Demographic Ageing of Population and Care for the Elderly in Croatia

Demografske promjene, a prije svega starenje stanovništva najznačajniji su trendovi posljednjih nekoliko desetljeća u gotovo svim razvijenim zemljama, pri čemu ni Hrvatska nije izuzetak. S jednim od najvećih udjela starijeg stanovništva u Europi (17,7%) Hrvatska se svrstava među deset zemalja u svijetu s najstarijim stanovništvom. Ovaj fenomen je uzrokovan povećanjem kvalitete života i ukupnog životnog vijeka ljudi te kontinuiranim padom stope fertiliteta. Demografske projekcije pokazuju da će i u sljedećih trideset godina starenje i depopulacija biti glavno obilježje stanovništva Hrvatske. Pored demografskih, brojne su ekonomske i socijalne kao i druge posljedice ovakvih pokazatelja. Tradicionalna obitelj koja se najviše brinula o ostarjelim članovima društva danas se gotovo raspala. Dio te uloge preuzele su institucije. Upravo je institucionalni smještaj starijih osoba, kao dominantan oblik skrbi za starije osobe, često jedina alternativa. Posljednjih godina različiti oblici izvaninstitucionalne skrbi dobivaju sve značajniju ulogu (gerontološki centar, udomiteljstvo, programi međugeneracijske solidarnosti). Izvaninstitucionalno zbrinjavanje starijih i nemoćnih osoba ima mnoge prednosti u odnosu na smještaj u ustanovama, omogućujući starijim osobama duži ostanak u vlastitom domu kao i zadovoljenje specifičnih potreba u lokalnoj sredini. Međutim, Hrvatska nema odgovarajući sustav skrbi za starije osobe. Javljaju se veliki problemi i izazovi u stvarnoj primjeni i provedbi usvojenih zakona i normi. Suvremene mjere i trendovi socijalne politike usmjereni su podizanju razine i osnivanju) izvaninstitucionalnih oblika skrbi u lokalnim zajednicama te razvijanju mreže skrbi o osobama starije životne dobi usmjerene individualnim potrebama pojedinca. Stoga je potrebno reformirati tradicionalne oblike skrbi za starije, proširivati postojeće programe i provoditi novu shemu socijalne zaštite u području skrbi za starije osobe, odnosno približiti se konceptu aktivnog starenja i holističkom pristupu u planiranju i pružanju socijalnih usluga.Demographic changes, primarily the ageing of the population, are the most important trends that have been at work for the last few decades in almost all developed countries. Croatia is no exception. With a large share of the elderly population, the one of 17.7%, which is one of the largest in Europe, Croatia is ranked among the world top ten countries with the oldest population. This phenomenon is caused by the increase in quality of life and general lifespan of people, and by the continuing decline in fertility rate. Demographic projections show that in the next thirty years ageing and depopulation will continue to be the main feature of the Croatian population. In addition to demographic, there are numerous economic and social as well as other consequences of such indicators. Traditional family, which used to take care for the elderly members of the community most, now has almost fallen apart. A part of its role has been taken on by the institutions. Institutional housing of the elderly, as the dominant form of care for seniors, is often the only alternative. In recent years, various forms of non-institutional care have been gaining a more significant role (gerontological centres, foster care, programmes for intergenerational solidarity). Non-institutional care for elderly and disabled people has many advantages compared to placement in institutions, enabling older people to stay longer in their own homes as well as meet the specific needs of the local community. Croatia, however, has not developed an adequate system of care for the elderly. There have been major problems and challenges in the actual implementation and enforcement of the adopted laws and norms. Contemporary measures and trends of social policy aim at raising non-institutional forms of care in local communities, and developing a network of care for the elderly targeted to individual needs of the individual. Therefore, it is necessary to reform the traditional forms of care for the elderly, to expand existing programmes and implement a new scheme of social protection in the area of care for the elderly, i.e, to get closer to the concept of active ageing and holistic approach to the planning and delivery of social services