Swedish pensioners long for youthful company
TT/The Local - [email protected]
Published: 15 Jul, 2014 CET.
Updated: Tue 15 Jul 2014 10:12 CET
Swedish senior citizens long for more contact with their younger relatives in order to beat away the lonesome blues, according to a new survey.
A large study conducted by Swedish life assurance company AMF, sought to establish what pensioners in Sweden want in order to cure loneliness in their everyday lives and discovered that human contact is at the top of the list. Out of 20 000 participants, one in four claimed that visits from their younger relatives was key to their happiness. "They enjoy it and want more of it. The notion that all of your children visiting being a nuisance does not exist," said Carina Blomberg, an economist at AMF, to the TT news agency. "It is actually more of an invitation than a demand," she added. With this study, AMF managed to debunk a number of common theories, such as older relatives wanting more help with daily chores. "Sometimes the debate revolves around the younger generation needing to visit in order to mow the lawn or clean the house, but that isn't what is wanted," Blomberg said. "What you want are nice visits and good conversation." Though the study shed some new light over the social wants and needs of senior citizens in Sweden, there are some old-fashioned strategies that still hold up, for example showing more respect for your seniors or listening to what they have to say. "These points always come up. You want to be respected for what you know since you have lead a long life," Blomberg told TT. "All knowledge does not have to be new and fresh, old knowledge is also a positive thing."
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A large study conducted by Swedish life assurance company AMF, sought to establish what pensioners in Sweden want in order to cure loneliness in their everyday lives and discovered that human contact is at the top of the list.
Out of 20 000 participants, one in four claimed that visits from their younger relatives was key to their happiness.
"They enjoy it and want more of it. The notion that all of your children visiting being a nuisance does not exist," said Carina Blomberg, an economist at AMF, to the TT news agency.
"It is actually more of an invitation than a demand," she added.
With this study, AMF managed to debunk a number of common theories, such as older relatives wanting more help with daily chores.
"Sometimes the debate revolves around the younger generation needing to visit in order to mow the lawn or clean the house, but that isn't what is wanted," Blomberg said.
"What you want are nice visits and good conversation."
Though the study shed some new light over the social wants and needs of senior citizens in Sweden, there are some old-fashioned strategies that still hold up, for example showing more respect for your seniors or listening to what they have to say.
"These points always come up. You want to be respected for what you know since you have lead a long life," Blomberg told TT.
"All knowledge does not have to be new and fresh, old knowledge is also a positive thing."
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