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