As many as 183 people are waiting for admission to the Podgorica Old People's Home, mostly for the geriatrics and palliative care department, the institution told "Vijesta".
"They are waiting for accommodation in different departments, in relation to the level of support they need to be provided, so 44 old people are waiting for the geriatrics department, 16 for the dementia department, 52 for the palliative care department, 39 potential users are waiting for the psycho-geriatrics department , and for transfer from other institutions 12", said the Home for the Elderly in Podgorica.
When it comes to the waiting list for the geriatrics department, the Home for the Elderly says that it is only about requests that state the need for accommodation in a single room or apartment, while all other requests have been fulfilled.
As they explained, "the interest in accommodation in the palliative care department is, as can be concluded from looking at the waiting list, the greatest".
The Home for the Elderly said that the interest in staying at the Home is constantly increasing, and "currently, 221 users are staying in that Podgorica institution".
As they explained, the total capacity of the House is 274.
"The total capacity of the Home is 274, which means that there are still vacancies, however, in order to continue accepting new users, it is necessary to hire additional staff, specifically medical staff, so that the service provided is at a satisfactory level," said the Home for the Elderly in Podgorica.
Commenting on the possible length of the wait, i.e. during which period new seats in the House could be offered, they reply that it is "one of the most frequent questions that potential users or their family members ask them", but that they cannot answer it precisely. They said that places can be freed up in different ways.
"Places can be freed in various ways - by the death of one of the users who are currently in the accommodation, by a declaration of will to leave the Home or by changing the need for the level of support in relation to changes that may occur in the health status of one of the users who are already staying in to our institution", they explain.
The Home for the Elderly stressed that "priority for accommodation is given to requests sent through competent centers for social work, for people without family support, victims of violence or people who are in a state of social risk".
"It also happens that the Clinical Center sends us an emergency for admission, upon learning of the need to accommodate someone who is hospitalized," they emphasized.
Prices for accommodation and care in the Homes range from 500 to 700 euros per month, and users whose incomes are not sufficient pay from 400 to 550 euros.
"Users whose incomes are higher, sufficient to cover the entire cost of accommodation, sign a contract directly with the Home, and the price depends on their health condition and special requirements (single, double room or apartment). In this case, prices range from 500 to 700 euros per month. Users whose incomes are not sufficient to cover the entire cost of accommodation exercise the right to the service through competent centers for social work. In that case, the price of accommodation ranges from 400 euros to 550 euros, and the users participate according to their possibilities", they explained.
From that institution, they said that when it comes to accommodation prices, "users and relatives who are obliged to participate in maintenance in accordance with the Family Law, participate in paying the costs of the accommodation service in the Home".
They explained that the Home currently houses users whose entire accommodation costs are covered by the state, as well as those who cover all costs from their own income.
"Accommodation prices in case of exercise of rights through competent centers for social work are determined by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare. In the case of direct contracting, the Law gives the possibility for the one who provides the service to define the price, based on previously determined criteria", they said.
The Home for the Elderly in Podgorica says that the facility has room for 274 users, housed in 97 double, 36 single, 5 four-bed rooms and 12 apartments.
"In addition to the accommodation units, the Old People's Home contains living rooms, dining rooms, a kitchen with accompanying facilities, a laundry room, administration rooms, a multimedia hall, a hall designated for the users' religious activities, a medical block and accompanying technical rooms."
As explained on the internet presentation of the institution, 20 places are provided on the ground floor for users with the problem of dementia, and another 20 for users who have difficulties in the field of mental health.
"On the first floor, there are users who have difficulty moving or are immobile, and whose health condition requires constant supervision, nursing, care, as well as psycho-social support. The total capacity is 77. The geriatrics and palliative care departments are located on the second floor. The total capacity of the department is 78, with the capacity of the geriatrics section being 40, and the palliative care section 38. On the last, third floor, users with preserved functional abilities live. The total capacity to accommodate this category of users is 79", it says on the institution's website.
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