Kyrgyzstan’s Resource Center supports elderly for 35 years

For 35 years, the Resource Center for the Elderly in Kyrgyzstan has developed new ways to support older people and help them stay involved in society.

Svetlana Bashtovenko, the center’s director, described how the organization has overcome challenges and created models for support that are now used across the country. One key achievement has been the creation of self-help groups, where elderly people connect with each other and learn new skills to participate more in public life.

The center also established public councils, preventative health centers, and worked with traditional elders’ courts, first in Balakchy and then expanding the model nationwide. They also found ways for retired medical professionals to continue using their skills through preventative health programs and vaccination outreach. Bashtovenko highlighted the “Warm Home” project in the Issyk-Kul region, where volunteers helped elderly people in need by cleaning their homes, providing supplies, and offering companionship. This project particularly involved young volunteers, bridging generational gaps.

Currently, the center is training civil servants in the Chuy region to better address the needs of the aging population and advocates for a national strategy for active longevity to utilize the experience of older citizens.