Geriatric Services Market: Implementing International Experience into Russian Practice

The development of the geriatric services market has a significant effect on the quality of life, which improvement is one of the main state objectives in the world. According to the Global Pension Rating 2018, which reflects the comfort of retirement, Russia takes 38th place out of 43. In Russia high quality geriatric services are virtually absent, the eldercare networks are underdeveloped and mainly concentrated in major regions. The problem is complicated by the lack of a unified system of care for older people, as the functions of care are dispersed between various centers of medical care, social and other institutions.

Modern scientists have started exploring eldercare problems relatively recently, and therefore this topic has been little studied and requires more attention. At the same time, foreign countries have achieved great success in this field. Various organizations aimed at preventing inequalities in the accessibility of social services to the elderly as well as organizations that fight against violence towards elderly were created. Different forums are held, legal issues at various levels are settled, scientific institutions are developed.

The article analyzes the international experience of geriatric services provision in order to provide aims and objectives for strategic development of this market in Russia. The article covers the experience of Denmark, Spain, USA, Finland, Switzerland, Sweden and Japan. These countries have certain features that can be partially used in the Russian practice. In the course of the work key aspects with practical relevance for Russia were identified. They are innovation and the adoption of new technologies in gerontology, active engagement of government with private sector, creation of a regulatory framework for attracting investments to the market. At the same time, we should not forget about the specific socioeconomic and political Russian peculiarities, which would affect implementation of the above-mentioned aspects.

It is vital for Russia to develop an adequate geriatric services market development strategy that will consider world’s best practices and national specifics. It shall take into account successful foreign experience, including state support for the creation and functioning of eldercare facilities, training of personnel, and the formation of a respectful attitude to old age culture. Such strategy will make both systemic improvements in the quality and of living and expectancy of life and will help to adapt to structural changes in the labor market in the future.

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