[The effect of science on policy for the elderly]

Social policy for the elderly is individualistic and limited to offering the use of social services. This is related to scientific paradigms. Social science has an important influence on the definition of well-being by social policy agencies and in society. This influence has the side-effect of transferring the limited scientific view on reality to social policy and social services. To prevent negative effects on the well-being of the elderly population, there is a need of ethical norms for social science research. Social science is increasingly a collective activity, for example by means of research programs. That is the reason why the individual ethical norms of the research-worker are not sufficient. Proposed is the development of a collective social ethic for social research. This ethic would guarantee that scientists are concerned with the totality of human needs, with the desirability of continuity in the life situation of people, and with future generations.