Situation of senior population and retirement and pension scheme

I have carried out a study of life and activities of retired and pensioned citizens of Bydgoszcz in the first half of 1983, on a sample of 204 persons, including 126 retired and 78 pensioned ones. The article is supplying necessary data reflecting standard of life of seniors, their complicated problems viewed both in their personal aspect and on a socio- -economic plane of the country. We live longer and more and more people are retired. They consist appr 14 percent of the total population of Poland. That social group is very diversified. One can encounter here relatively young people who were according to law retired earlier and who are still able to work acoording to their favorable condition, consequently their economic situation seems to be relatively better. On the other hand, there are also those at the end of their lives who abandoned sometimes even by their own children, tired and ailing, live their wretched existence. Most of the examined people live in the old housing which is very often devoid of running water, gas, central heating, bathrooms, etc. Some others are lacking such common goods as rerigerator or washing machine. Majority of seniors share common apartments with their children and grandchildren assisting them in housekeeping, standing in lines. Not all of them are satisfied with apartment sharing, claiming that they are suffering unfair treatement and are tolerated by their children who can profit on their help. In the conclusion I postulate change's in revalorization of retirement and pension pays, geriatric care consisting in a permanent medical and social assistance as well as preparing people to live as retired or pensioned citizens.Digitalizacja i deponowanie archiwalnych zeszytów RPEiS sfinansowane przez MNiSW w ramach realizacji umowy nr 541/P-DUN/201