Social workers highlight the necessity of supporting persons in critical situations, especially the elderly people, by opening placement centers to shelter them for a period. They say such centers are vitally necessary in Chisinau and in other settlements of the country.
“There are people who need social-medical assistance on a permanent basis, but they remain on the streets because there is no center to lodge and look after them there. For example, the persons suffering heart attacks are hospitalized for ten days only and are then discharged. If they do not have a place to stay, they cannot continue the treatment,” social worker Natalia Dvorschi has told IPN.
She said she knows a case when a detainee lost his apartment while in jail and when he was set free he lived at some friends of his for a period. But then he suffered a stroke and was hospitalized for ten days, and then he found himself on the streets. As there are no specialized centers, the social workers cannot help such persons who need to be looked after round-the-clock. Such temporary accommodation centers as the one located on 2 Haltei St houses persons for a night only. The asylums for elderly people are not a solution as they levy accommodation taxes of 5,000-6,000 lei.
“The persons in a critical state, who do not have a place to stay or the necessary conditions, should not be neglected. Services must be created for everyone. Such centers are necessary, but they must be very well organized and coordinated mainly by NGOs, voluntarily, so as to ensure services of a high quality,“ stated Anastasia Didenco.
Vasile Suruceanu, director of “Carolina de Nord” Hospice situated in Zubresti, Straseni, said by at least ten beds should be provided for persons in a critical state in every district. People from all over the country come to the center in Zubresti, but its capacity is limited. The hospice was founded in 2006 with financial support from the American state North Carolina. It can accommodate 12 persons in need. More than 1,400 people from all over the country have been sheltered there until now.
Contacted by IPN, Victoria Botnaru, of the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family, said the Ministry aims to formulate policies in the field, but the opening of such centers is within the competence of the local authorities or nongovernmental organizations.
The framework regulations on the organization and functioning of placement centers for elderly people and the minimum standards on the quality of services provided by them were approved by the Government on May 30 this year.
