Community care for the elderly

May 2010 - December 2012

This project is based on the initiative of the Red Cross of Serbia and is supported by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of Serbia, the Municipality of Inđija and the Centre for Social Welfare of Inđija, the Municipality of Kragujevac, the Gerontological Centre of Kragujevac, the Pensioners Association of Kragujevac and the Centre for Social Welfare of Kragujevac, and the Municipality of Pirot and the Centre for Social Welfare of Pirot.

The overall objective of the project is to establish a sustainable care system providing relevant and responsive services to the elderly community.

The project goals are:

• To build capacity among local stakeholders in Kragujevac, Inđija and Pirot on participating in community-based initiatives for care to the elderly.
• To build capacity among relatives and Red Cross volunteers on giving care and support based on the needs of the older people in Kragujevac, Inđija and Pirot.

The direct beneficiaries and the primary target group of the project are older people who need constant care and attention. Their family members (the informal caregivers) will be indirect beneficiaries by having part of their duties shared with day care centres and by freeing some of their time, thus lifting part of the psychological pressure off them (respite care). The families of the elderly are currently bearing the greatest burden for supporting the elderly.

The partners in this project are Red Cross of Serbia and Stichting Avoord Zorg & Wonen, The Netherlands.

The project is financially supported by the Social Transformation Programme (Matra) of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.