ICACBR

The Introduction and Development of Community Based Rehabilitation in the Slovakia and in Latvia

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Project Information

Name:	The Introduction and Development of Community Based Rehabilitation in the Slovakia and in Latvia
Donors:	Canadian International Development Agency
Budget:	$500,000 CAD
Duration:	March 2001 - June 2004 Latvian project activities began in February 2002
Primary Site:	Bratislava Slovakia Riga Latvia
Beneficiaries:	Persons with disabilities Organizations of persons with disabilities Health and rehabilitation professionals Health and rehabilitation educators Policy makers.

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Overview

Similar to many countries in Central and Eastern Europe, both the Latvian and the Slovakian health care systems are focussed on institutionally based programs. Therefore a large number of elderly and persons with disabilities have been isolated and prevented from engaging in daily community life. Being institutionalized deprives the elderly and persons with disabilities from receiving the community support they need to become independent and functional members of the community. There has been a noticeable lack of a multidisciplinary community rehabilitation service approach which would promote the support of the elderly, persons with disabilities, and their caregivers at a community level. Furthermore, health and social service professionals have been educated to work in an institutional setting, and therefore lack the skills and experience to function effectively at the community level.

  Full Project Details - Intro CBR in Slovakia and Latvia.pdf