The visiting nurses at the Tivat Health Center will no longer only visit newborns and babies. The new work model envisages visits to children aged seven months, two and four years, in order to monitor development in a family environment and to spot any signals that require additional attention from specialists in a timely manner.
Early childhood, especially the period up to the age of four, is crucial for development, which is why the Health Center decided to expand the activities of the community health service.
"This is a period that should not be missed in a child's development, because that is when the most can be achieved. When work starts in the early years, the effects are much greater," says Marija Petković, director of the Health Center.
Depending on the child's age, the visiting nurses will monitor the child's speech, independence, communication and cognitive abilities, as well as their behavior. They are specially trained to recognize subtle signals that parents may miss.
"It can be excessive activity, but also excessive passivity. The key is to react in time."
They emphasize that the community nurses do not make a diagnosis. If they notice certain "red flags", a pediatrician is involved, and a defectologist and psychologist are also available at the Health Center.
"This way, we shorten the time it takes for parents to navigate the healthcare system. If any developmental abnormalities are detected, experts are there to provide support."
A child at home shows his true self
Another advantage of a home visit is that the child is observed in his or her natural environment, among his or her parents and his or her toys.
"When you come to your child's home, you can notice things in their behavior that are almost impossible to see in the doctor's office."
Parents will also be discussed about nutrition, sleep, play, attention and concentration, as well as the time the child spends in front of screens.
The Health Center warns that many parents are not sufficiently aware of the consequences of excessive exposure of young children to screens and emphasizes that education on this topic will be an important part of health visits.
The goal is to monitor the healthy development of children up to the age of four through cooperation between the family and the healthcare system and, if any deviation is noticed, to react as early as possible.
"This is not just about supporting children, but also parents. Parents are key, and we are here to support them."
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