Serving 1,765 elderly in our In-Home Care Program

During May, the launch and presentation ceremony of this valuable device was held in Talca, Chile. Which is aimed at ensuring that older adults remain at home, with their loved ones, instead of being institutionalized, which, as the evidence indicates, usually results in greater deterioration and dependency.

“I feel happy that finally someone comes to see me and my daughter, we are both alone almost always,” says María muñoz (78), one of the 30 older people who will benefit from the opening of the Care Program. Home Care for Older Adults (PADAM) of Hogar de Cristo in Talca.

This home device
Managed by Hogar de Cristo, it will extend its coverage to the northwestern and northeastern sectors of the commune, providing support to 30 elderly people in vulnerable situations. With a team made up of kinesiologists, social workers and direct care caregivers, the program will focus on offering assistance to both the person being cared for and their caregiver.

This initiative is part of Hogar de Cristo's new social strategy, which will transform its residences into an extensive and personalized network of home care services. In this way, we seek to combat problems such as neglect, physical isolation, depression and loneliness,” explains Mauricio Zorondo, head of social operations at Hogar de Cristo in the Maule region.

In addition, the program will offer workshops and conversation spaces for both individual and group support. A key element will be the formal recognition of the role of caregivers, who will be linked to support networks to train, learn about their rights and access benefits.

OLDER ADULTS IN TALCA
In Talca, projections indicate that by 2024, the percentage of older people will reach 19.7%, which means that there will be 98 older adults for every 100 young people under 15 years of age. Of this group, 78% face at least three vulnerability criteria for multidimensional poverty, highlighting the urgent need for intervention in this commune.

Our In-Home Care Programs provide the elderly with food, diapers as needed, regular visits, conversation, emotional support, and company. We serve people from moderate to severe levels of dependency, which can vary depending on whether they count on family support or not. A key issue of our In-Home Care programs is the know-how and learning accumulated for years that allow us to arrive just in time to detect cases of extreme abandonment, loneliness, or severe cases of depression or medical problems.

Our Elderly are subject of rights, so they deserve our respect, honor, and care reflected in equal access to essential services and even public policies, so they can fully participate in society. The experience of Hogar de Cristo earned through In-Home Care Programs allows our foundation to identify those more sensitive-fragile cases and address on time coordinating with health care and social network services to avoid our Elderly people dying alone.

Links:

• Impact of the Home Care Program in Coltauco
• Impact of the Home Care Program in Vina del Mar
• Impact of the Home Care Program in Puerto Varas