growing in number
Situation assessment
Our senior citizens are not a homogenous group. They in hysical conditions from perfectly healthy to people suff
clude individuals in a wide range of ering from serious chronic diseases.
ll must be assured respect and personally appropriate activeness. The care provided for them ust be adapted to their condition, to include prevention, rehabilitation, habilitation, and the
ssible level of healthca
ectancy at birth throughout the entire developed world has lead to an proportion of el
increased by a declining birth r
measures to promote willingness ren, proper treatment and care can lead to an additional growth in life expectan
From 1980 to 2000, the proportio
• European average: climb from
• European Union: climb from
• Hungary: climb from 13.43%
of the total population.
Another important figure is that in 2000, the proportion of females over the age of 65 was 17.65%, that of m
means that there are many elder from the social and the psycholog The social status of senior citize
it does exert a major influence b pensions. The fact that in Hungary, elderly people have less opportu
general opinion views them as d opportunities for today’s econom mood. In addition, their own soc balanced state of health as app
movement, and have slowly seen their friends ‘pass away’; their opportunities to maintain relationships are sometimes restricted to the telephone which is not available or not affordable
rove people, including the newly retire Studies have shown that the qual
For instance, 81% of people who defined their childhood home atmospheres as volatile became psychosomatically ill or neurotic in their old age.
p A m
highest po re and social services.
The increase in life exp
increase in the derly people. In Hungary, this shift in proportion has been ate. Although it is hoped that the latter will grow due to to have child
cy, which would maintain the current rate.
n of people over the age of 65 showed the following trend:
12.13% to 13.75%
13.43% to 15.97%
to 14.58%
while in Hungary
ales was only 11.37%. Translated into day-to-day life, this ly women living alone in Hungary. This is equally defining
ical points of view.
ns is not defined primarily on the basis of finances, although ecause of the current low
nity to put their experience, knowledge and skills to use, and ependants though during their working lives they created the ically active population has a strong influence on their social ial opportunities have declined because even if they are in a ropriate to their ages, they are to an extent restricted in to all. The result is often int rsion, depression, and in many cases, suicide. Most elderly
d, are reduced to lower living standards.
ity of aging is determined primarily by childhood education.
Childhood education also affected the social surroundings of the elderly groups investigated.
In addition to various measure primarily requires a change in ou themselves. The ‘health’ of an
Nevertheless, if the person lives tural processes
of wear, and these processes do considered ‘relatively healthy’
vulnerability or dependence, and time, the seniors need to learn hopefully be available to them to
TASKS
s, an improvement in the health status of senior citizens tlook, on the part of both society as a whole, and the elderly elderly person is not the same as that of a teenager.
in proper balance with her/his age and the na
not act as an obstacle to day-to-day life activity, s/he can be . Society has to recognise that aging does not mean
this outlook needs to be widely disseminated. At the same about, and take advantage of the opportunities that will live a health-conscious, useful, and liveable life.
ACTIONS NEEDED
In healthcare
gs of security among elderly people
ace where this is ost appropriate for the patient, we are planning to build a
‘chain of home nursing/lay caregivers’, to include training, which later can be expanded by organising a system for taking people out for a walk and providing home companions.
The specific problems of the elderly have to be taught in medical and health sciences education and in primary health care services.
The media needs to regularly concern itself with aging processes, and easily understandable information on their effects on the lifestyles of the elderly. The goal is for the information to increasingly promote attempts to be self-sufficient and realisation of these attempts.
Transitional facilities need to be established to promote the rehabilitation of senior citizens, towards a higher level of self-sufficiency.
To improve feelin
related to healthcare, an infrastructure conducive to the use of alarm signalling devices (bracelet, chain, panic button) could be evolved gradually, in cooperation with furthering the home care service.
To promote patient rehabilitation at the pl m
Social and societal spheres In the social sphere, it is essential to create fundamental financial security for senior citizens to guarantee their human dignity and the primary goal of ensuring them a liveable life.
Strategic directions of implementation
In the societal sphere, the change in outlook and coordinated cooperation already mentioned are needed, from education in the
programme An environ established
can share in social life with other age groups (clubs, lectures on popular issues, sports programmes, etc.);
multi-marginalisation of the elderly.
schools to the media, with the assistance of s organised in part by the NGOs.
ment of acceptance of elderly people must be , meaning community forms in which the elderly generation programs should be organised and the opportunities for contacts between children and elderly should be expanded.
A plan for elderly care that responds to local community needs should be put together with the involvement of the elderly.
Accommodations in nursing homes for both day-care and residents must be increase in order to put an end to waiting lists. Furthermore, home help services and skilled nursing care at home must be strengthened in order to avoid In order to avoid that population groups with multiple disadvantages become at-risk groups in old age, there is a need to strengthen based and specialised services, and to enhance the formulation of comprehensive care plans.
Other, general features In keeping with their interests and abilities, elderly people teaching the illiterate to read and write through information on how to use a bankcard, to senior universities and language courses).
In keeping with the interests, health and mental status of the elderly, opportunities should be provided for voluntary work, and an appropriate system should be designed. Being should be provided with study opportunities (ranging from
engaged in voluntary work may contribute to strengthening the elderly person’s feeling of usefulness.
The life expectancy of people aged over 65 years will increase, and there will be improvements in their quality of life that may be demonstrated both objectively and
ubjectively.
s