Prague offers a new relief service for parents of handicapped children. It will help them cope with their daily workload
According to John, who is responsible for social policy and health care in the metropolis, he is the task of the relief service to help carers and families cope with the daily burden, and thus be the prevention of their exhaustion and the possible placement of children with disabilities in institutions. The main goal of the new service is therefore to help keep children in their families.
According to the organization’s plans, dozens of families with children with disabilities could use the service. “The temporary care that Paprsek will provide can last for several days, but also for several weeks. The service will focus on the specific individual needs of clients and their families, “said Hejlová.
The apartment should resemble an ordinary household
The premises for the relief service are on the ground floor of a building owned by the Prague 10 district, in U Vršovického nádraží Street. According to the director of DC Paprsek, the apartment is designed to remind children of the usual household and environment to which they are accustomed. They will find a kitchen, a barrier-free private bathroom, common areas and single and double rooms. According to Hejlová, the current capacity of the service is three children with disabilities, who can be cared for by assistants at the same time.
Children can stay here regularly or occasionally according to the needs of the family. The service has been operating on an outpatient basis since the end of November. OIn the spring, it will also start to serve in residential form, and children’s clients will also be able to sleep in the facility under the supervision of assistants.
At present, there are about 2,700 children with disabilities in Prague and about 900 of them are dependent on the help of another person. According to Councilor John, the relief service has been missing in the metropolis for a long time. According to Johnová, five newly established services should be established in Prague in the next two years, which should relieve hundreds of families. By 2024, facilities with a capacity of 20 to 30 beds should be available as additional emergency beds.
An apartment for a relief service for children with disabilities, run by the contributory organization of the capital of the Paprsek Children’s Center near the Grébovka park in Prague. (December 14, 2021)
Author: ČTK / Šimánek Vít