CC BY
164
References:
1. Horvath P. Socialny stat. In Aktivne a zdravé starnutie - dôstojny zivot seniorov v 21. storoci, Nemsova. - 2013. - P. 17-30. ISBN 978-80-8105-455-6.
2. Kubickova D. Seniori a komunita spolocnosti a ich moznosti v demokratickom a pravnom state. In Aktualne otazky poli-tiky III. - Trencin: TnUAD, 2014. - S. 151-157. ISBN 978-80-8075-630-7.
3. MihalikJ. Political legacy and youth civic engagement in Slovakia. - Novo Mesto: Faculty of Organization Studies, 2015. -160 s. ISBN 978-961-93688-8-6.
4. Sak P., Kolesarova K. Sociologie stari a seniorù. - Praha: Grada, 2012. - 225 p. ISBN 978-80-247-3850-5.
5. Sykorova D. Od solidarity jako zakladu integracnich vztahù v rodine k ambivalenci a vyjednavani//In Sociologicky casopis. -2006. - Vol. 42, No. 4. - P. 683-699.
6. Trusinova R. Modely péce o nesobëstacné rodinné cleny//In. Medzigeneracni solidarita v pëci o seniory. - Praha: Slon, 2013. - P. 126-139. ISBN 978-80-7419-117-6.
Kubickova Darina, PhD., doctor of philosophy, The University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Faculty of Social Sciences, Slovak Republic E-mail: darina.kubickova@ucm.sk
Relations between generations
Abstract: In this paper we address the importance of the family nowadays. We refer to the intergenerational relations. We describe the intergerational coexistence.
Keywords: Family, Generation, Coexistence, Senior citizens, Young people.
Introduction
The world is getting changed and the change of the world brings about also the change in human relations.
The relations between the people generally deteriorate in the present day world. Conflicts or misunderstandings between the generations often take place. Democratic rules and traditions are very important between people. Support for democracy is driven predominantly by notions of freedom and tolerance [8]. State is not the last way possible treatment of the human community, but the only one on the developmental path for still more sophisticated form of organization of human existence [5].
The possibility of being with the family in the final phase of human life is irreplaceable and for the seniors it makes it possible to spend their everyday life more happily. The network of intergenerational relations provides benefits to all three generations:
• to the children;
• to the parents;
• to the grandparents.
To the children — to the younger generation at least positive emotional spending the period of childhood and youth.
To the parents — this group is probably the most profiting, because assistive activity of their parents is providing space to them for harmonising parental, domestic as well as working obligations.
To the grandparents — it provides the possibility of being with the family, of more efficient use of free time, the feeling of being necessary, useful.
The coexistence between generations can be described in the following models:
• Equal coexistence: it is mutual well-being between the generations inside the family life, the family members accept each other, i. e. also the senior members are accepted;
• Liberal coexistence: there are unclear or no rules in the family, the emotional bonds get weaker, the respect for the older member of the family is getting lost, this applies mainly to the period when they are not self-sufficient;
• Sycophantic coexistence: the parents or grandparents buy the favour of their children, grandchildren, because they do not show natural interest in them;
• Irreconcilable coexistence: it is here negative, egoistic, immoral attitude of younger generation towards the older generation and vice versa;
• Forced coexistence: it is a situation, when younger generation is involuntarily forced to live together with the senior: with a parent or grandparent e. g. at the time of a disease;
• Self-serving coexistence: The point here is unscrupulous-ness of the children, who pretend the interest in their parents and grandparents. They use them, they even sometimes misuse them for their benefit.
The present policy of the state is such that a senior should stay as long as possible in their home, in their natural environment. However sometimes the family wants, sometimes it does not want and sometimes it cannot look after their senior. The degree of intergenerational cohesion is measured by the preparedness of the children, also of the grandchildren to give a helping hand without claims to any remuneration to the parent,
Section 5. Political science
who is not self-sufficient or who is incapacitated. Not every family is capable or maybe also willing to look after their parent or as the case may be after the grandparent and this may be dependent on the following factors [10]:
• Disturbance of the integration in the family took place: aggression or aggressiveness of the senior, endangering of safety, non-compliance with the hygienic habits etc.
• New phenomena such as immobility, incontinence etc. begin here.
• Change in values arise, such as: impact on the family life style, housing and financial issues, etc.
• The choice between care and employment is not easy: who wants to take care must work.
• Unfamiliarity of the work with a senior citizen: they are ill, handicapped, disturbed mentally and socially, etc.
• Risk of impairment of the health condition of the senior himself/herself.
• Property issues or self-interest of the carers.
Demands of the young people on the life are great. Everyone wants to have a nice apartment or a house, a nice car, nice clothes, wants to go on holidays.
However these features were not typical for our country. The character of a family, where several generations used to live together and were able communicate and be happy, because they were together, is getting changed under the impact of new trends in the society. These acquire positive, but also negative consequences. Communication, exchange of experience and learning together of "the young as well as of the old" belongs irretrievably to the past. The point was the continuity of several generations, which brought benefits for everyone. For centuries it holds true that connection of energy, vitality and enthusiasm of the young with life experience of a senior is an equation, the result of which is the benefit in favour of the matter. Regrettably the actual reality is such that this natural relation is getting changed, however not for the better.
The present young generation retreats from the traditional activities of literacy culture, as a matter of fact it is the first generation, which in the context of their activities belongs to cyber-culture. The contrasting development of old and young generation led to the deep generation gap between the young and the old generation [9]. The point is not political and social past, but the literacy culture and cyber-culture. At the present time it is the concept of individual quality of life, based on the theory perception of quality of life, which is more and more important than the subjective satisfaction or dissatisfaction with one's own life.
An important factor is [2]: satisfaction with life, feeling of life happiness, emotional balance, mastering of life situations.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) it is assumed that the following six basic areas participate in the quality of life: bodily health, psychical well-being, standard of independence, social relations, environment, spirituality.
Bocakova points out that many seniors are dependent on themselves, they do not have loved ones who should take care of them [1].
An important factor in the area of quality of life of a human being is their health condition. With increasing age there is also an increase of diseases. Subjective assessment of one's health is often influenced by the fact, how a human being feels at the given time, whether their health is relatively "fine" [6]. Holmerova and coll. emphasise, that not only citizens, but also public officials and politicians should be trying to preserve self-sufficiency and independence of ageing people. They mention the following factors of quality of life of the seniors [4]: health, life style, social environment, material security, working activity, health care, network of provided social services, housing, education, ethical approach to this target group.
It is necessary to support a family, where intergenerational solidarity and respect to the elderly people takes place. It is also necessary to prevent social exclusion of the seniors and to strengthen the intergenerational solidarity. It is mainly the loneliness that belongs to the main potential problems of an ageing human being. Family problems have very negative influence on the senior citizens, when they meet neither the dependants of their family not their friends. The assistance between generations belongs to the traditions of a family life. It is the opinion of most seniors that grandparents should live separately from their children, but in their vicinity, so that in case of emergency they could be helped by them [7]. Elderly people do not want to be a burden for their children, they do not want to be dependent on their children, grandsons and granddaughters. Irrespective of age a family represents certain background and certainty for every human being. At the old age a well functioning family means mental, physical and material help. It prevents the feeling of loneliness and improves the quality of life of a human being. The generation of grandparents has a very close relation to their grandchildren. It has a very positive benefit for the relations of both generations, but also on the family and society as a whole. Inter-generational policy, which draws its attention to the solidarity between generation is getting to the forefront. Demographic development at the present time is unfavourable, it is connected with the decrease of birth rate, decrease of marriage rate, etc. This demographic development brings also about that we are returning more and more to generation families, it leads to increase of life expectancy. This means that two different generations live next to each other: i. e. adolescents and grandparents. Intergenerational bridging of grandparents and grandchildren is a positive aspect [3]. Young people can draw on the life wisdom of their grandparents, patience and kindness of the grandparent generation. Thanks to the grandchildren the grandparents have the feeling that they are helpful, useful and on the other hand the grandchildren know in whom they can confide, because the grandchildren have enough time for them. The grandchildren find the sense of life in their children, the continuation of their family. They can see themselves in them, pleasure from life, possibility of communication and support. They are happy, when their close family is around them.
Conclusion
Grandchildren pass with pleasure the values such as respect, modesty, love, faith, decency, justice, fairness, patience, diligence, love to nature and love to animals ... to their children and grandchildren. They also hand over
experience from the past, such as appreciation of work, health, they are telling the fairy tales. As far as the grandchildren are concerned they should not forget their grandparents, they should respect them. Because the family is the foundation and sense of life.
References:
1. Bocakova O. Chudoba a bezdomovectvo ako socialny problém. In Aktualne otazky politiky III. - 2014. - S. 114-124. ISBN 978-80-8075-630-7.
2. Cornanicova R. Kvalita zivota v séniu. - Ostrava, 2004. - P. 143-153. ISBN 80-7326-026-3.
3. Hartl P., Hartlova H. Psychologicky slovnik. - Praha: Portal, 2004. - 774 p. ISBN. 80-7178-303-X.
4. Holmerova I. a kol. Aktivni starnuti//Ceska geriatricka revue. - 2006. - roc. 4, c. 3. - S. 163-168. ISSN 1214-0732.
5. Horvath P. Socialny stat. In Aktivne a zdravé starnutie - dôstojny zivot seniorov v 21. storoci, Nemsova. - 2013. - P. 17-30. ISBN 978-80-8105-455-6.
6. Klan J. Poruchy chovani ve stari//Ceska geriatricka revue. - 2005. - vol. 4, No. 2. - P. 53 -54. ISSN 1214-0732.
7. Kucharova V. Zivot ve stari. - Praha, 2002. - 89 p.
8. MihalikJ. Political legacy and youth civic engagement in Slovakia. - Novo Mesto: Faculty of Organization Studies, 2015. -160 s. ISBN 978-961-93688-8-6.
9. Sak P., Kolesarova K. Sociologie stari a seniorù. - Praha: Grada, 2012. - 225 p. ISBN 978-80-247-3850-5.
10. Schlosserova I. Fenomén staroby v Slovenskej republike. In Socialna a ekonomicka nudza - bezpecnost' jedinca a spolocnosti. - Bratislava: VSZaSP sv. Alzbety, 2009. - P. 344-355.
