HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND AGING IN TWO AGING IN TWO CONTEXTSCONTEXTS:: research on the elderly research on the elderly citizens of the City of citizens of the City of ZagrebZagreb
Prepared by: Meri Gatin, Zajednicki put FoundationSanja Radica, Zajednicki put FoundationSilvia Rusac, Department of Social Work, Faculty of Law University of ZagrebVedrana Spajic-Vrkas, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences University of ZagrebInes Vrban, Zajednicki put Foundation
Joint World Conference on Social Work and Development 2012: Action and Impact
8-12 July 2012, Stockholm, Sweden
The characteristic of the The characteristic of the studystudy a a pioneering study on human rights and pioneering study on human rights and
aging in the City of Zagrebaging in the City of Zagreb Type of the study:Type of the study: pilot; pilot; explicatoryexplicatory Methodology:Methodology: quantitativequantitative Research instrument:Research instrument: questionnaire questionnaire
(originally developed by an interdisciplinary (originally developed by an interdisciplinary group: researchers of human rights and group: researchers of human rights and aging, and social work practitioners)aging, and social work practitioners)
Coordinator: ‘Zajednicki put’ Foundation, Coordinator: ‘Zajednicki put’ Foundation, ZagrebZagreb
The sample: 199 respondents The sample: 199 respondents
Demographic variablesDemographic variables
gendergender ageage educationeducation employmentemployment years of retirementyears of retirement living conditionliving condition
The rights examined
Personal dignity and securityPersonal dignity and security Freedom of expressionFreedom of expression Freedom of movementFreedom of movement Freedom of religionFreedom of religion Adequate standard of livingAdequate standard of living Participation in the civil, political and cultural Participation in the civil, political and cultural
life of the communitylife of the community Information, education and trainingInformation, education and training PrivacyPrivacy Property Property
The structure of the The structure of the questionnairequestionnaire two composite dimensions of human rightstwo composite dimensions of human rights
were examinedwere examined:. :. – UUnderstanding nderstanding of the rightsof the rights– EnjoymentEnjoyment of the rights of the rights
The following questions were included: The following questions were included: – are the elderly aware of their human rights and how are the elderly aware of their human rights and how
do they understand themdo they understand them– what are the rights which they enjoy and to what what are the rights which they enjoy and to what
extentextent– which of their rights are violated the mostwhich of their rights are violated the most– what do they see as the causes of violation of their what do they see as the causes of violation of their
rightsrights– how do they react when their rights are violatedhow do they react when their rights are violated
The characteristics of the The characteristics of the samplesample (1)(1)
Year of birthYear of birth(age)(age)
%%
1916-1925 (1916-1925 (87-9687-96)) 8,08,0
1926-1935 (1926-1935 (77-8677-86)) 38,738,7
1936-1945 (1936-1945 (67-7667-76)) 41,441,4
1946-1955 (1946-1955 (57-6657-66)) 12,612,6
GenderGender %%MM 18,618,6
FF 81,481,4
Place of Place of livingliving
%%
Own home Own home (OH)(OH)
72,672,6
Elderly home Elderly home (EH)(EH)
27,427,4
The characteristics of the The characteristics of the samplesample (2)(2)
EducationEducation %%Unfinished Unfinished elementary elementary schoolschool
6,66,6
Elementary Elementary schoolschool
17,217,2
Secondary schoolSecondary school 43,943,9
College degreeCollege degree 18,218,2
University +University +
M.A.&PH.D. M.A.&PH.D. degree degree
14,114,1
EmploymeEmploymentnt
%%
MenagersMenagers 3,13,1
ProfessionalsProfessionals 19,619,6
Technical & Technical & administrative administrative jobs jobs
34,534,5
Service sectorService sector 15,515,5
FarmersFarmers 4,64,6
Simple jobsSimple jobs 15,515,5
HousewivesHousewives 7,27,2
The characteristics of the The characteristics of the samplesample (3)(3)
Years of Years of employmentemployment
%%
0-100-10 3,83,8
11-2011-20 11,411,4
21-3021-30 25,525,5
Over 30Over 30 63,063,0
Modes of Modes of retirementretirement
%%
RegularRegular 61,661,6
Irregular (earlier)Irregular (earlier) 38,438,4
Monthly Monthly incomeincome
%%
Retirement fundRetirement fund 95,595,5
Social assistanceSocial assistance 7,07,0
Family assistanceFamily assistance 5,05,0
Self-assessment of the Self-assessment of the standard of living?standard of living?
When compared to other people of your age how do you live? (%)
4,515,7
65,7
13,1 1much worse
worse
similar
better
much better
Reason Reason %%
Low Low incomeincome
22,622,6
Health Health conditionsconditions
15,115,1
Knowledge about elderly Knowledge about elderly rightsrights
Knowledge about elderly rights: ALL (%)
77,8
22,2
NO
YES
Knowledge about elderly rights: OH-EH (%)
81,873,6
18,226,4
0102030405060708090
OH EH
NO
YES
social carehealth care
economic rights
ParticipationParticipation
0,5
1,5
38,7
4
6,5
0 10 20 30 40
religious organization
political organization
elderly association
NGO
professional association
Participation (%)
Main reasons
for non-
participation:
- old age
- bad health
- lack of interest
Violations of rightsViolations of rights (1) (1)
Unreceived assistance when needed
3
1,5
0,5
1
0,5
0
0,5
0,5
10,6
5,5
5,5
1,5
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
medical assistance
social welfare assistance
additional health care
psychological assistance
family
elderly home
public service
Violation of rights Violation of rights (2)(2)
RightsRights FamilyFamily Home for Home for the the
elderlyelderly
Necessary Necessary medicinemedicine
1,51,5 0,50,5
HygieneHygiene 1,01,0 --
Enough foodEnough food 1,01,0 --
Good foodGood food 3,03,0 1,01,0
Adequate place Adequate place for livingfor living
0,50,5 --
Adequate bedAdequate bed 1,51,5 O,5O,5
Adequate Adequate clothes and clothes and shoesshoes
2,52,5 --
Violation of rights Violation of rights (3)(3)
RightsRights FamilFamilyy
Home Home for for the the
elderlelderlyy
Contacting family membersContacting family members 3,03,0 0,50,5
Seeing or inviting friendsSeeing or inviting friends 2,52,5 O,5O,5
Attending training workshopsAttending training workshops 1,01,0 0,50,5
Participating in voluntary Participating in voluntary activitiesactivities
0,50,5 1,01,0
Going to movie, theatre or Going to movie, theatre or exhibition exhibition
1,01,0 0,50,5
Watching TVWatching TV 3,03,0 0,50,5
Talking on phone with friends Talking on phone with friends etc.etc.
4,54,5 0,50,5
No violation of rights:
-Going outside
Going outside -Practicing
Practicing religionreligion
-Intimate Intimate relations
relations- Divorcing or
Divorcing or remarrying
remarrying-Reading books;
Reading books; listening to music
listening to music-Going to party
Going to party
Violation of rightsViolation of rights (4) (4)
RightsRights FamilyFamily Home Home for the for the elderlyelderly
Accurate informationAccurate information 17,617,6 5,05,0
Participation in decision-making Participation in decision-making 7,07,0 0,50,5
OwnershipOwnership 2,02,0 --
Freedom of expressionFreedom of expression 5,55,5 1,01,0
OwnershipOwnership 2,52,5 0,50,5
ActivityActivity 3,53,5 0,50,5
Doing something against one’s willDoing something against one’s will 5,05,0 1,01,0
Violation of dignity and Violation of dignity and securitysecurity
Violation of dignity & security (%)
6
5
1,5
0
2,5
5,5
4
2,5
1,5
1
1
2
17,6
14,6
10,6
1,5
11,1
8
0 5 10 15 20
ridicule
ignorance
physical theat
physical attack
robbery
lying
family
elderly home
street
The treatment of the elderly The treatment of the elderly by the societyby the society
TreatmentTreatment %%
of somewhat + of somewhat + very muchvery much
Marginalised as socially unworthly Marginalised as socially unworthly 39,739,7
Downvalued in their dignityDownvalued in their dignity 38,338,3
Discriminated against in public servicesDiscriminated against in public services 29,729,7
Left alone when they have problemsLeft alone when they have problems 44,244,2
Ridiculed for their old ageRidiculed for their old age 26,526,5
Isolated from othersIsolated from others 31,631,6
Physically abusedPhysically abused 17,017,0
Unrecognition of Unrecognition of competencescompetences
88, % think that the society does not 88, % think that the society does not recognise their competence because of:recognise their competence because of:– The lack of social care for people after The lack of social care for people after
retirementretirement– The lack of adequate programmes for social The lack of adequate programmes for social
engagement of the elederlyengagement of the elederly– Social stereotypes and prejudices against Social stereotypes and prejudices against
the elderlythe elderly– The lack of initiatives among the elderly The lack of initiatives among the elderly
themselvesthemselves– The lack of information about such The lack of information about such
programmes and initiativesprogrammes and initiatives
Should the society provide Should the society provide education & training for the education & training for the elderlyelderly
89, 4 - 89, 4 - YES YES
What would the elederly What would the elederly need in education and need in education and training?training?
The elderly needs in education and training (%)
25,6
18,2
5,8
22,3
2,5
2,5
0 10 20 30
new ITC literacy
foreign languages
artistic expression
physical exercises and healthy diet
social and civic skills
nothing