/library/oar/handle/123456789/946 Thu, 25 Dec 2025 20:01:16 GMT 2025-12-25T20:01:16Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/127432 Title: Retirement, old-age and family care : a Maltese midlife perspective Abstract: At a time when demographers and policymakers seem to be concerned with the socioeconomic implications of ageing populations, this study sets out to explore the interplay between ageing and social change. The view adopted by this social investigation is that social policy should be primarily directed by people's needs and care perspectives rather than by demographic trends and projections alone. This study does not look at old people but at those who are presently in their midlife and will thus form a segment of the next generation of older persons. As a result of the post-modern life course, the people in focus are expected to change the nature of growing old. This study therefore sets out to identify the major post-modern trends so as to analyse how these have affected people's attitudes, perceptions and expectations particularly in terms of ageing and old age. Since the family has traditionally always been perceived as the main informal care provider, this study looks also at the transformations that this basic social unit has sustained over the past few decades. This research dimension is undertaken on the premise that changes in family structure and behaviour are likely to reflect themselves on the intergenerational relationships among kin and on their capacity to provide care. In presenting a wider understanding of people's old age needs and wishes as well as insight into children's disposition to care for parents in their later years, this study lends a contribution to social policy by recommending measures that could enhance the effectiveness of welfare provisions through the introduction of strategies that are congruent to the attitudes and perceptions of modern societies. Description: PH.D.; FOREIGN THESIS Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/127432 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/944 Title: Remodelling services for new contexts : responding to community mental health need in Malta Authors: Pace, Charles Abstract: ‘Active Remodelling for Congruence’ (ARC) has been developed by this author as an approach to systematically adapt exogenous models and policies to the context of an adopting country. Models are not imported whole, but analysed into components. The separate adaptability of each component is examined with respect to characteristics of the receiving context. Simultaneously, a context-congruent service framework is derived and proposed for the delivery of community mental health services in Malta. ARC is used to adapt models from overseas, especially UK. ARC is thus tested out and refined. Congruence on the services level is sought with four other levels, each of which is therefore first appraised. The Maltese country context is portrayed through history, cultural expectations, comparative welfare and the progress of public policy and management. The user world is examined through questionnaire interviews designed by leading researchers into community mental health needs, met and unmet, family impact of illness and quality of life. Prevailing and desirable values are identified and applied. Recommendations for service are then made, congruent also with the organisation level, or local management capability. Rather than reactively fitting with them, congruence creatively questions contexts too, appealing to values. Relatively weak Maltese resources and capability contrast with strong - though surprisingly undeveloped - potential in family and civil society. A flexible case management is recommended that can 'change gear’ into less or more resource intensive alternative models. This prudently limits assumed responsibility and cost, sharing them with civil society, and invests in managerially supported targeting, streaming, prioritising, minimising bureaucracy and promoting independence. Relevant issues are thus identified, preparing ARC for use in other country contexts. Finally, bridges are suggested to contemporary readers between intellectual disciplines, cultures and 'epochs’ (namely, post-modernity, modernity and pre-modernity) hoping that such research can be viewed with less fragmented and less unsure minds. Description: A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Social Sciences in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. University of Leicester. February 2002 Tue, 01 Jan 2002 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/944 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z