The issues of active longevity were discussed by experts at a round table in the Media Center of the Vitebsk region

The issues of social support for older people, the implementation of the National Strategy of Belarus "Active Longevity-2030" and events dedicated to the Day of the Elderly in the Vitebsk region were discussed by experts at a round table in the Media Center of the Vitebsk region.

Life expectancy is increasing in Belarus, and the number of pensioners and centenarians is increasing. The state creates conditions for a comfortable life and provides substantial support to older people.

261 thousand citizens who have reached retirement age live in the Vitebsk region, which is 25% of the region's population. It is predicted that by 2025, one in five residents of the country will reach the age of 65+. Representatives of the older generation today are not only raising grandchildren, gardening and gardening, they strive to develop, realize their potential, including in business, learn new things, participate in volunteer and social activities, and share their accumulated experience with young people.

State support

Older people receive significant comprehensive support in social service institutions," said Svetlana Kozlova, Chief Specialist of the Department of Social Support of the population and inpatient institutions of the Committee on Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the regional executive Committee. – There are 25 shopping malls and 15 social boarding houses in the Vitebsk region. Senior citizens receive various social assistance, and social services at home remain the most in demand. It covers more than 16 thousand residents of the region. In each shopping center there are day–stay departments for older citizens, where everyone can realize their potential - to be a volunteer, a member of mutual assistance groups, attend various clubs and clubs, and there are more than 500 of them in the region.

Active longevity

– For ten years, the Department of Medical Rehabilitation of Vitebsk Medical University has been actively cooperating with the General Directorate of Health, the Committee on Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Regional Executive Committee and other organizations on active longevity and medical and social rehabilitation, habilitation and improving the quality of life of people with disabilities and senior citizens. Thus, at the initiative of the regional executive committee, training of personnel of public administration bodies in modern medical and social approaches to older people is carried out, at the request of the committee, training of personnel for social work with the elderly is carried out. A multidisciplinary advisory point operates online and offline in the northern region, – said Tatyana Olenskaya, head of the Department of Medical Rehabilitation with a course of FPC and PC of VSMU, chief freelance specialist in geriatrics of the Vitebsk region, deputy of the Vitebsk City Council of Deputies. – In the Shumilinsky district, experience has been introduced to determine the post-ovoid syndrome of older people based on artificial intelligence, and an assistance program has been developed on its basis. The international pilot project "Introduction of remote digital technologies into the processes of providing medical and social assistance to residents of the Postavsky district "Z Pavagai da kozhnaga!" will be implemented in the Homeland together with the Moscow City Scientific Society of Therapists based on the artificial intelligence platform MeDiCase. This initiative is based on the experience of the project in Shumilino, which was conducted by the main Department of Health of the regional executive committee. Together with the regional children's rehabilitation and wellness center "Vetraz" and the hospital for the disabled of the Great Patriotic War in the village of Yurtsevo, the concept of "healthy childhood - healthy aging" is being actively implemented.

Creative projects

– On the basis of the Territorial Center for Social Services of the population of the Vitebsk region, there are 25 clubs and 30 interest clubs, six of them are visiting, – said Ekaterina Lazovskaya, director of the Vitebsk region Shopping Center. – Volunteers are actively involved in club activities. In addition, there are elderly people who learned how to make beautiful products with their own hands on the basis of the center and then became artisans and receive income from the sale of products. With special interest, women and men attend the circles "Gardenotherapy", "Sports Therapy", "Aromatherapy", "Financial literacy", "Scandinavian walking" and others. Creative teams from among the visitors of day care units for elderly citizens travel to remote settlements and give concerts. In the city settlement of Yanovichi, the territorial center, together with the initiative group, landscaped the "Garden of Dreams", planted more than 100 seedlings of various plants there. An inclusive botanical garden has been created in the agro-town of Kirovskaya. The Elegant Age project deserves attention, which was created for retired women to show them that they are beautiful at any age. To do this, we involve a modeling school, make-up artists and other specialists who create beautiful elegant images, make-up, hairstyles for a photo shoot, teach women style, tea etiquette. For men on Shrovetide, we held a master class on making pancakes.

Senior Citizens Day

For the second year in a row, the republican action “Respect. Care. Responsibility”, its purpose is to draw the attention of the public and adult children to the problems of senior citizens, the development of intergenerational ties. Within the framework of the campaign, sports and leisure events, open days in social service institutions, and volunteer actions are held. – It should be noted that the public association of veterans provides attention and support to senior citizens not only on the eve of the holidays. One-time financial assistance is paid annually to veterans of the Great Patriotic War, low–income veterans, assistance is provided in passing medical examinations, cultural recreation of veterans is organized, their participation in socio-political campaigns and patriotic education of young people, search activities to restore the names of those who died during the Great Patriotic War, - shared the chairman of the regional organization of the public association of veterans Sergey Olsevich.

The main thing is not to grow old with your soul

It is encouraging to note that older people are actively involved in volunteering, help to hold clubs, contests, meet with young people and share their experiences. – My passion for volunteering began with the holding of the literary lounge "Everything starts with Love" in 2015, when I performed songs and read poetry for visitors to the territorial center. For me, working as a volunteer is an opportunity to give warmth to the elderly and brighten up their old age and loneliness, – Olga Lukyanova, a volunteer at the shopping center of Pervomaisky district of Vitebsk, shared. – I regularly attend and organize creative events and celebrations for visitors to the shopping center, help refugee children, meet with young people and people with disabilities.

Doctors advise

Olga Budnik, valeologist instructor at the Vitebsk Regional Clinical Cardiology Center, noted that genes only affect health by a third, the rest depends on the person himself. She announced several rules for the health of the older generation:

• Movement is life. Moderate physical activity supports muscle tone.
• Communication is important. Make new friends, visit libraries and shopping malls.
• Think positively, keep a positive attitude, try to be less nervous.
• Develop intellectually, read, discuss news with family and friends, practice chess, solve crosswords.
• Eat a healthy diet, do not overeat, limit your intake of sugar and salt, light carbohydrates.
• Give up bad habits.
• Annually undergo a medical examination in a polyclinic, consult a doctor in a timely manner.

IT IS SAID

• Starting from October 1, the amount of labor pensions in Belarus will increase by 5%. Pensions are increasing. The indexation will affect pensions by age, length of service, loss of breadwinner and disability.
• At socially low rates, assistance is provided by a social worker (75 kopecks/ hour), a nurse (1 rub. 16 kopecks / hour).
• A new form of arrangement is being practiced for the elderly, over 70 years old, and the disabled – a substitute family. They receive assistance with such a social service on a daily basis.

Photo by Dmitry OSIPOV

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