BackThe Seimas Ombudsman Augustinas Normantas has begun the monitoring of social care homes through social media. Having launched a private Facebook group named "A Quarantine in social care institutions," the Human Rights Division of the Seimas Ombudsmen's Office started monitoring of social care institutions by providing the assistance to caregivers and collecting information on challenges with which the institutions face.
The social care institutions were asked to join the online group in order they could get the assistance needed and share their experiences with tackling many issues amid COVID-19 crisis. The institutions were asked to share their views, grievances and good practices form on the day to day activities, including the organisation of social activities for elderly ones to safety measures taken to protect their residents.
The reaction of staff of social care institutions was surprisingly positive. The representatives of social care homes welcomed the initiative with warm appreciation. "We embrace the initiative and look forward to useful cooperation at such a difficult time for all of us," wrote the member of the group to the Seimas Ombudsmen's Office.
The group members participated in different polls created to identify the problems with which they face nad shared good practices on day to day activities carried out within institutions. Also, ones within the group shared experiences in commencing various precaution activities they never encountered to be undertaken.
As the data shared within the group showed the organisation of individual activities for elderly residents was the most challenging one, including maintaining a social distance between the residents since the seniors were used to keeping social contacts among each other. What is more, the physical isolation from the relatives was the most painful decision since it generated mixed emotions among residents and put pressure on the management to find solutions for the maintenance of social relationships with relatives of residents during coronavirus crisis.
Source: Office of the Seimas Ombudsman, Lithuania
