Education of Social Activity

Rita Ilgūnienė

POSSIBILITIES FOR SOCIAL ACTIVITY AMONG ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THE UNION OF LITHUANIAN PENSIONERS “BOČIAI”

Abstract. On the basis of the quantitative research results and analysis of scientific literature, the possibilities for elderly individuals’ social activity in the Union of Lithuanian Pensioners “Bočiai“ are revealed. The definition and indicators of demographic ageing process are analysed. The main goals and objectives of the Union of Lithuanian Pensioners “Bočiai“ are introduced. Nowadays elderly people may expect to live long without losing possibilities to realise their leisure, cognition, communication interests and hobbies. The Union of Lithuanian Pensioners “Bočiai“ is one of the organisations, which reveals the possibilities for elderly individuals’ involvement in social activity in Lithuania best. Key words: elderly people, social activity.

Introduction

The world and, especially, developed countries, are undergoing vivid demographic changes: the number of children is decreasing, whereas the proportion of elderly people and life expectancy are growing as well as the range of social and economic problems conditioned by such phenomena. Elderly people are considered as a socially vulnerable social group, which en- counters numerous problems actively developing own possibilities and those of com- munity as well as social relations through social activity. The analysis and research on changes in elderly individuals’ life and existence have been insufficient in reality. Such situation was conditioned by the fact that this social group was underevaluated and not seen as an active group of the community. It can be stated that these approaches prevailed in the society due to the spread of the social theories of disengagement, which stated that age results in weakening of abilities and involvement of an individual and, thus, his/her passivity increases (Cumming and Henry, 1961). This theory was heavily criticised by R. I. Havighurst (1963), the establisher of the social theory of activity, and other followers of this theory. In 2005 one third of European population were 60 years old and over. In 2010 every fourth European is over 60 years old. Up to 2014 the number of people over

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80 years old will increase by 33 percent. In Lithuania the proportion of people over 60 amounted to 16 percent in 1990, whereas in 2003 it grew to 20 percent; it is forecasted that in 2030 such individuals will make up 27 percent of the population. The unemployment of elderly people is increasing, the number of destitute and de- pendent people is growing, they fall ill and use health care services more frequently, and they also need more of care and long-term treatment. One of the solutions to these problems is an appropriate integration of elderly and old people into society as well as provision of them with possibilities to be efficiently socially active citi- zens. Integration refers to a process, which asks for collaboration, support from a big number of individuals, services and institutions as well as a willingness to take risk. The process of integration occurs at each phase of individual’s life. Therefore, it is important to provide elderly people with as many possibilities for active social involvement as possible. The object of the research: social activity of elderly people in the Union of Lithuanian Pensioners “Bočiai“ The goal of the research: to reveal possibilities for elderly people’s social activity in the Union of Lithuanian Pensioners “Bočiai”. The objectives of the research: 1. following the analysis of scientific literature, to present definition and indica- tors of demographic ageing of population. 2. to discuss main goals and objectives of the Union of Lithuanian Pensioners “Bočiai”. 3. to reveal possibilities for social activity of elderly people in the Union of Lithuanian Pensioners “Bočiai”.

1. Definition and indicators of demographic ageing of population.

Old age is a social role, when an individual makes an attempt not to assume any roles (Socialinė gerontologija: ištakos ir perspektyvos. 2002.p. 86). The majority of

 Nevyriausybinių organizacijų informacijos ir paramos centras. Trečias sektorius. Available at: http://www.3sektorius.lt/?list=1&arch=1&data=2008%2010&content=1939 (Accessed: 19 03 2010)  Zenonas Javtokas.Valstybinis aplinkos sveikatos centras.Pagyvenusių žmonių sveikatos stiprinimas. Available at::http://sena.sam.lt/repository/dokumentai/Sveikatos%20patarimai/Pagyvenusiu%20 sveikata%20-str..doc (Accessed: 19 03 2010) 162 Rita Ilgūnienė Education of Social Activity elderly people also experience this period as time when minimal physical and psychical disorders start to occur. The status of such people in the society changes as well as their beliefs, principles and personal qualities also including their behaviour (Kairys, 2002. p. 11). Ageing is an inevitable process that is experienced by everyone sooner or later. However, it is complicated to objectively understand ageing, its periods, and peculiarities since people are extremely different from each other. There are com- mon peculiarities characteristic of all the ageing people, such as weakening memory and physical endurance or frequent thoughts of death, etc. There also diseases that are typical of not every ageing individual and that start at this period. Thus, ageing is becoming more and more topical in this country since the population of elderly and old people is increasing. Ageing is a process, which sooner or later leads to old age. Perception of this old age is often linked not only with a decrease in physical capacities but also with loss of roles or changes in them (Pivorienė, 2008.p. 41). Ageing of population is an inevitable phase of demographic development of the society, which is related to a shift from the traditional society to the modern one. Change in type of population reproduction, decrease in birth rate and death rate result in changes in the structure of population age and growth in the number of elderly people (Lietuvos demografiniai pokyčiai ir gyventojų politika, 1995, p. 43). Ageing of population is, in fact, a positive social change, since these phenomena is a result of control over early deaths and unwished births. Longer life is one of the most important achievements of the humankind. However, periods of demographic development, when population age is undergoing a rapid change towards an increase in the number of elderly people (ageing), require timely and well-balanced actions of society adaptation practically in all the spheres of life. Demographic ageing of the society, a new proportion between young and elderly people in the society, necessitate a revision and adoption of the possessed economic (possibilities for participation in labour market, level of income), political (influence on political and public organi- sations), social (social guarantees), health care (development of services satisfying needs), human ecology (accommodation, environment, infrastructure, communica- tions satisfying needs) and resources in other spheres to the new needs.

 Gyventojų senėjimas – ir laimėjimas, ir iššūkis. Available at: http://209.85.129.132/search?q=cache:8DgI_ 2NZTh0J:www.sti.lt/leid_pristat/Tekstai/europa/VII_dalis.pdf+Gyventoj%C5%B3+sen%C4%97ji mas+i%C5%A1+esm%C4%97s+yra+teigiamas+socialinis+pokytis,+nes+%C5%A1is+rei%C5%A1 kinys+yra+ankstyv%C5%B3+mir%C4%8Di%C5%B3+ir+nenorim%C5%B3+gimim%C5%B3+ko ntrol%C4%97s+rezultatas.&cd=1&hl=lt&ct=clnk&gl=lt (Accessed: 19 03 2010) POSSIBILITIES FOR SOCIAL ACTIVITY AMONG ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THE UNION 163 OF LITHUANIAN PENSIONERS “BOČIAI” ISSN 1392-9569 Socialinis ugdymas. 2010. Nr. 12 (23)

According to G. Kasnauskienė, “demographic ageing is understood as changes in the structure of population age, when the proportion of elderly people increases in respect to total number of population“. Two aspects of ageing are identified: 1. Absolute: increase in an absolute number of elderly people. 2. Relational: growth in the proportion of elderly people in the total number of population. The process and rate of ageing of population are determined by the following main factors: • Birth rate: decrease in birth rate reduces the proportion of young people; • Death rate: decrease in children death rate stimulates the youthening of the age and a longer average life expectancy; • Internal and international migration and urbanisation; • Internal age structure (Kasnauskienė, 2006, p. 104). The ageing of population in Lithuania is mainly pre-determined by the decrease in the birth rate. However, a considerable role is already played by the decrease in the death rate of Lithuanian elderly people. In the last decade of the 20th century, the average life expectancy of 65 year old and over and 80 year old and over people increased almost by a year. According to V. Alekna (2001), ageing of Lithuanian population has a number of features also characteristic of this process in other countries, namely: • Phenomenon of double ageing. It shows that the comparative proportion of elderly people among the total population is increasing and among the elderly people the number of the oldest individuals is growing as well. • Feminisation of old age refers to difference in demographic ageing indicators among men and women. • Differences in level of old age in cities and rural areas. There is a considerable differ- ence in the age structure of Lithuanian urban and rural population. Rural population is almost twice as old as urban (Alekna, 2001, p. 39). The feminisation of old age is typical of change in the structure of Lithuanian population, similar to all the post-communist countries. This means that due to the bigger death rate of young and middle age men, the old age is reached by a con- siderably bigger number of women than men. In Lithuania, similarly to Latvia and Estonia, old age feminisation is particularly obvious. The proportion between men

 Lietuvos statistikos departamentas. Lietuvos gyventojai: struktūra ir demografinė raida. Vilnius 2006; p. 14. Available at: http://www.stat.gov.lt/uploads/42_Lietuvos_gyventojai.pdf?PHPSESSID=. (Accessed: 19 03 2010) 164 Rita Ilgūnienė Education of Social Activity and women of over 65 years old is 100 men to 196 women, whereas in Estonia and Latvia this balance is even bigger: 100 men to 205 women.  Thus, the optimistic and pessimistic scenarios of Lithuanian population show that the process of demographic ageing of population still contains an internal potential and, therefore, will inevitable progress in the nearest two decades. According to the second presumptive forecast, with an insignificant increase in the total number of population as well as in the number of the youngest individuals, the proportion of old people (60 years old and over) is expected to intensively grow; moreover, the rate of this increase will be exceeded by the growth of the number of the oldest group (80 years old and over) of Lithuanian population. The most important aspects of ageing of Lithuanian population include: territorial contrasts of levels of popula- tion ageing and tendencies of ageing feminisation (Lietuvos statistikos metraštis, 1999).

2. The goals and objectives of the Union of Lithuanian Pensioners “Bočiai”

In April of 1990, after the Restoration of Lithuania’s independence, a group of patriotically minded pensioners established the initiative group of Union of Lithua- nian Pensioners  and appointed Juozas Baltakis as Chairperson. The constituent assembly was held in Vilnius October 5, 1991 and 148 delegates from Lithuanian cities and district centres participated in it. The assembly approved the Regulations of the Union prepared by the initiative group and its name the Union of Lithuanian Pensioners “Bočiai”, elected the Republican Council of 42 members and the Manage- ment Board of 15 members. The Ministry of Justice registered the Regulations of the Union of Lithuanian Pensioners “Bočiai“ November 22, 1991. December 5, 2005 the new wording of Regulations were registered in the Register of Legal Entities, which was prepared following the requirements of the new Law on Associations of RL and the Civil Code of RL (The Ministry of Social Security and Labour). ULP “Bočiai“ unites 54 communities, 8 independent clubs with 45 thousand members in Lithuanian cities, towns, districts and municipalities. Communities, divisions and clubs of “Bočiai” are located: in towns of Vilnius, Kaunas (2 commu-

 Socialinių tyrimų institutas. Lietuvos gyventojų senėjimo specifika – senatvės feminizacija. 165p. Available at: http://www.sti.lt/leid_pristat/Tekstai/europa/VII_dalis.pdf. (Accessed: 20 03 2010)  Thereinafter – ULP (The Union of Lithuanian Pensioners) POSSIBILITIES FOR SOCIAL ACTIVITY AMONG ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THE UNION 165 OF LITHUANIAN PENSIONERS “BOČIAI” ISSN 1392-9569 Socialinis ugdymas. 2010. Nr. 12 (23) nities), Klaipėda, Šiauliai, Panevėžys, Alytus, Palanga, Vievis, Simnas, Gelgaudiškis, Kudirkos Naumiestis, Jieznas and Lentvaris; in districts of Mažeikiai, Kėdainiai, Telšiai, Šilutė, Jonava, Tauragė, Šiauliai, Radviliškis, Klaipėda, Utena, Vilkaviškis, Ukmergė, Kretinga, Plungė, Panevėžys, Raseiniai, Rokiškis, Kelmė, Šakiai, Trakai, Kaišiadorys, Jurbarkas, Prienai, Biržai, Pasvalys, Anykščiai, Švenčionys, Šilalė, Joniškis, Varėna, Akmenė, Pakruojis, Lazdijai, Skuodas, Molėtai, Kupiškis, Zara- sai, Širvintos and in municipalities of Marijampolė, Elektrėnai, Druskininkai and Birštonas. The main activity goals and objectives of ULP “Bočiai” are to represent economic, social, cultural interests of people of pensionary and pre-pensionary age and to defend them at state institutions of various levels; to organise discussions, seminars, confer- ences, training courses, publishing activity, to participate in international projects; to provide the society and members of the union with information of political, legal, economic, social and cultural nature regarding the situation and problems of elderly people in Lithuania and all over the world; to provide teaching and professional de- velopment services to the society and the union members implementing the principle “Learn lifelong!”; to organise activity for artistic self-expression of elderly people, to propagate club-based activities according to hobbies, to promote self-education, healthy lifestyle, to develop mutual support and relief, care and charity, to nurture and foster national cultural traditions, to protect historical heritage, to meet public interests of union members and to carry out activities in the spheres of information and international collaboration.

3. Possibilities for social activities in the Union of Lithuanian Pensioners “Bočiai”

The research was conducted in two divisions of the Union of Lithuanian Pension- ers “Bočiai”: in Vilnius Antakalnis Polish Secondary School and in Goštautas St. 5/2, from April to May 2009. The sample of the survey included 100 members of Vilnius Antakalnis division of “Bočiai“. This number is referred to as 100 percent. The quantitative research was carried out applying the method of questionnaire survey. The reliability of the research method is approved by the distribution of this method. An attempt was made to acquire as objective information as possible.

 Lietuvos Respublikos Socialinės apsaugos ir darbo ministerija. Available at: Lietuvos pensininkų sąjunga „Bočiai“http://www.socmin.lt/index.php?2007377022. (Accessed: 21 03 2010) 166 Rita Ilgūnienė Education of Social Activity

The statistical analysis of the research data is conduced on the basis of descriptive statistics applying “Microsoft Word“ and “Microsoft Excel” programmes. The structure of the research instrument. The respondents were provided with seventeen questions: five closed questions, nine mixed and three open since not all the possible variants of the answers can be provided and an attempt was made to acquire more and precise information. The questionnaire was designed according to the research goals and objectives.

The research results and their discussion.

The Union of Lithuanian Pensioners “Bočiai“ is a union of elderly retired people, which means that members include women of 60 years old and over and men of 62.5 years old and over. However, the interview with P. Ruzgus, Chair- person of ULP, showed that the age limits are not strictly applied for applicants: a person can enter the union even several months before the official retirement age. The biggest number of the respondents (86 percent) were 60–70 year old, 9 percent were 70-80 year old, 4 percent were over 80 years and the proportion of 50-60 year old respondents amounted 1 percent. The sample included 63 percent of women and 37 percent of men (Fig. 13.). According to Pundienė Vilija, Chairperson of Antakalnis “Bočiai” division, the proportion of women outnumber that of men in all the divisions of the Union. The first chapter of the questionnaire included questions to reveal knowledge of pensioners about the activity of the Union of Lithuanian Pensioners “Bočiai”, the reasons for their joining the Union and what activities they carry out there. The ques- tions regarding the teamwork (which is inevitable taking into account the activity of “Bočiai“) as well as difficulties encountered during meetings and trainings. The first question aimed to identify how the respondents found out about the activity of the Union of Lithuanian Pensioners “Bočiai”. The majority of the re- spondents pointed out (and it was confirmed by Chairperson P. Ruzgus) that they received this information from their friends (75 percent). The distribution of all the other responses was approximately equal: from family members (10 percent), via mass media (8 percent), via Internet (1 percent), in the labour exchange (4 percent) and 2 percent of the respondents found out about the Union from other sources. The question about the reasons of elderly people for joining the Union revealed (Fig. 1) that almost half of the respondents see it as a perfect pastime (44 percent). The distribution of responses was various: a wish to improve – 8 percent, a willing-

POSSIBILITIES FOR SOCIAL ACTIVITY AMONG ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THE UNION 167 OF LITHUANIAN PENSIONERS “BOČIAI” ISSN 1392-9569 Socialinis ugdymas. 2010. Nr. 12 (23) ness to learn something new – 23 percent, encouragement by their family members (5 percent), 13 percent of the respondents have plenty of free time and 5 percent of ULP “Bočiai” feel a constant need to learn.

Fig. 1. Factors that determined the decision to become a member of the union “Bočiai”

The members of the Union of Lithuanian Pensioners “Bočiai” involve in a wide range of activities. Antakalnis division has a choir and this fact is clearly reflected in the results of responses to the question regarding their activity in the Union “Bočiai“ (Fig. 2): the majority (80 percent) pointed out that they involve in artistic activities. Another bigger number of the respondents (13 percent) attends various courses, seminars, conferences, etc. The distribution of other responses was ap- proximately even: 4 percent of the members develop professionally; 2 percent of them participate in international projects and 1 percent pointed to other kind of activities conducted in the Union.

168 Rita Ilgūnienė Education of Social Activity

Fig. 2. Activities conducted in “Bočiai”

An attempt was made to identify the sources of information used by the re- spondents during activities/training. As it was mentioned before, the majority of the respondents are involved in artistic activities (80 percent), therefore the major- ity of them, i.e., 55 percent, use audio and video equipment. Another 22 percent of retired people have access to and use library resources, 15 percent of the respondents go to the reading rooms, and 4 percent of them use slides. A small number of the respondents (2 percent) employ Internet resources and the same proportion of them (2 percent) use other means and sources of information not mentioned in the ques- tionnaire form. The respondents were also asked to evaluate the outcome of their training/activities: as many as 96 percent of the pensioners in the survey pointed out that they are satisfied with the results, only 3 percent stated that the results do not satisfy them and 1 percent of the respondents provided a negative evaluation to the outcome of their activity. Further, the members of the Union of Lithuanian Pensioners “Bočiai” were en- quired about their involvement in public activity, its forms as well as possibilities for such activity. Moreover, the respondents were asked to point out ways of improving the efficiency of this activity.

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Figure 3 presents percentage distribution of the responses to the question if they actively engage in public life. The biggest proportion (79 percent) of them mentioned that they are active participants in public life; 16 percent only partially involve in it, whereas 5 percent do not take part in public life activities.

Fig. 3. Socially active participation of “Bočiai“ members in the public life

The respondents pointed out the following active forms of their participation in public life (Fig. 4): 38 percent of the members of “Bočiai” mentioned their support to children foster and nursery homes; 32 percent referred to support to the disabled; 16 percent of the retired people in the survey involve in charity-related activities and 9 percent of them nurture national traditions; 4 percent of the members of the Union provide information and collaborate, whereas 1 percent of the respondents take up other forms of activities. The respondents were asked to answer the open question about the public activity sphere that they liked most and the majority of them referred to their support to foster homes and nursery homes. Since Antakalnis “Bočiai” has a choir and many members involve in artistic activities, they occasionally hold concerts in these institutions.

170 Rita Ilgūnienė Education of Social Activity

Fig. 4. The most prevailing form of activity

The elderly people are happy to belong the organisation “Bočiai” because it is a perfect pastime, excellent possibilities for communication with peers (and not only). They are also offered trips, excursions, opportunities to learn modern technologies and other. In their opinion, being a member of this organisation allows them to feel full-fledged individuals and socially active members of the society. Not only the members of the Union but also administration of this organisation were interested in the opinion of the respondents’ regarding increasing efficiency of the Union activity (Fig. 5). The respondents did not provide a unified answer to this question but their an- swers formed relatively big groups: 42 percent of the respondents pointed out to the necessity to write more projects to improve the efficiency of “Bočiai”; 28 percent of the retired people think that the best way to do it is to advertise in the mass media; 15 percent of the participants in the survey referred to the need for better financ- ing; the rest of the answers formed approximately equal proportions pointing to more competent employees, international collaboration and a bigger number of the members as the best ways to increase the efficiency of the Union’s activity.

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Fig. 5. Factors that increase efficiency of the Union “Bočiai”

Conclusions

1. Old age is a new adaptation period, which is defined through adaptability rather than development. Ageing of population is an inevitable phase of demographic development of the society. Change in type of population reproduction, decrease in birth rate and death rate result in changes in the structure of population age and growth in the number of elderly people. 2. The quality of old and elderly individuals’ life is determined not by living conditions themselves but rather by individual’s approach to them. Such factors as physical capacity and health affect the quality of individuals in old age and condition their maintained social relations as well as social activity. 3. In April 1990, after the Restoration of Lithuania’s independence, a group of patriotically minded pensioners established the Union of Lithuanian Pensioners “Bočiai“. The Union of Lithuanian Pensioners “Bočiai“ base their activity on pos- sibilities and initiative of their members, which should be interesting and useful to themselves, society and the Motherland and they strive for prevalence of voluntary, humanistic and democratic principles in their interrelations. The Union of “Bočiai“ organise interest clubs, propagate different occupations according to individual hob-

172 Rita Ilgūnienė Education of Social Activity bies, self-education, healthy lifestyle, develop mutual assistance and relief, nursery services, care and charity as well as foster and nurture national traditions. The re- search confirmed the range of social activity possibilities of the Union “Bočiai“. 4. The research revealed that the majority of members of Antakalnis Division of the Union of Lithuanian Pensioners “Bočiai” attend meetings of the Union due to possibilities of communication. They like to work in teams because this union is based on collaboration/communication. Moreover, “Bočiai“ are actively involved in public life and carry out important functions in it: they provide support to children foster homes and nursery homes (e.g. organise choir concerts), to the disabled people; they nurture traditions and national spirit, etc. This ensures social activity possibili- ties for elderly people to express themselves and feel useful for the society.

Literature

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Rita Ilgūnienė – Master of Social Sciences (Education), lector of the Department of So- cial Education, Social Communication Institute, Vilnius Pedagogical University; Spheres of scientific interests: social education and child welfare, social gerontology, peculiarity of social work with family; improvement of juvenile crime; address: Studentų St. 39, LT-08106 Vilnius, Lithuania; e-mail: [email protected]

174 Rita Ilgūnienė