Local services
Compared to the national average, Debrecen already has a relatively high proportion of people who have applied for a “Caring Watch” (In Hungarian: Gondosóra). 37 percent of the city’s residents over the age of 65 use this free, individual right, and in some cases even life-saving assistance service.
Deputy Mayor of Debrecen, Diána Széles who is also responsible for care policy, considers it very important that as many elderly people as possible take advantage of this opportunity provided by the government. Since the programme was launched in March 2022, more than 750,000 people have applied for the “Caring Watch”. This programme, unique in Europe, has so far contributed to saving more than 40,000 lives and provided general assistance on half a million occasions. According to Diána Széles, these results are significant, and she would like elderly people and their relatives who want to keep their elderly loved ones, especially if they do not live in the same household with them or live alone, to be aware of the importance of this opportunity.
The Deputy Mayor also drew attention to the fact that nursing homes and senior citizens’ clubs operated by the City Social Service have already tried to raise awareness of the benefits of joining the “Caring Watch” programme, while the staff of the senior citizens’ club located at 45 Thomas Mann Street can also provide specific assistance to those interested in filling out the application or getting to know the device they have already received and learning how to use it. Diána Széles encourages everyone involved and their relatives to use the “Caring Watch”, as this device and the service behind it can be very important help in a difficult life situation.
As Imréné Fülöp Császár said, she has had her “Caring Watch” for years, since the service was launched. Fortunately, she has not yet had to use it to call for help, but she did drop it once, and then she experienced that the device alerted the dispatch center. This ensured that if she really had a problem, it would be detected immediately, and even a relative could be alerted with the device. As a specific example, she mentioned the story of a friend of hers who fell at home, as it turned out, she broke her leg as a result, and called for help with the “Caring Watch”, which she quickly received, and was soon hospitalised.
As soon as Erzsébet Fábián heard about this opportunity, she immediately requested the “Caring Watch”, so she has had it from the beginning. She didn’t need to use it either, but she is sure that if she has a problem and presses the button, the dispatch center will help her. She senses that her device is working well because it always verbally warns her when it is time to charge it.
A lot of information about the Caring Watch programme can be found on the website www.gondosora.hu.
Source and photo credit:debrecen.hu
