Elderly Russians Research Articles

The potential of public organizations in creating conditions of healthy aging for sustainable demographic development of the Russian regions

The article considers issues of potential of public organizations to develop conditions for healthy aging in order to ensure sustainable development of Russian regions differing in their socio-economic, socio-cultural and demographic characteristics. It is established that individual approach is to be applied in developing and implementing measures, since elderly Russians constitute very heterogeneous social demographic group, characterizing by differences in age, health condition, social, economic and professional status, life motivation, family/single/nursing type of residence, etc. It is indicated that work will require time, financial expenses and labor costs. The achievement of sustainable development of Russian regions depends on ability and readiness of regional and municipal authorities, public and commercial organizations and entire population. It is determined that age-related stigmatization and ageism can not be overcame through decisions made by persons of power. No less significant is public opinion, determining position of employers, physicians, teachers and other specialists on whom healthy longevity of population depends. The conclusion is made that present demographic changes are a predictor of development of position of state authorities and public opinion that needed attention is to be paid to promoting of healthy aging, to expending necessary financial, infrastructural, informational and human resources. Only in this case Russian regions can count on social dividends that will follow preliminary comprehensive investments into developing conditions for healthy aging of local residents.

Emigration of russian pensioners to Vietnam (and other countries of Southeast Asia)

This article analyzes the migration of elderly Russians to Vietnam (in comparison with other countries in Southeast Asia). The migration of the social group takes place against the background of a change in the age structure of the population in Russia and the world, which implies a greater activity of the older generation, including in the context of migration. The paper highlights various factors of migration in old age: demographic, social, economic, regional-climatic. Official statistics allow us to describe the growing emigration of the Russian older generation to Vietnam, where 318 senior citizens officially emigrated in 2011-2021. It is noted that during the pandemic, Vietnam turned out to be an attractive place for elderly Russian migrants. State statistics do not take into account forms of temporary migration, therefore, using a two-stage content analysis of the social network service Odnoklassniki, the number of accounts of elderly Russian speakers in Southeast Asia was revealed: the most frequent users were in Thailand, then in Vietnam and Singapore. The analysis of cases made it possible to identify several models of migration and adaptation of elderly Russian speakers in Vietnam: the Tourism model (transitional), Family, Active lifestyle, Treatment. Additionally, the legal aspects of the elderly moving to Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries are analyzed. The authors come to the conclusion that the retirement visa does not have a decisive impact on the migration of the elderly, since, for example, Vietnam is one of the main destinations for the migration of elderly Russians, while not providing them with special conditions. The reason is the high financial requirements for candidates to acquire a retirement visa (in countries where such a visa is granted) and the lack of fundamental benefits from obtaining such an opportunity.

POPULARIZATION OF TOURISM, HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITY IN THE PROGRAMS OF ACTIVE LONGEVITY OF SENIOR CITIZENS

The article presents data on sports, active forms of leisure, travel among elderly Russians. An important conclusion is made that health promotion by means of active recreation and sports among senior citizens in Russia is one of the directions of active longevity policy. An overview of charitable foundations for senior citizens of the Russian Federation and their activities in promoting an active lifestyle among elderly citizens is presented.

Active Ageing and Social Services: The Paradox of Empowerment in Russia

The essay describes the adoption of an active ageing policy framework in Russia. Based on semi-structured interviews with elderly Russians, the essay provides evidence of confusion and uncertainty on how to perceive one's own ageing. Research participants understood that the ‘paternalistic’ view of old age as a time of troubles was now largely viewed as obsolete, yet the new ‘optimistic’ view of old age as a time of freedom and opportunities often did not reflect their experiences. This mismatch in discourses and practices reflects how participatory empowerment rhetoric, which promotes active ageing, is becoming a justification for more modest state social service provision.

Влияние умеренного употребления алкоголя на здоровье пожилых россиян: исследование в отношении количества алкоголя, рекомендованного для населения Японии

Introduction. The proportion of pure alcohol (PA) per capita in the Russian Federation (RF) is high, and moderate alcohol consumption is important for elderly Russians. In 2008, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan (the Japanese are considered one of the healthiest nations in the world) recommended a daily moderate consumption of less than 20 g/day of PA. In the Russian Federation, recommendations on daily moderate alcohol consumption for elderly persons have not yet been introduced. Aim. To clarify the factors associated with the daily moderate PA consumption and its physical and social effects on the elderly people, using in reference the recommendations for the Japanese population, in order to consider the possibility of their adaptation among the Russian population. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 770 elderly Russians aged 60 years and older. Methods of descriptive statistics were used to process the obtained data. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. A logistic regression analysis was performed, with a sample stratified by gender. Results. The logistic regression analysis among drinking participants found correlations between consumption of more than 20 g of PA per day with gender (OR = 0.582; 95% CI: 0.351–0.966), hypertension (OR = 0.384; 95% CI: 0.223–0.661), living alone (OR = 0.453; 95% CI: 0.256–0.803), the reason for alcohol intake – stress relief (OR = 4.580; 95% CI: 2.313–9.069), enjoyment of life (OR = 3.015; 95% CI : 1.207–7.531), drinking alone (OR = 2.480; 95% CI: 1.079–5.703) and with the family (OR = 2.586; 95% CI: 1.506–4.439). As a result of the stratified analysis, it was found that among male participants, alcohol consumption significantly correlated with hypertension (OR = 0.216; 95% CI: 0.090–0.521), the desire to reduce stress (OR = 2.530; 95% CI: 1.043–6.136), drinking alone (OR = 5.454; 95% CI: 1.699–17.510) and with the family (OR = 4.934; 95% CI: 2.003–12.154). Among women, alcohol consumption significantly associated with living alone (OR = 0.455; 95% CI: 0.228–0.907), the desire to reduce stress (OR = 5.274; 95% CI: 2.092–13.299), and enjoy life (OR = 4.669; 95% CI: 1.218–17.899) and drinking alcohol in the family (OR = 2.077; 95% CI: 1.069–4.033). Conclusion. The introduction of daily moderate alcohol consumption is crucial for improving the health and life expectancy of elderly Russians. However, the attempt to adapt the Japanese health policy for the Russian Federation showed no significant difference in the health characteristics of elderly people, indicating the need to introduce other possible cutoffs for daily moderate alcohol consumption. Excessive alcohol consumption occurred among Russian older people drinking alone and to relieve stress, which indicates a risk of social isolation and misunderstanding of doses for alcohol’s sedative effects. Family drinking may result in higher daily alcohol consumption among elderly people, whereas gender differences in alcohol consumption with a cutoff of 20 g per day need to be considered, especially among women. The effect of moderate alcohol consumption on hypertension requires further study.

International Migration of the Older Generation: Global and Russian Trends

The subject of this research is the international migration of the elderly (global and Russian trends). This topic is of particular relevance due to the fact that the elderly people make up 17% of international migrants (2019). In addition, older migration is at the intersection of four demographic “megatrends” - population aging, migration, population growth and urbanization. In addition, the international emigration of elderly Russians is practically not studied in the domestic literature. The hypothesis of the study is the assumption of the aging of international migration flows in accordance with the trend of demographic aging. Research method - secondary data analysis. The main empirical base is the data of the UN and Rosstat. Global statistics show that while the number of older migrants has increased, the proportion of older people has not changed. Thus, the hypothesis was not confirmed, which gives grounds to draw the following conclusion: migration lags behind aging. This is due to the weak mobilization and adaptive potential of the older generation. Russian statistics make it possible to single out 4 thousand people over the working age who moved abroad in 2019 (not including the CIS countries). The most popular destinations are Germany, Georgia. In conclusion, it examines the risks (negative impact on the labor potential of the country, etc.) and opportunities (rejuvenation of the age structure, reduction in age discrimination) for Russia in the context of the emigration of the elderly population. Analysis of the existing indices of active longevity showed the absence of migration as an indicator of activity, which significantly distorts this index. The direction of future research is to study the migration of Russian pensioners in the countries of Southeast Asia and China.

Elderly Russians as Subjects of Social Dependency Practices: Assessment and Characteristic of Involvement

Elderly Russians as Subjects of Social Dependency Practices: Assessment and Characteristic of Involvement

Личностные ресурсы адаптации пожилых к ограничениям пандемии COVID-19

The relevance of the topic is determined by the unprecedented restrictions (associated with the spread of COVID-19) on leaving home and personal communication, primarily for the older people. Particular interest is in studying of personal resources elderly Russians needed for living in new conditions, the list of which is based on existing classifications and supplemented by empirical data obtained as a result of a survey by the Public Opinion Foundation on the new lifestyle of Russians during the spread of the coronavirus pandemic (April 2020). The indicators are conditionally summarized in four resource blocks: family and household, material and labor, behavioral, psychological. The article shows how the adaptive capabilities of older people depend on the resources they have. According to the results of the study, specifics of adaptation of the older generation to the limitations of the pandemic based on the characteristics of living, labor activity and self-determination, attitude to the self-isolation regime and the reasons for compliance with quarantine measures, the emotional state and features of the perception of a new lifestyle.

Занятость и готовность к обучению граждан пожилого возраста в условиях цифровизации: состояние, проблемы, перспективы

Introduction. In the structure of the population of Russia, the proportion of older people is increasing, but the duration of the economically active working life of this age category is less than in some European countries. Many elderly Russians having an active life position want and can work. Most of them have a high level of professional education and qualifications, experience, and yet many are not in demand on the labor market, because they do not have enough digital skills. The purpose of this article is to study the situation with employing elderly citizens, identify factors that determine successful mastering information and digital technologies on the bases of the results of retraining and advanced training. Methods. The authors of the article analyze the regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation and the Russian Federation’s constituent entities (national programs and projects), study the content of the government bodies’ websites, including public employment departments, educational organizations, statistical data are used to assess the state of senior citizens’ employment and education, the authors carry out an empirical study with a survey. Scientific novelty of the study. The authors identify factors that affect the elderly citizens’ employment in industries where digital technologies are actively introduced; point out the factors that positively impact successful elderly citizens’ education. It has been proved that in order to obtain a positive learning outcome, not only the legal and organizational conditions created by the state are required, but also the presence of an educational strategy among the elderly people themselves, an element of which is the development of information and digital technologies. The results of the study make it possible to realize the main problems that hinder employment and training, as well as to predict some trends regarding the position of older people in the new realities of the digital economy.

Social activity of elderly Russians and prospects of implementation of the "active ageing" policy

Social activity of elderly Russians and prospects of implementation of the "active ageing" policy

Social activity of elderly Russians and prospects of implementation of the “active ageing” policy

The article is devoted to the analysis of the scale and types of social activity of elderly Russians. The urgency of this problem is due to the scale of demographic ageing, which has already become the subject of targeted social policy in Russia and other countries. In implementing the International Plan of Action on Ageing, in particular within the framework of the Strategy for Action for Older Citizens in the Russian Federation up to 2025, it is important to understand to which extent promotion of the ideology of active ageing could be spoken of.The paper attempts to identify the scope and structure of social activity of elderly Russians based on data from the representative sample survey “A comprehensive survey of living conditions of the population”, conducted by Rosstat in 2016. The use of sample survey data and methods of statistical data analysis enabled substantiating the hypothesis on insufficient social activity and social inclusion of elderly Russians, the significant role of family interaction in the lives of older persons, which should be taken into account in assessing the impact and adjusting the Strategy for Action for Older Citizens in the Russian Federation up to 2025.

Специфика группы пожилых как объекта социальной политики

The article is dedicated to examining the problems and risks arising from the need to refocus social policy from the exclusion to inclusion of elderly Russian citizens. The issue of reviewing the content and focus of social policy in relation to the elderly has become more pertinent given the steady trend of populations becoming older – a trend which no developed country has yet been able to break out of. In Russia, the problems that exist in all countries at the “deep population aging” stage are complicated by the particular characteristics of social wellbeing and quality of life of elderly people resulting from the cultural and social backdrop. The article notes that the range of problems affecting the condition of elderly Russians poses additional risks to the move towards an inclusive model for social policy. These include: the lack of a client-oriented attitude as an organizing principle in the healthcare system, the pervasive and persistent nature of negative stereotypes about aging, society’s attitude towards elderly people as outsiders, and the lack of a comprehensive and coherent system of sociopsycohological knowledge concerning elderly people. The authors focus their attention on the challenges facing the politicians, civil servants and experts involved in developing and implementing social policy, and the potential methods of finding solutions to these challenges. In particular, the topic of diversifying social policy regarding different age groups of elderly Russians is addressed. The authors propose a new approach to identify the top priorities and main focus of social policy in relation to the specific age groups it focuses on, based on a comprehensive analysis of empirical research data. The foundations of this article were results of empirical studies (2014–2016) carried out by the authors, as well as information from other domestic and foreign research and analysis of the normative legal foundation.

Can Russia Survive Economic Sanctions?

Motivated by recent events, we study the welfare impact of extreme sanctions regimes on Russia. To do so, we model the demographic and fiscal transitions of the Russian Federation under free trade and autarky. Unlike previous studies of sanctions, our paper utilizes a large-scale overlapping generations model with productivity growth, demographic change, region-specific policies, and an energy sector. This model is uniquely suited to understanding the long-term impacts of different trade and fiscal regimes. This paper investigates the most dramatic sanctions possible, forcing Russia into long-term autarky under a variety of scenarios. The scenarios differ with regard to the sanction's effect on the energy sector, labor productivity, and the enactment of Russian capital controls. We find that elderly Russians are hurt the most by sanctions. When Russia seizes foreign assets, this is in part because of lower interest rates on the assets of retirees. When the sanctions also reduce Russian government energy revenues, the elderly are hurt through increased consumption taxation. In all scenarios but the most benign, all existing generations are made worse off.

Социальные риски пожилых россиян, не получающих социальные услуги на дому

Against the background of a complicated medical and demographic situation of ageing population, the rising demand for social services, a social category of the elderly is latent and invisible to the modern system of social care at the institutional level. The existing information on their problems, lifestyle and quality of life is insufficient to uphold their rights and ensure their social security. The problem of improving social services for older people in risk society is an important one for both social science and social work. The riskological concept of the quality of life (as developed by G. P. Petropavlova, E. V. Shlykova, E. V. Shchekotin) has come up with an integrated approach which covers risks, threats and dangers in assessing the quality of life of the elderly. The research team of the departments of sociology, social work and social medicine at Moscow University for the Humanities (V. V. Kolkov, V. V. Sokolova, E. A. Vorobtsova, S. P. Burtsev) in 2014–2015 completed a survey of social risks for the elderly who are not receiving in-home social care. The respondents to the questionnaire produced by the team were 150 people (65% women and 35% men, aged 64 to 80) living in Moscow oblast. Our study has shown that the most common risks for elderly Russians who are not receiving in-home social services, are those of fraud, material deprivation and ill health. The risks also include loss of family ties, social isolation and behavior issues. We have also identified institutional barriers that reduce the demand for in-home social services as a tool for minimizing social risks for the elderly.

Pushed, pulled, or blocked? The elderly and the labor market in post-Soviet Russia

Russia provides an interesting context for studying the labor market experiences of the elderly because of its experience with market transition, its looming growth in the elderly dependency ratio, and its unusual pension policies that do not penalize pensioners for working. We use data from twenty surveys of the Russian population conducted from February 1991 to November 2007 to analyze the labor market participation and earnings of elderly Russians following market transition. Economic desperation, exacerbated by low pension levels, pushed some elderly to seek employment for income on the labor market. Elderly Russians with more education had more opportunities to work, and education differentials increased as market reforms progressed. The correlates of earnings operate similarly for retirement- and pre-retirement age Russians, with several exceptions: unobserved factors favoring employment are negatively associated with earnings for the elderly, occupation mediates most of the effects of education, and patterns of change over time differ somewhat. Elderly Russians are not disproportionately blocked from employment following market reforms. Following the initial transition shock, their labor market activity increased. Overall, both push and pull factors shape the employment and earnings of the elderly, affecting different segments of them.

Prevalence, components, and correlates of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among elderly Muscovites

The goal of this study is to estimate the prevalence of MetS, together with its components and correlates, among elderly Russians. Our population-based sample included randomly selected residents of Moscow aged 55 and older: 955 women with an average age of 67.6, and 833 men with an average age of 68.9. MetS was defined according to National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII). The prevalence of MetS was found to be 41.7% in women and 26.8% in men. It tended to decrease with age in men, but not in women. MetS was inversely related to education in women, but not in men. The most prevalent individual components of MetS were as follows: hypertension (64.4%), abdominal obesity (55%), and decreased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL C) (46%) for women; and hypertension (71%) and fasting hyperglycemia (35.2%) for men. An elevated level of triglycerides (TG) was the rarest MetS component, affecting 23.5% of women and 22.1% of men. The higher female prevalence of MetS was attributable to abdominal obesity. MetS was found to be associated with markers of insulin resistance (IR), low-grade inflammation, and insufficient fibrinolysis. Although the metabolic burden is an important contributor to high levels of ill-health and cardiovascular mortality among elderly Russians (especially women), it does not explain why cardiovascular mortality is much higher in Russia than in other industrialized countries.

Elder care in the new Russia

Changing emigration and co-residence patterns in the post-Soviet period have left many elderly Russians living alone or without caretakers in close proximity. In addition, Russia's transition from state socialism to neoliberal capitalism has encouraged private welfare groups, often funded and staffed by foreigners, to assume increased responsibility for providing social security to elderly people. Consequently, notions of compassion are undergoing transformation in Russia, and the types of people who provide care are also changing dramatically as caregivers are more likely to be strangers, and especially foreigners, rather than family members. This article examines social security arrangements among Russia's elderly, with particular emphasis on the emergence of transnational caregiving relationships, and how these caregiving arrangements differ from global care networks reported elsewhere.

Arrhythmia on Holter ECG and Health Status in Elderly Russians

Arrhythmia on Holter ECG and Health Status in Elderly Russians

Life span and disability: a cross sectional comparison of Russian and Swedish community based data

Objectives To compare levels of disability (in terms of physical function and self rated health) among middle aged and elderly people in Russia and Sweden, a country with high life...