regular basis gave a structure to everyday life that felt important for the visitors. The meetings with other old persons contributed to a feeling of social cohesion and replaced experiences of loneliness. These results were significant for both meeting places.

As a second step, an analysis linked to theories on social networks gave a more deep knowledge about the essence of the social networks which were developed and the significance of these networks. The analysis shows that most of the networks could be described as thin ties (that is: relatively superficial and noncommittal network ties). These ties could mainly be described in terms of conversation contacts. In spite of that these contacts could be described as thin, they have an emotional value in contributing to a sense of community and safety. Some networks also showed to have a potential for a development towards thin friendship ties.

As a summary of the results the most significance of meeting places for older persons were the contribution to give a feeling of being part of a community. This adds a value of meaning and safety in everyday life for older persons.

The study shows how important it is to take into consideration to organize meeting places when planning for aging in place for older persons. This could be seen as an important strategy for preventing loneliness and health problems among older people.

Syftet med avhandlingen är att analysera framtidsverkstäder som fenomen föratt stärka äldre människors delaktighet och engagemang. Analysen sätts irelation till teorier och begrepp kopplat till medborgarengagemang ochdelaktighet i olika processer inom ramen för människors vardagsliv.

Avhandlingen baseras på ett empiriskt material från olika projekt där metodenframtidsverkstad har använts. Framtidsverkstäder är en pedagogisk metod föratt stödja människor till att mötas på ett kreativt och konstruktivt sätt i syfte attarbeta med gemensamma angelägenheter.

Den metodologiska ansatsen för analysen beskrivs i två steg. I det första stegetses framtidsverkstäderna som beskrivs i artiklarna I, II och III som exempel påen utvecklingsinriktad forskningsansats. I det andra steget görs i avhandlingensramberättelse en återanalys av resultatet i artiklarna utifrån fallstudiemetodik därframtidsverkstäderna beskrivs som enskilda fall.

Avhandlingens resultat diskuteras utifrån att begreppet delaktighet sätts irelation till begrepp som gemenskap, ansvar, brukarinflytande ochmedborgarskap. I analysen görs en koppling till socialpedagogiska teorier ochforskning kring civilsamhället.

Avhandlingens resultat bekräftar att äldre människors delaktighet utifrån envardagslivskontext ska ses som värdefull resurs i samhället och att det är viktigtatt denna resurs lyfts fram och tillvaratas. Det handlar inte bara om att äldremänniskor mår bra av att vara aktiva, träffa andra och fortsätta ha ansvar. Det handlar lika mycket om att samhället är i behov av äldre människors kunskap,erfarenhet och kompetens. Äldre människor, liksom människor i andra åldrar,är både konsumenter och producenter av olika samhällstjänster. För attmotverka ålderism i samhället är det viktigt att lyfta fram denna mer positiva bild av åldrandet.

Objectives: Negative attitudes in society toward working in eldercare constitute a challenge to educators and care providers. The purpose of this study was to explore, describe, and compare the attitudes of different professional groups toward factors that are important for the well-being of older adults.

Methods: A randomized sample of 210 respondents that included registered nurses (RNs), registered occupational therapists (OTRs), personal benefit advisors (PBAs), and home help assistants (HHAs) was collected from social service agencies in 10 Swedish municipalities. A scale was developed in a six-step process to measure attitudes toward factors influencing elder wellbeing, and the final 22-item Likert-type scale was called the “Staff Attitudes toward the Well-being of Older Adults” scale.

Results: Thirty-three percent of staff responded with positive attitudes <toward working with elders>, and the remaining were uncertain or negative. The attitudes of RNs, OTRs, and PBAs were significantly more positive than those of HHAs.

Discussion: The scale is practical for use in different professional groups with the aim of exploring existing attitudes, identifying areas with a low degree of prevailing positive attitudes and differences between groups, and evaluating whether attitudes change after staff training.