Previously, taking care of elderly non-working parents was a moral duty of their children. In Ukraine this soon could change. Kids might be soon required by law to provide for parents if they cannot support themselves.

In fact, there is already a law in Ukraine stating the requirement for kids to support parents financially if they need it. But it was just a recommendation rather than something that was enforced. Now the government plans to make it compulsory for the family of the seniors receiving government’s support to cover the costs of care.

Adult children and caretakers in Ukraine may have to cover social expenses for the elderly

Older Ukrainians often cannot manage on their own to survive because of low pensions. They seek support of social services, but now the government is looking to put the burden of payment on other family members of the retirees, particularly their grown-up kids.

It’s customary in Ukraine for kids to assist their parents, but it’s a personal choice. The government now seeks to make it an obligation by law. If the older person who’s being assisted by social services has children aged 18+, then they would be required to cover the government’s expenses.

It’s customary in Ukraine for kids to assist their parents, but it’s a personal choice.

Social support for elderly in Ukraine

To protect the rights of retired people, the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine has already set up the system of social support payments.

But now in addition to that a new bill proposes to seek financial repayments from the person’s children for the moneys spent by the state. The draft bill is being discussed now, Finance.ua reported.

As it is stated in explanatory notes to the new bill, there is already a law in Ukraine about assistance to aging parents and relatives, but it is often defied by their family members who are supposed to be helping. Now the law-makers wish to put measures in place to make it more than simply a moral obligation.

According to the new law, adult children and other relatives will be obliged to compensate all the costs of the state budget to support elderly people.

Kids will have to cover all the social expenses for their senior parents, including the help of social service workers, hospital care, etc. In case they refuse to do so, the state may claim reimbursement of expenses through the court.

Kids will have to cover all the social expenses for their senior parents, including the help of social service workers, hospital care, etc.

Care in exchange to inheritance

Similar obligations will be imposed on caretakers who entered into lifetime care agreements with seniors to get the right to inherit their real estate.

If would-be heirs don’t follow the arrangement and do not provide proper care to their benefactors, they will be deprived of the right to property under the agreement, and the real estate will become the property of the state.

Until now caretakers were able to choose whether to provide financial support or care to senior citizens, or to do both. The new law will oblige them to provide both care and financial support to elderly people. It will also clearly define all the types of services every caretaker should provide to the senior if they are to inherit property.

The minimum amount of money spent on care and maintenance of seniors in Ukraine will twice exceed the size of minimum wage in the country.

The authorities are also taking effective measures to protect rights to property of the aged and disabled citizens to ensure they don’t lose their highly valued assets.

Social services agencies will monitor the quality of services provided by caretakers and ensure that they maintain rights to their homes. Moreover, the law allows elderly people to make personal care agreements with the state social service agencies. As a result, after passing of the senior the home will become property of the government. In this case the senior continues to live at his or her home, while getting assistance from the social services.

It’s customary in Ukraine for aged or disabled family members to be looked after by their children or other relatives. Normally the family decides who is moving to whom, assigning one the family members to look after the elder. A son or daughter may even move in with the parent and look after them for years. This is viewed as one’s moral obligation and a proper way of helping elders, as opposed to moving to a retirement home.

Vice versa, if a parent moves to a retirement home, kids could be criticized for being inconsiderate and unkind. It is quite different to the way how people in western countries deal with such situations.

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