The quality of life of people with disabilities, especially the elderly and single people, would be significantly improved if the personal assistance service were to become permanent.
This is evidenced by the Association of Paraplegics Nikšić, where they are very satisfied with the project that the state occasionally provides them, assigning them people who take care of them and help them with their daily needs.
Stanislavka Pavićević from Nikšić has gained a firm foothold in the last few months, and she wants to keep it that way.
For everything that she cannot do by herself, and the list is long, Stanislavka Pavićević owes her gratitude to her personal assistant. Numerous health problems and a wheelchair make it easier for her to fall back four months.
"Shopping, bringing medicine, making an appointment with a doctor. Everything that I used to be able to do from housework, preparing, washing, cleaning, and even personal hygiene," pointed out Stanislavka Pavićević, a user of the Personal Assistance service.
"The two of us agree, I ask her what she needs. I know roughly, but I always ask her what she wants done, what is most needed at that moment," said Vesna Pejović, personal assistant.
Vesna was hired through the Association of Paraplegics, through the Bureau of Labor, and as she says, she didn't get any job, but the opportunity to feel much better through humanitarian work. Stanslavka was a user of the service before, which she has no doubt significantly improves her quality of life.
"I don't have to adapt, they adapt to me. I rest, I rest while they are there. I need that. Is it a business relationship or are there also friendships? Both friendly and comradely, after all, these are young people who they bring you a bit of cheerfulness," said Pavićević.
"It's a nice job. It's not demanding, it's humane at the same time. You come like family," explained Pejović.
That is why Pejović also comes on weekends, when she is free, and it is not difficult for her to meet the other housemates.
The Association of Paraplegics notes that the permanent introduction of the service was planned by the Local Action Plan in the field of disability for the period from 2009 to 2014, but that it has not yet been implemented.
The current service started in December last year and continues until May, and is financially supported by the Ministry of Finance. It included 18 people with disabilities and seven personal assistants.
Božidar Baletić also felt the benefits of the assistance, who has a message for the authorities.
"From this practice so far, they are extraordinary and we cannot function without them. It is something that is necessary for people with disabilities such as those in the paraplegic association, that it should be permanent," said Božidar Baletić from the Nikšić Paraplegic Association.
In the Association of Paraplegics Nikšić, which has 70 members, they point out that there have been situations in the past where they themselves found the means to pay assistants for the most difficult cases.
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