Espai Obert, an alternative service to institutionalization for people with severe psychosocial disabilities.

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Espai Obert, an alternative service to institutionalization for people with severe psychosocial disabilities.

Fundació Support-Girona Foundation and Healthcare Assistance Institute (IAS)

Alternative resource to institutionalization for people with severe psychosocial disabilities, which offers them social and health support based on the pact and their free will to use the services of the facility.

It is aimed at people who are in a situation of social exclusion and even homelessness, due to mental and behavioral disorders or substance abuse problems, and who have no family or social support or financial resources,

Espai Obert aims to reduce the stigma of these people and overcome the barriers that stand in the way of their social and community inclusion. The intervention methodology is based on low demand and free use.

As a first phase of intervention, the aim is to cover the basic needs of hygiene and food. Therefore, the service is equipped with a kitchen, living and dining room, washing machines, patio and shower and hygiene areas, and the users participate in the routines of the center (preparing meals, laundry, taking care of the garden…). Once this first phase has been achieved, a bond of trust is built, in order to work on the development, skills and well-being of each person, as well as socialization with other people in the space and other resources in the area.

This pioneering intervention model is one of the tools to be deployed in Catalonia in the process of reconversion and transformation of long-stay psychiatric hospitalization with functional recovery and life project units based on the successful experience of the counties of Girona, where in 2004 the long-stay psychiatric hospital in the former Salt Psychiatric Hospital was closed, generating a network of community mental health and addiction services, with alternative resources.


Desinstitucionalización y vida en comunidad de las personas con discapacidad

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Desinstitucionalización y vida en comunidad de las personas con discapacidad

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Una nueva guía de las Naciones Unidas de septiembre de 2022 recoge directrices y recomendaciones precisas para la desinstitucionalización de las personas con discapacidad, para reformar el sector en forma de organizaciones comunitarias, y para avanzar en el derecho de vivir de manera autónoma y con libertad para tomar las propias decisiones.

Las Naciones Unidas han emitido en septiembre de 2022 un nuevo documento, Guidelines on deinstitutionalization, including in emergencies (CRPD/C/27/3), que en el marco de la Convención sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad establece un conjunto de nuevas pautas para avanzar en los procesos de desinstitucionalización de las personas con discapacidad.

Los principios que se declaran en el documento son contundentes:

  • La institucionalización contradice el derecho de las personas con discapacidad a ser incluidas en la comunidad.
  • Hay que abolir todas las formas de institucionalización y dejar de invertir en instituciones. Las instituciones nunca tienen que ser consideradas como una forma de protección de las personas con discapacidades ni como una libre elección.
  • No existe ninguna justificación para perpetuar la institucionalización de las personas.

Elementos clave de la desinstitucionalización

El documento recoge y explica los elementos y principios centrales en torno a los procesos de desinstitucionalización como, por ejemplo, qué se entiende por institucionalización y por qué es problemática.

Existen varios rasgos definitorios para describir qué es una institución:

  • Obligatoriedad de compartir asistencia con otras personas sin ninguna libertad de elección sobre quien proporciona esta asistencia.
  • Aislamiento y segregación de la vida independiente en la comunidad.
  • Carencia de control sobre las decisiones del día a día.
  • Carencia de elección de las personas con quienes se convive.
  • Rigidez de las rutinas sin consideración de la voluntad y preferencia personal.
  • Realización de actividades idénticas para un grupo de individuos, en un mismo espacio, bajo una determinada autoridad.
  • Aproximación paternalista de los servicios que se proporcionan y de la supervisión de las condiciones de vida de los individuos.
  • Convivencia con un número desproporcionado de personas en un mismo entorno.

El documento señala que la institucionalización es la detención de personas basada en alguna discapacidad, ya sea en presencia otros factores o no, bajo la premisa de ofrecer “curas” o “tratamiento”. Esta detención acostumbra a transcurrir en instituciones como por ejemplo centros de asistencia social, hospitales psiquiátricos, áreas de seguridad para personas con demencia, centros de rehabilitación, hogares de protección infantil y otros muchos.

Guía para los procesos de desinstitucionalización

Debido a estas condiciones, que contradicen los derechos fundamentales de las personas, las Naciones Unidas comunican que todas las instituciones, públicas y privadas, tienen que pasar por una reforma que las corrija o elimine. Aun así, la reforma o la eliminación de uno o más elementos institucionales no es suficiente para definirse como “organización comunitaria”, sino que las modificaciones tienen que ser integrales.

La desinstitucionalización comprende una serie de procesos interconectados enfocados a restablecer la autonomía, la libertad de elección y el control de las personas sobre su vida, incluido su derecho a decidir cómo, dónde y con quién quieren vivir. Estos procesos deberían estar dirigidos por las propias personas con discapacidades, para garantizar que sus necesidades y voluntades tengan prioridad y que los cambios se ajusten a sus decisiones de la mejor manera posible. Uno de los elementos clave de la vida independiente y con inclusión en la comunidad es garantizar que las personas con discapacidad reciban apoyo, basado en sus elecciones, y que tengan acceso a las actividades diarias y a la participación en sociedad.

Servicios de apoyo a las personas con discapacidad

Según el documento de las Naciones Unidas, los servicios de apoyo para las personas con discapacidades se tienen que desarrollar de acuerdo con el modelo de derechos humanos, respetando las preferencias de las personas con discapacidades y garantizando su plena participación en la red de apoyo, si la persona lo desea.

Estos servicios de apoyo a las personas con discapacidades tienen que estar vinculados a los servicios existentes y en las redes comunitarias, de forma que no fomenten la segregación y el aislamiento de las personas. Se recomienda en los Estados que inviertan en la creación y desarrollo de una amplia gama de servicios flexibles de apoyo que respondan a las necesidades diversas individuales, respetado sus elecciones y contando con su participación en el diseño de formas de apoyo. Además, hace falta que los gobiernos garanticen que la decisión de retorno al hogar familiar después de la institucionalización no descalifique a la persona para vivir de manera independiente si lo desea.

Preparaciones para abandonar una institución

Según la guía de Naciones Unidas, los procesos de desinstitucionalización tienen que revertir la práctica injusta de la institucionalización. Todas las personas tienen derecho a iniciarlo cuando lo deseen y a recibir asistencia para completar los requerimientos.

El documento indica las siguientes directrices para los procesos de desinstitucionalización:

  • Respetar el derecho de la persona a tomar decisiones en todos los aspectos de dejar una institución, ofreciéndole apoyo si lo necesita.
  • Dar tiempo y oportunidades suficientes para prepararse física y emocionalmente para la vida en comunidad. Las administraciones deberían garantizar que las personas tengan un plan individualizado según sus preferencias al dejar la institución.
  • Respetar a las personas institucionalizadas como supervivientes a quienes se les debe una compensación, y proporcionarles información y oportunidades para participar plenamente en el plan y la implementación de la desinstitucionalización.
  • Ofrecer a las personas un margen amplio de experiencias en la comunidad como preparación para dejar la institución; ayudarlas a ganar experiencia, fortaleza y habilidades sociales y cotidianas y a vencer los miedos que puedan tener de la vida independiente.
  • Proporcionar a las personas información sobre las opciones de vivienda, transporte y ocupación, además de rentas individualizadas y otras medidas necesarias para garantizar su calidad de vida.

Referencia

[1] Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Guidelines on deinstitutionalization, including in emergencies (CRPD/C/27/3).  United Nations. Disponible en: https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CRPD/C/5  [10/11/2022]

Gavius, a virtual assistant for the processing of social assistance applications

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Gavius, a virtual assistant for the processing of social assistance applications

Gavà City Council

Intelligent assistant that provides information to citizens about the social assistances available to them, and at the same time facilitates its processing in a convenient, fast and simple way. It is based on a user-friendly application, which allows digital identification through biometric recognition, and automates the process of applying for aid and subsequent collection.

The Gavius project aims to contribute to moving towards more proactive and innovative social services, adapting technologies to the needs of individuals and social professionals. The assistant is accessible both to potential beneficiaries who identify themselves in the application, as well as to social services and citizen care professionals, for whom it provides support when granting and processing social assistance.


Gavius is an example of joint work between companies, citizens, administration and research centers. Thanks to a model based on machine learning, the application is able to adapt to the casuistry of each person and simplify and streamline the bureaucratic processes of the social services of local administrations.

Innovative therapeutic solutions for people with dementia

Campus InnoBreaks

Innovative therapeutic solutions for people with dementia

Therapeutic Gardens Mati 1909 (Italy) and MK360 Immersive Technology (Catalonia)

Held on January 17th, 2023, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.

Simultaneous translation from English to Catalan and Spanish was provided.

Dementia is a disease that affects many old people. Memory loss and progressive deterioration of cognitive status are a difficult situation to manage, both for the person affected and for the people around them. Currently, treatments aim to slow the progression of the disease, while support for caregivers, cognitive stimulation and therapeutic work allow the optimization of physical health and activity in order to live dementia with the best possible quality of life.


Some innovative therapeutic solutions that have emerged in recent years are proving very effective in achieving cognitive stimulation and improving the well-being of people with dementia. In this Innobreak we will present two of them, one from Italy and the other from Catalonia.

  • Mati4care therapeutic gardens, designed according to the needs of people with dementia. They follow a model of non-invasive care, complementary to medical treatments. They have an interdisciplinary team and a natural space planned to stimulate the senses. The model has spread throughout Italy, with gardens not only specialized in dementia, but also for people with Down syndrome, for autism or for depressive disorders.
  • MK360 immersive technology, which makes it possible to offer virtual reality group experiences that recreate relaxing or stimulating spaces, with images and music surrounding users without the need for glasses or headphones. The treatments have shown to have positive effects on the behaviour and well-being of elderly people in numerous social and healthcare organizations in several European countries and other continents where they are being used.


Speakers:

  • Andrea Mati, Mati4care Therapeutic Gardens (Mati1909, Tuscany-Italy).
  • Robert Cornfield, MK360 immersive technology (Broomx, Catalonia-Spain).

With the support of:

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Drets Socials

Leaves, an online bereavement support service for older adults.

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Leaves, an online bereavement support service for older adults.

Leaves

Online program to support the eldery who are grieving the loss of a spouse. The focus of the program is on exploring new ways of self-care, to encourage positive thinking through finding strengths and ways to feel comfortable, active and joyful.

Leaves consists of 10 modules containing reading material and exercises that help bereaved people reflect on their current situation and how they can adjust to life without a partner. In addition, it also provides indirect support to close family members and informal caregivers. That is, with the support of the bereaved, families and close relatives can reduce worry and stress.

The developed model also has a virtual assistant called SOL (virtual abstract conversational entity). This agent does navigational support and guides users from readings and exercises to final reflections and users’ state of mind.

The program is dedicated to providing people with learning experiences and information on topics such as common grief reactions, prolonged bereavement, and assessment of the bereaved situation. It is a support for life adjustment after the loss, trying to give new meaning and find some hope within the new situation.

Park4Dis, making it easier for people with reduced mobility to find a parking space

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Park4Dis, making it easier for people with reduced mobility to find a parking space

Park4Dis

Digital platform for the management and access to parking spaces reserved for people with reduced mobility.

It is a free webapp that offers users the location of parking spaces for people with reduced mobility. Once the space is located it directs to the place through GoogleMaps. It also informs about the specific rules of each municipality that apply to people with disabilities, and shows the restricted traffic zones of each municipality. The application also allows offline use by downloading maps.

Park4Dis has registered more than 39,000 parking spaces in Spain for people with reduced mobility, located in 230 different municipalities. To obtain information on existing spaces, it relies on the collaboration of local social entities and volunteers who help to map them. The service also works with public institutions, vIt is an approach aimed at changing the paradigm from smart cities to smart human cities.

Park4Dis was born from the difficulty that people with reduced mobility often have in finding the location of reserved parking spaces, in addition to the lack of knowledge of the regulations by many municipalities. That is why its transversality allows to gather all the information in a single App, promoting accessible and interurban mobility.

Biel Digital Glasses, 2022 Award for social integration through ICTs

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Biel Digital Glasses, 2022 Award for social integration through ICTs

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Biel Digital Glasses has been awarded with the 2022 Prize for social integration through ICT, which annually convene the GrausTIC association and the iSocial Foundation, as part of the ICT Diada in Catalonia.

This year the Diada was held on November 10 in the auditorium of the Telefonica Tower in Barcelona, and was dedicated to “Metaverse and new realities”. Toni Codina, director of the iSocial Foundation, has delivered the award to Jaume Puig, promoter and CEO of the Catalan start-up Biel Digital Glasses.

Biel Digital Glasses are glasses that use a combination of new technologies such as 3D vision, artificial intelligence and augmented reality to adapt reality to the visual capacity of people with low vision. In addition to improving images, they identify obstacles and warn of possible dangers, such as steps and traffic lights. In this way, these glasses allow these people to reduce their social isolation and improve their mobility and personal autonomy.

The project arose in 2017 to respond to the needs of Biel, a child from Barcelona who suffers from low vision. Seeing that there was no conventional treatment for this disability, his parents (an engineer and a medical doctor) decided to be the ones to develop a solution, both for Biel and for all those other people who suffer from low vision. With this goal in mind, they created a company to design, develop and market this technological solution.

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Actualitat

Professionals of Ampans, Maresme Found., Joia Found., ATRA Group and Support-Girona participate in an exchange in Ireland

Professionals of Ampans, Maresme Found., Joia Found., ATRA Group and Support-Girona participate in an exchange in Ireland

Within the framework of the European project StepForME, led by iSocial, which aims to exchange good practices in the use of new technologies in youth mental health.
52 professionals from the Àuria Group and 5 ABSS from Girona in the course “From ACP to Self-directed Support”.

52 professionals from the Àuria Group and 5 ABSS from Girona in the course “From ACP to Self-directed Support”.

A total of 25 Social Services professionals from the Vegueria of Girona have been following a new edition of the training course “From Person-Centred Care to Self-directed Support” of the iSocial Foundation since 23rd September.
The Alba Group becomes the fourteenth member of iSocial

The Alba Group becomes the fourteenth member of iSocial

This September, the Alba Group approved its membership of the iSocial Foundation as a partner-collaborating organisation.
iSocial Foundation has completed 4 years. We are no longer a start-up, find out why. .

iSocial Foundation has completed 4 years. We are no longer a start-up, find out why. .

We are now facing a new stage marked by the start of new projects, growth in all indicators, increased projection and visibility, and economic consolidation.

JUS-APP, portable technology solution for municipal social workers

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JUS-APP, portable technology solution for municipal social workers

Hamburg City Council

Mobile application for municipal social workers of the Hamburg City Council (Germany) that allows them to automatically perform administrative tasks and access data of the persons served while they are at the person’s home, fulfilling all legal requirements of the municipal administration, including forms and checklists.

The application is connected to the municipal system JUS-IT in real time, which has different functionalities to simplify daily administrative tasks and make your work more attractive. Among others, it includes the automated management of alimony and social benefits, saving time for social workers and making their work more efficient. In addition, it is connected to other specialized procedures, such as police reports, providing fast, networked, results-oriented management.

The application, based on Cúram Software, also allows capturing details of meetings, such as audio or video recording of user interviews or home visits, and automated pre-filling of forms.

Community work platforms and activation of neighborhood cooperation.

Campus InnoBreaks

Community work platforms and activation of neighborhood cooperation.

HOPLR (Belgium) and A-Porta (Catalonia).

Held on November 29th, 2022, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.

There was translation from English to Catalan and Spanish.

The growing individualism and fragmentation of social relations, as well as the speed of daily life, lead to a lack of knowledge of one’s own environment and of the people who live in it. The social isolation typical of advanced societies of the 21st century aggravates situations of exclusion, loneliness and discomfort, and represents a social challenge of the first magnitude for social services.

The community work of social services, mutual support and social participation make it possible to pool resources, tools and needs, improving the quality of life of neighborhoods and the people who live in them.

There are innovative platforms and programs that are demonstrating a great capacity to activate cooperative social relations among community members, with the aim of improving daily well-being, generating neighbourhood empowerment and fostering social inclusion.

In this Innobreak we present 2 innovative experiences that stand out in this field, from Belgium and Catalonia.

  • HOPLR, it is a social network focused on social interaction between neighbours in the same area. The digital platform works in such a way that people using the application can share their needs or carry out tasks requested by other neighbours. It is a free tool, based on each person’s address, that promotes care, participation and direct neighbourhood communication, thanks to which collective activities or events can be created. It has been in operation since 2014, it works in more than 100 cities, and more than half a million people interact with their environment thanks to the application.
  • A-Porta, it is a neighbourhood empowerment program of CONFAVC based on which neighbours called “Pica-Puertas” make visits to other people in the neighbourhoods to support, offer accompaniment and resources according to the needs. The Pica-Puertas are trained in topics such as access to social rights, job search, energy vulnerability or accompaniment of elderly people in order to respond to these needs thanks to the community and neighbourhood fabric. The project has been implemented in several disadvantaged neighbourhoods in the cities of Barcelona and Tarragona, and it works thanks to the personalized knowledge of the needs of the neighbourhood and the proximity to the citizens.

Speakers:

  • Jennick  Scheerlinck, Hoplr (Belgium).
  • Alba Gómez, A-Porta (Catalonia)  

With the support of:

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Drets Socials

Scottish national program to help implement Self-Directed Support

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Scottish national program to help implement Self-Directed Support

Social Work Scotland

National program to facilitate the implementation of the Self-Directed Support intervention model in local social services in Scotland’s municipalities. It aims to bridge the gap between the regulatory framework and the day-to-day practice of Social Services by providing guidance and support to overcome the challenges faced by social professionals in implementing the model..

Self-Directed Support is a model for accompanying people who are served by Social Services, with a focus on support in decision making. The aim is for people to have control and power of choice over the actions or support plans aimed at improving their living conditions, based on their demands and their rights. Within this approach, this Social Work Scotland program aims to ensure that social workers are able to implement the model based on the principles, perspective and values of human rights. The aim is to empower social workers to be autonomous in implementing the model with each person served.

The program has three main lines of action. First, to promote the autonomy of social professionals in the implementation of the model through the definition of standards and training and advisory activities aimed at improving social intervention. Secondly, to provide a community of practice where public professionals and community entities can learn together to find solutions to the challenges posed by the implementation of the Self-Directed Support model. And finally, to energize a collaborative Scottish network of all public and private stakeholders to contribute to the development of the Scottish national Self-Directed Support framework.

Within this national framework, a library of tools, resources and practical examples for practitioners is provided. In addition, the program is working to get personal assistants recognized as members of the social care workforce, and to bring about changes in the Scottish legal framework to facilitate effective implementation of the model.