Cecilia Henning

Strong Ties or Weak Ties? : Neighbourhood Networks in a New Perspective

The purpose of this article is to explore the structure and content of locally based neighbourhood networks. Instead of assuming that more and deeper neighbourhood relations are obviously better, we consider the role that social relations among neighbours actually plays in peoples daily lives. The empirical results presented in this article are based on two case studies conducted in a Swedish housing area in 1983, and a follow up study in 1993. The results indicate that as long as we focus only on strong ties, the neighbourhood—in comparison to other arenas like family, relatives, work mates, and close friends—is of less importance for most people. But if we also consider the number of weak ties, defined as unpretentious everyday contacts, the local arena seems to be of significant importance for many people. The neighbourhood is proved to be a suitable arena for weak ties, because proximity and continuity, which promote the development of these kind of social contacts, are easily established in the vici...

Old Age Identity in Social Welfare Practice

The main objective of this study was to examine the process of old age identity construction within a setting of social welfare work with old people. We sought to identify social welfare practices that construct and enforce certain old age identities. The empirical material analysed in this article is part of a study of a non-governmental organization in Poland. The method of analysis was inspired by nexus analysis, which analyses social actions through a historical and ethnographic perspective. The analysis focused on practices that produced, sustained and promoted particular old age identity. The results of this study show a complex process in which welfare professionals create the identities of preferred clients. The study shows that social welfare practice is often oriented toward imagined client identities that have little to do with real people.

Senior Housing in Sweden: A New Concept for Aging in Place

Demographic projections of elder care in Sweden necessitate new and creative approaches to accommodate this rapidly growing population. This article describes a unique aging-in-place care and housing policy initiative for the elderly. Using a case example in Eksjö, Sweden, the authors used a future workshop (FW) method to help seniors plan their future housing in the community. The FW is based on a collective democratic process involving full participation, open communication, organizational development, and leadership. The process steps of the three-stage FW method are described. Results indicated that empowerment, collaboration, autonomy, social education, and decision making can be achieved in a community-network–based policy model. This demonstrates the devolution of national policy and how, at the grass roots level, local participation and public accountability can take root. Devolution created an opportunity for creatively addressing local needs.

The Social Services as “Network Organizers”

At the Institution for Building Function Analysis at the University of Lund, there is a traditional interest in alternative forms of housing. There are experimental schemes which are intended to create more favourable conditions for the development of a spirit of community and for resident participation (user-influence). We researchers came to take an interest in the “Linkoping model” of social services because of the project’s ambitions to help to stimulate social life in the area through an organization which was better adapted to the immediate environment of the housing area. The project has a multi-disciplinary composition and is at present made up of an architect (Karin Palm-Linden) and two social scientists (Mats Lieberg and Cecilia Henning). The project is being financed by allocations from the Swedisch Council for Building Research.