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Topics related to House & Living
Home care
What is meant by domestic help for people in need of care?
Home care is a service that offers support and assistance to people with disabilities and their families within their own homes. The service promotes self-sufficiency, self-care and the development of social autonomy by fostering the various personal and relational abilities of an assisted person.
Home care is aimed at individuals who are partially or fully dependent and require social and welfare support (personal care, household assistance, hygiene services, e.g.). The goal is ensuring that people with care needs and disabilities remain in their homes, thus avoiding the need for residential care.
Based on the patient’s real needs, the care pathway may involve various professionals, such as doctors, healthcare workers and therapists. In this way, the service can be customised to the needs of the individual in need.
Home care for people with disabilities is a valuable support for the entire family, often experiencing difficulties while performing informal care.
What are the advantages of using home care?
Caring for people with disabilities in their own homes reduces the obstacles that would be encountered in an unfamiliar environment, because being surrounded by their own routines and belongings makes them feel safe.
Those who provide home care for people with disabilities should take several aspects into account, thus offering help on several fronts:
- Domestic help and personal assistance. In addition to offering daily assistance with personal care and hygiene, caregivers will also carry out household tasks such as cleaning, preparing meals, or changing and washing clothes and linens.
- Moral and psychological support. Assisting individuals with disabilities means not only satisfying their physical needs, but, above all, supporting them on a moral and psychological level. This means helping them to overcome any subjective and objective difficulties linked to their condition, such as feelings of loneliness and marginalisation.
- Paperwork and accompaniment. If individuals with disabilities live alone or if their families find it difficult to do paperwork because of work commitments, caregivers can help them.
What home care opportunities are there for people in need of care?
All in all, several home care opportunities are available for people with disabilities and their caregivers. Some of these opportunities include:
Home care Services. Home care services provide assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) for individuals who require support but want to carry on living in their own homes.
- Personal Care Assistants (PCAs). Personal care assistants are trained caregivers who provide one-on-one assistance to individuals with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or age-related limitations.
- Home Health Aides (HHAs). Home health aides are certified professionals who provide medical and non-medical care to individuals in their homes.
- Respite Care Providers. Respite care providers offer temporary relief and support to primary caregivers by stepping in to care for their loved ones. Find out more in the Respite Care Module.
- Live-In Caregivers. Live-in caregivers provide around-the-clock care and support to individuals who require continuous assistance due to disabilities, chronic illnesses, or advanced age. They reside in the individual’s home and are available to provide help with personal care, household tasks, and emergency support as needed.
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How can family assistants contribute to creating an environment that supports the individuals with disabilities, their caregivers and their quality of life?
Family assistants can offer great support to people with care needs and disabilities. On the one hand, they provide support with daily activities, and on the other hand lessen informal caregivers’ burden. It is important to note that family assistants do not replace the people they care for in daily activities. They rather support them to improve their autonomy and independence, while ensuring to maintain their residual abilities.
Good Practices
Information on how to apply for and finance domestic help.
Domestic help – Home care service.
Associations for finding family carers
Contact associations that recruit and train family carers for people with disabilities. Link 2.
Overview of italian Home care services.
The CAK (central administration office) performs legal tasks for the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS). Their website contains information on support and financing options.
Het Juiste Loket (the correct point)
Het Juiste Loket gives information and advice to people with questions about care and support services and regulations.
Home care services in Kaunas municipality
This website presents all the information to benefit from home care in the Kaunas municipality
Home care services in Vilnius municipality
This website presents all the information to benefit from home care in the Vilnius municipality.
Resources
Italian Framework law for assistance, social integration and the rights of handicapped persons.
Article ‘Home care services for people with disabilities’ (Disabili.com)
Overview of home care services for people with disabilities.
Regelhulp offers a step-by-step guide to help you arrange care and support.
A tool to calculate tariffs for home care and support services.
PerSaldo slimme lijsten (smart lists)
With their ‘smart lists’, PerSaldo offers handy insights and guidance on topics concerning the personal budget.
Plano de intervenção específico ao cuidador (PIE) [Specific intervention plan for the carer (PIE)]
Programme document created following diagnosis and care planning to ensure continuous and close care, addressing health and social security needs. It is jointly developed by healthcare and social security professionals, with input from the informal caregiver or their representative.
The PIE includes:
- Diagnosis of the caregiver’s needs, aligned with the care recipient’s
- Identification of care to be provided by the informal caregiver, with details on support
- Annual rest period for the caregiver, if applicable
- Healthcare and social measures promoting autonomy, quality of life, and proper treatment
- Identification of community resources and contact details for professionals
Information on social benefits for people with disabilities with details on current benefits and social protections. The sections focuses on assistance for young renters, housing loan benefits for people with disabilities, how to apply for a parking permit, and more
Home care services in Kaunas region municipality
This website presents all the information to benefit from home care in the Kaunas regional municipality.
Kaunas ceneter of social services
Kaunas Centre for social services offers home help to adults with disabilities in the Kaunas city municipality.