A new form of social work is developing in Belarus – shared living houses

10 January, Minsk /Elena Prus - BELTA/. A new form of social work is developing in Belarus – shared housing facilities, BELTA was informed by Tatyana Fedorova, Head of the Department for the Development and Coordination of Social Assistance and Social Services of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. "These houses have different names – independent, shared, or seasonal living. But their essence is one: lonely elderly people and people with disabilities (referring to those who have retained the ability for self-care) move out of their homes and for a certain period settle under one roof, form a common budget from which they pay for utilities and other services, and food," explained the specialist. "The decision to create such houses is made by local executive and administrative bodies, based on the regional socio-demographic situation and the need for this service. Residents of these houses are under the patronage of a social worker and social workers of the territorial centre for social services for the population." One of the main advantages of this idea is the safety of living for the elderly and people with disabilities, emphasized Tatyana Fedorova. They move into renovated premises prepared for these purposes, where there are no problems with heating, water supply, etc., they help each other if necessary, communicate, and spend their leisure time together. As an example, she cited a seasonal living house in the Vileyka district (Minsk region), created on the initiative of local authorities. Similar experience is also being adopted in other regions of the country. For instance, in the Smorgon district (Grodno region), several elderly women and men live in such a house. Maria Gorbatsevich, Head of the Department for Stationary Social Service Institutions and Capital Construction of the Ministry, believes that this new form of social work is promising. In her opinion, the more diverse forms of social services there are, the better: a person gets a choice of the most suitable option for them, taking into account their wishes, family and domestic situation, and health status. As for shared housing facilities, this experience has proven itself positively in Russia, as well as in some foreign countries. Maria Gorbatsevich noted that in the future, the development of such a new form of housing for the elderly in Belarus as foster families is also possible.

According to the specialist, independent living houses are being created not only for elderly citizens but also for young people with psychophysical developmental disabilities who have lost social connections. For these purposes, so-called model platforms are being organized on the basis of boarding schools for children with disabilities. Children are taught to serve themselves, cook, and do laundry. They (with a doctor's permission) engage in occupational therapy on a subsidiary farm. For instance, in the Vesnovsky and Bogushevsky boarding schools for children with disabilities, accommodation has been organized in separate houses equipped with all the necessary facilities for independent living. This is particularly important for those who have lived in a boarding school with full provision since childhood, emphasized Maria Gorbatsevich. However, this does not mean that the forms of social work that have become traditional for the republic will not be developed: stationary boarding schools, home-based social services, and 24-hour care units. For example, for individuals who, for objective reasons, cannot live independently at home, 24-hour care units for the elderly and disabled have been organized within the structure of territorial centers for social services for the population (TCSOP). There are already 54 such units in the republic, providing 1,914 places. Here, lonely individuals and disabled people living alone are offered the opportunity for temporary (up to six months) stay with a comprehensive range of social services. The main difference between 24-hour care units and stationary boarding schools is that they are located directly in the districts or villages where the lonely elderly people live. This means that the elderly are not detached from their familiar environment, which positively affects their health and the psychological climate within the unit.

The establishment of such structural units contributes to the implementation of the principles of targeting and accessibility of social services. Elderly people and persons with disabilities feel comfortable here, as they are provided with housing with a complex of social and domestic support, including rational nutrition. The department organizes qualified care, provision of pre-medical and consultative medical assistance, and rehabilitation measures. If hospitalization is necessary, the patient is transferred to a medical and preventive institution. In addition, great attention is paid to the organization of leisure activities. It should be noted that this form of social service is more economical: the cost of maintaining one person in a nursing home significantly exceeds the expenses for his maintenance in the 24-hour stay department.

BELTA