ECHOES OF THE PAST: ELDERLY CARE AND INSTITUTIONS IN LATE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY OSIJEK

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, elderly care in Croatia predominantly relied on familial support, resulting in a lack of official data on their well-being. However, recognizing the gradual decrease of familial care during this period, the Town of Osijek instituted a formal social care system for the elderly. This study delves into the essential aspects of this system, focusing on the Town Poorhouse and its pivotal role in elderly care. Drawing from primary sources in the State Archives of Osijek and limited relevant literature, the research aims to amplify the voices of elderly individuals from that historical era. It also sheds light on the involvement of Osijek’s town government and established foundations in the financing of elderly care initiatives during the late nineteenth century. The overarching objective is to widen the knowledge on unexplored historical facts and documents related to social welfare in Croatia by scrutinizing formal elderly care structures, as evidenced in previously untapped archival materials.