CHANGES IN THE OLDER POPULATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA AND SOCIAL PROTECTION CHALLENGES.

A notable aspect of the ageing process in the Republic of Macedonia is the progressive demographic ageing of the older population itself. In the period 1921-2002 the number of persons aged 60 or over increased three times, and of those older than 80 it was almost doubled. In the period 2005-2015 this process was intensified and these indicators amounts 23.7% and 53.1%. These changes are accompanied with significant regional differences and concentration of half of the old age contingent (80+) in Pelagonia and Skopje regions. This trend implies deeper changes in the current policy for social protection of elderly people, particularly for their institutional care. Today in the institutions for social protection of older population (65+) could be accommodated only small part of them (0.5%). Demographic ageing of the older population implicates serious challenges for the social care of the older persons in the forthcoming period, especially in certain regions of the country. They will be manifested in many domains: capacities for institutional care for the old persons; the implementation of the norms and standards for work of this institutions; skills and competencies of the necessary personnel; participation of the forms of non-institutional care; etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]