Article
National Ombudsman for the Elderly. A solution for a more responsive welfare state?
Retfaerd
(2013)
Abstract
The aim of the article is to discuss the role of the national Ombudsman institution, using the Ombudsman for Children (BO) in Sweden as the example of an existing institution and the Ombudsman for the Elderly as an example of a possible future Ombudsman. Taking the human condition of vulnerability as a point of departure, in accordance with Martha Albertson Fineman’s vulnerability approach, the issue is whether the Ombudsman can be a useful tool for the state to provide resilience towards the inevitable age-related and situation-based dependencies in later life. In the article it is discussed whether it is reasonable to argue for an expansion of the Ombudsman office to elderly persons. The article also raises the issue of whether the duties of such an office should be at a general level to promote the rights of the elderly according to law, or focus on indi- vidual cases.
Keywords
- elderly,
- ageing,
- vulnerability,
- dependency,
- ombudsman,
- ombudsperson
Disciplines
Publication Date
2013
Citation Information
Titti Mattsson. "National Ombudsman for the Elderly. A solution for a more responsive welfare state?" Retfaerd Vol. 142 Iss. 3 (2013) p. 9 - 24 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/titti_mattsson/14/