Serving 3.200 elderly in our In-Home Care Program

Ana (85) entered the home care program for older adults (Padam) that Hogar de Cristo has in San Bernardo in 2019. At that time she was the caregiver for her bedridden husband. Today the baton of the baton has passed into the hands of Ana (65), her daughter.

The social worker in charge of this Padam in the southern sector of Santiago that cares for 60 older adults, Claudia Escobar, admires the strength of this caregiver. Although she recognizes that Ana has obvious advantages over others.

Our main tasks are to link older people and their caregivers with social benefits, ensure that all their state guarantees are met and do network work, both at the family and community level. The idea is that these older people always have support, considering the different life circumstances of each one.

Ana (daughter) explains the value that Padam has for her: “This program ends up being part of the family, because it provides support that goes beyond the necessary diapers or a monthly box of groceries. It is support, guidance, and relief. These little angels are always there when we need them. I ask God not to abandon Hogar de Cristo, because he protects us. I thank them for being there.”

Thanks to your help, we can care for elderly people in poverty from all over Chile in their homes.

• This Christmas, you can continue to help people in extreme poverty. We invite you to give a Christmas dinner to an elderly person in poverty, here!

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• Caregiver stories

During May, the launch and presentation ceremony of this valuable device was held in Talca, Chile. Which is aimed at ensuring that older adults remain at home, with their loved ones, instead of being institutionalized, which, as the evidence indicates, usually results in greater deterioration and dependency.

“I feel happy that finally someone comes to see me and my daughter, we are both alone almost always,” says María muñoz (78), one of the 30 older people who will benefit from the opening of the Care Program. Home Care for Older Adults (PADAM) of Hogar de Cristo in Talca.

This home device
Managed by Hogar de Cristo, it will extend its coverage to the northwestern and northeastern sectors of the commune, providing support to 30 elderly people in vulnerable situations. With a team made up of kinesiologists, social workers and direct care caregivers, the program will focus on offering assistance to both the person being cared for and their caregiver.

This initiative is part of Hogar de Cristo's new social strategy, which will transform its residences into an extensive and personalized network of home care services. In this way, we seek to combat problems such as neglect, physical isolation, depression and loneliness,” explains Mauricio Zorondo, head of social operations at Hogar de Cristo in the Maule region.

In addition, the program will offer workshops and conversation spaces for both individual and group support. A key element will be the formal recognition of the role of caregivers, who will be linked to support networks to train, learn about their rights and access benefits.

OLDER ADULTS IN TALCA
In Talca, projections indicate that by 2024, the percentage of older people will reach 19.7%, which means that there will be 98 older adults for every 100 young people under 15 years of age. Of this group, 78% face at least three vulnerability criteria for multidimensional poverty, highlighting the urgent need for intervention in this commune.