Causes of social exclusion of the elderly: Barriers to inclusive sustainable development

Abstract

Sustainable development cannot be achieved by leaving behind vulnerable and mar- ginalized groups like older persons who experience multidimensional inequalities and social exclusion. This study investigates the root causes, manifestations, and impacts of social exclusion faced by the elderly population in Kazakhstan through an interdisciplinary socio-anthropological lens. Utilizing qualitative and quantitative methods, including surveys, interviews, and empirical analysis, the research exam- ines subjective experiences of loneliness, isolation, low social engagement, and bar- riers to accessing essential services among older adults. It highlights how factors like health status, income insecurity, ageism, lack of social support systems, and physi- cal/digital accessibility issues intersect to produce and perpetuate social exclusion. In the course of the work carried out, it was revealed that the process of reducing the phenomenon of social exclusion provides an opportunity to increase the effective- ness of social policy, one of the key tasks of which is to ensure a high standard of living for the elderly. Among the results obtained, factors such as subjective feeling of loneliness, diagnosis of social isolation, low level of social activity, and so on, should be noted. Through a conceptual analysis, the main group of risks was consid- ered, which includes a large list of various areas of public activity. Policy proposals include strengthening social protection, facilitating intergenerational solidarity, in- clusive urban planning, digital inclusion and enhancing accessibility to public ser- vices tailored to older persons' needs.