Marital and family situation of elderly blind persons in Croatia

It was the intention in this work to explore the basic features of marital and family situations in elderly blind persons in Croatia, as well as their perception of their own position in the family. Furthermore, the aim was to establish whether there is a statistically significant difference among the specific parts of the population of elderly blind persons with regard to variables of gender, age, residence and time of visual impairment. Therefore, a survey was conducted on a sample of 174 examinees throughout Croatia. The sample was selected among blind persons at an advanced age who are members of the Croatian Association of the Blind and have impaired vision within legally defined limits. At the family level elderly blind persons are often confronted with similar problems shared by the elderly population in general. A significant problem for this group is the loss of a marital partner and single life. Along with the ageing process the number of examinees living in complete families, i.e. with a husband and children is rapidly falling. Isolation from the domicile environment certainly creates greater difficulties for blind persons than for those who are not. With the aid of the chi-square test it has been established that in respect to the marital and family situation the examinees are mostly differentiated by variables of gender and age. Significant changes in family patterns occur earlier in (blind) women (between 64 and 75) than in (blind) men (after 75). The domicile and time of visual impairment are not significant from the aspect of marital and family status. Elderly blind persons have a considerably positive attitude towards their families, but are not generally satisfied with the role of elderly people in the family decision-making process. Different segments of the examinees perceive similarly the elderly people's position in the family, meaning that the influence of demographic variables is smaller than in the analysis of marital or family forms. The degree of independence of an elderly blind person will depend significantly on family relations and the completeness of the "supporting network" between generations. By living alone, separated from their children, elderly blind persons do not necessarily have to be alienated from their families.