1.CURRENT SITUATION
In Warsaw there are no innovative ideas concerning apartments for the phisycally disabled, alone, dependent, which would be an alternative to stay in “special centers”. Creating an innovative solution would be an example for local governments having EU financial assets for the fulfillment of the tasks related to the deinstitutionalization of help at their disposal.
2. REDUCTION OF COSTS OF HELP AND TRANSPORT
In our opinion, a group of the disabled will be generating considerably lower costs related to the employment of assistants or physical therapists and it will be very attractive financially. One person rendering assistance with activities, which cannot be self-provided, will replace several assistants working within the premises of the whole city. Similarly, with the organization of transport. To transport people living in distant places to one place is not only difficult to coordinate, but also costs a lot and is time-consuming which prevents other disabled from reaching their destinations.
Alternative costs covered by communes in case of failure of this project.
Six people are going to participate in our project (in 5 apartments, a married couple in one of them).
On the assumption that a monthly cost of stay in a health care center (we fulfill the qualification requirements for health care center) amounts up to 4.5 thousand PLN a person (an average cost in Warsaw in 2015):
I. INTRODUCTION
We are members of the Association of Disabled Women One.pl [Stowarzyszenie Kobiet Niepełnosprawnych One.pl]. We are wheelchair users. We are professionally active. Unfortunately, our disabilities are getting more profound, some of us suffer from progressive muscular dystrophy, we are getting older and losing our physical independence. We live in Poland. In our country an institutional attitude towards the disabled and the older prevails. However, we would like to live independently and, with a bit of support, be professionally and socially active as well as cover the costs of accommodation, maintenance and even care. We are submitting a description of the current situation and suggested solutions. De-institutionalization by One.pl is our innovative idea for living an active, independent life.
II. DIAGNOSIS
I. Current situation – the problem relates to the lack of care apartments in Poland – based on the situation of people suffering from a disability of the motor organ, intellectually fit, professionally and socially active who are, to an increasingly greater extent, physically dependent on others.
We are a group of people with physical disability which makes it necessary for us to take the support of a third party into advantage. We are wheelchair users. The majority of us suffer from progressive muscular dystrophy. We all need assistance with everyday activities. Thanks to a great effort and availability of different forms of assistance: when it comes to self-service, taking the services of health care into advantage, maintaining cleanness, moving and participating in social life, we can be a part of the society. We still work and are socially active. However, we are aware of the fact that because of disease progression and our age (we are over 50 years old) it will be impossible for us to maintain this level of functioning and we will have to give up social participation due to the necessity to cover increasing costs.
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III. ASSUMPTIONS OF THE INNOVATIVE PROJECT ”MUTUAL HELP – APARTMENTS INSTEAD OF INSTITUTIONS”
IV. PROJECT BENEFICIARIES - PROFILE
1. GENERAL REMARKS:
We are a group of friends knowing one another for many years and, despite the distance – we live in remote districts of Warsaw, help one another in many ways. Despite depressing disability, each of us has a talent and experience and our long-year experience enables us to instruct the assistants in the best possible way, when physical assistance exceeds our possibilities.
The Home of Mutual Aid [Dom Pomocy Wzajemnej] is a set of a few apartments for up to 10 people, depending on the number of people interested in the project and obtained financial support. Regardless of the scope of the project the apartments belong to the Association, whether with additional elements (commercial premises: a shop, beauty saloon) or without them, and will be gradually used by new generations of disabled seniors (requiring physical support) who are professionally and/or socially active.
V. LOCATION, TECHNICAL CONDITIONS, APARTMENTS
A pioneering complex of care apartments making use of the newest technical achievements in the field of improving care and increasing the level of independence of the motorically disabled.
VI. COST OF THE PROJECT
Economic independence of the project (funding, apartment maintenance, care costs incurred by the participants).
VII. FUNDING SOURCES
The project will be implemented thanks to the support of the sponsors, Polish and foreign foundations which are interested in the deinstitutionalization of senior care of the disabled, sponsor fund-raiser from firms and individuals (the Association enjoys the status of public benefit institution), UE financial assets (e.g. within the scope of the Regional Operational Programme of Mazovia Province, being at the disposal of the Province Marshal) and governmental support as well as individual payments made for the benefit of the Association.
The Association is going to take up cooperation with local developers and to buy out a defined number of apartments within the scope of the programme. The number and amount of activities will be dependent on the amount of funds collected.
VIII. PROGRAMME BENEFITS AND EFFECTS
Economic independence of the programme:
- rationalization of costs and organization of assistive services, transport, shopping, dealing with official businesses, doctor’s appointments etc. through close neighbourhood,
- making the model apartment and devices serving the facilitation of everyday life accessible to other disabled by organizing short stays will bring about the increase of awareness and knowledge of the possibilities of becoming independent. During the stay the guests may not only familiarize themselves with the devices and test them, but also get to know more about the idea of living and working in the apartment complex planned by the Association ONE.pl and, thus, popularize it,