VOLUME 7, NUMBER 4, 2004

Cost-benefit analysis of personal intergenerational companionship
Anita Kovačič

This article covers a subject of personal intergenerational companionship with an old person from the perspective of cost-benefit analysis. It is divided into two parts. Firstly, the author describes the old age, defines the needs of an old person, the feeling of loneliness and finally the possibilities of resolving these issues within various programmes for quality ageing. The author then highlights a personal intergenerational companionship with an old person, which combines solidarity and self-help. She theoretically defines the cost-benefit analysis and its significance in the field of volunteering. In the second part, the author illustrates the research process and its results indicating the prevalence of non-financial benefits, that fulfil higher human needs, over different sorts of mostly material costs. The research therefore underlines a positive character of companionship, which is also supported by findings of cost-benefit analysis.

Key words: volunteering, personal intergenerational companionship with an old person, cost-benefit analysis, social capital.

The volunteer's experiences of a personal companionship with a lonely old person
Petra Kobolt

Loneliness is one of the most acute problems of old people. This problem can be solved or avoided only through a real, personal relationship with lonely person. Many times this role is taken by a volunteer. The article is based on the analysis of the essays, written by volunteers in the intergenerational programmes for quality ageing. The emphasis is on the volunteer's perception of the intergenerational companionship with a lonely old person.

Key words: Old age, old people, needs, ageing, possibilities and life activities in old age, volunteering, intergenerational companionship

Old asylum seekers
Ingrid Russi Zagožen

The author based her discussion on the problem of psychosocial treatment of old asylum seekers as a specific need of this group of applicants. The second part of the article describes the possibilities for assuring better quality of life of older asylum seekers.

Key words: elderly, asylum seekers, special needs, logotherapy

The Adaptation Experiences of older Immigrants in Europe: The Case of Jewish Immigrants in Germany
Natalia V. Tchernina, Efim A. Tchernin

This research focuses on the adaptation of senior and older Jewish immigrants from the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) and the Baltic countries into German society. We review the concepts of integration and adaptation and qualify last with reference to the problems of aged immigrants in Germany. Adaptation is understood as an adjustment to a new society, aimed at achieving social security, a stable level of well-being and emotional comfort. Adjustment of aged people to a new environment requires much effort, in particular in home economics, in cultural self-organization, in overcoming a depressive state of mind, et cetera. This analysis concentrates on the family and friends networks and on family as an mechanism of primary adaptation - it focuses on the family’s crucial functions, i.e. maintaining well-being by practising thrifty consumer behaviour and inter-generations translation of moral and cultural values and traditions in immigration processes. For the general assessment of the success of immigration by aged immigrants we use the term "social sentiments" as a subjective characteristic given by immigrants. The study is based on a survey among the members of the Jewish community in Land Bremen, Germany, carried out in 2002.

Key words: Jewish immigrants, integration, adaptation, family and friends networks, aged people, social exclusion, social sentiments, Jewish community in Land Bremen, Germany

"Your dead body should lie in the home ground" - Ageing abroad
Ljudmila Šemerl-Schmid

In this article the elderly care of migrants is being discussed as new images of old age apply to migrants as well. More than one third of Swiss migrants do not return to their homeland. Thus trans-cultural care in Switzerland is the best opportunity to save the dignity of the aged and afford jobs to young people of second generation of migrants. The second Swiss Forum in Berne on 1st October 2004 is reported to have brought interesting findings and included a campaign with German speaking Europe which is to end in 2005..

Key words: migrants, Switzerland, trans-cultural care, European campaign for old migrants

Ageing in Serbia and Montenegro
Mladen Davidović, Predrag Erceg, Sanja Jankelić, Dragoslav P.Milošević, Snežana Djurica, Nebojša Despotović

Serbia is one of the 25 countries with largest population of old people. Family care for elderly people is the predominant one in this country due to inadequate community care and poor economic situation. Also the number of people working in gerontology is not growing. In the light of these trends the authors discuss health and related problems of old people, health services, health promotion and prevention and some problems the country is facing.

Key words: old people, Serbia, problems, health services, health