Seniors’ Telephone – Crisis Helpline

Czech Republic

1990

The helpline aims to support senior citizens and people, family members, neighbours or others who care for seniors to help them live independently and safely in their homes as long as possible.

On 24 October, 1990, Blanka and Jan Lorman founded the ZIVOT 90 Civic Association, which established the service devoted to the comprehensive solution of problems encountered by ageing people. The Seniors’ Telephone service was the first senior helpline launched. The ZIVOT 90 Association contributes to the solution of problems encountered by senior citizens through many initiatives.

 Care Recipients
 Informal carers
 Paid assistants
 Formal carers

Not available

 Independent Living
 Information and learning for carers
 Personal Support and Social Integration for carer
 Care coordination

The Seniors’ Telephone supplies the following services:

-Crisis telephone helpline
-Accompanying seniors through long-term crises
-Providing support to carers of senior citizens
-Social consultation
-Advice on domestic violence
-Support for users with psychiatric problems

Additionally:

-Specialized social consultation
-Housing consultation

-Legal consultation

Telephone

Both public and private

Public service funding: Government, Regional, Local Authorities, non-profit public entities

Not available

Non-profit funding: charity, volunteers organisations, NGO

Not available

Not applicable

The initiative is funded by sponsors and donors. The main funders are JTI Company which is a member of the Japan Tobacco Group of Companies (JT) and a leading international manufacturer of tobacco products, in addition to Vodafone Czech Republic. The service has good prospects to be funded in the future, because it is not expensive, it does not require specialized technology and many organizations are sponsoring it. Nevertheless, the actual economic crisis may negatively affect the number of donations by private companies and local authorities.

Not available

 Authorities
 Private Care Sector
 Health and Social Care Systems
 Third Sector
 Private Companies

Not available

The Third Sector is the main provider and funder of the service through fund raising activities.

 Informal Carers
 Health Professionals
 Social Care Professionals
 Privately-Hired Care Assistants (inc. Migrant Care Workers)
 Volunteers

Not available

Not involved

1,001 - 5,000

Not available

The website is the main promotional route for the Seniors’ Telephone Helpline, but the Association promotes its activities through conferences as well. For example, ŽIVOT 90 organized the European seniors' conference EURAG in 1999 and a European Conference on the Care and Protection of Elderly People in Prague, within the framework of the Czech EU presidency, in 2009. ŽIVOT 90 hosted the IFA 11th Global Conference on Ageing (May 28 - 1 June 2012 in Prague).

ŽIVOT 90 has a national presence as a result of its participation in many national and international projects aimed at supporting older people and their caregivers.

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Not available

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Strengths:

1. The service is close to people and has a strong national presence.
2. The service involves professionals.
3. The service provides a prompt reply to the requests for help from users.
4. The service received the following awards: 1999 – the first issue of Generace magazine was published; 1996 – Václav Havel, then president of the Czech Republic presented a personal gift to ŽIVOT 90.

Weaknesses:

1. The lack of impact assessment.
2. The service seems not to be integrated into the whole health care and social service systems. In particular, there is not a direct connection between the call for help through the help-line and the health interventions, like a gap along the care chain.
3. The lack of interest from Local and National Authorities towards this service, which seems to be so useful for older people.
4. The lack of details on the number of users.

Threats:

1. Fund raising for the future may be more difficult, considering the actual economic crisis.

Challenges:

1. More close collaboration with the local social and health care systems.

The Telephone Helpline could cover other issues and reach other users, because its implementation does not necessitate high costs. Furthermore, the ZIVOT 90 Association has an international perspective and is active in European Projects. It participated in many international and European partnerships, with similar organizations focusing on senior citizens and defence of their rights, all of which guarantees the scalability and transferability of its model.

Publications:

The ZIVOT 90 Civic Association published several article described in http://eng.zivot90.cz/4-social-services/73-publications. For orders: poradna@zivot90.cz

Resources:

http://eng.zivot90.cz/4-social-services;

http://eng.zivot90.cz/4-social-services/14-seniors-telephone

http://eng.zivot90.cz/4-social-services/12-care-service

http://eng.zivot90.cz/105-about-us/149-our-story-in-facts-and-figures

http://eng.zivot90.cz/110-for-the-press

http://eng.zivot90.cz/105-about-us/118-statutes

Mgr. Drahoslava Horáková (Secretary of the Association)

E-mail: drahoslava.horakova@zivot90.cz

Telephone: 00420 222 333 501

(+420) 222 333 501

Mgr. Jana Kosařová (Seniors’ Telephone manager)

E-mail: jana.kosarova@zivot90.cz