On the occasion of October 1st, the International Day of Older Persons, the Red Cross of Serbia actively participated in a series of events dedicated to older citizens. The first of these was a roundtable titled “Needs and Quality of Life of Older Persons in Residential Care Homes”, organized by the Provincial Ombudsman.

At this event, Nataša Todorović spoke about the phenomenon of compassion fatigue among professionals in the social protection system, emphasizing how stress and emotional burden are part of the everyday reality for those who care for older persons. Her presentation highlighted the need for additional support for professionals, including education, supervision, and resources to safeguard mental health, so that they can continue to provide quality care and support to older persons.

Another event was held at Bežanijska Kosa, where a lecture on the challenges of ageing took place. In addition to Nataša Todorović, psychiatrist Dr. Slavica Golubović also participated, speaking about dementia, its early signs, risk factors, and the importance of timely diagnosis and support for those affected and their families. The participation of the Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Milica Đurđević Stamenkovski further emphasized the commitment of the state to improving the quality of life of older persons and supporting the institutions that provide their protection.

During the event, it was pointed out that older persons today face numerous challenges, including:

• the increasing number of older persons in the population, which puts pressure on the health and social systems;
• migration, which often makes it difficult for families and communities to provide support to older people;
• the growth of chronic non-communicable diseases and dementia, which require continuous care and supervision;
• the lack of available community services, which increases the risk of isolation, neglect, and psychosocial problems.

The gathering provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of supporting older persons and strengthening both informal and professional caregivers, as well as the importance of developing integrated social and health services that enable older people to live a quality and dignified life in the community.

On this occasion, the Red Cross of Serbia once again reaffirmed its commitment to older persons through active participation in education, promotion of mental health, and support to professionals and families, reminding the public that caring for older people is not only the responsibility of the system, but of society as a whole.

In addition to the activities in Belgrade, organizations throughout Serbia also marked the International Day of Older Persons through various activities, including educational and health-preventive programs, lectures, workshops, as well as excursions with older people, providing them with opportunities for social inclusion, support, and improvement of quality of life.