Tekijät

• Jolanki, Outi (Tampere University. Faculty of Social Sciences)
• Jylhä, Marja (Tampere University. Faculty of Social Sciences)

Asiasanat

COVID-19, ageing, elderly, health, housing, old age, psychological well-being, quality of life, social networks, well-being (health)

Sisällön kuvaus

The survey examined how Finnish individuals aged 65-84 perceive aging and well-being. The themes of the survey include health and functional ability, social networks and activity, the status of older people in society, personal future, housing and living environment, use of technology, and the COVID-19 epidemic.

At the beginning of the survey, the respondents were asked how they perceive their health and functional ability, whether they have any doctor-diagnosed illnesses, whether they receive sufficient help in their daily lives, and what might be the reasons for not receiving such help. Next, the survey explored the respondents' social relationships and levels of activity. Participants were asked, for example, whether they regularly assist someone with reduced functional ability or illness, what kinds of leisure activities are part of their lives, and whether they feel lonely. Following this, the respondents were asked for their opinions on the status of older people and broader societal issues, such as whether pensioners are sufficiently valued in Finland and whether voting in elections is worthwhile.

The respondents were then asked about their views regarding their future and aging. They were asked, for example, where they would like to live as they grow older, and whether issues such as their own health, climate change, or a close relative's illness cause them concern. After this, the respondents were asked about their current housing arrangements and their opinions on the services available in their residential area and the accessibility of those services. The following topic in the survey was technology, which examined how often and what types of technology and applications the respondents use. Finally, the survey gathered experiences and opinions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background variables in the dataset include age, gender, marital status, education, labour market status, pension status, financial situation, net income, occupation, and socioeconomic status.