Institute for Gerontology and Palliative Care, Belgrade

Institute for Gerontology and Palliative Care, Belgrade is a specialized medical institution referent for extra-institutional (community based) health care of the elderly. The Institute is conceived as a health care establishment for the older adults and implementation of measures for health improvement and prevention of diseases characteristic for this population, including home treatment and nursing, palliative care and rehabilitation of the old people (Law on Health Care of the Republic of Serbia, Article 106). The Institute performs its activities in accordance with the legislation and the National Strategy on Aging, as well as with all other relevant internationally accepted principles and strategies in care of the older adults.

Demographic trends of population aging and the increasing needs for improvement in care for this vulnerable population group resulted in foundation of the, Institute for Gerontology, Home Treatment and Care Belgrade in 1987. In 2007, we changed our name to the Institute for Gerontology, Home Treatment and Care Belgrade, with the City of Belgrade as our founder. The Institute represents educational base for postgraduate studies in gerontology and specialisation in general practice at the University of Belgrade, School of Medicine, and also for the Nursing College in Belgrade.

The Institute, either as a sole organiser or in coordination with other referent domestic or foreign institutions and the School of Medicine at the University of Belgrade, organised many professional conferences, including Modern Geriatrics School, I & II , Yugoslav School for geriatrics and gerontology, educational workshops – Palliative care of the old adults with cancer diseases, Palliative care of the older
people, Geriatrics Conference. The Institute also works closely with the NGOs and local self-governments on improving different modes of care for older people, through a large number of trainings arranged for the volunteers and home treatment personnel in Serbia (International Red Cross, Red Crescent, Yugoslav Red Cross, Serbian Red Cross and Belgrade Red Cross, Čovekoljublje, Caritas, IMC, IRC).

We aim to focus on improvement in the community based health care (home care) of the older adults by keeping pace with the latest world practice in this field, through permanent education of all employees and procurement of the state-of-the-art equipment for the best quality of service. We will further work both on building our relations and partnership with all relevant organisations and entities, including the older adults as our equal partners, and developing new services and modes of health care and care for the older adults, which will contribute to higher living quality of the old people.

Health promotion and prevention of risk factors and begaviours are not reserved exclusively to younger age groups. Quite on the contrary, they have at least equal imporatnce in the population of the elederly. It is therfore necessary to familiarize persons of this age segment with those most important risk factors, as well as with recommendations for regular check-ups and screening. This approach can prevent or postone occurence of many chronic diseases and disabilities or delay complications..
Old persons should take responsibility for their own health, and together with health care services contribute to their healthy and succesful ageing. To achieve this goal it is necessary to practice healthy behaviours and have regular check ups of their health status.

MAKE SURE TO MAINTAIN YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL ACTIVITY
socialize with family and friends
join various clubs and associations
read, learn new skills
choose a hobby – it is never too late

Contact

Director: Dalibor Paspalj, MD PhD
email
ightc@beotel.rs
address
Kralja Milutina 52, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
phone
+ 381 011 2067 800 (tel. exchange)