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| My research examines the experience and constructions of ageing in the context of evolving social policies, with a focus on the social roles of older people (especially grandparenthood), intergenerational solidarity, and the development of care policies. I have published over 40 peer-reviewed articles and chapters in international journals and books including, for instance, Ageing & Society, Family Relations, Journal of Aging Studies, Social Politics, Research on Aging, Health and Social Care in the Community, the Journal of Family Issues, and the Journal of Social Policy; I have (co-)authored six books including a major textbook titled Ageing Societies: A Comparative Introduction (Open University Press, 2008); and co-edited the first book on grandparenting in global contexts (with Sara Arber, for Policy Press, 2012). Examples of international collaboration include participation in an EU framework project on welfare reform and societal change in seven EU countries (WRAMSOC) and pan-European research networks focusing on migrant labour in the elder care sector (MILES)and on home care policies for older people (LIVINDHOME). |
| Project title |
Intergenerational Solidarity and Justice in Ireland |
| Summary |
This project interrogates understandings of intergenerational solidarity and justice among four different cohorts in Ireland (1. those emerging into the labour market at present; 2. people at mid-career/family formation stage; 3. recently retired or about to retire; 4. octogenarians), using a qualitative longitudinal design. The project will also communicate the key contours of these understandings to relevant stakeholder organisations and facilitate discourse between them and among the wider public. The emphasis is on eliciting understandings of societal intergenerational justice as shaped by social policies, but perceptions of intergeneratinal justice within families will also be studied. The Principal Investigators are Dr Virpi Timonen (TCD) and Prof Thomas Scharf (NUIG).
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| Funding Agency |
Atlantic Philanthropies |
| Programme |
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| Type of Project |
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| Date from |
June 2011 |
| Date to |
June 2013 |
| Person Months |
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| Project title |
Living Independently at Home: Reforms in Organisation and Governance of European Home Care for Elderly and Disabled People |
| Summary |
The project will identify how 9 European countries have reformed their home help systems, by identifying the drivers of changes and responses in the organisation, provision, regulation and quality of home care/help.
Hypotheses are that cross-national variation in reforms in home care policies 1) influence the involvement of different care sectors and the use of services vs. cash benefits, 2) shape the degree of formalisation/informalisation and the degree of professionalization, and 3) contribute to the quality of care.
The study will be based on national legislation and statistics, national and international literature reviews, and on comparable OECD health data. The following countries participate: Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Austria, UK and Ireland.
The study will provide a timely overview of recent reforms in the organisation and governance of home care systems in 9 European countries, and will elucidate what are the intended and unintended results of the reforms, in particular how reforms have affected quality of care.
This project is co-ordinated by Dr Tine Rostgaard, SFI, Denmark. PI for Irish strand of the study is Virpi Timonen, Co-Investigators Martha Doyle & Ciara O'Dwyer, Trinity College Dublin. |
| Funding Agency |
Ministère de la santé, de la jeunesse, des sports et de la vie associative (France) |
| Programme |
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| Type of Project |
European collaborative research project led by The Danish National Centre for Social Research. |
| Date from |
2010 |
| Date to |
2011 |
| Person Months |
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| Project title |
TILDA - the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing - Social engagement, intergenerational transfers & informal care provided and received by older people |
| Summary |
TILDA is a longitudinal study of the older adult(50+) population of Ireland. Using a large nationally representative random sample (8,000) of the older population, TILDA provides a comprehensive picture of the health, social and economic charactertistics of the ageing population in Ireland, and serves as an important resource for the scientific community and policy makers. The Principal Investigator of TILDA is Prof RA Kenny, Medical Gerontology, TCD. Co-Investigator for the Social Strand (Social engagement, social care and intergenerational transfers) is Virpi Timonen, working with Research Fellow Dr Yumiko Kamiya. See www.tilda.tcd.ie |
| Funding Agency |
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| Programme |
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| Type of Project |
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| Date from |
2006 |
| Date to |
ongoing |
| Person Months |
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| Project title |
Theories of Ageing and Approaches to Welfare in Ireland, North and South |
| Summary |
The overall aim of this project is to prepare a discussion paper on theories of ageing and approaches to welfare in Ireland, North and South, consisting of: (1) an overview of the most relevant theories of ageing; (2) an analysis of the construction of ageing in Ireland, North and South; and (3) an analysis of approaches to the welfare of older people in Ireland, North and South. The resulting paper is intended to encourage discussion amongst key stakeholders on the evidence base required for developing appropriate policy and services for the ageing population in Ireland, North and South.
The Researcher and Co-Investigator in this project is Dr. Maria Pierce.
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| Funding Agency |
CARDI (Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland) |
| Programme |
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| Type of Project |
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| Date from |
2010 |
| Date to |
2010 |
| Person Months |
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| Project title |
Grandparents' role in divorced and separated families in Ireland |
| Summary |
Divorce and separation impact upon relationships within nuclear and extended families, including relationships between grandparents, the divorced/separated couple and grandchildren. This study seeks to acquire a better understanding of how these inter-generational relationships are affected following divorce/separation. In particular, it seeks to explore some aspects of the experience and practical consequences of family break-up from the perspective of grandparents, a group rarely considered in discussions on divorce/separation.
PI Virpi Timonen, Co-Investigators Ciara O'Dwyer and Martha Doyle.
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| Funding Agency |
Family Support Agency |
| Programme |
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| Type of Project |
Research Grant |
| Date from |
May 2008 |
| Date to |
Dec 2009 |
| Person Months |
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| More Research Projects>>> |
| Arber, S. and Timonen, V. (eds), Contemporary grandparenting: changing family relationships in global contexts, Bristol, Policy Press, 2012 |
| 'Introduction: A new look at grandparenting' in, editor(s)Arber, S. and Timonen, V. , Contemporary grandparenting: changing family relationships in global contexts, Bristol, Policy Press, 2012, [Timonen, V. and Arber, S.] |
| 'Grandparenting in the twenty-first century: New directions' in, Arber, S. and Timonen, V. , Contemporary grandparenting: changing family relationships in global contexts, Bristol, Policy Press, 2012, [Arber, S. and Timonen, V.] |
| 'Grandparental agency after adult children's divorce in, editor(s)Arber, S. and Timonen, V. , Contemporary grandparenting: changing family relationships in global contexts, Bristol, Policy Press, 2012, [Timonen, V. and Doyle, M.] |
| Timonen, V., Doyle, M. and O'Dwyer, C., Expanded but not regulated: Ambiguity in home care policy in Ireland, Health and Social Care in the Community, 2012 |
| More Publications>>> |
Contact:helpdesk@tcd.ie
Last Updated:12-FEB-2012 |