Committee for Labor, Employment and Social Protection: in the Vitebsk region, assistance to the elderly and disabled is provided in 44 substitute families

One of the forms of providing social services to people with disabilities and the elderly is placement in substitute families. Incapacitated citizens of a vulnerable category, who have no relatives to care for them, are taken under the guardianship of people who are not their closest relatives. There are 44 such families operating in the Vitebsk region. "Substitute families include individuals who provide social services to disabled and elderly people and are not legally obligated to support them. In the Vitebsk region, 44 people live in such families. Of these, 11 are Group I disabled, 7 are Group II disabled, and 26 are citizens who have reached the age of 70. The result of the functioning of this economically beneficial form of resettlement for incapacitated citizens is that the elderly and disabled are not alone, live in families, and receive help and care," noted Vera Astapenko.

The institution of substitute families for disabled and elderly people in the Vitebsk region is expanding every year. Last year, there were about 30 such families in the region. This form of placement for vulnerable citizens allows reaching a wider range of those in need. Here, representatives of the golden age and people with disabilities receive full care, home medical care, and the warm family atmosphere provides a positive emotional effect. This is especially important for people who need social support. "As a rule, substitute families are located near lonely pensioners or disabled people. A familiar environment has a favorable effect on such people; they actually gain a new family where they are cared for and helped to brighten their leisure time," emphasized Vera Astapenko.

BELTA.