November 13, 2023
News
Young Moldovans are leaving their home country to work abroad because of the poor economic situation. They are leaving behind elderly people who are then dealing with inadequate health and social care, but also from loneliness. 74-year-old Zinovia is also struggling with loneliness. She is feeling much better thanks to nurse Valentina from a nearby home care centre.
Home care centres help lonely seniors in Moldova
Moldova's rural regions are mainly inhabited by the elderly. Young people are leaving abroad for job opportunities. Almost every family here has a member living outside of the country. Zinovia is in a similar situation. "My daughters have moved abroad. They do not plan to go back. And I am not the only one; most of my neighbours are in a similar situation. I am afraid that my home will become a ghost village in the future," says the senior woman living in Cigârleni. Young people are leaving for work and better living conditions and are not returning to Moldova. This leaves mainly older people in the country, who suffer not only from inadequate health and social care but also from loneliness.
"I have cataracts, which make it difficult for me to see. My memory is also not what it used to be. It is not just about physical health. Loneliness is just as challenging for a person," says Zinovia. She lives alone and has no relatives to take care of her. Her daughters have moved to France and Italy, and she lost her husband a few years ago. Valentina, a nurse from a nearby home care centre opened by Caritas Czech Republic in Moldova, is helping her overcome her loneliness.
Telemedicine helped Zinovia cope with a difficult period
Nurse Valentina visits Zinovia at least three times a week. "There are times when I stop by every day to talk to her," explains Valentina, who helps the senior distribute her medication so she does not forget to take it regularly and with housework, which is difficult for Zinovia because of her poor eyesight. "Every time Valentina stops by, I feel happy. I used to have many hobbies, especially knitting and gardening, but I do not do them so much anymore because of my health. Valentina is my medicine. Her visits give me a zest for life," says Zinovia.
Valentina carries a tablet that allows Zinovia to contact her doctor remotely. She mainly uses online consultations for regular check-ups with her general practitioner. When she lost her husband, Zinovia was going through a mentally challenging period. Thanks to telemedicine, she was able to connect with a psychologist. "In the beginning, I cried a lot and was depressed. The psychologist advised me to focus on smaller tasks to do every day. Thanks to his advice, I feel much better, and I no longer suffer from insomnia. Telemedicine has been a blessing for me," says Zinovia, whose poor eyesight makes it impossible for her to travel alone to see a doctor, who is also based far away. She has all the health care she needs, thanks to telemedicine and Valentina.
Home care centres provide health and social services to seniors
Caritas Czech Republic in Moldova has opened 11 home care centres. In addition to social support, the centres also provide health services. It is difficult for local seniors to make ends meet, and it is particularly costly for them to go to the doctors for regular check-ups as the hospitals are often located far from their place of residence. We provide telemedicine services to people like Zinovia so they can use a tablet to connect with doctors and consult their health conditions with them. Telemedicine saves them expensive and physically demanding visits to the hospital.
The local health and social services system suffers from an outflow of workers abroad. At the same time, more and more seniors need this help. Thanks to our initiative, the profession of home caregiver has been established in Moldova, which will relieve the overburdened system and is also a great hope for people like Zinovia.
We provide home care centres and telemedicine services to Moldovan seniors thanks to the financial support of the Czech Development Agency.
