Norwegian version

Public defence: Lea Graff

Lea Graff will defend her thesis for the PhD in Social Sciences, specialization Social Work and Social Policy with "Enabling care in contexts of constraints - From policy ideals to eldercare practice in Norway and Denmark".

The trial lecture lasts from 10:00-10:45.

The title of the trial lecture is will be announced 14 days ahead of the defence.

The public defence and trial lecture will also be streamed (oslomet.zoom us).
Webinar ID: 660 8099 1868 

The candidate will defend her thesis at 12:00. 

The committee is:

Leader of the public defence is Head of department Anne Britt Djuve, Oslo Metropolitan University.

Main supervisor is Professor Mia Vabø, Oslo Metropolitan University. 
Co-supervisor is Professor Hanne Marlene Dahl, Roskilde University.

Summary

This PhD thesis explores everyday life in Danish and Norwegian eldercare in a context of high policy ambitions and increasing pressure on resources. Using a comparative approach, the thesis shows how reablement and related enabling ideals take on different meanings depending on national and organisational contexts.

Across Denmark and Norway, reablement does not operate as a single, uniform model, but is shaped by legal frameworks, service organisation and local priorities. The thesis also shows that everyday care does not follow clear distinctions between “enabling” and “compensatory” care. Instead, care workers continuously balance different forms of support to make daily life work for older people. Much care is sustained through care workers’ professional judgement, collaboration and emotional work. Overall, the findings highlight that context matters: how enabling policies are organised strongly influences how they are practised and who benefits from them.