Implementation Period: October-December 2020

With the financial support of the “Albanian Center for Population and Development,” the service was piloted for a short period of time. The service maintained respect for the dignity of the elderly and aimed to improve their independence and social integration, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, when the need for such support greatly increased.

ASET Center, which has always focused on providing support to isolated elderly individuals, contributed to their integration into the community through this project, enhancing their participation in social activities. In a previous experience, ASET Center, in partnership with  Municipality of Tirana, modeled the home assistance service (in 2018-2019 with financial support from UNDP), preparing manuals, work protocols, and all service components. This established a complete model for home assistance, and it was the first time the service was piloted in Municipality of Tirana based on the urgent needs identified after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Although for a very short period, elderly individuals were identified, and data was collected in cooperation with the social service structures of  Municipality of Tirana. Based on this data, elderly individuals who were isolated and economically vulnerable were selected. Food packages were also provided to help improve their living conditions. Helping them continue their lives in their homes and in the community is also a way to maintain family connections and preserve a sense of belonging.

Another important component of this project was the creation of a new curriculum for training social workers, which enables qualified and effective support for the elderly. Through this curriculum, students were trained to create the new professional role of “Social Worker.”