Attitudes of young people to ageing and the elderly.

Transcription

1 Attitudes f yung peple t ageing and the elderly. Item Type Reprt Authrs Pwer, Brian Citatin Pwer, B., Attitudes f yung peple t ageing and the elderly. Dublin: Natinal Cuncil fr the Aged. Dwnlad date 03/11/ :10:20 Link t Item Find this and similar wrks at -

2 NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR'THE _ AGED, ATTITUDES OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO.AGEING ' 'AND THE,ELDERLY I... "

3 0 NATION:A~;rqU~F.IL FO~:THE AGED., The Natinal Cuncil ~r ttt~ A,ged ~as establisht;d by te Minister fr Health in June 'Jlhe.~ert.is-: >f r~eren ce f the"lcuncii are: "T advise the Minister fr Health n all aspects f the welfare f the aged, either n its wn initiative r at l~e request f (~e Minister. and in particular 0 n methds f ensuring c-rdinatin between public bdies at natinal and lcal level in the planning and prvisin f services fr the elderly, n ways f meeting the needs f the mst vulnerable elderly. n ways f encuraging psitive attitudes t life after 65 years and the prcess f ageing, n ways f encuraging greater participatin by elderly peple in the life f the cmmunity, n mdels f gd practice in the care f the elderly, and n research required t plan and develp apprpriate services fr the elderly. " CHAIRMAN: SECRETARY: MEMBERSHIP RESEARCH OFFICER: Dr. R. Barringtn Mr. L. Byrne Dr. J. Cnnlly Dr. M. Cney Mr. J. Cusins Right Rev. J. C. Duggan Mr. T. Garry Mr. B. Harvey Mr. K. Hickey Mr. J.J. Hare Ms. M. Hrne Dr. M. Hyland Ms. M. Keane Dr. W.J. McGarry Ms. A. Nichlsn Prf. J. O'Cnnr Mr. T. O'Cnnr Very Rev. B. Pwer Ms. S. Simmns Ms. A. Small Mr. M. White Mr. L.J. Tumey Mr B. Carrll Mr. M. Brwne

4 0,'555 r ~ AN LEABHARLAN.! HOLm. EDUCATSON BUREAu Aec,III.1I«-*'t- CiaraJ IIDitc Jj '52 a ~~~.~g 3 ~ ATTITUDES OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO AGEING Brian Pwer NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE AGED

5 This reprt has been prepared by Very Rev. Brian Pwer P.P., a member f the Natinal Cuncil fr the Aged. First published in 1987 by the Natinal Cuncil fr the Aged, Crrigan Huse, Fenian Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Natinal Cuncil fr the Aged All rights reserved Printed by Jhn Augustine Limited, Dublin.

6 CONTENTS Frewrd 4. Intrductin 6 Chapter 1 The Yung Peple and Their General Characteristics 9 Chapter 2 Attitudes t Ageing 12 Chapter 3 Attitudes t the Elderly 16 Chapter 4 Assumptins abut Attitudes f the Elderly t the Yung 23 Chapter 5 Cmments by the Yung Peple 27 Chapter 6 Summary and Cnclusins 30 Appendix I Other Relevant Research 35 Appendix II Questinnaire 36 3

7 FOREWORD Thrughut the research f the Natinal Cuncil fr the Aged, varius cmmn themes emerge. One f these is th~ need fr attitudinal change.. In studies' f elderly residents in rural and suburban neighburhds, thse. interviewed have revealed their attitudes twards themselves and their perceptins f the attitudes f the cmmunity twards them. This..: study represents, hwever, the first attempt by the Cuncil t identify. the views f ageing and. the elderly held by any ther particular age. grup. Why did we chse yung peple f schl-leaving age as the categry " t- be studied? It was because f the realisatin that the cmmunity in which they will spend their adult lives will cntain an increasingly large prpr~iri f peple ver sixty-five years f age. Their attitudes t the lder genefatin and t the prcess f ageing itself will be an imprtant factr in the shaping f natinal plicies. Fr this reasn, we are anxius t.prmte the design f an educatinal prgramme which will help Y0l,lllg peple' t cme t terms with the ageing prcess and develp psitive' attitu"des twards the rle that elderly peple are capable f.,pla'ying in the cmmunity. The study was carried ut as a means twards this end and was visualised as part f the prcess f educatin f sme " yung peple in their appreciatin f age and the prcess f ageing rather than 'as an end in itself. Financial cnstraints limited the scpe f the study. The sample cntains, nevertheless, students frm urban, suburban and rural back-., grunds. The inclusin f a greater number f schls, while admittedly desirable, wuld be unlikely t have altered t any great degree the cnclusins in this reprt. If this initial attempt t discver the images f ageing and the elderly held by yung Irish peple shuld lead t further research in this area, that wuld be a welcme develpment.. Finally, we wish t emphasise that the principal aim f this study is t encurage yung peple, alng with their teachers and guardians, t evaluate the rle f the elderly and help create the kind f sciety in which elderly peple wuld nt merely have their physical needs met but wuld be given a deeper sense f belnging and wider pprtunities t cntribute t the welfare f their lcal cmmunities. Many peple cntributed in different ways t this study, which was cmpleted in May, The Natinal Cuncil fr the Aged wuld like t thank first and fremst the administratin, staff and students/- 4

8 trainees f Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Cllege, Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Training Wrkshp and St. Paul's. Cmmunity Cllege, Waterfrd, fr their gdwill and fr their c-peratin in undertaking the study in their establishments. The administratin, staff and Leaving Certificate students f the Christian Brthers' Secndary Schl, Dun Laghaire, and f the Dminican Cnvent Secndary Schl, Dun Laghaire were als mst helpful at the design and pretesting stages f the study. Withut all the assistance frm the yung peple invlved in the preparatin and cmpletin f the questinnaires the study wuld nt have been p~ssible. Our thanks als g t Prfessr Cnr Ward f the Department f Scial Science, University Cllege, Dublin and Mrs. Teresa Brannick f the Department f Industrial Relatins, University Cllege, Dublin, fr their assistance in prcessing the data cmpiled. The Cuncil takes this pprtunity t thank the members f its Educatin Cmmittee, particularly its Chairman, Mr. Michael White, and the autlir f the reprt, Very Rev. Brian Pwer P.P., fr their wrk in undertaking and cmpleting this study. The Cuncil als wishes t acknwledge the assistance f its Secretary, Mr. Bb Carrll, its Research Officer, Mr. Michael Brwne, and Ms. Jennifer Leech, a frmer member f staff, wh cntributed t the pr~uctin and publicatin f the reprt. L.J. Tumey, Chairman, Natinal Cuncil fr the Aged, Crrigan Huse, Fenian Street, Dublin 2. March

9 INTRODUCTION Backgrund t the Study Since it came int existence in June 1981 as an advisry bdy t the Minister fr Health, the Natinal Cuncil fr the Aged has cnducted and cmmissined a gd deal f research int the needs f certain categries f elderly peple, such as the incapacitated and the institutinalised. The research als brught int clearer fcus the mre psitive aspects f ageing and the many valuable qualities f peple wh have passed the nrmal retirement age f sixty-five. Fr sme time, the Cuncil has been cnscius f the need fr a cmmunity educatin prgramme which wuld make Irish peple f all ages mre aware nt merely f the scial disadvantages f sme categries f elderly peple but f the strengths and skills f elderly peple in general. Shrtage f funds has made it impssible, at this stage, t initiate large scale research which wuld frm the basis f such an educatin prgramme. It was felt, hwever, that a beginning culd be made by sme f the Cuncil members themselves. Cnsequently, a cmmittee was set up under the chairmanship f Mr. Michael White t cnsi<;ler what might be dne in this regard. Believing that any cmmunity educatin prgramme shuld embrace the yung and shuld be based n whatever reliable infrmatin culd be acquired, the cmmittee decided t try and ascertain by means f a sample survey the images f ageing and the elderly which yung peple might be expected t entertain at the end f secnd level educatin. This decisin was made n the basis f several assumptins. These assumptins were as fllws: A. By the time yung peple cmplete their secnd level educatin, many f the images and cncepts they have frmed are likely t be retained fr the rest f their lives, especially in the case f thse wh will never prceed t third level educatin. B. Many f these yung peple will shrtly incur the respnsibility r challenge f dealing with elderly peple. C. Yung peple cmpleting their secnd level educatin wuld be easily accessible, with the help f schl administratins, fr the purpses f cnducting a study.. D. The results f such a study culd be used in the prmtin f an educatinal prgramme in Irish schls. 6

10 E. If cnducted n a small scale by members f the Cuncil, a study f this kind shuld prve inexpensive and culd be cmpleted in a relatively shrt time. F. The prcess f cnducting such a study shuld in itself prve educatinal and prvide a mdel fr manageable research f a similar kind in schls ther than thse selected fr the study. Methd and Purpses f the Study It was decided that a study t ascertain the images f ageing and the elderly amng students in final year classes wuld be cnducted in tw nn-denminatinal Cmmunity Clleges, ne in.waterfrd and ne in Dun Laghaire, by administering a precded questinnaire in classes due t cmplete their final year curses in June The reasns fr this selectin were as fllws: A. Tw Cuncil members, Mr. Michael White in Waterfrd and Fr. Brian Pwer in Dun Laghaire, were available t supervise the study and liaise with teachers willing t give assistance in these Cmmunity Clleges. B. The selectin f Leaving Certificate classes in St. Paul's Cmmunity Cllege, Waterfrd, wuld embrace a small percentage f students (estimated at 20%-30%) living in rural areas. C. The selectin f Leaving Certificate classes in Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Cllege which cntained students wh had received their entire secnd level educatin in that schl, alng with pre-emplyment classes which cntained the remainder wh had received their entire secnd level educatin there, wuld affrd a basis fr cmparisn between the respnse f students in a Dublin suburb and the respnse f students in a prvincial city. D. Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Cllege prvided student cntact with elderly peple by means f a prgramme f assistance in its library service supplied by the lcal Retirement Assciatin. The existence f this prgramme in ne Cllege wuld give added interest t cmparisn f the respnse there with the respnse in a Cllege which did nt have any crrespnding prgramme. Because yung peple wh abandned secnd level educatin at an early age were nt s far included in the sample, it was decided that a questinnaire wuld be administered als in the Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Training Wrkshp, an AnCO and VEC prgramme set up specifically, under the cntrl f a vluntary lcal management cmmittee, t prvide training fr yung peple in this categry. Mst f 7

11 the trainees in the Wrkshp had at ne time been students either in Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Cllege r in anther Cmmunity Cllege situated in Dun Laghaire Brugh. In rder t be admitted t the prgramme, trainees had t be at least fifteen years f age and t have been at least six mnths ut f schl. Cnstructin f the Questinnaire The questinnaire, t be used in the study was cnstructed in the fllwing way. A. A draft questinnaire was prepared by the researcher and amended in cnsultatin with the research cmmittee. B. The researcher spent tw class sessins with students in a Leaving Certificate. class in the Christian Brthers' Secndary Schl, Dun Laghaire, during which he discussed the purpse f the prpsed study and the draft questinnaire. As a result f this cnsultatin, sme new questins were added, thers were eliminated, and the intelligibility f the questinnaire t the age grup fr which it was designed was cnsiderably imprved. C. Pre-tests f the questinnaire were cnducted by the researcher in anther Leaving Certificate class in the Christian Brthers' Secndary Schl, Dun Laghaire, and in a Leaving Certificate class in Dminican Cnvent Secndary Schl, Dun Laghaire. Further minr alteratins were then made in the questinnaire, which it had been prved culd be administered withut pressure d)lring a class sessin lasting frty t frty-five minutes. 8

12 CHAYfER I THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS 1.1 The Sample In the Cmmunity Clleges in Waterfrd and Dun Laghaire, nt all the students whse riames were n the registers at the beginning f the academic year had cntinued t attend classes thrughut the secnd and third terms. When the questinnaire was administered in the early weeks f the final term, that is between 8th and 25th April 1986, the numbers nrmally attending the classes selected fr the study were 78 in St. Paul's Cmmunity Cllege, Waterfrd, and 68 in Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Cllege. In bth schls a small number f students were absent when the questinnaire was administered--five in Waterfrd and five in Dun Laghaire, f whm fur were freign students. The number f trainees in Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Training Wrkshp was 30, all f whm filled in the questinnaire. The ttal sample with which we will be cncerned cnsisted, then, f 73 students in St. Paul's Cmmunity Cllege, Waterfrd; 63 students in Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Cllege; and 30 trainees in DunLaghaire Cmmunity Training Wrkshp. In St. Paul's Cmmunity Cllege, Waterfrd, the questinnaire was administered by teachers wh had been briefed by Mr. Michael White. In Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Cllege, it was administered either by Fr. Brian Pwer r by a teacher briefed by him. In Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Training Wrkshp, it was administered by the researcher, Fr. Brian Pwer. Table 1.1 shws the numbers and percentages f respndents in each f the three educatinal centres. Table 1.1 DISTRIBUTION OF SAMPLE IN EDUCA TlON CENTRES Number Percentage % Waterfrd Cllege Dun Laghaire Cllege Dun Laghaire Wrkshp Ttal

13 T make them easier t fllw, percentages nly will be used in further tables. It shuld be brne in mind, hwever, that small percentages indicating a particular respnse in ne f t~e three centres studied will represent very small numbers. Decimals will nt be used in the tables, but percentages will be given t the nearest rund figures. Table 1.2 shws the distributin f the sexes in the educatinal centres studied. Table 1.2 SEX DISTRIBUTION IN EDUCATIONAL CENTRES Bys Waterfrd % 61 D.L. Cllege % 67 D.L. Wrkshp % 48 Ttal Sample % 61 Girls Of all the respndents, 61 % were bys, 39% girls. In Waterfrd. Cllege, likewise, 61 % were bys, 39% girls. In Dun Laghaire Cllege, there were twice as many bys as girls--67% as against 33%. Girls were better represented in Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Training Wrkshp, where they slightly utnumbered the bys, 52% f the respndents being girls, 48% bys. Table 1.3 gives the age distributin f the respndents in the three educatinal institutins. Table 1.3 AGE DISTRIBUTION IN EDUCA TlONAL CENTRES Aged 16 r under Aged 17 Aged 18 Aged 19 r ver % % % % Waterfrd Dun L. Cllege Dun L. Wrkshp Ttal Sample In the ttal sample, half f the respndents were aged sixteen r yunger (in effect, sixteen r fifteen years, but the exact percentage wh were aged fifteen was nt ascertained). Frty-ne per cent were aged seventeen and 9% ver eighteen. Higher percentages f the respndents in Dun Laghaire than in Waterfrd were in the yungest bracket. As can be estimated frm Table 1.3,91 % f all the respndents were under eighteen years f age. 10'

14 In the ttal sample, the age distributin f the bys and girls was almst identical. As a general rule, further cmparisn f the respnses given t questins in the educatinal centres r amng bys and girls will be made nly where there was a ntable difference between them. Differences in respnse between the tw Cmmunity Clleges were rarely significant. Differences in respnse between bys and girls were mre frequently significant. 1.2 Ages f Parents _ Mst f the respndents had relatively yung parents. Ninety-ne per cent gave their mthers' ages as under fifty-five (29% as under frty) and 87% gave their fathers' ages as under fifty-five (13% as under frty). In the remainder f cases, three students said that their mthers were deceased and five that their fathers were deceased, a small number did nt attempt t guess their parents' ages, while ne student's mther - was stated t be ver sixty-five and three students' fathers were stated t be ver sixty-five. 1.3 Elderly Grandparents Seventy-tw per cent f all the respndents had at least ne grandparent r great-grandparent living wh was ver sixty-five years f age, but nly 39% had mre than ne such relative. Seventy-seven per cent f the Waterfrd and 71 % f the Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Cllege students had at least ne grandparent r great-grandparent living aged ver sixty-five, as against 59% f the Dun Laghaire Wrkshp trainees. Only 4% f the ttal sample said that there was anyne aged sixty-five r ver, ther than a parent, living in their hmes. It can be cncluded, therefre, that where the yung peple had elderly relatives they were almst always living elsewhere. 11

15 CHAPTER 2 ATTITUDES TO AGEING 2.1 Length f Life Aspiratins The yung peple were asked t indicate the apprximate age t which they wuld like t live. The largest categry in the respnse (46%) shwed n apparent misgivings abut grwing ld, saying they wuld like t live t be eighty years r mre. The secnd highest categry (28%) said they didn't knw hw lng they wuld like t live. Eleven per cent indicated seventy-five years apprximately, 11 % sixty-five years apprximately, and 4 % fifty-five years r less.. Sme difference ccurred here between the Waterfrd ClIege and the Dun Laghaire Cllege students. Fifty-tw per cent in Waterfrd, as against 37% in Dun Laghaire Cllege, said they wuld like t live t be eighty years r mre. The difference is explained mainly by the smalier percentage f Waterfrd students (17% as against 39% in Dun Laghaire ClIege) wh didn't knw hw lng they wuld like t live. The fact remains that Waterfrd students were mre likely than Dun Laghaire ClIege students t display a psitive inclinatin t g n living t a gd ld age. Althugh a substantial percentage (31 %) f the Dun Laghaire Wrkshp trainees didn't knw hw lng they wuld like t!ive, quite a high percentage (48%) f them pted fr eighty years r mre Age at which Value t Cmmunity may be Thught t Cease Questin N.7 may be thught t be smething f a trick questin. It ran as fllws: At what age d yu think peple cease, as a general rule, t be f any value t their cmmunity? As a result f prir cnsultatin with Christian Brthers' students abut the cnstructin f the questinnaire, hwever, respndents were free t tick either an apprximate age r ne f the categries 'Can't put any age n it' r 'Never'. Respndents whse replies fell int either f these categries culd be said t have evinced, at very least, reluctance t regard ld age as equivalent t uselessness r helplessness-althugh in the mind f the researcher 'Never' wuld be rated as the ideal respnse t the questin. Table 2.1 displays the ttal respnse t Questin N. 7 and the breakdwn f replies amng girls and bys. 12

16 Table 2.1 AGE AT WHICH VALUE TO COMMUNITY CEASES Ttal Sample Girls Bys % % % Never Can't put any age n it Years r less years apprx years apprx years apprx years r mre N idea/dn't knw The main difference between the sexes was that girls were less likely than bys t put an age n the cessatin f human value t the cmmunity, and smewhat less likely t specify a lwer age categry. Twenty-eight per cent f the ttal sample were prepared t specify a definite age at which peple might cease. t be f any value t their cmmunity. Thirty-six per cent f the bys did s as against 16% f the girls. This was ne clear instance where gegraphical lcatin r type f educatinal centre made practically n difference t the respnse, but where sex did make a difference. 2.3 Fear r Anxiety abut Grwing Old Questin N. 17 was: D yu have any fear r anxiety abut grwing ld? Respndents wh answered 'yes' were then asked t indicate ne r mre f several reasns suggested by the students wh helped with the cnstructin f the questinnaire. In the ttal sample, 56% said that they did have sme fear r anxiety abut grwing ld, while the remainder (44%) answered 'n'. In Waterfrd Cmmunity Cllege, 59% said 'yes', while in Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Cllege a similar percentage (57%) said 'yes' as against a smewhat lwer percentage (48%) in Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Training Wrkshp. Once again the difference in respnse between the sexes was mre striking. In the ttal sample, 67% f the girls expressed fear r anxiety abut grwing ld as against 49% f the bys, The fact, then, that girls had emerged as less likely t equate ld age with a decline in human value did nt mean that they were less likely than bys t be wrried abut grwing ld. The situatin, it wuld seem, was quite the reverse, 13

17 In replying t the secnd part f this questin, the respndents wh had answered 'yes' t the first part gave the fllwing reasns fr their fear r anxiety. As peple grw lder they are left alne/lse thse clse t them/suffer frm lneliness: 33% f the ttal sample. I see sme ld peple grwing weak r helpless: 31 % f the ttal sample. It's getting nearer t death: 15% f the ttal sample. It's ging int the unknwn: 5% f the ttal sample. Any ther reasn: 6% f the ttal sample. Girls were mre likely than bys t express cncern abut lneliness, lss r abandnment. This type f reasn was given by three-quarters f the gifts wh expressed fear r anxiety abut grwing ld, but by less than half f the bys wh expressed such fear r anxiety. The "secnd mst cmmnly indicated reasn was cncern abut grwing weak r helpless. This reasn was indicated by ver half f bth girls and bys, in almst identical prprtins, wh expressed fear r anxiety abu~ grwing ld. It is nt~wrthy that a higher percentage (56%) f all the respndents entertained fear r anxiety abut grwing ld than expressed a desire t live beynd eighty years f age (46%). Were the 44% f all the respndents wh expressed n fear r anxiety abut grwing ld much the same yung peple as the 46% wh wished t live t be eighty years r mre? Nt necessarily. Only half f the respndents wh indicated that they wuld like t live beynd eighty years f age turned ut t be free f fear r anxiety abut grwing ld. The desire t live t a ripe ld age was nt incnsistent with sme frebding abut what it wuld be like t be ld. 2.4 Opinins abut Cmpulsry Retirement Age Questin N. 12 was as fllws: D yu think that there" shuld be a minimum age at which peple have t retire frm fulltime paid emplyment f every kind? The respnse t this questin might arguably relate as much t the attitude f the yung peple t the elderly as t their attitude t ageing. If s, it can be stated that the majrity shwed n inclinatin t clamur 14

18 fr cmpulsry retirement f their elders in emplyment. Sixty'per cent felt that the age fr retirement shuld depend n the nature f the jb and 15% that there shuld be n particular age at which peple shuld 'have t retire. S,ixteen per cent specified sixty-five as the apprpriate age, while 6% were in favur f cmpulsry retirement at an age under sixty. Tw per cent indicated seventy years and 1 % seventy-five years r mre. Table 2.2 cmpares the respnse in the three educatinal institutins. Table 2,2 PROPOSED RETIREMENT AGE N age Depends n jb Under % % % % % % Waterfrd Dun L. Cllege Dun L. Wrkshp A striking divergence in respnse ccurred between the trainees in Dun,Laghaire Cmmunity Training Wrkshp and the students in the Cmmunity Clleges. The trainees displayed the mst liberal, if nt necessarily the mst practical, apprach t setting any cnditins fr a retirement age. Frty-five per cent f them prpsed withut reservatin that there shuld be n particular cmpulsry retirement age in emplymenfand nne f them pted fr an abnrmally early retirement age. This may have had smething t d with their preference fr a wrk situatin ver schl attendance, but it wuld be pssible t speculate endlessly as t the mst likely reasns. As the table illustrates, there was little difference in respnse between the tw Cmmunity Clleges, any mre than there was any difference between girls and bys in the ttal sample. 15

19 CHAPTER 3 ATTITUDES TO THE ELDERLY 3.1 Membership f Caring Grups Ii was nt expected that many f the yung peple, fr the mst part aged between fifteen and nineteen, wuld belng t any grup cncerned with the welfare f elderly peple. The tiny percentage (2%) wh did s was even lwer than might have been anticipated. 3.2 Elderly Friends In the cnstructin f the questinnaire, it was assumed that sme clse bnds might be expected t exist between the respndents and elderly grandparents r relatives. The kind f relatinship that yung peple might have develped with sme elderly peple ther than clse relatives might be expected t present a mre accurate reflectin f their attitude t the elderly in general. Questin N. 10 asked if there was anyne aged sixty-five r ver, ther than a relative, whm the respndent wuld regard as a friend. Table 3.1 shws the respnse in the ttal sample and cmpares the respnse f bys and girls. Table 3.1 NUMBER OF ELDERL Y FRIENDS Nne One Tw Three r mre % % % % Bys Girls Ttal Sample As can be seen, almst tw-thirds (65%) f the ttal sample culd nt think f any elderly persn nt related t them whm they wuld regard as a friend. A slightly higher percentage f the girls (42%) than f the bys (35%) culd claim t have at least ne elderly friend wh was nt a relative. 3.3 Scial Cntact with Elderly Peple The respnse t a questin designed t discver hw much scial cntact the yung peple had with elderly peple, utside their hme r schl situatins, yielded a similar result. Questin 11, rather a lengthy ne, ran as fllws: Is there anyne aged sixty-five r ver, ther than a relative, teacher r schl helper, with whm yu have a chat, f yur wn free will, at least nce a week e.g. stpping n the street, ging ut t visit, r meeting tgether in a club, grup r scial envir~ment? 16

20 Table 3.2 shws the respnse which was quite similar t that in Table 3.1, althugh with sme slight difference in the respnse f the girls. Table 3.2 REGULAR SOCIAL CONTACT WITH ELDERL Y Nne One Tw Three r mre % % % % Bys Girls Ttal Sample Tw-thirds (66%) f all the respndents did nt have any regular scial cntact with even ne elderly persn wh was nt related t them r placed in cntact with them in their schl situatin. It may be remarked that a slightly higher percentage f girls had n regular scial cntact with elderly peple than lacked friends amng the elderly. There is nthing that is necessarily cntradictry in this, hwever. It is pssible t maintain a friendship with smene whm ne rarely sees. An exceptinally high crrelatin between the repnse t the questins abut friendship and scial cntact revealed that the vast majrity f respndents wh had regular scial cntact with elderly peple als claimed friendship with sme elderly peple. Lack f regular cntact with elderly peple was a gd indicatr that respndents wuld be unable t claim that they had a friendship with even ne elderly persn. Whether the respndents lived in Waterfrd r Dun Laghaire made practically n difference t the nature f the respnse t the questins abut friendship and scial cntact. The nly slight deviatin frm the nrm was that a fairly sizeable percentage (21 %) f the trainees in Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Training Wrkshp, cmpared with 11 % f the Waterfrd and 13% f the Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Cllege students, said that they were friendly with at least three elderly peple. Wuld increased cntact with elderly peple make the yung any less wrried abut grwing ld themselves ne day? In this study, while there was n strng assciatin between scial cntact and this kind f anxiety, a larger percentage (59%) f the respndents wh had n regular cntact with elderly peple nt related t them expressed fear r anxiety abut grwing ld; the crrespnding percentage (51 %) amng thse wh had sme such regular cntact was nt a great deal lwer. N crrelatin was fund between scial cntact with the elderly and hw well r badly respndents thught they were treated. Opinins abut this did nt appear t be affected by the amunt f cntact the yung peple had with the elderly. 17

21 3.4 General Relatinship with Elderly Peple The majrity f the respndents saw themselves as having a gd relatinship with elderly peple in general. Friendly (62%), respeciful (51 %), interested (22%) and sympathetic (18%) were the wrds mst frequently indicated t describe the nature f this relatinship. On the negative side, the wrd mst ften indicated was 'distant', but nly 13% indicated it, while 8% said the relatinship was 'nn-existent' and 7% 'uneasy'.. I The nly ntable variatin in the respnse in the three educatinal centres ccurred in the use f the wrd 'friendly'. This is shwn in Table 3.3. Table 3.3 FRIENDL Y RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ELDERL Y IN GENERAL Friendly Nt Indicated %. 'Y Waterfrd Cllege Dun Laghaire Cllege Dun Laghaire Wrkshp A significantly higher percentage (82%) f the Dun Laghaire Wrkshp trainees than f the Cmmunity Cllege students (57% in Waterfrd and 60% in Dun Laghaire) described their general relatinship with peple ver sixty-five years as 'friendly'. It is wrth nting that in the ttal sample girls were mre likely than bys t say that their general relatinship with elderly peple was 'friendly' (72% f the girls as against 57% f the bys). It may be f interest, t, t cmpare the 62% f all the respndents wh said their general relatinship with elderly peple was friendly with the 35% wh claimed t have friends in the ver-sixty-five age bracket. Nt that there is anything necessarily cntradictry abut this cntrast. It is quite pssible t have a friendly dispsitin twards a particular grup f peple withut actually having any clse friends within it. 3.5 Special Respnsibility fr Welfare r Elderly Friendliness f dispsitin did nt result in a majnty f the respndents being ready t accept withut reservatin that they, as yung peple, had any special respnsibility fr the welfare f elderly peple. The questin which was asked was: D yu cnsider that yu, as a yung persn, have any special respnsibility fr the welfare f elderly peple? 18

22 Frty per cent f the ttal sample did give an unqualified 'yes' t this questin. A further 13% answered-quite reasnably perhaps in the minds f many elderly peple themselves-that they wuld accept such a respnsibility nly in the case f elderly peple wh needed t be cared fr. Seven per cent indicated "Yes, but nly if they are related t me", and 10% indicated "Yes, but nly if they are related t me and have t be cared fr". Twenty-tw per cent said they were nt sure and 9% gave.an unqualified 'n' as their answer t the questin. The nly ther statistic wrth nting is that a higher percentage f girls (48%) than bys (35%) accepted withut reservatin that they; as yung peple, had a special respnsibility fr the welfare f elderly peple. Twelve per cent f the bys, mrever, indicated an unqualified ~n' as against 5% f the girls. 3.6 Treatment f the Elderly in Ireland The respndents were asked t say hw well-r badly they thught elderly peple in Ireland were treated. Since this was a very glbal srt f questin, it can nly be expected t cnvey a very general impressin -f the way the yung peple might assess cmmunity supprt r natinal services fr the elderly generatins. As there was very little variatin in the replies f the bys as against the girls, Table 3.4 presents the respnse in the -ttal sample and the breakdwn fr the three educatinal institutins. Table 3.4 HOW ELDERL Y PEOPLE ARE SEEN TO BE TREATED IN IRELAND Very Well Fairly Well Rather Badly Very Badly % % % % Waterfrd Dun L. Cllege Dun L. Wrkshp Ttal Sample The main vlume f respnse in the ttal sample fell in the 'fairly well' categry (59%). T put the respnse in clearer perspective, it may be nted that 65% f all the respndents thught that elderly peple in Ireland were treated at least fairly well, whereas 35% thught that they were treated at least fairly badly. Once again there was a difference in respnse between the Dun Laghaire Wrkshp trainees and the students f bth Cmmunity 19

23 Clleges. Whereas 71% f the Waterfrd and 65% f the Dun Laghaire Cllege students cnsidered elderly peple were well treated, the Dun Laghaire Wrkshp trainees were split evenly in their respnse, 50% thinking the elderly were well treated and 50% thinking they were badly treated. The percentage f Dun Laghaire trainees, mrever, wh thught elderly peple were treated very badly was 25%, a substantial percentage when cmpared with the 3% and 5% f the Waterfrd and Dun Laghaire students wh indicated this particular respnse. Whether these differences reflected different experiences f the actual --treatment f elderly peple in the families r neighburhds f the respndents must remain pen t speculatin. Whatever abut such speculatin, analysis revealed that, in the ttal sample, the views f respndents as t hw well r badly the elderly were treated had n apparent influence n whether r nt they believed they had any special respnsibility fr the welfare f the elderly. 3.7 What the Yung Peple thught f mst Elderly Peple. In the light f the fact that 62% f the ttal sample regarded their,general relatinship with peple aged ver sixty-five as friendly, the respnse t Questin N. 19 may cme as rather a surprise. This questin prvided a series f adjectives which might describe mst elderly peple, and respndents were left free t indicate any number f them as they wished. Since there was n significant difference in respnse between the three educatinal centres, Table 3.5 gives the ttal respnse and cmpares the replies made by bys and girls. As negative images tended t predminate, they are listed abve the psitive. Table 3.5 IMAGES OF MOST ELDERL Y PEOPLE HELD BY RESPONDENTS Bys Girls Ttal % % % Negative Cranky Difficult t please Demanding Rigidly cnservative Bring Frbidding

24 Table 3.5 cntinued Psitive Interesting Cheerful Helpful Easy t get n with Encuraging Flexible/adaptable Nne f Abve 5 3 As can be seen frm Table 3.5, differences in respnse between the sexes were ntewrthy nly in a few instances. A higher percentage f bys (54%) than girls (41 %) described mst elderly peple as difficult t please. Twice as many bys (33%) as girls (16%) regarded them as rigidly cnservative. A much higher percentage f bys (21 %) than girls (nly 3%) saw elderly peple as bring. Nne f the girls as against 9% f the bys thught they were frbidding. Only half f the respndents (51 %) indicated the mst cmmnly used negative adjective, 'cranky', t describe their image f mst elderly peple. Nnetheless, this stands in striking cntrast t the fact that less than a third (31 %) indicated the mst cmmnly used psitive adjective, 'interesting', t describe mst elderly peple. In general, the respndents were mre likely t pt fr negative than psitive terms t give their impressins f the majrity f elderly peple. -- Many f the respndents, f curse, selected bth psitive and negative terms. A mre favurable side t the respnse was fund when the numbers wh indicated at least ne psitive r at least ne negative term were enumerated. Althugh three-quarters (75%) f the sample indicated at least ne negative term, a large percentage (60% ) indicated at least ne psitive term. The majrity, therefre, made an effrt t achieve sme balance in their judgements. The best summary f the ttal respnse, hwever, wuld seem t be that cntained in Table 3.6, which distingl,lishes thse wh indicated a greater number f psitive terms and thse wh indicated a greater number f negative terms. 21

25 I Table 3.6 PREDOMINANT IMAGES OF MOST ELDERL Y HELD BY RESPONDENTS :-.:.5:-:t ccttal Sample ',., Psitive Evenly Negative Others Mainly Balanced Mainly % % % % Of the ttal sample, 52% held mainly negative and 31 % mainly psitive images f elderly peple, while 13% selec:ted an equal number f ~ psitive and negative terms. The remaining 4% incl~ge(lthse wh. indicated 'nne f these' in the list f terms prvided and thse wh. indicated that they culd nt give a satisfactry answer t the questin. 22'

26 CHAPTER 4 ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT ATTITUDES OF THE ELDERLY TO THE YOUNG 4.1 What the Yung Peple Believed mst Elderly Peple Thught f ~~ Preliminary discussin abut the framewrk f the questinnaire with the students in a final year class in 'Christian Brthers' Secndary Schl, Dun Laghaire, induced the researcher t include the fllwing questin: What d yu think is the general pinin that mst elderly peple have f the yung? Place a tick in mre than ne bx if yu wish. In the event, the impressin that a majrity f the respndents entertained abut the pinins mst elderly peple have f the yung std in marked cntrast t the psitive image mst f them entertained abut their wn general relatinship with the elderly. They tended t believe that mst elderly peple tk a pretty dim view f the yung. Tw-thirds (66%) f the sample thught mst elderly peple didn't understand them. This was easily the highest prprtin t indicate any particular categry f respnse. After that, 48% believed mst elderly peple were afraid f them; 46% that they lked n them as vandals; 42% that the elderly regarded mst yung peple as disrespectful r rude; and 33% that mst elderly peple regarded them as yung brats. Whether the yung peple believed that there was any slid reasn fr these attitudes which they assumed t be held by the elderly cannt be ascertained frm this study. On the mre psitive end f the scale, the respnse was much lwer. Only a fifth (20%) indicated that mst elderly peple wrried abut their welfare and much the same prprtin (19%) that mst elderly peple enjyed their cmpany. Other psitive assumptins were indicated by smaller percentages. Whether this respnse had anything t d with pr sdf-image is dubtful. in view f the psitive.light in which the yung peple tended t see their wn general relatinship with the elderly. What it seemed t express was a feeling amng many that, in spite f their benevlent dispsitin twards a generati.n which included a sizeable prprtin f peple wh were cranky and difficult t please, they were nt rewarded with much recgnitin f their gdwill. 23,

27 Sme ntewrthy differences ccurred between the sexes in relatin t assumptins abut hw mst elderly peple viewed the yung. Table 5.1, which lists the assumptins in rder f magnitude f respnse, shws hw bys tended t have a smewhat darker image than girls f the way they were regarded by the elderly. In the table, psitive views are in italics. Table 4.1 OPINIONS YOUNG PEOPLE THINK ELDERLY PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT THEM Ttal Bys Girls % % % They dn't understand us They are afraid f us They lk n us as vandals Think us disrespectful/ rude See us as yung brats ~ Wrry abut ur welfare They enjy being with us They are jealus f us They are interested in us Think us generus/helpful Nne f Abve 4 Cnsistently higher percentages f bys than girls held negative assumptins abut the pinins mst elderly peple had f the yung. In sme instances, the difference was quite large. Likewise, when we lk at the minrity f respndents wh indicated psitive assumptins, the ne really significant difference was that in the ttal sample nly 13% f the bys, as ppsed t 30% f the girls, said that mst elderly peple enjyed their.cmpany. Ntable. differences in respnse amng the three educatinal centres ccurred in three instances nly. Firstly, a much smaller percentage (28%) f the Dun Laghaire Wrkshp trainees than f the students in the tw Cmmunity Clleges (53% in each Cllege) thught that mst elderly peple were afraid f them. Secndly, while 48% f the Dun 24

28 Laghaire Wrkshp trainees believed the elderly didn't understand them, even higher percentages f the Cmmunity Cllege students believed this-74% in Waterfrd and 65% in Dun Laghaire Cllege. Thirdly, in the Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Training Wrkshp ver a third f the trainees (35%) thught that the elderly liked being with them-as against nly 15% f the Waterfrd and 18% f the Dun Laghaire Cllege students. There were sme signs, then, thatthe Dun Laghaire Wrkshp trainees were a little less likely t have mainly negative assumptins as t hw they were regarded by mst elderly peple. In assessing hw, predminant negative r psitive images may have been amng the respndents, it has t be brne in mind that a greater number f negative than psitive categries were used in the cnstructin f this questin, Questin N. 18. Furthermre, at least ne categry f respnse, They are afraid f us', which was classified as negative in Table 4.1 culd be understd in a neutral sense. Cmments made by a few respndents suggested that they saw it as quite understandable that elderly peple shuld feel afraid f the yung. The fact remains, hwever, that the phrase,'they are afraid f us", tended t be used mainly by respndents whse replies t Questin N. 18 were therwise either ttally negative r, even withut this phrase, predminantly negative. In attempting t assess the ver-all amunt f psitive as against negative respnse t this questin, the fllwing decisins were made. A respndent's image f elderly peple's attitudes t the yung was judged t be psitive r negative accrding as the majrity f ther categries indicated in the questinnaire, apart frm "they are afraid f us", were psitive r negative. If, withut taking this phrase int accunt, a respndent's replies were evenly balanced, the respnse t Questin N. 19 r, where it was relevant, t Questin N. 20, was taken int accunt in rder t tip the scales twards ne r ther f the ver-all categries, 'Psitive predminantly', 'Evenly balanced', r 'Negative predminantly'. The latter kind f decisin had rarely t be made, hwever. Table 4.2 shws the results f this assessment. Table 4.2 PREDOMINANT IMAGES OF HOW THE ELDERL Y VIEWED THE YOUNG Ttal Sample Psitive predminantly % 17 Evenly balanced % 7 Negative predminantly % 72 Others.4 25

29 Even if we allw fr the existence f bias in the questin-a bias which. reflected the bias in. the suggestins made by the yung peple wh helped t phrase Questin N. 18 but later was reduced in the categries used-there can be n dubt but that a clear majrity f the respndents believed mst elderly peple had a very pr pinin f the yung. Seventy-tw per cent appeared t hld a predminantly negative image, a.nd nly 17% a predminantly psitive image, f the way yung pepl~were regarded by the elderly.. 26

30 CHAPTERS COMMENTS BY THE YOUNG PEOPLE 5.1 An Open Questin The final questin, Questin N. 20, invited the yung peple t make any general cmments they wuld like t make. Fifty-eight respndents (35% f the sample) did s. They included thirty-tw students in St. Paul's 'Cllege, Waterfrd, which meant that 44% f the Waterfrd respndents answered this questin, a higher percentage than did s in. either f the Dun Laghaire educatinal centres. Eighteen students in Dun Laghaire Cllege answered this questin, which amunts t 29% f the respndents in that categry. Twenty per cent (six respndents) f the Dun Laghaire Wrkshp trainees made sme cmment. The cmments made varied in length frm single sentences t shrt essays. The majrity were serius in tne, but a few were (hpefully) prbably intended t be facetius. In the ttal sample 36% f the bys and 34% f the girls made sme cmment. 5.2 Explanatry and Critical Cmments abut Specific Questins Abut half (53%) f the respndents'wh replied t this pen questin attempted t() explain their reactins t certain questins,. principally Questin N. 19, which was abut the images entertained f elderly peple, and ccasinally Questin N. 18, which was abut the way the yung peple thught they were regarded by the elderly. Sme f these cmments, even when in a few instances they were critical f aspects f the categries in these questins, were perceptive and balanced. A few are quted here, in whle r in part, because they illuminate the difficulties their. authrs encuntered in replying t their wn satisfactin. "I think that sme f the questins can be answered in tw ways, but they are interesting." "Different peple have different persnalities." "It (the answer) depends n the ld persn and the yung persn in any given situatin." "They (the elderly) are just the same as yung r middle-aged peple. The answers differ in different cases." "I think that mst ld peple lve cmpany but are afraid f the yung peple f tday. " 27

31 "If we put dwn that ld peple are cranky, yu wuld say we have n heart twards ld peple. But cranky might describe a senile persn at different times, but they may als be cheerful in th«;:ir gd days." "Old peple wuld be mre fearful if they are attacked r their huse was brken int. They wuld have dubts abut the yung peple because f this. The questinnaire is kay and the questins are all right except fr Questin 19. Nw... there are different types f peple, ld and yung... " 5.2 Other Cmments "There is a lt t learn n bth sides and I think ld and yung peple shuld be in cntact mre." I I I The remainder f the cmments included a variety f suggestins and negative, psitive and unexpected expressins f attitude. An ccasinal remark was made abut the value r lack f value f the study. "I think ld peple are treated badly. Sme d nt have the mney t keep themselves well fed and have enugh firewd. They get s little pensin t manage n and they usually get n attentin frm the gvernment. " "It must be remembered that we will all eventually be ld and will inevitably wish t be treated with respect." " "I think ld peple shuld be clubbed t death like baby seals... They are nly a burden n sciety and live ff ther peple and anyway they can't have sex any mre and make babies!" "I think a limited frm f euthanasia shuld be intrduced t deal with se"nile r diseased ld peple." "Thank yu very much fr caring abut ld peple and making this questinnaire. " "Yu have t win the elderly ver t yur side befre they fully understand and respect yur ideas and actins. Mst d because they were yung nce t." "I wuld like t knw what this sheet is fr. Is it just ging t be anther statistic r is smething ging t be dne with it? Prbably nt!", I i 1- "I think ld peple in Ireland tday are treated t carelessly and, while this ppular visin f the yung and the ld nt being able t cmmunicate is wrng and misguided, ld peple are all t easily 28

32 frgtten by sciety. Peple ften tend t dismiss the ld as useless and all washed up when many f them are a lt mre enthusiastic and energetic. ~. than the yung." "Surveys like this will help t bring the subject under the public light." "Thank yu very much fr caring abut ld peple because withut them ur lives wuld be bring and ur heritage distant." "T grw ld is the mst hrrific stage in life." If there were an award fr the mst unexpected suggestin, it shuld g t the Waterfrd by wh made the fllwing cmment: "I dn't mind being arund ld peple. And as I have a C.S. radi I get the pprtunity t talk t them. Sme ld peple are lnely, s this wuld be a great pastime fr them." We'll leave the last wrd, hwever, t the Waterfrd girl wh said the fllwing: "With mre cntact between yung and ld the cmmunity wuld becme a much mre caring ne." 29

33 CHAPTER 6 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 6.1 A Summary f the Findings The Sample The sample cnsisted f Leaving Certificate students in St. Paul's Cmmunity Cllege, Waterfrd (44%), Leaving Certificate and Preemplyment students in Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Cllege (38%) and trainees in Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Training Wrkshp (18%). Sixty-ne per cent f the sample were bys and 39% were girls. Fifty per cent f the respndents were aged sixteen r yunger, 41 % were seventeen, and 9% were eighteen r ver. The parents f the great majrity f the respndents were under fifty-five years f age. Seventy-tw per cent f the sample had at least ne grandparent r great-grandparent living wh was ver sixty-five years f age. In Dun.Laghaire Cmmunity Training Wrkshp, hwever, the crrespnding percentage was 59%, a gd deal lwer than in the Waterfrd (77%) and Dun Laghaire (71 %) Cmmunity Clleges. Only 4% f the respndents had anyne, ther than a parent, aged sixty-five r ver living in their wn hmes. Attitudes t Ageing Fifty-seven per cent f the respndents said they wuld like t live t be seventy-five r lder. Included in this percentage were 46% wh said they wuld like t live t be ver eighty. A larger percentage (52%) f the Waterfrd Cllege students than f the Dun Laghaire Cllege students (37%) said they wuld like t live t~ be eighty years r mre. In the Dun Laghaire Wrkshp, 48% pted fr this respnse. Thirty-six per cent f the bys in the sample, as against 16% f the girls, specified a definite age at which peple might cease t be f any value t their cmmunity. Sixty-seven per cent f the girls, as against 49% f the bys, felt sme fear r anxiety abut grwing ld., l! ) Sixty per cent f the respndents cnsidered that the age fr retirement in emplyment shuld depend n the nature f the jb. Frty-five per cent f the Dun Laghaire Wrkshp trainees, but nly 8% in either Cmmunity Cllege, were ppsed t the idea f any cmpulsry retirement age in emplyment f any kind. Attitudes t the elderly Only 2% f the sample belnged t any grup cncerned with the welfare f the elderly.. 30

34 ~ Sixty-five per cent f the respndents said there was n ne aged sixty-five r ver, wh was nt related t them, whm they wuld regard as a friend. Sixty-six per cent had n regular scial cntact with anyne aged sixty-five r ver wh was nt related t them. The respndents wh lacked scial cntact with the elderly were, fr the mst part, thse wh were unable t specify any elderly persn whm they wuld regard as a friend. In spite f the freging, the majrity f the respndents (62%) felt they had a friendly relatinship with elderly peple in general. Only a small minrity described their relatinship with the elderly in general as in any way negative. Eighty-tw per cent f the Dun Laghaire Wrkshp trainees, cmpared with 57% f the Waterfrd and 60% f the Dun Laghaire Cmmunity Cllege students, described their relatinship with the elderly in general as friendly. A larger percentage f the girls (72%) than f the bys (57%) believed their general relatinship with elderly peple was friendly. Frty per cent f the sample cnsidered that they, as yung peple, had a special respnsibility fr the welfare f the elderly, and a further 13% were prepared t accept sme such respnsibility in the case f elderly peple wh needed care. The remainder restricted acceptance f this type-f respnsibility t elderly peple related t themselves (17%), were nt sure (22%), r gave an unqualified 'n' t the questin. A smewhat larger percentage f the girls (48%) than f the bys (35%) accepted withut reservatin f any kind that they had a special respnsibility fr the welfare f the elderly, while 5% f the girls and 12% f the bys cmpletely rejected such a prpsitin. Sixty-five per cent f the respndents thught that elderly peple in Ireland were treated at least fairly well, and 35% thught they were. treated at -least rather badly. A relatively large percentage f the Dun Laghaire Wrkshp trainees (50%),' cmpared with the Waterfrd (29%) and Dun Laghaire (35%) Cllege students, thught that the elderly were treated at least rather badly, and 25% f them, cmpared with 3% and 5% in the Cmmunity Clleges, thught that they were treated very badly. Larger percentages f the respndents entertained negative images f mst elderly peple than entertained psitive images. The terms mst ften selected t describe the elderly were 'cranky' (51 %) and 'difficult t please' (48%). Of the ttal sample, 75% indicated at least ne negative term but 60% did use at least ne psitive term t describe mst elderly peple. Nevertheless, the respnse f 52% was predminantly negative as against 31 % predminantly psitive, with 13% being evenly balanced. 31