Active Old Age Of Women In Russian Nursing Homes (A Regional Sociological Study)

Abstract

The problem of social adaptation and reassessment of women's The problem of social adaptation and re-evaluation of the values of women in nursing homes needs scientific research. This problem is not only existential in nature, associated with feelings of finiteness of being and life. It is also connected with the social aspects of human individual and collective life activity. In this article, the emphasis is placed on identifying various forms of active old age of women permanently residing in Russian nursing homes. According to statistics, it is women who predominate as residents of these institutions in the Russian reality. This affects the formation of the social climate in nursing homes, but also affects the values of people. The "female face" of nursing homes in Russia, however, does not at all indicate a weak social climate in such institutions and a passive and pessimistic mood. The main conclusions are made based on the results of an empirical study, which was attended by a total of 42 people from two regions of Russia – the Altai Republic and the Altai Territory. The article considers the concept of a nursing home. At the same time, the perception of a nursing home by elderly women is considered, who constantly compare it with their native home. The article shows that over time, residents of such homes begin to see their native home in the nursing home itself, endow it with certain qualities for this ("warm house", "my house", "cozy house" and others). The article also reveals the values that help residents of nursing homes to maintain a positive attitude and look into the future. The main such values include women's communication with each other and social activity. It is activity as a factor of socialization and the change of existential reflection (awareness of the finiteness of life) to social (certain life prospects based on the interaction of a person and society) that is considered in the article as a key element of the concept of active old age.