“The two-day accredited training was aimed at improving the professional knowledge and practical skills of participants in areas that are key to quality work with older people. During the first day, lectures were given by Bojana Jokic, President of the Board of Directors of the LGBT Forum Progres, and a special focus was placed on understanding the social position of older people in Montenegro, demographic trends, socio-economic status of older citizens, as well as issues of marginalization, multiple discrimination, ageism and protection of human rights of older people. Participants were additionally empowered through an analysis of the legal framework, institutional protection mechanisms and opportunities for more efficient information and support for users," the statement reads.
Lectures were also given by a psychologist Marija Nikolic, and the training focused on practical aspects of professional work, including the psychological specificities of older age, communication with older people, development of trusting relationships, active listening, empathy, validation, preserving the dignity of users, communication in sensitive and crisis situations, as well as professional boundaries and prevention of burnout among professional workers.
"The special significance of the training is reflected in the fact that old age is treated not only as a social issue, but also as an issue of human rights, social justice and institutional responsibility. In this context, the project additionally contributes to mapping the needs of older persons, including particularly marginalized groups of older persons, such as LGBTI older persons, older persons from rural areas, older Roma men and women, persons with disabilities and other groups facing multiple discrimination," the LGBT Progress Forum states.
The implementation of this activity represents, as they point out, an important segment of the broader project goal aimed at strengthening the network of non-institutional support services for the elderly, improving the quality of available services, as well as strengthening the professional capacities of professionals working with the elderly throughout Montenegro.
"This activity represents an important contribution to the improvement of professional practice, the development of social services, and the building of a more just society that recognizes and values the needs, experience, and dignity of older generations," the statement reads.
The activity, the Forum concludes, was carried out within the project "Support Network for the Third Age - Expansion and Integration of Non-Institutional Support Services for the Elderly in Montenegro", which is implemented by the LGBT Forum Progress in partnership with the NGO Social Center, with financial support from the Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography.
