Ageing in Serbia: Perceptions and Experiences of Nursing Home Residents

  • Vesna M. Lukić Institut društvenih nauka
  • Jelena N. Stojilković Gnjatović Univerzitet u Beogradu, Geografski fakultet
Keywords: active ageing, nursing homes, retirement return migration, Belgrade,

Abstract


Population ageing in Serbia has pervading effect on many societal spheres. Paradigm of active ageing highlights the importance for older to lead healthy and productive life. The aim of this paper is to explore active ageing practices of institutionalised older citizens considering their sociodemographic characteristics and migration background. Semi-structured interview, as a qualitative research method was used to grasp perceptions and experiences of 27 older residents in nursing homes regarding adjustment in later life and daily activities. Additional valuable insight on topic was gained from institutional social workers. According to the results, the routine of daily living of the elders varies depending on individual abilities, preferences, health, marital status and migration history. The findings suggest that institutional setting does not have to represent barrier to active ageing, with implications for further research and practice.

References

Ackers, L, Dwyer, P. (2002). Senior citizenship? Retirement, migration and welfare in the European Union. Bristol: Policy Press.

Barriball, K, White, A. (1994). Collecting Data Using a Semi-Structured Interview: A Discussion Paper. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 19, 328–335.

Bernard, S. (2012). Developing the Yugoslav Gastarbeiter Reintegration Policy: Political and Economic Aspects (1969–1974). Working paper No. 5. Center for Southeast European Studies: Graz. Available at http://www.suedosteuropa.uni-graz.at/sites/default/files/publications/0.%20WP5%20Bernard.pdf

Bolzman, C, Kaeser, L. (2012). Active ageing and immigrant elders: A possible relation? Exploring the case of Switzerland. Revista Migracoes, 10, 29–44.

Botev, N. (2012). Population ageing in Central and Eastern Europe and its demographic and social context. European Journal of Ageing, 9(1), 69–79. DOI: 10.1007/s10433-012-0217-9.

Cook, J. (2010). Exploring older women’s citizenship: Understanding the impact of migration in later life. Ageing and Society, 30(2), 253–273.

Fernandez-Mayoralas, G, Rojo-Perez, F, Martınez-Martın, P. et al. (2015). Active ageing and quality of life: factors associated with participation in leisure activities among institutionalized older adults, with and without dementia. Aging & Mental Health, 19 (11), 1031–1041.

Fusch P, Ness, L. (2015). Are we there yet? Data saturation in qualitative research. The Qualitative Report, 20(9), 1208–1416. Available at https://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol20/iss9/3/

Hardill, I, Spradbery, J, Arnold-Boakes, J, Marrugat, M. L. (2005). Severe health and social care issues among British migrants who retire to Spain. Ageing and Society, 25(5), 769–783.

Hoff, A. (2011). Introduction: The drivers of population ageing in Central and Eastern Europe – Fertility, Mortality and Migration. In: A. Hoff, (ed.) Population Ageing in Central and Eastern Europe: Societal and Policy Implications 1-11. Farnham: Ashgate Publishing.

Horgas, A, Wilms, H, Baltes, M. (1998). Daily Life in Very Old Age: Everyday Activities as Expression of Successful Living. The Gerontologist, 38(5), 556–568.

Krstić, M, Ljubičić, M. (2015). Migration of Health Care Workers from the Western BalkansAnalyzing Causes, Consequences and Policies: Country report Serbia. Skopje: Health Grouper.

Kupiszewski, M, Kupiszewska, D, Nikitovic, V. (2012). The impact of demographic and migration flows on Serbia. Belgrade: International Organization for Migration.

Van’t Leven, N, Jonsson, H. (2002). Doing and being in the atmosphere of the doing: Environmental influences on occupational performance in a nursing home. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 9, 148–155.

Lukić, V. (2015). Socio-demographic characteristics of the elderly forced migrants in Serbia. Stanovništvo, 53(1), 39-61. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/STNV1501039L [In Serbian]

Manojlović, P. (2002). Return of the third age people from Diaspora in the function of improving the quality of life of people in the country of origin. Gerontologija, 1, 51–54. [In Serbian]

Milosavljević, Lj, Antonijević, D. (2015). Nursing homes as the perspective and reality of guest workers in old age. Etnoantropološki problemi, 10(2), 333-355. [In Serbian]

Palloni, A, Pinto, G, Wong, R. (2009). Family Support Networks and Population Ageing. 13-16. In Paper presented at the seminar on family Support Networks and Population Aging, Doha International Institute for Family Studies and Development, UNFPA and Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, 3–4 June, Doha, Qatar. Available at https://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/family_support_networks2009.pdf

Institute of Social Protection. (2015). The work report on institutional accommodation of older users in 2014. Beograd: Zavod za socijalnu zaštitu. [In Serbian]

Rodriguez, V, Egea, C. (2006). Return and the Social Environment of Anadalusian Emigrants in Europe. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 32(8), 1377–1393.

Ruspini, P. (2009). Elderly migrants in Europe: an overview of trends, policies and practices. Report for the European Committee on Migration of the Council of Europe (CDMG). Available at http://www.cermes.info/upload/docs/Elderly_migrants_in_Europe_paolo_ruspini_14_07_10.pdf

Sadarangani, T, Jun, J. (2015). Newly Arriwed Elderly Immigrants: A Concept Analysis of “Aging Out of Place”. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 26(2), 110–117. DOI: 10.1177/1043659614549074

Stojilković, J. (2010). „Baby boom“generation at the retirement onset. Stanovništvo, 48(2), 75–91. DOI: http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/Article.aspx?ID=0038-982X1002075S. [In Serbian]

Stojilković Gnjatović, J, Sekulić, Lj. (2017). Ageing of baby boom generation in Serbia – past, present and future trends. In: V. Janeska, Lozanoska, A. (eds.) The population of the Balkans at the dawn of the 21st century, 275-294. Skopje: Institute of Economics Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje.

Taylor-Powell, E, Renner, M. (2003). Analyzing qualitative data. University of WisconsinExtension Program Development & Evaluation Madison, WI, USA. Available at https://deltastate.edu/docs/irp/Analyzing%20Qualitative%20Data.pdf

Tomanović, S., Stanojević, D., Jarić, I., Mojić, D., Dragišić Labaš, S., Ljubičić, M., Živadinović, I. (2012). Young people our present. Beograd: Čigoja štampa: [In Serbian]

Van Malderen, L, Mets, T, De Vriendt, P, Gorus, E. (2013). The Active Ageing concept translated to the residential long-term care. Quality of Life Research, 22, 929–937.

Van Malderen. L. De Vriendt, P. Mets, T, Gorus, E. (2016). Active ageing within the nursing home: a study in Flanders, Belgium. European Journal of Ageing, 13, 219–230.

Vasara, P. (2015). Not ageing in place: Negotiating meanings of residency in age-related housing. Journal of Aging Studies, 35, 55–64.

Wahl, H. W., Deeg, D, Litwin, H. (2013). European ageing research in the social, behavioural and health areas: a multidimensional account. European Journal of Ageing, 10, 261–270.

Walker, A. (2002). A strategy for active ageing. International Social Security Review, 55, 121–139.

Walker, A. (2005). Quality of life in old age in Europe. In: A. Walker, (ed.) Growing Older in Europe, 1–31. Berkshire: Open University Press.

Walker, A. (2015). The concept of active ageing. In A. Walker, C. Aspalter, (eds.) Active Ageing in Asia, 14–29. New York: Routledge.

Walters, W. (2000). Types and patterns of Later-Life Migration. Geografiska Analer Series B Human Geography, 82(3), 129–147.

World Health Organisation (WHO). (2002). Active Ageing: a Policy Framework. World Health Organisation: Geneva. Available at http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/active_ageing/en/

Zaidi, A, Gasior, K, Hofmarcher, M, Lelkes, O, Marin, B, Rodrigues, R, et al. (2013). Active Ageing Index 2012. Vienna: European Centre Vienna.

Published
2019/11/01
Section
Original scientific paper