NECESSITIES OF EXPANSION OF THE FIELD OF NURSING CARE WITHIN THE CONTEMPORARY DEMOGRAPHIC SITUATION

Abstract

Contemporary statistic research demonstrates a tendency towards population ageing on a national and European scale. The rising number of people at the third age (over 65 years) poses serious questions dealing not only with the satisfaction of their needs of nursing care and social services but also with the ensuring their better quality of life under better conditions. The purpose of this communication is to present some main tendencies, preconditions and analyses for revealing the necessities of the expansion of the field of nursing care within the contemporary demographic situation on a national and European scale by using a documentation method and statistical data analysis. The number of the people aged over 60 years in Bulgaria could increase over 2 million in 2010. There are no specialists in our country who can offer specific nursing care to old and senile people. Of those available at presence, mainly nurses, doctor`s assistants and, in particular, rehabilitation therapists could provide such care, however, they do not possess the necessary specialized training. This field of nursing care should be enlarged in the direction of geriatric care. Based on the arguments and preconditions a conclusion could be drawn that specialists in nursing care specialized in geriatrics and geriatricians are missing. In near future, one should undertake adequate measures aiming at satisfying the labor market with the aforementioned specialists. One should look for opportunities for collaboration between the corresponding responsible institutions at a national level for solving the problem.