GEORGIA 1: OFFICIAL RECOGNITION AS HOME CARE SERVICE PROVIDER

Currently, as part of the ADA-funded project "ToBe-Together for professional care and support at home in Georgia," GRCS provides home care services to 228 vulnerable people with health problems, disabilities, chronic illnesses and similar issues. The organization also supports 350 caring relatives of which the majority are women who provide regular care - assistance with daily routines such as bathing and dressing, paying bills, shopping, and transportation - to a family member or friend, in Tbilisi and Kutaisi.

At the same time and while fulfilling its auxiliary role to public authorities, GRCS actively cooperates and coordinates its work with ministries, municipalities and local stakeholders in this field.  Under the TO BE project, the organization has been able to step up its efforts in advocating for home care service needs at national and local level. Long-term change is expected to include the development of a professional home care services sector in Georgia, including trained service providers, the readiness and commitment of national and local governments to the development of home care services, and the availability of a mix of public and private financing. A significant highlight of GRCS advocacy efforts is the co-funding provided by the municipalities of Tbilisi and Kutaisi, which has been significantly higher than anticipated while still not covering all expenses.

Through the national Home Care Working Group GRCS has also been a key advocate together with other stakeholders for the development of the home care state program and standards. In 2023, the Georgian Ministry of Labor, Health, and Social Defense was ready to announce the state program for home care service providers and invited interested stakeholders to apply for this program. Following the application procedure making sure to comply with all requirements, GRCS has recently been approved as service provider under the state home care program in Tbilisi Municipality.

As the first registered provider of home care services in Tbilisi, GRCS will provide its services to 17 people out of a total of 50 people chosen for participation in the state programme in a first pilot starting with 1 March 2024. This is not only a huge step forward for the organization and the sustainability of its services, but also for the future of home care services in Georgia. It gives hope that homecare services will be fully covered by the state and municipal program one day featuring GRCS as a main professional provider for home care services in the whole country.