| Abstract [eng] |
Theoretical analysis of mental disabilities, elderly people and social assistance in the context of social gerontology was done. The hypothesis that social workers are interested in social support service change plans, working with mental disabilities and the elderly persons was foreseen. In order to identify problems of social support services organization change working with elderly people having mental disabilities these actions were done: a) disclosed problems of social support organization change (using qualitative research - expert interviews with social service managers (N=5)); b) determined factors that cause the change of social support organization (using quantitative survey - a survey in writing, using a questionnaire for social workers (N=100)); c) disclosed content and the need of social support (using qualitative research - structured interviews with elderly people having mental disabilities (N=5)). The main conclusions of the research: social workers identify the legal basis, overall strategy and the lack of clear responsibilities and uncertain partner functions as problematic areas of inter-institutional cooperation. Managers emphasize provided residential care, socio-educational activities and advisory services as main areas of social support. Inter-institutional cooperation is highlighted as a key element of the social support network, which is based on the different bodies’ communication and cooperation. Human resources, lack of funding and poor facilities and lack of equipment are identified as the biggest challenges in providing social services to elderly persons having mental disabilities. Unstable organization of social services is due to funding unstability, legislative base, and customer and employee turnover and carried out public policy. Home help and personal hygiene, provision of food and socio-educational activities organized for people with mental disabilities are brought out as the best social services with the importance of nurses, social workers and representatives of the administration. According to the survey, the recommendations for the formation of social support services for elderly people having mental disabilities were appointed Key words: social support services, mental disabilities, the elderly person. |
