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The Elderly in Poland: An Overview of Selected Problems and Changes*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 November 2008

Brunon Synak
Brunon Synak
Affiliation:
Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 55, Gdańsk, Poland.
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Abstract

This paper draws on gerontological studies conducted in Poland over the last 20 years to outline a number of changes in the socio-economic circumstances of the elderly population. It begins by examining the impact of demographic factors, with particular emphasis on the post-Second World War migrations and the more recent move to the towns, and goes on to describe trends in health and functional status. It is shown that self-assessed health and even life expectancy have decreased over the last five years, and a number of explanations are suggested. The main part of the paper uses national surveys conducted in the 1960s and in the 1980s to identify changes in the family situation of the elderly. Despite an overall reduction in many forms of family support, it is shown that help from parents and children has increased particularly over the last five years. It is concluded that while various services need to be developed along Western lines, this development should be accompanied by a strengthening of various forms of family care.

Type
Research Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 7 , Issue 1 , March 1987 , pp. 19 - 35
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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References

NOTES

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10 I am not presenting here any information about the under-35 age category because in the case of that group there has been a slight improvement or no change at all.

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