Spare Time Activities of Seniors in Health and Social Facilities and Their Effectivity

The present diploma thesis deals with free-time activities of senior citizens living in health-care and social institutions and the efficiency of such activities. The survey was carried out in two homes for the elderly, one in Tábor, the second in Libníč. Main goal of the thesis is to compare specific free-time activities provided to self-sufficient and disabled clients living in the selected homes for the elderly in Libníč near České Budějovice, and G-centrum in Tábor. The first partial objective was to carry out a survey of how different are the forms, standards, and efficienty of the free-time activities provided to self-sufficient and disabled clients living in the above-mentioned homes for the elderly. The second partial objective was to determine the correlation between the initial qualifications in the start of the homes and the impact these have on the efficiency of individual free-time activities in both of the observed elderly groups. The objectives have been met. The theoretical part provides general characteristics of old age and free time. The paper itself focuses on free time of senior citizens living in helath-care and social institutions. The characterisitics provided in the thesis aim at individual free-time activities exercised by self-sufficient and disabled persons, respectively, confined to bed or with some other functional or communication limations. The practical part of the thesis provides opinions gathered from selected clients and staff of the said institutions. The necessary data were collected in a quantitative research emploing the method of questionnaire. The whole research was preceded by a pre-reserch. The outcome of survey show both institutions allow at once fully disabled persons to take part in free-time activities, they are accepted in such activities and their interests and needs are respected. The thesis at hand is meant to contribute to the discussion concerning the importance of free-time activities for senior citizens living in helath-care and social institutions with emhasis put on the fact that such activities should become necessary and valued experience for the elderly in the said facilities