State and proportions of elderly population in collective accommodation in Poland as a determinant of urbanization – 1988-2011

Ageing which is one of the characteristics of contemporary urbanization process is considered to witness the progress and a high degree of advancement of the process. There is also the matter of civilization in bringing many socio-economic problems. An important goal of the state on this issue remains - in addition to the pursuit of socio-economic activating the older age population (active aging) - making housing and associated services, the primary area of social care for the elderly (aging in place). The problem of the elderly, especially in the cities, regardless of financial situation, is generally a reluctance to live in collective households, also in Poland. This confirms the need to develop suitable for elderly housing and settlement infrastructure services allowing for independent living. This type of housing and services are just beginning to emerge in Poland. Living in a total of unwanted by the older population collective households should therefore be treated - despite their different types and nature - as one of the determinants of disability contemporary urbanization. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to analyze and evaluate the status and changes in the number and proportion of elderly population contained in the collective households in Poland in the period 1988-2011 . The basis of the method of research is the analysis of published data from the National Census of 198 , 2002 and 2011 for the population aged 60 and older.