BETIon will expand its service to detect unwanted loneliness and help 1,500 caregivers

The Basque Government will strengthen the public tele-assistance service betiON through two new lines of action aimed at preventing unwanted loneliness and improving care for caregivers. The measures have been presented in Donostia-San Sebastián by the Counsellor for Welfare, Youth and Demographic Challenge, Nerea Melgosa, which will allow the development of personalized plans for 100 users at risk of loneliness and the specific care of 1,500 elderly or dependent persons.

The initiative  will completethe new phaseof public tele-assistance which, in July, announced the deploymentof predictive and advanced technology to support 4,400 more people, with the aim of using new tools to detect vulnerability situations. The assessment will be carried out by professional teams, as well as defining interventions and decision-making.

"Today, we completed the presentation in July, incorporating two fundamental dimensions of well-being: the need for meaningful ties and relationships and the obligation to care for those who care for them," Melgosa said.

The new line of care will address unwanted loneliness among BetiON users through personalised plans, which will make it possible to identify signs of risk, but support will be based on professional intervention and knowledge of individual situations.

The service will strengthen social ties, detect support needs and prevent increased loneliness from becoming a factor in the deterioration of the well-being and autonomy of the elderly.

The second activity is aimed at caregivers, a group of some 107,000 people in the Basque Country, whose BetiON service will take into account not only the needs of users, but also the situation of those who take care of themselves on a daily basis.

Professional teams will identify overload signals and, where appropriate, use and provide appropriate information, guidance, training and support, as well as strengthen tools to facilitate the organization of care, resolve doubts and prevent situations of isolation or emotional wear and tear.

"Caring for a relative is a tremendous expression of affection and commitment, but it cannot mean giving up rest, health or the project of life itself," said Melgosa, who stressed that caregivers "must know that they are not alone and that they too are part of the public care system."

Predictive tele-assistance will provide families with greater security, such as detecting falls, geolocating and alerting to certain situations, benefits that allow caregivers to leave for a while, rest or perform any activity more calmly.

The Basque Government stresses that the aim of these instruments is not to replace the presence and the human relationship, but to provide greater security and support.