Geriatrics in Estonia

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Geriatrics in Estonia

• Helgi Kolk, MD, Dr Med Sci
• University of Tartu/
• Estonian Association of Gerontology and
  Geriatrics
• 2007

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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

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Medical Education

• Medical Faculty at University of Tartu
• 26 departments (9 preclinical, 17 clinical)
• 6 yrs. undergraduate 3-5yrs. specialization
• No dept. of Geriatrics
• Number of physicians 4300 (2004)
• 31 physicians per 10.000 inhabitants
• Number of geriatricians 0

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Geriaatria
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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.

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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

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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

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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)

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Estonian Association of Gerontology and
Geriatrics

• is member of
• International Association of Gerontology (IAG)
• European Union Geriatric Medicine Society (EUGMS)

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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

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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

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Nordic cooperation- meeting in Tallinn, May 2006