Social Support lone elderly people in Tbilisi

From 2008 GRCS continues to implement project "Social Support To Lone Elderly People in Tbilisi". The project is focused on 1500 vulnerable lone elderly residing in Tbilisi.

The project Goal is "To contribute to the reduction of vulnerability of older people through their improved health, social welfare and empowerment

The Georgian Red Cross Society will implement the action to contribute to the improved well-being of a neglected group and through its effort strengthen their capacity as a viable and effective non-state actor in Georgia.

This project addresses the causes of elderly people's vulnerability, social exclusion and tackles such issues as isolation, lack of access to information, lack of access to health advice and services as well as appropriate transport and social welfare services. The actions in the framework of the project will mobilise elderly people and encourage them to create: personal support networks; form self-help groups generating small income; to provide vital home based care support to mobile and less mobile elderly people through volunteers visits and strengthened neighbourhood support networks; They will also support lone elderly to strengthen intergenerational links with younger people; to bridge the gap between elderly people, decision makers and service providers, receive information on their rights and entitlements under the law; to provide solid information on their concerns and experiences to decision makers in an unthreatening environment; to become involved in advocacy work on the rights of the elderly; to provide feedback to decision makers on policy formulation, changes and their implementation to ensure that the majority of vulnerable elderly can access the benefits of government policies.

This initiative is designed to encourage local ownership of policy formulation, process and outcomes, and to raise public participation in the political and service delivery process through:

1. educating vulnerable elderly people in their rights and entitlements and to develop their skills to negotiate realisation of these rights and entitlements;
2. ensuring that wider society is aware of these rights and alerted to the issues that vulnerable elderly people, and society at large are facing.
3. targeted advocacy to address the root causes of elderly people's vulnerability.

The action provides a framework for elderly people, civil society organisations and local authority actors to enter into dialogue, thereby ensuring that the most vulnerable are included in discussions on issues that affect them. The intended action conforms to the priorities and requirements of the Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development Action as it proposes to tackle issues and concerns of one of the most vulnerable groups in Georgian society and whose numbers increase year by year. The action by focusing on developing partnerships and linkages with government and non-government stakeholders will ensure the establishment of a model sustainable beyond the life of the project. Furthermore elderly people themselves are central to the work proposed in the action. Through their empowerment and rehabilitation into society elderly people become partners and, in time, can eventually take responsibility of their lives.