Group living homes are for adults with intellectual disabilities or mental disorders. The government aims for as many such people as possible to live near everyone - in communities, not in institutions.
A house for group living has been opened in Vilnius, on Naujasodis street. There are also the first future residents from the social care home in Pabrade. They were accompanied by a social worker.
"The request that it was not a hospital, not a cold house, the rooms would be different. It would feel like a home," said Jūratė Sventickienė, designer of Gintaro baladi.
Now this room will be able to house 10 people - boys and girls with intellectual disabilities.
"The former boarding house in Pabrade is operational. Apparently, it will be working, the goal is to have as many opportunities as possible to move the residents to a place where it would be more comfortable for them", said the Vice-Mayor of Vilnius, Simona Bieliūnė.
The nearly 250-square-meter building sprung up in 5,5 months for around half a million euros.
"This is a building built thanks to the European Structural Funds. The services will be financed from the municipality and the person's personal income," said Ramunė Lebedytė Undzėnienė, head of the "Viltis" community for the care of intellectually disabled people.
In order to live here, you will have to spend 80 percent of your income. People entering such homes are more independent, they can integrate and find work. However, they will not be the only ones here, there will be individual care and social workers on site day and night.
"They will cook together, like at home, they will take care of the environment, at home together with the residents. Medical services will be provided in public institutions", explained R. Lebedytė Undzėnienė.
There are now 5 group houses in Vilnius, and more are under construction. Life could be assured for only a few dozen, but that is not enough yet.
"There is a considerable need, as large nursing homes are being reduced little by little. We have several thousand people who still live in large institutions, but they could fully live in communities," emphasized the head of the "Viltis" society for the care of people with intellectual disabilities.
The Ministry clarified that the price of contract work for one group living house has increased to 700 thousand. euros. The price includes not only land acquisition and construction, but also furniture and equipment.
Now there are more than 50 such houses in Lithuania, and there will be more.
"By July 1, we would like to have 96 group living houses, depending on how we manage with the construction work, the implementation of the projects. We have set such a goal. They are now financed with the funds of the European Union, municipalities also contribute as partners", said Minister of Social Security and Labor Monika Navickienė.
Such a home is one of the elements of the transformation of institutional care. 2027 million is planned for this transformation until 140, of which 110 million European money.
For now, not only the disabled, but also the elderly are still waiting to get into various social care institutions.
"Currently, the planned number of places in state institutions is 5559. There are only 3 free places, and there are 323 people in the waiting line. This is a huge shortage of places", explained Jolita Gečienė, chairwoman of the Association of Managers of Municipal Social Care Institutions.
"That need is growing and will grow, we will have to think about additional financing," said M. Navickienė.
The biggest queues are for long-term care, but the Vilnius municipality also emphasizes day services, which, they admit, are also lacking.
"When relatives do not want to put their loved ones in care, but they want to stay at work, stay at home to look after them only because there are no services to help ensure this. Our goal is to expand the daily services, we see that the need is huge. This year will show how long-term care will take place", said S. Bieliūnė.
Perhaps the solution is private institutions? According to J. Gečienė, there are queues there, and a changing attitude can also contribute to this.
"They used to say that I wouldn't take my father or mother out, but now it's the opposite," said J. Gečienė.
See more: https://lnk.lt/straipsniai/lietuvoje/lietuvoje-daugeja-grupinio-gyvenimo-namu/242737
