In Heraklion the programme operates under the Municipal Society of Culture, Environment and Social Welfare of the Municipality of Heraklion. It is run by a well-educated and interdisciplinary staff. It is meant for the elderly who live alone at home and who do not have a supportive social environment. It provides care for those with a low income, or with serious health problems and disabilities, or with mental disorders. The main purpose of the programme is social care of the elderly and the disabled, in order to improve their quality of life and to continue to have a personal network and social contact within the family, while remaining in their home which is their own natural social environment.
Their goals include:
- provision of social and nursing services
- strengthening of social and individual skills
- assistance for people so that they can continue to be part of the community
- psychosocial rehabilitation
- improvement of quality of life
- interconnection with bodies
- evaluation – hiring- covering needs
- advisory – support social work