Öldruðum hefur fjölgað hér á landi eins og annars staðar í hinum vestræna heimi
og almennt hefur heilsufar þeirra batnað. Með auknum fjölda eldra fólks og aukinni
þekkingu á áhrifavöldum lífsgæða er þarft að kanna hvernig staða aldraðra birtist
okkur hér á landi í byrjun 21. aldar.
Umræða um aldraða í samfélaginu hefur á stundum verið nokkuð einsleit og neikvæð
með áherslu á ýmsar aldurstengdar skerðingar og sjúkdóma. Í þessari grein
eru lagðar aðrar áherslur, án þess þó að gera lítið úr þeim vandamálum sem vissulega
er að finna hjá ákveðnum hópi eldri borgara. Markmið þessarar greinar er að
veita yfirlit yfir rannsóknir sem fjalla um farsæla öldrun (e. successful aging).
Kynntar eru skilgreiningar fræðimanna og rýnt í það sem þær eiga sameiginlegt,
hvað greinir á milli og hvernig stuðla megi að farsælli öldrun. Auk fræðilegrar umfjöllunar
verður litið á upplýsingar um álit aldraðra, sem aflað hefur verið á síðustu
árum, á því hvað felist í farsælli öldrun. Gögn sem liggja þar til grundvallar eru svör
einstaklinga við spurningum Þjóðminjasafns Íslands um þjóðhætti, ályktanir Félags
sjúkraþjálfara frá árinu 2013 og loks nokkrar meistaraprófs- og bakkalársritgerðir
sem fjalla um efnið. Þá verður sjónum beint að þroskaþjálfum sem unnið hafa á
stofnunum sem veita öldruðum þjónustu og spurt hvað fagstétt þeirra geti lagt af
mörkum til að stuðla að farsælli öldrun skjólstæðinga sinna. Gögn eru sótt í opinberar
upplýsingar, bakkalárs- og meistaraprófsritgerðir auk viðtala sem höfundur
hefur tekið við starfandi þroskaþjálfa.
Breytt viðhorf setja nú mark sitt á þjónustu við aldraða og líta má á greinina sem
innlegg í þá umræðu og þá þróun.
The population grows older in many countries, also in Iceland, and the level of
health among the elderly is rising, the elderly as a social group are getting older. With an growing number of older people and higher expectations regarding
quality of life at the onset of the 21st cenury, it seems only appropriate to
explore aging in Iceland.
Public discussion about elderly people has often been narrow and negative
with a focus on age-related deficiencies. This article takes a different perspective.
Instead of highlighting deteriorating health and various curtailments, the
article concentrates on successful aging. This is not meant to diminish the
problems that many elderly people experience; rather, the aim of the article is
to explore the concept of successful aging as defined by scholars, and discuss
the characteristics of successful aging and ways to promote it. Perspectives of
older people will be presented as well as those of social educators who provide
institutional services for the elderly.
The concept of successful aging, which first appeared in the middle of the last
century, is examined in a historical and theoretical context. Various theories
that explain and define successful aging are presented, although agreement
about what the concept entails is lacking. Findings from a growing number of
studies on successful aging, both international and Icelandic, are discussed;
however, the lack of consensus of what constitutes successful aging inhibits
their comparison. Special emphasis is given to Rowe and Kahn’s conceptualization
of successful aging which identifies three fundamental conditions
necessary for successful aging: avoiding disease and disability, retaining
physical and mental skills, and being socially engaged and active.
Perspectives of older people on successful aging and how to promote it were
obtained through interviews and other qualitative methods. The elderly believe
that negative stereotypes about aging and older people are harmful both to
them and society. Problem-oriented media coverage plays a role in upholding
the misconception that the elderly are unhappy, impoverished and helpless.
Elderly people believe that this needs to be corrected and provide suggestions
for ways to steer media coverage in a more positive direction. Attention is also
drawn to research findings which show the important contribution to society
made by the elderly in the form of assistance to their families, volunteering
and more.
Finally, the article presents findings from interviews with social educators
working at various institutions that provide services to the elderly. They were
asked to express their views on what can be done to increase the quality of life
of elderly people. Today it is recognized that it is important to listen to the
views of other professionals who work with the elderly regarding services for
the elderly in addition to those working within the health care system. More
emphasis is needed on the social and emotional needs of the elderly to
enhance successful aging. Social educators possess knowledge and expertise
which can be used to identify effective strategies that can benefit older people
and enrich their lives. The purpose of obtaining diverse perspectives is to shed
light on and increase our understanding of aspects which can contribute to a
happier and more fulfilling life for people in their later years.
