Geriatrics in Estonia

Helgi Kolk, MD, Dr Med SciUniversity of Tartu/

Estonian Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics

2007

The Republic of Estonia

• Total area- 45 000 sq km

• Population- 1 344 000 (2006)

• 15,9 % over 65 years (2004)

• Life expectancy at birth (2003)

Estonia EU

Males 66.0 75.1

Females 76.9 81.2

Medical Education

Medical Faculty at University of Tartu26 departments (9 preclinical, 17 clinical)6 yrs. undergraduate+ 3-5yrs. specializationNo dept. of Geriatrics

Number of physicians 4300 (2004)31 physicians per 10.000 inhabitantsNumber of geriatricians 0

Geriaatria

Sotsiaaltöö Nefroloogia Dermatol. Endokrinoloogia

Kardioloogia Reumatoloogia

Stomatoloogia Onkoloogia Oftalmoloogia

LOR Rehabilitatsioon Psühhiaatria

Kirurgia Palliatiivne ravi

Geriaatriline

hindamine

Sisehaigused Perearst

Neuroloogia

Estonian Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics• Established 1997• 170 members (2006)Interdisciplinary(physicians, nurses, social and care workers,

managers of care institutions, teaching staff)representatives of organizations of pensioners,

volunteers.

Activity areas of EGGA

• Training professionals incl. curriculum development

• Development of guidelines, regulations, standards

• Research, incl. international projects• Producing of educational materials• Providing information on ageing and the

care of older people in words understandable by the lay public

Studies, research

• Study on coping and health of the Estonian Elderly residents, 2000

Saks K, Kolk H et al. Health status of the older population in Estonia. Croatian Medical Journal 2001; 42(6):663-668.

Saks K, Kolk H et al.Prevalence of cardiovascular disorders among older population in primary care in Estonia. Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care 2003; 21(2):106-109.

• Tartu Senior Study, 2002

International projects

• CARMA- Care of the Aged at the Risk of Marginalization (2003-2005)

• Tallinn- Helsinki Senior Study, 2004• Care Keys- EU Quality of Life Programs

(2003-2005) • Nutri-Senex- Improving the quality of life

of elderly people by co-ordinating research into malnutrition of the elderly (2004-2006)

Estonian Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics … is member of

• International Association of Gerontology (IAG)

• European Union Geriatric Medicine Society (EUGMS)

Geriatric education developing

50 Geriatricians needed by 2015.

To achieve the aim:

- establish a critical mass of medical educators in geriatrics (dept. at Medical faculty)

- postgraduate specialization in geriatrics

- start training courses

Development of geriatric education in 2007• The Structural Funds of the

EU- European Social Fund (ESF), Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs and Medical Faculty of Tartu University support training program in geriatrics for 24 doctors from Estonian hospitals

• Innove

Nordic cooperation- meeting in Tallinn, May 2006