Published on: 2026-09-12
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The renovated gerontological center “Zapadny” in the Novo-Peredelkino district has opened after reconstruction. It is located at: 7th Lazenki Street, Building 12, Structure 1. Sergey Sobyanin talked about the updated center on his channel on the “Max” messenger.
Government of Moscow implements numerous projects to improve the quality of social services for Muscovites who require special care and attention. Today, the capital has seven gerontological centers (for elderly people), 14 social homes (for people with mental disabilities), and two gerontopsychiatric centers (for elderly people with dementia).
“We are consistently carrying out the reconstruction of these social institutions, creating inside not just a comfortable environment, but conditions as close to home as possible,” emphasized the Mayor of Moscow.
Source: Sergey Sobyanin’s channel on in the messenger “Max”
The Gerontological Center “Western” was founded in 1911 as the City Shelter named after the Tarasovs (Tarasov Almshouse). For many decades, it has been home to participants of the Great Patriotic War, home front workers, labor veterans, scholars, and cultural and educational workers of the “silver” age.
Over the years of operation, the historic complex became morally and technically outdated and recently no longer met the modern requirements for the quality of Moscow services in the field of social protection of the population. In this regard, Sergey Sobyanin made the decision to carry out its complete reconstruction. The work began in September 2024 and lasted exactly two years.
As a result, comfortable living conditions were created in two residential buildings with a total area of 14,000 square meters, built in the 1960s–1970s, for 460 elderly people who have completely lost the ability to care for themselves or require constant care that cannot be provided at home.
The places in the updated center are equipped taking into account the special needs of all residents, regardless of their health status.
A total of 161 comfortable living rooms have been equipped. Each of them is designed for two to four people.
A barrier-free environment for people with limited mobility has been created in the renovated buildings of the gerontological center. They have equipped widened doorways, ceiling lifts for wheelchair users, and accessible restrooms.
For the heaviest category of residents, rooms with a separate exit to a spacious terrace are provided, allowing people with limited mobility to spend more time outdoors.
Residents of the gerontological center are cared for by an interdisciplinary team — more than 450 staff members, including doctors, nurses, therapeutic and adaptive physical culture instructors, psychologists, social rehabilitation specialists, care assistants, and others.
In addition to the reconstruction of the “Zapadny” center, comprehensive renovation of the buildings of two more gerontological centers is planned to be completed in 2027.
“By 2027, the comprehensive renovation of the buildings of two more gerontological centers, ‘Eastern’ and ‘South-Western,’ should be completed. Also planned for the coming years is the completion of the modernization of the social homes ‘Veshnyaki,’ ‘Lyublino,’ and ‘Nagatino-Sadovniki.’ Currently, work is also underway at the gerontopsychiatric center ‘Orekhovo-Borisovo’,” Sergey Sobyanin wrote on his channel.
Source: Mayor of Moscow’s channel on the “Max” messenger
Training in professional care skills
In one of the buildings of the renovated gerontological center “Zapadny,” with a total area of over three thousand square meters, a simulation training center for professional care skills was established.
The first such center was opened in 2023 in the Yuzhnoportovy district of Moscow and established a system that similar institutions continue to follow. The training includes five thematic sections:
— “Movement” — training in the individual selection of technical rehabilitation aids (TRA) from the range provided by the city (walkers, canes, functional beds, and others). TRA can be tested for comfort and safety of use on various surfaces (ice, lawn, gravel);
— “Hygiene” refers to practicing the skills of providing hygienic care to a person with limited mobility, including selecting cosmetic products, ensuring safety when moving to the bathroom, bathing, and so on;
— “Care” — working through manipulations for assistance (moving, feeding) in conditions of a gerontological center room or a city apartment adapted for a low-mobility resident;
— “Safety” — training in first aid rules, fire safety, and safety in caregiving;
— “Respect” — developing empathy and learning to understand people who need care.
Up to 50 people per day will be able to undergo training at the simulation center, including employees of institutions providing professional care, as well as relatives who take care of their loved ones at home.
The basic training course lasts two days, and Muscovites can take it for free after a close relative is discharged from the hospital.
Among the participants are also employees of social institutions in Moscow and other related specialists. Participants are trained in the safe movement of individuals with limited mobility, working with functional beds, lifts, verticalizers, and wheelchairs. The course teaches skills for organizing a barrier-free home environment, how to prevent injuries, and how to communicate without conflicts. All programs are based on unified Moscow care standards — this makes the process effective and safe for all participants: specialists, those being cared for, and their relatives.
In total, the center conducts training on 35 educational programs, including five new ones focused on gerontology and home care. For example, “Gentle Steps of Care, or How to Maintain the Emotional Climate in Relationships with an Elderly Person,” “Comprehensive Care for Residents in the Gerontological Center,” and others.
The main distinctive feature of the gerontological center “Zapadny” is the “Impression Cinema” space. The 5D format provides a fully immersive experience into the memories of childhood, youth, and mature years of the elderly person — this is a scientifically based method for supporting cognitive functions and quality of life. They also plan to hold screenings of feature films here.
In the lobby of the simulation center, there is a “Literary Lounge” area, referring to the nearby literary village of Peredelkino.
Thus, the new simulation center combines the capabilities for staff training and conducting rehabilitation sessions with residents.
Subscribe to Sergei Sobyanin’s official channels on messengers “Max” and “Telegram”.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.