Original scientific paper
Marital and Family Situation of Elderly Blind Persons in Croatia
Zoran ŠUĆUR
; Social Work Study Centre, Faculty of Law, Zagreb
Abstract
lt was the intention in this work to explore the basic features
of marital and family situations in elderly blind persons in
Croatia, as well as their perception of their own position in
the family. Furthermore, the aim was to establish whether
there is a statistically significant difference among the specific
parts of the population of elderly blind persons with regard
to variables of gender, age, residence and time of visual
impairment. Therefore, a survey was conducted on a sample
of 174 examinees throughout Croatia. The sample was
selected among blind persons at an advanced age who are
members of the Croatian Association of the Blind and have
impaired vision within legally defined limits. At the family
level elderly blind persons are often confronted with similar
problems shared by the elderly population in general. A
significant problem for this group is the loss of amarital
partner and single life. Along with the ageing process the
number of examinees living in complete families, i.e. with a
husband and children is rapidly falling. Isolation from the
domicile environment certainly creates greater difficulties for
blind persons than for those who are not.With the aid of the
chi-square test it has been established that in respect to the
marital and family situation the examinees are mostly
differentiated by variables of gender and age. Significant
changes in family patterns occur earlier in (blind) women
(between 64 and 75) than in (blind) men (after 75). The
domicile and time of visual impairment are not significant
from the aspect of marital and family status. Elderly blind persons have a considerably positive attitude towards their
families, but are not generally satisfied with the role of
elderly people in the family decision-making process.
Different segments of the examinees perceive similarly the
elderly people's position in the family, meaning that the
influence of demographic variables is smaller than in the
analysis of marital or family forms. The degree of
independence of an elderly blind person will depend
significantly on family relations and the completeness of the
"supporting network" between generations. By living alone,
separated from their children, elderly blind persons do not
necessarily have to be alienated from their families.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
31551
URI
Publication date:
31.10.2000.
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