ReGerNet

In recent past, the region has undergone a significant demographic change in terms of migrations, increased aging and low birth rate. These changes have had a negative impact on vulnerable groups, such as the elderly. A fall in the number of residents of the region, combined with the average age of the population that is among the oldest in Europe, makes a strong argument towards better development of existing services and introduction of new ones, especially insufficient, non-institutional social welfare services. Realising that the problems expand across borders, ReGerNet’s approach consists of a cross-border effort in expanding the community-based services, by opening gerontology clubs, and overcoming the shortage of qualified service providers, by training caregivers, in both Croatia and Serbia. The project goal is to enhance the quality of social, gerontology and geriatric care based on best practices of partner institutions by introducing new facilities in gerontology clubs, developing a web portal providing specific knowledge and creating new measures concerning non-institutional social protection system.