Welfare Services, Ukraine

KEY FACTS

WJR supports the Hesed-Mobile which delivers Meals on Wheels to clients who are unable to reach a central point for a communal meal

Life-line cards allow recipients to shop for their own food

Working through local Jewish communities, this welfare programme aims to reach some 73,000 vulnerable elderly, almost half of whom are not eligible for Restitution Funding. (Specific emphasis is placed on those who did not suffer persecution under the Nazi regime, and who are therefore ineligible for Restitution Funding.)

There are a number of food programmes available to help the most vulnerable elderly Jews in the Ukraine. As well as delivering basic food packages, WJR supports the Hesed-Mobile which delivers Meals on Wheels to clients who are unable to reach a central point for a communal meal.

Communal meals are available, as are life-line cards which allow recipients to shop for their own food, thus retaining a strong sense of dignity.

This year it is the intention to move appropriate clients to the food card programme which fosters choice and dignity.

Clients also recieve medical assistance. Those who are housebound receive home visits from qualified staff who can help with chores such as cleaning and cooking.

Day care programmes are also available for those with some limited mobility.

Although the overall trend in Ukraine is one of economic improvement, since September 2007 there has been a rapid rise in inflation, causing food, utility bills and transport costs to rocket and spending power to once again decrease.