SPECIFICS OF NEEDS AND CARE OF ELDERLY PEOPLE FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF SOCIAL WORK

• Main Author: Jože Ramovš
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Slovenian Medical Association 2004-10-01
• Series: Zdravniški Vestnik
• Subjects: gerontology; social work; good intergenerational relations; the needs of elderly; gerontological programmes
• Online Access: http://vestnik.szd.si/index.php/ZdravVest/article/view/2356
• ISSN: 1318-0347; 1581-0224

The article examines the cognitions of social-work gerontology. It derives from the fact, that today’s gerontology is topical because of the rapid increase of old population, tabooisation of old age and decline of intergenerational solidarity. The article discusses the link between health care and social work, emphasizing their common developmental, preventive and curative fields of work, indicated by etiological connectedness between somatic health, mental state of mind and social relations. As a starting-point of social gerontology the integral six-dimensional notion of a man, evolutional scheme of the three periods of life, evolutional image of old age and the needs in old age are given as a motivation for doing developmental duties. Based on his own research and working experiences, the author gives a special attention to three specific needs in old age: personal human relations, handing over personal like experiences to younger generations and the experiencing the meaning of one’s own old age. The last part of the article examines the modern social programmes for quality ageing and good relations among generations, namely, for independent elderly people (those represent 75% of old population), for those who need partial help with daily activities and for dependent elderly, who need complete care. Special attention is given to original cognitions on effective programmes for quality ageing and better intergenerational relations that are being developed at the Anton Trstenjak Institute.<br /><br />