Naslov
Promotion of active and healthy aging in Croatian elderly population

Autori
Perko, Goran ; Radašević, Hrvoje ; Mihok, Diana ; Tomek-Roksandić, Spomenka

Izvornik
Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift (0043-5341) 154 (2004), Suppl 115; 56-56

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
active and healthy aging; elderly population; Croatia

Sažetak
Objective: As the ageing of Croatian population is likely to continue at a rapid rate, and with regard to the fact that only today every sixth Croatian inhabitant is older than 65 years of age, it is top priority to prove as untrue the still widespread erroneous assumptions about ageing and the old age in general. One such assumption is the opinion that the old age is indispensably linked with disease, dependence, immobility and disability. The major contributing factor to such an erroneous opinion is the fact that in the process of ageing there is an increased risk of developing many diseases as a consequence of functional disability of the elderly. Method and material: The education in gerontological and geriatric topics, particularly in terms of spreading knowledge about ageing as a normal physiological process that occurs gradually and with different pattern of progression in each individual is the focus in methodological task about the promotion of active and healthy ageing. The fact is that only one of five people, and mostly in the group of the very old age, i.e. those 85 years and above, is dependent on other people’ s help. The elderly people who need such help are geriatric patients suffering from long-term diseases. Disability and dependence in the old age mostly result from disease in the and not from the ageing process itself. Hence it is important to use the expert methodological instruments in determination, follow-up and evaluation of the Program of Obligatory Preventive Minimum implementation for the elderly people. The Program is primarily carried out through active primary health care institutions within local, regional and national gerontological centres of the Institute of Public Health. As part of evaluation of the implementation of the preventive program for the elderly it is important to define negative health behaviour of the elderly and determine the risk factors of pathological ageing. Results: Croatian and European gerontological studies have confirmed that the implementation of preventive programs for the elderly can avert the development of a number of preventable diseases ; for instance, diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases, neoplastic growths (cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate, lungs), osteoporosis/fractures, incontinence, mental disorders, respiratory diseases (esp. influenza and pneumonia). Conclusion: A number of diseases occurring in the old age can be prevented through programmed and properly planned health care activities for the elderly, not only within health care system, but also on a wider scale, i.e. as part of the activities of social welfare, education, retirement and pension system, economic and other systems, particularly in terms of including the elderly population into the design and carrying out of all kinds of actions. These would be basic outlines of the program of promotion of active and healthy ageing.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Javno zdravstvo i zdravstvena zaštita

POVEZANOST RADA