Welfare services in Sweden – with New Zealand comments

Authors

  • Kerstin Gynnerstedt Associate Professor at the School of Social Work, Linneaus University, Växjö, Sweden.
  • Mike O'Brien School of Counselling, Human Services and Social Work at the University of Auckland.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11157/anzswj-vol23iss1-2id165

Keywords:

social services, sweden, elderly care, psychiatric care, disability, welfare systems,

Abstract

Two countries on the opposite side of the globe – Sweden and New Zealand– similarities and differences!

This article is an introduction to the following articles about aspects of social services in Sweden. These articles, written from a Swedish perspectives and context, give some pictures of the welfare sector in the areas of elderly care, psychiatric care and disability care which hopefully will be of interest especially for New Zealand readers. To build the understanding of the Swedish model this introductory article starts with a theoretical approach to welfare systems. To understand the context in which services are delivered, it is necessary to both give some basic facts about the countries and about services – regulation, conditions, or- ganisations and implementation, including how services have developed historically and influenced the current situation – and to include comments and reflections from a New Zealand perspective. These external comments and reflections are also a way to broaden the interest and value for New Zealand readers as well as for international readers in general and, not least, Swedish readers. 

References

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Bryson, L. (1992). Welfare and the state: Who benefits? Basingstoke: Macmillan.

Esping-Andersen, G. (1990). Three worlds of welfare capitalism. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Esping-Andersen, G. & Korpi, W. (1987). From poor relief to institutional welfare states: The development of Scandinavian social policy. Stockholm: Swedish Institute for Social Research.

Social Insurance Office. (2009). Försäkringskassan Social insurance in figures 2009. Sweden: Author.

Gynnerstedt, K. (1997a). Social policy in Sweden - Current crises and future prospects. In M. Mullard & S. Lee (Eds). The politics of social policy in Europe. Cheltenham: Edvard Elgar Publishing.

Gynnerstedt, K. (1997b). Past, present and future for people with learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 1(3), pp. 147-152.

Gynnerstedt, K. (2002). Citizenship theories and politics of the elderly. In B. Malmberg & C. Henning (Eds). Aspects of aging, old age and local contexts. Hälsohögskolan i Jönköping report number 2, 2002.

Gynnerstedt, K. (2011). Tredje åldern i ett socialt medborgarskapsperspektive i K. Gynnerstedt & M. Wolmesjö. Tredje åldern- sociala aspekter och medborgarskap. Malmö: Gleerups

Gynnerstedt, K. & Blomberg, B. (2004). Medborgarskap i brytningstid. Funktionshinder, makt och nätverk. Lund: Bokbox Förlag.

Hill, M. (1996). Social policy: A comparative perspective. Hemel Hempstead: Harvester Wheatsheaf.

Hvinden, B. & Johansson, H. (2007). (Eds). Citizenship in Nordic welfare states. London: Routledge.

Lag om stöd och service till vissa funktionshindrade (LSS). (1993). [The Act concerning support and services for persons with certain functional impairments]. SFS 1993:387.

Socialtjänstlag. (2001). [Social Services Act]. SFS 2001:453.

Socialstyrelsen: Modern Swedish Disability Policy. (2006). Art no 2006-114-13.

Socialstyrelsen: Care and support of people with psychiatric disorders in Sweden. Art no 2006-114-22.

Socialstyrelsen: Current developments in care of the elderly in Sweden. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.sos.se.

Sundström, G., Johansson, L. & Hassing, L. B. (2002). The shifting balance of long-term care in Sweden. The Gerontologist, 42, pp. 350-355.

Thelin, A. (2011). Den tredje åldern som ett mångtydigt och problematiskt begrepp i K. Gynnerstedt & M. Wolmesjö. Tredje åldern- sociala aspekter och medborgarskap. Malmö: Gleerups.

Elderly care: ensuring quality of life. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.sweden.gov.se.

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Published

2016-07-08

How to Cite

Gynnerstedt, K., & O'Brien, M. (2016). Welfare services in Sweden – with New Zealand comments. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 23(1-2), 3–17. https://doi.org/10.11157/anzswj-vol23iss1-2id165

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 1-2 (2011)

Section

Articles

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