Grey Zones and Boundaries: Service Pathways and Division of Labour in Gerontological Social Work (Katve project)

In this project, we examine the service pathways of older adults, over the age of 65, into gerontological social work, as well as the tasks, division of work, and collaboration between professionals at different stages of these pathways. The project is grounded in three interlinked theoretical perspectives: access, space, and social advocacy.

The research project is implemented as a collaboration between two research organizations: the social work disciplines at the University of Jyväskylä and Tampere University. In this project, we examine the service pathways of older adults, those aged over 65, into gerontological social work. We investigate the transitions and routes through which a smooth service pathway to gerontological social work is formed, and the rights of older adults are realized. In addition, the project examines the division of labour between different professionals along the service pathway, as well as the forms of collaboration involved in constructing that pathway. Through analyzing service pathways and professional divisions of labour, we also explore the conditions under which gerontological social work operates and its position within the service system. Previous studies (e.g. IPO project 2024–2025) have shown that the role of gerontological social work is at times invisible and unclear.

A central focus of the project is the examination of the boundaries involved in the construction of the service pathway, as well as the potential grey zones connected to it. This raises the question of whether gerontological social work itself has shifted further into the margins in the transition to the wellbeing services counties, how gerontological social workers perceive their position within the service pathway for older people, and how they view their opportunities for action. Grey zones refer to situations in which an older person in need of support may fall outside professional or legal scrutiny, be diverted from the service pathway or be directed onto an inappropriate route. We identify such grey zones in access to services within the wellbeing services counties and joint municipal authorities.

Funding
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (2026-2027)

Research group
Principal investigator
Heli Valokivi, professor, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Jyväskylä

University of Jyväskylä team
Hilla Kiuru, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Jyväskylä
Andrea Lorenz-Wende, Project Researcher, Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Jyväskylä
Taina Miettinen, Senior Social Worker/Project Researcher, Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Jyväskylä
Sini Tiihonen, Doctoral Researcher, Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Jyväskylä
Paula Vasara, Senior Researcher, Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Jyväskylä

University of Tampere team
Laura Kalliomaa-Puha, Professor
Tyyne Ylinen, Researcher
Satu Ylinen, Visiting researcher

Collaborators
Wellbeing Services Counties of Central Finland, Pirkanmaa and Kanta-Häme
Tampere University Hospital (TAYS)
Hospital Nova
diaconal work of the parishes of Jyväskylä and Hämeenlinna–Vanaja