1. Scoping review of gerontological research in CEE

Objectives:

• to identify existing gerontological research in CEE (research themes, scholars/institutions doing research on aspects of ageing societies)
• To establish contacts with academics working in this field
• To build a research network (which later became EAST)
• To develop a strategy for future research on CEE

Researchers: Dr Andreas Hoff
Funding: James Martin School of the 21st Century, Oxford University
Time: Sep – Dec 2005
Method: Semi-structured expert interviews n = 21 from 8 countries; desk review
Countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovenia

Key findings:

• 3 overarching research themes: age discrimination, older workers, intergenerational family relations and support
• For more details on the study see: Hoff (2006.1) ‘Research on ageing in CEE’ [link to PDF]
   

2. Tackling poverty + social exclusion of older people in the EU

Objectives:

• To explore + evaluate social inclusion policies in the 25 EU member states
• To identify ‘examples of good/best practice’
• To discuss if old-age specific social exclusion indicators are required

Researchers: Dr George W. Leeson (PI), Dr Andreas Hoff
Funding: Help the Aged
Time: Feb – Jul 2006
Method: expert interviews with governments, NGOs, academics
Countries from CEE: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia

Key findings:

• Lack of family networks and family support = highest risk factor for poverty / social exclusion
• Other major risk factors: income deprivation, living in rural areas
• In CEE also poor housing + lack of social care major risk factors
• For more details on the study see: Hoff (2007.2) ‘National, regional and local social inclusion strategies’ [link to PDF]
   

3. “Working Carers between Labour Market and Intergenerational Solidarity” Seminar Series

Objectives:

• To identify typical conflict patterns
• To explore reconciliation strategies employed by family carers
• To investigate determinants of carer’s wellbeing

Researchers: Dr Andreas Hoff (PI), Dr George W. Leeson, Angelika Kaiser

Partners: Dr Camellia Hancheva (Bulgaria), Dr Zsuzsa Szeman (Hungary), Dr Sarmite Mikulioniene (Lithuania), Dr Jolanta Perek-Bialas (Poland), Dr Agnes Nemenyi (Romania), Dr Valentina Hlebec (Slovenia)
Funding: John Fell Fund
Time: Jan 2007 – Jan 2008
Method: 3 international workshops with presentations + policy briefs
Countries from CEE: Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovenia

Key findings:

• Lack of data on family care, let alone reconciling with employment
• Reversal of gender roles: from full employment to housewife?

Other key outcome:

• Research project “Carers@Work. Between Job and Care - Conflict or Opportunity?”, funded by Volkswagen Foundation [link there]

4. “Migrant Labour in the Eldercare Services” Seminar Series

Objectives:

• to review models of eldercare provision in European welfare/care regimes;
• to elucidate trends in the employment of migrant labour in the (formal/informal) eldercare workforce, the role of the migrant eldercare worker in home-based settings in particular;
• to analyse how the use of migrant labour in different care/welfare settings impinges on the financial and demographic sustainability, equity, cost effectiveness and quality of eldercare.
• to analyse the future development of migrant labour in eldercare

Researchers:  Dr George W. Leeson (PI), Dr Andreas Hoff, Iva Ruicheva, Angelika Kaiser
Partners: Dr Zsuzsa Szeman (Hungary), Prof Ewa Fratczak (Poland), Dr Agnes Nemenyi (Romania), Dr Valentina Hlebec (Slovenia)
Funding: NORFACE
Time: Jan 2007 – Jan 2009
Method: 4 international workshops with presentations + policy briefs
Countries from CEE: Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovenia

Key findings:

• Rapid change: many CEE countries transformed from ‘migrant sending’ to ‘migrant receiving’ countries within less than a decade (for example Poland)
• Families in sending countries suffer due to absence of primary family care-giver
• Lack of reliable data