Aging & Social Change: Twelfth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Providing informal care to senior member of the family is in many cases challenging the overall family atmosphere, the bonds among family members, and the intergenerational relationships. Besides its positive effects on seniors who can stay within their natural physical and social environment, informal caregiving might impose an increased stress on informal caregivers, reduce their social life and decrease the quality of life. Population aging poses in increased demand for sustainable arrangements. Findings that will be presented are based on data from quantitative research that was conducted on a representative sample of informal caregivers in Czechia (n=1.034). The paper informs about the quality of life as it was perceived by the informal caregivers - standardized instrument CQoL was used in this respect. Moreover, the paper evaluates the key dimensions of perceived quality of life and identifies the most significant drivers including a structure of the families, emotional bonds among family members or caregivers´ fears. The paper may be appreciated for advancing the knowledge about the family structure, relationships, and responsibilities. It provides replicable insight into the needs and abilities of a growing segment of population, and seeks for the measures to reduce the burden, improve the involvement of old-aged, and assure dignity in older age.