ID :
144551
Sat, 10/02/2010 - 16:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/144551
The shortlink copeid
On eve of Older Persons Day's dozens of helpless oldsters faced risk of being expelled from hospitals.
MOSCOW, October 2 (By Itar-Tass World Service writer Lyudmila
Alexandrova) -- The state in Russia keeps declaring its care of the aged, but obviously that care is still very far from being enough.
And in
general, older people are recalled not very often. Friday was an
exception, though. On October 1 the world celebrated the Day of Older
Persons. It was established 20 years ago at the decision of the UN General
Assembly. Russia marks this occasion alongside other countries.
On the Day of Older Persons in Russia there were free concerts,
charity performances, film screenings, parties, competitions of amateur
performers and sporting events for the elderly. Special ceremonies were
held to honor centenarians, renowned married couples, exhibition of works
of art by veterans and other activities traditionally timed for the Day of
Older Persons.
Care of the elderly is a priority for the state and society, and
attention to the older generation should be daily, President Dmitry
Medvedev said in his video blog.
"Many non-governmental organizations in our country arrange for
charity events on this day. But attention to the older generation must, of
course, be manifested not only on this day, but always, that is, daily,"
the president said.
"Unfortunately, many older people today are lonely, helpless and
poor," the president acknowledged. "They need not only medical assistance
and medicines, but sometimes just basic care, assistance that they need at
home every day. To help them is our duty."
Meanwhile, one of the "hot pieces of news" in the Internet on Friday
was a report saying that in the Moscow Region 78 elderly people in nursing
care units at two hospitals faced a risk of finding themselves literally
on the street. The local authorities took a decision to close these
hospital units because of budget shortfalls. However, bloggers and
journalists interfered with the situation, and they seem to have
influenced the officials.
Also there was public outcry over the news 38 elderly men and women at
a nursing care branch of the Kurovskoye town hospital, in the Moscow
region, may be evicted in two months' time. A no less complicated
situation is in the Orekhovo-Zuyevo district, where, 40 elderly patients
are under the threat of eviction.
The head Kurovskoye hospital went to a State Duma deputy with a
petition. The letter's authors said they had managed to get through some
hard times thanks to the enthusiasm of staff working for small salaries,
and aid from charities and commercial organizations, local schools and a
monastery.
The alarm message traveled far and wide to reach dozens of blogs and
pages on social networks, and it seems to have protected the elderly. As a
result, the decision to close the nursing care unit has been at least
postponed, if not reversed.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said recently that he considered it
necessary to involve business and non-governmental organizations into the
care of the elderly. As the president said a week ago at a meeting devoted
to the socio-economic status of elderly citizens in the Russian
Federation, it is a custom to think that the only source of social
services in Russia is the state. However, according to Medvedev, the whole
world has a different point of view - the state is a partner in taking
care of older persons, it provides the basic benefits and social and
health services.
"It is worth giving thought to how to motivate businesses and the
social structures that are ready for this to do join in this kind of work,
although it is not easy," said Medvedev.
According to the Health and Social Development Ministry Russia on
January 1, 2008 had 1,534 establishments for the elderly and disabled, in
which there were 240 thousand patients, of whom nearly a third were
recumbent.
In January-February 2009 the health supervision watchdog
Roszdravnadzor audited 70 establishments in ten territories of all of
Russia's federal districts. All of these institutions require repairs,
quite often fundamental overhauling, there are shortages of medical
personnel, medical equipment, nursing essentials, medicines, basic
clothing and footwear. Older people are crowded into dilapidated
buildings. The wear rate of some of these is as high as 80-90 percent.
But getting into even these almshouses is considered good luck.
According to the Health and Social Development Ministry of Russia, around
22,000 elderly people are on the waiting lists.
The state program Older Generation that has existed for several years,
ended in 2004. The funds that had been allocated for it, as the daily
Nezavisimaya Gazeta has said, vanished without leaving any visible traces.
Since 2005 the duty to take care of the older generation was handed over
to regions. "Regions are different, and care is different, too. Mostly, it
ranges from poor to very poor," the newspaper said.
In Russia, there are about 40 million retirees. As a member of the
upper house of parliament (Federation Council) from the Magadan Region,
Vladimir Kulakov, said, the current generation of older people is
distinguished from the previous ones by its active social position. "Young
retirees are more educated and informed, familiar with the latest
achievements of science and technology, and with computer technology and
games, they have a greater desire to travel and to be reasonably employed."
Kulakov is certain that providing proper infrastructures for the
"young oldsters" (gerontological and psychological centers and computer
centers for the elderly) is one of the major problems of modern society.
The average pension in Russia by the end of 2011 will amount to more
than 8,500 rubles (about 300 dollars). The retirement age is 60 years for
men and 55 for women. Of late, an active debate was on whether it should
be raised. The authorities have assured that no increase is due in the
near future.
Russia is not yet ready to raise the retirement age, but in the future
it will be increased, the head of the Russian Pension Fund, Anton Drozdov,
said. "Generally speaking, there will be a rise, but now we are not ready
for it," he added.
-0-str
Alexandrova) -- The state in Russia keeps declaring its care of the aged, but obviously that care is still very far from being enough.
And in
general, older people are recalled not very often. Friday was an
exception, though. On October 1 the world celebrated the Day of Older
Persons. It was established 20 years ago at the decision of the UN General
Assembly. Russia marks this occasion alongside other countries.
On the Day of Older Persons in Russia there were free concerts,
charity performances, film screenings, parties, competitions of amateur
performers and sporting events for the elderly. Special ceremonies were
held to honor centenarians, renowned married couples, exhibition of works
of art by veterans and other activities traditionally timed for the Day of
Older Persons.
Care of the elderly is a priority for the state and society, and
attention to the older generation should be daily, President Dmitry
Medvedev said in his video blog.
"Many non-governmental organizations in our country arrange for
charity events on this day. But attention to the older generation must, of
course, be manifested not only on this day, but always, that is, daily,"
the president said.
"Unfortunately, many older people today are lonely, helpless and
poor," the president acknowledged. "They need not only medical assistance
and medicines, but sometimes just basic care, assistance that they need at
home every day. To help them is our duty."
Meanwhile, one of the "hot pieces of news" in the Internet on Friday
was a report saying that in the Moscow Region 78 elderly people in nursing
care units at two hospitals faced a risk of finding themselves literally
on the street. The local authorities took a decision to close these
hospital units because of budget shortfalls. However, bloggers and
journalists interfered with the situation, and they seem to have
influenced the officials.
Also there was public outcry over the news 38 elderly men and women at
a nursing care branch of the Kurovskoye town hospital, in the Moscow
region, may be evicted in two months' time. A no less complicated
situation is in the Orekhovo-Zuyevo district, where, 40 elderly patients
are under the threat of eviction.
The head Kurovskoye hospital went to a State Duma deputy with a
petition. The letter's authors said they had managed to get through some
hard times thanks to the enthusiasm of staff working for small salaries,
and aid from charities and commercial organizations, local schools and a
monastery.
The alarm message traveled far and wide to reach dozens of blogs and
pages on social networks, and it seems to have protected the elderly. As a
result, the decision to close the nursing care unit has been at least
postponed, if not reversed.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said recently that he considered it
necessary to involve business and non-governmental organizations into the
care of the elderly. As the president said a week ago at a meeting devoted
to the socio-economic status of elderly citizens in the Russian
Federation, it is a custom to think that the only source of social
services in Russia is the state. However, according to Medvedev, the whole
world has a different point of view - the state is a partner in taking
care of older persons, it provides the basic benefits and social and
health services.
"It is worth giving thought to how to motivate businesses and the
social structures that are ready for this to do join in this kind of work,
although it is not easy," said Medvedev.
According to the Health and Social Development Ministry Russia on
January 1, 2008 had 1,534 establishments for the elderly and disabled, in
which there were 240 thousand patients, of whom nearly a third were
recumbent.
In January-February 2009 the health supervision watchdog
Roszdravnadzor audited 70 establishments in ten territories of all of
Russia's federal districts. All of these institutions require repairs,
quite often fundamental overhauling, there are shortages of medical
personnel, medical equipment, nursing essentials, medicines, basic
clothing and footwear. Older people are crowded into dilapidated
buildings. The wear rate of some of these is as high as 80-90 percent.
But getting into even these almshouses is considered good luck.
According to the Health and Social Development Ministry of Russia, around
22,000 elderly people are on the waiting lists.
The state program Older Generation that has existed for several years,
ended in 2004. The funds that had been allocated for it, as the daily
Nezavisimaya Gazeta has said, vanished without leaving any visible traces.
Since 2005 the duty to take care of the older generation was handed over
to regions. "Regions are different, and care is different, too. Mostly, it
ranges from poor to very poor," the newspaper said.
In Russia, there are about 40 million retirees. As a member of the
upper house of parliament (Federation Council) from the Magadan Region,
Vladimir Kulakov, said, the current generation of older people is
distinguished from the previous ones by its active social position. "Young
retirees are more educated and informed, familiar with the latest
achievements of science and technology, and with computer technology and
games, they have a greater desire to travel and to be reasonably employed."
Kulakov is certain that providing proper infrastructures for the
"young oldsters" (gerontological and psychological centers and computer
centers for the elderly) is one of the major problems of modern society.
The average pension in Russia by the end of 2011 will amount to more
than 8,500 rubles (about 300 dollars). The retirement age is 60 years for
men and 55 for women. Of late, an active debate was on whether it should
be raised. The authorities have assured that no increase is due in the
near future.
Russia is not yet ready to raise the retirement age, but in the future
it will be increased, the head of the Russian Pension Fund, Anton Drozdov,
said. "Generally speaking, there will be a rise, but now we are not ready
for it," he added.
-0-str
