Elderly people health profile in the Elderly people health profile in the city of Stavropol as the basis for city of Stavropol as the basis for

developing of social health developing of social health improvement strategies for elderly improvement strategies for elderly

peoplepeople

K. Amlaev, V. MuravyevaHCP, Administration of the Stavropol (Russia)Administration of the Stavropol (Russia)

StavropolStavropol

BackgroundBackground

The number of elderly people is increasing in Stavropol The number of elderly people is increasing in Stavropol as well as in other regions of Russia. In 2006 the rate as well as in other regions of Russia. In 2006 the rate of old-aged people in the Russian Federation of old-aged people in the Russian Federation population structure went up from 24,8% to 15 %.population structure went up from 24,8% to 15 %.

At the present time 71 thousand of people older than At the present time 71 thousand of people older than 50 is registered in the city. Average life expectancy is 50 is registered in the city. Average life expectancy is not high, it’s 69,4 years. Besides, people of more than not high, it’s 69,4 years. Besides, people of more than 80 nationalities live in Stavropol, among them there 80 nationalities live in Stavropol, among them there are a lot of migrants who came to our city after ethnic are a lot of migrants who came to our city after ethnic conflicts in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Chechnya and conflicts in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Chechnya and Armenian earthquake. Armenian earthquake.

The model of Elderly people Health and living standards The model of Elderly people Health and living standards profile which had been presented and discussed at the profile which had been presented and discussed at the

Conference on Healthy ageing in June 2005 in Stockholm Conference on Healthy ageing in June 2005 in Stockholm was taken for a basis.was taken for a basis.

It was supposed that the profile would contain the It was supposed that the profile would contain the following sections:following sections:

1. 1. DemographyDemography 2. Level of income and social status of elderly people2. Level of income and social status of elderly people 3. Social assistance to elderly people3. Social assistance to elderly people 4. Employment of elderly people4. Employment of elderly people 5. Elderly people’s health5. Elderly people’s health 6. Education and physical activity of elderly people6. Education and physical activity of elderly people 7. Culture, leisure and public organizations of elderly 7. Culture, leisure and public organizations of elderly

peoplepeople 8. Plans for “Healthy ageing” implementation.8. Plans for “Healthy ageing” implementation.

Two questionnaire design of the residents Two questionnaire design of the residents were held on the main directions of were held on the main directions of “Healthy cities” project implementation “Healthy cities” project implementation and quality of life study in Stavropol (1030 and quality of life study in Stavropol (1030 people were questioned in their flats, people were questioned in their flats, selection of respondents was made in a selection of respondents was made in a random way; 2003 people answered the random way; 2003 people answered the questions published in the city newspaper). questions published in the city newspaper).

Here are some facts.Here are some facts.

Nowadays 71 thousand elderly people live in Nowadays 71 thousand elderly people live in Stavropol; it’s 20% from the total number of Stavropol; it’s 20% from the total number of the population. A problem of lower level of the population. A problem of lower level of men’s life expectancy compared with men’s life expectancy compared with women’s still exists in Stavropol as well as in women’s still exists in Stavropol as well as in Russia. The average life expectancy of men Russia. The average life expectancy of men is 63,1 years, and women – 74,6 years. At is 63,1 years, and women – 74,6 years. At the present time common problems of older the present time common problems of older generations refer to the issues of health generations refer to the issues of health preservation, nutrition, housing, getting preservation, nutrition, housing, getting education in “the third age” and well-being.education in “the third age” and well-being.

20012001 20022002 20032003 20042004 20052005

68,468,4 69,669,6 69,369,3 69,669,6 70,970,9

Tab.1. The number of people in Stavropol who are older than 50 years (thousand people).

20002000 20022002 20042004 20052005 20062006

69,969,9 68,568,5 68,568,5 68,468,4 69,369,3

The population of Stavropol is 400 thousand people.Tab.2. Life expectancy in Stavropol (years)

Tab.1. The number of people in Stavropol who are older than 50 years (thousand people).

Among the problems of elderly people Among the problems of elderly people the most important ones are:the most important ones are:1. Loss of active life position1. Loss of active life position

2. Health deterioration.Social living conditions of elderly people are defined by their health first of all. According to sociological research of the own health assessment the elderly people gave the following answers:37,9 % of elderly people don’t think they are healthy.37,7% of elderly people say they are more unhealthy than healthy.17,3 % feel slight malady.Only 7 % of aged people say they are in good health.It’s necessary to add that respondents who are under 64 years of age are more optimistic about their health.Among ecological problems which trouble elderly people a high level of noise (more than 60 %) and air pollution (39%) take the first places.

3. Deterioration of living conditions 3. Deterioration of living conditions after retiring on a pensionafter retiring on a pension..

Insufficient provision of elderly people leads to deterioration of Insufficient provision of elderly people leads to deterioration of nutrition, minimization of expenses on social-cultural needs; nutrition, minimization of expenses on social-cultural needs; vulnerability of aged people in the family is increasing; it results in vulnerability of aged people in the family is increasing; it results in reducing life expectancy after retiring on a pension. Almost half of reducing life expectancy after retiring on a pension. Almost half of the pensioners’ families (60,8%) spend half of their income on the pensioners’ families (60,8%) spend half of their income on food, though we can see deterioration of nutrition.food, though we can see deterioration of nutrition.

4. Deterioration of elderly people’s 4. Deterioration of elderly people’s emotional stateemotional state

The problem of old age is not that a The problem of old age is not that a person gets older but that his soul person gets older but that his soul remains young.remains young. ( (O. Wilde) O. Wilde)

17,7 % of elderly people believe that nobody will help 17,7 % of elderly people believe that nobody will help them in a case of helplessness as a result of disease.them in a case of helplessness as a result of disease.

Social contacts of elderly people become difficult; this Social contacts of elderly people become difficult; this fact has negative consequences not only for elderly fact has negative consequences not only for elderly people but for people surrounding them. The results of people but for people surrounding them. The results of questioning showed that 27,8% of aged people meet questioning showed that 27,8% of aged people meet their relatives once or twice a month.their relatives once or twice a month.

In the sphere of health protection, social, cultural, In the sphere of health protection, social, cultural, recreational, trade and general services, health and recreational, trade and general services, health and fitness work, tourism there is a lack of attention to fitness work, tourism there is a lack of attention to elderly people needs. This fact brings to limitation of elderly people needs. This fact brings to limitation of access to social services and benefits. The attitude to access to social services and benefits. The attitude to aged people who go on working is not unambiguous. aged people who go on working is not unambiguous. So, next answers were got to the question of So, next answers were got to the question of employers’ attitude to elderly people:employers’ attitude to elderly people:

““positive”- 22,6%positive”- 22,6% ““more positive than negative”- 27,8%more positive than negative”- 27,8% ““more negative than positive” – 27,8 %more negative than positive” – 27,8 % ““negative” - 4,3 %negative” - 4,3 % it was difficult to answer -17,4 %it was difficult to answer -17,4 % Meanwhile 33,8% of pensioners go on working.Meanwhile 33,8% of pensioners go on working.

What we are going to doWhat we are going to do

The aim of strategy: improvement of quality of life

and health of elderly people.

Objectives:Strengthening of aged people physical

health. (To increase the number of aged citizens

who are fond of physical training and sport 20 %)For solving this task it’s planned:

•to increase aged citizens’ interests to physical training classes and sport through organization of information-educational and propagandistic work on wide development of physical training;•to strengthen interaction of social services establishments, public organizations and Department of Physical Culture and sport of Stavropol city administration in the field of sport activities for elderly people;•development of material and technical basis for physical training, health and fitness classes for aged people;•organization and holding of sport competitions for elderly people.•Health-improving activities, training to dotty massage skills and respiratory gymnastics.

- to open clubs for elderly people;- to open clubs for elderly people; - to expand elderly people’s possibilities - to expand elderly people’s possibilities

in taking part in cultural activities among in taking part in cultural activities among the masses and social life of the city;the masses and social life of the city;

- involvement of elderly people into work - involvement of elderly people into work with youth and unfavourable teenagers.with youth and unfavourable teenagers.

Involvement of elderly citizens into Involvement of elderly citizens into active life (to reduce the number of active life (to reduce the number of

socially isolated aged people)socially isolated aged people)

Social adaptation of elderly citizens to changing Social adaptation of elderly citizens to changing conditions of contemporary life (to increase 20% conditions of contemporary life (to increase 20%

the number of elderly people preserving their the number of elderly people preserving their independence in family and appropriate place in independence in family and appropriate place in

community).community).

- organization of additional education - organization of additional education for elderly people;for elderly people;

- organization and conducting social-- organization and conducting social-psychological trainings for elderly psychological trainings for elderly people.people.

Addressed social assistance to aged citizens Addressed social assistance to aged citizens (to increase 30% the number of elderly people (to increase 30% the number of elderly people

receiving different kinds of assistance).receiving different kinds of assistance).

- finding out citizens who need social - finding out citizens who need social assistance at home and rendering these assistance at home and rendering these services at home by social workers;services at home by social workers;

- expansion of services list rendering to - expansion of services list rendering to aged people.aged people.

. Elderly people rights protection. Elderly people rights protection.. - to open consultative centers for - to open consultative centers for

rendering juridical services to elderly rendering juridical services to elderly people.people.

Conclusion:Conclusion:

--the number of elderly people in a total number of the number of elderly people in a total number of the population is increasing;the population is increasing;

- the main problems of elderly people are: health - the main problems of elderly people are: health deterioration, lowering incomes, reducing activity, deterioration, lowering incomes, reducing activity, loneliness;loneliness;

- a group of elderly people isn’t homogeneous due to - a group of elderly people isn’t homogeneous due to the different educational level, incomes and social the different educational level, incomes and social activity. That’s why it’s necessary to find activity. That’s why it’s necessary to find differential approaches to the work with elderly differential approaches to the work with elderly people. Anatol France said: “There are so many people. Anatol France said: “There are so many kinds of old age how many old people are. There is kinds of old age how many old people are. There is old age tolerable and there is intolerable”.old age tolerable and there is intolerable”.

- aged people are insufficiently informed about existing possibilities on health improvement, social and legal consulting, leisure and club activities in the city;

- regular questioning of elderly people help to develop social policy maximally corresponding to social needs of aged people;

- creation of cross-sectoral group on “Healthy ageing” helps to use resources of different social groups (material, intellectual and others) effectively. The partners are: Stavropol city administration and its departments, public organizations of elderly people;

- Elderly people profile is a single informational field and analytical document which gives a basis for developing improvement strategies of health and quality of life of elderly people. It’s a tool of influence on decision-makers and a mean of relations of authorities, population and public organization.

“You have to go forward and forward with life which never stops”. (Emil Zolya)

Thank you!