The measurement and implication of the older people’s social function in the community: a Shanghai experience

Abstract

The study employed a quantitative approach to measure the social function of the older people. From a questionnaire survey in a Shanghai community, we found that participants’ party affiliation, education, age group, functional capacity (IADL) and occupational status were the major factors affecting older people’s social function. The older people participated more actively, tended to trust others more and enjoyed better social function in the community. These findings lead to implications for social work practices and policymaking procedures on active ageing.

Keywords:

• Older people
• social function
• Shanghai
• community engagement and network
• community norms

Notes

1. Incomes include personal saving interests, investment profits, and pension.

2. There are 120 neighbourhood committees in Zhabei District and a Starlight Activity Centre for the Aged was set up by each neighbourhood committee. All these centres are organised and managed by 1040 community elderly volunteers in the sampled district.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China 【Grant Number 71490732】and the Research Fund of the School of Social Development and Public Policy, Fudan University.