Social Aid to Lone Elderly People in Kutaisi

The goal of the project is to reduce social isolation of vulnerable, single elderly people deprived of family care; to help them in realizing their rights on pensions, healthcare and transport.

Activities implemented within the project

• Two social clubs have been opened, which provide warm atmosphere for elderly. Love elderly are able to read newspapers and journals, watch TV and have some coffee and tea;
• Sessions on Human Rights are been held by the GRCS instructors individually and in groups;
• Special volunteer groups, consisting of GRCS volunteers, students and neighbors, have been created for visiting homebound elderly;
• Seminars are being held on active lifestyle and health care issues;
• Training are held for GRCS staff and volunteers for raising their qualifications;
• The social clubs are visited by local government representatives for having discussions on issues that affect elderly population of Kutaisi;
• The project actively cooperates with the local government to deal with the problems faced by elderly people;
• Forming the advisory committee for the social center pensioners;
• The advocacy group has been created for defending the rights of the social center beneficiaries.
• Special events are organized by the social center painting, knitting and sewing groups.

Currently the "Social support to lone elderly in Kutaisi" project has managed eliminate the social isolation of the significant number of elderly residing in Kutaisi, but still there are many other pensioners in need of support, therefore it is intend to implement similar project in other regions of Georgia as well.