Attitudes of the general population and the elderly towards age and aging

Svjesni smo da je u današnjem svijetu više starijeg stanovništva i da dolazi do niza promjena koje se odražavaju i na opću populaciju i osobe starije životne dobi te društvo općenito. Kako bi smo osobama starije životne dobi, pomogli u prilagodbi na te promjene koje dolaze sa starenjem, prvenstveno je važno da se razumiju njihove potrebe i razmišljanja. Znamo da smo različiti i da svatko donosi neki svoj stav na temelju svojih zaključaka, ali potrebno je i te zaključke donositi na ispravan i razuman način da ni jedna strana nije isključena iz društva. Potrebno je razlikovati dva pojma koja su vezana uz osobe treće životne dobi, a to su sam proces starenja i starost, koji se laički gledano bas i ne razliku, ali kada se ide u detaljniju analizu, dolazimo da različitih poimanja ta dva pojma. Osim ta dva pojma, tu su i teorije o starenju koje mogu biti biološkog, psihološkog i sociološkog aspekta. Da bi se lakše shvatilo sve što proces starenja i starost donose sa sobom, te nam teorije o starenju približavaju samu tematiku i daju bolji uvid u sve. Cilj ovog istraživačkog rada je bio usporediti stavove opće populacije i osoba starije životne dobi prema procesu starenja i starosti. Provedene su ankete za obje skupine, kojima se htjelo vidjeti na koji način obje skupine razmišljaju o starosti te naposljetku kako sve to doživljavaju iz vlastite perspektive. Kroz različite odjeljke u anketi, koji su se odnosili na kvalitetu života osoba starije životne dobi, stavove i znanja o starenju i starosti pokušali smo obuhvatiti sve komponente koje su značajne za osobe starije životne dobi i dobiti što bolji uvid u postavljen cilj ovog rada.We are aware that in today's world there are more elderly people and that there are a number of changes that affect both the general population and the elderly and society in general. In order to help older people adjust to these changes that come with aging, it is primarily important to understand their needs and thinking. We know that we are all different and that everyone makes their own position based on their own conclusions, but it is also necessary to make these conclusions in a correct and reasonable way so that neither side is excluded from society. It is necessary to distinguish between two concepts, and they are the process of aging and age, which in layman's terms do not differ, but when we go to a more detailed analysis, we come to different understandings of these two concepts. In addition to these two concepts, there are theories about aging that can be biological, psychological and sociological aspects. In order to better understand everything that the aging process and old age bring with them, these theories about aging bring us closer to the topic and give us a better insight into everything. The aim of this research paper was to compare the attitudes of the general population and the elderly towards the aging process and old age. Surveys were conducted for both groups, which wanted to see how both groups think about age and, ultimately, how they experience it from their own perspective. Through various sections of the survey, which related to the quality of life of the elderly, attitudes and knowledge about aging and old age, we tried to cover all components that are important for the elderly and get a better insight into the goal of this paper