The Babinichi Psycho-neurological Boarding House for the Elderly and Disabled was not by chance chosen as the venue for the regional training seminar for managers of similar social institutions. For the second year in a row, it holds the leading position in the republic among 92 boarding houses. Where else, if not here, can colleagues learn to create a friendly environment? This is necessary to ensure personalization and the use of alternative and augmentative communication among residents.
– Changes in legislation on social services will come into force as early as July, – reminded Vera Astapenko, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Labour, Employment and Social Protection of the Regional Executive Committee. – In particular, boarding houses will be renamed social boarding facilities. This is due to the fact that the way of life in boarding houses has changed significantly in recent years, and living conditions have become closer to home and sanatorium standards. The functions of the institutions have expanded, and new directions and technologies are being widely introduced into their work: dementia prevention, rehabilitation, habilitation, and social respite for families.
Indeed, modern boarding houses provide decent living conditions, full nutrition, round-the-clock care, medical assistance, accessible environment, and leisure activities. Mechanisms for resolving all issues of life support and daily living have been developed. The time has come to reach a new level of quality of stay for residents in social institutions.
The idea that ran like a common thread through the regional seminar was that aesthetics and quality of service should be at the forefront of organizing the living space for the wards of future social boarding facilities: the objects surrounding them, while retaining their functionality, should be beautiful and modern.
The Babinichi Boarding House demonstrated how this can be achieved. Each floor where residents live is kept in perfect order and cleanliness, with no visual clutter. Personal belongings and hygiene items are stored in individual boxes. All textiles are chosen in a unified colour scheme; incidentally, the bedding, curtains, and bedspreads were sewn in the facility's own sewing workshop. In the decoration of rooms and halls, floral arrangements made from foamiran and isolon, created during occupational therapy sessions, serve as bright accents. Every corner is organised as a space for relaxation or exercises to maintain cognitive abilities. For example, Kuznetsov applicators are attached to chairs in the halls, and simple leg trainers are made from improvised materials. And what about the SPA capsule, fish peeling, and lounge area! The guests were particularly impressed by the eco-floor, where natural materials were used in the interior design.
The boarding house and its adjacent territory form a whole complex, featuring facilities for physical education, a library, cinema halls, a phyto-bar... And absolutely no institutional feel! The home, which houses over 400 people with multiple psychoneurological disorders, resembles a high-quality sanatorium. This atmosphere has been created and is continuously improved by the staff.
Svetlana Chepik, the director of the boarding house, explained how the team implements ideas and concepts for introducing beauty and comfort into the residents' environment. A significant role in this is played by the funds raised from the sale of items made in the workshops, support from sponsors and charitable events, and most importantly, state assistance.
Following the training seminar, each boarding house develops an internal action plan. Their aim is to focus on the aesthetic component and the quality of services provided in every future social boarding facility.
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