Challenges of ageing in the Baltic Sea region

The project will contribute to the international theoretical work on social exclusion and old-age wellbeing by analysing less-studied dimensions of these topics. The project will prepare scientific evidence about diversification of the ageing process, and how this may impact future ageing generations. Specific focus is on vulnerable groups (persons with disabilities, lower educated, migrants), and how divergent processes for different populations can be buffered by social policies. High level research output, comparing different welfare states and their associations with social exclusion and old-age well-being will develop necessary knowledge-base for elaborating strategies. Regarding social exclusion, the project will give better understanding about three understudied dimensions: exclusion from the social relations, social participation and material conditions. In terms of wellbeing, morbidity and mental health aspects form an important research scope. The project will provide novel perspectives on health by integrating sociological, demographic, economic and psychological knowledge based on individual level data. By adding the Baltoscandian context and using new type of data the project will contribute to the understanding about the role of historical disruptions in people’s lives, experience with long-term immigration and its impact on old age. The project will also enhance the research capacity and foster research cooperation between different Baltoscandian countries.