The aim of this work is to study the phenomenon of suicide of seniors in the context of PBSP needs. The suicidality of seniors is a serious problem and it can be assumed that its importance will increase as a result of aging of population. I tried to find out which PBSP needs are in the largest deficit in sucidal threatened seniors and how to describe the phenomenon of suicidality of elderly people. This dissertation project was realized in the form of a qualitative research study, namely the method of interpretative phenomenological analysis, the principle of which is the study of living human experience and its individualized meaning, supplemented by other relevant research methods. The primary source of data was semi-structured interviews with seniors who had suicidal thoughts, tendencies, or attempts. This research confirmed that every need of a suicidal senior can be detected by the PBSP system and then use it to better understand how to work with this individual. The need, which respondents had in the biggest deficit, was the need of place (doubt about one's own place in the world, loneliness, and the loss of meaning). It also turned out that suicidal ideas of seniors, no matter how many actually acts suicidal, unexpectedly high. The risk and safety factors, that this research has shown,...

This thesis describes aspects of consumer behavior in the elderly segment focused on financial products. Different fundamental concepts, relevant to the field of consumer behavior of seniors, are characterized in the theoretical part. A short description of the current offer of financial products for seniors follows. The practical part is focused on market research, data analysis of the selected segment and a presentation of conclusions that are based on the research findings. One of the last chapters of this thesis contains information on a research performed by a Czech company working in this field. The research studies financial products agreed by seniors in the Czech Republic.

The present thesis entitled The Meaning of Life Seniors permanently bedridden. The author has several aims: to define the concept of the meaning of life, quality of life, aging and age; determine the biological, psychological, social and spiritual changes in old age; map social and health services that can benefit the elderly bedridden; and find out how seniors perceive home in the home enviroment and in the institution. The thesis is divided into theoretical and research part. In the theoretical part in first three chapters there is determined the meaning of life, especially in relation to the categories of values defined by V. E. Frankl, further aging and age and environment for the conclusion of life: home versus institutions. In the fourth chapter, which is part of the research, the author conducted qualitative research by analyzing data from interviews with elderly bound to bed. Research includes six respondents, three respondents living in the home and three respondents living in a home for the elderly. The aim of the research was to determine whether seniors permanently bedridden perceive the meaning of life, or what. The results are summarized in the conclusion.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the population over the age of 65 in Taiwan has reached over 7% of the total population, making Taiwan an aging society and the senior consumer market a target market with significant potential. This study attempts to identify, quantify, and target the potential of senior living. First, the study identifies the senior living market demand, and product examples within the senior living market. Secondly, the report quantifies the senior living market demand. Lastly, the study proposes a senior living community resort as an investment. The study targets the senior population over 60 years old, indigenous peoples over 55 years old, are capable of independent living, and spouses no less than 50 years old. The study method is based upon secondary research and comparative analysis. This research analyzes the current residential market for seniors, identifies trends in the senior residential market, and based on existing research on the senior living market; discuss product design, target market, and pricing strategies for a senior residential product. From this research, we provide an investment valuation model that can be used to develop an investment proposal for a community-style senior living resort. This study aims for two main contributions from this research. First, current studies on seniors currently do not address the investment possibilities of senior living resorts or provide an investment valuation model for a workable investment proposal. Secondly, this research report provides actual management experience and industry information appropriate for Taiwanese businesses that require an investment valuation model for the development of an investment plan of a community-style senior living resort.

Trycksår orsakar lidande för patienter och höga kostnader för sjukvården. För att förhindra uppkomst av trycksår är det viktigt att identifiera patienter med ökad risk för trycksår samt att aktivt arbeta med preventiva omvårdnadsåtgärder. Ett strukturerat arbetssätt kan göras utifrån kvalitetsregistret Senior Alerts rekommendationer. Senior Alert är inriktat på förebyggande vård av äldre över 65 år och i registret registreras bland annat risk för trycksår, planerade åtgärder samt sjuksköterskans utvärdering av de insatta åtgärderna. Syftet med studien var att kartlägga täckningsgrad, utförda riskbedömningar och planerade åtgärder avseende risk för trycksår i kvalitetsregistret Senior Alert. Datainsamling innefattade alla patienter, 75 år eller äldre, på en medicinklinik i västra Sverige, som under år 2013 riskbedömts och registrerats med risk för trycksår. Materialet beskrevs kvantitativt. Resultatet visade att täckningsgraden i Senior Alert var 61,8% och att av de riskbedömda patienterna bedömdes 22,7% ha risk att utveckla trycksår. I genomsnitt planerades för 5,84 (±2,72) åtgärder per patient. Mest frekvent var åtgärder inom nutrition. Det fanns en svag korrelation mellan antal planerade åtgärder och Modifierad Norton-poäng (MNS-poäng). Resultatet visar att fortsatt arbete för att öka täckningsgrad krävs samt att mer individanpassade åtgärder behövs. / Pressure ulcers are common and cause both suffering for patients and high costs for the health care services. To prevent the occurrence of pressure ulcers, it is important to find patients at risk and do the preventive care. This can be done based on The National Registry Senior Alert which focus is on preventive care of elderly over 65 years. The registry includes measurements of the risk of pressure ulcers, planned actions and evaluation of the inserted measures. The purpose of this study was to examine the coverage and what preventive actions that was planned and registered in Senior Alert. A data collection was performed during 2013 and included all patients 75 years or older, at a medical clinic, in western Sweden, recorded with increased risk of developing pressure ulcers. The material was analyzed quantitatively. The results showed that the coverage of registration was 61.8% and that 22.7 % had increased risk for developing pressure ulcers. On average 5.84 (± 2.72 ) actions were planned per patient. Most frequent actions were in nutrition. There was a weak correlation between the number of planned actions and Modified Norton-score (MNS-score). The results of this study showed that further work to increase the coverage is required and that more individualized measures are needed.

The thesis deals with problems connected with the placement of senior citizens into homes for the elderly. The objectives of the thesis are to find out how long the waiting period for the placement into a home for senior citizens is and which obstacles and problems connected with the placement into homes for the elderly appear. The theoretical part of the thesis is focused on some demographic trends, the opinion of the Czech population about the old age and senior citizens, history of social services for senior citizens in the Czech Republic and abroad, and the current offer of social services for senior citizens. In this part, I also describe the process of placing of senior citizens into homes for the elderly and the services which homes for the elderly offer to their clients; I also focus on the senior citizens´ financial reimbursement of board and lodging in homes for the elderly. The research was conducted by means of quantitative and qualitative methods and techniques. In the qualitative research, I deal with the second part of my goal identifying obstacles to placement in homes for the elderly. Firstly, I set the following research questions: 1) What are the obstacles and problems in the process of placing senior citizens into homes for the elderly? and 2) Do senior citizens have any other options of care instead of the care in homes for the elderly? Then, I conducted semi-standardized interviews with 3 social workers, 8 senior citizens and with 3 members of families which put their senior citizens into homes for the elderly. I asked all of them almost identical questions to be able to compare their responses later. The results show that nowadays, dependent senior citizens who have no other option of care are more likely to be placed into homes for the elderly. The answers to the question "What are the obstacles and problems when placing senior citizens into homes for the elderly?" were rather variable and they cannot be generalized. The quantitative part of my research relates to the first part of my goal. Here I primarily focused on the waiting period. The following two hypotheses were set for the research. H1: Senior citizens negatively evaluate the waiting period for their placement into homes for the elderly. H2: Senior citizens know only one possibility of care homes for the elderly. To verify the above hypotheses, I used the method of secondary analysis of the data taken from the client's documentation and the method of controlled conversation. Therefore, I conducted my research in the following homes for the elderly: Home for the elderly Light in Písek, Home for the elderly Bechyně, Home for the elderly Diaconia Centre ČCE Blanka in Písek, Home for the elderly Centre for Social Assistance Vodňany. Social workers in each facility advised me to use the greatest possible number of clients who were oriented and able to answer my questions. In total, I analyzed 100 files of personal documentation and then I conducted the structured interviews with the analysed clients in the homes for the elderly which are mentioned above. The average waiting period was 243 days. In the category of the waiting period shorter than 1 month there were 26 senior citizens; from 1 to 2 months 33 senior citizens; from 3 to 4 months 11 senior citizens; longer than 5 months 30 senior citizens. 79 senior citizens rated their waiting periods positively, but 21 senior citizens rated their waiting periods negatively. 56 senior citizens had some knowledge about other possibilities of care; most of them reported the nursing service (54 responses); homes with nursing (8 responses); personal assistance (3 responses); pensions for senior citizens (1 response).

The possibilities of increasing physical activity among seniors ? clients Hospitals Volyně is a name of the master thesis, which is in theoretical part focused on the issue of aging. Furthermore, it is focused on physical activities of elderly people and further describes recommendations of physical activities specified for this age group. Part of the theoretical segment is also description of the medical institution Hospital Volyně. In practical part hypothesis and aims of the thesis are stated. Part of the research is interventional physical program, which connects elements of Pilates and exercises by Niši. System of those exercises is applied on a group of seven women aged from 70 till 75 years. The monitored parameters are physical functions. The Senior fitness test was used for the measurements and the data was statistically processed using the Parallel t-test. Although there was no significant difference, the research had a great impact on the clients Hospitals Volyně.

O envelhecimento populacional é um processo universal, que não afeta apenas o indivíduo, mas também a família e a sociedade. No Brasil, o número de idosos está crescendo, o que torna necessário discutir sobre o exercício do cuidado destinado ao sujeito idoso, sobretudo o hospitalizado, bem como as perspectivas que este possui a respeito de si mesmo, dos familiares e dos profissionais cuidadores. O objetivo geral desta pesquisa qualitativa consistiu, assim, em conhecer e compreender a percepção do sujeito idoso hospitalizado a respeito de si mesmo e dos cuidadores familiares e profissionais. Foram sujeitos da pesquisa 19 idosos hospitalizados, com 60 anos ou mais, capazes de responder às questões aplicadas oralmente, a partir de um roteiro prévio, após várias observações, no período de 2007 e 2008, numa instituição hospitalar privada do RS. Tais respostas foram analisadas com base nas seguintes noções: conceitos e preconceitos relativos ao sujeito idoso; o autocuidado e o cuidado prestado por familiares e profissionais; perda de autonomia e institucionalização: a relação do idoso com o profissional cuidador; profissionais cuidadores da área da saúde; o profissional cuidador e a profissional cuidadora: a desigualdade entre os gêneros; qualidade de vida e saúde dos profissionais "cuida(dores)"; o surgimento dos hospitais; a ética, o SUS e as políticas públicas de saúde do idoso. Por meio da análise dos conteúdos, chegou-se a quatro categorias, definidas pelas respostas e não pelas questões: 1) "o idoso fala sobre si e sua doença"; 2) "a percepção do idoso com relação ao cuidador: os âmbitos familiar e profissional"; 3) "percepção do idoso em relação à instituição hospitalar"; 4) "percepção do idoso com relação aos seus direitos e deveres". A partir das respostas analisadas, concluiu-se que muitos sujeitos idosos não tinham clareza sobre a "sua" patologia; verificou-se a esperança em relação à vida e à cura de sua doença geralmente associada à religiosidade e à fé; esteve presente, ainda, a preocupação de se constituir um paciente permanente, com dependência irreversível dos medicamentos ou dos "cuida(dores)", perdendo, assim, a sua autonomia como sujeito. Em relação à instituição, embora tenha se constatado um atendimento ético e parcimonioso, nem sempre isso foi evidenciado pelos sujeitos idosos. O idoso com patologias graves referiu sentir-se mais seguro no hospital por ter ali o apoio técnico indispensável, preferindo, nessa ocasião, o cuidador profissional. Apesar da intenção explícita nas políticas públicas em considerar o idoso como sujeito em uma nova fase de vida, com necessidades e cuidados específicos, verificou-se que os direitos dos idosos ainda são desconhecidos pela sociedade e por eles próprios. A geriatria, a gerontologia e os novos conceitos delas decorrentes não alcançaram, ainda, todos os profissionais cuidadores de idosos, e menos ainda os seus familiares. Daí a urgência de um processo educativo e educador em torno do novo paradigma que busca, entre outras coisas, "pagar uma dívida" para com os idosos e resgatar o sujeito que a modernidade relegou a um lugar periférico e de invisibilidade. / The population ageing is a universal process that does not affect only the individual, but also the family and the community. In Brazil, the number of senior citizens is increasing and because of that it is necessary to discuss about the care of the elderly, especially the hospitalized one, as well as to reflect about their perspectives concerning themselves, the family and the professional caregivers. The goal of this qualitative research was to identify and to comprehend the perception of the hospitalized senior citizen concerning themselves, their family and the professional caregiver. The research subjects were 19 hospitalized senior citizens - 60 years old or more - who were able to answer the oral interviews, which were performed, based on a previous script and after several observations, in the period of 2007 and 2008, in a private hospital in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The criteria used to subdivide the analysis in four categories were defined by the answers and not by the questions. Here they are: Talking about the senior citizens: some concepts and prejudices; The auto-care and the care rendered by family and professionals; Loss of autonomy and institutionalization: the relationship between the elder and the caregiver; Professional caregiver in the health area; From the female caregiver to the male one: the inequality between the genders; Life quality and the caregiver’s health; The hospitals beginning; Ethics and public health policies for the elderly. By the analysis of the contents, four categories were identified: first - "the elder speaks about himself and his disease"; second - "the perception of the elder regarding the caregiver: the familiar and professional scope"; third - "the perception of the elder regarding the hospital institution"; fourth - "the perception of the elder regarding their rights and duties." Based on the analysis realized, it was possible to conclude that many senior citizens did not have clearness about their pathology; the hope regarding life and the cure of the disease was almost associated to the religiosity and faith; the preoccupation of being a permanent patient, with irreversible dependence of medicines or caregivers, losing, thus, their autonomy. Considering the institution, although it was verified an ethical and parsimonious assistance, it was not always evidenced by the senior citizens. The ones with serious pathologies affirm to feel safer in hospital because of its indispensable technical support, desiring, so, the professional caregiver. Besides the explicit intention in the public policies of considering the senior citizen someone in a new phase of life, with specific needs and cares, it was not always verified, making it possible to believe that the rights of the elderly are still unknown by society and also themselves. The geriatrics and gerontology specialties and their new concepts have not reached, yet, all the senior caregivers or families. From that situation, there is the urgency of an educational process around the new paradigm that aims, among other things, to "pay a debt" to the senior citizen, rescuing the individual that modernity has relegated to a peripheral and invisible place.

This thesis, which is titled "Application of feline therapy in retirement homes", deals with the application of therapy with the help of a cat in clients of retirement homes and the impact of this therapy on the quality of their lives. The aim of this thesis is to find out how much the clients' quality of life changed over the period of one year of regular feline therapy. The thesis consists of two parts; a theoretical and a practical one. The theoretical part is divided into four sections. The first one is focused on zootherapy. It offers basic information on zootherapy such as its division, forms and application. A sole focus on feline therapy follows. The first half of the section on feline therapy concentrates on general information on feline therapy and its impact on people. The second half deals with its practical aspects. Here It explains what kind of cats are suitable for feline therapy and give basic information on breeds most often used for feline therapy. Then follows an introduction of programmes and organizations of feline therapy in the Czech Republic. Some foreign organizations working in feline therapy are presented at the end of this section. The second section deals with the issue of age and ageing. It explains changes occurring during the ageing process of the human organism at all levels of personality followed by the description of seniors' needs. It also studies seniors' quality of life and the possibilities of research into it. The final part is focused on housing service for seniors. First the history of housing services and their current division in the Czech Republic are described. As the research was carried out in a retirement home, this institution is described more thoroughly. Since quality is an important element of a well-functioning facility, inspection of quality of these facilities is mentioned in this section too. Housing services are obliged to create an individual plan for each client and since feline therapy is often used as part of such plans the final part examines this issue in greater detail too. The qualitative research was chosen as a tool for this thesis. The research focuses on the quality of life of senior housing clients. The main tools of the research were a semi-structured interview and observation of the clients. A semi-structured interview with the staff of Pisek Retirement Home who are often in contact with these clients was used as an additional research. Feline therapy does not only help the clients of the facility but it also affects the staff and other members of the team. That is why It asked a few questions about the effect of feline therapy on the employees of the facility. The results of the research showed that feline therapy improves mainly the clients' mental state. Positive changes in mood as well as a positive view of the clients' future were noticeable. Feline therapy also improves the clients' physical state although not as significantly as the mental state. It is used as an element of support during physiotherapy or to motivate clients' exercise. The results are noticeable mainly in fine motor skills of hands. The research between the employees shows that feline therapy does not significantly improve the atmosphere in the workplace and is beneficial to individuals rather than the whole team. On the other hand the therapy helps the staff in working with the clients who are in a better mood, communicate better and thus cooperate more willingly. This thesis can be used as a methodical aid for beginners among professionals interested in feline therapy. The results of this thesis can be used to improve therapeutic activities with cats and the overall progress of feline therapy in the Czech Republic.

O envelhecimento populacional é um processo universal, que não afeta apenas o indivíduo, mas também a família e a sociedade. No Brasil, o número de idosos está crescendo, o que torna necessário discutir sobre o exercício do cuidado destinado ao sujeito idoso, sobretudo o hospitalizado, bem como as perspectivas que este possui a respeito de si mesmo, dos familiares e dos profissionais cuidadores. O objetivo geral desta pesquisa qualitativa consistiu, assim, em conhecer e compreender a percepção do sujeito idoso hospitalizado a respeito de si mesmo e dos cuidadores familiares e profissionais. Foram sujeitos da pesquisa 19 idosos hospitalizados, com 60 anos ou mais, capazes de responder às questões aplicadas oralmente, a partir de um roteiro prévio, após várias observações, no período de 2007 e 2008, numa instituição hospitalar privada do RS. Tais respostas foram analisadas com base nas seguintes noções: conceitos e preconceitos relativos ao sujeito idoso; o autocuidado e o cuidado prestado por familiares e profissionais; perda de autonomia e institucionalização: a relação do idoso com o profissional cuidador; profissionais cuidadores da área da saúde; o profissional cuidador e a profissional cuidadora: a desigualdade entre os gêneros; qualidade de vida e saúde dos profissionais "cuida(dores)"; o surgimento dos hospitais; a ética, o SUS e as políticas públicas de saúde do idoso. Por meio da análise dos conteúdos, chegou-se a quatro categorias, definidas pelas respostas e não pelas questões: 1) "o idoso fala sobre si e sua doença"; 2) "a percepção do idoso com relação ao cuidador: os âmbitos familiar e profissional"; 3) "percepção do idoso em relação à instituição hospitalar"; 4) "percepção do idoso com relação aos seus direitos e deveres". A partir das respostas analisadas, concluiu-se que muitos sujeitos idosos não tinham clareza sobre a "sua" patologia; verificou-se a esperança em relação à vida e à cura de sua doença geralmente associada à religiosidade e à fé; esteve presente, ainda, a preocupação de se constituir um paciente permanente, com dependência irreversível dos medicamentos ou dos "cuida(dores)", perdendo, assim, a sua autonomia como sujeito. Em relação à instituição, embora tenha se constatado um atendimento ético e parcimonioso, nem sempre isso foi evidenciado pelos sujeitos idosos. O idoso com patologias graves referiu sentir-se mais seguro no hospital por ter ali o apoio técnico indispensável, preferindo, nessa ocasião, o cuidador profissional. Apesar da intenção explícita nas políticas públicas em considerar o idoso como sujeito em uma nova fase de vida, com necessidades e cuidados específicos, verificou-se que os direitos dos idosos ainda são desconhecidos pela sociedade e por eles próprios. A geriatria, a gerontologia e os novos conceitos delas decorrentes não alcançaram, ainda, todos os profissionais cuidadores de idosos, e menos ainda os seus familiares. Daí a urgência de um processo educativo e educador em torno do novo paradigma que busca, entre outras coisas, "pagar uma dívida" para com os idosos e resgatar o sujeito que a modernidade relegou a um lugar periférico e de invisibilidade. / The population ageing is a universal process that does not affect only the individual, but also the family and the community. In Brazil, the number of senior citizens is increasing and because of that it is necessary to discuss about the care of the elderly, especially the hospitalized one, as well as to reflect about their perspectives concerning themselves, the family and the professional caregivers. The goal of this qualitative research was to identify and to comprehend the perception of the hospitalized senior citizen concerning themselves, their family and the professional caregiver. The research subjects were 19 hospitalized senior citizens - 60 years old or more - who were able to answer the oral interviews, which were performed, based on a previous script and after several observations, in the period of 2007 and 2008, in a private hospital in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The criteria used to subdivide the analysis in four categories were defined by the answers and not by the questions. Here they are: Talking about the senior citizens: some concepts and prejudices; The auto-care and the care rendered by family and professionals; Loss of autonomy and institutionalization: the relationship between the elder and the caregiver; Professional caregiver in the health area; From the female caregiver to the male one: the inequality between the genders; Life quality and the caregiver’s health; The hospitals beginning; Ethics and public health policies for the elderly. By the analysis of the contents, four categories were identified: first - "the elder speaks about himself and his disease"; second - "the perception of the elder regarding the caregiver: the familiar and professional scope"; third - "the perception of the elder regarding the hospital institution"; fourth - "the perception of the elder regarding their rights and duties." Based on the analysis realized, it was possible to conclude that many senior citizens did not have clearness about their pathology; the hope regarding life and the cure of the disease was almost associated to the religiosity and faith; the preoccupation of being a permanent patient, with irreversible dependence of medicines or caregivers, losing, thus, their autonomy. Considering the institution, although it was verified an ethical and parsimonious assistance, it was not always evidenced by the senior citizens. The ones with serious pathologies affirm to feel safer in hospital because of its indispensable technical support, desiring, so, the professional caregiver. Besides the explicit intention in the public policies of considering the senior citizen someone in a new phase of life, with specific needs and cares, it was not always verified, making it possible to believe that the rights of the elderly are still unknown by society and also themselves. The geriatrics and gerontology specialties and their new concepts have not reached, yet, all the senior caregivers or families. From that situation, there is the urgency of an educational process around the new paradigm that aims, among other things, to "pay a debt" to the senior citizen, rescuing the individual that modernity has relegated to a peripheral and invisible place.