Mats Thorslund

Mats Thorslund has a Ph.D. in sociology. Since 2003 he has been Professor in Social Gerontology at the Aging Research Center. His research includes studying trends in the living conditions and health of the elderly population, their need for care services and how these needs are met. Parallel research interests include the description and evaluation of care services, predictors of morbidity and mortality, and health inequalities. His research also includes studying social policy and its impact on elderly people, their families/caregivers as well as on the welfare state as a whole. Mats’ background in survey technique and methodology has made him an authority in the challenges associated with surveying the oldest old. He is frequently used by the government and other public organizations as an advisor. Recent governmental advisory roles include “Äldreboendedelegationen” (Housing for Elderly People) and “Värdighetsutredningen” (Caring for Elderly People with Dignity).

Mats has a long and distinguished background as a researcher at Department of Social Medicine at Uppsala University Hospital and Stockholm University. In 1993 he became Professor of Social Work, with a special focus on older adults and was also appointed scientific director at the Stockholm Gerontology Center.

Selected publications

Meinow, B., Parker, M.G. & Thorslund, M. (2011). Consumers of eldercare in Sweden: The semblance of choice. Social Science & Medicine, 73:1285-1289.

Trydegård, G.-B. & Thorslund, M. (2010). One uniform welfare state or a multitude of welfare municipalities? The evolution of local variation in Swedish elder care. Social Policy and Administration, vol 44, nr 4: 495-511.

Thorslund, M. & Silverstein, M. (2009). Care for older adults in the welfare state: theories, policies and realities. In: Bengtson, V., Gans, D., Putney, N. & Silverstein, M. (eds.) Handbook of Theories of Aging. New York: Springer Publishing Company (pp. 629-639).

Batljan, I. & Thorslund, M. (2009). Population aging: the effect of change in educational composition. European Journal of Ageing, vol 6, nr 3: 201-211.

Ahacic, K. & Thorslund, M. (2007). Aging in disguise: Age, period and cohort effects in mobility and edentulousness over three decades. European Journal of Ageing, 4: 83-91.

Parker, M. G. & Thorslund, M. (2007). Health trends in the elderly population: getting   better and getting worse. The Gerontologist, vol 47: 150–158.

Meinow, B., Parker, M.G., Kåreholt, I. & Thorslund, M. (2006). Complex health problems in the oldest old in Sweden 1992 – 2002. European Journal of Ageing, vol 3: 98-106.

Gurner, U. & Thorslund, M. (2003). Dirigent saknas i vård och omsorg för äldre. Stockholm: Natur och Kultur.

Thorslund, M. & Parker, M.G. (1995). Strategies for an ageing population: Expanding the priorities discussion. Ageing and Society, 15, 199-217.

Thorslund, M. & Lundberg, O. (1994). Health and inequalities among the oldest old. Journal of Aging and Health, 6, 51-69.

Thorslund, M. (1991). The increasing number of very old people will change the Swedish model of the welfare state. Social Science and Medicine 32, 455-464.