September 11, 2024
News
In rural Moldova, the majority of people living alone are elderly and often lonely. Young people are leaving Moldova in large numbers because of the poor economic situation. This leaves mainly the elderly people in the country, who are struggling with inadequate health and social care, but also with loneliness. Like 73-year-old Liudmila. But thanks to visits from carers from a nearby home care centre, she is feeling better.
Caregivers from the home care centre are a great support for Liudmila
Liudmila suffers from a number of health issues, but her biggest problem is walking. She needs a walker to get around and cannot provide for her basic needs without the help of others. She lives alone in a modest house in the northern Moldovan town of Taul. She lost her husband and two children years ago and her daughter moved abroad. Thanks to the caregivers at the nearby St. Juliana home care centre, which was opened by Caritas Czech Republic, Liudmila is well cared for.
"Ten years ago, when the St. Juliana centre opened, I was still able to go to the building for appointments on my own. Today, every step is exhausting for me," Liudmila recalls. Nurses from the home care centre visit her at least five times a week. They help the senior with hygiene and housework; especially with cleaning and cooking. They also bring her firewood from the garden and water from the well.
"We have a laundry room at our centre, which Liudmila uses. So that she does not have to go anywhere, we pick up her laundry and bring it back to her once it is washed. We also regularly take her in a wheelchair-accessible car to our centre, where we cut her hair and give her a pedicure," says caregiver Larisa.
Liudmila also regularly receives bedding, hygiene products, medicines and other necessities. "I take a small pension. I could not afford such things," says Liudmila. All services provided by the home care centres are free of charge.
Telemedicine allows seniors to connect with doctors remotely
Liudmila also gets medical help from the centre, along with the social services. The staff from St. Juliana's bring a tablet with them to Liudmila's home visits, which they use to consult their patients' health status with an endocrinologist. "Specialists are often only based in large hospitals. Liudmila would have to travel all the way to Chisinau for a check-up," says Lucia, a caregiver. Liudmila would not be able to make such a journey on her own.
Caregivers almost always stop by Liudmila's house when they pass by. They know how lonely their clients are. Their visits make the elderly feel much better. "The St. Juliana Center is a blessing to me. I always like to talk to the caregivers when they stop by," says Liudmila, who was given a phone by the centre so she can call her daughter regularly.
Home care centres provide health and social services to elderly people
Caritas Czech Republic has opened 11 home care centres in Moldova. In addition to social support, these centres also provide health services. It is difficult for the elderly people in Moldova to make ends meet, and it is particularly costly for them to check up with doctors, who are often located far from where they live. That is why we provide telemedicine services to people like Liudmila, so they can use a tablet to connect with doctors and consult with them about their health. Telemedicine saves them a physically demanding and expensive trip to the hospital.
The local health and social services system is plagued by an outflow of workers abroad. At the same time, there are more and more elderly people who need this help. Thanks to our initiative, the profession of home caregiver has been created in Moldova, to relieve the overburdened system. It is a great hope for people like Liudmila.
We provide home care centers and telemedicine services to Moldovan seniors thanks to the financial support of the Czech Development Agency.
We can also help thanks to our donors. Donate and help with us.
