In recent years, there has been a rise in the population of senior citizens in the country. This has also led to the increase of their needs, like heath care, housing, finances, and other social services.
To address this matter, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has come up with a program for senior citizens, particularly those who are sick, frail, bedridden, and in need of special home care. In this article, we will discuss the Home Care Support Services for Senior Citizens (HCSSSC) program.
Image Credits: DSWD Region II / Facebook
What is HCSSSC?
The Home Care Support Services for Senior Citizens (HCSSSC) program is a community-based program that seeks to provide quality care for sick, frail, and bedridden senior citizens in their own homes. With the help of their family members and home care volunteers, the program helps to ensure that senior citizens are given the care and protection they need.
Objectives of the Program
The HCSSSC program aims to attain the following objectives:
- Provide a package of caregiving services to senior citizens who have difficulty in performing daily activities because of sickness and old age;
- Capacitate volunteers to plan and deliver home care support services to the senior citizens;
- Encourage active participation of the family in establishing and sustaining programs and services for senior citizens;
- Enhance the capabilities of implementing Local Government Units (LGUs), People’s Organizations (POs), and senior citizens organizations in the delivery of services to home care beneficiaries; and
- Raise public awareness about the needs and aspirations of senior citizens.
Target Beneficiaries
The HCSSSC program has primary as well as secondary beneficiaries:
The primary beneficiaries are senior citizens (60 years old and above) who are fail, sick, bedridden, or with a disability that affects their day-to-day activities. Also included are senior citizens who need care for a specific period of time because of physical or mental conditions.
Meanwhile, the secondary beneficiaries of the program are family members who lack the skills or capacity to provide quality care for senior citizens. Also included are home care volunteers who are willing to share their time, skills, and resources in caring for senior citizens.
Components of the Program
The components of the HCSSSC program are: social preparation, mobilization of volunteers, capacity building, helping plan, provision of interventions and social services, and provision of technical assistance.
1. Social Preparation
This includes activities that initiate interest and participation among concerned stakeholders, such as LGUs, other government organizations (GOs), non-government organizations (NGOs), civic groups, and faith-based groups who would like to get involved in the program.
2. Mobilization of Volunteers
This stage involves the mobilization of Volunteers in the community. They are provided training on caregiving and other related skills.
3. Capability Building
Volunteers shall undergo a five-day training that focuses on:
- Basic information on the psychosocial aspects of geriatric diseases;
- Understanding the psychology and dynamics of older people;
- Communication skills;
- Safe use of medicines;
- Home safety and falls prevention; and
- Roles of volunteers and coordinators.
4. Helping Plan
Together with the senior citizen’s family, home care volunteers and multi-disciplinary team members will come up with a specific helping plan. Its implementation will be monitored by the LGU social worker.
5. Provision of Interventions and Social Services
Based on the helping plan, the senior citizen will be given the following interventions and services: home care, respite services, physical fitness program, kinship care, palliative care, and/or spiritual services.
6. Provision of Technical Assistance
The DSWD Central and Field Offices will provide the necessary technical assistance to the LGU in the form of coaching, mentoring, and skills enhancement activities.
Latest Updates
Data from the DSWD’s Social Technology Bureau (STB) shows that between 2013 and 2019, the HCSSSC program has been replicated in a total of 96 LGUs within 13 regions, as follows:
- Region I – 25 LGUs
- Region II – 6 LGUs
- CAR – 4 LGUs
- Region III – 6 LGUs
- NCR – 3 LGUs
- CALABARZON – 5 LGUs
- MIMAROPA – 1 LGU
- Region V – 2 LGUs
- Region VI – 23 LGUs
- Region VII – 12 LGUs
- Region VIII – 7 LGUs
- Region IX – 1 LGU
- CARAGA – 1 LGU
Meanwhile, in more recent news, DSWD Region II distributed start-up funds to the HCSSSC program of Solana, Cagayan on November 13, 2023. A total of PHP 30,000 worth of financial assistance was given to six (6) beneficiaries to augment their daily subsistence and medical needs.
Video: HCSSSC Audiovisual Presentation
Get to know more about the HCSSSC program by watching this audiovisual presentation. Notably, the video features the HCSSSC program in Dimasalang, Masbate:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Meanwhile, here are some commonly asked questions about the HCSSSC program:
1. What is HCSSSC?
HCSSSC stands for “Home Care Support Services for Senior Citizens,” a community-based program that aims to provide quality care for sick, frail, and bedridden senior citizens in their own homes.
2. What are its objectives?
Among the objectives of the program are to: (a) provide a package of caregiving services to senior citizens; (b) capacitate volunteers to plan and deliver home care support services; (c) encourage active participation of the family in establishing and sustaining the program; (d) enhance the capabilities of implementing LGUs, POs, and senior citizens organizations; and (e) to raise public awareness about the needs and aspirations of senior citizens.
3. Who are its target beneficiaries?
The primary beneficiaries of HCSSSC are senior citizens who are fail, sick, bedridden, or with a disability that affects their day-to-day activities, as well as senior citizens who need care for a specific period of time due to physical or mental conditions.
Meanwhile, the secondary beneficiaries are family members who lack the skills or capacity to provide quality care for senior citizens, as well as home care volunteers.
4. What are the program components?
The program’s components are: social preparation, mobilization of volunteers, capacity building, helping plan, provision of interventions and social services, and provision of technical assistance.
5. How can I learn more about the program?
To learn more about the HCSSSC program, you can contact the nearest DSWD office for more information.
Contact Information: Social Technology Bureau
For inquiries and concerns about the HCSSSC program, you can get in touch with the Social Technology Bureau (STB) at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City. Its office hours are between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.
Address: Social Technology Bureau, 3rd Floor, Matapat Building, Department of Social Welfare and Development – Central Office, IBP Road, Constitution Hills, Batasan Complex, Quezon City
Telephone: +632 8951 7124 / 8951 2802 / 8931 8144
Email: soctech@dswd.gov.ph
Website: https://stb.dswd.gov.ph/
Google Map:
Infographic About the Program
Meanwhile, here is an infographic about the HCSSSC program:
Final Thoughts
Thanks to the HCSSSC program, senior citizens who are frail and bedridden can get quality health care and services. It also provides family members with training on how to care for their seniors, while also encouraging home care volunteers to participate.
Aside from the HCSSSC, another DSWD program for seniors is the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC). Visit this link to read all about this program!