Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:44:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3961.pdf: 2047552 bytes, checksum: 5a3f07b680eec028e1a5fcad9e47d512 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-11-30 / Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos / The education in the old age is intended to promote the acquisition of knowledge that determines the resizing for the fomentation of the quality of life (QoL) from the assumptions of interdisciplinarity, social participation and health promotion. With the objective of evaluating the effects of the University of the Third Age (UTA) from the Fundação Educacional São Carlos (FESC) on the QoL of the participants prior to and after the intervention and one year after their conclusion, we interviewed 56 elderly, divided in groups, thus denominated: (a) Group of students from the UTA-2008 (GA2008): graduating of Module 1 from UTA in 2008, who chose to continue in the program in 2009 even after the end of the mandatory module (Module 1); (b) Group of former students from UTA-2008 (Gex-A2008): graduates of Module 1 from UTA in 2008 that opted not to continue in the program in 2009 after the conclusion of the mandatory module; (c) Group of students from UTA-2009 (GA2009): graduates of Module 1 from UTA in 2009. The instruments for the data collection were: Elderly Characterization Form, Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria, Measure of Quality of Life (QdVDA), Scale to Measure the Satisfaction with the Life and Scale of the Positive and Negative Mood (EAPN). All the obtained data were entered into a database in the Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 13.0, to perform non-parametric statistical analysis. The results showed that: (a) The profile of the researched students from UTA points to a young elderly (M = 68,04 years, DP = 5,78, xmin = 60, xmax = 84), of the female sex (91,1%, n = 51), with a high level of education (30,4% had a bachelor s degree, n = 17) and high social-economic levels (50,0% in level B, n = 28); (b) There is a difference between the total scores on the QoL of the elderly students from UTA before and after the intervention (in the beginning and conclusion of the school year) and this difference is a positive one (Z = -4,541, p < 0,001); (c) There is no difference among the total scores of QoL of the elderly students from UTA in the second year of intervention (follow-up), the total scores remain (Z = -1,477, p = 0,140); (d) There is a difference between the total scores of QoL of the elderly students from UTA who did not attend the program for a year (follow-up) and this difference is a negative one (Z = -2,810, p 0,055); (d) There is a relationship between the perceived changes in the QoL and the socio-demographics characteristics of the students from UTA; (e) There is relationship among the socio-demographics, schooling variables and socio-economic level and the perceptions of QoL, satisfaction with life and moods (positive or negative) of the participants. Since the results pointed that the participation in the UTA program is favorable to the perceptions of the QoL, in terms of improvement or maintenance, we advocate in favor of this type of intervention. Therefore, is necessary that educational programs include the elderly, because the education can be an important source of support to facing another phase of the life cycle. / A educação na velhice tem como finalidade promover a aquisição de conhecimentos que determinam redimensionamentos para o fomento da qualidade de vida (QV) a partir de pressupostos de interdisciplinaridade, participação social e promoção da saúde. Com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da Universidade Aberta à Terceira Idade (UATI) da Fundação Educacional São Carlos (FESC) na QV dos participantes antes e após a intervenção e um ano após seu término, entrevistamos 56 idosos divididos em grupos, assim denominados: (a) Grupo de alunos da UATI-2008 (GA2008): formandos do Módulo 1 da UATI em 2008 que optaram por continuar no programa em 2009 mesmo após o término do módulo obrigatório (Módulo 1); (b) Grupo de ex-alunos da UATI- 2008 (Gex-A2008): formandos do Módulo 1 da UATI em 2008 que não continuaram no programa em 2009; (c) Grupo de alunos da UATI-2009 (GA2009): formandos do Módulo 1 da UATI em 2009. Os instrumentos de coleta de dados foram: Ficha de Caracterização do Idoso, Critério de Classificação Econômica Brasil, Escala de Qualidade de Vida (QdV-DA), Escala para Medida de Satisfação com a Vida e Escala de Ânimo Positivo e Negativo (EAPN). Todos os dados obtidos foram digitados em um banco no programa Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS), versão 13.0, para realização de análises estatísticas não-paramétricas. Os resultados mostraram que: (a) O perfil do aluno da UATI pesquisada aponta para um idoso jovem (M = 68,04 anos, DP = 5,78, xmín = 60, xmáx = 84), do sexo feminino (91,1%, n = 51), com nível de escolaridade alto (30,4% com nível superior, n = 17) e nível socioeconômico favorecido (50,0% no nível B, n = 28); (b) Existe diferença positiva entre os escores totais de QV de idosos alunos da UATI antes e após a intervenção (no início e término do ano letivo) (Z = - 4,541, p < 0,001); (c) Não existe diferença entre os escores totais de QV de idosos alunos da UATI entre o final do primeiro e do segundo ano de intervenção (follow-up) (Z = -1,477, p = 0,140); (d) Existe diferença negativa entre os escores totais de QV de idosos ex-alunos da UATI que não frequentaram o programa no segundo ano de intervenção (follow-up) (Z = -2,810, p 0,055); (d) Existe relação entre as alterações percebidas na QV e características sócio-demográficas dos alunos da UATI; (e) Existe relação entre as variáveis sócio-demográficas, escolaridade e nível socioeconômico e as percepções de QV, satisfação com a vida e ânimos (positivos ou negativos) dos participantes. Uma vez que os resultados apontaram que a participação no programa UATI é favorável às percepções de QV, em termos de melhoria ou manutenção, advogamos a favor deste tipo de intervenção. Assim, é preciso que os programas educacionais incluam os idosos, pois a educação pode ser uma importante fonte de apoio para o enfrentamento de mais uma etapa do ciclo vital.

Orientador: João Batista Martins / Resumo: A pesquisa estudou um grupo de idosas participantes das disciplinas de literatura e teatro no contexto de uma universidade aberta da terceira idade. Por meio de uma pesquisa participante, cujo foco de observação e intervenção voltara-se ao potencial imaginativo, inventivo e criativo das estudantes nosso objetivo foi direcionar o olhar às idosas enquanto pessoas singulares em processo contínuo de desenvolvimento. Para tanto, refutamos o discurso que insiste em controlar e higienizar a velhice e propusemos um esgotar da vida, o qual implica em experimentar os dramas inerentes à existência - vivências fortes o bastante para propiciar a constituição humana enquanto obra de arte. Caminhamos sustentados pela teoria histórico cultural de Vigotski a qual aborda o processo de humanização a partir de uma visão prospectiva - resultante da imbricada e complexa relação entre o biológico de um lado e o social, o cultural e o histórico de outro. Após dois anos de acompanhamento do grupo foi possível compreender que a(o) idosa(o) nunca deixa de se reinventar, de construir novos modos de agir e pensar. Se na idade avançada há situações que dizem de um certo impedimento, ainda assim, é possível projetar-se para o futuro, submeter-se a conflitos e lançar-se a desafios. Tais considerações permitem uma ressignificação do processo de envelhecimento, deslocam a(o) idosa(o) da condição de sujeito do não, para sujeito do sim e sugerem novas perspectivas de atuação pedagógica na velhice, que ao invés ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The research studied a group of elderly women participating in the subjects of literature and theater in the context of an open university of the third age. Through a participant research, whose focus of observation and intervention turned to the imaginative, inventive and creative potential of the students, our goal was to direct the eyes to the elderly as individuals in a continuous process of development. To that end, we refute the discourse that insists on controlling and sanitizing old age and proposing a depletion of life, which implies experiencing the dramas inherent in existence - experiences strong enough to propitiate the human constitution as a work of art. We are guided by the cultural historical theory of Vygotsky, which approaches the process of humanization from a prospective view - resulting from the imbricated and complex relationship between biological on one side and social, cultural and historical on the other. After two years of follow-up of the group, it was possible to understand that the elderly always reinvent themselves, to construct new ways of acting and thinking. If in the old age there are situations that say of a certain impediment, nevertheless, it is possible to be projected for the future, to submit to conflicts and to launch itself to challenges. Such considerations allow a resignification of the aging process, move the elderly from the condition of subject of no, to subject of the yes and suggest new perspectives of pedagogical action in o... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T18:24:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Elizabeth Thomaz Pereira.pdf: 1559562 bytes, checksum: bbe7b4751a3397bcc26569d1702ba6e4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-06-23 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This research aims to describe and interpret the phenomenon of learning for mature adults and elderly students in two Open University of The Third Age of São Paulo State. The purpose was to collect subsidies to be used in educating teachers for instructional contexts which aim at developing practices focused on education for that age group, providing the elderlies not only with integral development, but also equal opportunities and social inclusion. The relevance of this work is primarily, the worldwide growth interest in the social life of the elderly. This research discussed the increase in longevity in the world (Frias, 1998; Goldman, 2001; Kalache and Kickbusch, 1997; Veras, 1995), Gerontology (Cachioni, 2003; Hayflick, 1996; Neri, 1995; Papaléo Netto, 1996), Education (Canary, 2000; Case, 2000; Delors et al., 1999, Freire, 1996; Giubilei, 1993, Lima, 2001, Rogers, 1969; Sobral, 2001, Vygotsky, 1978), The Open Universities of The Third Age (Jordan Neto, 2001; Martins de Sá, 1991; Vella, 1997) and teacher education (Kenski, 2001, Monteiro, 2000, Moraes, 1997; Perrenoud, 2002) for those who are aging. To carry out the research, I used the hermeneutic-phenomenological approach (van Manen, 1990; Freire, 2007); including researching on interpretations of learning from students and teachers, mature adults and elderly, on this phase of their lives. In addition, this research tried to show what the nature of learning in old age in two Open Universities is. The gathered texts consisted of sixteen transcribed interviews with students and teachers, mature adults and elderly of two open universities. From the descriptions and interpretations of the experiences of these individuals, it was possible to identify the nature of the phenomenon. However, it should be emphasized that, throughout the interpretation process, the texts collected indicated that, against the initial intention, the target phenomenon was, in fact, the search in The Open University by senior citizens. When I reached the essence of the phenomenon, I identified the themes that structured this search, which are learning, welfare, pastime and relationships. These themes can be used as a basis for further researches. They can be and should continue being the prime objective of those who work or will work at institutions in which there are people from an age segment that most grows in the society we live / Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo descrever e interpretar o fenômeno do aprender para os alunos adultos maduros e idosos de duas Universidades Abertas da Terceira Idade de São Paulo. A finalidade foi coletar subsídios para serem utilizados na formação de professores para contextos instrucionais, que visam à formação de práticas voltadas à educação dessa faixa etária, proporcionando-lhes não só desenvolvimento integral, mas também oportunidades igualitárias e inclusão social. A relevância deste trabalho devese, principalmente, ao crescente interesse mundial pela longevidade e pela inserção social do idoso. Foi discutido o aumento da longevidade no mundo (Frias, 1998; Goldman, 2001; Kalache e Kickbusch, 1997; Veras, 1995), a Gerontologia (Cachioni, 2003; Hayflick, 1996; Neri, 1995; Papaléo Netto, 1996), a educação (Canário, 2000; Case, 2000; Delors et al., 1999; Freire, 1996; Giubilei, 1993; Lima, 2001; Rogers, 1969; Sobral, 2001; Vygotsky, 1978), as universidades abertas da terceira idade (Jordão Neto, 2001; Martins de Sá, 1991; Vellas, 1997) e a formação de professores (Kenski, 2001; Monteiro, 2000; Moraes, 1997; Perrenoud, 2002) para aqueles que estão envelhecendo. Para operacionalizar a pesquisa, foi utilizada a orientação metodológica Hermenêutico-Fenomenológica (van Manen, 1990; Freire, 2007), buscando: que interpretações alunos e professores, adultos maduros e idosos, de duas universidades abertas da terceira idade têm sobre o aprender nessa fase da vida e qual a natureza do aprender na terceira idade na universidade aberta. Os textos coletados foram constituídos de entrevistas transcritas com dezesseis alunos e professores, adultos maduros e idosos, de duas universidades abertas. A partir das descrições e das interpretações das experiências vividas por esses sujeitos, foi possível identificar a natureza do fenômeno em estudo. Durante o processo de interpretação, contudo, os textos coletados revelaram que, contrariamente ao enfoque inicial, o fenômeno em foco era, de fato, a busca na terceira idade na universidade aberta. Ao chegar à essência do fenômeno, consegui identificar os temas que estruturam essa busca, que são: aprendizagem, bem-estar, ocupação e relações. Esses temas, além de servirem de base para pesquisas posteriores, podem e devem continuar sendo o objetivo maior daqueles que trabalham ou venham a trabalhar em instituições, com o segmento etário que mais cresce na sociedade em que vivemos

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-04T18:27:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Sonia Brasi Cruz.pdf: 428296 bytes, checksum: c40bbceb5bca69084826a46ee8b75d38 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003-08-29 / Promoting subjective well-being is one of the issues of psychological science. The increase of longevity has made the development of studies about aging necessary, in order to understand this part of the population that is increasing all over the world. This research had the objective of investigating the factors which are responsible for subjective well-being that are pointed out in literature, from the point of view of participants who attend and who do not attend the university for the third age. The sample was composed by 92 participants, divided into two groups: 54 attended the university for the third age and 38 did not, and in this last group 15 were from a socio-recreational club and 23 from a catholic church. In each group two age spans have been considered: (a) from 41 to 60 years old; (b) from 61 to 80 years old and above. In the group that attended the university for the third age we had 96% of females, 65% of married people and 25% of widowed people; 55 % had finished elementary school, 53% were housewives and 95% were catholic. On the other hand, in the group that didn t attend the university for the third age, 64% were females and 36% males, 97% were married and there was no widow or widower, 45 % had finished college, 35% had a profession and 90% were catholic. We made use of a subjective well-being scale, elaborated for this study, which was composed of 36 items that investigate 6 areas: Life Fulfillment/ Happiness, Extroversion, Persistency/ Establishment of goals, Social Support/ Contact, Physical Health and Optimism, plus three extra open questions. Through variance analysis differences were found out with respect to the area of Health (favorable to the younger age span), Life Fulfillment/ Happiness (favorable to the group that didn t attend the university for the third age), school level (college educated participants presented higher scores) and in two areas of the scale when club vs. church participants were confronted. Positive correlation was found between all areas investigated by the scale in the group that attend the university for the third age. The analysis of the open questions revealed the importance of family, social and personal characteristics in subjective well-being. Attendance to the university for the third age was noted as a powerful factor to give a new sense to life. Other reasons to attend the university for the third age were: increasing social contact and learning new things. Data were also found that suggest the importance of two factors that have not been dealt with in this study: religion and widowhood. Attempting to better understand subjective well-being and ways to reach it should be a part of the studies dedicated to quality of life in adults and elderly people. / Promover o bem-estar subjetivo ? uma das preocupa??es da ci?ncia psicol?gica. Com o aumento da longevidade, estudos sobre o envelhecimento se fazem necess?rios para a compreens?o desta parcela da popula??o que est? aumentando no mundo todo. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar os fatores respons?veis pelo bem-estar subjetivo, apontados pela literatura, na vis?o de participantes que freq?entam e que n?o freq?entam a universidade para a terceira idade. A amostra foi composta de 92 participantes, divididos em 2 grupos: 54 freq?entavam a universidade para a terceira idade e 38 n?o, sendo que, destes ?ltimos, 15 pertenciam a um clube s?cio-recreativo e 23 a uma Igreja Cat?lica. Em cada grupo foram consideradas duas faixas et?rias: (a) de 41 a 60 anos; (b) de 61 a 80 anos e mais. No grupo que freq?entava a universidade para a terceira idade tivemos 96% do sexo feminino, 65% casados e 25% vi?vos; 55% terminaram o 1? grau, 53% do lar e 95% eram cat?licos. Em contrapartida, no grupo que n?o freq?entava a universidade para a terceira idade 64% eram do sexo feminino e 36% do sexo masculino; 97% casados, n?o sendo encontrados vi?vos; 45% terminaram um curso superior, 35% tinham uma profiss?o e 90% eram cat?licos. Foi utilizada uma Escala de bem-estar subjetivo, constru?da para este estudo, composta de 36 itens que investigam 6 ?reas: Satisfa??o com a vida / Felicidade, Extrovers?o, Persist?ncia / Estabelecimento de metas, Apoio/Contato Social, Sa?de f?sica e Otimismo, al?m de 3 quest?es abertas. Atrav?s da an?lise de vari?ncia foram encontradas diferen?as em rela??o ? ?rea Sa?de (favor?vel ? faixa et?ria mais nova), Satisfa??o com a vida/Felicidade (favor?vel ao grupo que n?o freq?entava a universidade para a terceira idade), n?vel de escolaridade (escolaridade superior apresentou m?dias mais altas) e em duas ?reas da escala (quando foram comparados os participantes de clube x igreja). Foi encontrada correla??o positiva entre todas as ?reas investigadas pela escala, no grupo que freq?enta a universidade para a terceira idade. A an?lise das quest?es abertas revelou a import?ncia de caracter?sticas pessoais, sociais e familiares no bem-estar subjetivo. A freq??ncia ? universidade para a terceira idade foi apontada como poderoso fator para se dar um novo significado ? vida. Outros motivos apontados para freq?entar a universidade: ampliar o contato social e aprender coisas novas. Tamb?m foram encontrados dados que sugerem a import?ncia de dois fatores n?o investigados neste estudo: religi?o e viuvez. Buscar compreender melhor o bem-estar subjetivo e maneiras de alcan??-lo devem fazer parte dos estudos dedicados ? qualidade de vida nos adultos e idosos.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T20:22:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vania Ramos.pdf: 2252683 bytes, checksum: d64a3977a0e69b9444f228db5cbdc3df (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-03-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This thesis focuses primarily on the following items: different visions on aging, an analysis of the historical path of the so called open universities of the Third Age (U3A) in order to bring them into the context of the universities located in the city of São Paulo; a qualitative research was developed, based on an analytical study on two distinctive projects for universities for the elderly in the city of São Paulo (the Open University of the third age of USP Universidade de São Paulo and the University for the elderly of PUC / SP Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo), applying questionnaires and personal interviews with some students from these universities. The next chapter develops an analysis based on these students answers and statements. Finally, the discovery of a new form of ageing, a lifestyle for the elderly that we envision as innovative / O percurso do olhar atento deste trabalho passará pelas seguintes etapas: diferentes visões do envelhecimento; análise da trajetória histórica das universidades da terceira idade visando contextualizá-las no ambiente das universidades paulistanas; elaboramos uma pesquisa qualitativa, através de um estudo descritivo-analítico dos projetos de duas Universidades abertas à Terceira Idade da cidade de São Paulo, (Universidade aberta `a Terceira Idade da USP e a Universidade aberta `a Maturidade da PUC/SP), através da aplicação de questionários e entrevistas feitas com alunos das universidades citadas, desenvolvendo uma análise do discurso destes estudantes em relação aos diferentes tipos de sociabilidade encontrados nestes espaços escolares e, finalmente, na conclusão, descobrimos uma nova forma de envelhecer, um modo de vida que enxergamos como inovador

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T14:56:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vania Ramos.pdf: 2252683 bytes, checksum: d64a3977a0e69b9444f228db5cbdc3df (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-03-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This thesis focuses primarily on the following items: different visions on aging, an analysis of the historical path of the so called open universities of the Third Age (U3A) in order to bring them into the context of the universities located in the city of São Paulo; a qualitative research was developed, based on an analytical study on two distinctive projects for universities for the elderly in the city of São Paulo (the Open University of the third age of USP Universidade de São Paulo and the University for the elderly of PUC / SP Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo), applying questionnaires and personal interviews with some students from these universities. The next chapter develops an analysis based on these students answers and statements. Finally, the discovery of a new form of ageing, a lifestyle for the elderly that we envision as innovative / O percurso do olhar atento deste trabalho passará pelas seguintes etapas: diferentes visões do envelhecimento; análise da trajetória histórica das universidades da terceira idade visando contextualizá-las no ambiente das universidades paulistanas; elaboramos uma pesquisa qualitativa, através de um estudo descritivo-analítico dos projetos de duas Universidades abertas à Terceira Idade da cidade de São Paulo, (Universidade aberta `a Terceira Idade da USP e a Universidade aberta `a Maturidade da PUC/SP), através da aplicação de questionários e entrevistas feitas com alunos das universidades citadas, desenvolvendo uma análise do discurso destes estudantes em relação aos diferentes tipos de sociabilidade encontrados nestes espaços escolares e, finalmente, na conclusão, descobrimos uma nova forma de envelhecer, um modo de vida que enxergamos como inovador

The thesis deals with the topic of Activation and education programmes for seniors in the region of Karlovy Vary. The topic is divided here into two parts. The first, theoretical part deals with the old age as a biopsychosocial problem, i.e. it evaluates the demography of old age, the concept of healthy ageing, it deals with medical and social geriatric diagnostics and, above all, with individual activation programmes, their creation and principles, importance and practical application. The work especially includes education programmes, it describes their particularities and use, as well as their teaching at colleges in the region of Karlovy Vary. The second, research part consists of the determining of hypotheses, the aim of the work, and the methodology of the research. I have chosen the quantitative method of research by which three questionnaires were assessed: for respondents living in old people´s homes, for respondents living at home and for professional workers dealing with activation and education programmes in old people´s homes. Further a comparative analysis of the questionnaire for respondents living in old people´s homes as well as those living at home was carried out. The subject of this analysis are the questions of the same aim and their statistic compiling. All the data are compiled with the help of charts, tables and statistic programme SPSS. The most important is the testing of the hypothesis concerning the knowledgeability of respondents about activation and education programmes and related participation in such programmes, and further hypotheses inquiring whether professional workers (course lectors) have enough information on the entire spectrum of these programmes. The discussion is directed at the evaluation of the research targets, practical implementation of knowledge into practice, and especially at additional new facts, which I revealed during the research itself and during the statistic compiling of data. It is possible to say that the respondents must have information on the importance of activation and education programmes, on their taking place and the conditions of participation. Alike the professional staff holding or lecturing them should be professionally trained in courses. Thus the programmes will reach the desirable quality and their importance for the society will be significantly higher.

Thesis deals offering leisure activities for seniors in České Budějovice and their use. First, the author deals with basic concepts of the topic, defines terms of age and aging and discusses the problems that this entails. She also describes the social aspects and shows the negative demographic development of aging in EU countries and the Czech Republic. In the research concludes that in the sample seniors living in the Czech Budejovice is the most active group of seniors visiting the University of the Third Age, while the group home for elderly people spend their time differently from other groups, perhaps related to the fact that life in a constitutional device is specific and different

Computer literacy has recently emerged as a new topic, complementing traditional literacy. While this issue affects every one of us, it is particularly important for people of post-productive age, who have not been able to become acquainted with information technology during their professional life. The National Computer Literacy Program provided a great opportunity to eliminate this illiteracy; unfortunately it came to an end together with termination of the Ministry of Informatics of the Czech Republic. It is striking that the State has been preparing projects in the area of e-Government, electronic census and electronic elections without having any developmental strategy for users of these ambitious projects. An opportunity to improve personal skills after the end of a professional career is provided by the University of the Third Age at the University of Economics, where students learn to use not only computers, but also the multimedia in the Graphic and Multimedia Laboratory. Unfortunately, this university is not accessible to everyone. The limitations consist particularly in the precondition of completed secondary education, but also in the available capacity. Thus, an option that is really available to everyone lies in the commercial sector, which offers a wide range of courses. These courses are provided either by software companies or by the ECDL (European Computer Driving License).

The thesis "Civic participation of older people in the context of the University of the Third Age" focuses on the role of civic participation in the lives of active older people who attend the University of the Third Age. This role is examined in the context of adult education, specifically through a leisure education program, which is dedicated to educating older people, i.e. the University of the Third Age. From a demographic perspective, the elderly population will continue to grow. This will be unavoidably reflected in the development of civil society in which older people participate. This makes it relevant to pay older people as an active group more research attention. Qualitative data were collected via in-depth interviews. Attention was paid namely to the interviewees' attitudes to and experience of civic participation they have accumulated over their life course. The analysed respondents' accounts indicate that they understand participation as activities related to politics and as politically oriented activities. They attach the greatest importance to political participation. Formal participation also occurs, but the respondents do not stress this participation as they rather take it for granted.