(In)visible and (Un)heard? Older Adults as Guests on COVID-Related Political Talk Shows in Germany.

Background and Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disproportionately affected older adults. Despite calls to include older people in societal decision making, the extent to which older adults have participated in the pandemic-related public debate is unknown. This study investigated older adults' (65+ years) voice and visibility as guests on political talk shows as an important arena of public debate. Specifically, we examined how often older adults appeared as guests, their characteristics, and how older versus younger guests discussed the pandemic. Research Design and Methods: Judges assessed all guests' age, gender, migration experience, functional aids, and professional background on all episodes of the 4 most-watched political talk shows in Germany between January 1 to December 31, 2020 (N = 136 episodes, K = 754 guests). We used an exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach and frame analysis on all episodes featuring older guests (n = 37), to first identify how guests discussed the pandemic, and then assess differences in positions between older and younger guests (<65 years). Results: Older guests rarely appeared (12.2% of all guests, 9.6% of guests on COVID-related episodes) and if they did, they were majorly male, young-old, German-born professionals with no functional aids. Rather than appearing as "peer advocates" of older adults, older guests framed the pandemic similarly to younger guests, with a tendency to more strongly address disproportionate restrictions of civil liberties in society. Discussion and Implications: Results suggest that one prominent part of German media failed to represent the diverse voice of a population most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Differences between how older and younger guests discussed the pandemic may reflect their privileged background in addition to generational differences in attitudes toward government. Future research in other social fora and of other social groups of older adults might facilitate understanding how older adults shaped the public debate on the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Distance caregiving? : A qualitative interview study with distance caregivers]. / Pflegen auf Distanz? : Eine qualitative Interviewstudie mit "distance caregivers".

BACKGROUND: Family caregivers are important players in both inpatient and domestic healthcare. As a result of increasing mobility many also perform care over geographical distances. OBJECTIVE: The article highlights the opportunities and challenges of distance caregiving from a distance caregivers' perspective. Data were collected as part of the binational research and development project on distance caregiving, which investigated various dimensions of distance caregiving with an interdisciplinary team from Germany (Protestant University Ludwigsburg) and Switzerland (Careum University of Applied Sciences Zurich). To date empirical results exist mainly for the Anglo-American region. This study provides hitherto lacking empirical findings for Germany and Switzerland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was based on 49 guideline-based, partially narrative interviews (Germany: N = 35; Switzerland: N = 14) with distance caregivers, who at the time of data collection were caring for a person at least 60 years old. The software-supported data analysis (MAXQDA 10) was carried out using deductive and inductive structuring content analysis according to Mayring. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Distance caregivers provide substantial and diverse care and support tasks. A central challenge is the lack of up to date and reliable information regarding the care situation. This may lead to emotional strain; however, distance also results in relief for caregivers. A functioning network including well-defined agreements and transparent communication is crucial.

[Distance caregiving: an issue among sociopolitical actors?] / Distance caregiving ­ ein Thema bei soziopolitischen Akteur*innen?

BACKGROUND: Caregiving from a distance is understudied as well as rarely sociopolitically debated in Germany. Accordingly, distance caregiving is a type of informal care work that has been little acknowledged in social law. OBJECTIVE: This article addresses the issue of how aware sociopolitical experts in Germany are of distance caregiving. Moreover, it points out the challenges the experts perceive in the legal framework and which solutions they can identify. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Guided interviews were conducted with six experts from sociopolitical areas in Germany with points of connection to care politics (ministries, associations, organizations). The interviews were analyzed based on the method of summarizing qualitative content analysis (according to Mayring). RESULTS: Even though distance caregiving has played a minor role among the sociopolitical experts, they were aware of individual aspects of this topic, mostly based on having been personally affected. Due to this experience they argued for a broader understanding of care including for example organizational support. They criticized the lack of sociopolitical consideration of distance caregivers and among other things demanded a functioning local support system. CONCLUSION: The interviews indicated a specific and personal awareness of distance caregiving; however, the findings pointed to stronger criticism of the overall situation regarding caregiving relatives. Thus, despite all recent reforms in distance caregiving there is still a need for action on the topic of caregiving relatives.

Senior Entrepreneurship: The Unrevealed Driver for Social Innovation.

From a political and economic perspective, senior entrepreneurship seems to be the response to the demographic consequences of the aging workforce in Europe. Several policies and strategies by the European Union (EU) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) promote senior entrepreneurship by creating a favorable environment and frameworks. This article examines the role of senior entrepreneurship as a social innovation understood as a response to unmet needs of population aging in the area of economic activity. In this paper draws on qualitative interviews with 6 experts and 4 senior entrepreneurs (as part of a larger research project) in Poland in addition to the analysis of reports and evaluations of incubator projects. Findings highlight the importance of other factors than financial sustainability of senior entrepreneurship: (1) social connectedness as a means against social isolation, (2) personal self-confidence leading to social and psychological empowerment of the entrepreneurs, and (3) skills, knowledge, and experience that are also strengthening their human capital in the job market. Economic sustainability of the businesses established is not the primary goal in these undertakings. The article suggests that due to the three factors before mentioned that the notion of social innovation in senior entrepreneurship might best be understood as improving the well-being and quality of life of the entrepreneurs themselves. Senior entrepreneurship can be an adequate response to the challenges of the aging population. However, due to the low rates of unemployment, the idea of becoming a senior entrepreneur appears a little tempting.