Personal assistance service guaranteed for people with disabilities

Managed by the Municipal Institute for People with Disabilities, the service has made safety possible during the lockdown for 52 people with disabilities who receive personal support. The extra measures are designed to protect users, as well as the 200+ workers who provide the service.

03/05/2020 11:41 h

Ajuntament de Barcelona

Among the measures to ensure safe home-confinement for people with disabilities during the Covid-19 crisis, priority has been given to making protective equipment and material available to users and those working for the personal assistance service who come into direct contact with them. The material includes 3,000 face masks, 9,100 gloves, 5,000 disposable shoe covers, 2,200 gowns and 100 sets of overalls.

The move by the Municipal Institute for People with Disabilities has helped cut risk factors to a minimum for people linked to the service, with a very low infection rate: just one user has tested positive, along with 13 professionals out of the 130 working as personal care assistants in people’s homes.

Personal Assistance Service

Besides the current situation generated by Covid-19, the Personal Assistance Service has become established as a key element for independent living and inclusion among people with disabilities or dependency. It is also a solid alternative to institutionalising people in facilities or residences. The care model also helps to prevent and combat isolation, and to guarantee the right of people with disabilities to a an independent and fully inclusive life in the community.

The Personal Assistance Service is also efficient in economic terms, with the annual cost of 1.6 million euros representing a social return of 3,2 euros for each euro invested. In 2019, each user received an average of 2,097 hours of assistance from the service, from a team made up of 252 people.

 

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