Saturday, July 30 2016 04:05

"Oxfam" Office in Armenia and Economic Development and Research Center presented the results of the independent monitoring of the following state-funded programs:  "In-home Social Services for Lonely Elderly" and "Social Services for Lonely Elderly and Disabled People in-home and in Care Centers of Armenia's Regions". Within these programs household, medical, juridical, physiological and other services were provided to around 3300 lonely senior citizens and people with disabilities.

The press-service of the organization has told ArmInfo that the monitoring has revealed that the services were fully provided to 26.6% of beneficiaries, partially to-39% of beneficiaries, while 34.3% of the beneficiaries were not provided with services at all.  From those who received social assistance 32.1% remained satisfied, 31.4% were very satisfied, while 7.1% remained dissatisfied with the provided services. 

The research has also showed that 3.1% of the beneficiaries, involved in the social program, fail to meet the participation requirements, while 0.5% from this number do not have any need to receive such kind of services. 

Representative of EDRC Karine Harutyunyan has noted that in overall the awareness level on the program is very low. Thus, according to her 60% of beneficiaries do not know which kind of services they are to be provided. At the same time Harutyunyan stressed that the funds allocated by the state for implementation of the programs are insufficient for providing services on high level. The necessity of enhancing the instruments of monitoring of the implementation of the program with involving social sector was emphasized. However, budget funds are insufficient for ensuring such a level of monitoring.  

In this context the authors of the program propose to revise the minimal standards of in-home social service and non-financial components of the implementation of state funded program. 

To note, Oxfam Office in Armenia and Economic Development and Research Center have conducted research for the second time this year. 

To note, Oxfam is an international confederation of 18 organizations working together with partners and local communities in more than 90 countries. The name "Oxfam" comes from the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief, founded in Britain in 1942. Oxfam program was approved in Armenia in March 1993, to improve the lives and livelihoods of poor people, particularly those living in rural and isolated parts of the country.  

The Economic Development and Research Center (EDRC) is an independent research institution. It was founded in 2001 in Yerevan, Armenia, to conduct independent research in social advancement.