Development of the social protection system for elderly people in ukraine in the conditions of demographic challenges

Анотація

The aim of the article is to study the current trends in the development of the social protection system for the elderly in Ukraine in the context of demographic aging of the population, military challenges, and transformation of the socio-economic environment, as well as to substantiate promising areas for improving state policy in the field of supporting the elderly. The article analyzes the current state of the social protection system for the elderly in Ukraine amid deepening demographic imbalances, a decline in the economically active population, and an increasing burden on the social security system. It is established that the process of population aging is accompanied by an increase in the needs for social, medical, rehabilitation, and care services, which requires the modernization of existing social support mechanisms and their adaptation to modern socio-economic conditions. Attention is paid to the impact of martial law on the elderly, in particular, the problems of forced displacement, loss of social ties, restrictions on access to medical and social services, increased social isolation, and increased risks of poverty among the elderly. The key problems of the functioning of the social protection system for the elderly were investigated, including the insufficient level of pension provision, uneven access to social services in the regional context, limited financial resources, staff shortage in the field of social services, insufficient development of innovative forms of care, and weak intersectoral interaction between state bodies, business, and the public sector. It was substantiated that, in the context of demographic aging and post-war reconstruction in Ukraine, the development of a comprehensive model of social support for the elderly, focused on ensuring active longevity, social integration, and improving the quality of life of older age groups, is of particular importance. Promising directions for the development of the social protection system for the elderly are considered, in particular, the modernization of the system of social services and care, the development of patronage and mobile social services, the introduction of mechanisms of public-private partnership, digitalization of the social sphere, improvement of the pension system, development of human capital in the field of social services, the formation of a barrier-free environment and strengthening of interdepartmental coordination. It was determined that the effective implementation of these areas will contribute to increasing social stability, strengthening the social protection system, and ensuring more effective use of the potential of the elderly population. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of using its results by state authorities, local governments, social institutions, and public organizations when developing programs to support the elderly, improving mechanisms for providing social services, and forming a long-term state strategy for the development of the social protection system in the face of demographic challenges. Keywords: social protection, elderly people, demographic aging, social services, pension system, social policy, active longevity, barrier-free environment, social isolation, martial law.

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