Daugavpils, Latvia is piloting a mobile care unit to provide essential hygiene and laundry services to residents who struggle with daily living, particularly those in remote areas lacking basic amenities. The initiative, dubbed the “Universal Service Express,” aims to address a critical need for vulnerable populations.
The program will bring services directly to individuals, approximately twice a month, who are unable to manage everyday self-care. This is especially important for those in the outskirts of the city where access to running water is not always available. A similar service has been successfully operating in the neighboring Augšdaugava region for the past seven years.
Among the first to benefit is 95-year-old Helēna, a Daugavpils resident who lacks hot water in her home and washes her clothes by hand. Limited mobility also makes it difficult for her to exit her house frequently. She is one of 15 people who will receive hygiene care from the specially equipped mobile unit.
“This is a way to help right now and it definitely complements daily care at home,” said Andris Bērziņš, a board member of the Latvian Samaritan Association. “This large vehicle doesn’t come every day. They come a couple of times a month and take care of the essential, bigger things.”
Remaining care needs will be provided by caregivers or social services. The service will be available to not only seniors, but also people with disabilities and those without access to facilities like showers and hot water in their homes.
Rimma Vavilova, Deputy Head of the Daugavpils Social Service, described the mobile unit as a “lifesaver,” capable of providing basic necessities. “People will be able to shower, wash their laundry, and receive daily care from specialists,” she said.
Two specialists will accompany the unit to each location, spending approximately two to four hours with each client. Bērziņš explained that one specialist will focus on personal hygiene even as the other will assist with household tasks like laundry and firewood.
The bus will also provide access to various e-services that can be challenging for seniors, such as connecting to the Latvija.lv portal or paying bills.
The Latvian Samaritan Association invested approximately 130,000 euros to equip the mobile unit. The service will be free of charge to Daugavpils residents thanks to funding from the European Union.
Mobile care has been available in Augšdaugava region for seven years
The Augšdaugava region has been operating a mobile care brigade for seven years. Anna Jegorova, Head of the Augšdaugava Social Service, emphasized the importance of reaching those who live far from towns and villages. “We provide services to those who are truly far away and are elderly, lonely, sick, disabled, or unable to care for themselves. And that is exceptionally important.”
Each month, bus driver Jurijs visits around 50 seniors. The region is large and has many isolated homes, leading the service to conclude that one vehicle is no longer sufficient.
“It’s harder in winter because the roads are quite difficult to navigate, especially this winter, but it’s not easy in the summer either in some places,” Jegorova said. “But the people who receive this service are simply grateful. At the very beginning of the project, one client even said, ‘Oh my God, I haven’t seen water in three months.’”
Maintaining the bus costs the Augšdaugava region around 20,000 euros per month, with a total value of 98,000 euros.
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