The FAR-supported Fourth International Congress of Geriatrics and Gerontology, held on December 1-2, was organized by the Association of Healthcare and Assistance to Older People and the Armenian Association of Geriatrics and Gerontology.
The annual congress brought together the field specialists to share new updates on development of geriatrics and gerontology and shed light on age-related diseases, the management, prevention, and treatment approaches, and the developments in the field of geriatric medicine. There were 21 speakers for the two-day conference.
The target audience included primary healthcare providers, among them family doctors, therapists, neurologists, and cardiologists.
Elena Mkhitaryan, Head of the Gerontology and Neurogeriatrics Laboratory of Russia, noted that many people find it normal and connect dementia with older age. However, there are many other diseases that might bring on dementia if not treated. “Cognitive and physical activities and exercises can help elders become self-resilient, that’s why therapies activating their brain, hand, and finger activities should be an essential daily routine,” she stated during her presentation at the conference.
Lilit Muradyan, Programs Director of the Association of Healthcare and Assistance to Older People, emphasized the gap of field-based specialists in Armenian thus proudly adding that through the FAR’s support, the first batch of geriatricians will be trained abroad in 2023. "For the conference, we have chosen topics that are relevant for the primary healthcare providers - dementia, Alzheimer's, etc. We should try to integrate a holistic approach to the problems of elders by solving the only issue we can’t cover a whole set of problems, therefore we should stress the importance of cognitive health in line with social and psychological issues, raise their role in the family and society, make them an active participant of it," she stated.
The conference and cooperation with the FAR was sponsored by “HoVeKim Foundation. FAR has also furnished the Center for Elderly Health and Care and trained specialists working in similar centers in Artsakh.