Heli Valokivi, University of Jyväskylä

Paula Vasara, University of Jyväskylä

Andrea Lorenz-Wende, University of Jyväskylä

Our panel seeks to explore the diverse service paths experienced by older adults in need of social services, especially in the context of the growing policy emphasis on ‘ageing in place’. As the ageing population continues to grow, it has become crucial for

older service users to have easy access to service coordination and guidance. Ensuring that older adults feel confident in managing their lives within their own homes and communities leads to improved service user safety, greater customer satisfaction, and enhanced cost efficiency. Our interest in service pathways arises from the landscape of care, particularly in how legitimate needs and concerns are recognised and shaped by the shifting dynamics within social services.  

The panel will focus on key elements that contribute to the success of social care services for older adults, such as timely assessment, coordinated service delivery, and advanced working methods supporting client safety. We are particularly interested in understanding how service assessment/coordination unfolds when concerns about an individual’s ability to cope arise, and what happens at critical transition points in their service path. We aim to explore potential interruptions in service continuity and their underlying causes. Exploring the implicit concerns that may surface in specific situations and the overlooked needs of those in vulnerable positions.

We invite empirical and theoretical papers that examine the impacts of evolving social services and care provision for service users; and topics related to exploring the relevance of concern in service access, service assessment, case management, service paths and transitions, and client safety. Additionally, the focus will also be on the role of social rights in shaping the service paths of older adults; and we encourage discussions on the institutional settings of care systems that address how these factors influence the accessibility, effectiveness, and inclusion.