Household Community Davča is a small community where older adults live together with the owner of the house, who is available for any assistance.
The life in the community is based on the shared common task. They are together preparing weekly menu, each day is one member responsible for cooking meals, and they are sharing cleaning activities. They can work on the garden and they have a space for socializing and wellness. Ones a week they are going together to the city where they purchase all the supplies and have time to do all the scheduled activities like hear dressing, doctor visits ... Mr. Prezelj is proving transportation services for then ones a week and anytime if is urgent or in case that is scheduled in advance. They have also some touristic trips overthe year.
The youngest member is 63 and the oldest is 80 years old. Most of them decided to join the community because they felt lonely in their previous home. The causes for feeling lonely were different but mostly they lived without a partner of a family. They do not have any severe medical problems and they do not need much assistance for living. If it happen that they need a medical treatment they use it as all the other residents of Slovenia. If it is a need to go to hospital, Mr. Prezelj is taking them. If they need after hospitalization treatment they have an arrangement with the local elderly house to stay there till their full recovery (one to two months).
They believe that if you happily live in a community and you dedicated your energy to build good relations with the community pears, this is the best strategy to avoid illness.
Resources needed
If it is just renovation needed as it is a case here there is an estimate of a 5.000 EUR per user needed. In terms of human resources needed it is couple months of work for a very skilful person.
Evidence of success
This good practice is considered good because it achieve an immediate very positive users’ respond. Before they faced loneliness and material troubles, now they can use time for hobbies and building relationships with their friends.
There is not strong evidence that only this good practice triggered the development actions on the national level at the Ministry of Agriculture. However this good practice has a very strong media reporting at its start.
Difficulties encountered
The main challenge is in the selection process of a new member. People are in many cases explaining half trues and misinformation on their expectations, past, habits etc.
Potential for learning or transfer
The main potential of transfer is in the knowledge learned by the owner of this good practice:
- How to build community
- Community rules
- Community services
- Target group
- Necessary facility adaptation
The good practice do not have a direct clones, however Slovene Ministry of agriculture launched a tender for a couple of pilot project concerning social services on the farm as a complementary activities.
Tags: Housing
