Sooner or later parents who took care of their children need care as well. Old people are unable to lead their previously accustomed lifestyle. They become weak, get sick, and the time when children need to pay attention to their elderly parents and provide them with care begins.
Caring for parents in old age is not only the moral duty of children, but also the right of parents enshrined in law. There are many circumstances - work, study, family, distance, illness - that prevent parents from organizing conditions for a fulfilling life in their old age. The accelerated modern pace of life for some and the slow pace of life for others aggravate the situation. Children do not always have time to take care of their parents and believe that in such cases it would be better for the elderly to live in specialized homes. In fact, almost all older people want to be at home, close to their children.
The social system of Belarus contains legal guarantees that provide for the creation of conditions for the maximum possible extension of the stay of elderly citizens and disabled people in familiar home conditions and to conduct their own life activities.
Informational
In each administrative region of Belarus there is a territorial center for social services for the population (TCSP) with branches and social points to ensure the availability of social services.
Providing social services at home
Social services at home (services of a social worker, a nurse) are provided to disabled citizens in the presence of medical indications and the absence of medical contraindications. Nurse services are provided to disabled citizens who have lost the ability to self-care and move. Low-income, single, disabled citizens can receive the services of a nurse on a partial payment basis. To individual disabled citizens to whom social services should be provided on a reimbursable basis, as an exception, by decision of local executive and administrative bodies, social services within the established norms and standards may be provided free of charge or on the basis of partial payment.
The procedure for providing social services
To provide social services, a citizen (legal representative) should contact the territorial center for social services of the population at the place of actual residence (registration) and provide:
- statement;
- identity document;
- a document of the established form on the right to benefits;
- a medical certificate of health containing information about the presence of medical indications and (or) the absence of medical contraindications for the provision of social services.
Center employees conduct an examination of the citizen’s financial and living situation and request from government agencies and other organizations:
- information on the amount of pension received for the month preceding the month of application (for single disabled citizens (families);
- certificate of place of residence and family composition;
- information about the lack of care for a citizen who applied for social services, a person receiving benefits for caring for a person with a group 1 disability, or a person who has reached the age of 80.
Social services are provided on the basis of an agreement for the provision of social services concluded by a citizen (legal representative) with a social service institution or a social service institution and a third party who has assumed obligations to pay for social services.
Caring for an elderly person over 80 years old or a disabled person of group I
Almost every Belarusian can take on the responsibility of caring for an elderly citizen or a person with group I disability and receive benefits from the state for this work.
To do this you need to meet certain requirements:
- the applicant must be at least 16 years old;
- similar functions can be performed by men no older than 65 years of age or women under 60 years of age;
- such candidates must be unemployed and not engage in business, and also not receive pensions or other payments;
- do not undergo full-time education.
The amount of benefit for caring for one disabled person is 100% of the subsistence budget. If care obligations are assumed in relation to two or more disabled citizens, then the amount of the benefit will increase to 120% of the subsistence budget. To receive a payment from the state, you should contact the “One Window” service of the local government authority at the place of residence of the person in need of care. An applicant who intends to care for a disabled citizen must provide:
- statement;
- passport;
- your work record;
- medical certificate of the established form (needed for an applicant for a care allowance);
- conclusion of the medical advisory commission on the need for constant care (required for a person who has reached 80 years of age).
The commission establishes the fact of caring for a disabled citizen on the basis of an examination report, which is carried out at the place of residence or stay of the person in need of constant care. A benefit for caring for an elderly citizen over 80 years of age and a disabled person of group 1 is assigned from the date of submission of the application.
When contacting the TCSON, the institution’s specialists explain in detail the types, forms, scope of social services and the amount of payment for them. In addition, they provide information about the provision of social assistance and social services by public and commercial organizations available at the place of residence.
In each specific situation, after receiving advice from social work specialists and using available offers of social services, it is possible to ensure that older people stay at home as long as possible.
