How social services in Mykolaiv provide home care for individuals with disabilities: a letter to the editor.

How social services in Mykolaiv care for people with disabilities at home: a letter to the editor

The editorial team of "Novosti-N" received a request from readers seeking assistance for a seriously ill resident of the Korable district, Leonid Ch., who has been a first-group disabled person since childhood. Our readers expressed concern that the man, who is unable to move independently, is receiving inadequate care from social workers.

A video recording was attached to the request, in which Leonid discusses how he is being cared for.

From the recording, it became clear that Leonid and his wife, Svetlana, who is also a second-group disabled person, live together. In the video, the man states that social worker Natalia visits him regularly twice a week, with a third visit only when there is an urgent need. He also mentioned that at the time of the video recording, the social worker had gone on a 10-day vacation, resulting in no visits at all. It is noted that the social worker buys groceries, brings water, prepares meals, provides necessary diapers for care, and changes them. In her absence, the couple is deprived of essential assistance, forcing them to rely on neighbors, while the care for the bedridden husband falls entirely on his wife, who also has limited abilities.

The man is unable to get out of bed and cannot move without a wheelchair, which he claims he does not have. If a medical examination is needed, the social worker brings a wheelchair and transports Leonid to a medical facility. In the recording, Leonid mentions that during his last check-up, the doctor said he was "fine." The video’s author, who asks Leonid questions, emphasizes that the hospital refuses to admit him for inpatient treatment because there is no one to care for him, which Leonid confirms.

- I take "Ibuprofen." They prescribed it to me in June. I went to the doctor with Natasha, got examined, and was told everything is fine. The tests are good, but I feel burning. Maybe it would be easier in a wheelchair, - the man shared.

Additionally, Leonid mentioned that he had approached social services to provide him with a wheelchair about 10 years ago, but he has yet to receive one. He would also like the social worker to visit more often to assist with household chores and care, as well as to obtain a special medical bed and an anti-decubitus mattress.

After receiving this request, the correspondents of "Novosti-N" contacted the Department of Labor and Social Protection of the Mykolaiv City Council to understand how social services operate and whether Leonid can expect to receive the medical equipment he urgently needs. Our inquiry was sent to the department, and we received a response within a week.

Deputy Director of the department, Nadezhda Skopenko, confirmed that Leonid Ch. is a person with a first-group disability since childhood. He receives assistance from the home social care department of the Korable district of the urban territorial center. A social worker is responsible for his care. It is also noted that one social worker is assigned to 14 clients. If one of the social workers falls ill or goes on vacation, their clients are redistributed among other workers.

- During the social worker's vacation, Leonid Ch. submitted a refusal to receive services from other social workers (the date of the application is 03.02.2025). Despite the vacation, social worker N. remains in constant contact with the client and assists him as needed, - reports the deputy director of the department.

It is also mentioned that according to the order of the Main Department of the National Social Service in the Mykolaiv region, an unscheduled inspection of the home social assistance department of the Korable district urban territorial center was conducted. During the inspection, recommendations were made to conduct a reassessment of Leonid Ch.'s needs, review the individual social service provision plan, and perform a repeated determination of individual needs.

A special commission assessed the man's living conditions. As a result, the number of visits from the social worker was increased to five times a week, along with the number of services provided.

Furthermore, it is noted that on 09.12.24, Leonid submitted a request for a multifunctional wheelchair, an anti-decubitus mattress, a functional bed, and a bedside table.

"The Mykolaiv Regional Department of the Fund for Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities has created pathways to provide Leonid Ch. with the aforementioned rehabilitation aids. According to the Centralized Data Bank on Disability Issues, Leonid Ch. was provided with an anti-decubitus mattress costing 11,410.00 UAH at the expense of the state on 21.01.2025, a multifunctional wheelchair costing 34,037.00 UAH on 28.01.2025, and an electric bed costing 27,734.00 UAH on 31.01.2025," - reports Nadezhda Skopenko.

Regarding the video published on YouTube about two weeks ago, in which Leonid discusses the lack of necessary medical equipment, the Department of Labor and Social Protection responded to the inquiry from "Novosti-N" that the footage was recorded back in November 2024.

"Leonid Ch. apologized for this filming and stated that he has no complaints against the social worker or the social service," - said in the response to the inquiry.