The role of the elderly people in contemporary family in Croatia – the view of the three generations

Ageing is the basic human experience which begin on the day of our birth and reaches its peak in older age. By accepting ageing on the personal, family and social level as a period of life which carries certain changes in psychical, health and social functioning as well as spiritual maturation we send a message about ageing process as a natural, integral and necessary part of human life. At the same time inevitable changes in older age should not be basis for development of stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination but the challenge for finding and testimony for meaningful life. In mutual (intergenerational) searching for the answer on the question about the role of elderly people in today`s world lays the ground for successful, active and healthy ageing, ageing which is not the meaning of itself but which allows (through open communication and coexistence with others) shaping of one new reality which from generation to generation send message about indestructibility and sense of human life. The goal of these qualitative research was to examine the role of elderly persons in the family from the perspective of the elderly, their children and grandchildren. In the research participated 74 participants in elderly age (65-98), 82 participants in middle age (26-62) and 86 young persons (age 18-25). The data was obtained by half structured interview in rural and urban parts of Croatia. The method of analyse was thematic analysis. The results of the research show that all three generations see the role of the elderly people in the family as providing emotional, advisory and material help/support ; providing support in bringing up grandchildren ; care of the spiritual aspects of life in family and care about the required members of family. Also the important theme represent the role of elderly persons in running a household. Although the main themes are common and matching in all mentioned groups of participants some specifics in individual age categories are found which will be presented and discussed. In the conclusion it will be highlighted that regardless the differences in the three generations, the role of the elderly persons in the family (seen by the elderly, their children and grandchildren) is very clear and speaks in favour of family and intergeneration connection and support within contemporary family in Croatia.