"Help at Home" programs
Goals: describe the main goals of the good practice | Aim of the programme isto improve the quality of life of senior citizens and individuals with mobility difficulties or other disabilities, assist in ensuring care recipients live an independent and dignified life, support their family environment and promote the abilities of qualified, specialized staff. |
Target Group: describe on which group the good practice is targeted | The "Help at Home" programme is directed toward senior citizens, who cannot look after themselves fully, as well as individuals with mobility difficulties and other problems. Priority is given to those who live on their own, or do not have family members able or willing to provide care for them, or those whose income cannot cover basic needs to ensure quality of life. |
Approach: describe the way in which the good practice is implemented. | The programme involves specialised, well-organised teams of four individuals per unit which comprise a social worker, nurse and two family assistants. Each team has the support of a doctor who provides general medical services and advice, where necessary. The social worker oversees the beneficiaries, evaluates cases, provides social support and maintains contact with competent agencies, making referrals where needed. Care recipients have access to primary healthcare services provided by the programme's nurse who conducts home visits in order to check the state of vital organs, write pharmaceutical prescriptions and escort the individual to hospital for specific examinations. At the same time, the programme's family assistant is responsible for undertaking various duties, providing senior citizens with basic items and cleaning the individual's home. Family assistants also offer an additional service, which is probably the most important in the eyes of these individuals, namely, companionship, which illustrates the programme's social nature. |
Who does implement this good practice? Mention, if relevant, the organisation or persons who do the work. | Help at Home programmes are nationwide and are commonly under the responsibility either of Municipalities, or Municipal Enterprises with the support of NGOs and other community-based organisations. From 2010, KMOP is operating a Help at Home programme in the Attiki region (Greater Athens). |
What material is available on this good practice (description, website etc.) | Material on this good practice can be obtained through the websites of Municipalities and NGOs implementing such programmes. Indicatively: http://www.cityofathens.gr/en/senior-citizens/help-home-programme http://www.50plus.gr/en/helpathome
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How widely is this good practice used in your country? | Help at Home programmes are implemented in most of the Municipalities all over Greece since 1988. |
What are the results, outcomes, experiences with this good practice? Please mention the source(s). | Results/outcomes: -counselling and psychological support, -nursing care, medicare -family assistance and companionship. -systematic health monitoring for the elderly
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Are there effect studies? Please mention the source(s) if the answer is ‘yes’. | No. |
What are the success factors? | Access to services for older people who live in remote and disadvantaged areas, mainly small villages Professional and dedicated staff teams Assistance for maintaining independent living Weekly visits that prevent isolation of older people |