Table Of ContentDEPENDENCY OR INTERDEPENDENCY IN OLD AGE
DEPENDENCY
OR INTERDEPENDENCY
IN OLD AGE
Edited by
Joep M. A. Munnichs and Wim J. A. van den Heuvel
University of Nijmegenand GerontologicalCentreNijmegen
MARTINUS N I JHOFF - THE HAGUE 1976
ISBN 90 247 1895 3
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by print , photoprint , microfilm or any
other means, without written permission from the publisher
Photoset in Malta by Interprint (Malta) Ltd.
Printed in the Netherlands by Intercontinental Graphics- Dordrecht
PREFACE
Although this monograph "Dependency o r interdependency in old age"
is not the first publication o f the European Social Sciences Research Com-
mittee (ESSRC) o f the International Association o f Gerontology, I am
happy, as former chairman o f the Committee (1964-1975), to introduce
this book to the readers, together with the present chairman.
So far the activities o f the Committee have consisted o f co-operating
in organizing the scientific programme o f the tri-annual congresses o f the
International Association o f Gerontology (lAG), and in organizing smal-
ler o r bigger symposia and colloquia for social gerontologists. Sometimes
these meetings were mainly organized for European researchers only,
sometimes several concurrent colloquia took place in which Americans
and o t h e r non-Europeans participated.
The Committee, the oldest o f the lAG, was established at a scientific
meeting in 1954 at Sheffield (U.K.) Af t e r that year colloquia were held in
1956 near Copenhagen 1 (Denmark), in 1957 at Merano2 (Italy), in 1959
at Assisi (Italy), in 1960 a t Berkeley (Cal.,USA), in 1963 at Markaryd
(Sweden), in 1966 at Semmering 3 (Austria) with 5 concurrent social ger-
ontological colloquia), in 1971 in Paris 4 (with the valuable assistance o f
the International Cen te r for Social Gerontology), in 1972 a t Kiev(USSR),
in 1974 at Grenoble (France) and in 1975 at the KibbutzMa'a le i Hacha -
misha (Israel).
As can also be seen from the contents o f this monograph, the European
Social Sciences Research Committee has always tr ied t o stress the impor-
t ance o f the multidisciplinary approach to so many significant issues in
social gerontology. In the European Committee researchers in experi-
mental, clinical and social psychology, sociology, social medicine, epide-
miology, sociography and demography, ergonomics, economics, social
and cultural anthropology, political sciences, applied social sciences (soc-
ial work and welfare) can meet and present papers on a theme, chosen by
the members o f the Committee.
Although the number o f participants was in general relatively small
to al low more time fo r extensive discussions, these meetings provoked a
grea t many activities in the field o f social gerontology, both in and bet-
ween various countries. It was not rare that cross-national research found
its origin a t an ESSRC meeting.
The appearance o f this book marks another step in the development
o f the activities o fthe Committee. In general it is a sign o f a more systematic
way in developing social gerontology on an international level. I do hope
vi PREFACE
that this development will continue at an increasing speed; fo r instance,
that well-edited monographs o f all future meetings will be regularly pub-
lished.
When the European Social Sciences Research Committee decided to
organize the colloquia concerned with dependence/independence in old
age, it gave a good example o f a scientific tradition o fgrea t value: t o spend
time and efforts to bring about validation o f a concept.
This pair o f conceptual twins also happens to illustrate fundamental
attributes o f the ESSRC itself regarding its structure, its conditions o f
work and its planning for the future.
The members o f the Committee belong to a number o f nations and there-
by t o a situation o f independence concerning cultural contexts. But the
differences and the similarities between us have been refined respectively
decreased during the centuries we have shared together, thus giving a
living dependency o f everyone on everyone. The richness o f o u r organiza-
tion is related to the fact that each member, retaining her/his individual
cultural and menta l characteristics, contributes to a pool o f combined
thinking.
Scientific work, and here both applied and basic research are included,
is a type o f social work. But social workers, in the ordinary sense o f the
expression, show in their daily activities a dependence on what is already
known abou t e.g. ageing, on what is established knowledge. In geronto-
logical research it is essential to be dependent on what is still unknown:
all o u r efforts are concerned with that. And we are in a situation whichdoes
not permit us to consider known facts about ageing as more important o r
more fundamental as compared with the unknown facts. We ought, as
a scientific attitude, to remain in a permanent esteem o f ou r ignorance.
We are all dependent on the societies in which we spend our time and
work. Social circumstances form our conditions so far. But in ou r thinking
and research efforts we should be deeply independent o f society, because
we have the task t o try to be one step ahead o f society. This points out an
aspect o f responsibility, which can be regarded as a bu rden or a gift, o r
disregarded, and which can find various expressions. Likewise, we ought
to be one step behind society in o rde r to check if political decisions about
the aged persons change their living conditions to the be t t e r o r to the worse:
good intentions are not automatically followed by good results.
The work o f the ESSRC in the future as unt i l now has t o be conscious
o f this mixed situation o f dependence and independence and it ought t o
guide us in our selection o f topics for symposia, our pattern o f spending
time with each other, and the manner we find p rope r to give fur the rt o our
societies the results o f o u r joint efforts.
J. He lander
R. J. van Zonneveld
PREFACE vi i
NOTES
I. 1956 Copenhagen
The need for cross-national surveys of old age. Report of a Conference at Copenhagen,
October 19-23, 1956.European Section SocialScience Research Committee, International
Association of Gerontology. Published by: Division ofGerontology, University of Michigan,
A n Arbor, Michigan.
2 . 1957 Merano
Aging and social health in the United States and Europe. Report of an International
Seminar held at Mcrano, Italy, July 9-13, 1957. Published by: Division of Gerontology,
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
3 . Semmering
Vol. l: Sheila S. Chown and K. F. Ricgel (ed.): Psychological Functioning in the Normal
Aging and Senile Aged. 1968, Basel-New York.
Vol. 2 : J. Madg¢ and E. Shanas (¢d.): Methodological Problems in Cross-National Studies
in Aging. 1968, Basel-New York.
Vol. 3 : Marjori¢ F. Lowcnthal and A. Zilli (ed.): Colloquium on Health and Aging ofthe
Population 1969, Basel-New York.
Vol. 4 : A. T . Welford and J. Birren (ed.): Decision Making and Age. 1969, Basel-New
York.
Vol. 5: L. Gitman and E. Woodford-WiUiams (ed.): Research Training and Practice in
Clinical Medicine of Aging 1970, Basel-New York.
4 . 1971 Paris
Elderly people living in Europe. Report of the European Social Research Committee
(of the IAG). Published by the International Center of Social Gerontology, Paris 1972.
viii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study on" Dependency o r interdependency in old age" would not have
been achieved, if neither in Grenoble , nor in the Kibbutz Maalei-
Hamamisha in Is rae l such an excellent hospitality had been offered. In
Grenoble honou r is due t o Dr. R. Hugonot and his co-operators, in Is rae l
particularly to Mrs. T. Na than and Mr. U. Do tan .
A t the same time this publication offers the opportunity to rende r
homage to the retiring chairman o fthe European Social Sciences Research
Committee, Rob van Zonneveld. The many ,o f t en ungrateful, organizing
activities, performed during a grea t many years and now again fo r the
colloquia in Grenoble and in Israel have a permanent result in this edition.
At the same time it may be seen as an expression o f the often concealed
thanks fo r his persistent activity.
A special word o f thanks is meant for Dr. Pe te r Coleman for checking
the use o f English in the various contributions.
As for the preparation o f the manuscript itself wewould like to ment ion
the pleasant co-operation with the publisher, who accomodated many o f
ou r requests, and Miss Angela van Leeuwen, who handled much work
through he r secretarial assistance.
J .M.
W. van den H.
CONTENTS
PR E F A C E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V
ACXNOWLEI~E~mrcrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
cogrmBtrrogs xi
A. Introduction
1. J . M . A . MUNNICHS, Dependency, interdependency and
autonomy; an introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B. Methodological studies
2. J. BOND, Dependency and the elderly: problems o f
conceptualisation and measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3. A. VANOER PLnnTS, Heal th criteria for independency o f o lde r
people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
4. P. P~aLLAT, Criteria o f independent (autonomous) life in old
age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
C. Conceptual and empirical studies
Psychological studies
5. L. ISRAEL, Memory disorders, as criteria o f dependency in old
people: evaluation and measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
6. H. DIESFELDT, Comments on "memory disorders as criteria o f
dependency in old people: evaluation and measurement" . 54
7. J. SHnNANANDH. WEmL, Forced and autonomous
detachment, their relationships to coping style and
independence in la te r adulthood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
8. P, E. SOLEM, Dependency - due to lacl~ o f individual or
environmental resources? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
9. A . -M. NYGARD, The impact o f institutionalization on
expressing needs and wishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
10. E.MELrN, Dependency on activity before, during and af te r
activating treatment in a home for aged people . . . . . . . 88
x CONTENTS
Sociological studies
11. A. AMANN AND G. MAJCE, Some remarks on the concepts of
need and health and their treatment in gerontological
research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
12. A. TYMOWSKI, Socio-economic criteria of dependence of old
persons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
13. A. CLEVESTAM, Independency in old age - some architectural
aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
14. U. CHRISTIANSEN, Poverty and old age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
D. Interpretative and evaluative studies
15. M.L. JOHNSON, That was your life: a biographical approach
t o later life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
16. W . J . A . VANDENHEtrvEL, The meaning of dependency . . . . 162
I NDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Contributors
Anton Amann studied sociology and economics at the University of Vienna. An assistant
at the Institute of Sociology, University of Vienna, he lectures in social gerontology
and social methodology. Has carded out investigations in social gerontology, housing
market and social work and published on these topics.
(Dr. A. Amann, Institut fiir Soziologie, Rechts- und Staatswissenschaftliche Fakult~tt der
Universit~it Wien, Alserstrasse 33 , 1080 Vienna, Austria.)
John Bond was a research-assistant in the Institute for Social Studies in medical care.
Later he was a co-worker of Peter Townsend in the Department of Sociology in Essex. In
1972 he became a research associate at the University of Edinburgh and in 1974 a research-
officer in the Scottish Health-Service in Edinburgh. He published especially on nursing
research in "Nursing Times" (vol. 70, nr. 13) and in 'International Journal of Nursing
Studies' (vol. 11, p . 75-84).
(Mr. J. Bond, Information Services, Scottish Health Service, 115 George Street, Edinburgh
EH2 4 YT , Scotland.)
Ursula Christiansen was born in Bremen in 1943. Studied from 1962-1968 in Berlin, University
of California at Berkely and K61n. Diploma in sociology and economics in K61n in 1968,
thesis on 'The new left: student movement in the USA'. 1968-1969 comparative research
on the student movement at the London School of Economics. Since 1969 applied work
and (at the Institut fiir Sozialforschung und Gesellschaftspolitik) research in the area of
social problems. 1972 Ph.D. thesis on 'Homelessness: societal reactions to poverty'.
Since 1973 establishment of psychiatric social services at the 'Rheinische Landesklinik
K61n, a psychiatric treatment center.
(Mrs. Dr. U. Christiansen, Rheinische Landesklinik K61n, 5-K61n 91 , Wilhelm Griesinger
Strasse 23 ,West-Germany.)
Arne Clevestam was born in 1933. Graduated in 1954 from Telis, Stockholm as a building-
engineer and in 1962 from the Technical High School in Stockholm as an architect. A
member of the National Association of Swedish Architects (Sveriges Arkitekters
Riksf6rbund, SAR), and a partner in the firm of architects and engineers, Folke L6fstr6m
Architects Office AB. In 1971 he started the Gerontological Research Group in Stockholm,
working together with the Institute of Gerontology at J6nk6ping and from 1974 also with
the Gerontological Center at Lund. In 1975 he became a member of the Swedish Association
of Consulting Architects (Sveriges Praktiserande Arkitekter, SPA). H e has become a
gerontological and building adviser for local authorities and is actively involved in the
design of hospitals, outpatient - medical and health service - centers, and service buildings
for old people.
(Mr. A. Clevestam, L6fstr6ms arkitektkontor AB, Grev Turegatan, 29 , S-11438 Stockholm,
Sweden.)
Han Diesfeldt, born in 1947, finished his studies in the psychology of human functions
and as additional choice clinical psychology. From that t ime he has worked in nursing
homes for mentally disturbed aged people and has occupied himself with diagnostics,
therapy and research (development of psychological instruments and evaluation of thera-
peutic activities).
(Drs. H. F. A. Diesfeldt, ' D e Stichtse Hof', Naarderstraat 81, Laren (N.H.), Holland.)
