A conference entitled "Medical and social assistance at home — our common cause" was held in Kyiv as part of the "Vseturbo" initiative.
The Vseturbo initiative is implemented by the One Health agency as part of the Ukrainian-Swiss project "Acting for Health" with the support of the Swiss Embassy in Ukraine.
The event brought together those who work in the field of medical and social care at home and strive to make it systematic, humane, and accessible.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Social Policy, Family, and Unity Inna Solodka, Deputy Minister for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine Ruslan Prykhodko, Head of the National Health Service of Ukraine Nataliia Husak, Advisor to the President of Ukraine on Accessibility Issues Tetiana Lomakina, employees of the Swiss Embassy in Ukraine, as well as other representatives of central executive bodies, local state administrations, and territorial communities from all over Ukraine.
During the conference, a comprehensive study on the situation with long-term care at home at the community level was presented. During the discussion, participants emphasized the importance of assessing people's real needs and coordinating medical and social services, and discussed ways to improve them.
In her speech, Tetyana Lomakina, Advisor to the President of Ukraine on Accessibility Issues, stressed that Ukraine needs to build a comprehensive support system for people with disabilities, which will include social, medical, and educational services.
The principle of "money follows the person" should become the foundation of such a system, which will continuously accompany people with disabilities at every stage of their lives.
Deputy Minister of Social Policy, Family, and Unity Inna Solodka stressed that older people, people with disabilities, and people with chronic illnesses most often need regular assistance in their daily lives.
The state's task is to guarantee them continuous support.
Representatives of the regional administration's social protection department discussed the situation with the provision of home care social services in Donetsk Oblast with colleagues from other regions of Ukraine.
Today, 967 single elderly people and people with disabilities receive this service in the region's communities.
At the same time, municipal social service providers in the region's communities provide this service to 538 evacuated single elderly people who have been evacuated to safer areas of Ukraine and live in temporary accommodation for displaced persons or in rented accommodation.
Home care is a comprehensive social service provided at the place of residence. It consists of helping people who are completely or partially unable to care for themselves and need constant outside assistance.
As part of the social service, people can receive help with housekeeping, self-care, or caring for a child with a disability, as well as with filling out paperwork, making payments, or obtaining free legal aid.