What is it about?

Background, In recent years health service affordability for elderly people has been significantly improved within the Georgia State Health Insurance Program. Although home care services for elderly people are not envisaged in any of state healthcare programs. Home care services for elderly people were mainly provided by nongovernmental organizations and family members (non-formal services). The objective of a survey was to study home care services rendered by nongovernmental organizations and family members in Georgia, living conditions of elderly people dependent on home care and cost for home care service incurred by them; Methods, For study purposes, method of direct interviews through specially constructed questionnaires was used, covering health conditions of elderly people, period of depending on care, care needs, costs for care services; Results, In Georgia home care services for elderly people are mainly provided by non-governmental organizations. The majority of interviewees (73.1%) more often use home care services rendered by non-governmental organizations than the services envisaged by state healthcare programs (26.9% of interviewees use these services). Elderly people are more dependent on the assistance provided by their relatives and they give priority to the services rendered at home, rather than to institutional care (in special clinics or retirement homes); Conclusions, Families make a big contribution to assisting and supporting home care services for elderly people. If needed, they represent key home care service providers in Georgia. This fact should be recognized and considered while elaborating the care policy for elderly people in Georgia.

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Why is it important?

In recent years health service affordability for elderly people has been significantly improved within the Georgia State Health Insurance Program. Although home care services for elderly people are not envisaged in any of state health care programs. Home care services for elderly people were mainly provided by nongovernmental organizations and family members (non-formal services). The objective of a survey was to study home care services rendered by nongovernmental organizations and family members in Georgia, living conditions of elderly people dependent on home care and cost for home care service incurred by them

Perspectives

Families make a big contribution to assisting and supporting home care services for elderly people. If needed, they represent key home care service providers in Georgia. This fact should be recognized and considered while elaborating the care policy for elderly people in Georgia

Dr Tengiz Verulava
Ilia State University

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This page is a summary of: Home Care Services for Elderly People in Georgia, Home Health Care Management & Practice, February 2016, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/1084822315627785.
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