Medical Assistance Programmes Supporting the Elderly and People with Disabilities in Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia

When living in poverty, paying for essential medical services can become impossible, putting lives at risk, or places a high financial burden on families who are already under pressure to simply put food on the table or pay expensive heating bills during a freezing cold winter. The elderly whose pensions are too low to cover the increased medical costs that can come with old age, or people with disabilities, who receive no or little outside financial support, are left particularly vulnerable.

World Jewish Relief’s projects in Moldova providing medical assistance include:

·         Training and support for volunteers of existing older peoples' groups to provide regular home visits for 100 of the most vulnerable older people in Moldova. Volunteers talk with clients, bring prescriptions and monitor the administration of medicine and clients’ overall health, reporting back to doctors on a weekly basis and distribute hygiene kits and food packages. Through events raising awareness and the dissemination of leaflets older people receive education about healthy ageing and medical conditions common among the elderly.

·         Podiatric care for 75 diabetics to both treat and prevent complications that can arrive from the condition, such as calluses, cracks, hyperkeratosis, ingrown and infected toenails. Patients receive 1-2 treatments a month depending on their condition, and are advised about self-checking and care of the feet and helped to source special footwear

Our programmes run in Georgia are:

·         A healthcare programme meeting emergency the medical needs of older Georgians by providing access to medical treatment including hospital stays, dental care, hearing aids, prescription medicines, glasses, medical equipment, transport for hospitalization for impoverished elderly individuals who could not afford this treatment otherwise

·         Additionally, hundreds of elderly, impoverished Georgians receive medications and health care services through our programme Meeting Immediate Needs of Older People in Georgia

WJR’s medical programmes in Ukraine consist of:

·         A SOS health programme meeting emergency medical needs among the elderly and disabled, including overnight and out-patient hospital treatment, medicine and surgeries for 480 cancer patients and those with serious, chronic illnesses over a two year period. These individuals would struggle to pay for this life-saving treatment without this support.

 ·         Furthermore, thousands of elderly people are provided with access to critical health care services in the form of medical treatment, medications and rehabilitative equipment loans through our programme Meeting Immediate Needs of Older People Ukraine