BARKASI Daniela - Acta PATRISTICA, volume 13, issue 27/2022
PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT IN SENIORS
/VNÍMANÁ SOCIÁLNA OPORA U SENIOROV/
Daniela BARKASI
associate professor, St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social sciences, Department of Beatific M. D. Trček in Michalovce, Partizánska 23, Michalovce 071 01, Slovakia, daniela.barkasi@gmail.com, ORCID: 0000-0001-8266-5302
Abstract
In the present paper, we examine the perceived social support of seniors who are placed in a residential social services facility. This is an area that needs increased attention, not least in light of the recent pandemic, which has brought with it significant constraints for this population in particular. In our research, we investigated the level of perceived social support among seniors who are recipients of residential social services. We found that women showed higher levels of perceived social support across all factors compared to men. Statistically significant differences were found in the level of perceived social support in only one factor, namely friends in terms of length of stay in a social services facility.
Keywords
Aging, seniors, perceived social support, social services
SUMMARY
The area of exploring social support is particularly important in the target group of seniors. Our results point to the fact that seniors perceive social support in their environment. Based on our findings, it would be advisable that high schools, colleges specializing in social work or psychology should increase their cooperation with ZSS in seniors' leisure time, various volunteer activities. These activities can be joined by institutions of the third sector, private sector in order to make the leisure time of seniors more pleasant, which should be implemented through volunteer activities, including volunteering days or other projects implemented by municipalities or municipal regions. Increase staffing levels in social services in order to ensure that they have sufficient time to devote to the elderly. It may be appropriate for social service establishments to cooperate with the Social Welfare and Family Labour Offices to involve jobseekers in activities in social service establishments. Increase the number of talks for seniors with experts in the fields of social affairs, health care and psychologists. Supervision of staff should also focus on deepening empathy among staff, more therapies and activities with seniors, and more collective activities with seniors. It is also advisable to involve social service facilities in the 'Adopt a senior citizen' project. It is certainly important to pay attention to this area, so that the period of old age represents a period of peace for seniors, spent in the company of their loved ones and also of people who represent a supportive social network for them.
(Language: slovak)