In Western societies, Slovenia included, life expectancy is increasing, which also creates a higher number of elderly people who need various types of assistance, support, and care. Emotional support is of central importance for the elderly, also and especially at departure to institutional care, when they bid farewell to the familiar environment, their own home, and with it their independent life. It is important for them to be able to lean on people whom they trust and rely on. In my thesis, I have researched who–if anyone–provides them with the necessary emotional support during this time; is it primarily their family members and close friends or is it also or primarily the employees in care facilities. I have collected data via half-structured interviews conducted in the Tolmin Care Home, whose residents gave me insight into their emotional perception of their departure to care home and life there in general.
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