Aging in Serbia

Serbia has one of the largest elderly population segments in the World, with 17.2% of its citizens estimated to be 65 years and older in 2007. In the period of last 50 years, important demographic changes had occurred in Serbia. In 2002, Serbian demographic situation for the first time reached the point where the number of the older exceeded the number of the youngest. In 2007 this tendency continues to persist, with 22.1% of Serbians estimated to be 60 years or older, and 21.7% to be 20 years or younger. For the same year, life expectancy at birth was estimated to 70.7 years for the male, and 76.2 years for the female Serbian newborns. Elderly represent major consumers of health services, and yet, not always do they receive the quality of care they are entitled to. Family still holds a predominant role in providing social support and care for their elderly members. During the last 30 years, number of long term care facilities (primarily aimed at old people not competent of independent living) has gone up in Serbia from 35 to 43. Yet, they provide accommodation and care to only a small number of residents, ranging from 5996 in 1976 to 12,160 in 2005. Such institutions are named "Homes for the elderly" or "Geronto centers". The aims of aged care reform in Serbia include not only better education for the medical and other affiliated stuff, but, also, improvements in intersectoral collaboration, structural reforms of the social and health care systems, innovative capacity building, and the promotion of concepts that would replace, or at least ease the burden off the traditional family.