Inadequate numbers of physicians skilled at providing specialized care of the elderly, has initiated inquiry as to how medical schools will ensure tomorrow’s physicians are capable of providing the most appropriate care for Canada’s growing population of aging seniors. The Canadian Geriatrics Society has responded to such concerns with the establishment of recommended geriatric learning objectives. This thesis examined the geriatric content of the undergraduate curriculum of Canada’s newest medical school, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and compared these findings to the Canadian Geriatrics Society’s recommended ‘Core Competencies in the Care of Older Persons for Canadian Medical Students’. While there was a respectful compliance with the recommendations, findings reveal that five of the twenty recommended competencies were absent in the curriculum objectives. Further, present competencies were found to be unequally distributed across the curriculum in relation to both the year and the teaching setting. The results suggest areas for improvement as recommended competencies are intended as a minimum standard for performance in caring for the elderly.

At present, the issue of population aging is discussed. In the framework of public policies is becoming increasingly important concept of active aging, which emphasizes human development and social participation in old age. They created the societal conditions for its implementation, but which takes place at the individual level. One of the activities, which is also supported under the National Strategy to support positive aging is volunteering. In the Czech Republic, however, in this activity relatively few seniors are involved. I examined the obstacles and possible solutions perceived by different types of stakeholders. I have conducted dozen expert interviews with representatives of senior and non-profit organizations and ministries and I have also analyzed the relevant documents. Actors saw some gaps in funding, the creation of a National Action Plan, the activities of the Working Group to support education and volunteerism, but also in terms of awareness and the overall interests of seniors in volunteering. Stakeholders have proposed some minor changes notably by overcoming excessive formality of the entire policy , raising awareness of the specific opportunities and changes in financing. Senior representatives opinion differ a lot from the other. They want to introduce a law on seniors and...