Yakutia is known not only for extreme cold temperatures. It is also the republic of the Russian Federation that has laws allowing families to look after seniors much in the way kids are adopted or fostered.
Russian families adopt seniors
Dozens of seniors were taken into care by families after the new law offering financial support to people looking after elders came in action in the Repiblic Sakha, Yakutia.com reported.
Single men and women of advanced age now have an option of living with people who are willing to assist in their day to day needs, as opposed to aged care facilities.
The law-makers strived to unload the queues to government-supported senior homes and assist older people in having socially rich life. At the same time, people who look after elders receive financial support from the social services.
The amount paid to foster families looking after elderly people is not huge but helpful: 17,700 rubles (US$311) per month for each senior in care.
The authorities had 76 seniors adopted by families by April 2016 and hoped this number would increase to 150 by the end of 2018.
Most foster families live in the countryside. There are not many aged care options, and local elders who find themselves alone prefer not to leave the town where they lived all their lives.
Locals believe it’s a better option for an older person to live with another family as opposed to a care facility. It helps seniors feel like a part of the community where they have roots and memories.
Russian elders who lived all their lives in a small village prefer to stay in the same area rather than move to an aged care facility in a regional town. In Yakutia elders now have an option to be adopted by a family, which will get financial support from the government to care for the senior.
Looking after aged parents
Normally in Russia kids take aging parents to live with them. It’s frowned upon when an elder who has kids is sent to a care facility.
Earlier we reported that most Russians believe a person becomes old once turning 60. It’s the age when people can retire and get a pension.
Read also:
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Unfortunately, elder people often become a burden on their children. So, then they can be sent to pensioner’s houses. I personally remember my mum taking care after my granny. It looked like a nightmare. But these people in Yakutia are really brave and challenging to addopt elders.