| Summary: | Background. Elderly age, as one of the stages of human life, due to the increase
in life expectancy, has become a significant and fulfilling period. This stage is still
characterized for the Russian reality by a reduced range of resources and opportunities
to ensure an average level of life quality. As a result, representatives of the
third-age group are on the periphery of public life, acting as an economically untenable
category of citizens in need of support and care at least from the family and
the state.
Materials and methods. The work is based on the results of quantitative sociological
research (questionnaire) conducted as part of the research group of the Department
of sociology of social work of the Saratov State University in 2018–2019
in Saratov and Saratov region (the total sample population was 421 people).
Results. The article, based on the results of quantitative research, presents an
analysis of modern practices of care for the elderly people by relatives, organizations
of various profiles, and private, civil initiatives. Some problem areas of various
forms of assistance and care are described, further prospects of their development
are indicated.
Conclusions. Among the sources that implement practices for the care of elderly
people identified: traditional – the state and the family; modern, acquiring the systematic
nature of the civil initiative (the legal entity) and neighborly help and care.
In terms of importance, family and relatives remain the dominant sources of care for
elderly family members. Citizens living in the neighborhood constitute the second
most important support tier. And in third place is the state practice, characterized as
formal but systematic.
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