| Summary: | Abstract The aim of the study was to search for, analyse and describe the visions of the future of representatives of the baby boom generation in Northern Finland concerning their own ageing, the factors affecting their well-being and their social and health care services. Visions of the future are based on views charted in two phases in accordance with qualitative driven mixed method research methodology. The material consisting of narratives describing future visions (n = 39) was collected using the method of empathy-based stories. Analysis of themes revealed three main themes in the narratives: 1. ageing as a subjective and social experience, 2. factors contributing to well-being from the viewpoint of life control and the environment and 3. social and health care services from the viewpoint of operational environments and resources. The material for the second phase was collected with the aid of a questionnaire drawn up based on the results of phase 1 (n = 405). The material was analysed using multivariate methods: main component analysis, K-means Kluster analysis and correspondence analysis. According to the results, ageing consists of subjective and social experience associated with adaptation, resignation and opening up of new possibilities. An existential experience about life, active self-care and a sense of community based on different networks seemed to have increased. Three future scenarios of the role of senior citizens emerged: seniors as objects of actions, as active, participating actors and as actors in their immediate community. A sense of life control, which was associated with the social, physical and symbolical factors of the environment, was seen as a source of well-being in the future. The operational environments and resources of service and support providers made up three categories: public social services and support from the immediate community, varied service networks and support from the immediate community in a wider sense, as well as public health care services and self-help. It was ...
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