The master's thesis deals with the housing problem of elderly people in Maribor. The theoretical part presents the problem of the aging population that is present throughout Europe. The next chapter describes the period of old-age, the attitudes we portray towards it, and the tabooization of this period. The following is an overview of the possibilities for older people living in Slovenia. This chapter presents the legal basis, currently in force in the field of long-term care; I also describe the current possibilities of elderly people in Slovenia – elderly homes, sheltered homes, home help, day centers and modern forms of living. The last chapter of the theoretical part of the thesis describes the regulation of long-term care in Europe, and highlights examples of good practices from abroad. In the empirical part, I was particularly interested in how we solve the housing problem of the elderly in Maribor. I have been researching the possible forms of residence in our city; what are the waiting times for admission, whether the elderly are satisfied with the facilities available to them, and what the City of Maribor plans for the future. I learned that the current capacities of homes, sheltered homes and home help are occupied, and that the waiting period is long. All the interviewees from the institutions agreed that they should promote home care in Maribor and Slovenia, as the elderly feel comfortable and settled there. Several experts share the opinion that changing one’s living situation should be considered when one is mentally and physically healthy, and is capable to choose and re-think all options. On the basis of the information obtained, elderly people most often change their living environment due to illness, or loneliness. The elderly people I interviewed are satisfied with the accommodation options for the elderly in Maribor, and all of them have been placed in a dormitory or furnished apartment in satisfactory time. When changing the way of living of an elderly person, relatives play an important role, which can significantly ease the change of the living environment and they can also help with financing. The obtained results show that further changes in the way of living of elderly people in Maribor can be planned; one of the improvements is to consider the possibilities of including the services of social pedagogues.
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