Recognizing the Need for Change of Work and Treatment of Elderly People with Disorders in Mental Development

Abstract

In the article we identify how leaders in organizationally different occupational activity centres (hereinafter OAC) recognize the daily burden of elderly users of OAC services from the perspective of work and behavioural changes. Further on, we identify possible changes in work satisfaction of people, who use OAC services, which manifest in the form of lower motivation, suffering from disease and irregular presence in the OAC. We focus on the individual approach of treating individuals, which derives from the principle of individualization, and stress out the need for social and systemic changes in the treatment of this population in old age. The article verifies findings of modern researchers on the quality of life of the elderly population of people with disorders in mental development. The questions which arise are: how to reduce the intensity of the daily program and the hours of active planning and how to change the environment of the program. Questions are also directed into providing additional (without employment) day care due to retirement and into providing accommodations for these service users. The results of the existing research reveal key-factors, typical for the elderly population of users of OAC services, aged over 50, from which is reflected the need for changes of current practices and changes in the treatment of these population.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n2s1p127