Vitebsk Regional Geriatric Center is planned to be established on the basis of the "Yurtsevo" hospital

April 6, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. A Vitebsk Regional Geriatric Center is planned to be established in 2012 on the basis of the "Yurtsevo" hospital for veterans in the Orsha district, the chief freelance geriatrician of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Healthcare Department, Natalia Lugovtsova, told a BELTA correspondent. According to her, the Vitebsk Regional Hospital for Disabled Veterans of the Great Patriotic War "Yurtsevo" has accumulated rich experience in the rehabilitation of the elderly and has a good material base. Taking all this into account, it is planned to expand its powers this year and focus on working with all elderly people in the region. "Of course, this will require strengthening the hospital's material and technical base. The issue of financing is currently being considered," Natalia Lugovtsova noted. As of January 1, 2012, 256.8 thousand elderly and senile people are under the supervision of healthcare organizations in the Vitebsk region. The share of this population category is 21%. In 2011, 98.5% of these individuals underwent medical examinations. The number of lonely citizens is 20.5 thousand people (8% of all elderly), of whom almost 6.6 thousand need outside care. The elderly population in the region is predominantly urban (62.8%), with 37% living in rural areas. Medical care for veterans of the Great Patriotic War and persons affected by the consequences of wars is provided without restriction in healthcare organizations of the Vitebsk region, the principles of out-of-turn and priority service are observed, and 100% mandatory comprehensive medical examinations of veterans are carried out. To improve inpatient care, 170 wards with 420 beds have been allocated specifically for this category of people in healthcare institutions. In 2011, 2.1 thousand veterans of the Great Patriotic War and 178 veterans of combat operations in other countries were treated in these wards. All veterans are provided with the necessary technical rehabilitation means. For the elderly, 37 "third age" health schools have been created and are functioning on the basis of medical institutions in the region to improve their knowledge of disease prevention and treatment. 3.5 thousand classes were held in the schools, and 6.9 thousand people were trained. There are also 34 geriatric offices, including 12 full-time and 22 functional. Continuous professional development of medical workers in providing medical care to the elderly is carried out at their workplaces. All veterans of the region are provided with technical rehabilitation means and sanatorium-resort treatment. -0-