Family and professional care for the

elderly- it’s quality and challenges

Tina Lipar, Klemen Jerinc, Mateja Zabukovec

ANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relationsof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relations

ANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relationsof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relations

Anton Trstenjak Institute of gerontology and intergenerational relations (1992)

• national scientific and expert institution• interdisciplinary work (sociology,

psychology, medical science, social work,..)

• has quite early realised the seriousness of demographic changes in Slovenia and therefore made some studies, developed new social programmes and implemented new social programmes in this field

The main focus is given to the development of the new programmes for quality ageing and good intergenerational relations

ANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relationsof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relations

• persons over 80 in EU:23 million in 2010 37 million in 2030

• % of dependency

Men Women65-70 years Older than 80 65-70 years Older than 80

7.1 % 27.7 % 9.4 % 36.3 %

ANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relationsof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relations

• The Standpoints, Needs and Potentials of Slovenian people aged 50+(N: 1047, representative sample, 2010)

- 64.3 % rather stay at home

- 29.9 % rather move to an institution for the elderly

ANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relationsof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relations

Percentage of old people (65+) living in institutions for the elderly

SOURCE: Annex to GECD Society at a Glance 2002., Statistical Annex Table C6

  Netherlands   

  Sweden   

  Denmark   

  Norway 

  France 

  Germany  

  Canada   

  Australia  

  Japan     Finland   

  Belgium 

  United States     United Kingdom 

  Ireland 

  Austria    Italy

Slovenia 

9 %

7 %

6 %4-5 %

ANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relationsof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relations

Who takes care?

Italy (n= 990)

G. Britain (n= 995)

Germany (n= 1003)

Slovenia

(n=218)

Average Age 53.4 54.5 53.8 51.9

% of women 77.1 75.4 76.1 80.49

ANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relationsof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relations

What about the quality of care?

• The Standpoints, Needs and Potentials of Slovenian people aged 50+

• 96 % satisfied • 2.9 % complaints about being left alone

lack of respite care facilities

ANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relationsof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relations

Course for family carers

• Method: social learning

• exchange of good experiences and knowledge

- solving problems

- learnig about new topics

• 8 educational meetings (2 hours per week)

• family carers’ club• (2 hours, per month)

ANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relationsof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relations

ANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relationsof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relations

• 1; family member from a family carers’ perspective, communication

• 2; trouble making older family member• 3; taking care of elderly with dementia• 4; taking care of caregivers’ health• 5; physiotherapy in relation to family

care• 6; taking care of elderly relative at

home• 7; older relative cannot be cared at

home• 8; transcience of life• 9; preprations for club of family carers

ANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relationsof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relations

Positive aspects of course meetings

• knowledge about caregiving• exchange of good practices• useful informations• contact with experts and institutions related to caregiving• less social isolation • mutual support• cost benefit programme

ANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEANTON TRSTENJAK INSTITUTEof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relationsof Gerontology and Intergenerational Relations

“It becomes easier to solve the problems, that occur regularly. Bearing in mind, that there are many other people struggling the same battle, makes homecaring easier to cope.”

(Family carer)