Cent Eur J Public Health 2013, 21(2):63-71 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3774

The Attitudes of Older Adults Living in Institutions and Their Caregivers to Ageing

Hana Janečková1, Eva Dragomirecká2, Iva Holmerová3, Hana Vaňková4
1 Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
2 Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
3 Centre of Gerontology and Centre of Expertise in Longevity and Long-term Care, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
4 Centre of Gerontology, Prague, Czech Republic

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the attitudes of older people living in institutions and their caregivers to ageing. Recent outcomes showed prevailing negative social stereotype to ageing in CR.

Methods: The Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire (AAQ-24) was used in two waves of data collection to measure attitudes of 400 randomly selected residents of 19 Senior Residential Homes. The reduced sample of 220 seniors and 276 professional carers employed at twelve Senior Residential Homes completed 12 items of general form (AAQ-12). All respondents expressed their agreement or disagreement with the statements presented in the questionnaire regarding positive or negative attitudes to ageing.

Results: The AAQ total score proved significant influence of gender, having children, self-perceived health, depression, and quality of life. Subscale scores (psychosocial losses, physical changes, psychological growth) were significantly influenced by gender, age, activities limitations, having own children, depression, self-perceived health status, and quality of life. Globally, the attitudes of professional caregivers to ageing were more positive compared to the attitudes of older people living in institutions. Older adults showed higher agreement with negative statements about ageing. There was no difference between professional caregivers and older people in the positive attitudes to ageing expressed as the growth potential. Physical activity, wisdom, better ability to cope with life and contacting young generation were effective in the positive attitudes of both groups.

Keywords: attitudes to ageing, three dimensions of ageing, older adults, senior residential homes, care staff, successful ageing, old-age paradox

Received: March 9, 2012; Revised: March 29, 2013; Accepted: March 29, 2013; Published: June 1, 2013  Show citation

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Janečková H, Dragomirecká E, Holmerová I, Vaňková H. The Attitudes of Older Adults Living in Institutions and Their Caregivers to Ageing. Cent Eur J Public Health. 2013;21(2):63-71. doi: 10.21101/cejph.a3774. PubMed PMID: 24053061.
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