gerontology in croatia

8/14/2019 Gerontology in Croatia

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Sveuilite u ZagrebuPravni fakultet

Studijski centar socijalnog rada

Gerontology in Croatia

Nikolina eek

Irena Metrovi

Sunica Ozimec


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Demographics of Croatia

One of the greatest problems of the demographicsituation in Croatia include ageing of thepopulation.

The population continues growing older becausethe percentage of young population decreases,while the percentage of the elderly populationincreases.

Tendency of the Croatian older populationincrease is in accordance with the growth trend ofthe elderly people proportion in developedcountries of the world.


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In 1953, for each elderlyinhabitant( 64 years and

above) there were three young (10 to 14 years of age),while in 1991 this ratio was only 1.5 young to 1 old.

Gerontological - demographic projections for Croatia

indicate that the share of people older than 60 years inthe total population, will increase from 21.5% in 2002 toeven 30% in 2025.

Because of the fast ageing of the population, every fifthelderly person in Croatia requires social-medical care, ofwhich 68% of health care needs of the elderly aremanaged at gerontology centres in local communities.


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Gerontology

gerontology comes from greek:geron + logos= old man+ science

Gerontology is the study of social, psychological

and biological aspects of ageing.

It includes:

Studying physical, mental and social changes in people asthey age

Investigating the ageing process itself Investigating the effect of aging population on society

Applying this knowledge to policies and programs


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The knowledge of ageing in increasing constantly.

Therefore, gerontology as a science takes a

significant place in developed countries with

growing number of elderly people.

UN have set October 1st as an International Day of

Elderly People.


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Gerontology? Geriatrics?

While gerontology is focused on aging process and

individuals as they grow older, geriatrics is

concerned with diseases, health care of olderpersons and the well-being of their informal

caregiver.


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Croatian Geronotology from Ancienttimes to the 17th century

The development od gerontology in Croatia wasstudied from the available historical materialpublications.

According to the indicators of the demographicstructure of that time, persons over the age of 50had a relatively small share in the overall Croatian

population. It influenced on an individual solutionsof social and health problems related to old age,mainly at the family level.


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The status of elderly people was under the stronginfluence of religion which considered the elderlyunable to work, poor and life-threatened group

requiring assistance of their community. Therealization of such help depended on adevelopment both an individual and socialcommunity.

Mechanisms of private and public care were firstestablished in the towns representing centers inCroatia of that period.

Old age and aging are discussed in the preserved

manuscripts and treatises which are blend ofEuropean attitudes and treatment of the elderly, aswell as the ideas on social status and organizedpublic care for the elderly.


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Geronotology in Croatia today

Today, the modern society is confronted with

decreasing number of traditional families which

have held a main role in care for elderly people in

the past. The well-known difficulties developed Western

countries have, as lack of the medical staff

and their insuffucient education considering

gerontology, leading to not being properly preparedfor specific needs of elderly population, are also

becoming a significant problem in Croatia.


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In Croatia, the basic health management for elderly

present:

gerontological centres homes for old and disabled people

geriatric hospitals

daily hospitals for geriatric patients geronto services

centres for the rehabilitation, working therapy and

help for older people

societies and clubs for elderly


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The special importance for health management ofelderly is:

in insurement of his permanent education ingerontology and geriatrics by Europeangerontological standards, and for the purpose ofadvancings health care and preservations of

functional abilities of the Croatian olderpopulation.


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Institutional care of elderly people

Homes for old and disabled people

the largest number of elderly people in Croatia

lives in their homes, alone or with their family, andonly about 2% of the total number of elderly

people live in homes for the elderly.

In 2001 in Croatia were 48 homes for old and

disabled people in state property, and 23 privatehomes

There is also a form of accommodation in fosterfamilies


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Non-institutional care

As a realization of Croatian Gerontology Centers

projects in 2004, there is materialized a

non-institutional care for elderly on a local

community level.

It has two aims;

to prevent social isolation of elderly attempt to keep an old person in his/her home orwith a family as long as possible.


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Gerontology centers cover everyday help,delivery of warm meals, care and rehabilitation for

its clients.

Constant physical, mental and working activity

are also provided. Besides, elderly can use free services of

psychological, health and legal counseling, lend an

orthopedic device or enjoy in Centre's cultural and

recreational content.


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The main advantages of non-institutional care of elderly

1. satisfying the needs of the largest number of older peoplegiving wide range of services in house (only 2% of older peoplelives in homes for elderly)

2. promotion of activities of the elderly and their families

3. This tipe of care is taking place in a natural familyenvironment and is more acceptable and accessible for theelderly and their family members

4. flexibility and orientation towards the user

5. relieves the state of the overall responsibility for the care

6. requires less funding7. has a significant preventive character, preventing premature

and pathological aging with early detection of firstsymptoms of diseases


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Centre for gerontology of the Zagreb Institute forpublic health does the most complex tasks and

businesses through four next extents regulargerontological activities:

1. Permanently accompanies, studies, evaluates,

supervise and plans health needs of olderpersons;

2. Gives professionally-methodological help,

supervises, gives instructions and reeducation ofthe managers and other conductors in the healthcare for older people;


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3. Actively participates in the formation of thePrograms of measures and procedures in healthcare for the elderly as well as executions of thePrograms of basic preventive measures of primary,

secondary and tertiary preventions for elderlypeople;

4. Actively participates and conducts scientifically-

research and publication of gerontological-educational activity.


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Practice

gerontology, geriatrics, health management, gerontology centers,

homes for old and disabled people, UN, ageing of the population

__________________ have set October 1st as an International Day ofElderly People.

__________________is concerned with diseases, health care of olderpersons and the well-being of their informal caregiver.

_______________ cover everyday help, delivery of warm meals, care andrehabilitation for its clients.

Only about 2% of the total number of elderly people live in______________________.

One of the greatest problems of the demographic situation in Croatia include

_____________________. The special importance for ____________________ of elderly is ininsurement of his permanent education in gerontology and geriatrics byEuropean gerontological standards.

__________________ is the study of social, psychological and biologicalaspects of ageing.


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UNhave set October 1st as an International Day of Elderly People.

Geriatrics is concerned with diseases, health care of older personsand the well-being of their informal caregiver.

Gerontology centres cover everyday help, delivery of warm meals,care and rehabilitation for its clients.

Only about 2% of the total number of elderly people live in homes for

old and disabled people. One of the greatest problems of the demographic situation in Croatia

include ageing of the population.

The special importance forhealth managementof elderly is ininsurement of his permanent education in gerontology and geriatrics by

European gerontological standards. Gerontologyis the study of social, psychological and biological

aspects of ageing.


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Literatura1. Belicza, B. Croatian Gerontology from the Ancient Times to the

Seventeenth Century. Posjeeno na:

http://www.cmj.hr/1997/38/3/belitza.pdf2. Health Management for elderly in the function of the Croatian

Economy Growth. Posjeeno nahttp://www.monitoringris.org/documents/strat_nat/croatia_hme.pdf

3. Hrvatski asopis za javno zdravstvo. The Leading MultifactorialGeriatric Syndromes in the Elderly. Posjeeno na:http://www.hcjz.hr/pr.php?id=13017&rnd=

4. Havelka, M. (2003). Skrb za starije ljude u Hrvatskoj - potrebauvoenja novih modela. Drutvena istraivanja. br. 1-2, str. 225-245

5. Javornik-ubri M., Vian M. (2005). English for Social workers,Zagreb

6. The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. What isGerontology? Geriatrics? Posjeeno na:http://www.careersinaging.com/careersinaging/what.html

7. Tomek-Roksandi S., Perko G., Mihok D., Puljak A., Radaevi H.,ulig J., Ljubii M. (2005). The Importance of Centres forGerontology of County Institutes of Public Health and GerontologyCentres in Croatia. Medicus. Vol. 14, No. 2, 177-193

8. Zdravstveni menadment u skrbi za starije osobe. Posjeeno na: http://www.plivamed.net/?section=home&cat=t&show=1&id=13764
http://www.cmj.hr/1997/38/3/belitza.pdfhttp://www.monitoringris.org/documents/strat_nat/croatia_hme.pdfhttp://www.hcjz.hr/pr.php?id=13017&rnd=http://www.careersinaging.com/careersinaging/what.htmlhttp://www.plivamed.net/?section=home&cat=t&show=1&id=13764http://www.plivamed.net/?section=home&cat=t&show=1&id=13764http://www.plivamed.net/?section=home&cat=t&show=1&id=13764http://www.plivamed.net/?section=home&cat=t&show=1&id=13764http://www.careersinaging.com/careersinaging/what.htmlhttp://www.hcjz.hr/pr.php?id=13017&rnd=http://www.monitoringris.org/documents/strat_nat/croatia_hme.pdfhttp://www.cmj.hr/1997/38/3/belitza.pdf

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