Specialists discuss the issues of geriatrics and gerontology, there is the exhibition of respective products, medical corners offer check-ups and the recruitment fair offers jobs. More than 20,000 people are expected.
St. Petersburg Vice-Governor Anna Mityanina welcomed the participants and guests of the project on behalf of the city Governor Georgy Poltavchenko. According to her, such events unite efforts of authorities, science, cultural and nonprofit organizations, summarize Russian and foreign experience and what is most important, draw attention to the problems of elderly people.

«As the President of Russia said in his address to the Federal Assembly, elderly people should have worthy conditions for active, healthy longevity. The age of healthy longevity should reach 80 by 2030. There is successful social policy being formed in St. Petersburg. 1 million and 246 thousand people in the city have reached the retirement age and none of them are left without the attention of the state authorities. We cherish every St. Petersburg resident!» the Vice-Governor emphasized.

A well-known gerontologist Vladimir Khavinson, Director of the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, mentioned the high authority of the «Older Generation» Forum in Russia and Europe and wished longevity to all its participants: «The main thing is that everything depends on ourselves!»

Sergey Voronkov, CEO of ExpoForum International, the organizer of the Forum, reminded that the Forum was a long-awaited event not only by business but all its guests as well.
«We have more and more initiatives every year – the Forum demonstrates active life full of meaning. And let the expression ‘For those over…’ become the start of a new life for you full of meaning, activity and love!» he said.
Boris Ivchenko, deputy to the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly, Vasily Volobuev, Chairman of the St. Petersburg nonprofit organization of veterans (retired people, disabled people) of war, labour, armed forces and law enforcement bodies, Alexander Rzhanenkov, Chairman of the St. Petersburg Committee for Social Policy, Mikhail Dubina, Chairman of the St. Petersburg Committee for Public Health, and other honoured guests took part in the gala opening ceremony.

Master classes, open lecture hall are open at the exhibition, there are dozens of entertaining events at the «Spring Mood» Festival: chess tournament, dance contest, choir competitions, computer multi-discipline competition. It’s possible to learn the basics of surfing the Web for information, downloading apps to smartphones and tablet PC, learn the system of setting up appointments with doctors on the Internet and get personal consultations in the computer class organized by the Nevsky District Complex Center of Social Services for the People.

«The Forum is not only about gerontology but the geriatric system as a whole. Unfortunately, there is still no united system that could guarantee our retired people the complex approach. We’re preparing such a program that will unite medical aid and social services, creation of special infrastructure. We’ll discuss the problems of elderly people in future as well», Anna Mityanina told the journalists.