A number of 32 long-term placement centers, asylums for elderly people and persons with disabilities, worked in Moldova on January 1 this year. A number of 907 persons benefitted from the services of these centers.

In a response to an inquiry made by IPN News Agency, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection said these institutions are created and financed by the local public authorities and donors identified by these. The centers have a capacity of 6 to 75 places.

Priority in placing at the social assistance institutions is given to solitary persons without a home. Under the Law on State Social Insurance Pensions, the persons in social centers get 25% of their pension, while the other 75% is directed to the institutions that maintain them.

The Ministry manages two social assistance placement centers intended for elderly people and persons with disabilities. These are the National Rehabilitation Center for invalids, war and labor veterans, which is situated in Cocieri village of Dubasari district and has a capacity of 230 places, and the National Asylum for invalids and pensioners of Chisinau municipality, which has a capacity of 210 places. On April 1, the National Center accommodated 125 persons, while the National Asylum – 154 persons.

The small capacity centers are intended for persons with high complexity problems. The beneficiaries are chosen by local social assistance centers at the suggestion of community social assistants, if it is determined that the medical and social assistance services developed at the local level cannot satisfy the needs of the applicant. In this regard, a set of documents to confirm the applicant’s state of health, social status and opportunity of the given measure is required.

Under the farmworker regulations concerning the organization and functioning of placement centers, the beneficiaries of social centers are offered basic medical services at the institution. In case of necessity, specialized treatment is provided to the beneficiaries by the local Family Doctor’s Office or the beneficiaries are referred to the hospital. If need be, the social centers organize the burial of beneficiaries, if these died while at the institution.