DSWD launches foster home program for old and disabled persons
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced it has recently launched its foster home program for old and disabled persons.
DSWD Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral stated that the project is a planned temporary substitute family care assistance for old persons and persons with disabilities who are abandoned, neglected, unattached from the community and those on custodial care in residential care facilities.
“The best service to give to older persons and persons with disabilities is to provide them with a caring family,” she said.
The project is presently being pilot-tested in Regions II and XII. Accordingly, the local governments of Ivana and Sabtang in Batanes and Solana in Cagayan adopted the program.
At present, 12 older persons who are homeless and abandoned are being catered by their respective foster families. Of these, five are in Ivana and seven in Sabtang.
Cabral added the department’s foster home program will also benefit persons with disabilities who are between 18 to 60 year old or even older.
“These are individuals who are physically and mentally healthy, potentially capable of accepting other families and can benefit from family and community life who for some reasons cannot return to their biological families or who have no families at all,” the DSWD chief added.
She said the program will also provide its target beneficiaries with an opportunity to continue living in the community where they can engage in as many social, economic and community activities as possible.
“There are many ways to help the older persons or those with disabilities, but nothing is more direct than opening your heart and your home to them,” Cabral pointed out.
The DSWD secretary added extending a hand to disadvantaged older persons and persons with disabilities can be both challenging and rewarding.
“Foster families receive a monthly subsidy of P1,000 during the stay of older persons or persons with disabilities in their home which is meant as an incentive and not as a means to augment their income but rather to further encourage them to continue caring for them. However, there are also benevolent individuals who do volunteer work without subsidy incentive,” Cabral emphasized.
The DSWD is implementing the program together with various local government units (LGUs), non-government units (NGOs) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
“Working together will assist the old persons and persons with disabilities in making and implementing choices that will maximize their independence and quality of life,” she further said. (PNA)