Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.3935/rsp.v32i2.44
Elder Care in Serbia During the COVID-19 Pandemic: What Happens When Closeness Becomes an Impediment to Care?
Ljiljana Pantović
orcid.org/0000-0002-2018-9643
; Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju, Univerzitet u Beogradu, Beograd, Srbija
*
Bojana Radovanović
orcid.org/0000-0002-9186-0326
; Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju, Univerzitet u Beogradu, Beograd, Srbija
Milica Sekulović
orcid.org/0000-0002-7172-102X
; Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju, Univerzitet u Beogradu, Beograd, Srbija
* Dopisni autor.
Sažetak
This study aims to investigate the profound impacts of the pandemic on elder care in Serbia. Specifically, it seeks to understand the adjustments made in care practices when physical proximity impedes care. The research employs a qualitative, ethnographic approach to analyzing data from 40 interviews conducted with elder care providers and recipients between April and September 2022 as well as ethnographic observations and unstructured interviews. The study investigates how elder care was managed in diverse settings, including rural and urban areas, homes, and care facilities. It reveals varied responses and strategies care providers and recipients adopt amidst reduced physical interaction constraints. Key findings underscore the significant impact of the pandemic on elder care, highlighting intra-generational solidarity and the increased reliance on female household members for care provision. However, it also exposes the challenges faced by those in public elder-care homes or receiving home assistance, including limited care and a lack of closeness. Our study emphasizes the urgent need for policy and support systems tailored to address the specific challenges encountered in elder care, particularly during times of crisis, such as a pandemic.
Ključne riječi
pandemic; elder care; Serbia; qualitative analysis; closeness; care
Hrčak ID:
337799
URI
Datum izdavanja:
15.10.2025.
Posjeta: 469 *