A credit system is developed in which volunteers collect scores for their home assistance. They would use this “currency” for paying services provided to them.
A social innovation called "Social currency credit system" has been developed. Within this initiative members of the “Intergenerational society club” voluntarily care for elderly people at their daily activities at home and so “earn” a credit score for each hour of their assistance. The accumulated scores are their »social currency« that they would use for paying assistance to home carers when they become dependent. It is a local municipality that stands behind the credit system and guarantees its operation on a long-term.
The project improves the quality of life of both recipients of home care services and the care providers feeling themself still „useful”. The initiative activates primarily young retired women volunteers and share their abilities and knowledge when still being capable to support vulnerable citizens in their community. Before inclusion they are adeqately trained. At the end of the training they receive a “Qualified home carer” certificate.
With the system we build a wider network of informal c arers thus strengthening the capacities of providing long-term care in local communities. It is also an example of intergenerational coexistence, reciprocity and solidarity with which we build a safer future for aging people.
Stakeholders/beneficiaries are home care service users and informal care providers.The solution supports the Slovenian Strategy on the aging society, the -Resolution on the healthcare plan 2025 and the Carinthian Regional Development Program.
Resources needed
Staff involved:
a) social currency credit system manager
b) trainers of informal carers for home care services
c) volunteers as informal carers to elderly people at home
Implementation costs are approx. 10.000€ per municipality/year for the system coordination and trainings for informal carers.
Evidence of success
The Social currency credit system has been in use in 3 municipalities in Carinthia region, Slovenia. It brings mutual benefits to the involved informal home care providers and the people receiving the care. Ten groups of informal carers have been trained for home care assistance and involved in the system. Ms. Marjana Kamnik, the initiator and the key person of the system, received in 2017 for this innovation a social innovation award from the Regional Chamber of Economy of Carinthia.
Difficulties encountered
The major challenges are:
- formation of intergenerational clubs of volunteers – informal home carers
- education of informal carers for quality assistance services
- attracting local municipalities to stands behind the credit system and to guarantee its operation on a long-term.
Potential for learning or transfer
The Social currency credit system has huge potentials for transfer to other municipalities, regions and countries as it does not requires major financial investments. The proposed innovation needs an active approach in local communities to recruit and train informal carers and to get a formal support of local municipalities. The system does not require any additional infrastructure to the existing one in social care systems (training facilities, ICT infrastructure for the system management). The good practice could easily be adapted to regional conditions and requirements. It poses no limits due to cultural diversity in different countries.
Tags: Society, Social, Finance, Learning, Community
