In this year’s edition, the Corps aims at ensuring the possibility of safe functioning of the seniors in their place of residence by establishing cooperation between local government units, non-governmental organisations bringing together youth communities, as well as volunteers.

The programme is addressed to persons aged 65 and more, who have problems with independent functioning due to their health status, run independent households or live with relatives who are not able to provide them with sufficient support.

- We launched the Assistance Corps for the Seniors in 2020 so as to help elderly people and those in need during the difficult times of the pandemic. Many volunteers joined the action, mainly young people, which proves intergenerational solidarity. We can see how much support is provided by the Corps to elderly people. That is why it has another, already the third edition – says the Minister of Family and Social Policy, Marlena Maląg.

Minister Maląg has already allocated the funds for implementing the measures under this year’s edition of the Corps. Municipalities from all over Poland will receive nearly PLN 61 million. The largest amount will be provided to self-governments from the Śląskie Voivodeship (more than PLN 6.9 million), Małopolskie Voivodeship (more than PLN 6.48 million) and Dolnośląskie Voivodeship (more than PLN 6.38 million).

Two modules of measures

As part of the Assistance Corps for the Seniors, two modules of measures are implemented:

• Module 1 consists in providing social support to seniors aged 65 and more, by volunteers who, inter alia, help them in shopping, visiting a doctor or handling fundamental official matters. The assistance also includes the delivery of hot meals or food products as well as parcels with basic necessities. As part of this module, the seniors can obtain psychological assistance.
• Module 2, whose task is to improve the safety and independent functioning of elderly people in the place of residence through the so-called „distance care”. It is provided by the so-called „safety wristbands”. The wristbands are equipped with at least two selected functions, e.g., a safety button – SOS signal, fall detector, band removal sensor, GPS locator, functions enabling communication with the service centre and caregivers or functions monitoring basic life activities.

This year, voivodes reported a demand for the implementation of measures under module 1 for the amount of more than PLN 18.7 million, and for measures under module II for more than PLN 42.1 million.

Assistance Corps for the Seniors

The programme was launched in October 2020. The first edition was participated in by 2,019 municipalities from all voivodeships. Back then, the amount of support from the state budget amounted to more than PLN 76 million. Last year, the amount of PLN 50 million was allocated for the Assistance Corps for the Seniors. This year, the budget of the programme is already PLN 80 million.