Developing Culturally Sensitive Programs for Elderly

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the "Study on Gender-Sensitive Aspects of OfferingHealthy Ageing Activities in Selected Regions of Georgia (Gori, Dmanisi, Bolnisi),"conducted between September and December 2024. Developed in collaboration with 16 the Georgian Association of Social Workers (GASW) experts, IDP Women Association"Consent" (IDPWA), and Hilfswerk International (HWI GE), the study exploredgender-specific needs and challenges related to aging in three municipalities acrossthe Shida Kartli and Kvemo Kartli regions, where IDPWA operates Healthy Ageing(HA) centers. IDPWA provides essential services for older individuals of diverse backgrounds,promoting socialization, lifelong learning, and volunteer engagement. In 2023,preliminary monitoring and evaluation (M&E) efforts in HA centers in Dmanisi andGori highlighted clear gender disparities in service utilization and ingrainedstereotypes regarding traditional gender roles. To expand on these findings, acomprehensive, gender-sensitive study was undertaken in Phase II of the project. A total of 213 individuals aged 60 years and above were interviewed using a structuredsurvey methodology. The study encountered challenges in identifying respondentsdue to limited available data, necessitating reliance on snowball sampling andengagement with municipal representatives, HA center personnel, and communitynetworks. The research instrument was piloted in June 2024 before conducting full-scale data collection. The study examined the intersection of gender and aging by identifying gender-specific needs and barriers faced by older men and women. The analysis incorporatedan intersectional approach, considering diverse factors such as ethnic background,disability status, living environment, and available support networks. A particularfocus was placed on conflict-affected communities, analyzing the impact of pasttrauma on older adults' participation in HA activities. Findings indicate that trauma 17 often results in lower engagement levels, highlighting the need for tailoredinterventions. Data collection utilized face-to-face interviews, allowing interviewers to provideexplanations and clarifications to respondents. A standardized interview protocolensured consistency in data collection. The study employed a purposive samplingmethod to target individuals meeting predefined criteria, supplemented byconvenience snowball sampling to enhance participant recruitment. Ultimately, the findings will inform gender-responsive adaptations in HA centers,promoting inclusivity and improving service accessibility for older adults of allbackgrounds. By integrating gender-sensitive perspectives, the study aims to enhanceparticipation rates and ensure that HA services are effectively tailored to meet thediverse needs of aging populations in Georgia’s Kvemo Kartli and Shida Kartli regions.