The Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, in cooperation with the Federal Employment Service and the Red Cross of the Federation of BiH, has launched a project of employment of certified gerontodomacists, with the aim of providing assistance to older and infirmities across the Federation of BiH. The project started with the realization at the beginning of May, and customers are completely free.
The project employs 47 women who visit the elderly in their homes every day, providing them with help in the house and social support. Services include cleaning, meal preparation, movement assistance, dressing, procurement of medicines and basic foods, but also conversation, socializing and accompanied by doctors.
This type of assistance is currently available in 18 municipalities and cities: Bosanski Petrovac, Velika, Tuzla, Žepče, Goražde, Bugojno, Kiseljak, Kreševo, Novi Travnik, Kreševo, Stolac, Posusje, Vogošća and Tomislavgrad.
According to data from May, Gerontodomags conducted a total of 121,855 minutes in direct care of users, implemented 1,439 field visits and provided 6,518 individual services. More than 4,000 services referred to home assistance, while the 2,379 times is supported by social support.
The most common services include maintenance of home hygiene, food preparation, dressing and movement assistance, grocery and medicine purchases, as well as conversation, reading and psychosocial support.
The Federal Minister of Labor and Social Policy Adnan Delic pointed out that the project has an invaluable social value.
– We don’t just talk about helping in the house, but about the presence and attention. More than 2,300 times in just a month, Gerontodomacists talked, walked, brought medication and were with older people who often themselves. This is an example of how social policy directly helps citizens and shows real concerns about the community – said Minister Delic.
He sent special gratitude to the Red Cross of the FBiH, who leads and coordinates the project on the field, as well as the UN Women BiH and the SWEDEN embassy that ensured the education and certification of gerontomacic.
