Left behind in transition? Poverty, social networks and social support amongst older people in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

The qualitative research was conducted in order to illuminate older people’s quality of life from the perspective of older people themselves. The aim was to paint a picture of the lives of older people and to gain insight into how older people in the region have been affected by the massive societal changes of the last 15 years and how they are coping with the impacts of these changes.

The project involves a mixed method design, combining quantitative analysis of the living standards of older people of recently available household survey data, with qualitative research providing deep insight into the reality of life for older people today. Obtaining greater insight into how the lives of older people have been affected by the socio-economic transformations of the last 15 years, and relative role of the state and family in both providing support to and benefiting from the contribution of, older people will aid the formulation of poverty alleviation programmes.
Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Moldova were chosen as countries for qualitative research as these three countries are the poorest of the former Soviet states. In each country, data collection sites were selected to represent different geographical and social conditions. Data collection commenced in each country with the capital city. Data were also collected in a smaller town and a rural location as it was seen as important to investigate any differences in older people’s experiences which might be related to the places in which they live. With consideration for the above criteria, sites were then selected according to safety and accessibility issues and the availability of local contacts.<p>This project examines the living conditions and sources of finance and social support (both state and family) amongst older people living in the seven poorest countries of the former Soviet Union. The break-up of the Soviet Union and the subsequent transition to market-led economies has been accompanied by a decade of economic and social upheaval on an unprecedented scale. Older people face particular challenges. Having lived their entire working lives under a paternal and relatively generous welfare system, they now find themselves in later life facing a new world – politically, economically, socially, psychologically and physically.
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本质性研究旨在从老年群体自身视角出发，阐释其生活质量。研究目标在于描摹老年群体的生活图景，并深入洞察该区域老年群体如何受近15年来大规模社会变革的影响，以及他们如何应对这些变革所带来的冲击。

本项目采用混合研究设计：结合对新近可得的住户调查数据中老年人生活水平的量化分析，与质性研究，以深入洞悉当代老年人的生活现实。通过进一步明晰近15年来社会经济转型对老年群体生活的影响，以及国家与家庭在为老年人提供支持、并从老年群体的贡献中获益两方面的相对作用，将有助于扶贫政策的制定。

本次质性研究选取塔吉克斯坦、吉尔吉斯斯坦与摩尔多瓦作为研究国，因这三国为前苏联加盟共和国中经济最为贫困的国家。在每个研究国内，均选取能够代表不同地理与社会环境的数据采集点。数据采集首先从各国首都启动，同时也在小型城镇与农村地区开展数据收集——调研老年群体因居住地域不同而可能存在的经历差异，被视为重要研究内容。在遵循上述遴选标准的前提下，后续将依据安全性、可及性以及当地联络资源的可获得性，最终确定采集点。

<p>本项目聚焦前苏联加盟共和国中经济最为贫困的七个国家，调研该国老年人的生活状况、资金来源与社会支持（包括国家与家庭支持）渠道。苏联解体后，各加盟共和国向市场经济转型的十余年间，经历了史无前例规模的经济与社会动荡。老年群体面临着独特的挑战：他们整个职业生涯均成长于父爱主义且相对优渥的福利体系之下，如今却在晚年时期不得不直面一个全新的世界——无论是政治、经济、社会、心理还是生理层面。</p>