More information
Description
In Poland, five million people live in single households, and these are mainly people aged over 60. One in ten people aged over 80 do not receive any visitors. [..] Loneliness and not having someone kind to talk to is harmful to physical and mental health (Report on loneliness, Wiosna Association 2020). Another group of highly vulnerable persons are those that care for sick and dependent persons. According to the report Carers for people with cancer and neurological illnesses (SW Research, 2018), carers often give up their plans and passions (66%), and even work/studies (11.9%). When dealing with illness, persons close to a patient concentrate on the patient''s needs and forget about their own, and this has a detrimental effect on their life and mental and physical state. The project is intended to combat social exclusion of the senior citizens and their carers, reduce loneliness, and improve their mental state. We will create five local senior care networks, in which multi-generation teams of volunteers will provide support for senior persons and their carers by providing day-to-day help (e.g. shopping, reading, administrative authority matters, operating devices, going on walks), and joint measures for integration (Sunday dinner, cooking workshops, meetings concerning art, helpline, help with mental problems). The program that gives volunteers training comprises workshops for leaders and workshops and meetings on the specific nature of activities for the seniors, a carer course, and coaching. A group of carers will be selected, who are willing to take up self-advocacy activities. Following training, this group will draw up proposals for improving their situation, and submit them to the municipal authorities. We also provide self-advocates with coaching and advice. Senior care networks will be created in Bochnia, Kraków, Oświęcim, Maków Podhalański, and Wojanów. There will be 70 volunteers providing care for 270 senior persons and carers of sick people.
Summary of project results
The project addresses the problem of loneliness and lack of support for people over 60 and for carers of dependent people. In Poland, many seniors face chronic illness, poverty, digital exclusion, lack of contact with people and lack of support, which negatively affects their physical and mental health (Wiosna Association, 2020). On the other hand, carers of dependent people often give up their careers and passions because of their caring role. Unfortunately, systemic support is scarce. There is a huge gap between the demand for family care for seniors and care resources, which are disproportionately low for the growing needs. Various forms of social assistance cover only about 2% of seniors in need.The project brought together seniors and young volunteers to create five intergenerational senior care networks. Networks were established in Bochnia, Kraków, Maków Podhalański, Oświęcim and Wojanów. Teams of volunteers (more than half of whom were of senior age) supported seniors and - indirectly - their carers by assisting them with daily activities (shopping, delivering meals, light housework, going for walks, liaising with authorities, helping with electronic equipment) and by spending active time with them (e.g. in cooking and handicraft workshops, trips to museums, theatres and cinemas or on excursions). Volunteers had previously taken part in leadership workshops and training on the specifics of working for seniors and in a course on caring for seniors, as well as benefited from coaching. A group of self-advocates, made up of carers of dependent persons, benefited from coaching and counselling and then developed a set of postulates for municipalities on systemic support for this social group.The project has had a positive impact on the psychological wellbeing of both the senior citizens and the carers of dependent people (almost 300 people in total). For both groups, feelings of loneliness and alienation have decreased, their quality of life has improved, their sense of security has increased and new relationships have been formed. Young people have developed their social skills and sensitivity to the needs of seniors and their carers through training and involvement in volunteering.
.
.